wanderlust ATLANTA's 2018 Photo Review

I believe 2018 was challenging for many in many ways, but also there were milestones, joyous events, and many reasons to celebrate. I'd like to focus on the positive...

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery

Since starting wanderlust ATLANTA in 2010, my favorite time of year for writing is my end-of-year recap because it's such a fun ride down memory lane and a reminder of how fortunate I am to be able to see and do so much. I'm grateful to the friends who've accompanied me in-person and fans online...you're all the reason I do this!

First, a quick summary of a few things that I did/happened to me in 2018 and then let's have a look at photos from 2018...

• I'm going to be an author! I inked a deal to author--and do the photography for--111 Places' Atlanta book! It's a dream come true!
• Completed a full year on the Board of Directors at Horizon Theatre before stepping off to fully focus on my book. "Thank you!" to Lisa and Jeff Adler, all the Horizon staff, and a phenomenal Apprentice Company for a wonderful experience!
• I got to be a panelist at a program for future bloggers and social media influencers through the Association of Food Bloggers.
• An awesome interview with totally awesome Jennifer Alice Acker, who got married in 2018! "Congratulations, Jen and Brandon!"
• An interview with Atlanta Rollergirls not long after my very first, incredibly exciting roller derby bout! A double-bout, at that!
• An interview with celebrity chef and author Hugh Acheson! I've been a fan for years and was grateful for this interview. Also dined at one of his restaurants in Athens!
• An interview with George N. Koulouris, owner of Grecian Gyro!

It was a fun year!

The Ballad of Klook and Vinette

My friend Elisa and I went to see "The Ballad of Klook and Vinette" at Horizon theatre starring the incredibly talented Brittany Inge!

Senoia Area Historical Society Museum

Make your way to Senoia, Georgia, and be sure to include a visit to the Senoia Area Historical Society Museum! 

Orchid Daze 2018

One of my favorite annual events at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is Orchid Daze, a beautiful reason to visit the garden in winter!

Hardman Farm State Historic Site

I highly recommend a visit to Hardman Farm State Historic Site for some fascinating history, historic homes and buildings, Indian mounds, and a lovely estate. It's just before Helen, Georgia, so make it a double-destination trip!

Georgia Renaissance Festival

This was my second year attending the Georgia Renaissance Festival...soooo much fun! Be sure to catch a performance by the Washing Well Wenches!

Duck Confit Flatbread at 5Church Atlanta

5Church Atlanta continues to be my favorite restaurant and my favorite dish: the Duck Confit Flatbread, although steaks are amazing and brunch is phenomenal!

Texas Locomotive

Seeing the Texas Locomotive fully restored (now on exhibit) was exciting and getting a behind the scenes tour of the Atlanta Cyclorama during restoration was fascinating!

Imaginary Worlds: Once Upon a Time

Imaginary Worlds: Once Upon a Time at the Atlanta Botanical Garden far surpassed anything I could have imagined! It'll be back next year, too, with new installations!

Atlanta Blooms! 2018

Tulips are my favorite flow so a visit (or several) to "Atlanta Blooms!" at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is an annual must-do.

NEUVOlution: Latinos and the New South

The Atlanta tourism landscape, in my humble opinion, doesn't give enough attention to how much Latino culture has shaped our international city. I was excited to see NEUVOlution: Latinos and the New South exhibition at the Atlanta History Center. 

Zoo Atlanta

I've been to Zoo Atlanta countless times, but this year I became a member! 

Georgia Guidestones

The Georgia Guidestones had been on my list of places to visit for years and I finally made the trek with my friend Wayne. In one word...fascinating!

Grecian Gyro

Many know of my love for Greek food, so dining at and interviewing the owner of Grecian Gyro was awesome! Can hardly wait to go again!

Watson Mill Bridge State Park

Visiting Watson Mill Bridge State Park was wonderful. The bridge was built in 1895 not using a single nail and it's still in use today!

Mercedes-Benz Stadium Tour

Early in the year I went on a tour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium with my friend Lauralyn and her husband Leo. Even if you've been here for a game, go on this grand tour!

