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TT: Regarding Antiques Roadshow’s Tulsa, Oklahoma, episode where you delivered the show’s highest appraisal to date, of five rhinoceros horn libation cups that were worth between $1M and $1.5M. Did you appraise the cups on the spot, in that filmed ten-minute segment?

LM: I did. Those were not the first rhinoceros horn cups I’d ever seen. I’d personally handled and sold hundreds of them prior to seeing those. I knew within two minutes exactly what they all were. Now, it took another five minutes to figure out the value because the values are based on what other comparable items have sold for. In this particular instance, the market for rhinoceros horn cups was very volatile. I spoke with my colleagues at the same table and said the market for these things is really up and down. They more or less came to the decision that I had,

in terms of value, and that’s what I went with.

TT: You’ve said that you’re drawn to Chinese art because of the enduring craftsmanship with which the items were constructed. What makes Chinese items endure time better than other antiques?

LM: The immediacy of each object, to my experience, was the same as it was for the individual for whom it had been created hundreds of years earlier. That kind of connection through an object was really fascinating to me and still fascinates me. The person who had seen it—I don’t know anything about them, other than that they liked this object, they were intrigued enough by it, they commissioned it, they had it made, and that’s all I know. It’s an insight into their world that I otherwise never would have had. The Chinese

were innovators in a number of different spheres. The type of ceramic wares they made in China, particularly during the Ming Dynasty, included porcelain, which requires a different type of composition than the ceramics that were available in Europe at the same time. Porcelain is durable, it retains original colors for a very long time, and there’s no degradation in the experience for someone who owns the object.

TT: What is your favorite museum in the world?

LM: That’s a tough question. I would have to say the Victoria and Albert Museum. I really love the V & A for several reasons, one of them being the building itself—it’s a High Victorian building that incorporates various historical architectural styles, and as you go into the building you can see...Continued Page 2

Q & A with Antiques Roadshow’s Lark Mason

THE CENTER

March is Youth Arts Month!

Mark your calendar and plan to enjoy one of our amazing free art experiences.

Learn more at�www.thomasvillearts.org

Plan to attend the Arts District Design Charrette...Deets Page 2...

Rick’s Oyster Bar is OPEN! {on Jackson near Pinetree}...

Triple J Plumbing is opening a new showroom...Downtown! Details to the left...

The Townie has a new Editor, Jennifer Westfield...Welcome, Jen!

There’s a new store coming to Broad Street...details soon...

Psst...got a whisper? send it to yourtownie@gmail.com...orFacebook us...

Whispers.

We Townies know how to have a good time, and we certainly know our cocktails. Here are a few of our favorites for spring.

Lark Mason is a leading expert in Chinese art and furniture, an adjunct professor at NYU, the author of one book and translator of two others, and a longtime appraiser on PBS’s beloved Antiques Roadshow. After more than two decades with Sotheby’s New York, in 2003, Mason left and founded his

own auction house and online auction platform, Lark Mason Associates and iGavel Auctions. He is one of the Thomasville Antique Show’s guest lecturers

this year and will be on hand to evaluate personal items.

If our home is where we get away from the world, then it could be said that our bathroom is where we get away from the home. It can be a sanctuary and a spa; it is the one place where no one will disturb us {mothers of small children are excluded, unless their bathroom has a deadbolt}. Unfortunately, not all bathrooms come relaxation-ready. What is one to do if their bathroom has dated fixtures and a showerhead with so little pressure that the outdoor hose seems a better alternative? Breathe a sigh of relief that you are a Thomasville resident. Water Lily Showroom, named for the simple but elegant flower, will offer South Georgia and North Florida a place to view and experience the latest in bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and get professional advice on finding the fixtures that fit your needs and preferences.

Water Lily will be the only showroom of its kind between Orlando and Atlanta, and is the brainchild of brothers Claud and Sammy Davis of Triple J Plumbing Supply. They were already in the plumbing supply business, selling to trades, but desired to expand to include a retail showroom offering the finest kitchen and bathroom fixtures currently available. Their plans to open such a showroom were formulated...Continued Page 3

Scoop: Water Lily Showroom

3Issue No.Thomasville’s Only Thomasville’s Only

Local Libations

It’s still chilly out, but I’m craving citrus - are you? Even if it’s just to ward off the scurvy, have a go at Blue Coop’s Dolin Daquiri. It’s not like those other daiquiris. Blending Genepy de Alpes, Leopold Brothers Maraschino and lime juice, it’s puckery with a hint of sweet. It’ll perk you up and slow you down, all at the same time. If you’re looking to warm up and you’re not feeling a big heady Red, try The Vavilov Affair. It combines Captain Applejack, Medley Brothers Bourbon, demerara sugar, Angostura Bitters and a fresh apple slice. It smells more apple-y than it tastes, so, if you like your drinks hard, don’t shy away. Served with a single, giant cube of ice, this one’s sure to set you right for the rest of your evening.

