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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Today is the Day




Thank you to Brad Evans for sharing this passage, taken from Harry Crews' autobiography A Childhood:

The most intense love affair I've ever known was between two mules we owned the year I finally left the farm for good. Doc, a big iron-gray horse mule, and Otha, a little red mare mule about 300 pounds lighter than Doc, were matched mules. They had been broken together, trained to move in their harness with precision and smoothness.

Matched mules are nearly always the same weight because if they are not and they are asked to pull something really heavy, the bigger mule lunges into his harness, bellying down behind his collar and simply snatches the smaller mule back against the doubletree, an iron bar to which their trace chains are ultimately fastened, and, in effect, this loses all the pulling power of the lighter mule. It becomes a seesaw, with one mule lunging and then the other. The bigger mule isn't pulling with butagainst the one he's in a double harness with.

Not so with Doc and Otha. Doc waited. He compensated. The two of them would, slow as breathing, tighten their traces together, leaning into their collars. When I've seen Doc turn - even in the middle of the worst kind of pull - and look at his fine little mare mule beside him giving all she had to give, I knew he was thinking how best to help her, how best to take whatever part of the load he could off her. I always knew he thought about
her a lot . . .

We always had to take both Doc and Otha to the field even if we planned to work only one of them. We had to hitch the one not being worked so that they would never be out of sight of one another. If we took one out of the lot without the other, or for any reason made it so they could not see each other, they would literally rip themselves apart in an effort to get back together: knock down fences, go through barbed wire, cut their heads and chests slamming through stables.

I never doubted the love between Doc and Otha.

We'll see you at the Cox Capitol Theatre.

Love,

JW + JW

Friday, April 29, 2011

Let the Festivities Begin!




So excited to see you tonight to kick-off the WWWW in Macon, Georgia! Grant's Lounge is located at 576 Poplar Street in beautiful downtown Macon. Just look for the iconic front entrance! And leave room for some delicious fried fish, cheese grits, hushpuppies and slaw cooked up by Cheryl Grant Louder. Come casual and let's get this party started. See you soon!

Love,

the J-Dubs


Thursday, April 28, 2011

Keep it Right Here, Folks



WWWW forecast is looking warm and sunny, just like our hearts (sorry, we can't help the sap). Tonight, we go on our final date with each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. Tomorrow we start celebrating with you. Keep checking Macon Candy for any WWWW updates and we'll do our best to keep you posted on what we hope and pray is a weekend of all weekends for us all.

If you hadn't already, check out our engagement announcement.


Will and Kate who??

See you soon,

JW + JW

p.s. Photo by fabulous friend and wedding guest Maryann Bates!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Day After I-Do Brunch


We'll see you at the Rookery on Cherry Street in downtown Macon on Sunday, May 1, the day after the big day. We'll be there as husband and wife by noonish. The Rookery is going to do a special menu for our brunch crew and want y'all to leave room for dessert!

It's our last chance to tell you thank you for being a big part of our big day.

See you soon,

Jessica & Jamie

p.s. Photo by wedding guest Adam Smith!

We Couldn't Resist

We sure did enjoy being single. But we sure as heck are glad we found each other.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Getting By with Help from our Friends



So the wedding week is officially here. This bride would be fibbing if I said I hadn't been stressing. But for the most part, I know this party is going to happen whether we're ready or not! We've got a lot of friends to thank for their generosity and support over the last few (and I mean few because this engagement was fast!) months. We've been truly blown away by the good folk in our lives.

I've got to give a special shout-out to my friend / fitness guru B.J. Dunwody, who gave me a gift that I hope I will keep giving to myself. She kicked my butt. And this bride has loved it. She stepped in as my fitness trainer/pseudo-shrink to get me through these last few weeks. Not only has she made me physically feel better about putting on the wedding dress, but she's made me PROUD as peacock to put on that wedding dress and dance the night away. Above is our photo, toe to toe. I didn't even know what to do with sneakers until she talked me into lacing them up. The best part about it all? She has become one of the best friend this bride could ever have through such a crazy time. Love you, B.J.!

Thanks to all of our friends, from the bottom of our hearts, for making this moment ours, all together.

