Black Bird Down. Mornin’ y’all! Come on in, grab a cup of coffee and let’s relax on the front porch! Hey! Did y’all notice we’re all dressed in vintage fashions from 1963? How weird is that? Y’all look! Have you ever seen so many ding dang black birds? I reckon there’s a storm blowin’ here from Alabama! Momma! Show everybody your new pair of Love Birds! I just hate that they have to live in a cage, but ain’t they cute? Yikes! That big fat black bird just landed on the porch rail! There’s another one! And, another! They’re everywhere! This is flat creepy! These black birds have us surrounded! They’re just cacklin’ right quiet like and starin’ at us with their beady black bird eyes! Stay calm y’all . . . now very, very slowly grab your pellet guns outta your pocketbooks! Good! Now . . on count of three . . . one, two, POW, SQUAWK, PLOP, PECK, OUCH! Hell’s Bells! We won! But, I’ve ‘bout had enough of this bird huntin’ business! Now where’s my handsome husband’s credit card! Jack pot! Let’s go shoppin’ and dinin’! You drive!  
Slow down! I see the OPEN sign on the side of The Ice House Restaurant! Shhhhhh! Y’all hush up! Here’s the plan: They ain’t open for lunch, but I’m gonna send Momma inside to see if she can sneak us up a menu! Go get it Momma! Keep your fingers crossed! Outstandin’ Momma! Ok y’all let’s take a look at this new menu! What the? Honey, it’s a brand spankin’ new menu and it’s DELISH!  This menu rocks and has somethin’ for everyone! First up are the fantastic appetizers like Ahi Seared Tuna, Char Grilled Oysters (oh my gosh!) and Crab & Corn Dip! Lord have mercy! Ok so they also offer a selection of salads and some wonderful entrees like Beef Tenderloin Filet, Chicken Marsala Rustica, Crab Stuffed Grouper Napoleon and Scallops etre Pesce! There goes the diet! But that’s not all y’all! You can also build your own burger or chicken sandwich with a yummy selection of toppings! Y’all head over there and check it all out! The Ice House is located at 271 West Washington St., and is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.!  

Coming to a Main Street Location Near You. J&K Antiques Etc.! Y’all are going to flip out when you see this new shop, located at 159 South Main Street in downtown Madison where Bulldog Barber used to be! Good Lord Have Mercy! It’s BEAUTIFUL! I just can’t get over it! First up, the entire space has been renovated! I just love the wall color and trim! Accordin’ to owner Keith Rex, they used that super fab Ralph Lauren color called Rhino Tusk! Perf! The hard pine floors were also completely redone and ceiling’ fans were installed. The new space is 1,500 square feet of fun antiques! I just love the painted country French table and chairs and the fab velvet sofa! Keith says there’s flat somethin’ for everyone! I mean, they have estate jewelry that’s outta this world!  Plus there’s a spot in the back just for men with cool tools! Y’all check it out! J&K Antiques Etc. opens for business this Friday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m.! See you there!

Mark your calendars! On Nov. 3 from 11:30 a.m. til 2:30 p.m. y’all join us at the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Fundraising luncheon! They’re gonna be servin’ oven roasted turkey and all the trimmings plus yummy homemade desserts! Bring everybody and come hungry! Dine-in or take-out!

Hey! Patricia DuBose of the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center wanted me to tell all y’all to plan to see Randall Bramblett and his band at the Center Saturday Nov. 6! I mean y’all this singer song writer is flat famous! Accordin’ to Bill Berry of R.E.M., “Randall is the most talented and prolific songwriter I have had the privilege of knowing.” Dang! Tickets are only $15! Yes! You heard me right! Only $15 per person! You just can’t get a better deal than that! Get your tickets online at  www.mmcc-arts.org or by callin’ 706-342-4743!

This just in. The James Madison Inn welcomes back Jake Grant! Jake worked with this beautiful Inn when it first opened and his experience in the hospitality industry spans a decade with some of the most successful names in the business like Walt Disney, the beautiful Ritz Carlton Lodge at Lake Oconee and of course the James Madison Inn! 

That’s a wrap! Y’all be sweet. Shop local and advertise local! I’ll see all y’all next week: Same time. Same Number One Weekly Newspaper in the Great State of Georgia!