At Liam’s, they’re feeling pink and rosy with the Noble Elder Cocktail. It’s sweet hue belies its slightly spicy bite. They start with St. Germain elderflower liqueur, Lejon Extra Dry Vermouth, add a few drops of rose water and Peychaud Bitters, then it’s shaken {not stirred} and poured into a chilled martini glass. They top it off with brut champagne and it’s just what the doctor ordered after a long week.

Chop House on the Bricks’ Georgia Peach Mojito will have you feeling spring fever in no time. A mix of Mount Gay rum, pureed Georgia peaches and muddled mint, it’s simple and just plain good. Not too sweet, not too minty, it’s the perfect after-work wind-down. Plus, if you can’t get a reservation, you may still be able to enjoy the Chop House’s dinner fare…wait patiently and a seat may appear at the bar, which is plenty big enough to hold starter and entree plates. Plus, if you sit in the middle, you can people watch incognito in the bar’s back mirror.

Don’t forget to raise a glass…To Thomasville!

- Bunny B

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Yes, they’re both mine. Why do you ask?

Boston, Georgia, is one of the coolest small towns that most people Have probably never heard of. One of the recent additions to an already

blossoming Boston is The Boardwalk, which is owned and operated by Rich and Lori Curtis.

The Boardwalk Bolsters Boston

Rich and Lori recently converted the 100-year-old Boston Hardware and Lumber Company building into The Boardwalk, an art studio, gallery and event space.

The Boardwalk held a successful grand opening reception on February 1st, where more than 150 people turned up to check out the new space for contemporary art and fine crafts. The gallery features Rich and Lori’s work as well as that of other artists that they selected. Rich indicated that they are planning on curating themed gallery shows and rotating the artwork every couple of months. All artwork featured in the gallery will be available for purchase.

Prior to the grand opening, The Boardwalk hosted an iPhone photo and German folk painting class, and Rich says that

they have several other programs and services in the works. Children can look forward to summer art camp and a kids’ night, and adults can plan on attending drawing and painting workshops. The Boardwalk will soon offer conservation matting and framing of artwork, as well as other specialized services. The main gallery space will be available for rent for special events, parties, and meetings.

They also have their own series of linocut designed and hand printed cards for sale. Rich stated that larger quantities of these cards can be ordered and custom designs can be created by order for special occasions for an additional cost.

The Curtises have a blog that chronicles their journey from when they first acquired...Continued, Page 3

FEB 21 - mar 6

Editor in chief + PublisherBunny Byrne

Managing EditorJennifer Westfield

ColumnistsLauren Basford J. David Bray, Jr.

Denise PurvisJ.K. SlaughterAbrie Soileau

Contributing WritersJ. L. Cox III Laura Floyd

Rebekah GiambroniDenise Purvis

Jon Towns

Comics ArtistsLaura Floyd

Benjamin GardnerDavid Longstreet

DistributionLoren Towns

BloggingBunny Byrne

Website MaintenanceJon Towns

Copy EditorAbrie Soileau

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Table for Nine Living large in the Ville

Team Lean is in full swing. My friends and I have formed the team 17 Kids and Counting Calories, and we are determined to exercise more. There are many opportunities around town for exercise. Walking, for example, burns a lot of calories, but taking a walk with my children is much like celebrating Festivus: before long, there will be feats of strength and an airing of grievances.

My children do love to go on walks on Dawson Street. Last week as everyone was gathering outside, I found Diligent-Child smacking his tennis shoe on the kitchen counter.

“Why are you doing that?” I asked.

“There are still more roly-polies in there,” he answered.

When all the creepy crawlies were evicted, they all trooped up the street, singing at the top of their lungs:

My turtle swims sideways!

Your turtle swims upside down!

My turtle swims sideways!

Your turtle is dead!

Edison said inventing was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. I totally get it. Taking a walk with children in tow is:

10% walking,

60% ‘where’re my socks?’

20% ‘can I ride my scooter,’

40% ‘I’m thirsty,’

20% ‘get out of the flower bed’, and

17.4% ‘what’s for snack?’

Yes, I’m aware that makes 167.4%. That’s why it burns so many calories.

Cherokee Lake is a beautiful place to walk, too.

