Tag Archives: Oakland Cemetery

The Fashion Show

Rapping out of Atlanta, Gucci Mane embodies hip hop’s street style.

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What is Atlanta’s style?  In a word, versatile.  In a genre, southern.  Our friends and neighbors rock khaki, clubwear, hoodies, gingham, seersucker, sundresses, navy blazers, roper boots, jeans and “t’s”, and even couture.  This diversity is not totally surprising, we are a bustling metropolis after all.  What is surprising is the skyrocketing popularity of our style over the past few years.  From the streets (and runways) of New York, to cooking it up on cable like Top Chef’s Hugh Acheson, from gracing the stage at the Grammy’s, to winning wardrobes in Hollywood, the South is hot.  We’ve even got the world’s most desired undergarments coming out of Atlanta thanks to Sidewalk Radio friend, Sara Blakely and Spanx.  But, it hasn’t always been this way.  We’re joined by some of Atlanta’s favorite friends and faces in fashion to explore where we came from and why we’re now getting this major attention on the national stage.  Hold on to your hats, y’all, it’s “The Fashion Show”, southern style.

Sid Mashburn did not just open a store, he created a community built upon being friendly, being genuine, being stylish, and most of all…being himself. Photo credit: Peggy Sirota/GQ

Sid Mashburn is an Atlanta superstar and super cool guy from Mississippi (with a stint in New York, of course) who tells us he always wanted to be a radio DJ.  Well, if our interview is any indication, Mr. Mashburn has a career beyond being a fashion icon.  A designer, a trendsetter, and a named favorite of Garden & Gun, GQ, and the New York Times, Sid is certainly at the top of his game; wife Ann Mashburn being a huge contributor and a powerhouse in her own right. He is kind, charming, and always interested to ask about you instead of talk about himself.  We’re happy go lucky to have Sid join Gene in the studio this month to share his insights about personal style, the Atlanta look, and what it takes to build a fashion community.

“Recipe for Press” author Amy Flurry knows her way around fashion, and is now finding her way into collections through the Paper Cut Project.

Amy Flurry’s Paper Cut Project is museum worthy and people are taking notice.

With 18 years of writing and editing experience, the ever stylish author, Amy Flurry, has made a lot of friends in the fashion business.  But, it was something that started as a side project that has famous fashion houses like Hermes calling when they want to dress up their style.  Flurry and business partner Nikki Nye create works that artistically accentuate fashion through their Paper Cut Project and it has designers like Kate Spade, mags like Italian Vogue and the likes of Christie’s all clammoring for their creations.  Working out of the ultra cool ‘n collaborative Athens, GA, Amy talks to us about styling for fashion one piece (of paper) at a time.

Victorian era dress like the kind you’ll see at Oakland Cemetery’s “Sunday in the Park” costume contest.

If looks could kill, people wouldn’t have to be buried far from where they’ll be watching Historic Oakland Cemetery’s “Sunday in the Park” costume contest.  On October 6th, Cynthia Crowder, Victorian era fashion expert and Head Judge for the contest, will be overseeing the origins of Atlanta style.  In anticipation of the event, Cynthia was kind enough to bring the history of fashion in to the Sidewalk Radio studio, giving us a glimpse of the past, along with a look into the future.  As it turns out, a science fiction twist on Victorian is all the rage, showing up in a very fashion forward manner in the material world and even at “Sunday in the Park”: It’s called steampunk, and we dig it.

In 1957, Bruce Teilhaber moved to Atlanta to join his father in-law in business at Friedman’s Fine Shoes.

Lookin’ for green alligator shoes in a size 22? Bruce Teilhaber at Friedman’s Fine Shoes is your man.

Opening in 1929, and now in its 83rd year of business, Friedman’s still occupies its original location downtown at 209 Mitchell Street.  What makes Friedman’s unique is the experience, the clientele and the sizes.  Specializing in sizes 14 – 22, its where the big boys come to shop.  Professional athletes literally come in by the busload (Former Saints owner John Mecom, Jr.once treated the entire team and coaching staff to a $25,000 shopping spree).  Today, fans of Friedman’s include: Charles Barkley, Tony Gonzalez, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal (size 22 in case you’re wondering), Gene Upshaw, Tony Dorsett, Gary Sheffield, Eddie George, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis to name a few.  Bruce and son Brett Teilhaber (who now runs the family business with his 3 brothers), bring in Brooklyn accents and larger than life personalities to talk about where the celebrity set athletes go to get their kicks.

Since 1929, 209 Mitchell Street has been home to Friedman’s Shoes. In 2011, Living Walls added a giant alligator to the exterior. Alligator on the inside has been a staple for decades.

