Life's a Bech(ely)

It's Official

2009-08-27T11:19:00.000-04:00

I've moved. I found a cleaner, easier way to get events and thoughts out of my head and onto the internets. Visit my new home today at http://lifesabechely.tumblr.com.

Can I borrow your truck?

2009-07-09T22:02:00.000-04:00

I have been exploring a new place to post my ramblings. I am considering making the move to Tumblr. Dear reader, take a look at the new home (MAYbe) and let me know what you think. You can click here or click the "Call Me" button on the blog. I am interested to know what my reader thinks.

What's going on?

2009-06-18T08:30:00.000-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, June 18, 2009 – Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Diving Through Decades

Piedmont Park Pool
Thursday, June 18, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
$75.00 (benefits the Piedmont Park Conservancy
Check out the new digs and enjoy drinks and food
www.piedmont.org

Carmina Burana & The Barber of Seville

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta
Saturday, June 20 @ 8:00 pm
$21 - $59
Two classics, one night
www.atlantasymphony.org

Moore in the Garden

Atlanta Botanical Garden
Daily, 9:00 – 7:00
$12.00 or $15.00
Time’s top 10 museum exhibits in the country
See 20 larger-than-life sculptures
www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Wood is Wonderful (gallery)

2312 Benjamin E. Mays Drive in Southwest Atlanta
M – F 9:00 – 3:00
Handcrafted art and classes
www.woodiswonderfulgallery.com

Decatur Beach Party

Downtown Decatur
Saturday, June 19, 5:00 – midnight
$6.50 in advance, $10 at the door
60 tons of sand, live music, boardwalk games and festival food
www.decaturga.com

Midsummer Music Festival

Candler Park
Saturday, June 20 @ noon
FREE ($10 for a bracelet to buy beer)
Guster & Rusted Root
www.midsummermusicfestival.com

Jersey Boys

Fox Theatre
Nightly, through June 21
$22.50 – $67.50
Follow Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from Jersey to fame and back
www.foxtheatre.org

The coolest thing I have seen all day

2009-06-17T13:19:00.002-04:00

And it isn't related to the new iPhone OS dropping soon. This SCAD student's final project is way better than an essay. Plus I love Röyksopp. This is Eple. [via Giz]

What's going on?

2009-06-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, June 11, 2009 – Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Bill Maher

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Friday, June 26 @ 8:00 pm
$39 - $72
Former star of Politically Incorrect and host of Real Time
www.cobbenergycentre.com

Jersey Boys

Fox Theatre
Nightly, through June 21
$22.50 – $67.50
Follow Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from Jersey to fame and back
www.foxtheatre.org

Easy Gardens of the South with Pamela Crawford

Barnes & Noble in Marietta
Saturday, June 13 @ 2:00pm
FREE
Gardening workshop with the author
www.bn.com

Whine About the Economy

Downtown Newnan
Friday, June 12, 5:00 – 9:00
$20 in advance, $25 at the door
Grab a glass the start your own bailout
Try the restaurants on Main Street while you are there
www.mainstreetnewnan.com

The Princess and the Pea

Kudzu Playhouse in Roswell
Through June 25
$8.00
You know the story, but the kids might not…
www.kudzuplayhouse.org

Premiere Party

Opera
Saturday, June 13, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
$25 (VIP packages available) benefits CHRIS Kids
Food, drinks, all the cool kids plus a silent auction to die for
Did I mention all the money benefits homeless youth?
www.premiereparty.org

Premiere Party - June 13, 7:00 - 10:00pm

2009-06-09T21:55:00.001-04:00

The Premiere Party is this Saturday. If you are looking for hot guys, cold drinks, a little dancing and one of the biggest and best silent auctions in town, check out this party. Tickets are selling fast at $25, and you know all the proceeds go to help homeless youth. Heck, you should just be a sponsor! Click over to www.premiereparty.org to get your tickets.

Duh

2009-06-09T18:32:00.001-04:00

Thanks for wasting a cover, Adam. [via Towleroad]

Funniest thing I've seen today

2009-06-05T00:36:00.004-04:00

Nice thighs, Joe.

What's going on?