“Look, Momma, a chicken!” Inside-Child yelled one day as we walked on the path around the lake.

I’m never one to waste an educational moment, so I brushed off my bird

identification prowess and informed her it was a snowy egret.

“But it doesn’t snow here.”

“Not usually, but—”

“It’s a chicken!”

The YMCA is another great place to exercise. We are really into Kids Zumba, and Jenny is a great teacher. Sporty-Child loves that he has ‘Moves Like Jerger.’

We like to swim at the Y, too. The lifeguards are very friendly and often take time to talk to my kids. It makes a mother proud to hear her child tell the nice lifeguard what he learned homeschooling that day.

“William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings in 1066,” recounted Small-Child.

Who wouldn’t be proud of that accuracy?

“And then he died, and they pulled his arms off, and his belly exploded.”

Those lifeguards deserve hazard pay.

My mother-in-law gave us a Wii Fit to help us in our fitness quest. The idea is that one plays active video games to burn calories. It’s fun to compete against each other on the Wii, and my children love it when they win, especially when playing against me.

“YES! I beat you! I’m five, and you’re like SEVENTEEN!” said my new Favorite Child.

For us, Wii has opened up a whole new world. My children learned about the existence of golf.

“It’s like baseball upside down!”

The children’s latest obsession is obstacle courses. Even now they have one built in my living room out of cushions, boxes and blankets. It has a cuddling event, and I’ve been invited to participate. Most obstacle courses are run to win, but I don’t think I’m going to rush this one. In fact, if I work it right, I hope to come in last place. Cuddling is not to be rushed.

- J.K. Slaughter

Find Joy on Twitter: @jkslaughter

2014in

Cred?This year I turn 26, which means in a few months I will be removed from my parent’s insurance policy. Fortunately, I have a job that supplies me with my own health plan. However, there are many people who are not as fortunate, but do not realize there are now affordable plans available. I had the pleasure of talking to Scott Forsyth of Forsyth Insurance and he explained the benefits of the Affordable Care Act {aka Obamacare}.

Anyone can purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov, however, it was built to provide for those who are self-employed or work in a sector where company-based group policies are nonexistent.

Now, let’s talk about the insurance subsidy. If you make between $14,000 and $80,000 per year, you are elibible for a subsidized premium. To see what your premium would average, an interactive subsidy calculator is available to help determine your costs: http://kff.org/interactive/

subsidy-calculator/.

The calculator explains, for instance, that if you are an employee making $300/week, your wages will average about $14,400 for the year. Before Obamacare, health insurance was probably something you wished for, but was out of your reach. Someone making $14,400 for the year would get a subsidy of around $2,308 per year and would only pay around $300 per year for a health insurance plan. If your employer provides health insurance, however, you are not eligible for the subsidy.

The subsidy is income based, meaning you must have taxable income to be eligible. After you determine your eligibility, then it is time to find a health insurance agent who will help you through the process of shopping the Health Insurance Marketplace. Scott explained to me that it is not recommended that you sign up on your own. As the system is new, these new health insurance plans are tricky and you might sign up for something that will not

help you. An insurance agent can guide you and tell you what plan will benefit you the most, as well as assign you to a plan with the most reasonable amount of in-network doctors close to home.

If you choose not to get health insurance, you will pay a $100 penalty fee each year, so check and see what it would cost you to buy health insurance through Obamacare. After you have determined your eligibility with the calculator, check in with Scott at Forsyth Insurance, or any of our many local agents, and they will help you get the plan suited for you. March 31st is the deadline for open enrollment! - Jon T.

Antiques, Continued

where they’ve added on at various times of building to it, and they’ve retained a number of the early architectural features that were so striking. So the setting itself is surprising and conducive to wanting to look at works of art. It was built for that purpose. The other part that I find so appealing is their collections. They include a range of objects from across the world, and things that are absolutely fantastic examples. The museum has everything from portrait miniatures painted on ivory from the 16th century up through contemporary design, and the breadth of the material is really great.

TT: Who is the most fascinating person you’ve ever met during the course of your career?

LM: That was another really tough question. The person who had the most influence on my career is a Chinese gentleman named Wang Shi Xiang. He was a remarkable man with a wide range of interests in Chinese arts from something as esoteric as a pigeon whistle, which I didn’t even know existed until I met him. Those are actually bamboo whistles attached to the legs of pigeons that fly around the city, and the pigeon whistles make this unearthly kind of sound. It’s really quite marvelous. Wang was a great expert in Chinese lacquer—I was there working with him on his book on Chinese furniture [Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties]. He was a terrific scholar of ancient Chinese musical instruments, principally the qin, and little known to most people, he was a gourmet cook of Chinese cuisine that was created by the imperial chefs for the emperor during the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the great treats that I had was that occasionally he would fix dinner for me and we would have a special meal that incorporated all of his culinary skills. He was regularly invited to serve on cooking contests.

