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“Cabbagetown: 3 Women” — Coming Soon!

The Patch Works Art & History Center (The Patch Works) — in collaboration with the Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association (CNIA) and the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Development Corporation (CICDC) — revives Cabbagetown: 3 Women… an Oral History Play With Music, 41 years after its premiere at Atlanta’s Academy Theatre on May 21st, 1978.

PERFORMANCES
 FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL (Open to the Public): Thursday, September 12th, 8:00P
 Evenings
 OPENING NIGHT: Friday, September 13th, 8:00P
 Saturday, September 14th, 8:00P
 Friday, September 20th, 8:00P
 Saturday, September 21st, 8:00P
 Matinees
 Sunday, September 15th, 2:00P
 Sunday, September 22nd, 2:00P
WHERE
 Joyce Brookshire Amphitheater
 Cabbagetown Park
 170 Kirkwood Ave SE, Atlanta GA 30316

Performances are free and open to the public. There will be beverages and souvenir stands where attendees may purchase items.

Cabbagetown: 3 Women, an Oral History Play With Music was adapted by R. Cary Bynum from “actual dialogues originally compiled by the Patch, Inc., and published in Cabbagetown Families, Cabbagetown Food, edited by Pam Durban Porter.” The play profiles the lives of three women, who were long time residents of Cabbagetown: Lila Mae Brookshire (Joyce Brookshire’s mother), Effie Dodd Gray, and Beatrice “Aunt Beadie” Dalton. The original cast included Doris Bucher, Brenda Bynum, and Annette Coleman.

“Live music [was] movingly woven into the performance by Joyce Brookshire, accompanied by Fritz Rauschenberg, with songs she wrote about the families with whom she grew up, and originally were published in Foxfire Records premiere album, North Georgia Mountains.” (produced in 1977)

(Source: an Alliance Theatre program from the play’s performance on September 12, 1979)

This presentation is funded in part by a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

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Harmonic Connections: The Patch Works and WERD Radio Station

On August 20th, please join us at The Patch Works for the first evening of a unique and collaborative two-part event: Todd Mack and Music in Common are bringing together two organizations — The Patch Works and WERD Radio — to discuss not just their respective histories, but also the music and other elements that bind and unite our seemingly disparate communities.

WERD Radio is the first, African-American-owned radio station in the country, where Dr. Martin Luther King himself would broadcast sermons and civil rights’ commentary. After years of obscurity, WERD has been resurrected by Ricci de Forest, who will be our guest on August 20th and then our gracious host on August 22nd.

Also participating on August 20th will be our amazing friends Slim Chance (aka James Kelly) and Dr. Erich Nunn. Slim will perform examples of Hillbilly music, while Dr. Nunn will discuss the origins of such music in Cabbagetown and how it evolved from sounds being produced by African-American performers at that time.

For more information, please view our calendar entry. Or visit the Facebook Event.

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Oakland Cemetery’s Young Historians Homeschool Tour

On January 31st, The Patch Works will be conducting a walking tour of Cabbagetown for homeschool kids ranging between the ages of 7 and 13. Oakland Cemetery’s Education Manager, Marcy Breffle, is organizing the event, which will offer Cabbagetown-themed, interactive projects that help the students learn local art and history.

For more information, email Marcy Breffle, or visit the Young Historians Homeschool Program website.

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Cabbagetown Neighborhood Volunteer Fair

The Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association (CNIA) needs your help to keep Cabbagetown running! Find out about a variety of volunteer opportunities and talk to existing board members about life as a CNIA leader, as a CI board member, or as a Patch Works volunteer.

This event will function similar to a “speed-dating” social style meetup. Potential volunteers will get time to chat with current volunteers and board members in a casual environment.

For more information, please visit: www.cabbagetown.com/get-involved/cnia 

We can’t wait to see you there!

