The World... This Weekend

Our Top 5 roundup of things to do in and around the ATL this weekend:

* COMEDY

Two Presidents & A Lotta Sketch

Relapse Theatre, 380 14th St NW

404-541-9911

www.relapsecomedy.com

Think Saturday Night Live's been slipping of late? Check out JaCKPie's latest comedic collection of sketches and short films, running the next three Friday nights at 8PM. The show tackles a variety of February-related topics, from Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington playing a beer-infused game of "I Never" and ill-conceived "Love Coupons" to first dates, last dates, and Goddesses you will never, ever forget. Directed by A. Bran Peacock with videos by Lev Gartman, the show features a talented cast of up 'n' coming improvisers and actors, with clever comedy that carefully trods the fine line dividing irreverence and ribaldry.

* FAMILY

Big Apple Circus

Stone Mountain Park

800-922-3772

www.bigapplecircus.org

Yeah yeah, we know the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is in town, with its escaped zebra providing news highlights thanks to a downtown chase the Keystone Cops would be proud of. But for those of us who prefer our entertainment NOT to come at an exotic animal's expense, this lesser-known outfit provides plenty of thrills. It also offers lots of laughs, thanks in no small part to former Ringling star Bello Nock, who bills himself as a "comic daredevil." Best known for his gravity-defying red hair, Bello comes off like a cross between Bozo and Evel Knievel, and was named "Best Clown in America" by Time Magazine. The show will also feature Spanish jugglers, a Russian trampoline troupe, trapeze artists and more, all under a big top where no seat is further than 50 feet from the stage. Show runs weekends through Feb 28.

* FUNDRAISER

Stir It 28- A Culinary Fundraiser for Haiti

SPACE Atlanta

1310 White St, Atlanta

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=287071848674&index=1

Formed by food bloggers Chrystal of Duo Dishes, Courtney of Coco Cooks and Bren of Flanboyant Eats, Stir It 28 is a multi-city fundraising event taking place in Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb 21 to raise money for the relief efforts in Haiti. Scott Serpas, Jayda Cabbell, Deborah Van Trece and April Higdon will be among many local chefs donating their delicious dishes to the cause, with wine compliments of Montaluce Winery and music provided by DJ Rev Lee. There will also be raffle tickets sold to win prizes including cookbooks, handmade jewelry, coffee, candles and more. 100% of the money raised will go directly to Share Our Strength and Yele Haiti.

* MUSIC

Goodie Mob Reunion

The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St

404-659-9022

www.tabernacleatl.com

With their 1995 debut album, Soul Food, Goodie Mob introduced international audiences to the sound of the Dirty South, infusing rap music with heaping doses of gospel and soul. But when Cee-Lo left the quartet after the release of its third album, the group unraveled, never achieving the commercial success of their Dungeon Family brethren in Outkast. After years of inter-band beef, Cee-Lo's chart-topping success with Danger Mouse under the name Gnarls Barkley, and a tragic car accident that left Khujo Goodie with an amputated leg, these influential architects of the ATL rap scene have finally reunited to remind audiences that trap, snap and crunk aren't the only hip-hop trends that originated in Georgia. This eagerly-awaited show (postponed to Saturday 2/20 due to the snow last weekend) will also feature up 'n' coming Atlanta MC B.o.B. (aka Bobby Ray) and my man Dres Tha Beatnik. Fans of progressive hip-hop will not want to miss out!

* DAY-TRIP

Macon Film Festival

Cox Capitol Theatre/Douglass Theatre

382 Second St, Macon

www.maconfilmfestival.com

Now in its fifth year, this 4-day festival (Feb 18-21) was created to celebrate the art of the moving image and to specifically highlight the world of independent cinema. Dozens of documentary, student and feature films will be presented, including a special closing night screening of the excellent new Hal Holbrook film, That Evening Sun. Other special events include an appearance by indie actress Illeana Douglas (To Die For, Ghost World), who is attending because the festival's Best In Show award is being renamed after her grandfather, Macon-born, Oscar-winning legend Melvyn Douglas. And 30 Rock star Jack McBrayer, also a Macon native, will be attending a Q&A screening of his film Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Saturday, 2/20. At just $50 for a Screening pass and $100 for a Festival pass that includes access to after-parties and receptions, it's a great deal for movie lovers.

