September 2021 - Embrace Southern States

TASTING ART ON A BALCONY

September 28, 2021 by angelchatt

Where can you go in southern Georgia to taste art on a balcony? Here is the intriguing story which leads to an exciting answer!

The old second floor of this historical building (circa 1899) had sat unused for over sixty years. An ambitious young couple poured hours of love and labor into the restoration. They created a boutique hotel and an amazing café that now add a dazzling shine to a delightful corner.

Six elegant rooms with names such as “The Music Room” and “The Library Suite” are waiting for fine folks like you to come curl up in comfy beds. While there, you can enjoy such amenities as a private gym and access to a person concierge.

Brick interior walls add so much character.

Can you believe this place also includes exposed brick interior walls, original oil paintings, and gorgeous antiques? Are you sitting on the edge of your seat yet? Do you want to know whether such a place exists? Who are these people? Where is this building? What’s the deal about a balcony? What’s the part about tasting art?

Who are these people?

Tyler & Heather started new family & new business.

The young couple is Tyler and Heather Thomas. A few years ago, they moved to a small town in the state of Georgia. The population was only around 12,700. This did not deter them from starting both a family and a business there. That business, located on a beautiful town square, is a restaurant named The American. It has thrived and set a new standard for extraordinary fare made from scratch daily. This encouraged them to take on an even more daunting opportunity.

Where is this building?

So much to discover in historic Bainbridge, Georgia.

In the southwestern corner of the state of Georgia, you will find the town of Bainbridge. This is where U.S. Highways 27 and 84 meet the Flint River. At the corner of W. Water Street and N. Broad Street you will discover a captivating historic town square named Willis Park which opened to the public in 1904.

Hotel crowned with gold is SO VERY worth your visit!

Across the way is the newly restored and opened Willis Park Hotel. This wonderful white building is accented with silver and crowned with gold. While the address is 129 E. Water Street, the best entrance is found around the corner on Broad and is well marked.

What about the balcony?

Balcony view only hints to the town’s charm.

This talented Thomas couple seems to have quite the knack for restoration and adding just the right aesthetic touch. They were convinced that this corner would benefit from a balcony. And right they were, this is the best place from which to view the pleasant and picturesque historic downtown with its quaint town square. As you take in the charm, you see fabulous architecture, church steeples, statues, and even a gazebo.

What about tasting art?

You need to experience Cafe Sinclair… soon!

Café Sinclair is the perfect spot for breakfast waffles and eggs or a sandwich or fruit tart for lunch. I really LOVE those cute fruit tarts.

Could a fruit tart be art? Yes, I guess!

It is also a classy place that hosts “Meet the Artist” from time to time. The first one featured Melissa Mills and was a huge success. This evening event combines a casual mingle with a swanky soiree and the result is a super combo of art and culture. There are even copycat cookies by Crumby Couture that replicate works of art…that you can EAT. So, food as art meets art as food! I love that so much! Tasting art on a balcony is a real thing!

Artist Melissa Mills with owner Heather Thomas.

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You are probably ready to plan your own trip to Bainbridge, aren’t you? Great! Be sure to introduce yourself to Heather at Cafe Sinclair, and tell her you enjoyed reading this article. Here are some links that will prove helpful for you.

The Willis Park Hotel https://www.thewillisparkhotel.com/

Cafe Sinclair https://www.facebook.com/CafeSinclair

Crumby Couture https://www.facebook.com/crumbycouture

(artist) Melissa Mills https://www.instagram.com/lissagordonart/

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Remember to leave a nice Comment if you enjoyed this article. You can find Embrace Southern States on our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/embracesouthernstates and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/embracesouthernstates/ . You are important and precious to me, please let me know what other people or places you’d like to learn more about…as long as they are in the southeastern United States, I could go there and let you know!

DOES “DEEPER MEANING” MATTER?

September 16, 2021 by angelchatt

What makes one simple man named George genuinely interesting? Why should you care about his past, present, and future? Can you relate to his background or his beliefs? Can his story help clear up any mysteries for you? Does “deeper meaning” matter?

EARLY BACKGROUND

George has lived most of his life in Tallahassee, Florida. As a kid he struggled with asthma and hay fever. He was an only child raised by his grandfather. Later each of his parents had other children, his half-siblings. He sang in a church choir and his high school chorus and recognized at an early age (in the 1960’s) that he was a hippie.

Think back to those Hippie days! (art@ Vecteezy.com)

Despite his increasing use of alcohol, cannabis, and psychedelics, George enjoyed learning and earned a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Education degree. He and his college friends were considered “liberal, radical, and rebellious.”

HELPFUL HIPPIE

George says he is multifaceted and has thrived in many jobs. The partial list includes instructional design, pastor, counselor, EMS, paramedic, and merchant seaman. He has always embraced the idea of helping others. In his young adulthood he often was like a warrior who would see a problem, jump in, and get involved without a clear or calm plan.

His quest for finding himself while finding enlightenment has led to travel adventures in the states of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and the countries of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico. He would love to revisit Oregon one day. The one country that currently tops his bucket list is Thailand.

TRANSFORMED TRUTHTELLER

In 1994 George was fired from a hospital job and facing a bleak future. He was contemplating suicide when his half-sister phoned to invite him to a conference on spiritual healing. He was ambivalent yet agreed to go. They attended two nights.

The first night Gloria Copeland https://www.facebook.com/GloriaCopelandKCM spoke about addiction and George began to realize that his years as a “trauma junkie” had not served him well. He saw a vision of “addiction demons like multicolored dragons leaving people…swirling up to the ceiling of that huge auditorium…and vanishing.”