This show is not to be missed.  If you like clothes, characters, colorful stories, fashion, fond memories, or just want a behind the scenes look into Atlanta’s style, you’ve got to tune in.

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Cell Phone Tour, Fabulous.

Today I went out to Historic Oakland Cemetery and took the “African American Voices” Cell Phone Tour. It was wonderful. Interesting, entertaining, and certainly historical in nature. Oakland was beautiful and it was fun to hear more about some of our city’s most influential philanthropists, entrepreneurs, politicians, parents, and peacemakers. I hope you all will get out and take the tour…I think you’ll enjoy it very much.

Gene Kansas

Host, Sidewalk Radio

PS – Don’t forget to take some pictures with your cell phone while you’re out there at Oakland…and, certainly enter them into Oakland Cemetery’s “Cell Phone Photo Contest”.  Below are some of the ones I shot, 1-23-11 at 12:30pm with an iPhone using a CameraBag filter.

"Divided Path" - Photo by Gene Kansas

"Free" - Photo by Gene Kansas

"Standup" - Photo by Gene Kansas


Show #4: Alive at Oakland Cemetery

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Typically on Sidewalk Radio we choose dynamic topics that are in a state of flux.  The BeltLine, The Clermont Hotel, The Art Show, as recent examples. So, it might seem odd that January’s show highlights a place that normally we might think about as anything but in transition, a cemetery.  But, it’s not just any cemetery.  Historic Oakland Cemetery is the oldest landmark in continuous use in Atlanta history.  And, as you’ll hear, Oakland is anything but dead.  It is very much alive and growing.

One of Oakland’s newest and most colorful examples of vibrancy comes to the grounds this Spring in the form of a wildflower meadow.  In this show, Oakland landscape designer and talented local artist, Cooper Sanchez, spreads the good word (along with a little seed) about this rebirth and helps us understand a bit about horticulture along the way.

Cooper Sanchez in wildflower meadow. Photo by Susan Hooper.

George Hart, a long-time, devoted supporter of Oakland Cemetery, also joins Gene in January.  As former Chairman of the Board for Historic Oakland Foundation, Hart gives enthusiastic and lively insight behind the walls of Oakland and into the legacy of some of its most notable residents, many of whom helped shape Atlanta’s physical and cultural landscape.

Confederate Monument, Oakland Cemetery, circa 1880.

DL Henderson, a Doctor of Humanities, an expert in African American History, and a current Board Member at Historic Oakland Foundation, is also the creator and curator for Oakland’s Cell Phone Tour of the African American Section launching this MLK Day, January 17th.  Henderson shares her hertiage and experience, discussing where we’ve been and where we’re heading in regards to both ritual and racial segregation, plus introduces us to Oakland’s foray into technology using cell phone narration.

Photo by Ren and Helen Davis.

Senior Associate Dean of Architecture at Georgia Tech and Master Landscape Architect, Douglas C. Allen, joins host Gene Kansas, and helps transcend our everyday experience when visiting cemeteries, expounding upon the deeper meanings of memorials, the history of landscape architecture, the influence of the Victorian sense of a “rural” garden, and Oakland’s place in Atlanta’s city planning.

This show will not bore you to death, but awaken your interest and bring to life your understanding about how a cemetery, who’s last plot was sold in 1884, can continue to invigorate, inspire, and grow.



Oakland Cemetery “Cell Phone Photo Contest”

Oakland Cemetery’s “Cell Phone Photo Contest”

Sponsored by Sidewalk Radio & Atlanta Celebrates Photography

Historic Oakland Cemetery partners with Atlanta Celebrates Photography & Sidewalk Radio to present the “Cell Phone Photo Contest”.  The contest follows Oakland’s vision to “honor Atlanta’s past and celebrate it’s future”, and launches the same day as Oakland’s Cell Phone Tour of the African American Section, Monday January 17th, Martin Luther King Day 2011.

Photo by Ren and Helen Davis.

Contest Details

To Enter:

Contest is open to all. PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN WITH A CELL PHONE and within Oakland Cemetery from January 17th – February 17th.

Send your photo,  your name, and name of your photo (all very important) to gene@genekansas.com.  All other information, please fill into form below.






What You’ll Win:

3 total winners will be announced on Monday February 21st.

Sidewalk Radio Prize Pack – Including: 2 Alternative Apparel t-shirts, 2 Sidewalk Radio CDs, dinner for 2 at Doc Chey’s at Oakland Park, and a bad-to-the-bone ACP baseball cap.  The winner will have their work presented on ACP’s web site and blog for all of their friends to envy for eternity.

Visit ACP on Monday February 21st to see who won!


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