QUEST FOR PERFECTION- My Interview w/Jeffrey Varasano

PIE IN THE SKY- JEFFREY VARASANO’S QUEST TO CREATE THE PERFECT PIZZA

By Bret Love

 

Growing up in the Bronx, Jeffrey Varasano loved watching his grandmother make traditional Italian fare. As an adult working as a computer programmer, he craved the New York-style pizza he’d grown up on, and embarked upon a Quixotic quest to craft the perfect recipe. The result was a 22,000-word manifesto that ultimately went viral, making him an Internet star and the subject of profiles in the New York Times and on NPR. Last March he opened his first restaurant, Varasano’s Pizzeria, which earned rave reviews. Here, he opens up about his pizza obsession, the elements of a great pie, and why he hopes his software days are behind him for good.

 

 

When and why did you first become obsessed with pizza?

 

The minute I moved to Atlanta, I started suffering from pizza withdrawal. I tried zillions of local places, but nothing was like the pizza I grew up with. I discovered that sprinkled among the 2000 corner shops in NYC there were 7 or 8 making really superior old school pizza, and I became fascinated with Patsy's Pizza in Harlem. It was founded in 1933, and the first time I went it looked like it was closed down. But when I tasted the pizza it blew me away. It was unlike anything I'd ever eaten, and I was hooked.

 

What do you consider the essential elements of a great pizza?

 

The primary thing is that the pizza must be memorable. There's no one style that's THE best. Coal fired or wood fired, Neapolitan style or New Haven style… any of these can be amazing or horrible. Having said that, they do have things in common. Most great pizza is baked in a very hot oven for a short time, slightly crispy on the outside but light and airy inside. The sauce should be very simple, just crushed tomatoes with a little seasoning.

 

How did your pizza recipe develop into such an Internet phenomenon?

 

I think I just struck a chord. People are very passionate about food, and pizza is one of the most popular foods, yet it's really hard to do right. When I started my research nearly every recipe was the same. It seemed like there was an exclusive club of great pizza makers, and no one running the chains or publishing recipes really knew what they were doing. Meanwhile there are zillions of people who have sampled great pizza before, but can't get it where they live. My site is not a simple set of instructions, but really delves into the artistry involved. For people who've been looking for a long time, finding my site is like the culmination of a quest. I've had several restaurant patrons actually cry because [the pizza] brought back memories of their childhood.

 

What convinced you it was finally time to open your own restaurant? 

 

The timing was perfect. A long software project was ending with me in burnout, and the pizza website went viral. I started to get literally thousands of letters, and that's when I knew I could build a business out of it.

 

What have been the biggest challenges and rewards thus far?

 

There are challenges in all areas, such as the construction taking longer than it should, financing, marketing and hiring. But the biggest challenge has been dough consistency. The tiniest change in timing, temperature or moisture can radically alter the dough. We've had whole batches ruined, and it takes a day or more to fix.  That's not fun when you have customers showing up whether the dough is right or not. The biggest reward is meeting lots of people. Compared to software engineering, which I did for 13 years, this is just plain fun!

DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM- movie review

DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM- When District 13 was released in 2004, it seemed to come out of nowhere, introducing American audiences to the French sport of parkour and establishing Pierre Morel (Taken) as one of the best action film directors in the business. Written by Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element), the story wasn’t the most original, following an undercover cop (Cyril Raffaelli) and an ex-thug (David Belle) attempting to infiltrate a gang in the ghettos of Paris in order to defuse a neutron bomb. But the action was spectacular, with scenes of Belle leaping from balcony to balcony to descend a high-rise building setting the stage for the sport’s mainstream exposure in the James Bond films. 

The sequel? Unfortunately, not so much. Besson’s script, which reunites Belle’s Lëito and Raffaelli’s Capt. Tomaso for a mission to bring peace among five rival gangs before a corrupt Secret Service leader convinces the President to nuke the whole district, seems outdated in its sociopolitical skewering. There’s virtually no parkour action to speak of, which puts all of the emphasis on plot and performance, which was never the original’s strong suit. Patrick Alessandrin isn’t quite the director Morel is: his editing lacks punch, his cinematography lacks style, and his storytelling lacks dramatic tension. 