TT: Where was the most unlikely place you’ve ever found and appraised something of tremendous value?

LM: Actually it’s happened a lot of times. There are two stories I’ll tell you. I once received photographs from a woman who had a collection that was in a very small town in the Midwest. She had things stored in her garage, in a middle-class house in a suburban neighborhood, and scattered about the house and in the photos were things of absolutely no value that you’d see in a typical garage sale. And then in the back, leaning against a wall, was a painting that I thought had some merit, and I asked her who the artist was and she said it was a man named Bart. I looked up all the Barts and couldn’t find anybody—it was this marvelous portrait—and it turned out it wasn’t Bart. It was actually a painting by a very well-known English artist, Frederick Leighton, who was made a Baronet [abbreviated ‘bart’] because of his skill as an artist by the Queen, and eventually this work sold at Sotheby’s for I believe around $700,000. She had no idea that it had any value whatsoever. And no one she’d sent photos to thought it had any value whatsoever either because she kept insisting it was by Frederick Bart. Another was when I was in Bismarck, North Dakota, for Antiques Roadshow, and there was nothing really of great merit that came in until the very end of the day, when a lady came in with a Chinese-painted screen that turned out to date from the early 18th century. It had been in the basement of her house, and had some water damage but it was this fantastic painting depicting views of the Buddhist vision of paradise, and I don’t recall the exact value but it was something like $40,000 to $60,000, even with the damage. It was about the most unlikely thing I would have ever expected to find in Bismarck, North Dakota.

TT: You teach, travel, appraise, run an online auction business, and appear on public television— which of these things gratifies you the most?

LM: I don’t think I have a favorite. I think what makes it interesting are the people I meet and my sharing of what interests me with them, and hearing what interests them. Also, looking at the items that they have, which engages one in a different way in trying to unravel various types of mysteries—just like with the Frederick Leighton—the idea that there’s this major painting by a famous artist that had been lost for generations and then to be able to discover it, and let people know that it’s there again was a gratifying experience.

Lark Mason’s lecture, “Art, Culture and Antiques in the Age of Twitter” begins at 2:00PM on Friday, February 21st. Tickets are $45 and include admission to the Antiques Show. To purchase tickets visit www.thomasvilleantiquesshow.com.

- Jennifer W.

Navigating the Affordable Care Act

An Interview with Scott Forsyth

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Just down the road in little ol’ Mo-town, they’re doing some things. They’re getting pretty hip, if you ask me. Make the short trot over there, and take a look at the old jailhouse as you enter downtown. It’s an unusual looking building, and now houses the Chamber of Commerce.

Local coffee shop Beans + Strings, which serves Grassroots coffee, has a happening music scene. Any evening of the week, you can find local musicians of all levels hanging out and picking. That’s because the “Strings” part of the shop’s name refers to music lessons, which can be had for reasonable fees, for all ages and levels. And look at the instruments available!

• guitar {acoustic & electric} • bass• drum kit • piano • voice • mandolin• banjo • ukulele •dulcimer

Me? I’ve always wanted to play the banjo and the ukulele. There’s even a weekly class called Main Stage, which is a class that functions as a band! Beans + Strings is located on the square, and that area is home to most of the good stuff in Mo-town. If you need a nibble, try the Cheese + Feed - a little sandwich shop with basic sammies, executed well. I like the pimento cheese… pretty similar to my Grammie’s! If you’d like something more substantial, or something sweet, try Three Crazy

Bakers. They offer daily specials and some tasty treats. They also have a nice seating area with window views to people watch the square.

Moultrie is home to several antiques shops, so putter around and discover a new favorite place. And, when it’s time for din-din, make a bee-line over to the The Square - the restaurant, that is. Located next to Beans + Strings, The Square offers a blend of home cooked dishes with world-traveler influence. For instance, there are boiled peanut hummus and Mediterranean chicken salad. The entrees range from pork belly to trout, and they have vegetarian options. The menu is truly seasonal, so keep your peepers peeled for their tasting nites, when they introduce the new roster. You’ll pay a flat fee and enjoy seven courses of their latest creations. Do yourself a solid - order the soup. Any of them. And dessert.

Any of them. You’ll thank me. After a lovely day in Moultrie, be sure to circle the courthouse on foot, one last time. You’ll spot a few historical markers, including a monument to the fallen soldiers of every American war, with names. That’s what I call local pride.