Dragon vision led to big changes for George. (art@ Vecteezy.com)

The following night during the altar call George went forward, knelt, and turned his life completely over to God. He then stood up “as a rededicated, healed, transformed, and brand-new man.” Since then, he has endeavored to share with others many of the deeper spiritual truths which give a greater meaning to life in this world.

VIRTUOUS VISIONARY

George Potter is now approaching age 72 and his deepest passions include music, meditation, gardening, and helping people. He plays the djembe, a West African drum. His favorite type of music is “any that is calm, meditative, and brings peace to me.” He loves to meditate by watching clouds and achieving a relaxed altered state. George does volunteer work with recovery ministries, and the local http://bigbendhc.org/ Homeless Coalition. He can sometimes be seen playing his drum at Hippie Church https://www.facebook.com/Hippie-Church-Tallahassee-104217601122716 which is enjoyable and has nice music.

This is a man who has found peace and purpose and has overcome many of his demons. By no means perfect, as is evident from being a bit overweight and in the process of a divorce, he states he is “an enlightened mystic Christian comfortable with Hindu concepts and open to new ideas and adventures.” He feels that not all people understand him, but those who need help are often drawn to him.

According to George Potter, this world is not all there is. People should be open to adventure, in this world and in the next. He is always ready to listen and refer folks to any needed resources. It is his belief that each person’s life is their art canvas, so they should question how to best use it for what they wish to create.

He has a heart for helping others open their eyes and their minds. His goal is to save others from their negativity, prejudices, and sufferings. In his own words, “I do my little part to wake people up and to help them live with deeper meaning.”

–**–** –**–** George can be reached on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/george.potter.54943600

—————————————–YOU, my reader, are AWESOME————————————

Interviewing fascinating folks all over the southeastern USA is such a joyful and uplifting passion which I combine with travel and photography. Sharing interviews and articles with YOU adds a “deeper meaning” to my life and I sincerely hope YOU enjoy them. I welcome your kind comments PLUS you can find the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/embracesouthernstates and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/embracesouthernstates/ and be sure to let me know of anyone YOU think I should interview, THANK YOU.

Are YOU a “Friend” ?

September 10, 2021 by angelchatt

Best friends, good friends, casual acquaintances, online friends, folks I’ve met and wish to some day call a real friend, the list goes on ! Are YOU a “Friend”?

BEST FRIENDS: I met my childhood best friend when we were about age 12, I think we were in 5th or 6th grade. We were total opposites in most ways. She was tall, thin, had beautiful long strawberry-blonde hair and perfect posture. I was short and chunky with hard to manage wavy black hair and nothing at all about me was anywhere near perfect.

Her mom was overly protective and always seemed to think I was trouble! Well, I did most of the things a “good girl” should not do! But my best friend was above reproach in every way. We spent several years sharing secrets, going bowling or to movies, and wondering out loud what our futures might become.

We are still best friends…over 50 years later! She married, had three sons, and now has several grandchildren. Could be six, could be eight…I gave up on trying to keep track of them. The thing is, I care about HER just as much today as I did all those years ago. She and her husband Terry still live just two towns over from where we grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Her name is Nina, and she will always be my best, best friend.

We don’t live in the same state, we don’t like the same foods, we don’t see eye to eye on lots of things… yet we are still best friends. We don’t talk on the phone as often as we would like, but could still call one another at any hour, day or night, for encouraging words of support and love. Nina is the very best kind of best friend, and a great reason that I travel back to the area as often as possible.

GOOD FRIENDS: My good friends are those who have earned my respect and my trust. Lots of folks like to think they fall into that category, when they do not. There are only four lovely ladies whom I call my good friends. Those friendships have been tested and proven through disagreements, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and apologizes. We’ve seen each other through bad relationships, divorce, anger, sadness, and…always… back to love and kindness.

Jan and I were great gal pals in Kingsland, Georgia. We sang in the same church choir, loved to watch “Murphy Brown” on TV, and had some great outings. We made memories together in at least four states! I’m willing to bet that we will travel together again some day.

Good friends are better than gold. (Jan & Angela about 5 years ago)

Debra is cheeky, creative, over-the-top, and colorful. I will always love her dearly because we can be so open, honest, and seem to bring out the best in one another. She even allowed me to write an article about her ( https://embracesouthernstates.com/the-lady-who-made-my-mask/ )… please do read it ! We have not yet traveled together, but I’m pretty sure we will.

We bring out the best in each other… as good friends.

Belle and Michelle have been my hey-let’s-go-do-something travel and adventure buddies for several years. We have gone to Mardi Gras, parties, local events, and restaurants galore. They often overlook dumb things I say when I’m frustrated. Often they continue to love me , in spite of myself.

Angela, Michelle, Belle… what will WE do next?

ACQUAINTANCES and potential future friends: Folks whom I’ve only met once or only met online are basically casual acquaintances. They have the potential to become friends, but that will develop over time. I meet lots of wonderful and fascinating people during my travels and even locals (in the Florida panhandle) that I interview. Most are excellent human beings and are certainly worth getting to know on a deeper level.

Here’s one quick word of warning; I once found out that two people on social media told each other that they knew me and that we were friends. In actuality, I had never met either one in person and did not consider them to be my friends. Well, I guess if you have any doubts about my level of “friendship” with you, it would be best to ask me… in person!

Do you agree? Are you a “friend”? Please Comment and let me know, thanks.