The actors do the best they can with what they’re given, making what could’ve been an unmitigated disaster into a decent direct-to-DVD flick. Still, Ultimatum winds up being more of the same… only less. (D)  –BRET LOVE

(originally appeared in INsite Magazine)

SWANKY SUSHI- Steel Restaurant & Lounge Review

STEEL RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

950 West Peachtree St, Suite 255

404-477-6111

www.steelatlanta.com

 

If food prices were based solely on style, this swanky Indochine restaurant in the Plaza Midtown would be among the most expensive in Atlanta. The décor practically reeks of class, from the warm teak wood surroundings and eye-catching water wall behind the bar to lighting designed like sleek skyscrapers and eye-catching modern art by Shane Pennington. Fortunately, despite their slick approach, Steel’s prices prove surprisingly budget-friendly, averaging around $15 per person for lunch and $30 for dinner.

 

Sushi Chef Johnny Chu offers a range of rolls sure to tempt even the most devout nigiri nuts. From the tangy tartness of the Japanese Ceviche Roll (with chopped octopus, squid, shrimp, crab and red clam) to the feisty kick of the Firecracker Roll (spicy tuna with avocado, crab and jalapenos), Chu shows surprising creativity for a place where sushi isn’t the main focus.

 

Meanwhile, Executive Chef Christopher Maher’s menu draws from a variety of traditional Asian influences (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese), infusing them with decidedly modern flourishes. The simple Beef and Chicken Hot Rocks allows diners to cook their own meats right at the table, while Crabmeat Mango Spring Rolls put a refreshing tropical twist on the classic appetizer. From the delectable simplicity of Combination Fried Rice (rich with the flavors of beef, chicken, shrimp and spices) and the sweet tang of Mandarin Orange Chicken to signature entrees such as melt-in-your-mouth Chilean Sea Bass, Steel ultimately proves miles above your typical Asian restaurant.

 

And with an amazing wine selection, delicious cocktails such as the Blackberry Mojito and Lychee-tini,  and delectable desserts such as the Chocolate Maki Roll and Banana Egg Roll, it also proves a tempting spot in which to lounge away an entire evening. –BRET LOVE

REUNITED- My interview with Goodie Mob

REUNITED- KHUJO ON THE RETURN OF GOODIE MOB

By Bret Love

 

He’s been off hip-hop’s radar screen for a few years, but as one-fourth of Goodie Mob, Khujo (born Willie Knighton, Jr.) was one of the architects of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene. With their 1995 debut, Soul Food, Goodie Mob introduced international audiences to the sound of the Dirty South, infusing rap music with heaping doses of gospel and soul. But when Cee-Lo left the quartet after the release of its third album, the group unraveled, never achieving the commercial success of their Dungeon Family brethren in Outkast. 

After an overlooked solo album, an outing with Goodie Mob’s T-Mo as the Lumberjacks and an accident that left him with an amputated leg, Khujo returned with a new project called Willie Isz, a collaboration with producer Jneiro Jarel that found him charting more tripped-out sonic territory. In our recent conversation, he discussed his latest album, his new outlook on life and that eagerly-awaited Goodie Mob reunion.

 

 

Atlanta's hip-hop scene was primarily local before Outkast and Goodie Mob broke out. What was it about the Dungeon Family sound that made it resonate on such a universal level?

We come from Georgia, and there’s a lot of great style here, from James Brown and Ray Charles to Curtis Mayfield. The first seven songs we did for Soul Food were recorded in Curtis Mayfield’s studio, so it was like we was getting that vibe and the guys were playing over [classic soul] samples and making a new sound. Once cats from up North and the West Coast heard that we were original and weren’t trying to be like nobody, they gave us a chance. I remember at the Source Awards in New York when Outkast got their five mics, everybody booed them. But if we hadn’t gotten that boo I don’t think we would’ve been as great as we were. It’s original music and original lyrics, and everybody in the Dungeon Family has their own personality, kinda like the Southern Wu-Tang. 