- Bunny B.

Road TripMoultrie

The Stylish House Winter Interiors Checklist

The colder months of winter can be a fantastic opportunity to tackle the maintenance issues of our home’s interior. Let’s face it, turning the rugs, polishing the furniture and cleaning or washing the window treatments can get away from us. But, if we tackle these issues on a room by room basis or based on task, it will prevent them from becoming a chore that seems overwhelming, give us more time to enjoy our home and protect our home’s interior decorations.

Turning the rugs in our homes may not sound important but it is, particularly if we have invested good money in an antique oriental or a high-end new rug. The point of turning the rugs is to prevent worn patches in high traffic areas or sun damage in front of windows or French doors. I recommend each rug gets a good cleaning once a year by a reputable rug cleaner. It keeps the rug fresh and free of dust and odors that can go unnoticed. If a deep cleaning is not possible, turning is the next best option. It not only helps extend the life of the rug, but is a great opportunity to vacuum it well and straighten any area that has ‘traveled’ due to heavy traffic.

Once the rugs have been turned and the furniture is restaged, it is time to roll up our sleeves and give our furniture pieces a good deep cleaning or polishing. For antiques pieces with no varnish, I recommend a light cleaning with a wood soap. Let the piece dry thoroughly and then nourish the wood with an oil or simply polish with a wax and buff to the desired sheen. For more contemporary pieces, a vigorous dusting and wipe down

with a product safe for the piece’s surface should do the trick. A good cleaning or waxing will make the furniture in your home glow and add sparkle to pieces you fell in love with initially!

Window treatments are the finishing touches to our home’s interior. They, too, must be maintained and taken care of lest they begin to droop and look stale. A good dry cleaning not only prolongs the life of the fabric, but keeps it fresh and wrinkle free. Washing the sheers and hanging them damp will keep them bright and airy. For louvered blinds or plantation shutters, soak them in the tub in warm water and the cleaning solution of your choice. I recommend one window at a time. This ensures no confusion when they have all dried and it is time to reinstall. Make a rendering of the window to avoid mishaps.

Whether these simple interior maintenance tricks are done on a room by room basis or based on the type of task, dreaded spring cleaning will not become overwhelming or rushed, and will give us more free time to enjoy our home and share it with friends and family over a cocktail or dinner.

- Davey B.

J. David Bray, Jr., is a Project Manager and Designer with Land-ford Thompson Interiors. Though based in Savannah, GA, Bray has current clients in town and works in Thomasville by appointment. www.landfordthompsoninteriors.com

Fit as a FiddleIf you read this column regularly, it’s very likely that you’ve figured out that I’m pretty involved in fitness. This wasn’t always a true statement. While in high school, I “played” soccer, but really just went to practice and sat on the bench during the games...cheering for my athletic friends. I took a jogging class in college, yes...I said jogging class. We essentially ran 2 miles, 3 days a week and it was just enough cardio to keep my 5’6” frame at 176 lbs. I hated it. At that time, I didn’t know very much about health or even really care. I was unmotivated and frankly, pretty embarrassed to work out in public. It was really hard. Excuses came easy.

When I finally decided to get myself together and do the work to be a fitter me, I went no further than the comfort of my own home. The world couldn’t see my struggle for the last push-up or my battle with the jump rope. Ironically, I now take comfort in working out with a room full of people who are engaging in a similar feat. But, as cliché as it sounds, we all had to start somewhere.

Your house is the perfect place. If you’re weary about getting out there and taking on a gym membership, you can do several things in the comfort of your own home to get you started and then branch out from there.

First things first, we need a warm up. It’s good to start out with a brisk walk or a light jog – around your neighborhood, Cherokee Lake or Paradise Park, depending on your home location. You want to do enough work at this point to elevate your heart rate and get a nice, sweaty glow.

Once you have achieved this status, head back to the house and prepare for some push-ups. You can either do these on your knees or from full plank position. Be sure to have your chest touch the ground at the bottom of every rep and extend your arms fully at the top of every rep. Set a timer for one minute and complete as many push-ups as you can during that time and then record your data while taking a couple of minutes to recover.

Next, you should repeat the same process with sit-ups. You may choose to anchor your feet or “butterfly” your legs by placing the soles of your feet together and having your knees point out to the sides. Be sure to have your shoulder blades touch the floor at the bottom of every rep and touch your fingertips to your toes at the top of every rep. After one minute of maximum effort reps, record your data and recover.