Interview with Chef Hugh Acheson

Went to Athens, Georgia, specifically to dine at The National, one of Hugh Acheson's restaurants, and he granted me an interview!

Big Bird

Carroll Spinney, who acted Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, announced his retirement from Sesame Street this year. Fortunately for those living in and visiting Atlanta, we can see Big Bird and Oscar anytime at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

The Peace Tree at the Atlanta History Center

Every spring should include an exploration of the gardens at the Atlanta History Center. There are surprises around every corner!

Fox Theatre Ghost Tour

The Fox Theatre introduced a new and improved Ghost Tour this year!

Scarecrows in the Garden 2018

Great fun for kids and grownups alike, Scarecrows in the Garden is a must-see in October at the Atlanta Botanical Garden!

Travis Swann Taylor | Photo: Barry Holland

I announced this year that I'm going to be an author, a dream come true!

It was a good year and again I want to say how grateful I am for my friends and fans. The ultimate goal of my being a blogging has been and continues to be to encourage people to get out and explore their own city, to explore their "own backyards". 

Again, thank you to everyone for this wonderful journey!

3D Spaceships!

I attended a 3D printing class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) this evening...and we made spaceships! 

I was a little late in joining one of the scheduled 3D printing classes being offered at MODA, and I'm so glad I made it to one of them. And I'm ecstatic that there was a spaceship option!

There are still a number of classes available, specific to adults, families, and kids.

3D Printing Class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

Yes, I've been writing about MODA a lot lately, but if you know me at all, you know that it's one of my favorite museums in Atlanta. They have done a brilliant job of creating a "community", something other attractions do and do well, but MODA is exceptional at it. I even made a couple of new friends tonight. 

So, MODA has had three MakerBot 3D printers for the last couple of exhibitions and they've hosted a number of 3D printing classes, some of them themed to specific items, such as tonight's spaceship theme.

By a count of hands, our class decided to build a Star Wars X-wing Starfighter!

3D Printing Class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

The above photo is the work of classmate Andy, the model in the foreground being the object from which we worked. Actually, that's not totally correct...we worked from the brilliant tutorship of Neil Miller, MODA staff member and a designer. 

At the beginning of class Neil passed around several 3D printed spaceships...an X-wing Starfighter, a Millennium Falcon, and a U.S.S. Enterprise, as well as a 3D printed titanium ring that he himself designed. Of course I tried it on, and it fit! But alas, the ring wasn't on the auction block...I'll have to design my own!

Neil explained that 3D printing is a popular nickname for additive printing and a few other technical aspects of the technology, as well as color blocks—actual blocks—of the various colors available at MODA, my favorite being the transparent red!

3D Printing Class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

I'd met Neil at MODA quite some time ago (and appreciate his calling me by name during the class), and have seen him teaching other classes. He'd already shared a fair amount about 3D printing with me, as a visitor, but experiencing his tutelage as an instructor...the man is totally brilliant! And he possesses an amazing sense of humor, which he cleverly disguises, but it doesn't slip past a master sci-fi enthusiast. 

3D Printing Class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

The application we used tonight is a free multi-dimentional design program called "Tinkercad". 

Now...I think I'm a fairly bright and definitely a highly-skilled corporate communicator, but I've never used a design application like this. I know DreamWeaver and PhotoShop and Sony Vegas video editing...I do as much design work as I do writing, but this was a new—and exciting—experience! In the end, I learned a fair amount, given the newness of the program for me.

3D Printing Class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

However, my classmates were not only fellow sci-fi enthusiasts—we were ALL making spaceships, after all—they were quite brilliant designers. Neil complimented one guy on creating a number of 'extra' elements for a 'traditional' X-wing Starfighter! 

Everyone's excitement and enthusiasm was remarkable and rewarding...I felt lucky to have joined such a fun group of fellow classmates.

3D Printing Class at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

I had the honor of sitting next to Nicole, she and Andy were last-minute additions to the class (Thank you, Neil!), who was super excited about being able to participate...I knew immediately they would be great fun! 

Andy designed a perfect X-wing Starfighter, which you saw above, and Nicole designed her own custom, "star-studded" spaceship. 