WHERE:
Mouth Of The South
186 Carroll St. SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30312

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Bottomless Brunch Benefiting The Patch Works at Guac Y Margys

Mhmm, yep, you read that event title correctly. On January 27th, from 12:30 to 2:30pm, Guac Y Margys is serving up ALL YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST TACOS + ALL YOU CAN DRINK MIMOSAS AND BLOODY MARIAS for just $30.

Check out the Facebook Event!

And $5 of that goes directly to The Patch Works — just a mile away from GyM — dedicated to preserving the unique history of Atlanta’s Cabbagetown.

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For those hungry/thirsty ones on a budget, now’s your chance to try their amazing breakfast tacos and bloody maria bar. Or fill up on some Vitamin C with several mimosas  

See y’all soon!

ADDRESS:
661 Auburn Ave #120
Atlanta, GA 30312

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The Patch Works – Unplugged: Chickens and Pigs & Slow Parade

On January 19th, it was another great “Unplugged” music event at The Patch Works!

“Slow Parade is Atlanta based psych-folk collective headed up by tune smith Matthew Pendrick. After nearly a decade spent soaking up the city’s rich blues and roots music scene, Slow Parade was formed out of the need for a new extension…”

BAND MEMBERS:
Matthew Pendrick – Guitar Vocals
Andrea DeMarcus – Bass Vocals
Paul Stevens – Drums Keys Vocals

As for Chickens and Pigs, The Patch Works had the pleasure of hearing Jeff Evans play a short, impromptu set a couple months ago, and begged him to come back again!!! This guy’s legendary…

Chicken and Pigs for this gig was Jeff Evans, nobly accompanied by Mark Johnson from Delta Moon!

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The Patch Works Hosted a Pecha Kucha Alumni Happy Hour!

On January 17th, The Patch Works was filled with alumni from past Pecha Kucha Atlanta events. Amanda Plumb, the brains behind the local PK chapter, wanted to thank alumni for taking the time to create and deliver a presentation for Pecha Kucha Atlanta.

Past participants got to meet other PK presenters (a fascinating crowd), have a drink (or two), and check out the Patch Works Art & History Center. Party-goers also got to hear the themes for PK 2019.

Visit the website for more info on Pecha Kucha Atlanta!

In addition, past presentations are available to view online.

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Georgia Oldtime Jam Workshop with Max Godfrey

On January 13th, The Jon Bekoff Project for the Advancement of Georgia Oldtime Music presented musician Max Godfrey, who lead a workshop in local Georgia tunes.

Jon Bekoff was a great Oldtime fiddler in Western MA who loved GA music and encouraged folks to play it (as a result, more players in Vermont and MA play GA oldtime music than in GA!!). Jon died young in 2015 and this JB project is an attempt to keep his GA oldtime missionary spirit alive.

The Jon Bekoff Project for the Advancement of Georgia Old-Time Music

The goal of these free workshops is to promote by-ear learning of oldtime music native to Georgia, with the hope that in the future, participants will go forth and jam these tunes with others. 

1-2 new tunes were introduced and tunes from previous sessions were reviewed. The JB Project likes geeky participants who take the time to listen to the original tunes and practice between workshops, who are sincere about learning at least some of what is covered.

Stringed instruments only (no spoons, concertinas, penny whistles). Musicians are invited by Moonshine and need to RSVP by EMAIL to confirm a spot. Preference is given to intermediate musicians with leadership potential/who are committed to learning the local GA Oldtime repertoire. Please email fiddlerhiker if you want to propose another attendee, do not invite them yourself, please.

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Totes Tuesday at Eventide Brewing

Click on the image to visit Eventide’s website

On Tuesday, December 18th, Eventide Brewing generously hosted a Totes Tuesday for The Patch Works!! Here’s their remarkably simple yet effective fundraising concept: You drink beer. Eventide gives back! All you have to do is drink beer! EASY! Each week Eventide has a different non-profit organization on site. On this night, The Patch Works received 10% of Eventide’s nightly sales AND cash donations collected in the tote bags at the end of the bar!!!

Thank you, Eventide!!!

