Metro Spirit 01.16.2003

THE METROPOLITAN

January 16-22, 2003 Vol. 14/No. 24 www.metspirit.com

Arts, Issues & Entertainment

WAR DAMES

2 M E T R O S P I R I T

START 2003 OFF WITH A NEW HONDA FROM GERALD JONES HONDA

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2003 CIVIC $189 per month

2003 ELEMENT Presenting the new Honda mega-functional adventure tool. It’s the Element, just the thing to partner up with if you what to get all the fun out of life you can. Its side cargo doors and versatile rear seats let you load it up in no time. It cleans up quick inside and out for night duty.

And you can even get it with 4WD.

LEASE SPECIAL

plus tax, 36 month lease $1,964 due at inception.

First month payment, security and cap cost reduction model #ES1653

2003 INSIGHT

2003 ACCORD LX $239 per month

Few cars proclaim their advanced technologies with such distinctive style as the 2003 Insight. Its smooth aerodynamics and various breakthroughs allow this first-in-America gasolineelectric hybrid to get the best-in-America highway mileage of 68 mpg. And looks brilliant doing it.

plus tax, 36 month lease $2,064 due at inception.

First month payment, security and cap cost reduction model #CM5633

2003 ACCORD EX $249 per month Sunroof • Keyless Entry • ABS Brakes • Electric Seats • Mag Wheels plus tax, 36 month lease $2,500 due at inception.

First month payment, security and cap cost reduction model #CM5663

All 2002-03 CIVICS Interest as low as 1.9%

2003 CR-V

with approved credit

If you do lots of stuff, the CRV is here to help you do it. Its exceptional versatility lets you load it up with whatever and escape. Bring along friends, because it seats five.

Available CR-V models come with the fully automatic Real Time 4WD system to give you extra confidence and control. And it’s all wrapped in a stylish, refined package.

2003 ODYSSEY EX $349 per month or $27,590 includes extended warranty

plus tax, 36 month lease $2,500 due at inception.

First month payment, security and cap cost reduction model #RL1863

2003 PILOT EX $399 per month or $29,049 plus tax, 36 month lease $2,500 due at inception.

First month payment, security and cap cost reduction model #YF1843

2003 S2000

GERALD JONES HONDA 2003 Gordon Highway, Augusta A

733-2210

way

No other sports car can present the performance credentials of the S2000. At 240 hp, its engine puts out more power per liter than any normally aspirated production car. And it’s 6-speed manual gearbox and 4wheel double wishbone suspension reflect 40 years of Honda racing wisdom.

Contents The Metropolitan Spirit

JANUARY 16-22, 2003 • FREE WEEKLY • METSPIRIT.COM

3

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ON THE COVER

War Dames By Phillip Carter .............................18

706-869-1800

Cover Design: Stephanie Carroll Art: George Toomer

Brothers ‘Til the End By Stacey Eidson ........................................................14 Putting a New Spin on Golf By Lisa Jordan ................................................22

BUY ONE BUFFET, GET ONE 1/2 PRICE Not good with any other offer • Expires 1/30/03

Opinion

FRESH SEAFOOD BUFFET NOW SERVING STEAK ON THE BUFFET LUNCH/DINNER

Whine Line ......................................................................4 Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down ...........................................4 This Modern World .........................................................4 Suburban Torture ............................................................6 Words ...............................................................................6 Austin Rhodes .................................................................8

Metro Beat

2510 Peach Orchard Rd 790-7556

Free Parking Still Available at the Radisson ..............10 Gold Dome Revue: Complete Coverage of the Georgia 2003 Legislative Session ............................................12 Outside Acts Are Coming to Town ..............................26 Traveling Productions Provide Drama, Opera and Modern Dance ..............................................................33 Local Theatre Offers Comedy and Drama .................34 Symphony’s String Quartet at Unitarian Universalist Hall ................................................................................36

Events

8 Days a Week .............................................................28

More to “Lord of the Rings” Star Viggo Mortensen........................44

Music

“Stronger” Billarabi Rolls Through Town ...................41 Music By Turner ............................................................42 Photographer Larry Hulst Preserves Rock’s Legends .........................................................................43 More to “Lord of the Rings” Star Viggo Mortensen Than Meets the Eye .....................................................44 Night Life .......................................................................45

Stuff News of the Weird ........................................................47 Brezsny's Free Will Astrology ......................................48 New York Times Crossword Puzzle ............................48 Amy Alkon: The Advice Goddess ................................49 Classifieds .....................................................................50 Date Maker ...................................................................51 Automotive Classifieds ................................................53

Bring this ad with you to Health Central before Jan. 31 and receive the following when you sign up for a one-year membership: ■ FREE massage ■ No enrollment fee, which is valued at $99 ■ One week FREE After the first year, memberships are on a monthly basis.

From resolution to reality – you can make the move to a healthier you at Health Central, University Hospital’s COMMUNITY fitness and wellness facility.

When you join Health Central, you have access to:

Cinema

Movie Listings .............................................................37 Preview: Hollywood Starts Off 2003 With Major January Releases ........................................................39 Review: “National Security” ........................................40 Movie Clock ..................................................................40

OPEN WED-SUN LUNCH & DINNER

Make the move to a healthier you!

Arts

EDITOR & PUBLISHER David Vantrease ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Rhonda Jones STAFF WRITERS Stacey Eidson, Brian Neill ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Joe White ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kriste Lindler, Jennifer H. Mar tin PRODUCTION MANAGER Joe Smith GR APHIC ARTISTS Stephanie Carroll, Natalie Holle ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Meli Gurley RECEPTIONIST/CLASSIFIED COORDINATOR Sharon King ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ASSISTANT Lisa Jordan CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Meli Gurley SENIOR MUSIC CONTRIBUTOR Ed Turner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chuck Shepherd, Rob Brezsny, Austin Rhodes, Amy Alkon, Rachel Deahl CARTOONISTS Tom Tomorrow, Julie Larson

THE METROPOLITAN SPIRIT is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks of the year. Editorial coverage includes ar ts, local issues, news, enter tainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers. Visit us at www.metspirit.com. Copyright © The Metropolitan Spirit Inc. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited.

Phone: (706) 738-1142 Fax: (706) 733-6663 E-mail: spirit@metspirit.com Letters to the Editor: P.O. Box 3809, Augusta, Ga. 30914-3809

■ An indoor running track ■ A whirlpool and a heated lap pool for swimming as well as water classes for managing arthritis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis ■ A sauna and steam room in each locker room ■ A basketball/volleyball gymnasium with special flooring system ■ Group cycling classes ■ Kickboxing and step aerobics classes held in aerobics studio with Aerobafloor™ ■ Yoga ■ Tai chi ■ Personal training ■ The latest in cardiovascular and weight-training equipment ■ Child care by certified attendants ■ Body pump strength classes ■ FREE personal fitness program development by degreed, certified professionals There are even licensed massage therapists on site to help you work out the kinks, reduce stress and promote relaxation. For more information or to schedule your FREE tour of Health Central, call 706/724-4408.

S P I R I T J A N 1 6

127 South Belair Road • Martinez GA

FEATURE

M E T R O

Voted Best of Augusta for 18 years.

706/724-4408

www.universityhealth.org

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Whine Line I

n regards to Austin Rhodes’ namecalling, he’s an ill-educated, illinformed, insensitive, pencil-headed punk who is trying to emulate his hero, Phil Kent, the meanest journalist to ever walk the streets of Augusta. Austin stays employed because he stirs controversy every day to attract the masses.

I also have never seen a used condom or syringe on Broad Street. If Stan Fink wants to close his business, fine. But don’t kid us about imaginary Broad Street problems.

Amen to the person who responded to the uninformed writer who thought SUV drivers should be drafted. If people really think any of this “war” with Iraq is about oil, you need to be drafted. You obviously don’t think for yourself; you just repeat what you hear. If you don’t like the strings being pulled on the gas pumps think about why. We have our own oil.

We need to drill our own so we are not dependent on these regimes. Maybe the draft should be instituted again so people who don’t understand our history of freedom might get it. Think about it.

Doesn’t it seem, in light of recent events, that Korea never intended to keep its treaty, that the so-called peace negotiated

by Jimmy Carter for Bill Clinton was just a ruse to get American dollars to build a nuclear weapon? With his record of success, isn’t it time Mr. Carter learns to keep his opinions to himself? Maybe he should do the “Nobel” thing and return the prize.