A lot of people don't give you guys credit for coining the term "Dirty South." What does that phrase represent for you?

The Dirty South slogan really meant to me that it was hard in the South to break that ceiling and get a major situation in the music industry. Now people are just playing dirty, ya know what I’m saying?  It’s a dirty game, and people think they can just come to the south [to make it]. These country boys just don’t know that we play dirty down here, and that goes for the Confederate flag and the black flag.

How do you feel about the way the Southern hip-hop scene has evolved over the years?

 

Well, it has changed, because once we opened that door everybody came through. We don’t have control over who comes out of the Dirty South. I like what’s goin’ on now because it keeps it fresh, even though I might not agree with everything that’s on the radio. My thing is balance: Some of these cats, their album is wack but they playin’ their one good song. But you can put on a Goodie Mob or Outkast CD and listen to the whole record.

 

You've always been one of hip-hop’s more spiritual MCs. What are the challenges of being a spiritual man in a soul-sucking industry?

 

You just gotta have that foundation, you know? Down here in the South, we went to church with our mamas and grandmamas, so we had a strong spiritual foundation. But once you get into the industry and find out it’s more about the business side than the creative side, you gotta have somebody on your team that can handle that junk so you can stay creative.

 

Goodie Mob always seemed like such a tight-knit group. Can you talk about the circumstances that led to Cee-Lo going solo?

 

It was kinda hard, because we was still young back in those days and we just couldn’t understand what was going on. Cee-Lo and our manager was going off doing other adventures, and Cee-Lo was like, “Man, I don’t wanna deal with him right now.” We thought it was just a little spat or something, but then we had to do a whole album and a tour of Japan by ourselves. We got off tour and wanted to record another album, but LaFace was like, “Y’all can’t record no album without Cee-Lo.” So we couldn’t tour, we couldn’t make money, we couldn’t put a record out… it looked real grim. We was upset about that and told LaFace we wanted out [of our contract]. They let us out, but they kept Cee-Lo. I just didn’t understand that. Then we got a situation with Koch [and released] One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show, but everything that happened was real frustrating. Me and Gipp just had to keep pushing.

 

Then you lost part your leg in an auto accident in 2002.

 

As a spiritual person, it was like God showed mercy on me. That day I’d just gotten my wax, because I was releasing my first solo album, The Man Not The Dawg. We were having a good time all day, then that night we went to one more club. I didn’t realize I had so much to drink until the airbag opened up on me. It blew me away, ‘cuz when they rolled me into the hospital the doctor was like, “We’re gonna have to amputate that leg.” I never did get the chance to see my leg, but they said it looked like it had been in a meat grinder.

 

How has that changed you as a person?

 

You can just call me Humble Goodie, man. (Laughs) It’s been a while now, and sometimes I forget about it.  But I was moving kinda fast back then, coming home late all the time, so that shit had to slow me down. It was a wake-up call. My wife was pregnant with my fourth son and we had to take the baby early, so I was in a wheelchair making breakfast while she was in there with the kids. We been through a lot of stuff…

What were the circumstances that brought you and Jneiro together to form Willie Isz?

 

Jneiro found me and told me he had this remix he wanted me on. I didn’t know who he was, but music to me is always about creating something new. I got on the song and it was jammin’, so we decided to do a record together. We worked through the cyber-world– he kept sending me music and I kept smashing– until we came up with a whole album.

 

What was it about his sound that appealed to you?

 

That guy reminds me of Organized Noize’s production. The way he produces sounds a lot like Outkast, so I was like, “This feels like home; this is what I been missing.” It was kinda like a buffer for me, or like a crutch. But this guy is for real, and he’s released three other albums prior to this one. His system of doing things has been exercised real good.

Can you talk about what the concept behind Georgiavania means to you?

 

There have been a lot of collabos lately, and Georgiavania was a better way of saying that this was a collaboration between Pennsylvania and Georgia. It’s kinda like psychedelic medieval chamber music, but with rap lyrics. The guy doesn’t just use samples– he plays on the stuff too– and it’s so outer space to me that we can go anywhere with it. It was cool, because Jneiro was like we can’t cuss on this record, which made it even tougher.  I think people who like a variety of different songs on their record are gonna like this album.

