A Critic’s Notebook: All Things Georgian

• Photo by Salome Gvelesiani/ Courtesy Everything Georgian Inc.
• GEORGIA ON MY MIND: The Georgian Cultural Festival celebrates the culture and history of Georgia.

Visitors who show up at the Georgian Cultural Festival in John Howell Park in Virginia-Highland this weekend expecting peaches, peanuts and Coca-Cola are in for a bit of a shock. The outdoor festival offering “Everything Georgian” means the other Georgia, of course, the Eastern European nation on the Black Sea. (Interesting fact: our state doesn’t just share a name with the country, but Atlanta is also a sister city of Tbilisi, the capital).

The free festival, now in its third year, features traditional music, food, folk dancing, wine tastings, children’s activities, games, sports and more, all designed to introduce Georgians on this side of the pond to the traditions, history and geography of Georgia on the other. This year, the festival also features a performance from Georgian popstar Mariami. The festivities run in John Howell Park from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

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Hi-tech contemporary chamber ensemble Sonic Generator will give a free concert next Wednesday, May 14, at 8 p.m. at the Erikson Clock building (364 Nelson Street) in Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill neighborhood. The concert includes works by contemporary composers John Zorn, Daniel Wohl, Marc Melltis and Jason Freeman. For more information, visit the event’s webpage.

Every so often, Hollywood unleashes a new Godzilla, and the latest big budget monstrosity is about to hit screens May 14. Those curious to see the original Japanese classic in the theater before the new blockbuster opens can check out the 60th Anniversary Digital Restoration of Godzilla at Atlanta’s Landmark Theatre on Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the Landmark.