Georgia Theater Fire

Sad news from Athens, GA this morning that a major fire broke out at the Georgia Theater around 7:00 AM. From the pictures in the local media it looks bad.

The Athens-Banner Herald reports:
Wilmot Greene, the building owner, said the building is a total loss but exterior walls are "probably alright." Green said he hopes to rebuild and he does have insurance. Greene has already talked with organizers of AthFest about holding AthFest events in the Classic Center or at Legion Field.

The historic theater turned music venue is a focal point of UGA culture and for many years was the home base of Widespread Panic, making the venue something of a Warfiend Theater of the South.

It was also the site of the 1991 recording of the Aquarium Rescue Unit's self titled live album, consider by music geeks (and me) to be one of the best live recordings of all time.

Spend a few minutes this morning checking out ARU on Utube and hope for the best on Lumkin Street.

15 Years In the ATL

Fifteen years ago today I arrived in Atlanta after a two day trek from Suburban San Francisco with all of my worldly belongings in the trunk of my Honda Civic. When I finally made it to the Budgetel in Buckhead I had a hard time figuring out while every TV station was showing the same footage of a slow speed car chase, but I was used to strange things after my time in California.

My sincere thanks to the many friends, neighbors and colleagues who helped me make a home in this amazing city. The pollen is tough and the sewers smell a little, but I would not want to be anywhere else.

Special thanks to Alan Gurley, Delta Airlines, Betsy Butler, Steve and team Olive Bistro, Georgia State University, the Fox Theater staff, Buford Highway, Gavin McCalla, Aurora Coffee, Hitesh Shah, Col. Bruce Hampton, Billy Payne, Marco’s Pita, Bob Schindelholz, Soul Vegetarian, and the Pothole Posse.

the Real Iran

The seeming populist revolt in Iran coincides almost perfectly with my reading of Rick Steve's new book Travel as a Political Act.

Rick, the guru of modern European travel on the cheap, advocates travel as a means to understand people and culture beyond political facades and stereotypes. The picture he paints in his chapter Mission: Understanding Iran is of an educated, sophisticated population navigating through political and religious turmoil.

Rick's insights on Iran come firsthand. In 2008 he traveled to Iran to shoot a documentary for PBS (available here with some audio issues). Rick's blog postings from his Iran trip are also very insightful.