Only in Macon



Here are a few things you can do during the daytime before the wedding:
  • Kids' Play Date at Amerson Water Works Park (see the post with all of the details below). Thanks to our friend Russ for organizing!
  • Ocmulgee Expeditions: 478.757.8226, ocmulgeeexpeditions.com. This is the kayak and canoe rental company run by dear friends of ours, the Brothers Adams. They won't get you lost because they've also got to be at the Capitol by 8 p.m.! Your boat is launched from Amerson Water Works Park, the same place as the kids' play date. This is one of our favorite things to do in Macon - and it's easy for all levels. You can even rent a canoe big enough to do it family style. Check out the pics on the site and see the bride and groom taking the river by storm!
  • Georgia Children's Museum: 383 Cherry Street, 478.755.9539, georgiachildrensmuseum.com. A great place to take the kids and get all creative in downtown Macon.
  • Georgia Music Hall of Fame: 200 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, 478.751.3334, georgiamusic.org. If you want to be shocked by Georgia's contributions to music, the GMHF is the place to be. It holds a lot of Jessica's family's history within its walls with her father Alan and uncle Phil are both featured as inductees. The future of the GMHF is in question, so we encourage and appreciate your support of the museum and its great Music Store. You may never have a chance to do so again. Also open on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
  • Georgia Sports Hall of Fame: 301 Cherry Street, 478.752.1585, gshf.org. Fun interactive exhibits that challenge the athlete in all of us. Maybe one day Jamie's dad Jimmy Weatherford will be among the inductees since his football career is certainly deserving.
  • Tubman African American Museum: 340 Walnut Street, 478.743.8544, tubmanmuseum.com. Another cherished downtown attraction in the "museum district." It's also one of the best art galleries and history museums. You seriously come in curious and leave colorblind.
  • Big House Allman Brothers Museum: 2321 Vineville Avenue, 478.741.5551, thebighousemuseum.com. If you like the Allman Brothers, this museum is a must see. It contains some amazing artifacts and truly takes you back in time with the rooms replicated to how it looked when the band called it home. There is even a Gov't Mule section. Also open Sunday from 11 a.m-5 p.m.
  • Ocmulgee National Monument: 478.752.8257, nps.gov/ocmu. Home of the Muscogee Indians, this is a spiritual place. A tip from Jamie: if you are staying at the Macon Marriott City Center and are interested in taking a walk amongst ancient mounds, follow these directions: exit the Marriott hotel, hang a right toward Coliseum Drive (the road you came in on). Cross Coliseum Drive to Main Street and immediately on the right you will see Clinton Street. Take Clinton Street (maybe looks a little shady but it's safe) until it dead ends into a gate. Open the gate (unlocked traditional museum hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and you have just entered the back of the Ocmulgee National Monument. Follow the paved path until you come to a "T." If you go left, you will head to the Welcome Center. If you go right, you will head toward the three mounds. Feel free to walk, hike, jog or just chill. The park is open on Sunday, too.
  • Ocmulgee Heritage Trail: ocmulgeeheritagetrail.com. Another excellent place to bike, walk, jog, stroll or chill. The paved trail runs along the Ocmulgee River for miles. Very convenient to the Macon Marriott City Center.
Other useful resources are the City of Macon's site cityofmacon.net and the Macon-Bibb Convention and Visitors Bureau's Welcome Center at 450 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (visit their site maconga.org). The Welcome Center is like a museum unto itself and has a great video featuring many of our wedding guests. The city of Macon provides an amazing glimpse into the past. Our city boasts more homes on the National Historic Registration than Savannah, including the Hay House, the home of the Confederate Treasury during the Civil War, and the Cannonball House, the only Macon home "hit" during the Civil War. Macon's cemeteries are some of the most breathtaking places in the city. Rose Hill is final resting place of Duane Allman, Berry Oakley and Phil Walden, just to name a few. Riverside Cemetery holds both Jessica and Jamie's grandparents. It is also one of our favorite places to enjoy as a park.

There is no shortage of stuff to do in the town we love. Make a day of it and see you later at the Cox Capitol Theatre!

