BURKARD'S BLOG
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3 SEP 03: THE RAZZED DAZZLE
Wynnton Elementary School has a lot of history - but it also has some problems. It certainly didn't help that Davis Broadcasting moved its studios down the street, putting youngsters dangerously close to all that corrupting rap music....
But seriously: Wynnton School students are preparing to present a musical program for the public next week. But a source tells me some teachers are upset, because PRIVATE performances are planned first - and they're barred from attending them! There's an easy way to resolve this. The teacher should invite the dancers over for a backyard show, followed by a wiener roast.
The way the source explained it to me, a private performance of "Wynnton Dazzle" was held for community bigwigs beginning Tuesday - supposedly because the Wynnton School auditorium is being named after one of them. I can understand why some people
would be upset by this. After all, Bill Heard probably doesn't get private previews of RiverCenter concerts.
The fuss over private musical shows should be the least of Wynnton School's problems. Several news reports have shown the school in disrepair, and needing improvement. But maybe the answer is only a week away. If Alabama voters approve the tax and accountability package, angry opponents will come to Columbus and pay for all the work.
Wynnton Elementary's test scores also landed it on Georgia's "needs improvement" list this year - meaning parents can transfer children to better-performing schools if they wish. Better performing? How many other grade schools have their own musical troupes?
BLOG UPDATE: From another source comes more details on the possible future of "Bagel Break." [31 Aug] A staff member tells this source the owners are thinking about deserting downtown completely, for a new location near St. Francis Medical Center. Line up enough bagels, and you might match some patients' bills.
Where will downtown diners go for breakfast or brunch, if Bagel Break moves several miles away? After all, you can only eat at Ruth Ann's Diner so many times a week....
Speaking of dining, the "City Grill" on the Phenix City side of the Dillingham Street Bridge reopened Tuesday after being closed for months. The format seems to have moved away from basic barbecue - to pork chops, fried chicken and other things that can clog your arteries.
At the other end of the scale, we only now realized the Italian restaurant "Luna Azzurra" on Weems Road has closed. Several months ago, the owners posted a sign thanking Columbus Park Crossing and proclaiming, "We're here to stay." Apparently that was not Az-zurr-a thing.
Luna Azzurra is being replaced on Weems Road by the "Bavarian House." You can test how smart the staff is by asking for a "Bavarian Beer" - and expecting a can of Busch.