2009-06-04T12:30:00.001-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, June 4, 2009 – Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Georgia Mountain Roots & Music Festival

Hiawassee
June 5 – 6 (see site for times)
$15 – $35
Music, arts, crafts and… (you know what’s coming next) FESTIVAL FOOD
www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

NKOTB (New Kids on the Block)

Lakewood Amphitheatre
Thursday, June 4 @ 7:30
$10 – $79
Five words: Danny, Donnie, Joey, John, Jordan
www.nkotb.com

Virginia Highlands Summerfest

Virginia Highlands
Saturday & Sunday
FREE (but donations to VA-HI neighborhood association are accepted)
I love the chance to drink in the middle of the street in the middle of the day (and buy art)
www.vahi.org

Dancing4fun's Latin Rhythm & Swing hor d'oerves and Dancing in Gwinnett

Downtown Lawrenceville
Saturday, June 6, 6:45 pm – 2:00 am
$15 for food, drink and food and drink calorie-burning (they call it dancing)
Dance the night away – literally
www.dancing4fun.com

Tellus (Northwest Georgia Science Museum

Cartersville (40 minutes North of Atlanta – of Row, row, row your boat 53 times)
Now Open!
$8 – $12 – includes a fossil dig
Tonight (Thursday, 06/04) Astronomer Rick Williams talks about dwarf planets
www.chattnaturecenter.org

Han Solo P.I.

2009-06-03T15:24:00.000-04:00

I saw this on Gizmodo, and needed to share. Too funny!

What's Going On?

2009-05-28T09:38:00.001-04:00

WhatComing out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, May28, 2009 – Wednesday, June 3, 2009

If you missed it this morning, Alex joined me to discuss marriage equality. I'll try to get the audio up later so you can listen.

Alter Ego Pop Art

Art Station Gallery in Stone Mountain Villaga
Opens Friday (with reception 7:00 – 9:00 pm); closes Aug 22
FREE (donations accepted)
Great pop art from a talented local artist
www.artstation.org or www.alteregopopart.com

Super-Duper Mini Chefs

Discover Mills
Saturday, may 4, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
FREE
Fun in the kitchen, learn kitchen safety and how to cook, and bring canned goods to help the less fortunate
www.discovermills.com

Dachau before Dachau

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
Now through Tuesday
$10
First a burgeoning artist colony, then the first German concentration camp – see the rare collections of artists from Dachau
http://museum.oglethorpe.edu

Brenau Barbecue & Banjos Cookin’ College

Brenau University Amphitheatre
Friday, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
$69
Taugh by two-time international barbecue champion Bill Morris, you’ll know all you need to know about all the parts of a pig (and a little ‘bout the banjo, too)
www.brenau.edu/bbq

Friday Night Flicks

O’Neal Pizza in Douglasville
Friday, entertainment @ 8:00 pm, movie @ 9:00 pm
FREE
Enjoy Grease and some not-so-greasy pizza
www.visitdouglasville.com

Free Films on the Green

Swift -Cantrell Park in Kennesaw
Friday, movie starts at dark
FREE
Enjoy Hotel for Dogs this week
http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov

Alex is Running (for City Council)!

2009-05-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

You've earned five points if that was your guess! Alex Wan, my one and only, is seeking Atlanta City Council District 6 seat currently held by Anne Fauver; the district encompasses much of Midtown, including the Morningside/Lenox Park, Virginia Highland, Ansley Park, Druid Hills and Candler Park neighborhoods.

What can you do?
Spread the word via Twitter and his Facebook group.Visit www.alexwanforatlanta.com to learn more about Alex and District 6, sign up to be a volunteer, host a party or make a donation.Be sure to vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2009!
More to come!

Big News

2009-05-26T21:30:00.001-04:00

I have something exciting to share...tomorrow.

Check back tomorrow for all the details!

Too cute for words

2009-05-25T21:52:00.002-04:00

What's Going On?

2009-05-14T08:15:00.000-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, May 14, 2009 – Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Petapalooza

Suanee Town Center
Saturday, May 16, noon – 6:00 pm
FREE
Bring the pets and the kids for live music, pet adoptions, Frisbee demos and festival food
www.star94.com

Zanna, Don’t!

Actor’s Express Theatre
Opens Thursday (through June 20)
Recession-Buster tickets as low as $15 (regular $25 - $30)
An award-winning musical romp through Heartsville High
www.actors-express.com

Cocktails in the garden

Atlanta Botanical Garden
Every Thursday, 6:00 – 10:00 pm
$15 for adults, $9 for seniors
Moore (and Martinis) in the Garden this month (that’s Henry Moore)
Flower Hour (6 – 7) drinks are only $3.00
www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Go Green Get Rewards Festival

Underground Atlanta
Saturday, May 16, noon – 5:00 pm
FREE
Celebrate the launch of a new website to support environmentally-friendly nonprofits
Crafts, green vendors, green fashion show and a live performance by Dionne Farris
www.GoGreenGetRewards.com

Emerging Art Scene at the Stacks

The Stacks at the Fulton Cotton Mills
Friday, May 15, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
FREE
Wine & Cheese & Emerging Art
www.leitchfineart.com

Black Carpet Premiere

A private Buckhead Residence
Saturday, May 16, 6:30 – 11:00 pm
$150 (benefits the Dallas Austin Foundation)
Call for tickets - (678) 686-5676
Wine, dine and hang with Tyler Perry, Fantasia, Sean Combs, Outkast and Russell Simons in old Hollywood style
www.dallasaustinfoundation.org

What's Going On?

