Talk of the Town - Week at a Glance July 22 2000

Music

A match that could be made only in the melting pot of today’s cross-cultured music arena, soul diva Macy Gray joins Grammy Award-winning Santana for a tour that is sure to tickle the fancy of anyone with a funky bone. Expect an opening by Gray with songs from her latest, On How Life Is, an inspiring show by the Latin master performing hits from Supernatural and a duet pitting soul to soul for a rendition of the Beatles’ “And I Love Her.” July 22 at 8 p.m. $28.75-$61.75. Lakewood Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Way. Call 404-249-6400 for information.

The boys of De La Soul are back to prove that three really is the magic number. Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Pasemaster Mace follow the road to ATL via the Spitkicker Tour after a four-year hiatus from recording. Hear an introduction to their new release Art Official Intelligence due out in August, as well as the goofy rhymes of Biz Markie. July 23. 8 p.m. $22.50. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. Call 404-659-9022 for information.

Battle of the Bands will seem like a sissy fight compared to the competition brewing between these spinsters. DJs Mayhem, Kia, Protégé, Ninja Kid, NuLogic and more mix it up for Summer Skool, a single elimination DJ tournament presented by the Deja Vu Project July 19. Doors open at 10 p.m. Ages 18 and up. $7. Ladies get in free before midnight. Fusion, 550 Amsterdam Ave. Call 404-872-1103 for information.

Art

Jazz legends Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and others are immortalized in the photo documentary project, Still Here: Swinging, by Atlanta photojournalist Jim Alexander. The exhibit of 30 now deceased African-American jazz musicians and their biographies is on display as part of the National Black Arts Festival July 24-Aug. 8. Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. noon-6 p.m., Sun. 2-10 p.m. Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, Call 404-522-8980 for information.

History

Commemorate the Battle of Atlanta on its 138th anniversary July 22 with special events being held at various sites around town. Oakland Cemetery presents a tour, led by volunteer docent Larry Upthegrove, through the cemetery to some of the final resting places of famous military leaders, soldiers and unsung heroes of the Civil War. $3-$5. 248 Oakland Ave. 404-688-2107. And there’s never been a better time to visit the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum. Well-known storyteller and historian Jay Cain will entertain with stories of soldier life, re-enactors will demonstrate cooking, musket firing and more at an encampment in Grant Park, and the Cyclorama will educate on the forgotten facts of the War Between the States. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $4-$5. Call 404-624-1071 for information.

Sports

Sydney may be a pipe dream, but you can still compete in a little friendly competition this summer at the Georgia Games. Amateurs, disabled athletes and young aspiring athletes can sign up now for the opportunity to participate in common Olympic sports like soccer, swimming and track and field or specialty events like table tennis, ultimate Frisbee and roller skating. The games begin July 21 with the Opening Ceremony featuring a parade of athletes, music, entertainment and special guests. 7:30-9 p.m. $6-$8. Opening ceremonies take place at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Georgia Tech, 10th and I-75/85 Connector. Games take place at various locations. Call 770-528-3580 or log on to www.georgiagames.org for more information.?

Nightlife

The Earl is cooking up a night of mouth watering music, art, dance and spoken word July 21 The Lo-Cal Ingredients Party combines a dash of interpretive dance by Allison Powell, a smidgen of spoken word by Benson, a taste of eye candy by Ashley Neese, Madison, Jill Corson, Gabe Hienes and a teaspoon of tunes from Justin Hale, Deborah Lutz, Kricket, pH Balance and more. Gobble it up. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Road. 10 p.m., $5, Call 404-522-3950 or visit www.theearl.com for information.

Get shitfaced for a cause July 22 as 11 Buckhead bars host the second annual Buckhead Summer Bar Tour to benefit the Atlanta Hospital Hospitality House. Bar hoppers/crawlers will receive a 16-ounce cup, a wristband, a map and $1.50 Bud Light pints at all participating bars (Buckhead Beach, Lulu’s Bait Shack, Fuel, Zoo Bar and more) until 9 p.m. to aid in their voyage to oblivion. Registration runs from 1-6 p.m. at Lulu’s. Bring two cans of food for a reduced entrance fee and a clear conscience. $8-$11. Call 800-42-CRAWL for information.

Literature

Emory University’s Writers’ Institute and Festival welcomes award-winning author Dorothy Allison July 19-20 for a series of special events including a reading and discussion by Allison of her books (Bastard out of Carolina, Cavedweller) and the experiences that lie behind them. Aspiring authors will delight in a spontaneous discussion between Allison and fellow Southerner Jim Grimsley as well as a public master class on the craft of writing fiction in which Allison will use early drafts of her work as examples. Wed. 4 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m. Free and open to the public. Emory University Campus, 207 White Hall, 480 Kilgo Circle. Call 404-727-4683 for information.

Theater

Twenty-four hours gives you just enough time to sleep off a tequila-induced hangover, drive to the Big Apple or write, edit, cast, rehearse and perform a fresh, engaging new play. Think not? Feast your eyes on the end result of just such a miracle at The Best of the 24-hour Plays presented by Plain Sight Productions and Synchronicity Performance Group July 23-Aug. 8. The original performers, directors and writers from the top eight of the 48 scripts will convene once again to perform these short works. Sun. 9 p.m., Mon.-Tues. 8 p.m. $10-$12. Horizon Theatre, corner of Euclid and Elizabeth St. in Little Five Points. Call 404-584-7450 for information.