With great sadness I realize soon I’ll be too old to ever use the canoe I bought in 1989, in anticipation of shooting the Savannah River rapids on a regular basis.

For a long time it’s just been a situation of being too human to overcome the hurdles.

Thanks, Canal Authority! Maybe you can exhibit the canoe in your fascinating “Celebration of Jim Crow Museum,” which is certain to rescue Augusta’s

tourist situation, since no other Southern cities ever had a mill.

I cannot believe that there could be a service with more incompetents than the Augusta airport. But I was mistaken when I decided to take a bus into Augusta instead. Not only were my bags lost, I seemed to be one of the luckier ones as the guy working at the station was rude to customers to the point where one customer had to say, “You better check your attitude,” which garnered the response of, “Oh, it’s checked.” I feel so bad for anyone who has to travel into Augusta by way of bus or plane.

Former state Senator Charles Walker always bragged about how much “pork” he brought home to Augusta, though very little fell out of his pockets. Walker and his Democrat supporters could learn a thing or two about political leadership and public service from state Senator Don Cheeks. Thanks to Senator Cheeks, the Medical College of Georgia will get $8.6 million to construct a new cancer research facility. Well done, Senator. You are a true servant of the people and we are honored to have you in the Republican Party.

I think it is bad practice, not on the part of the theater but on that of the distribution company, to emblazon our movie theatre with huge signs that say “Chicago: This Christmas.” After the initial shock of finding out Christmas day that December 25th was limited release, I have now found out that it will not hit Augusta theaters until probably Jan. 24th. This is almost a month’s difference and is not good advertising policy! Miramax is no longer on my list of studios that make good movies, and for the simple reason that I may never see the movie to know if it is good or not, if they falsely advertise its release date.

Ever notice how the liberal trial lawyers are ready to make other professions pay

Thumbs Up The Georgia Supreme Court did the right thing by striking down an antiquated, religion-steeped fornication law that had been on the books since the 1800s, forbidding consenting adults from having sex unless they were married. The ruling arose from a 2001 case in which two teen-agers (who were both within the state’s consent-

ing age of 16) were caught having sex by a parent. According to The Atlanta JournalConstitution, the male defendant was ordered to pay a fine and write an essay on why he shouldn’t have had sex.

Instead, the newspaper reported, he wrote an essay on why the courts should not invade people’s privacy.

Thumbs Down Regardless of the reasons, Augusta is losing yet another asset, signalled by Dr. Bonnie Bragdon’s announced resignation as director of Richmond County Animal Control. Bragdon made great strides to bring the agency into the 21st century, in part, through her distinction as being the first degreed veterinarian to run it. While

up for their mistakes? But they are unwilling to pass a ruling that would make their members carry liability insurance. The quickest tort reform would be a law that mandates a lawyer must carry liability insurance to maintain their law license.

Then they would experience the cost of their profession on society.

I can’t believe that more people aren’t going out to the Augusta Lynx hockey games. They are so much fun. I’m a 58-

she had her share of critics, it’s our bet that Bragdon, who was to resign Jan. 16 to run a private veterinarian’s office out of the PetsMart in the Augusta Exchange shopping center, will be sorely missed by the people — and animals — of Richmond County.

year-old grandmother who’s gone and had so much fun, I’ve taken my 10-year-old granddaughter and 7-year-old grandson.

All the kids have so much fun there.

More people should go and give the Lynx some support. It’s a great sport.

Columbia County has a tax base which takes in money as fast as you can say the word “deforestation.” Why then are substitute teachers paid $58 a day? Answer: Because it’s equitable, given the paltry

salaries of our teachers! Where have we heard the term “equitable” before? This year when Spanish programs were eliminated from elementary schools unable to fund them privately or unable to pull a political favor. Equity means the quality of being just or impartial. The Columbia County board should try it.

Dr. Bragdon at the animal clinic: I don’t blame her for quitting. Richmond County people treat you like garbage. I should know because I have been working for Richmond County for a lot of years. If she can get more pay by working for PetsMart, that shows you right there how bad salaries are, working for Richmond County. They have promised for years to increase our salaries and nothing has happened yet. So I don’t blame her one bit; I’d quit too if I didn’t have a family and bills to pay. Plus it’s her business if she needs to work a second job. Every last one of us out there (Richmond County workers) have second jobs, because we can’t make it on one salary. It’s none of Richmond County’s business that we have second jobs. Do you think I’d tell them I have a second job? No. I have to make a living and put food on the table.

That’s why I do it. If Richmond County would pay decently, then I wouldn’t have to work two jobs.

I can guarantee you I will not listen to Y105 again. Without Mackenzie Clark, it’s not worth my time.

Why did Mackenzie Clark from Y105 get fired? I want to know. She was great in the mornings, always exciting and bubbly.

She helped me wake up. Now I will turn to another station.

To all those intelligent individuals berating dumb Republicans for not seeing that President Bush is only after Iraq because they have oil: I have a question for you. If you haven’t already done so, when are you going to park your car and throw away the keys, turn off your power to your home, quit buying anything from stores and quit your job? Without oil you’ll have none of these things. Since we all know that Democrats are honest, ethical straight-shooters, I’m sure you have already done the things I have listed before you called the Whine Line to complain that President Bush is only concerned about the oil supply.

Pet owners are already starting to bellyache about the annual license fees for all cats and dogs. These so called “pet lovers” are an amusing, selfish bunch of hypocrites who continually turn public and private areas into stinking filthy toilets with incessant 24-hour barking and in some cases, personal injury to innocent people or pets. Proposed rates are too low though. One hundred dollars per pet sounds more reasonable, with all pet crimes considered felonies and pet owners to do jail time. continued on page 6

5

HEALTH PAGE Take care of yourself. Let University help.

“HealthTalk” on WGAC-580 AM

Tune in Monday, Jan. 20, at 8:30 a.m. to hear Steven M. Roth, M.D., a board-certified vascular surgeon and member of University’s medical staff, discuss varicose veins and vein disease.

M E T R O S P I R I T

Make the Move to a Healthier You!

J A N

Special offer with this ad –

Bring this ad with you to Health Central before Jan. 31 and receive ■ FREE massage ■ One week FREE ■ No enrollment fee, which is valued at $99 After your first year with Health Central, memberships are on a monthly basis.

University’s Community Education Evening Programs with Physicians presents the following programs: University Hospital dining rooms 1-3 Registration and dinner: 5:30 p.m.; physician presentation: 6-7 p.m.

Seniors Club members: $8; advance registration: $9; at the door: $10 To register, call 706/736-0847.

From resolution to reality — you can make the move to a healthier you at Health Central, University Hospital’s COMMUNITY fitness and wellness facility. For more than 22 years, Health Central has stood on a tradition of excellence, helping people in our community be the best they can be.

When you join Health Central, you have access to:

“Varicose Veins: Causes, Prevention and Treatment”

Presented by Steven M. Roth, M.D. TODAY, Jan. 16 University Hospital dining rooms 1-3 What causes varicose veins?

Who is at risk?

Why do they hurt?

What can you do to ease their discomfort and improve their appearance?

Voted Best of Augusta for 18 years.

“Preventive Strategies for Coronary Artery Disease in 2003”

Featuring Paul E. Cundey Jr., M.D. Feb. 11 University Hospital dining rooms 1-3 Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is prevalent today throughout the United States in both men and women and can lead to heart attacks and the need for medical intervention. Learn about new treatments and intervention.

“Cholesterol and Medications”

Featuring Kellie V. Lane, M.D. Feb. 20 Learn about what lab results mean, what are considered normal values and what medications and treatments are available to help when the numbers are not within the normal range.

Save The Date!

March 30 12:15-5 p.m.

University Hospital Levi W. Hill III Auditorium, First Floor BabyFest is a FREE, funfilled, informative afternoon designed for new and expectant parents.

Pediatricians and infant care medical specialists conduct classes and provide educational materials designed to answer your questions about parenthood and your baby’s first year.

University Health Care System has been named the National Research Corporation’s Consumer Choice Award winner in the Augusta area for the fourth consecutive year.

