The Athens of the South, not the Paris of the North

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The picture blog begins with a late inclusion – a grab shot taken at 7a.m. going across the viaduct over the Savannah River – as close to dawn as I get! The day’s travel – lvg Charleston by first taking a short walk in the rain to the Hound next door (definitely recommended – the short walk that is – the Holiday Inn in Athens is also diagonally opposite from the Hound – an occurrence which will likely not recur again!). We got to Athens at 4.25pm so it was quite a long day– did my previous blog and Charleston pix overkill to promote Sotheby’s Fine properties. Had an 11am meal break (in lieu of non-breakfast_ at Arby’s with a Philly sub – roast beef and melted cheese in a long bun (evidence att.) – could do far worse – no fried things at that hour thanks. This route takes a rather dogleg route to Atlanta thru some smallish towns – Washington GA looked nice and small and a lot of ‘old wares’ shops. A lot of the road was actually single carriage as distinct from the 2 or 3 lane interstates.

Having settled myself at the Holiday Inn went off to generally find the Melting Point venue where I had booked a ticket to see George Winston – a pianist/composer I remember from the late 80’s when his early discs used to be played by Arnold Frollows on the Ambient show on JJJ on Sunday nights. I had done some research on “what music is on in Athens” (the main reason for coming here) and the Melting Point listed this show so happy to see such a thing in an intimate venue (claimed max. distance from any seat of 53 feet or something). . I had hoped to eat at the venue but they were closing the kitchen early – well, clattering knives and forks and a solo pianist hardly mix! Abandoned this idea and headed up the road to the next closest restaurant, which did fish mostly. The waitress suggested it might be 20 mins for my meal – but no doubt as an easy to do single the kitchen knocked it out in about 5, which was good. Blackened mahi mahi (is it really dolphin??) with some prawns and scallops – blackened can be quite Cajun spicy but this was not, but otherwise OK.

Anyway no time for the food – down to the venue and got a gallery seat above and behind the pianist as you will see. Winston won a Grammy whenever for whatever but I had not heard any recent stuff. It was fairly wideranging – from opening Prof. Longhair N’Orleans number to his own somewhat fluttering compositions – think aspects of Keith Jarrett as a solo pianist composer. Surprisingly in each half of the concert he also played a single guitar piece – he is a pretty competent guitar player as well (which is not to damn him with slight praise) and tends to play Hawaiian slack guitar style – accdg to Wiki he has also produced a number of albums by such Hawaiian guitar players. Possibly due to the couple of vodka and lemonades I scoffed before I went up there I was somewhat tired and contemplated the latter half of the concert with eyes closed - without falling off my barstool (I am still working my way thru the cheap vodka Tim and I smuggled onto the cruise ship).

Monday 7 March – this will cover it as well rather than two entries. Did not really get going til noon (decided sleep was more important and trying to track down Americana CDs ditto than seeing the sights here – whatever they are). Went straight to lunch at an upstairs Italian place whose menu I had scoped last night, La Dolce Vita, whose lunch prices were much cheaper than dinner. Overdid it a bit – but however as did not eat later til 9pm this was OK. A plate of their home made bresaola (air dryed beef) with organic rocket/arugula and shaved parmigiano. Then a panini stuffed with prosciutto di Parma – their home made mozzarella and more rocket and side salad – oh and a glass of Primitivo red. Is this overdoing it for brunch?! Then went off in search of aforesaid CD shops – way more compact to do this in a student musical town than in a big city. Found 3 CD shops with no great difficulty and ended up buying 5 CDs – 3 of which were second hand so quite cheap. Into an outgear type shop and tried on and seriously contemplated buying a pair of reduced price Merrell walking shoes – but then thought my bag will explode and will not fit them so abandoned the idea (wisely I now think).

The day’s main event was to be the “pre-release listen” to the new REM album at the 40 Watt club where they first played. This was clearly a joke as I could have bought it 3 times today anyway. I had already downloaded it and listened a couple of times on the Hound, and it was being continuously streamed on NPR net radio anyway! When they finally started (it was benefit for various children’s charities and cost $10) everyone was just talking as normal – like the worst nightclub you ever went to and people are not there to hear the band (think the Basement sometimes!). After that they auctioned various items signed by the band etc. The biggest of which was a new customised guitar – prob. worth $1500-2000 on its own but signed on the scratch plate by all 4 members of REM. It went on to $2500 but then kept on going (I could not leave until it finished!) to finally close at an even $5000! (hope its not on Ebay tomorrow).

So finally then got to my dinner at Mia Casa, a sort of latino tapas place just around the corner and recommended by my waiter at Dolce Vita. I had a plate of ceviche (marinated fish – but it was tilapia – from Vietnam or Thailand cos I asked – not a patch on the very fresh Peruvian style ceviche I had in Miami). Then a lamb lollipop (Kiwi cutlet grilled on bed of smashed spud and some fried vege – hardly earth shattering either. And a caipirinha – that Brazilian liquor thing with lime and mint – like a mojito really, but not with white rum.

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Photos

on the Savannah bridge
a happy grab shot at 7am crossing the river

leaving Charleston
rain on the Hound screen and my hotel

Arby's 11am brunch
a philly sub - yum!?

Washington Maccas
a real "road" shot

Holiday Inn, Athens GA
all this for $151 for 2 nites all up

an intimate venue
upstairs @ Melting Point

La Dolce Vita
a sunny lunch window

a period poster
+ wall decay created i think.....

Hortons Drugs
well if they say they deliver....

the famous 40 Watt club
does this refer to dim lightbulbs?

Comments

[Huddo]

Winston's skills.
Hi Mike, Melting Point looks a superb venue indeed. Taylor Made (golf) for a man of his silky skills. La Dolce Vita window shot, and poster a beauty. Love Huddo and girls.