It’s a culinary fact: If you fry it, it will be good. Fried chicken, fried fish, fried ice cream and even fried beer. Yummy! Add “Southern” to it and you have a recipe for happiness no matter what part of the world you’re from. Sure, it’s bad for you and your doctor will give you dirty looks. But it is so tasty, isn’t it?

So how about some Southern Fried Photography? No, we’re not dipping your awkward 8×10 prom photos in batter and frying them up for dinner. We’re talking about the Atlanta Photography Exhibit (APE) giving a boost to some very talented local photographers with a delicious dose of fun and public exposure.

APE was founded by Frank Lazaro and Max Shirley in in 2005 when Frank was looking for a way get his art out there. “The idea started off as a selfish endeavor; wanting to exhibit and finding a gallery to take an unknown photographer was and still is nearly impossible. So a friend gave me the idea that I should just rent my own gallery and do my own event. This sounded like a great idea, until I found out the cost to do so. At about a $1000 a night, there was no way I was doing this by myself, so I enlisted a few friends and we held our first exhibit the summer of 2005.” Frank and Max brought in Christina Rudy and soon started getting lots of attention at each new exhibit.

In 2007, Frank, Max and Christina decided that APE had a higher purpose: To promote the photographic arts through education, exhibitions, programming and support groups for emerging artists. They incorporated as a non-profit and now all program activities and proceeds go to help launch local photographers.

So why call it Southern Fried Photographers? “Good question. Well, we are a Southern based organization and it was playful. I think it speaks to who we are: We are the fast food version of photography – consistent and good and people can’t get enough of us.”

There are over 45 artists in this year’s Southern Fried Photographers exhibit. “That is the cool part, there isn’t a particular person or standout. Our exhibits showcase the emerging and unknown artist that the pubic would never get a chance to see. We display high quality work from the guy down the street and I don’t think I would want it any other way.”

So go get your yummy Southern Fried Photography and help support a good cause! The exhibit starts Friday, October 1 and runs through Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the Big House Gallery. You can also donate, volunteer or sign up to participate as a Southern Fried artist at www.atlantaphotography.org

Those quirky Southern Belles of Sugarbaker’s are back, this time live onstage for two performances only.

The Process Theatre is presenting Designing Women Live on Wednesday, Feb 24 and Thursday, Feb 25 at 8pm at Onstage Atlanta located at 2597 North Decatur Road in Decatur. Julia, Mary Jo, Charlene and Suzanne return with their big hair, gobs of makeup and mile-high shoulder pads but this time with a Shakesperean twist:  They are played by MEN!

Dewayne Morgan, Joey Ellington, Greg Morris, and Topher Payne, who brought us the hilarious 2009 resurrection of the Golden Girls, are bringing our charming Southern femme quartet back to life with the promise of lots of snickering giggles and side-splitting guffaws.

The performances will raise funds to benefit The Process Theatre. Tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for students, seniors and military personnel. Get your tickets by calling 404-245-4205 visiting Onstage Atlanta’s Tickets.