F OR FREE 24- HOUR

■ An indoor running track ■ A whirlpool and a heated lap pool for swimming as well as water classes for managing arthritis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis ■ A sauna and steam room in each locker room ■ A basketball/volleyball gymnasium with special flooring ■ Group cycling classes ■ Body pump strength classes

706/724-4408

www.universityhealth.org

■ Kickboxing and step aerobics classes held in aerobics studio with special Aerobafloor™ ■ Yoga ■ Tai chi ■ Personal training ■ The latest in cardiovascular and weight-training equipment ■ Child care by certified attendants ■ FREE personal fitness program developed for you by degreed, certified professionals

There are even licensed massage therapists on site to help you work out the kinks, reduce stress and promote relaxation. For more information or to schedule your FREE tour of Health Central, call 706/724-4408.

Your resource for healthy living.

Healthy Adults Optifast® Weight Management Information Session Thursdays 5-6 p.m.

University Hospital Weight Management and Nutrition Center Registration is requested.

Call 706/774-8917.

“Osteoporosis – The Bone Facts” Featuring Douglas R. Phillips, M.D. March 20 Learn about causes, risk factors and prevention of osteoporosis, a disease that strikes both women and men.

University Hospital dining rooms 1-3 Registration and dinner: 5:30 p.m.; physician presentation: 6-7 p.m.

Seniors Club members: $8; advance registration: $9; at the door: $10 To register, call 706/736-0847.

Healthy Older Adults The following programs are held at the University Seniors Club, Daniel Village Shopping Center unless otherwise stated.

For more information or reservations, call 706/738-2580.

FREE Glucose Screenings FREE Blood Pressure Checks FREE Height and Weight Measurements Jan. 22 9 a.m.-noon No appointment necessary

Lunch with the Doctor “Sleepless in Georgia” Presented by Bashir A. Chaudhary, M.D. Jan. 29 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

University Hospital dining rooms 1-3 Seniors Club members: FREE; nonmembers: $5 Reservation is required.

Healthy Women FREE Mammograms Available Through a grant from the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, University Breast Health Center offers a FREE mammogram, individual screening and education for any woman 40 or older who qualifies.

Call 706/774-4141.

Breast Self-Exam Class Feb. 10 5 p.m.

University Breast Health Center No charge For more information, call 706/774-4141 “Focus on Healing” An educational program through dance and movement for breast cancer survivors sponsored by University Breast Health Center and Walton Rehabilitation Hospital Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 6-7 p.m.

Outpatient Classroom, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital $30 To register, call 706/823-5294.

HEALTH INFORMATION , CALL

ASK•A•NURSE

AT

“Taking Charge of Your Health — A Program for Women of All Ages” Featuring Jacqueline W. Fincher, M.D. Feb. 27 First Baptist Church of Augusta, 3500 Walton Way This comprehensive program will focus on why all women must take charge of their health needs, covering health issues spanning a woman’s lifetime.

Registration and buffet dinner: 5:30 p.m.; physician presentation: 6-7 p.m.

Seniors Club members: $8; advance registration: $9; at the door: $10 For reservations, call 706/736-0847.

Healthy Parents All classes are held in the Women’s Center classroom on the third floor unless otherwise stated.

Registration is required. Call 706/774-2825 for information or to register for the following classes: Sibling Birthday Party TODAY, Jan. 16 3-4 p.m.

FREE

Breast-Feeding TODAY, Jan. 16 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Babies R Us, Bobby Jones Expressway FREE Cesarean Section Jan. 20 7-9 p.m. $10 Grand-parenting Jan. 26 3-5 p.m. $10 Childbirth Preparation Class Six-week series Tuesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11 Thursdays, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13 7-9:30 p.m. $75

Log on to learn more: www.universityhealth.org

FREE

Speech and Hearing Screening For Adults and Children To schedule an appointment, call 706/774-5777.

MUST PRESENT COUPON Redeemable at University Speech & Hearing Center, corner of R.A. Dent Blvd. & St. Sebastian Way

737-8423 (SER-VICE)

OR

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TODAY !

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continued from page 5

Suburban Torture

M E T R O

BY

JULIE

On behalf of Columbia County, thank you very much, Green County Partnership of Greenville, Tenn., for hiring Bryan Quinsey. In spite of questions about his performance in Columbia County, no one in either the Metro Chamber or on the County Commission had the spine to deal with Quinsey. Good luck, Green County!

LARSON

S P I R I T

It’s about time Mrs. Schrenko comes clean with the shady contracts totaling $500,000 she doled out last year. These contracts (11 total) should be investigated thoroughly.

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Wow! I wish I knew where to get one of those little black stickers with the blue line in the middle, so I could drive at a high rate of speed, swerving from lane to lane without a turn signal, and not being the one getting pulled over. Could someone tell me where to get a “get-out-of-anything-police-officer-related-free” sticker?

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Hello, little miss cashier who’s so “disgusted” with her job. Go back and look at your application, and I’ll bet you’ll find your own name signed there. That’s right!

You asked for the job, elaborate procedures and all the orders that come with it.

Why are you complaining? If you’re so starved for employment that doesn’t require you to serve a customer, then biggie-size your education and don’t ask for things you don’t want. Otherwise step to the side and let someone who wants to work get the job done.

Style is in Full Bloom...

Monday • 7:30pm Channel 4

!

New

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast Program Director Johnny Holmes

KEEPING THE DREAM

for the community and yourself

Marilyn Joyce, motivational speaker & author

Special Musical Guest Quiet Storm Augusta Opera "Side by Side by Sondheim" Augusta Museum of History exhibit

"30 Years of Rock 'n Roll"

The Forget-Me-Not Her four hand engraved petals reach for the morning sun...holding a magnificent Doris HeartStar diamond, proudly proclaiming the will of his heart..

The Forget-Me-Not will accommodate a center diamond from .50 to 1ct and features a matching platinum wedding band.

Platinum

Of The Old South

See the entire Collection of Classic Hand Engraved Engagement Rings and Antique Reproductions in the Southern Tradition Priced from $1295 and available exclusively from....

Replays: Daily at 12 Noon, 3pm, and 10:30pm on

Channel 66

Why would anyone belong to an organization that keeps its financial status a secret from those who support it? Not only does it smack of elitism, but it also provides an opportunity to cover up mismanagement and incompetence. That’s the situation with the Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the time for Columbia County to break away and form one solely for Columbia County is long overdue.

To the person defending Curtis Baptist’s actions based on the fact that they have been an entity on Broad Street for over 200 years: Your calculations on 200 years must be the same reasoning that Curtis Baptist uses with alcohol. The church was founded in 1876.

Poor Linda Schrenko! She’s short just 12 days for a permanent place at the public trough. Why doesn’t she just go back to her cleaning job since that’s what she wanted to do anyway?

Well, I see that Mildred Goolsby, the lottery queen, has her building up for sale.

You may remember she was the pain in the rear that caused the Augusta Golf and Gardens so much trouble. I’ll buy it for $1 and preserve it as a monument to Augusta’s small-mindedness.

Yes, damn it, I own an SUV and I intend to keep it! Might even buy another one just to hack you off more!

You’re so Augusta if you were born in early January exactly nine months after Master’s week.

- Call our Whine Line at 510-2051 and leave your comments. We won’t use your name. Fax your whines by dialing (706) 733-6663 or e-mail your whines to whine@metspirit.com.

TM

Words “I believe that the ‘big guy’ and the ‘bald guy’ are going to work well together.”

Plus Comcast Kids!

Call in your questions & comments to 739-1822 or e-mail at connectlive@comcast.net

To the person whining about whiners not doing something to change what we do

Magnolias Flowers

Regarding your Thumbs Down of Jan. 915 in which you castigated the protesters who took the time to “flag” poor Governor Barnes at his gala Marietta party last week: You missed the point. Poor Governor Barnes spent two years dismissing, downplaying, discrediting and bluntly criticizing his opponents on the flag issue.

Instead of mimicking Barnes by calling them “embarrassing and spiteful rednecks,” you should call them motivated and persistent citizens who chose to exercise their First Amendment rights. They should be applauded for reminding arrogant and spiteful politicians that they serve the people, not the other way around.

not like and to quit using the Whine Line as a political forum: You are absolutely correct! Forget the draft. I volunteer.

Put me at the front lines. I am a young, minority female. Bush would find me perfectly expendable. I am ready and eager to die for all the viewers of The Jerry Springer Show and beyond. Oh sorry. I was daydreaming again. I’d rather wait for the draft instead.

Fine Jewelers & Diamond Merchants

Since 1940

2820 Washington Rd. 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday Closed Sundays 733-6747 or 800-798-6747 Member American Gem Society

— State Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), as quoted in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, about Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and incoming Governor Sonny Perdue, respectively.

