Monthly Archives: January 2019

Crow T. Robot (Left) and Tom Servo (Right.) Image Via the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Ro-bot Roll Call! Cambot! Gypsy! Tom Servo! Crrrroooooooow!

If you were singing that to yourself as you read it, you’ll probably be interested to know Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts will be debuting the Crow and Tom Servo puppets from Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Jan. 20. This is the first time the wise-cracking robots will be on public display.

If you have no idea what we’re talking about, read on.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a Peabody award-winning sci-fi series that originally aired from 1988 to 1999, according to the show’s website. The Emmy-nominated cult classic follows the adventures of Joel Robinson (and later Mike Nelson) – a hapless Gizmonic Institute worker shot into space and forced to watch crummy movies as part of a bizarre science experiment. The robots were built to watch – and make fun of – the movies with him.

The show was rebooted by Netflix in 2017 with a new host, Jonah Ray, providing commentary for awful movies alongside the robots fans of the original show came to know and love decades before, the website says.

The Center for Puppetry Arts will debut their newest additions to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum’s Global Collection with a special appearance by Joel Hodgson, the creator of the show, according to program materials.” The unveiling ceremony will take place in Center’s Mainstage Theater, followed by a special presentation by Hodgson about his work with puppetry.

Light refreshments, beer and wine will follow the presentation and guests will have the opportunity to explore the World of Puppetry Museum, program materials indicate. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available that will include photo opportunities with Hodgeson, T. Robot and Servo.

The event takes place Sunday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Tickets are $40 for non-members, $30 for members and VIP tickets cost $65. Tickets are available on the center’s website, or by calling 404-873-3391.

Image via Facebook.

By Matt Pharr, Contributor

This Monday, Jan. 21, from 2 to 6 p.m., the Georgia Beer Garden will host Coffee & Cake for Kids — a fundraiser to benefit Big Bethel AME Church’s Saturday School Academy as part of this year’s Martin Luther King Day of Service.

The Academy is a community outreach program run by Reverend Bessie Donaldson, focusing on computer and academic literacy for downtown youths. The Saturday School Academy program helps children develop social skills, etiquette, self-esteem and a love for oneself with an emphasis on making healthy choices.

“This lovechild of a Bake Sale and the Day of Service after party is designed to be a social hour for the many volunteers in the area, as well as a relaxed way to continue giving back to the community,” program materials read. “Senior members of Big Bethel AME Church, the oldest African-American congregation in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood, will provide the delicious baked goods, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support the Saturday Academy.”

Senior members of Big Bethel’s congregation will be baking their favorite treats and telling stories about how Sweet Auburn has changed over the years. “Georgia Beer Garden believes in conversations and strong community bonds,” program materials state. “We hope this will be an opportunity for people to meet someone new, hear about their lives and share their own journeys over coffee and cake.”

Among the bakers are Atlanta native and Grady High alum Pamela Fleming, 65, who will be serving key lime cupcakes and Miriam Redding, 78, who will be cooking up her classic pound cake. “The love for cooking I got from my mother, and when she passed I started to bake the pound cakes for the family,” Redding shares. “I am the 12th of 14 children so I had to get it right.”

The event is designed to be a social hour for the many volunteers in the area as well as a way to give back to the community. For more information or to RSVP for the event, click here.