Now that you’re warm and loosened up, it’s a great time to test your mobility. Can you touch your toes? A lot of people can’t. Get seated with your legs out in front of you, feet flexed. Reach forward and try to grab your toes without rounding your back. If getting anywhere near your toes is close to impossible, grab a belt and loop it behind your feet, holding an end in each hand. Try to maintain a moderate stretch in this position for 2 minutes and then record an approximation of your reach.

Once you have completed this brief assessment, you will have some baseline information to move forward with. Whether you plan to begin a series of home workout videos like P90X, take yoga classes at Live Young Studio, or become a member at Thomasville CrossFit, you should continue to record data about your workouts and activities, repeat this assessment and compare it to your initial test. This will allow you to see if your program of choice is yielding the results you desire. Plus, you can take note of the important details along your fitness journey – like your first pull-up, that first 5k finish or finally being able to touch your toes. Just remember, you’ll never know how far you can go if you never start.

- Abrie S.

Abrie Soileau is co-owner of Thomasville CrossFit.

Boardwalk, Continuedthe space to the now renovated Boardwalk that you can currently visit. It is evident from the blog that they poured a substantial amount of their time and energy into making this into the beautiful space that it has become.

Rich stated that some of the pitfalls of the restoration included dealing with the renovation of the walls, roof, electrical and air conditioning systems because it was a long, drawn out process. “There were frustrations, surprises and unexpected expenses, as with any old building. However, Lori and I found we made a pretty good team. We really balance each other out,” said Rich.

You can visit The Boardwalk at 109 West Jefferson Street, Boston, Georgia, on Saturdays from 10-2, or anytime by appointment. For more information, call Rich at (256) 653-7506 or Lori at (256) 856-2923 or email them at theboardwalkart@gmail.com. You can also visit theboardwalkart.blogspot.com for details on the renovation process and gallery information.

- Denise P.

Water Lily, Continued

back in 2006 but stalled due to the recession; however, when the economy picked up again in 2012 plans resumed.

The building at 222 Fletcher Avenue was a great location according to Claud. “Thomasville is a truly unique and vibrant community. The downtown attracts people from all over the area and we wanted to be a part of that. The character of downtown really meshes with our image for our showroom.”

In addition to the static displays like you would find in most retail shops of this kind, they will also offer motion and touch activated faucets, a working showerhead display with twelve different heads, a working full sized shower with body sprays and a working steam shower complete with surround sound, aromatherapy and chromatherapy (like aromatherapy but with lights instead of scents. {Google it, it’s very interesting!}

For the individual just needing an everyday update or replacement, Water Lily will have an impressive selection of faucets, toilets, sinks, tubs, lavatories, lighting and hardware. For those wishing to completely renovate their space, they can use the services of experienced kitchen and bath designer Sharon Verea. Verea has been in the business for fifteen years and in 2008 was certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

Building or remodeling your home is a large undertaking that can make your bank account groan, so it is wise to have a professional helping you ask the right questions and make the right decision regarding what goes into your home. Everyone is unique, as should their home be, so take advantage of the professionals who can assist you in selecting the right type of fixtures and lighting to complete your personal oasis. Water Lily plans to open around March 15th, with an open house event most likely in April. Keep your eyes peeled for the welcome sign and get ready to prepare your restroom refuge!

- Rebekah G.

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Film for Thought:

The Red ViolinWhen I look at a painting, especially one that’s hundreds of years old and from another corner of the planet, I tend to feel a curious mix of marvel and morbidity. I especially feel this way about Vigée-Lebrun’s towering portraits of Marie-Antoinette; I always wonder if the Austrian-born girl-queen sitting for her preferred portraitist was ever imagining the horror and carnage that would befall her. While the portraits each continue to provide the invaluable visual likeness of a historical icon 200 years dead, they also exist as objects that have traveled an immense journey down a river of stewardship, blindly and silently. Was Marie-Antoinette marched past that particular portrait as she was seized from Versailles to go await her tête–à–tête with the guillotine? The oil and canvas will never tell, and Marie-Antoinette’s half-smiles and unwavering gazes only seem to solidify that fact.

It’s hard not to think that director François Girard wasn’t sating, and sharing, a similar curiosity when he made ‘The Red Violin,’ whose title character-object has its secrets spilled in five languages, in a film spanning four centuries and across five countries. Aside from the film being a solid piece of cinema in itself, it has something for history and music buffs all. It also happens to be a perfect film to watch after a day of poring over wares at the Thomasville Antiques Show.