One of the things that I love most about the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), which I've mentioned a number of times, is the community they've developed over the years. Attend an exhibition opening, go on a Field Trip, take a class...you'll discover for yourself the wonderful people who are part of the MODA family and MODA community.

Now, let me leave you with an absolutely brilliant video that Neil shared with us...

10 Reasons to Visit the Center for Puppetry Arts

There are far more than 10 reasons to visit the Center for Puppetry Arts...there are thousands! But for now, and in no particular order, here are 10 fun, festive, and otherwise wonderful reasons to explore the Center for Puppetry Arts...

Madame, Center for Puppetry Arts

1. You get to hang out with celebrities whose humor is evergreen! Have you met Madame?

Center for Puppetry Arts

2. You get to hang out with Queen Elizabeth I. She may not be the current Queen of England, but how often do you get to be in the presence of royalty?

Charlie Muskrat and Harvey Beaver, Center for Puppetry Arts

3. You get to hang out and make music with a muskrat and a beaver...and quite a few other Jim Henson creations!

The Pointer Sisters, Center for Puppetry Arts

4. You get to "Jump" with The Pointer Sisters!

Peter Pan, Center for Puppetry Arts

5. You get to fly with Peter Pan!

Lil' Patti, Center for Puppetry Arts

6. You get to sing and chat with Lil' Patti!

Center for Puppetry Arts

7. You get to hang out with lots of happy people...and happy puppets!

Cinderella, Center for Puppetry Arts

8. You get to try on shoes with Cinderella! Not really, but you can see a magical adaptation of the Cinderella story.

Skesis, Center for Puppetry Arts

9. You get to meet a larger-than-life Skesis from The Dark Crystal!

Pinocchio, Center for Puppetry Arts

10. You get to walk around with Pinocchio...just watch his step!

There you go...10 perfectly good reasons to visit the Center for Puppetry Arts, one of Atlanta's absolutely fascinating tourist and learning destinations.

The museum alone is home to more than 350 puppets, of all sorts. The total count doesn't include performances, classes, workshops, new exhibits, and an upcoming, quite significant expansion! Puppets, puppets, puppets!

Head to the Center for Puppetry Arts and explore. There's something for kids of all ages!

The Muppets Take Spring Street

Heading out to see the new Muppets Most Wanted film? Make it a double feature and hang out with Miss Piggy and Kermit...in 'person'! 

Atlanta is wonderfully fortunate to have a number of Muppets in residence...and soon we're going to have a LOT more! This is thanks to the Center for Puppetry Arts, which happens to be on Spring Street.

Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Miss Piggy

I'd love to see millions of tourists visit the Center for Puppetry Arts, as well as locals! The Center offers a lot more than most would think. Quite a lot more!

A few of the Center's offerings include: puppetry performances—for the whole family, as well as some adult-only shows; the extensive museum is phenomenal; a vast array of tour options; puppetry classes for all ages; a research library; and their signature annual fundraising event, the String Fling Gala. Mark your calendars now!

Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Kermit the Frog

I'm not sure when he joined, but today my favorite Muppet is Pepe the King Prawn...he makes me laugh! And I've always loved the Swedish Chef—one of the extremely few Muppets with human hands. 

The Muppets just make me smile, and often they make me laugh. Seriously, how can you not like them?!

Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Pigs in Space

I've loved the Muppets since the first time I saw them as an 11-year old kid. I still enjoy the movies and sometimes while YouTubing. And one of my favorite segments was Pigs in Space, with Link Hogthrob and Dr. Strangepork. 

Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Miss Piggy

The Henson family has generously gifted the Center for Puppetry Arts a significant portion of The Jim Henson Collection. Announced in 2007, they'll have approximately 400 puppets, and numerous other artifacts, to create a new exhibition, which will be housed in the Center's exciting expansion, set to open in 2015.

There's more information about the expansion and renderings in the main hall.

Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Kermit the Frog

Did You Know: In 1978, Kermit the Frog and Jim Henson himself, cut the ribbon to open the now world-renowned Center for Puppetry Arts.

Today, Brian Henson, Chairman of The Jim Henson Company, is also the lead judge on a new competition show on Syfy...Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The winner gets a creature/puppet making job with The Henson Company! 