7 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6

The redefined 2003 Volvo S40 comes equipped with standard safety features some other cars in its class don’t even offer as options. Things like full-length Inflatable Side Curtains and a Whiplash Protection Seating System.

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The very same standard features that make a Volvo a Volvo. We can also safely say it’s more stylish than ever, with a redesigned exterior that’s more agreeable to the eye.

The redefined Volvo S40 certainly has a lot to offer. Including of course, safety features other imports have yet to even import. Visit your local Volvo retailer or volvocars.com.

*MSRP of the 2003 Volvo S40 as shown with optional equipment is $24,350. Price does not include destination charge, tax and title. See your authorized Volvo retailer for complete details. ©2002 Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. Volvo for life™ is a registered trademark of Volvo. Always wear your seat belt.

G E R A L D J O N E S V O LV O

“

1 8 0 1 G O R D O N H I G H WAY

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8 M E T R O S P I R I T

Opinion: Austin Rhodes

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GOP and Dems Stymied by the Real Bad Guys

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epublicans make Democrats furious; Democrats make Republicans cringe. But let’s all give credit where credit is due to the group we can come together to despise: those damn lawyers.

Last year Georgia Lt. Governor Mark Taylor had all his weight (and that is saying something) behind a bill that would elevate serious child endangerment to felony status. It was a concept Gandhi and Stalin could have agreed upon. If parents (or others) put children at serious risk of injury, they were to be charged with a felony and subject to all the trouble that goes with it.

The need for such a bill was illustrated by several very sad cases in metro Atlanta where children died because of the idiotic actions of “well meaning” adults.

Because evil intent could not be proven in any of those cases, the child killers could not be charged with anything other than misdemeanor crimes. It was clear a serious upgrade in law was needed. In fact, Georgia is the only state in the union where such serious neglect could not be prosecuted as a felony. Here comes the lieutenant governor with his plan.

Given Taylor’s role as a majority party player, with a majority party governor and state senate backing him strongly, the common sense bill should have flown through the majority party Statehouse like Michael Vick through Green Bay. Instead, the bill hit the house judiciary committee like a south Georgia junebug on a windshield.

As the lieutenant governor told listeners to my radio show Tuesday, the lawyers that populate that @#$!*x! House judiciary committee refused to move on the bill, first, because they were concerned that some parents may face prosecution for legitimate discipline (that excuse is a real load of ca ca del toro), but mainly, because they wanted to punish him for not getting several of their pet measures through the state Senate fast enough.

I am all for legitimate political games when it comes to farm equipment taxes and road improvement projects, but when it comes to punishing insane grown-ups who hurt children with their asinine behavior, the Gold Dome shenanigans have to stop.

The recent case involving the Swafford family right here in Augusta is a prime example of one of these situations. The horrific pictures that garnished the even more disturbing story in Saturday’s Augusta Chronicle introduced local folks to the twisted life of Dustin and Dana Swafford. The disturbed pair were living in a state of squalor that would disgust most Calcutta street people.

Dirty diapers feeding the families of rats and mice that ran freely through the home, enough garbage to gag even the most hardened veteran cops. Richmond County

lawman Major Ken Autry remarked, “That’s the worse damn house I’ve ever seen.” And he has seen some doozies.

Before the bleeding hearts make mental illness excuses, consider this: There were two adults in that house, deciding to live that way. Dana Swafford worked full time at a local grocery store; she was capable enough to handle that. The pair actively concealed their chamber of horrors from outsiders; they knew what they were doing was wrong.

If the Swaffords wanted to live that way themselves, that is one thing, but they were raising a 14-month-old daughter in that filth. The little girl was already being treated for developmental problems directly caused, doctors believe, by her living environment.

Even the little girl’s grandmother is convinced her health problems are directly connected to the hellhole she had for a home. Not a stretch by any notion.

The instant the Swaffords heard they were being investigated by authorities, they hightailed it to Tennessee. Thank the good Lord they were discovered and arrested. Baby Sierra is in state custody, and has been rescued from a lifestyle too unbearable to even contemplate.

It is likely local officials will drum up additional charges to throw at the Swaffords to make their jail stay longer.

Things like interstate flight to avoid prosecution come to mind. But isn’t it amazing that if the cops had caught the nutty pair right there at home, they would have faced little more than misdemeanor charges for all they did to their precious baby?

Had the lieutenant governor’s law been enacted last winter, the Swaffords, and anyone else in their position, would face real jail time and consequence for the devastating toll their actions took on their own innocent child.

The officials who sit on the House judiciary committee are about to become some very well-known people. All by themselves they kept the Swaffords and their ilk from facing real consequences. I would like to punch every one of them right square in the mouth. Funny thing — if I did, I would face more jail time than the Swaffords.

If a loudmouth, right-wing radio talkshow host in Augusta can agree with a left-wing former blowhard lieutenant governor (kinda hard to be a blowhard when you’ve lost most of your power), then the nimrods on the House judiciary committee can get their butts in gear to do the right thing.

How many free passes have they given to those who torture children?

— The views expressed in this column are the views of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. The archived Austin Rhodes columns can now be seen at www.wgac.com.

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MetroBeat Free Parking Still Available at the Radisson

A

ugustans are in love with free parking, so for many, the city-owned parking deck attached to the Radisson along 10th Street was never an option.

After all, who would be crazy enough to pay for parking downtown?

Well, now patrons of the downtown area should feel free to find a nice, comfy spot in the Radisson Convention Center Parking Facility and stay all day if they wish.

Thanks to the city, the gates are open and the parking is absolutely free.

It’s now up to Augusta Commission to determine how long this free ride lasts.

Since the beginning of November, the city has been without a company to operate the parking facility. The reason the deck has gone unmanned, according to County Attorney Jim Wall, is because the former operator, McLaurin Parking, had not been maximizing the revenue collected for the past 10 years at the parking facility.

“I think we’ve been losing money and have been losing it throughout the years,” Wall told the commission’s finance committee on Jan. 13. “Apparently, the mechanism by which hotel guests come in the parking facility, there is not a ticket spitter there to give them a ticket. So, a lot of the guests have been paying through an honor system.

“And it’s my understanding that the patrons of the hotel’s restaurant and the bar have also not been paying. That’s revenue, in my mind, that ought to be captured.”

Wall also said that it’s difficult to say exactly how much money the city has lost during the past 10 years, but he said the gross revenue collected each year by McLaurin was never able to cover its operating costs of approximately $195,000 a year.

Therefore, in order to help patch some of the revenue holes in the parking deck, the city sent out a request for proposals from companies interested in operating the facility.

Wall said 18 companies were contacted with the city’s request and only one company responded, Republic Parking Systems of Tennessee. This is the same company that currently operates the airport’s parking.

“I think Republic has some good ideas about how to maximize the revenue at the parking garage and capture some of the revenue that has been lost,” Wall said. “While it’s difficult to say what that revenue is going to be, there are incentives built into the contract.”

According to Wall, Republic has agreed to

BY STACEY EIDSON

“How long are we going to continue to allow free parking to go on over there? I was over there this weekend and I started to go back and put a white shirt on and stand out there myself and collect money because the parking lot was full.”

– Augusta Commissioner Bobby Hankerson

operate the facility for $195,845 a year. And if Republic manages to generate net revenue in excess of $100,000, that revenue would be divided between the city and Republic in a graduated formula.

For example, if the net revenue is between $100,001 and $200,000, the city would receive 70 percent of the net revenue and Republic would receive 30 percent.

A representative from Republic said, on average, most of the parking facilities the company manages generates a net revenue of approximately $150,000 a year, but City Administrator George Kolb told the commissioners that he would be happy if the city simply breaks even.

The reason the parking deck has gone unmanned since November is because the city was hoping to have Republic’s contract approved by the commission by Nov. 15, Wall said.

But contract negotiations were stalled in November when the company’s attorneys needed additional time to review the proposal.

Kolb added that the city wasn’t interested in trying to run the facility itself because he believes it would be too expensive. He esti-

mated that it would cost the city approximately $260,700 a year to operate the parking deck.

Meanwhile, in late December, the local news media reported that the city was looking for a company to operate the facility.

When Daniel Cross Sr., president of CSRA Security, Investigative and Consulting Services, Inc., heard the news, he contacted his commissioner, Tommy Boyles, asking if he could submit a bid.

“At the time, I had no knowledge we were in negotiations on a bid,” Boyles said.

