“We will be moving momentarily.”
Last week I spent a few days bumming around small towns in middle Georgia on a meandering reporting trip where one of the only must-do’s was visiting both of the Yesterday Cafes that claim to have the best buttermilk pie in the state. This one was superior. But the other one looked just like it.
"We are all friends ... That's just kind of not right that we can't go to prom together."
Some students at Wilcox County High School in Wilcox, Ga., are planning what will be their school’s first-ever racially-integrated prom. I hate that this is something that has to happen but love so much that they’re doing it. But of course it’s tricky. Like the white-only and black-only proms that are held every year, the integrated prom is planned and funded independently from the school and so far ticket sales are flagging. They’re looking to fund this year’s prom and leave enough in the kitty that seniors can plan another one next year, too. If you want to help, they’re accepting donations right over here. Or you can buy a chicken plate! I want these kids to get, like, “Veronica Mars movie”-level cashmoney. It’s such a small thing, but such a big thing.
Know your rights.
East and West on North Avenue, this morning.
Voted.
The Decatur Book Festival is this weekend. I helped on the programming board this year so I’m especially excited about this one. There will be books and smart people talking about books and dogs and babies and popsicles. It is free. Decatur is adorable and right on MARTA. It should be raining only somewhat torrentially.
On Saturday, I’ll be moderating a panel with authors Lisa Zeidner and Lydia Netzer, who both have new novels about what it means to be human and weird and in love. I’m going to try hard not to confuse their names. (Event info)
On Sunday, there’s a launch party for the book produced by this year’s KIPP Scribes. The book has a perfect title—Read After Burning: Post-Civil War Stories Set In Atlanta—and it’s all historical fiction written by some of the most hilarious and remarkable and stunningly wise sixth, seventh and eighth graders I’ve ever met. Not sure if this is on the main schedule, but it’s at 2 PM at CORE Studio on the square.
That night I’ll also be introducing the great Austin Kleon as he makes his second stop in Decatur this year to talk about his book Steal Like An Artist. I think that’s one of the final events of the weekend, so please, come wring the dredges out of the festival with me (well, me for like two minutes) and one of my favorite blogger-people. It will be great. (Event info)
Here’s the full schedule.
SEEYA THERE, NERDS.
July 24, 1919
GA’s General Assembly rejected the 19th Amendment, denying women the right to vote.
It’s so cute how this state is pretty much forever on the wrong side of history!
It was no San Diego, but Decatur Square was pretty nice last night.
I wrote about the beautiful and strange and enchanting Howard Finster and his Paradise Gardens for The Paris Review’s blog. I love a lot of his paintings—this dinosaur is such serious business—but I think the clouds, all of them, are my favorites. I’m glad the place is finally getting the care it needs. If you’re ever in the neighborhood of Summerville, Ga., I absolutely recommend a visit. And then maybe make a stop at the best-named state park in Northwest Georgia, the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park? I mean, just a suggestion.
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