Gigi Edgely, perhaps best know for her role in Farscape, for which The Jim Henson Company made the puppets/creatures, is the show's host.

If you're local or an event planner coming to Atlanta, you can rent any of the many facilities at the Center, whether for a birthday party or a corporate retreat. Where better to get the creative juices flowing...FUN!

Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Pigs in Space

In addition to the extensive Spring Street museum, the Center for Puppetry Arts also has an online exhibition, featuring puppets from all around the globe, grouped by continent. [online collection]. 

If you're planning a trip to Atlanta, I hope this has whet your whistle and piqued your curiosity enough to add the Center for Puppetry Arts to your visit itinerary. 

I should note that photography is not permitted in the museum, except at the entrance where the giant Pinocchio feet are. A huge "Thank you!" to the Center for Puppetry Arts for allowing me to make and share photos with you.




I'd already planned on seeing Muppets Most Wanted, but then I got to see Miss Piggy, Kermit, Link Hogthrob, and Dr. Strangepork, which made seeing the Muppets on the Big Screen even more exciting.

Now, head on over to the Center for Puppetry Arts...and please, tell Miss Piggy I said "Hello!".

Haddon Sundblom's Santa

Imagine your art being responsible for one of the most recognized people on the planet, via one of the most recognized brands on the planet! Haddon Sundblom was such a person. 

Through December 8, the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art brings us a glimpse of that marketing genius in the exhibition Haddon Sundblom: Santa Paintings. Conceived during The Great Depression, Sundblom gave us the Santa that so many around the world now know, love, and recognize today.

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Haddon Sundblom's Santa

Mass marketing had created many, many versions of Santa, but he was later more standardized by famous artists including Thomas Nast, J.C. Leyendecker, and Norman Rockwell. 

In 1931, The Coca-Cola Company contracted Sundblom to create a "Coca-Cola Santa" painting that would be used in their marketing materials, specifically to encourage consumers to drink Coca-Cola during the winter months. Up to that time, Coke was widely considered a summer drink. Now, there's a testament to how times have changed!

Sundblom created for The Coca-Cola Company at least one Santa painting every year through 1964! 

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Haddon Sundblom's Santa

I'd like to offer an enthusiastic "Thank you" to Oglethorpe for the show and to The Coca-Cola Company for contributing their works to this exhibition. What a wonderful opportunity to see such a remarkable and festive aspect of American culture and cherished history.

For the record, Sundblom used the popular Clement Clarke Moore poem T'was the Night Before Christmas as inspiration for this Santa paintings, a theme that remained constant throughout his time painting for the company.

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Haddon Sundblom's Santa

In the exhibition, with the many Coca-Cola Santa original paintings are ads based on those paintings. Actually, when I first ventured into Skylight Gallery, I didn't realize that what's what is on display—Sundblom's original paintings! What a wonderful surprise...they're magnificent!

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Haddon Sundblom's Santa

Although I'm of Native American (largest percentage), English, and Irish decent, my family followed the Hollander tradition of placing our shoes out on Christmas Eve. 

The familiarity to the actual tradition—placing shoes in the window, often with hay or carrots inside as a wishful trade for sweets—ended with the just the shoes. We placed ours under the tree and sure enough, that's where our individual gifts magically appeared the next morning--next to our shoes!

This visit to Oglethorpe was one time that I didn't at all mind seeing Christmas months and months before the actual holiday. 

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Haddon Sundblom's Santa

Haddon Sundblom: Santa Paintings is on display at Oglethorpe University Museum of Art through Sunday, December 8, along with two other prestige-caliber exhibitions. 

The other exhibitions are Victor Hugo: Selections from the Schlossberg Collection and Picasso, Braque & Léger: 20th Century Modern Masters, both also on display through December 8. More on the latter two later...

(Exhibition paintings are courtesy of The Coca-Cola Company)

Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time

What in the world???

If you've not yet been to see Extreme Mammals at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, you only have until August 18....and we all know what happens if you wait too long—you totally miss out!

"Extreme Mammals" at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Do I need to say anything beyond this photo? Didn't think so. 

Go check out the Fernbank Museum of Natural History...during Martinis & IMAX if you're looking for something to do on a Friday evening!