ATLRetro

Christmas at Callanwolde.

Monday, December 5

Christmas at Callanwolde, an Atlanta tradition that disappeared for a while but now thankfully is back,  kicks off today and runs through Dec. 18. The 27,000-square-foot Gothic-Tudor-style mansion, built by the Candler family in 1920 and now an arts center, opens its doors so everyone can enjoy its breathtaking interior in seasonal splendor as decorated by top local interior and floral designers. Browse the Charming ARTifacts craft market, enjoy music played on the home’s magnificent vintage Aeolian Pipe Organ, and check the Website for special events. Weekday and Saturday hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Joe Gransden presents the first of his twice-monthly Big Band Night with his 16-piece orchestra at Café 290 . From 3 PM on, savor tropical sounds and libations, as well as a Polynesian dinner during Mai Tai Monday at Smith’s Olde Bar. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam. To break up the Monday monotony, head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for dinner and a show, as local blues/jazz band Dry White Toast performs at 8 PM.

Tuesday, December 6

Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Crosstown All Stars play Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers are at Northside Tavern. Catch Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon, featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

Wednesday, December 7

Gutter poet/songwriter/musician Tom Cheshire is getting ready to ride the rails back to New York City, but before he leaves Atlanta, he’s treating us to an evening of words and music at the Star Bar with the extra bonus of “Friends,” most of whom are writers, such as Charles McNair (LAND O’GOSHEN), Jamie Iredell (THE BOOK OF FREAKS), pastor-turned-poet Matt Benedictis (Safety Third Enterprises), Dave Daniels and rock n roll/Americana/punk songmaker Blake Rainey, who has been compared to everyone from Tennessee Williams to Tom Waits. Bring a little extra cash to buy a book from local indie publisher Vouched Books. The Chocolate Drops, at Variety Playhouse tonight, chose their name as a tip of the hat to the Tennessee Chocolate Drops,  three black brothers Howard, Martin and Bogan Armstrong, who lit up the music scene in the 1930s, and their own sound was inspired by Joe Thompson, an 80+-year-old fiddler with a short bowing style that he inherited from generations of family musicians. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Frankie’s Blues Mission plays Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance to ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s hits during Retro in the Metro Wednesdays at Pub 71 in Brookhaven.

Thursday, December 8

7 Stages makes naughty the new nice with its KRAMPUS XMAS SPECTACULAR, an anti-holiday rock and roll musical featuring the German anti-Claus that runs Dec. 8-10. “This is the best damn Christmas show there is,” says 7 Stages Artistic Director Del Hamilton. “It’s bloody and spooky like Halloween; and light and pink like Valentine’s Day; and down and dirty like strip joints. There’s something for everyone. Well, maybe not the younger kids. And there’s free beer [from sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon] at the end!” Watch out for a bloody red preview with our Kool Kat of the Week Rob Thompson soon. LUST, featuring Blast-Off Burlesque‘s and Burt and the Bandits‘ lovely and hard punk-rockin’ Barb Hays, returns to the Clermont Lounge in the kind of crazy triple-header we love with Grinder Nova and Uncle Daddy & the Kissin’ Cousins. Culliton, Dean & Lloyd jam at Bluegrass Thursday at Red Light Cafe.

For more than 50 years, the Atlanta Ballet has been presenting its version of THE NUTCRACKER to delighted audiences of all ages, and if you haven’t experienced it in the magical setting of the Fabulous Fox Theatre, you haven’t experienced Christmas in Atlanta. It may not be as glittery as the Radio City Rockettes Holiday Spectacular in New York, but in additional to creative costumes and fanciful sets, it’s guaranteed to snow! This year’s run is Dec. 8-24. Nothing says Retro Christmas than over-the-top light displays and insane amounts of decorations crammed into the smallest possible yard, house or—in the case of Der Biergarten—restaurant. The Luckie-Marietta district German restaurant has pulled out all the stops with nearly 10,000 ornaments, 72 nutcrackers and 26 Christmas trees! Decorations are in place every night through Jan. 8, but come on Thurs. Dec. 8 from 5-7:30 p.m. for the Nikolaustag Holiday Celebration featuring grown-up reindeer games like beer pong on the patio, hide the pickle (a real German tradition where a pickle ornament is hidden on a tree for prizes), $5 liters of draft beer, comp appetizers and a DJ.

