By Heather Cobb
A& E Editor
PHOTOS BY HEATHER COBB/A&E Editor
Bob Brown is not only a co-owner of the Hotel Talisi, but he is also a fry cook on Sundays. Brown and Roger Gaither bought the historic hotel in April 1991.
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It may be hard to believe, but one of the most beautiful and elegant hotels in the country is only 30 minutes from Auburn.
It doesn't have fancy swimming pools or high-tech exercise equipment, and the most modern thing about the hotel is the telephone booth with a Superman emblem in the hallway. But that is what makes the Hotel Talisi in Tallasee, Ala., such a special place to stay.
"We now use 20 of the rooms and are currently building on the other 50. We are often compared with old European hotels because of our large hallways and small bedrooms," Bob Brown, one of the current owners said.
"The hotel began being built in 1924 and was completed in 1928, having 70 rooms originally," Brown said.
Brown and co-owner, Roger Gaither bought the hotel in April 1991 and have put all of their profits into putting the history back into the hotel.
There is a beautiful garden across the street along with an array of antique and collectible stores hoping to serve some of the guests to the hotel and diners' at the Sunday buffets.
The hotel had been boarded up for 50 years, and it was Brown who took down the boards and began reconstruction on the garden.
Brown said, "Many people who come to the hotel say they feel like they are in a detective movie. And with all the paintings around, many people say the eyes of the paintings follow them."
On the first floor of the hotel, there are three large rooms to eat, a beautiful lobby and bathrooms you could live in.
The largest dining room is only open on Sundays when the large crowds come to eat the delicious foods that include their famous fried chicken, mouth-watering sweet potatoes and scrumptious banana pie.
Debbie Stanford, a waitress at the hotel for more than six years said, "We have people from all around the state drive here for lunch on Sundays, some just for our fried chicken."
Stanford, whose mother worked there for years before that, said they have hundreds of loyal customers who come every week and even some who like to visit for special occasions. A few weeks ago, Gov. Fob James and Montgomery mayor Emory Folmar came to eat at the hotel and conduct business.
Besides drawing large crowds, they also cater weddings and banquets in the dining rooms and even in the garden.
In the summer and spring, there are parties in the alley and the garden. And during Christmas, the entire hotel and downtown was decorated like a winter wonderland, with thousands of sparkling lights and over 20 large Christmas trees.
As the customers eat their grand buffet, which is $7.25 with tax and includes salad bar, dessert and tea or coffee, they can listen to the sweet sounds of Jonnie Lee Boone, who is the sister of Brown, and also the enchanting organist.
On Sundays, the busiest day she is in the center of the dining room and loves to talk to her guests.
She and the other members of her family also live on the third floor of the hotel.
The third level is not open to the public, but they are currently working on redecorating the rooms.
The different rooms they have are suites which are $60, which does not change, even during the busy seasons, and the rooms with double beds and twin beds are always $40.
Bob Funderburke (left) is enjoying his favorite dish, banana cream pudding,at the Sunday buffet. The garden located across the street from the hotel (above) was boarded up for 50 years. Many surprises were found when boards came down.
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Throughout the lobbies upstairs and downstairs, there are rose carpets. Pink and green colors surround the many antique rooms and lobbies while red and pink roses surround the edges of the wallpaper.
There is an old-timey check-in desk, with the huge keys that were used years ago.
The cash registers are old and look like they could break at any moment, but that is part of the charm.
Brown said, "One time a waitress came in the kitchen saying she had a customer who had a frog and wanted us to put it somewhere while she ate her lunch. So we put it under the cash register, and it stayed there until after she had eaten."
When the first wedding reception was held in the garden, there were crystal chandeliers, a champagne fountain and white lights strung up everywhere in and around the garden.
"A few years ago, there was a Harley-Davidson wedding reception held in the garden with over $300,000 of motorcycles," Brown said.
The brides and the bridesmaids were all dressed-up, and the men were mostly in leather.
They also just opened a new restaurant in the back of the hotel called the "Colonial Room Cafe on the Alley," and it is open from 4-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
They serve ribeye steaks, sandwiches, seafood platters and different desserts that change from day to day.
A bar is located in the corner of the room next to the alley.
The tables have white linen tablecloths and will have music playing as their guests eat.
There is also a small restaurant in the hotel for travelers or just hungry patrons, but it closes at 7:50 p.m. every night.
Brown said, "We serve over 6,000 pounds of chicken and 1,300 pounds of sweet potatoes a month."
One guest was happily eating his banana pie and was glad to talk about the wonderful food.
Funderburke, who graduated four times from Auburn, with the last a master's degree in justice and public safety, said, "My family comes here at least once a month and I was born here. I love the food."
Bertha James, a waitress who has been at the hotel for more than 25 years, said "I have seen a big increase in business in the last six years since the new owners took over. There have been many improvements since 1991."
In the history of Hotel Talisi, there has been one death and one suicide years ago, before the current owners took over.
Some guests at the hotel now claim to have seen ghosts and even some of the employees blame bad things happening on the ghosts.
