Starr Style

I’ll call it Mellow Yellow!

 

Recently, Denis and I enjoyed a merry gambol to Forsyth, Georgia for its annual Forsythia Festival.

 

But, first things first.  A quick overnight stop in Columbus, Georgia for a special event – the very first gathering of the newly formed Springer Theater Alumni Group!  Many moons ago, back in the early 1980′s I was involved in 5 productions at the Springer Opera House Theater.  Other than for family, neither Denis, nor I, are the reunion-going type, but this one intrigued us and as we have become avid fans of the weekend road trip, we decided, “why not?”

We arrived in Columbus on that gorgeous Friday afternoon.  The Springer Theatre looked every bit the same as it did almost 30 years ago!

We checked into our room, the James L. Redd Suite (affectionately called the “red” room) at the historic Rothschild-Pound House Inn.

The Redd Room

With a cute art deco en suite bath.

Included with our stay at the B&B were afternoon refreshments at the quaint Vintage 222 Cafe just up the street from the Inn.

The shabby chic dining room served double duty as a gallery for the artist Garry Pound, who is also the proprietor of the Inn and Cafe.

We enjoyed a lovely glass of Cabernet and some yummy Bruschetta at Vintage 222.

 

That evening we enjoyed authentic Thai cuisine at the Old Siam in downtown Columbus.  After dinner we strolled down Broadway taking in the local flavor, some of which is still steeped in the old Boogie Oogie Oogie days!

Bobby Berkeley would have snapped up this jacket in a New York Minute!

Gorgeous Church Lady Hats!

And frocks to go with them!

 

Later, we joined alumni members for the reunion at the Springer’s Annex Theater for an evening of improv called No Shame Theater!

 

The next morning we explored the communal rooms of the Rothschild-Pound House Inn, all of which exhibited the beautiful artwork of Garry Pound.

The Grand Foyer

Parlor I

Parlor II

Formal Gardens

 

A delicious breakfast was served, again at Vintage 222.  We dined on fluffy veggie omelets and southern-style grits & biscuits.  And then it was time to say “Goodbye, Columbus” and hit the road for the next leg of our weekend drive adventure.

 

We looped one last time through the historic district and past the Springer on our way out of town.

 

Blue skies and open roads made for a lovely cruising day!

 

I’ll take a dozen bottles, please!

 

Grabbed this one for my collection!

 

An adorable Main Street, USA, scene!

 

We must be getting close!

We headed to the Forsyth Courthouse Square to celebrate the town’s namesake shrub!  Predictably perfect, this festival boasted lots of food, arts & crafts and live entertainment!

 

Grits Cafe

on the Square

promised to serve up

Southern Food with FLAIR!

And, did it ever!!!  Chef Wayne Wetendorf, an absolute artist with food, served up two of the most scrumptious and creative veggie plates that we have ever eaten.

Mine had a melange of sweet potato, corn and shitakes in a light mushroom sauce, a balsamic roasted portabello stuffed with garlic spinach, spicy grilled zucchini & asparagus, and fried green tomatoes layered with goat cheese and fig preserves.

Denis also enjoyed the zucchini & asparagus and the layered fried green tomatoes.  A black-eyed pea bean cake topped with garlic spinach and surrounded with a creamy chipotle and balsamic remoulade took center plate.

 

After lunch, we strolled through the festival again and came across the Rose, another charming vintage theater for my collection!

 

Happily, we made our way back to the car and began our journey back to Atlanta after having spent a picture-perfect, 24-hour road trip…

Enjoying great memories and making new ones,

Starr

 

From my Springer Theater Days

 

About The Springer