The Nitty Gritty



Here is another shot at breaking down the details of the Walden Weatherford Wedding Weekend (known as WWWW from here on out), as best described by the groom:


The rehearsal party is Friday, the 29th, at the historic Grant's Lounge (576 Poplar Street), also known as "The Birthplace of Southern Rock." The party is open to all invited guests of the wedding from 7 p.m. until. The dress is casual. We are serving Cheryl Grant Louder's fried fish, cheese grits, hushpuppies and cole slaw, starting at 7 p.m. We'll provide keg beer, sodas and water (Grant's will have a cash bar operating for other needs). One of Macon's favorite bands, Jubee & the Morning After, will start playing at 9 p.m. until we can't dance anymore.

The wedding and reception is Saturday, the 30th, at the Cox Capitol Theatre (382 Second Street) from 8-11 p.m. The dress is what we like to call "backstage cocktail attire," in other words, wear what you would wear if you were going backstage to meet your favorite band. Jamie will NOT be wearing a tie. We suggest you don't worry about it either. We'll be serving sodas, wine and the signature vodka drink "The Wedding Crasher" in honor of our bud Owen Wilson. There will also be a several cash bars throughout the venue for the night. For food, the awesome Saralyn Harvey has helped us create a fun-filled gourmet hotdog bar with all kind of fixings for late night snacking. Fountain of Juice has created our tower of cupcakes. And the great T-Bird and the Breaks from Austin, Texas are going to help us blow the roof off the joint.

The post-wedding/reception party will be at the Rookery (543 Cherry Street) from 11 p.m. until. One of our best friends, Brian Nolen, is putting his band Brian Lee & the Family back together for a special performance.

A special note and word to the wise - our friends at Zingo Designated Driver Services will be downtown and available for you to call so you don't have to worry about drinking and driving. They give you a safe ride home in your own vehicle. Keep their number handy: 478.254.6555.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Where to Eat



One of the best parts of living in Macon is eating in Macon. We appreciate and admire our friends in the Macon restaurant industry. We hope you choose to skip the everyday chains you can find everywhere else and dine local. Below Jamie has provided a break-down of some of our favorite eating establishments, close to the Walden Weatherford Wedding Weekend Accommodations. He even did his own price point - according to what's come out of his wallet over the years!

Breakfast:

Jittery Joe's: 1635 Montpelier Avenue, 478.621.5400, jitteryjoes.com. Indoor seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. This is one of the great businesses found in Mercer Village, a project of the College Hill Corridor effort that Jessica works for. We recommend the Mayan Mocha with dark chocolate and cayenne! It is walking distance from the Hilton Garden Inn, but it's a hefty walk. ($-$$)

H and H: 807 Forsyth Street, 478.742.9810, mamalouise.com. Indoor seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. The most soulful restaurant in town with hearty breakfast options and music memorabilia everywhere. You never know who you might meet, even in the morning. Mama Louise is a guest of the wedding, but you'll always find her working behind the counter. Be sure to tell her you're here for the wedding. We recommend the eggs, thick-cut bacon and cheese grits! ($)

Lunch:

The Rookery: 543 Cherry Street, 478.746.8658, rookerymacon.com. Outdoor seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. We'll be showing you a lot of the Rookery - site of the wedding after-party concert by Brian Lee & the Family as well as the brunch gathering the next day thanks to owners and wedding guests Wes Griffith and Chad Evans. Until then, check out their huge menu that includes some of the best and infamous burgers in town. You can't go wrong with the Walden Greenback with goat cheese, bacon and fried green tomato (named after Jessica's family!) or the Jimmy Carter Burger with bacon and peanut butter or the Big O Burger, the Doctor John Burger, the Ray Charles Burger, the Allman Burger . . . okay, all of them rock. And they substitute for veggie patties. Full bar available. Also open for dinner. ($$-$$$)


Greek Corner Deli: 587 Cherry Street, 478.254.3059. Outdoor seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. Great lunch special combo of Greek salad and homemade humus. Jamie loves the chicken pita. Jessica digs the Greek sampler with humus, dolmas, olives and other finger foods. Also open for dinner. Beer served. ($$)