2009-04-30T08:15:00.001-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe
Thursday, April 30, 2009 – Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Third Annual Purple Dress Run

Starts at Blake’s on the Park
Saturday, May 2, 12:00 pm
$25 in advance, $30 at the door – you provide the purple dress
Raise awareness of Atlanta Rugby and funds for YouthPride
www.purpledressrun.org

Where’s the Festival?
25^th Annual Sweet Auburn Springfest

Auburn Avenue at Courtland
Friday – Sunday (see site for times)
FREE (but you know you gotta eat!)
Celebrate the largest multicultural festival in the southeast
This year’s theme is Linking the Global Family
www.sweetauburn.com

Shecky’s Girls Night Out

Biltmore Hotel Ballroms
Wednesday & Thursday, May 6 & 7, 5:00 – 10:00pm
$25 - $30 in advance (FREE for insiders)
Food, drinks and fashion
girlsnightout.sheckys.com

HRC Dinner & Silent Auction

Hyatt Regency Downtown
Saturday, May 2, 5:00 - 11:00 pm
Support equality in Atlanta and throughout the country
Buy your ticket by Saturday
www.atlantahrcdinner.org

Fiesta Atlanta

Centennial Olympic Park
Sunday, May 3, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
FREE (all day!)
Concerts, drinks, crafts and authentic food
Bring the kids
www.fiestaatlanta.com
Then head over to No Mas Cantina in Castleberry Hill for more fun

Restaurant of the Week – Serpas True Food

Studioplex Lofts (by the huge tower on Auburn Street in the Old Fourth Ward)
Unique Converted cotton mill is unique while still honoring its past
Scott Serpas was at Two Urban Licks (if you liked it there, you’ll love it here)
One more day for the fried oysters, but you can still try the eggplant hushpuppies, tuna tartar and the mushroom tostadas
Dinner would be wonderful with either the curried scallops or the beef shortrib with celery root gratin
End with a light ice cream sandwich, and your thanks to the chef!
Make your mother’s Day brunch reservations today (get sunny side eggs in their own skillet + breakfast sandwiches)
www.serpasrestaurant.com
More details about my dinner later this week right here on the blog

R.I.P. Pontiac

2009-04-27T19:02:00.001-04:00

A moment of silence on the death of Pontiac. My first car was a 1982 Grand Prix.

Going in again + the bees future meals

2009-04-26T14:27:00.001-04:00

Here is a vodeo of Alex and Todd checking the progress of the bees build out and the beetle traps they placed earlier this week. I also have some pictures of the garden below the video. This is what we hope the bees will dine on as more of the garden begins to bloom. At the end of the slideshow is a piece of honeycomb that we pulled out (it is in the video, too).

New Hot Spot

2009-04-23T21:50:00.000-04:00

I just got back from what I believe will be THE new place to be in Atlanta - The Livingston. It is beautiful on the inside (in the Southwest corner of the Georgian Terrace), and I hear the food is, too. I'll be visiting for dinner in the coming weeks and let you know what I think. Until then, stop by and have a drink in the posh bar.

See you out!

What's going on this week?

2009-04-23T08:15:00.000-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, April 23, 2009 – Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Inman Park Festival

Inman park Neighborhood
All weekend
FREE to attend
Live music, artist market, tour of homes and the most fun parade allowed my law
www.inmanparkfestival.org

Fallout Boy

Gwinnett Arena
Thursday @7:00
$25 - $35
My favorite – Pete Wentz – is in town…he brought his band, too
www.falloutboy.com or www.gwinnettcenter.com

Shaken Not Heard

Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur
Friday & Saturday @ 8:00; Sunday @ 3:00 & 5:00
$15; $25; $35; $45 (save $5.00 on matinees)
Not to miss if you grew up in or around religion
Panel discussion following each performance
www.agmchorus.org