Boyles contacted fellow commissioner Marion Williams and told him that Cross was interested in operating the parking deck.

Cross informed the commissioners that he would be willing to operate the facility for $120,000 a year.

“We’ve been in operation for 21 years,” Cross told the committee on Jan. 13, adding that his company has worked for local churches and private parking facilities. “When you are talking about parking and what’s needed, we are very familiar with it.”

Williams immediately asked that the commission rebid the contract and allow Cross,

who was not contacted by the purchasing department about the bid last year, to submit his $120,000 offer.

However, during the meeting, Cross acknowledged to the commission that his $120,000 bid did not include all of the services requested by the city. For example, Cross said he was not prepared to handle the maintenance and cleaning of the facility or supplying equipment to the parking deck such as tickets or receipts for customers.

Republic also informed the committee that, regardless of which company is chosen to manage the facility, that company must make sure that the guests at the hotel are paying for the cost of parking through the price of their rooms. And that must be handled independently by the company with the Radisson.

Kolb added that, if the commissioners decide to rebid the contract, the process would take approximately 90 days and a company would not be chosen until at least the end of March.

That answer did not sit will with Commissioner Bobby Hankerson.

“How long are we going to continue to allow free parking to go on over there?” Hankerson asked. “I was over there this weekend and I started to go back and put a white shirt on and stand out there myself and collect money because the parking lot was full.

“I’m telling you, we are losing revenue as we speak.”

Commissioner Ulmer Bridges also felt it was unfair for the commission to send out another request for proposals after Republic had already bid on the contract.

“I have a problem with that because we already have a company that has gone through the process,” Bridges said. “I think we need to move forward with the firm that has made the bid because I know the contract is for only one year. So, I say, award it to Republic this year and go ahead and go out for bid on next year’s contract.”

The committee agreed with Bridges with a vote of 3-1, Williams voting against the motion. The final decision will be made by the full commission on Jan. 21.

Cross said his main concern was that the city’s bidding process should be fair to all companies.

“I should have been in on the bid and I wasn’t in on it,” Cross said. “And the consequences, what are they? Mr. Kolb said he apologizes. Well, it may mean a little more than just apologizing to me.”

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Gold Dome Revue

M E T R O S P I R I T

BY

GREG

LAND

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A ‘New Georgia,’ an Old Flag & Changes in the Wind

Y

ou’ve got to hand it to ‘em. Despite a major electoral upset, party-shattering defections and an ultimately futile effort to wrest the House speakership for the governor’s party, the Georgia General Assembly convened this week with a surprising degree of decorum.

Sure, there were some bumps in the road.

After all, with the ascension of Georgia’s first-ever elected Republican governor (those Reconstruction ‘Pubs were appointed, not elected — no, we won’t even go there, smartalecks) and a major shift in the state Senate, there were bound to be some sharp elbows and bruised feelings. But, on the whole, the opening session actually smacked of — dare we say it? — statesmanship.

The Unexpected Governor, Sonny Perdue, assumed his new duties amid glittering hoopla at Atlanta’s Philips Arena before an audience including his gubernatorial predecessors all the way back to Ernest Vandiver, with the unexplained absence of Jimmy Carter, whose recent Nobel Prize was nonetheless noted in Perdue’s comments). And those comments were both cordial and conciliatory, with a heavy emphasis on Perdue’s plan to push comprehensive ethics legislation in Georgia, and rework some of the education reforms implemented by Gov. Roy Barnes.

But Perdue didn’t let Barnes get away without one last not-too-subtle jab, vowing to “replace partisanship with partnership” and, quoting the Prophet Isaiah, to “do away with yoke of oppression” under which Georgians have apparently labored during the long, dark night of the ancien regime.

The new guv didn’t waste any time on the ethics issue: In his first official act, Perdue signed an executive order barring state employees from lobbying at the Statehouse for one year after leaving office; banning lobbyist gifts, trips or meals valued at more than $25; prohibiting state employees from using their influence to get jobs for relatives (good thing that’s not retroactive; entire state departments would have to shut down ); and forbidding judicial candidates from making political contributions to the governor within 30 days of a judgeship coming open.

He also signed two other orders: One creates the position of inspector general to oversee government operations and ferret out waste and corruption; the other does away with the “Supercop” position created by Barnes last year, allowing the head of the

“No grants, no increases anywhere,” says Burmeister. “In fact, I’m asking the people in my district to help come up with ideas for places to save ... It’s going to be a tough year.”

- Rep. Sue Burmeister Department of Public Safety to oversee all law enforcement-related agencies in the state.

Earlier, both houses of the Legislature managed to get through the morning with a minimal amount of bloodshed — with the notable exception of Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, who was cordially stripped of his once-enormous powers to appoint committee members and control the flow of legislation. With the postelection defection of three Democratic senators, control of the Senate is now in Republican hands and, while new Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (RSavannah) smilingly promised that “the Big Guy and the Bald Guy” (a reference to Taylor’s self-assumed campaign moniker and Johnson’s own follicly challenged pate) would “work well together,” new rules ensure that Taylor’s duties will henceforth approximate those of the Miss Freedom statue atop the Gold Dome.

Under the new rules, committee assignments will be decided by a three-man committee made up of Taylor, Johnson and newly installed Senate Majority Leader Tom Price (R-Roswell), who took the well to promise a fair distribution and even-handed leadership — traits sorely lacking under the Big Guy’s iron rule.

In the House, a fevered weeks-long game of arm-twisting and bribe-offering finally came

to naught as Republican plans to install a GOP-friendly Democrat as House speaker sputtered out on Monday morning.

Emboldened by the Senate turncoat takeover, Republican House members had been trying to get Rep. Larry Walker (RPerry) elected to the post. Walker, a longtime Democratic leader, is also an old friend of Perdue’s, and had promised to allow more Republicans into leadership roles and help push GOP initiatives if a coalition of the House’s 70 Republicans could enlist the Democratic votes necessary to elect him.

But the Democratic Caucus’ anointed candidate, Rep. Terry Coleman (D-Eastman), was able to hold his troops in line, and the “coalition candidate” withdrew from the running just hours before the election. When the vote finally came up, all the Democrats and two Republicans supported Coleman, while the Republican draftee, Rep. Len Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg), drew 70 votes, allowing Coleman to congratulate the assemblage for his “bipartisan” victory.

The resultant legislative split, while a disappointment to Gov. Perdue and his troops, may well work out to his advantage as some contentious issues come up — particularly since the nastiest battles are likely to be the ones Perdue himself helped inspire in those seem-

ingly long-ago days as a dark horse candidate with a snowball’s chance in a south Georgia summer of winning.

Which brings us to The Flag. While there were no Confederate or old Georgia flags to be seen inside the arena at Perdue’s inauguration — such displays were banned by organizers and the ban upheld by advocates of the old flag — the issue, which Perdue exploited so well as a candidate, is nowhere near forgotten.

On Monday, three airplanes circled the Capitol towing banners of the old flag with the legend: “Let us vote. You promised.” On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators seeking a referendum on the flag marched to the Capitol.

Such items present a problem for Perdue, who has been urged by business leaders not to resurrect the issue, as well as for Senate leader Johnson, whose Savannah district has just been selected as the site for a new Diamler-Chrysler plant. It’s highly unlikely that the plant’s owners would relish a contingent of angry anti-Confederate flag pickets such as those in South Carolina and Mississippi, and officials of the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker are probably uncomfortably familiar with the sensitive nature of wartime relics perceived by some to represent oppression, exploitation and systematic murder.

So a divided Legislature will allow Perdue & Co. to posture for the old-flag crowd, and blame their ultimate defeat on the same bogeymen coalition of Uppity Black Folks and Damn Libruls that changed it to begin with.

On Tuesday, Perdue indicted a willingness to get the matter behind him as quickly as possible, telling reporters he’s going to push for a non-binding, statewide referendum on the flag. Such a vote would still require a legislative vote to actually initiate any changes.

At any rate, the flag is rapidly receding as a priority for the new governor, who called a breakfast meeting Wednesday to give GOP lawmakers a preview of his budget. In a nutshell, says Rep. Sue Burmeister (R-Augusta), “Georgia is in dire straits. We’re running a 14-percent deficit after 10 years of increasing revenues and spending.” So what does that mean for the Augusta area which, until this year, was home to both the House speaker pro tem and the Senate majority leader?

“No grants, no increases anywhere,” says Burmeister. “In fact, I’m asking the people in my district to help come up with ideas for places to save ... It’s going to be a tough year.”