H and H: See above. This is the famous soul food joint that launched many a skinny musicians' full bellies. It's a Macon institution and Mama Louise (and wedding guest) is everyone's favorite cook in the kitchen. We recommend the fried chicken and collards. Just be prepared to leave with the smell still sticking to you. ($$-$$$)

Nu-Way Weiners: 430 Cotton Avenue, 478.743.1368, nu-wayweiners.com. Counter and booth seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. If we're talking Macon institutions, here's another. Jessica has even been locked in Nu-Way with Oprah when she came to town. Their slaw-dog was named one of the New York Times' best in the country; their "All the Way" is the classic way to go. Jessica even does it strange sometimes and asks for "Dressed Buns" with just the filler goodness in a bun. Their burgers and chocolate malts are insane too. Just make sure you don't mind that onion smell trailing with you for the day . . . We'll all know we're you've been eating. ($)

Fountain of Juice: 3045 Vineville Avenue, 478.755.5000. Outdoor seating, kid-friendly, no reservations required. If you're going to be in the Vineville neck of the woods, visiting the Big House in particular, we highly recommend grabbing lunch at Fountain of Juice, owned by friends (and wedding guests) Natasha and Carl Phillips. Fountain of Juice is providing the cupcakes for the big night! Sample one of her creations while you're there! And expect high quality sandwiches, soups and salads known for their organic ingredients and monster good taste. Jessica recommends the Lemon Basil Smoothie and any and all of their sandwiches made by the Fountain of Juice staff with serious love. ($$-$$$)

Joshua Cup Coffee: See above. In addition to coffee and baked goods, they do quality sandwiches, regular and toasted. Walking distance from 1842 Inn, grab it to go and picnic in Washington Park, just across the street. ($-$$)

Francars Buffalo Wings: 1365 Linden Avenue in Mercer Village, 478.741.3338, francarswings.com. Outdoor seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. This is another close restaurant to the Hilton Garden Inn. You can't go wrong with any of their famous wings. We love the Tangy Peach. Their Philly Cheesesteak is also a favorite, as well as their fried corn nuggets. Beer available. Also open for dinner. Tell Carl and Sharon Fambro hello - they are also guests at the wedding! ($-$$)

Ingleside Village Pizza: 1635 Montpelier Avenue in Mercer Village, 478.743.4113, inglesidevillagepizza.com. Outdoor seating, kid-friendly and no reservations required. This is another restaurant close to the Hilton Garden Inn and a sister restaurant to the original "IVP" in the Vine-Ingle area. Their White Pizza is legendary. All of their dough is hand-tossed and you can get just about any topping you want. We recommend the Ultimate Village Salad or the Ultimate Village Pizza. Either are loaded with goodness. Lots of beer to choose from. Owner Andrew Collier is among wedding guests. Also open for dinner. ($$-$$$)

Dinner: We recommend grabbing a bite to eat before the wedding since we're serving it snack-style with a gourmet hotdog bar!

Downtown Grill: 562 Mulberry Street Lane (in the alley behind the Cox Capitol Theatre), 478.742.5999, macondowntowngrill.com. Reservations suggested - especially the night of the wedding. Owner and friend Richie Jones and right hand man Richard Dennis (who are also friends and wedding guests) can tell you our favorite drinks and dishes . . . fried artichoke hearts, bistro steak medallions, grit cakes, green goddess salad, goat cheese stuffed filet . . . We're getting hungry writing about it. What's cool about Downtown Grill is it's a historic hotspot where Andy Warhol, Bette Midler, Cher and more once dined back when it was known as Le Bistro, opened by Capricorn co-founder Frank Fenter. Full bar. ($$-$$$$)

Michael's on Mulberry: 588 Mulberry Street, 478.743.3997, michaelsonmulberry.com. Outdoor seating, reservations suggested. You'll be just around the corner from the Capitol and in view of the marquee from the outdoor seating at Michael's. Owners Michael and Candy Taylor are a power couple inspiration to us and will take good care of you, considering they are guests of the wedding, too. We highly recommend their seafood nachos and smoked salmon appetizer! Full bar. ($$$-$$$$)