The film is guided by the readings of a late 17th-century fortuneteller, who is asked by the wife of Italian violinmaker Niccolo Bussotti to read her future. Since it is his wife’s blood that gives the title violin its distinct varnish, it is really the fate of the instrument that is foretold before the violinmaker’s wife dies in childbirth. The violin is Bussotti’s masterpiece that he’d intended to give to the child who died with its mother; it plays a sound so euphonious that will utterly take you over, as it did the Academy in 1999 when they awarded the film the Oscar for Best Original Score. Samuel L. Jackson stars as a present-day appraiser at a big-name Canadian auction house, where the Red Violin is soon to grace the block, and the bidding audience is stacked with descendants of characters from the violin’s past, plus others eager to get their hands the famed final work of Niccolo Bussotti.

From Cremona where it was made, the violin is donated to a Viennese orphanage, where it’s played for a century before finding Kaspar Weiss, a child prodigy with a weak heart who sleeps with the violin like it’s a teddy bear. The boy is forced by a prestige-hungry instructor to practice ceaselessly so that he may play for a visiting Prince, who will surely take them all back to court when he experiences the boy’s talent. Kaspar is brought before the Prince, a vampire-like figure who still manages to haunt in a brightly lit parlor; the Prince sees the violin and makes an offer to buy it before the boy can raise his bow. Exhausted and overwhelmed at the thought of losing his instrument, Kaspar Weiss drops dead on the spot, and is buried by the monks back at the orphanage, along with his

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Rehearsal Review: TOSAC’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’On Tuesday evening, I sat in on a rehearsal of TOSAC’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ which is based on Lorraine Hansberry’s play that originally debuted on Broadway in 1959. In case you are not familiar with the plot of this time-honored play, here is a brief synopsis provided by TOSAC:

“This play portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, an African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play opens, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check for $10,000. This money comes from the deceased Mr. Younger’s life insurance policy. Each of the adult members of the family has an idea as to what he or she would like to do with this money, but clash over their competing dreams.”

The nine-person cast is composed of folks from the ‘Ville as well as other locals from Tallahassee, Albany, Valdosta, and Cairo. “This was a show done against the odds,” says Director Melanie Harkness. “When other people may have quit, [people in our production] kept on going.”It is evident from the camaraderie between the cast members that they have a considerable amount of heart. “Everyone has put in a lot of hard work,” Harkness says, “although there wasn’t a lot of time to prepare.”

The performance by Javon Macon as Joseph Asagai, a Nigerian medical student at a Canadian university on a visit to America, was not reflective of someone who hadn’t had much time prepare. He nailed the accent and all of his lines. Needless to say, his acting impressed me.

Kathaleena Monds and Christopher Willis make a convincing Ruth and Walter Younger. They have a great dynamic as a pessimistic, pragmatist couple. Willis portrays the scheming Walter Lee who loses the family’s money, dashing Walter and Benny’s dreams. Sylena Wimes plays an authentic Mama, pouring a ton of emotion in her role. There were times when she was chastising Walter and Benny that made me wonder if my own mama had come strolling in from stage right.

There will be six productions at the Storefront Theater, at 117 South Broad Street, running through the end of this month and into the beginning of March, on Friday and Saturday, February 21st, and 22nd, and February 28th and March 1st at 8:00pm, and Sunday, February 23 and March 2 at 2:00 P.M. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit TOSAC’s website at http://www.tosac.com or call (229) 226-0863. Tickets to non-sold out shows will be sold at the door, where cash and credit cards are accepted.

- Denise P.

What could you do with

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beloved violin.

Gypsy grave robbers unearth the violin and play it in their roving band for another hundred years before trespassing onto the Oxford grounds of famed violinist Frederick Pope. Pope hears the violin’s song coming from the camp and offers the gypsies hospitality as a trade for it, which they accept. The melancholic, melodramatic Pope cannot compose without his lover Victoria after she’s gone to Russia to write a novel. Victoria returns, worried about Pope, to find him composing, carnally, with a new muse. Victoria takes a shot at the violin on her way out of Pope’s life, and the bullet damages it, though not fatally. Pope commits suicide and one of his Chinese servants takes the violin to Shanghai and sells it to an antiques dealer, who repairs it.

Three decades later a mother makes a gift of the violin to her daughter when they wander into the antiques dealer’s store. The girl, Xiang, grows up to be a political officer in Mao Tse Tung’s army, and a defendant of Chou Yan, a music teacher known for playing Western music, which is forbidden by the government. After she is discovered harboring the violin her mother gave her as a girl, she runs with it and implores Chou Yan, who had been forced to throw his violin in a public bonfire, to keep it for her since he is no longer a target of the government, and one of few who appreciates Western instruments. When Chou dies, it is long past the rule of Mao, and the Chinese government sends Chou’s collection of instruments to Montreal for appraisal and auction.