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The Patch Works – Unplugged: The Porch Bottom Boys

On December 15th, we hosted another awesome “Unplugged” musical performance at the center! The Porch Bottom Boys — performed two amazing sets!!!!

From their website: “The Porch Bottom Boys play bluegrass, newgrass, and other styles seasoned with the diverse backgrounds of their members…

“…They have also appeared in many nearby festivals, including the Decatur BBQ Blues and Bluegrass Festival, the Decatur Arts Festival, the Oakhurst Arts Festival, and Stomp and Chomp in Cabbagetown. Committed to the Decatur community, they frequently play for local fundraisers and other programs.”

THE PLAYERS
Steve Gorbatkin – ​guitar​
Jim Thompson – fiddle​
​Charlie O’Neill – banjo​
​​Joel Glogowski – ​bass
​Patrick Jackson – ​mandolin
​Denis Gainty – ​in memoriam

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Pecha Kucha ATL Presentation

Click on the above image to hear an online version of our lecture…

On December 9, Pecha Kucha Atlanta held a really cool event called “Atlanta: Past, Present and Future.” Along with several other presenters, The Patch Works was selected to give one of Pecha Kucha’s signature “20 x 20” lectures: each speaker shows 20 slides and gets 20 seconds per slide to address the topic. We called our topic Cabbagetown: Changing Atlanta by Preserving History.

There was a big turnout at Brother Moto, which kindly hosted the event. (Thank you, Brother Moto!)

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Georgia Oldtime Jam with Evan Kinney

On Saturday, December 8th, Evan Kinney recently led an intermediate Georgia Oldtime Jam at The Patch Works. Being our first time hosting a music workshop, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Suffice it to say, it was AMAZINGLY FUN! Watch this VIDEO (and remember: this group was learning the song on-the-fly and by ear).

 

Programming was sponsored by the Jon Bekoff Project for the Advancement of Georgia Oldtime Music, administered by the UWG Center for Public History.

This is a free event that — if all goes well — will continue to be held at The Patch Works.

For additional information, please contact Moonshine. Space is limited!

 

IMPORTANT: Please also note that participants should have the ability to learn music “by ear.”

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The Patch Works Humanities Lecture Series: Lessons of Cabbagetown, Past and Present

On Sunday, November 18th, join us as Rebecca Page, Ashley Cheyemi McNeil, and Brennan Collins from GSU’s Student Innovation Fellowship program speak about their mapping collaboration with The Patch Works on ATLmaps.org. They have brought together historical maps of Cabbagetown and stacked them with present-day interviews of long-time residents to uncover the original water sources that sustained the livelihood of the community.

There is no cost to attend.

TITLE:
Re-Surfacing Cabbagetown: Mapping the Emergence of Waterways and Stories

PRESENTERS:
Rebecca Page, Ashley Cheyemi McNeil, and Brennan Collins

INTERVIEWEES:
Ronnie Edwards, Marshall Edwards, Sarah Knight, Margaret Long, and Leon Little.

WHEN:
Sunday, November 18th, 2018; 3:30PM-5:30PM

WHERE:
The Patch Works Art & History Center
593 Gaskill Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30316


For more information on Georgia Humanities-sponsored programs, please visit their events calendar.

This project is supported by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through funding from the Georgia General Assembly.

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The Patch Works – Unplugged: Takiya Mason and Auction House Letters

Join us on Saturday, November 17th for our “Unplugged” concert series. The event will open with Takiya Mason, a solo Atlanta artist. She will perform from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm. Following her will be local band, Auction House Letters, playing from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Takiya’s artistic path begin in Jacksonville, NC at the age of 5 singing in her uncle’s church choir “The Sunshine Band”. Inspired by the greats before her from Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon, Etta James, Ray Charles, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder and so many more; Takiya Mason represents the next wave of artist inspired and motivated to push good music forward.

Auction House Letters play songs in the following keys: C, G, D, A, E, F, and Bb.