Tic Toc Room: 408 Martin Luther King, Junior Boulevard, 478.744.0123, hotplatesrestaurantgroup.com. Limited outdoor seating, reservations suggested. This is the restaurant that founded the resurgence of the swanky dining movement in downtown Macon thanks to owner Cesare Mamarella. We recommend the ahi tuna appetizer, lobster bisque and just about any of the steak and sushi dishes. The bleu cheese stuffed olives are a favorite in dirty martinis. And the smores dessert is pretty fun to order and roast on site. Full bar and extensive martini list. ($$$-$$$$)

Lemongrass Thai Bistro: 442 Cherry Street, 478.257.6464, lemongrassthaibistro.com. Outdoor seating and no reservations required. From little plates like our favorite shrimp basil rolls to big dishes like the delicious Thai clay pot that includes noodles, shrimp and bacon to Jessica's favorite smoked salmon sushi roll, there is plenty of variety that can go with or without chopsticks. Owners and friends Gary and Carla will take good care of you. Fried ice cream is a favorite dessert! Full bar with exotic drinks. ($$$-$$$$)

Tokyo Alley: 574 Mulberry Street Lane (behind the Cox Capitol Theatre), 478.743.9449, tokyoalley.com. No reservations required but the place fills up fast! If you have a large group, call ahead for private dining. Tucked away in the alley alongside Downtown Grill, it's one of the most intimate tables in town. You can brown bag your wine and choose from both Japanese and Thai influenced dishes. We recommend the cheese rolls and vegetable basil leaves. Their lemon chicken is a local favorite and they've got all kinds of curries. ($$-$$$)

Sunday Brunch:

The Rookery will be hosting specials on the Brunch menu in honor of the day after our big day. That's where we will be on the morning of being a married couple. Dolce Vita also serves a great brunch with full Bloody Mary Bar.



For the Kids or Kids in All of Us



Thanks to father and friend Russ Loyd, a play date has been set up at one of Macon's most beautiful playgrounds and parks along the Ocmulgee River, where some of you may choose to kayak that day with our friends at Ocmulgee Expeditions.

Below, find all of the play date details, straight from Russ (whose cute daughter you see in the photo above):

What: Kids' Play Date at Amerson Water Works Park

When: April 30th, 2011, starting at 10-10:30 until the kids get tired
Where: 2600 Riverview Road, Macon, Ga., 31204


The Walden/Weatherford wedding, also known as the "18 Wheels of Love Tour 2011" and "The WWW (Walden/Weatherford Wedding)," is shaping up to be as much fun as a Jackie Treehorn pool party. I am adding to the weekend's festivities by setting up a trip to a great new playground/ park in Macon the morning of the wedding.
This accomplishes several things:
1. allows friends to spend more time together
2. meet new friends before the wedding
3. wear out the kids
4. it's free
5. see a great new Macon playground / hiking / preservation area

This gathering is very informal and mostly just something free to do to do with (or without the kids) enjoying a beautiful day in Macon, Ga.
The is central to all parts of Macon and less than 1 mile off of I-75 and Riverside Dr.

A map to the park.
http://bit.ly/i8cFG1

Amerson Water Works Park (AWWP)
2600 Riverview Road

Macon, GA 31204

Amerson Water Works Park (AWWP) was recently completed by New Town Macon, is a part of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, and, according to James T. Weatherford, is the "Ronnie Van Zant" of parks in the Middle Georgia Area. AWWP offers hiking trails, biking trails, wildlife viewing, canoeing, boating, covered picnic tables and a playground.
Below is a link to a map of park and amenities.
http://ocmulgeeheritagetrail.com/images/stories/downloads/awwp%20inside_of_brochure_-_final.pdf

Video of Amerson Water Works Park
http://vimeo.com/6421301

Everyone come self sufficient with water & snacks. There are some portable toilets on site and a covered pavilion with picnic tables.
The Park Rules are here including info on the $3 parking fee.
All the best and I look forward to seeing/meeting you on Saturday afternoon.
Cheers!

Russ Loyd