Snow bunnies have a new place to show off

A mother and daughter are having fun with show on one of the tubing runs at Snow Mountain.


I have to admit that I've never gone skiing or snowboarding. I've tried ice skating once and was a miserable failure.

My friends laughed when I screamed, "It's wet!"

They said, "What did you expect? It's ice!"

Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park has a new attraction called Snow Mountain. I just got an invitation to a media opening. It really sounds like fun.

It opens to the public on Dec. 31 and features 11 tubing runs and a 30,000-square-foot play area for younger snow bunnies.

So there's really no skiing. Just tubing. I can do that. Well, as long as I'm with someone who won't think it's fun to turn the tube upside down.

A snow-maker can make up to 200 tons of fresh snow daily. So it won't really be "snowing." But it's Atlanta.

Besides the tubing runs and play area, there is the SnoDeck where you can rest and get a hot drink or food; the SnoFire Point, which features a bonfire on Memorial Lawn and the HotSpot, where you can get hot cider or coffee. Since it's a state park, I don't think there will be alcohol sold.

I went online and it's recommended that you wear water-resistant clothing, gloves and boots. You should layer your clothing and take dry clothes that you can put in a rented locker.

Also, check the weather by calling 800-317-2006.

Tickets are $25; parking is $8.

Snow Mountain is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 31, Jan. 11, Jan. 19, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 16, Feb. 22 and March 1; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Jan. 1-4, Jan. 10, Jan. 17-18, Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14-15, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28; 4-10:30 p.m. Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20 and Feb. 27.

Stone Mountain Park is 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta. Take I-285 to exit 39B, Highway 78 East, park is at exit 8 on Highway 78.

Call 770-498-5690, 800-317-2006 or www.stonemountainpark.com

On the bypass

This morning, on the way to work, I noticed four Columbus Police Department officers on motorcycles at the bottom of the ramp going on the Lindsay Creek Bypass.

A few yards up, there were three more motor cops who had stopped motorists.

I'm glad because there are some out-of-control speeders on that part of the Bypass.

However, there is no reason to go 35 miles an hour just because there are seven police officers who are obviously looking for speeders.

I got behind some people actually going that slowly.

How dumb can you be? As long as you're doing 55, you're OK!

That's my pet peeve for the day.

Santa pictures with your pets

Want to have your pet's picture taken with Santa Claus?

I found a bargain for you.

The Second Avenue Animal Hospital, 4025 Second Ave., is holding two holiday picture sessions with Santa Claus and your pets. The sessions are 10 a.m.-noon Saturday and noon-2 p.m. Dec. 13.

Bring your pet and five cans of food or buy a holiday gift item and the photos are free. Each additional print is $2.

Your pets will get a treat.

All proceeds, including the canned goods will go to the Valley Rescue Mission.

See? It's a deal. I think I'll take my babies.

Call 706-507-7297.

Valley, Ala.'s Christmas Merry-Go-Round

I have known Linda Fulcher for many, many years. When I was the TV Book editor, I got to know all of the cable TV operators in our circulation area as well as all the TV folks from on-air personalities to executives.

Since I quit doing the TV thing, I still see some of the people I used to talk to once a week.

Linda's one of those folks. Actually, when I first met her, she was working at West Point Pepperell. It was later that she started working for the cable company in Valley, Ala.

When the Columbus Cottonmouths came to town, Linda was always there whenever I was.

The past few years, she's called me around this time of year, asking me to come visit her in Valley so I could ride the Christmas Merry-Go-Round at the Valley Sportsplex Complex.

There will be a special opening for the Merry-Go-Round from noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Tommy Johns' "Arctic Express — A Magical Train Tour of Winter Festivals of the World" will entertain with magic, puppets, music, balloon tying and storytelling. And, no, it's not the pitcher. This Tommy Johns (there's an "s" at the end of John), a local magician.

Kids and try to catch a trout with Lawton's Trout Farm. You can visit Santa Claus in Santa's House. There will be 20 food and artists booths.

There's no admission Saturday.

I guess I need to visit Valley this month.

The Christmas Merry-Go-Round hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 23. Christmas Eve hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

To get to the Sportsplex Complex, take U.S. 280 from Columbus to I-85 North to Valley. Take Exit 77 at the Ford car dealership. Take a right onto Fob James Drive. Take a right at the first traffic light onto Fairfax Bypass. The first right is Sportsplex Drive. Taken Sportsplex Drive to the end and find a parking space. The Merry-Go-Round is on the right ball field.

The best part of the Christmas Merry-Go-Round? It's free!

Call the Valley Community Center at 334-756-5290.

There's also a musical, "The Cotton Mill Christmas," at 7 p.m. Saturday by the First Community Theatre in the Langdale Theatre. It's about the holiday traditions that make Valley what it is.

To get to the Langdale Theatre, take U.S. 280 to I-85. Go north and taken Exit 77 and turn right. Go 2.5 miles to the second traffic light in front of the Valley First Baptist Church. Turn right. The theater is about 300 yards on the right, adjacent to LaFayette Lanier Elementary School.

Tickets are $5-$8, and will be available at the door.

Call 334-756-5228 or 334-756-5232.

Britney Spears

I'm not a big fan of Britney Spears, but I know there is a huge audience for her. I don't think she can sing. But then I don't think Madonna can either.

For the first time in five years, Spears will be on tour. She brings her "Circus" act to Atlanta's Philips Arena at 8 p.m. March 5. Opening the show is the Pussycat Dolls.

Tickets are $39.50-$549. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday.

Yikes! $549 to see Britney Spears? I don't think so. That price, though is the VIP package. What's in the package? Don't care.

But if you're dying to see the "Circus Tour," you can go to any Ticketmaster location, which includes the Columbus Civic Center box office or area Publix grocery store. Or go to www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000 to charge your ticket.

Billy Joel and Elton John

Back in 1994, I got to see a great concert featuring Elton John and Billy Joel together for the first time.

Now, John and Joel, the most successful and longest-running concert pairing in pop history, will reunite for their Face 2 Face tour and will perform in Atlanta's Philips Arena at 7:30 p.m. March 14.

The format for the concert will be the same. They perform a few songs together, playing dual pianos. Then each do a solo set. They end the concert together with both bands.

It's incredible. And I'm not particularly a fan of either. But I did like the show a lot.

The press release had two quotes from the musicians:

“I love touring with Billy. I have the greatest respect for him and we’re such good friends,” John said.

"The great thing about performing with Elton is that he is such a good piano player and that makes me have to dig deep to keep up with him, not to mention I've got the best seat in the house — only one piano away from Elton John!” said Joel.

John and Joel played the first date of their co-headlining Face 2 Face tour on July 8, 1994 in Philadelphia. That Veterans Stadium concert began a run of 21 sold-out performances in 13 cities and established a winning formula for all future Face 2 Face concerts. They last toured together in 2003.

Tickets are $55, $101 and $181, and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. We had really good seats in the Georgia Dome and I can promise you we didn't pay $181. Inflation, I guess.

If you can afford it, it's really worth the price of the ticket.

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, which includes Publix grocery stores in the Columbus area, or by going to www.ticketmaster.com To charge by phone, call 404-249-6400.

Georgia Historical Society gives award Thursday

Congratulations to Mike Bunn, the associate curator of history, at the Columbus Museum and Virginia Causey, a Columbus State University history professor. The Georgia Historical Society will give its top history award to Mike and Virginia for their work in promoting Columbus history.

Mike because of his work at the museum and Virginia for her series on Columbus.

It couldn't happen to two nicer people.