 

How would you compare the Khujo of Willie Isz with the MC you were back in Goodie Mob's day?

I’ve gotten better! My homeboy Shorty B, who produced Too Short, was like, “You be jamming, but I wanna see you rhyme more.” I took that to heart and I’ve been working on my style, trying not to keep people in left field. Now that I’ve gotten older, I can play around with words more than I could back in the Soul Food days. I think there’s always room for improvement, and I keep that in the back of my mind.

There have been rumors of a Goodie Mob reunion swirling for years, with an official announcement on V-103 back in 2007. Where does that stand?

 

We’ve been in the Dungeon working, but we still have a ways to go. Organized Noize is on they job with the production. We’ve already got seven songs together, and I think two of them are gonna be the meat of the album. The other ones remind me of World Party cuz we don’t have people crying, ya know? Music is still supposed to be entertaining, so we have a couple of uptempo songs that can bang at the club. The vibe now is all love. We done got old and understand that a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.  Even though things were different when we was young, we never got mad at each other and ran up in each other’s houses, because it wasn’t anything serious. I went to the studio yesterday and saw Gipp and T-Mo, so now we’re just waiting on Cee-Lo. He’s finishing up a couple of projects that he’s got going on. Once he’s done with that, we’re gonna submit the songs to him and see which ones he thinks is the hypest. There’s no release date yet, but hopefully in 2010.

(originally appeared in Georgia Music Magazine)

WHO DAT?- Serpas True Food review

SERPAS

659 Auburn Ave, #501

404-688-0040

www.serpasrestaurant.com

 

Scott Serpas has long since proven his distinctive culinary vision in the Atlanta market, first working as sous chef under Kevin Rathbun at NAVA, then serving as Executive Chef at Sia’s and Mitra before earning rave reviews for his stylistic flair at TWO urban licks. So it wasn’t so much a question of whether the South Louisiana native would branch out with his own restaurant concept, but when and where.

 

The answer came last year with the launch of Serpas True Food in Studioplex, situated in the heart of the recently resurgent Old Fourth Ward district. Originally a cotton storage factory, the historic building’s blend of rustic tradition and ultra-modern design is a perfect match for the chef’s inventive menu, which blends Cajun classics with subtle Southwestern and Asian influences.

 

Start your meal with Fried Oysters: Served with pickled chiles and mirliton (a.k.a. chayote squash), they boast a perfectly piquant flavor that oozes over your taste buds. It’s in making such simple dishes into standouts that Serpas struts his stuff, whether it’s reinventing Pigs ‘n’ Blanket by stuffing them with andouille sausage and smoked mustard or prettying up Tuna Tartar by pairing it with green apples and chile sesame dressing. As for entrees, the Duck Breast with sweet potato puree and parsnips, Jumbo Sea Scallops with spaghetti squash and panang curry, and Beef Shortrib with potato celery gratin were all delightful examples of the keep-it-simple school of culinary thought.

 

Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the White Chocolate Cranberry Bread Pudding, which will melt in your mouth with a lusciousness that will leave you begging for seconds, if not thirds.  –BRET LOVE

ATLAS SOUND- Logos review

ATLAS SOUND

Logos

4AD

 

Say what you will about Bradford Cox’s unusual appearance (the result of Marfan syndrome, the same genetic disorder with which Joey Ramone was afflicted), attention-grabbing onstage antics (see: wearing Victorian frocks and acting like Stooges-era Iggy Pop) or undeniably eccentric artistic sensibilities. But there’s no denying that the Deerhunter frontman is one of the indie world’s most prolific creative forces. In 2008 Cox released his solo debut as Atlas Sound, as well as Deerhunter’s critically acclaimed second album, Microcastles. 

Now he’s back with an even weirder batch of experimental aural excursions, this time aided by Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox and Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. Strangely, Logos seems both more diverse and more cohesive than Atlas Sound’s debut, veering from sample-laden folk and ‘60s rock to indie-pop without ever emerging from Cox’s distinctive hallucinogenic haze. It’s still too challenging for mainstream tastes, but the album is surprisingly accessible compared to his previous work. –BRET LOVE