The See Mel Brooks‘ outrageous cinematic comedy classic turned Broadway musical THE PRODUCERS performed live courtesy of Company J at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta in Dunwoody, starting tonight and running through Dec. 18. Or if you think, “Wouldn’t it be Loverly?” to see the Lerner and Lowe hit musical MY FAIR LADY, the Gas South Broadway Series will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, with a share of box office proceeds going to United Way. Tickets available through Ticketmaster here.

Joe Gransden jazzes up the Loews Atlanta Hotel. Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti, featuring Big Mike Geier, play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. The Breeze Kings andThe Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Friday, December 9

At 7:30 p.m. at the Inman Park Methodist Church,  catch an encore presentation of Elvis & Jesus: A king meets The King, which combines the music of the King of Rock and Roll with the story of the birth of the son of God, and features Elvis songs sung by Atlanta’s own king of swing, Big Mike Geier (of Kingsized fame), backed by the TCC (Taking Care of Christmas) Choir. Go back to the ‘60s and ‘70s with the 3^rd Annual Yacht Rock Revue Holiday Specialat Buckhead Theatre on Fri. Dec. 9. The first of two Christmas at Callanwolde Cabaret Nights features popular Atlanta chanteuse Libbe Whittemore, singing holiday standards, Broadway hits and more. The mansion also has extended hours from 4-9 p.m. for more casual shopping and decoration-viewing.

BABES IN TOYLAND – no, we don’t mean another burlesque show, but the magical Christmas classic ballet – returns tonight and Saturday for its 21st annual season by Atlanta Dance Theatre at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Bring the kids and come join Tom, Mary and all their Storybook friends as they journey through Toyland to the Toymaker’s shop, while dodging the evil antics of villain Barnaby and his cohorts.

Still from Andy Warhol's KISS.

Want to get away from the holiday rush? Grinder Nova rocks Northside Tavern with two action-filled sets of South of the Border Rock n Roll, Mexicali soul and 007-style GoGo Get Down. The Sundogs Present: The Tom Petty Show at Smith’s Olde Bar. The Smithsonians and Andrew and the Disapyramids bring back ’60s rock n roll at The Earl. Spanky and the Love Handles play “funky dirty danceable blues” at Fat Matt’s. Get funky at Five Spot with Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Abby Wren and What It Is. And Film Love offers up KISS (1963-64), by Andy Warhol, for a rare screening tonight at 8 p.m. at the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center. The 16mm black & white 48-minute film consists of a series of three-minute, radically different sequences of couples kissing, the first Warhol films incidentally to ever be shown in public and the spark for a revolution in international independent cinema at the time. If you missed our Kool Kat profile on Andy Ditzler, founder of the Film Love series, catch up on it here.

Saturday, December 10

For a merry mix of holiday standards and rock/lounge classics redone in Vegas-sized big band style, head to the Variety Playhouse that same night for the Kingsized Holiday Jubilee, backed by the gorgeous Dames Aflame Dancers.  The Atlanta Jazz Chorus under the direction of jazz saxophonist and minister Rev. Dwight Andrews join with some of the city’s finest musicians and singers, including Kathleen Bertrand and Alex Lattimore, to present Holiday Jazz Vespers at the vintage Rialto Center for the Arts . Treat the kids to Breakfast with Santa in the courtyard of a sumptuous historic mansion as part of today’s Christmas at Callanwolde events, which also include Kids’ Crafts at 1 p.m. and a Battle of the Ice sculptors at 2 p.m.

Kids of all ages will also enjoy of MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS, a musical play based on Ludwig Bemelman’s delightful book about French schoolgirls, which starts today at Horizon Theatre and runs through Jan. 1. Thomas Fuller‘s charming, family-friendly AN ATLANTA CHRISTMAS also opens today at the Academy Theatre in Avondale Estates. Watch for a preview of this Atlanta Radio Theatre Company production, made up of vignettes from local holidays past and performed in the style of a vintage radio play, later this week.