Del Shores: The Storyteller

Actors Express Theatre
Friday @ 11:00 pm – one night only
$25
Meet the man and hear the stories behind Sordid Lives
www.actors-express.com

Big To-Do at the Zoo

The Zoo, duh
Saturday @ 5:30 pm (come early to see the animals)
$70 for adults, $35 for kids (benefits pediatric care for Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta)
Music and entertainment, food and drinks, meet the animals and more
www.hospice-atlanta.org

Atlanta Film Festival

Locations all over town
Wraps up April 25
$10 for an individual; $300 for all-access pass
10 days; 166 films
Still to come: teen screen, comedy shorts, documentaries and Rudo & Cursi
Staring Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna from Y tu mamá también
www.atlantafilmfestival.com

New bees moving in

2009-04-21T18:05:00.002-04:00

You can see pictures of last night's load in, but now that they have spent a day exploring their new home, it was time to transfer the frames into the permanent hives. Watch Alex and Todd transfer one while I learn that wearing shorts near the bees isn't a good idea.

More queens moving in

2009-04-20T21:51:00.002-04:00

Three to be exact. We have been eagerly awaiting the bees since February. A few weeks ago our friend, Kevin noticed a swarm of bees and called his neighbor who captured them and brought them to our house. See that video below with some pictures from the hive prep party. This afternoon Alex got the call, and we went to pick up our two nucs tonight. Below is a bit of video and a few pictures of our new guests. More to come!

What's Going On?

2009-04-16T08:30:00.001-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, April 16, 2009 – Wednesday, April 22, 2009

73^rd Annual Dogwood Festival

Back in Piedmont Park
All weekend (see site for times)
FREE to go, but you’ll want to do some shopping
Artists, live music and FESTIVAL FOOD
www.dogwood.org

Atlanta Film Festival

Locations all over town
Now through April 25
$10 for an individual; $300 for all-access pass
10 days; 166 films
Celebrate Mexican filmmakers and Gone With the Wind turns 70!
www.atlantafilmfestival.com

Love Makes a Family

Embry Hills United Methodist Church
Saturday, April 18, 3:00 – 6:00pm
$5.00 per person; $20 max for a family tickets are limited
Books, art and a concert for all types of families
www.embryhillsumc.org

219: The Show

Fine Line Gallery( 465 Boulevard SE)
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 – 11:00 pm
FREE, but $20 gets you a bottomless glass & a raffle ticket ($25 @ the door)
Raise awareness and funds to help the pet overpopulation problem in Atlanta
The art (all 219 pieces) represent the number of animals killed each day in Atlanta shelters
www.aarfatlanta.org

The Georgia Renaissance Festival

The Fairground in Fairburn
Opens this weekend
$19.95; $17.95 60+; $8.95 kids
Get dresses up and eat some food on a stick!
www.georgiarenaissancefestival.com

Restaurant of the Week – craft

Located next to the Mansion in Buckhead
Great modern American cuisine
Farm-fresh, locally-grown, seasonal products
Oysters (until the end of the month)and braised beef short ribs
Try several sides (you can’t miss)
www.craftrestaurant.com

Leave Your Umbrella at Home

2009-04-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

what's Going on This Week

2009-04-09T19:05:00.000-04:00

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe
Thursday, April 9, 2009 – Wednesday, April 15, 2009

25th Annual Sweet Auburn Springfest
• Auburn Avenue at Courtland
• Friday – Sunday (see site for times)
• FREE (but you know you gotta eat!)
• Celebrate the largest multicultural festival in the southeast
• This year’s theme is Linking the Global Family
• www.sweetauburn.com

Atlanta Braves – Home Opener
• Turner Field
• Friday, April 10, 7:35 PM
• $6 – $80
• The boys of summer take the field
• www.atlantabraves.com

Robin Thicke and Jennifer Hudson
• The Fabulous Fox Theatre
• Tuesday, April 14, 8:00 pm
• $49.50 - $87.50
• Who is the bigger diva?
• www.foxtheatre.org

Where in the world is Hot Gay Joe?
Lady GaGa
• Center Stage Atlanta
• Thursday, April 9 @ 8:00 pm
• $20.00
• A-red wine….Ga-Ga
• www.centerstage-atlanta.com

Restaurant of the Week - Market
• Located in the W Hotel in Buckhead
• Beautiful, two-story, modern ambiance
• I enjoyed the goat cheese custard with pecans and beets; lamb sausage pizza and the short ribs with carrot puree
• www.marketbuckead.com

The Atlanta Film Festival begins next week – get your tickets now; details on April 16 @ 8:15 am