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14 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6

Brothers ‘Til the End

By Stacey Eidson

2 0 0 3

T

Augusta Commissioners Marion Williams and Andy Cheek

hey say you can always depend on family.

That’s why, for the last three years, the Augusta Commission’s “twin brothers” have looked to one another for guidance and direction.

“Me and Andy (Cheek) brought a different flavor to the commission,” said Augusta Commissioner Marion Williams, sitting next to Cheek in the mayor pro tem’s office in the municipal building. “I guarantee you, people had never seen two people – black and white – who were totally different, get along so well.

“We came along, calling each other brother and meaning it, not just saying those words, but really meaning it. And people really couldn’t understand that.”

When voters elected the two commissioners to office in November 1999, Cheek was known as a white, Savannah River Site research supervisor from south Augusta, who was often seen attending neighborhood association meetings and coaching Little League games.

Voters from District 2 knew Williams as a black minister from an inner-city church, who was a retired employee of CSX Railroad and served as the first black firefighter for the city’s fire department in 1968.

As a child, Williams once lived in a shotgun house in downtown Augusta, while Cheek spent his early years in that familiar, smalltown atmosphere south of the Gordon Highway.

These two strangers should have had nothing in common, but instead, they were a perfect match.

“Andy is my best friend,” Williams said. “And I’m serious when I say that. I trust him like no other. I mean, I’ve known other commissioners like Willie (Mays) and Lee (Beard) for a while, but if Andy says, ‘Marion, we are going to agree,’ then, I’m going to agree because Andy can speak for me. He knows my heart.”

But, now entering the final year of their four-year commission term, the friendship of Cheek and Williams is threatening to possibly put an end to the political career of at least one member of the dynamic duo.

Rumor has it out in south Augusta that some voters aren’t happy with the fact that Cheek has teamed up with Williams – a commissioner described by the editorial page of The Augusta Chronicle as a “maniacal micro-manager” who is on a “jihad” to control the city government.

Some voters are also disturbed by the fact that they feel Cheek has upset the racial balance of the commission by frequently voting with the five black commissioners.

Less than a year after The Chronicle endorsed both Williams and Cheek for office, the paper’s former political columnist, Phil Kent, claimed that Cheek had entered an “unholy alliance” with the five black commissioners. Kent later nicknamed this alliance, the “Gang of Six.” “It’s amazing to assess the damage to Augusta that two new commissioners – Cheek and Williams – have done in nine months all in the name of ‘progress,’” Kent wrote on Oct. 22, 2000, stating that the two were responsible for running off former city administrator Randy Oliver and presiding over a city financial department in “shambles.”

“It’s clear The Chronicle has a problem with me occasionally voting with the black commissioners,” Cheek said, shaking his

head. “But my question would be, if there are people who never vote outside their color line, shouldn’t those be the ones that we need to be questioning?

“The truth is, the newspaper is trying to guide the city. The paper wants things to be run their way, but my constituents want their representatives to represent them.

They don’t want The Chronicle representing them.”

From the very first commission meeting Williams and Cheek attended in January 2000, they made it clear that they weren’t going to lie down and take orders from their more seasoned colleagues.

At that meeting, the duo shocked Augusta by making a motion to delay the reappointment of County Attorney Jim Wall in order to force the commission to address the issue of creating an in-house legal department as stipulated by the city’s consolidation bill.

Eventually, the commission created a hybrid law department, which kept Wall as the outside lead attorney, while the city hired three in-house attorneys under Wall’s charge.

“We were elected to shake things up,” Cheek said. “And Marion and I bring a powerful force to the commission.

Anything that I want to be brought up during a commission meeting, I’ve got a second (motion) for it. And the same is true with Marion’s issues. So, whether people like it or not, we are going to get our issues on the floor and air them out.”

However, Cheek said, since he took office the local media has been trying to convince his constituents that he and

Williams are guilty of micromanaging the local government.

For example, Cheek pointed to a September editorial in The Chronicle that called him an “exponent of commission meddling” because he had requested that a homeowner in Hephzibah be given a less noticeable drainage inlet in her front yard during a $70,000 public works project.

According to The Chronicle, that change ultimately caused flooding problems in neighboring yards.

“I did go to bat for a homeowner that had a $150,000 home that didn’t want a big concrete box out in front of her home,” Cheek said. “They called that micromanaging. I call that being an advocate for the citizens I represent.”

But that’s just how the local media works, Williams said.

When the newspaper endorsed Williams in 1999, it stated, “We need more ‘whistle-blowers’ on improper government activities. And we think Marion Williams, as a commissioner, will be one of them.”

Today, Williams’ highly vocal approach to problems he finds in local government is called “madness” by the same newspaper.

“It don’t matter to me what The Spirit, The Chronicle or nobody else writes about me,” Williams said. “I promised one thing when I ran. I promised I would make some noise about what’s going on in this city. And I’ve kept that promise.”

But when it comes to people criticizing Cheek for being his friend, Williams doesn’t take those sentiments so lightly.

“I don’t get the flak that Andy gets,” Williams said. “When people start to tell Andy that he shouldn’t be calling me brother, I can’t believe it because nobody has never told me, ‘You ought to distance yourself from Andy Cheek’ or ‘You need to leave Andy Cheek alone.’ Everybody that supports me, supports Andy. So, that’s not fair.”

Cheek immediately cut Williams off, telling him not to worry about people who don’t like him associating with Williams.

“This man is my friend. I will not abandon him, even if we have differing political views. I don’t abandon my friends,” Cheek plainly said. “And if the downtown boys or anybody else wants to send someone to run against me, it better be somebody who’s been active in the community and not somebody who just shows up at election time.

“Because if they are not active now and participating in the district, then we don’t need them.”

In the past few months there have been several names batted around as potential candidates to run against Cheek. For example, there have been rumors that former Augusta Mayor Larry Sconyers may run for the District 6 seat; however, no one has formally announced their intentions to run against Cheek in November.

“I’ve heard talk about certain people running against me and I know there are some folks out fishing for a candidate, but it’s my understanding that those people who are fishing for someone new, their continued on page 16

“It’s clear The Chronicle has a problem with me occasionally voting with the black commissioners. But my question would be, if there are people who never vote outside their color line, shouldn’t those be the ones that we need to be questioning?”

– AUGUSTA COMMISSIONER ANDY CHEEK

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continued from page 15 main complaint is that I call Commissioner Williams my twin brother,” Cheek said, laughing. “So, the people that are more concerned about me abandoning my friendship or me voting occasionally with the black commissioners, to me, they are as big of bigots as people who don’t like white people or black people.”

The problem with politics in Augusta, Williams said, is that you have three or four groups within Richmond County who think they know what’s best for local government.

“These three or four groups around Augusta don’t want to be elected, they just want to tell you the way they want you to vote,” Williams said. “That’s the whole problem. They want to run this city and tell you how to be a commissioner.

Well, I’ll tell you what I always tell them: There’s a right and wrong side on every issue, and that doesn’t change depending on what side of town you’re on.”

Williams also wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t talking about just white political groups meddling in the city’s business. He said there are plenty of black groups out there as well.

It’s widely believed that former state Sen. Charles Walker has a great deal of interest in the way local government operates.

In fact, when Williams was first campaigning, many of his supporters told him to seek Walker’s help in getting elected.

“I remember when I ran for office people told me, ‘If you go to Senator Walker, he will help you with your campaign and he will give you twice as much money as anybody else will give you,’” Williams said. “And I said, ‘Well, then, he’s going to want twice as much.’

So, I treat Senator Walker the same way as everyone else. If he’s right, I’m going to support him. And Senator Walker never gave me a dime. I never asked him for anything.”

Williams believes the only way Augusta will get beyond its racial problems is if the citizens will stop labeling matters that come before the commission as either white or black.

“There are no issues in the government

that are going to affect just black folks or white folks,” Williams said. “That might have been true before, when this city was segregated, but we are one community now.”

And just because Williams and Cheek are friends, doesn’t mean that they always agree, Cheek said. A prime example is Williams’ opinion of City Administrator George Kolb.

For almost a year, Williams has been highly critical of the manner by which Kolb has run the city with respect to hiring department heads, providing timely information to commissioners and settling disputes between private entities working with the city.

“When you’ve got an administrator in a position and you’re trying to work with him, with the type of money he makes, I mean $125,000, he ought to be willing to try to work with you, not against you,” Williams said. “I don’t expect a lot out of him. I expect him to do his job and I expect him to be fair.”