When Brown was in the kitchen with one of his cooks, Ruby, who has worked there for more than 27 years, they saw a light come on in an oven that had been broken for years. Ruby blamed it on the ghost.
Last year many Auburn students took advantage of the short thirty-minute drive when they participated in the Beaux Arts Ball, sponsored by the University Program Council's Fine Art's committee.
For a bit of history close to home, visit Tallassee and stay in the Hotel Talisi. It's well worth any time or money spent.
TRISHA O'BRIEN/Photo Editor
Gary Greene and Terri Allard played last Friday night at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
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Once again the city of Auburn was treated to something wonderful and just a bit magical.
Last Friday night the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was the site of an awesome concert featuring two of the best musicians to ever grace the Plains.
Part of the Sundilla Concert Series, singer/songwriter Terri Allard and her partner, Gary Greene, who sang and played guitar and harmonica, kept the large, crowd cheering until the end.
Last year Allard and Green were two delightful surprises. This year I was expecting even more, and they delivered.
Allard started the acoustic show by saying how happy the two were to be back in Auburn.
This is one artist who actually seemed to mean it when she said it. She thanked the people she was staying with and the loyal fans who came back to see them.
There were about twice as many people at the show this year, so the news must have spread about how wonderful she is.
She is a small woman, at 5'1", but the sounds that come from her mouth when she is singing are as huge as her talent.
Green has a wild look about him, and when he started to play one of his many harmonicas the crowd went wild.
He acts just crazy enough to make the show even more fun, especially his wisecracks on Allard. And when she calls him a freak, he looks proud to be one.
They started their first set with two of my favorite songs from their second CD, "Rough Lines."
After singing "Nineteen Again," and "Rough Lines," Allard sang a new song, "Words You Can Not Say," with beautiful lyrics written by Allard, "Plant a bed of roses high/build a house to kiss the sky/all of these things that I once craved words you can not say."
The next song was a fast, funny song that Green was able to strut his stuff to. "Once Upon A Time," written by Allard and her husband, is about a friend they had who was always unlucky in love, and put a fun slant on what do when nothing goes your way.
After going to about five of these shows, I have yet to see the audience get up and dance.
There was one brave soul who was dancing in the back, but I am not sure if he was caught up in the music so he had to dance or if something else was motivating his wild performance.
Because you can bring your own refreshments, many people were drinking coffee, wine and all kinds of beer.
The mood in the church was one of love and friendship and everyone was having a genuine good time.
All around couples were holding hands, smiling and tapping their feet.
This was a relaxed crowd, there were even children sleeping on their parent's laps who would wake up in between songs and clap before falling back asleep.
The Sundilla Concert Series will continue this Friday with Christine Kane, a folk singer, coming to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
These shows are rare treats for Auburn, and anyone who enjoys true talent and wants to sit back and enjoy themselves must check out the series.
Review by Heather Cobb
A&E Editor
CONTRIBUTED
Wes Chapman sinks his teeth into Lucy, played by Jennifer Polyocan.
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The legendary Count Dracula claimed the lives of more victims in a sold-out show in downtown Montgomery on Jan. 30.
This ballet adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel, directed by Wes Chapman, was performed at the Davis Theatre. The world-class dancers of the Alabama Dance Theatre brought the story to life without the major tool most stories use - words.
The high, arching ceilings and gilding found throughout the theatre added to the atmosphere and helped to transport you to the 1890s. The set was simple, so it did not draw your attention away from the languid movements of the dancers.
For those who are unfamiliar with the details of the the story, here is a brief summary:
The characters of Dracula, performed by Chapman, and Lucy's three suitors, performed by Christopher Fellows, John Summers and Foye DuBose, stole the show for me.
Count Dracula lures Jonathan Harker (Roger Van Felteren) to his castle in Transylvania. Meanwhile, in London, Jonathan's wife Mina (Tara Mora) is hosting a debutante ball for her friend Lucy (Jennifer Polyocan).
As Lucy's suitors are wooing her, Dracula attacks. Lucy is killed and sent into the world of the un-dead. Her suitors then track Count Dracula to his castle and kill him in an effort to avenge her death.
The details that Chapman provided to create the necessary visual images were amazing. Fangs, blood and teeth marks were evident from all seats in the house.
My favorite scene contained the suitors as they each danced a solo in their efforts to win the hand of the beautiful Lucy. Each of the men used leaps and jumps that characterized the personalities of the character and helped the viewer to better understand the story.
The dancing, as well as the entire experience, was exceptional.
My date and I enjoyed every aspect of the evening. He even said he would like to attend the ballet again. In our opinion, it was an excellent way to spend a Friday night.
The audience was enthralled, and many men in the audience commented during the intermission that they were enjoying themselves, and this performance was not the typical ballet they expected.
The Alabama Dance Theatre's next performance will be Swan Lake, Act II. Ticket prices are approximately $30 per seat for reserved seating and $15 per seat for general admission.
Tickets for the Swan Lake performances on March 7 and 8 will go on sale Feb. 16 and are available by calling (334) 241-2800.
Review by Kris Robertson
Staff Writer
© 1997 The Plainsman