Former Atlantan and current Nashville resident Jon Byrd celebrates the release of his new album DOWN AT THE WELL OF WISHES at Kavarna in Oakhurst, with seminal alt.country/Redneck Underground band Slim Chance & the Convicts opening.  The last time these two played together here, the place was packed so be sure to arrive early for evening of old and new music, special guests and good times. Watch for an exclusive personal retrospective on Jon’s music and the new recording by Slim Chance (James Kelly) later this week. The Mystery Men? surf into the Star Bar. What’s goin’ on at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center? Why, the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Marvin Gaye’s WHAT’S GOIN ON, featuring nine artists performing all the cuts off that legendary 1971 LP, including including Anthony David, Joey Sommerville, Avery Sunshine, Julie Dexter and more. Blues-man Ike Stubblefield tickles the ivories at Northside Tavern. Go Really Retro back to the Renaissance with Three Quarter Ale at the New American Shakespeare Tavern to raise funds for AleCon – a multi-day performing arts convention with concerts, circus acts, dancers, puppetry, theatre, costumes, workshops and starring said Atlanta-based mirthful minstrels next summer. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, December 11

Christmas at Callanwolde is open from 11 am to 4 pm on Sundays and today’s activities include a Holiday Centerpiece Demonstration at 2 p.m. and Teddy Bear Tea (by advance reservation only) at 3 p.m. Os Ossos serve up Brazilian-style samba at “dunch” between 1-4 PM at The Earl. Old-time string band The Georgia Potlickers promise to keep audiences stompin’ and swingin’ to a night of traditional All-American roots music at Eddie’s Attic. Guitarist Rick Taylor has recorded with Bob Dylan and the Black Crowes and played on stage for Woody Guthrie’s AMERICAN SONG tour. Snake Legs bring on the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern.

Ongoing Theatre 

The Center for Puppetry Arts’ official stage adaptation of the Rankin-Bass misfit Christmas TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is back for a second year with Rudolph, Clarisse, Hermie. Yukon and all the beloved characters. Read our interview with adapter/director and Center Artistic Director Jon Ludwig here. Through Dec. 31.

Dad’s Garage offers a new take on the humbug Christmas classic with INVASION: CHRISTMAS CAROL. This nutty interpretation of the Dickens’ favorite throws all the conventional aspects of the story out the window, replacing them with a delicious improv flavor as different spirits visit every evening, to the surprise of even the cast! Through Dec. 23.

Fabrefaction Theatre Company gives Richard O’Brien‘s infamous ROCKY HORROR SHOW some seasonal shock treatment, resetting the Tony Award-nominated musical and inspiration for the cult classic movie, to the North Pole in a Christmas-themed run.  Through Dec. 23.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre‘s production of one of the most famous musicals of all time, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, plays at Marietta’s art-deco Earl Smith Strand Theatre! Running through Dec. 18, it aspires to become one of your favorite holiday activities (yeah, even more than warm apple strudel or schnitzel with noodles)!

Ongoing Exhibits

LIFE AND DEATH IN THE PYRAMID AGE: THE EMORY OLD KINGDOM MUMMY features the first public viewing in 50 years of the oldest Egyptian mummy in the Western Hemisphere, acquired from excavations at Abydos by Emory Theology Professor William A. Shelton in 1920. At Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum through Dec. 11, 2011.

Explore one of America’s most iconic theaters in AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING: HOW THE APOLLO THEATER SHAPED AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT, a special exhibition at the Atlanta History Center . Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater Foundation, the display includes historic and contemporary costumes, playbills, music scores, graphic images and recorded music. Through March 4, 2012.

PICASSO TO WARHOL, a special art exhibition at the High Museum of Art, features over 100 works of art from 14 of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Through Apr. 29, 2012.

If you know of a cool happening coming up soon, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.