The one thing that Williams said Kolb has never understood is that he is an administrator, not a city manager. To Williams, there’s a big difference.

“When you hire a manager, you turn him loose and he runs everything,” Williams said. “When you hire an administrator, he works for the mayor and commission and he should make recommendations to the 10 of us (commissioners) and the mayor.

Mr. Kolb has never agreed with that.”

Cheek said Williams’ objection to Kolb has probably been their strongest bone of contention.

“I see a lot more good out of George than I see faults,” Cheek said. “But just because Marion and I don’t always agree, that doesn’t mean that I should change calling him friend and brother. I don’t always agree with my own brothers.”

In their fourth year on the commission together, Williams and Cheek will be facing several controversial issues that promise to cause them to make a lot more noise.

One of the biggest topics this year will be Kolb’s proposal to extend the city’s current, one-cent sales tax an additional 10 years in order to pay for future capital improvement projects like the proposed $89 million civic arena in Augusta.

“I promised one thing when I ran. I promised I would make some noise about what’s going on in this city. And I’ve kept that promise.”

– AUGUSTA COMMISSIONER MARION WILLIAMS

312-316 Greene Street Augusta, GA 30901 724-3454

Both Cheek and Williams believe that the city is asking a little too much of its citizens.

“We cannot allow the much-needed roads and drainage, community centers, libraries and fire stations that should be funded through sales tax be replaced by a new civic center,” Cheek said. “And I think the proposed performing arts center would be a great thing for downtown, but is it more important than people’s homes flooding out?

“I mean, I can’t look my people in the eye and say, ‘I’m going to let you flood out because I want a performing arts center.’”

Williams agrees, saying that his District 2 has some of the worst drainage problems in the entire county.

“I’m in total disagreement with the sales tax list, 100 percent,” Williams said. “I’ve got people in my district that still have ditches in front of their house. There are no sidewalks, no curbs and then I’m going to lock the sales tax in for 10 years to be spent on things like a new civic center? I’m never going to do that. And put an emphasis on never.”

Both Williams and Cheek realize that being so outspoken has made them a target for both members of the media and politicos looking to replace them, but both assure their constituents that they will never stop fighting for what they believe is right.

“This seat is not for sale,” Williams said.

“If somebody is going to try and get this seat, they better put their track shoes on because they are going to have to run for it.”

“I’m running and I don’t care what the media or the critics have to say about it,” Williams added. “A lady told me one day, ‘The news media is watching you. They are waiting for you to mess up.’ I just told her, ‘When I started preaching they said the same thing, “You aren’t going to last long.” So there’s already a line of naysayers waiting for me to mess up.

Everybody else better get in line behind them.’”

Cheek said, God willing, he will be back in his District 6 seat next year because his constituents will see that he has accomplished everything he promised in his 1999 campaign.

But regardless of what happens, Cheek said he doesn’t regret any votes he has cast as commissioner, especially those in which he’s agreed with the five black commissioners and it has resulted in a 64 vote.

“I’m very proud of every one of those votes,” Cheek said. “I wouldn’t change them today to make a few rednecks happy. Because, to me, I’d rather be right than be caught up in color, any day.”

Both Cheek and Williams believe their legacy will live on long after they have left office.

“The strongest validation that Marion and I are working in the right direction and Augusta has departed from the status quo is when commissioners Tommy (Boyles) and Bobby (Hankerson) came on board,” Cheek said. “Tommy sat back as an independent observer and saw the same thing that I did. Now, it’s no longer just 6-4, it’s a 7-3 vote. And it isn’t because he’s voting with the black guys; it’s that, perhaps the black guys have got some good ideas every now and then.”

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WAR DAMES

BY PHILLIP CARTER ART BY GEORGE TOOMER

L

ast February, as the sun rose over a parched California desert, tanks from the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade reached a large enemy minefield. Their orders were to secure a hilltop in the enemy’s rear area. But until combat engineers could clear a path, the tanks would be sitting ducks for nearby tank and artillery fire. And without cover, the engineers would likewise be pinned down.

At the prearranged moment, a column of armored smoke vehicles commanded by Capt.

Streigel of the 46th Chemical Company threaded its way cautiously forward, laying down a thick haze to mask the engineer teams. In less than an hour, the engineers had opened a gap and 1st Brigade moved through to its objective, thanks to the precision teamwork under fire of Streigel’s soldiers and the other ground units.

Like most battles at the National Training Center, this one was hard — the closest approximation to combat that the Army can create in peacetime and a rigorous test for the military’s newest tactics and equipment. As war looms with Iraq, these training exercises, along with others taking place in the

Louisiana swamps and on the German plains, assess combat skills before the real bullets start to fly. The California exercise in particular was a good indicator of how American soldiers will fight a war against Iraq — and also how much has changed since the Gulf War. Over the last decade, the Army has digitized its equipment, upgraded its tanks, and added capabilities like peacekeeping to its mission, all part of a sustained, high-profile effort to adapt to war in the 21st century.

But one quieter transformation was also on display in the desert: Capt. Streigel — first name: Jennifer — is a woman. Ten years ago, Streigel could never have commanded a frontline chemical company in the U.S. Army. But the next time the United States goes into battle, women will be as close to the front lines as any infantryman. During its minefield operation, Streigel’s company fought shoulderto-shoulder with the combat engineers and deployed more armored vehicles than a tank company — and four of its five officers were women. In fact, Streigel is just one of thousands of women who, since the Gulf War, have been steadily migrating to assignments that place them at or near the line of battle.

Since the Gulf victory in 1991, a series of largely unnoticed policy changes have opened

new opportunities for women to fight alongside, and even to lead, front-line troops.

The Navy and Air Force, with some fanfare, allowed women into the cockpits of fighters and bombers. But less well known is how vastly the Army has expanded the role of women in ground-combat operations. Today, women command combat military police companies, fly Apache helicopters, work as tactical intelligence analysts, and even serve in certain artillery units — jobs that would have been unthinkable for them a decade ago.

In any war in Iraq, these changes could put thousands of women in the midst of battle, far more than at any time in American history.

This new role for female U.S. troops is the product of three different forces. One is congressional pressure to integrate the military by gender as it previously had been integrated by race. Another is the ongoing enlistment shortage: The military remains reluctant to admit women, yet is unable to recruit enough competent men to staff an all-volunteer Army.

But the most important reason has been pressure from women within the Army who need combat experience to advance their careers, nearly all of them in the officer corps. And yet this experiment has been conducted largely below the threshold of public awareness.

The wisdom of this integration is sure to be tested in any sizable ground war with Iraq. If female soldiers perform poorly, they could put their comrades’ lives at risk, strengthen the hand of conservatives who oppose women serving as soldiers, and provoke a backlash from the American public. But if, in the heat of battle, women fight bravely and effectively, it could spark a different sort of debate among the military and the public at large over why regulations and military culture still conspire to keep women from many prime assignments in the nation’s service.

FOXES AND FOXHOLES The history of American women’s role in combat is a brief one. Before the Vietnam War, only a small number of women served in uniform, primarily in medical specialties and occasionally as rear-echelon intelligence officers or as pilots of transport aircraft. That began to change in the mid-1970s with the advent of the all-volunteer army. No longer able to rely on a steady stream of draftees, Army recruiting experts expanded the number of specialties open to women.

The first women entered West Point in 1976. Upon graduation, they were allowed to continued on page 20

“No unit can afford to have two people in love with another. Forget the sex — this is about the clouding of judgement. No matter how close the friendship is between men, it still doesn’t jeopardize their decisions the way that love does.”

— Elaine Donnelly, chairwoman of the Center for Military Readiness

19 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

20 continued from page 19 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

pursue most career fields, but by law precluded from serving in those “combat arms” specialties that would place them on the front lines.

This was done for two explicit reasons.

The first is the importance the military places on “unit cohesion.” Integrated units, some theorists have argued, would destroy the teamwork crucial to combat performance. Male soldiers would become distracted and compete for women’s attention, and would grow demoralized if women were killed or wounded.

“No unit can afford to have two people in love with (one) another,” says Dr. Anna Simons, a professor at the Navy’s Postgraduate School who has written extensively on Special Forces and believes that gender integration would have a disastrous effect. “Forget the sex — this is about the clouding of judgment. No matter how close the friendship is between men, it still doesn’t jeopardize their decisions the way that love does.”