Band Members:

Jeff Holt– guitar and vocals
Susannah Wallace– violin and vocals
Chris Poma– bass guitar
Erik Kaszynski– drums
Michael Goldman– lap, steel, and mandolin

To close out the event, we’ll be having a “Hootenanny” jam session till 6 pm, so feel free to bring your own instruments!

For more information Follow our instagram @thepatchworkscabbagetown

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Georgia Humanities Lecture Series

We just had our second lecture sponsored by Georgia Humanities. Dr. Erich Nunn (Auburn University) and Dr. Regina Bradley (Kennesaw State University) spoke about how Cabbagetown’s musical roots relate to the evolving tastes and trends of modern day Atlanta. 

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Georgia Humanities Lecture Series

We just had our first of three lectures sponsored by Georgia Humanities. Common Good Atlanta hostees, Bill Taft and Dr. Sarah Higinbotham, accompanied by program alumni Tariq Baiyina and Robert Roebuck, discussed the ways that higher education prepares incarcerated men and women to return to their hometowns and neighborhoods. Speaking to a packed house, Bill Taft and Dr. Sarah Higinbotham, accompanied by program alumni Tariq Baiyina and Robert Roebuck, discussed the ways that higher education prepares incarcerated men and women to return to their hometowns and neighborhoods.

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The Patch Works – Unplugged: The Hills and The Holler plus Michael Bradley (Antic Clay)

On Saturday, September 15th, The Patch Works is proud to present its next, monthly “Unplugged” event. This time, we are honored to have two, brilliant, musical acts:

2:00pm-3:00pm Michael Bradley (aka Antic Clay)
3:00pm-4:00pm The Hills and the Holler

Michael has recently returned from Prague, where he played solo shows.

Monica Arrington and Stacey Cargal — the two performers with The Hills and the Holler — “…play the music of the south from the Appalachian Hills to the Mississippi Delta to everything in between.”

As always, admission is free.

At The Patch Works: 593 Gaskill Street SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

Beer and wine are available for a small donation.

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Coffee Talk with The Patch Works!

Hey Everybody!

Before you head off to Dragoncon or up to the lake for Labor Day Weekend, c’mon by Home Grown and grab a bite to eat…

While you are waiting for your table, have a chat with The Patch Works and learn about Cabbagetown history, our events, and pick up some swag (for a donation).

It’ll be a fun time from 9:30am-12:30pm!

Saturday, September 1st

Home Grown GA Restaurant 968 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

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The Patch Works – Unplugged: Evan Stepp and Paul Shaw

August 25th, from 2:00pm to 7:00pm: The Patch Works – Unplugged!

For the first performance of the day, please welcome Evan Stepp to the “stage” for a tremendous solo performance. Evan is a phenomenal musician, so you will WANT to see him play!

Then, the spotlight will turn to singer-songwriter (and Cabbagetown resident) Paul Shaw, who will entertain us with a set of new songs! Paul and his wife Mel jammed at The Patch Works a few weeks ago; we are thrilled to have him back again.

Hootenanny Time!!! Bring an instrument!!!

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Appalachian Food with Dr. Julia Skinner


What kinds of food did early Cabbagetown residents eat?

Join The Patch Works Art & History Center and food historian Dr. Julia Skinner of Root to learn about Appalachian food history, including the traditions that were brought down from the mountains by many of the residents of Cabbagetown, who moved to the neighborhood to find work.

Julia will also be doing a live demonstration of Appalachian food preservation techniques using recipes from the neighborhood. Come learn how to make chow chow, preserve peaches, and pickle beans! Each attendee will get a handout with recipes to take home and try themselves.

Saturday, August 18th
12noon to 2pm
The Patch Works Art & History Center
593 Gaskill Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30316

Space is limited to 20 people, so make sure to get your tickets early!

Reserve your spot ASAP!

Tickets are a suggested donation of $12. Ticket donations can be in the form of cash, check or square. Please make checks out to The Patch Works Art & History Center.

**Parking is allowed at Agave Restaurant’s lot, right next door, but you must move your car by 4pm to allow for Agave’s dinner service – thank you!**