Redeye September 18 2003

Get Carded: Strange as it seems, some people have a taste for more than alcohol, cigarettes and the sting of rejection. Some even seek culture beyond the dancefloor. Last Tuesday, more than 400 gathered at The Contemporary to sample hors d’oeuvres and peruse booths providing information on the city’s leading cultural venues, all participants in the ArtsCard discount-and-perks program.

OK, so you won’t normally find free cake, coffee and cognac (maybe arts patrons do dig that alcohol taste) at places like Dad’s Garage, Fernbank, High Museum, Alliance, Actor’s Express, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Center for Puppetry Arts and SciTrek (pause to catch breath), among others. But you will find plenty of tasty, tasteful culture. For more info, visit www.myartscard.com.

Snips, snails and Playboy bunny tails: On Friday, event promoter Brian Freedman of Abstract Rhythms (the ones behind Aerial and others) celebrated his birthday at Fairlie-Poplar’s The Mark. Also on hand was his business partner/cousin Dan Caplin. Spurred by the attentive yet aloof, free-pouring bar staff, no doubt, Freedman promised a night “like a Playboy movie directed by John Woo and starring Smurfs.” That ambitious goal hadn’t been reached before departure time. But Freedman hosted one hell of a champagne jam, regardless, nestled among the club’s handpicked By Design-style retro-contemporary accents.

Stream of consciousness: Friday also marked the Downstream Film Fest kickoff at Eyedrum. Featuring the stylistic sounds of DJs Andres, J-Stroke and producer Chris Brann, seasoned selectors of ethereal deep house, nu_jazz and diverse downbeat, the reception was just one of a week’s worth of Downstream after-parties. The schedule includes: abstrakt hip-hop by DMC champion DJ Klever and Gnosis Thursday, Sept. 18, at Decatur’s Holiday Inn Select; the breakbeat science of DJs Duda and Phil K at Carpe Diem Friday, Sept. 19; and live performances by the Loud Pissers, Ashley Profitt and Musicenvie Saturday, Sept. 20, at Eddie’s Attic, and the Unsatisfied Sunday, Sept. 21, at RAW Gallery__. Visit www.downstreamfest.com for screenings and schedules.

One heaping (self-)serving (of rawk): Shameless plug: Come see yours truly, that damn nogoodnik DJ Ballz Deep, throw down gratuitous groove at the Creative Loafing Best Of Atlanta party at The Earl Friday, Sept. 26. The Hiss, Y.O.U. and Sonoramic Commando__ also perform.

So keep one RedEye open, and send all comments, questions, observations and invitations to redeye@creativeloafing.com.