As the film moves between past and present, the suspense soars concerning who will end up with the violin, between the present-day monks of Kaspar Weiss’ orphanage, the Frederick Pope Foundation, the now elderly nephew of the presumably persecuted Xiang and the cantankerous violinist who wants to play Bussotti’s masterpiece on the stage. With the exception of the latter, all bidding parties have equally compelling cases for acquiring the violin to keep as a relic of one long-gone figure or another, but what’s on the block always goes to the highest bidder.

The film’s ending will have you gnawing at your nail beds, as the violin makes its way into the hands of its next steward. The final assertion seems to be that the violin should belong to no one, even if it means more to the purchaser than being the inimitable final work of Niccolo Bussotti. You may cringe and breathe a sigh of relief when the violin narrowly escapes destruction throughout the film, but you might be equally inclined to want the violin to remain the anonymous drifter with the beautiful song on the immense river of stewardship which it has traveled for so long. It may even seem sad that its anonymity is broken, and that its fate will lie with the party who can shell out the most cash—$2.4 million to be exact. It is through the cinematic experience that we’re subjected to a dramatic history of the instrument over the centuries; the story is full of details that the violin could never tell, but that only a human being could imagine, which is really what makes ‘The Red Violin’ so thoroughly satisfying. —Jennifer W.

Save the DateDowntown.

Family Friendly Music on the Bricks

Sarah Mac Band Downtown Thomasville

Saturday, March 22nd at 6:30pm

More details coming soon!

Give. Join. Volunteer. And So Much More.

WE’RE MORE THAN A GYMWE’RE A CAUSE

THOMASVILLE YMCA www.ymca-thomasville.org

The Bookshelf is welcoming critically-acclaimed author T.D. Allman

to the shop this Saturday, February 22, for a signing of his beautiful

book, Finding Florida. The non-fiction title was a finalist for the 2013

National Book Award and is being released in paperback next week.

Thomasville readers will have an exclusive first look at the book and

an opportunity to hear from Allman and have their copies of Finding

Florida signed. This is a gorgeous book filled with historic details

and anecdotes about our neighboring state. Allman will be at The

Bookshelf from 2:00 to 5:00 on Saturday. We hope to see you there!

The Bookshelf on Broad Street

FOR LEASE Beautifully renovated 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom house. Located in the Dawson

Historic neighborhood. This award winning home is less than a 5 minute walk to downtown

and features marble countertops, new appliances, and plenty of entertaining space. $1050/month. Call Nancy (850) 570-0292

HELP WANTED Everfan seeks to harness the super powers of a creative Townie for the job of Part-time Marketing and Distribution Coordinator to send superhero capes across

the planet. Interested candidates should email resume to scott@everfan.com.

Classifieds are $20, include up to 40 words and run for 2 issues. If you’d prefer your contact

information be kept confidential, simply tell us. yourtownie@gmail.com

CLASSIFIEDS

COMIX by Laura Floyd

February 21 - 2325th Annual

Thomasville Antiques Show and Sale Friday and Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday 11:00am – 5:00pmExchange Club Fairgrounds, 2057 GA Hwy 122

$15 general admission tickets available at the door, or by calling (229) 225-9354.

February 22Thomasville Antiques Show presents

Hutton Wilkinson “Tony Duquette, Wild Child of Hollywood Design”

Brunch, lecture and book signing: 11:00am, Exchange Club Fairgrounds, 2057 GA Hwy 122. $55 ticket price

includes brunch and admission to Antiques Show. Purchase tickets and pre-order Wilkinson’s ‘More is

More’ online.

Curt DiCamillo: “Lords, Ladies and Mummies

“The Story of Highclere Castle, the Real Downton Abbey”

2:00pm, Exchange Club Fairgrounds, 2057 GA Hwy 122. $45 ticket price includes admission to

Antiques ShowPurchase tickets online:

www.thomasvilleantiquesshow.com, or call (229) 225-9354.

Dazzling Divas Prom Dress Drive

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PMNow through February 7th, The Prom Dress Drive is

accepting donations for gently used long or short prom dresses, cocktail dresses, social dresses, bridesmaid dresses, formal shoes, formal purses, jewelry, and accessories. All dress sizes are welcome. Dresses should be less than 5 years old, in good condition,

dry-cleaned, and age-appropriate. Drop off at Johnson Institutional Services.

purses_unlockingtreasure@yahoo.com