ATLRetro

Many couples celebrated last weekend, but in case you’re still at a loss on where to take that special person or you’re single and just want to get out, rather than stay home crying into the telephone, here’s ATLRetro’s last-minute top three things to do for Valentine’s Day. The full version of This Week in RetroAtlanta will be up later this afternoon.

1.  SWING THE NIGHT AWAY during Fox Ballroom Night at the Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom to the big band sounds of Joe Gransden and his 17-piece orchestra, with special guest Nashville jazz chanteuse Annie Sellick. Come early for free dance lessons from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and include a glass of champagne. Desserts and a full bar are also available for purchase.

2.   TREAT YOUR SWEETIE in the art deco elegance at Livingston across the street at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, built in 1911. Millionaire Mondays deals are on hold for Valentine’s Day, but Chef Zeb Stephenson has dreamed up a decadent three-course prix fixe menu which also includes a complimentary glass of bubbly. The regular dinner menu is also available, and for those who want to dine and dance at the Fox afterwards, find out about package deals at www.foxtheatre.org or call 404-881-2103.

3.  DATELESS? DON’T BE SORRY, GET SPLATTERED at VD EXTRAVAGANZA, DIRTY VS. DARLIN EDITION at the Graveyard Tavern in East Atlanta, which has won Creative Loafing’s award for Atlanta’s best bar to hook up for two years running. Festivities include whipped cream vodka, cupcakes, treats from PinUpGirl! Cosmetics and So Ba, giveaways and basket raffles hosted by www.SorryDARLIN.com, or delight your darker side with Labor of Love Smile Booth photos by Splatter Cinema, and kaiju dancin’ courtesy of deejays Dead Parris & Taradactyl.

From vintage Valentines to roses and chocolate, many of the romantic traditions that we take for granted now go right back to the early 20^th century.  And then there’s always the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929. With both in mind, this week is dedicated to lovers, but there’s also plenty to do if you’re drinking alone or prefer machine gun etiquette.

Monday Feb. 7

Tonight is Big Band Night with trumpeter/vocalist Joe Gransden and a smokin’ 16-piece big band playing jazz originals and favorites from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, Ray Charles and more at Café 290. Cover is just $10 and Joe’s special guest tonight is the Lovett-Ellington Jazz Ensemble.

Tuesday Feb. 8

It’s too very different nights at the movies at the Fox and the Plaza. First at the Fox, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival opens with JEWS AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN LOVE STORY, a rousing homage to the national pastime which charts the historic and cultural contributions of great Jewish major leaguers such as Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg and Yogi Berra. Showtime is 7:30 PM, with a swanky preshow reception for Red Carpet VIP ticket buyers at 5:30. General admission tickets are $10, but kids 18 or under wearing a baseball cap or baseball or softball uniform. Or kids battle nasty, pint-sized demons from a hole in a suburban backyard when Splatter Cinema goes back to the ‘80s with THE GATE (1987) at the Plaza. The fun starts at 9 with a chance to get your free photo taken in a realistic recreation of a scene from the movie and to check out the merchandise table.  On the musical front, grab your horn and join Joe Gransden again in a jazz jam session starting at 9 PM at Twain’s in Decatur.

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Silver Scream Spookshow Presents FRANKENSTEIN (Universal, 1931); Dir. James Whale; Starring Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke; Plaza Theatre, Jan. 29., 2010, 1 p.m. kids matinee & 10 p.m. adult show

You know him as the “Retch,” lovable, laughable sidekick to Professor Morte at the Silver Scream Spookshow. Or if you don’t, you’ve missed out on one of the most creative collaborations in Atlanta—an ATLRetro five-star must-see.

Like the Frankenstein monster who will haunt the Plaza’s big screen this week, Shane Morton raised the old-time live and TV spookshow from the dead, putting Atlanta on the map as having one of the nation’s most active classic horror scenes (watch for a feature on Plaza twisted sister Splatter Cinema in the next few weeks). Before the movie, audiences are tricked and treated to a manic one-of-a-kind variety show featuring magic tricks, fun-filled frights and song & dance inspired also by the zany spirit of the PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW. But Shane couldn’t have done it without unearthing a terrifying, titillating and talented team of cast-members such as Nick Morgan (Mumbobo the witch doctor, the conspiring Dr. Wertham), Amy Dumas (Pandora the spooksmodel), Gayle Thrower Rej (Persephone, spooksmodel in training), Nick Hood (rock ‘n’ rollin’ Frankenstein “all the way from Horrorwood, Karloffornia!”), the gorgeous guys and ghouls of Blast-Off Burlesque, and Waterhouse.

ATLRetro caught up with Jon recently and asked him what it’s like to costar in one of the city’s coolest creations, as well as what the multi-talented, self-described “ADD personified” writer/actor/musician/DJ/rasslin’ manager is up to with regard to his numerous other projects.

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