The second, more empirical reason is the physical disparity between male and female soldiers. Put simply, many military jobs require high levels of strength that most women just don’t have.

“You can’t just let women into [infantry units],” argues Elaine Donnelly, a former member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services who now chairs the Center for Military Readiness, a conservative group that opposes women in combat.

“Lowering the standard like that for the infantry would be fatal.”

Thus, in the 1970s, the Army employed a “risk rule” to determine whether a job would be open to women — literally measuring how close to battle any given assignment might require a soldier to be and barring women from those in which the likelihood was high.

As a result, women could only be assigned to headquarters or other rear-echelon units at overwhelmingly low combat risk.

STREET FIGHTING WOMEN But the American invasion of Panama in 1989 exposed the risk rule as largely ineffective. In several widely reported instances, female soldiers participated in firefights with Panamanian Defense Forces or local militia.

Support units that included women took fire and returned it under conditions that any veteran would describe as “combat.”

Women wound up fighting under conditions that would have earned them the Combat Infantryman’s Badge had they been men and assigned to an infantry unit. Female convoy drivers were ambushed, and returned fire.

Female helicopter pilots flew into battle zones, landed American infantry, and picked up casualties under heavy ground fire.

The Gulf War, too, featured an innovation in American military strategy that pushed the risk rule toward obsolescence: “maneuver warfare.” This doctrine dictated that support units should push as far forward as possible to provide greater logistical aid to units in

combat. The Army used this strategy with stunning success against the Iraqis. Since many U.S. support units were of mixed gender, women wound up serving farther forward in the Gulf War than ever before.

Some criticized women’s performance in Iraq, pointing to ships and ground units with high pregnancy rates — even organized prostitution rings — as examples of women’s harmful effect on unit cohesion and morale.

There have also been charges of standards being lowered to let women into combat positions, such as at least one high-visibility aviation accident with a female pilot in 1994 who, critics charged, had been rushed into the cockpit to ensure that a politically motivated proportion of women earned their wings. But there were too few female pilots at the time for any meaningful studies to be conducted, and more recent reports from the air campaigns in Kosovo and Afghanistan indicate that women pilots performed as well as men, and, in some cases, even better.

Indeed, during the Gulf War, critics’ worst predictions proved unfounded: Women did not flee combat in disproportionate numbers, nor did their units collapse under the stresses generated by their presence. The military consensus is that most women performed well.

MAJOR MOM While the Panama and Gulf engagements put female soldiers to the test, other pressures were building. Many female officers who had joined the service in the 1970s were complaining by the 1980s that the long roster of restrictions was limiting the range of command posts they could be assigned to.

Because getting ever bigger and better command assignments is the key to military promotion, they rightly felt their careers were being unfairly stymied.

“Women can make sergeant major with a lot of hard work and no combat experience; they can’t make general as easily,” observes Charles Moskos, a sociologist at Northwestern University who has studied the military for 30 years. As a result, it’s largely female officers who have pushed the liberalizing of women’s combat roles.

In response to the Gulf War, the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services moved to open up a wide range of military occupations to women.

When Bill Clinton became president, the committee’s more activist members and their allies in the military found a kindred spirit in the White House. Suddenly, high-level Pentagon officials were more receptive to recommendations for opening combat roles to women. Key members of Congress, who had watched women perform well in the Gulf, were also more supportive. Through their efforts, Congress repealed the combat exclusion laws in 1992.

Two years later, Secretary of Defense Les Aspin revised the risk rule in favor of a “Direct Combat Probability Code” (“DCPC” in Pentagon-speak) that measured risk more narrowly — by unit, not by geography —

and created thousands of new opportunities for women by allowing them into all positions but those most likely to see ground combat: the “trigger-puller” front-line formations such as infantry, armor, artillery and Special Forces.

As it happened, the trigger-pullers saw most of the action in Afghanistan. But if the United States invades Iraq, women will play a far wider role than ever before in any ground offensive. Female chemical officers will lead the way through contaminated areas; female engineer officers will help direct any efforts to bridge the Euphrates; female helicopter pilots will shuttle the infantry into and out of combat areas during any assault.

Army policy still forbids women from being assigned to combat units at the battalion level and below. (A battalion contains 300-500 soldiers and is likely to be very far forward.)

But women can serve in infantry, armor, artillery, and other units at the brigade level and higher.

VIOLENT FEMMES So why hasn’t anyone noticed women’s new roles in combat? One reason has been reluctance among uniformed officers to criticize policies related to race or gender for fear of imperiling their careers by appearing politically incorrect. But more positively, the Army has had relative success in making the shift, leaving journalists with little bad news or controversy to report. (And truth be told, many female soldiers would rather the press ignore their gender and treat them like any other soldier.)

The biggest reason why women in combat haven’t received more scrutiny, though, is that America has not fought a major ground war since the Gulf, or incurred major casualties since Vietnam. But if the United States launches a ground war against Iraq, hundreds or even thousands of female soldiers are likely to see combat a variety of ways.

One is street fighting, which often degenerates, as it did in Panama, into house-to-house struggles without battle lines or safe areas.

Any action in, say, Baghdad or Basra could escalate into the kind of mayhem not seen since the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, where U.S. Marines fought for weeks to retake the bitterly held city of Hue. In their roles as truck drivers, MPs, signal specialists, and aviators, women would fight alongside men in the cities of Iraq. If there is one area likely to inflict significant casualties, upon men and women alike, this will be it.

Then there’s the Euphrates. Any effort to cross the river would necessarily include bridging, chemical units and military police units, all of which include female officers and soldiers. In river-crossing operations, those “support units” actually lead most of the action, with infantry and armored units supporting them. Female engineers would actually drive the boats and build the bridge to get our forces across the river.

Similarly, female combat-support soldiers would be critical to any effort to breach Iraqi

defenses. Female helicopter pilots may undertake reconnaissance ahead of any American infantry, or deposit troops to scout out strongpoints on the ground. Chemicalwarfare specialists like Capt. Striegel would accompany engineer units as they opened paths through Iraqi defensive positions.

And since women now serve in every major battalion-level command post — as intelligence officers, chemical officers, logistics officers, MPs, and signal officers — they will be in the heat of battle. Even rear areas would not be safe.

WEIGHT WATCHERS No one is quite sure how Americans will respond if significant numbers of women are killed in Iraq. “The real issue is, if greater numbers of women get captured, how will the country react?” asks Donnelly. “We would have to desensitize the entire nation to violence against women. Endorsement of women in combat means an endorsement of violence against women at the hands of the enemy.”

Perhaps. But even when women have died in combat, the public hasn’t questioned their reasons for being there. The nature of public grief for soldiers like Marine Corps Sgt. Jeannette L. Winters, a radio operator who was the first female military casualty in the war against Afghanistan, may indicate that Americans will accept female casualties if they believe in the cause they’re fighting for.

In the end, what will really determine public reaction is how well women perform their jobs under fire. On the ground in Afghanistan, women did not participate in the main actions of Operation Anaconda. But since the fighting died down, female MPs have gone out on long infantry patrols with the 82nd Airborne Division, and by most indications performed well. To be fair, they have not seen combat, and haven’t performed the most physically demanding tasks the military has to offer. But women have covered 10 to 20 miles of very hard country per day carrying loads of up to 75 pounds, all while living in close quarters with male infantry.

And so far, as in the Gulf, the worst predictions have not come true — no reports of mass pregnancies or other issues have come to light in Afghanistan. “I’m learning what grunts do, [and] they learn what I do. As MPs, we search people and look for weapons ... I never thought we would be walking for hours or be on the front,” MP Sgt. Nicola Hall told a reporter in Afghanistan after the mission. “[The 82nd Airborne soldiers] have been nothing but respectful to us; as long as you walk, carry your own weight and don’t whine, you’re respected.”

Phillip Carter served four years active duty as a military police officer. He now commands an infantry company in the reserves and attends law school at UCLA. The views in this article are his and do not represent the official views of the Department of Defense.

“The real issue is, if greater numbers of women get captured, how does the country react?”

— Elaine Donnelly, chairwoman of the Center for Military Readiness

21

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M E T R O S P I R I T

J A N

- Sue Anne Spears

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P UTTING

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ugusta’s already known for that big golf tournament the Augusta National hosts every April, but Sue Anne Spears is hoping Augusta will soon become famous for a different kind of golf.

“Disc golf might be Augusta’s largest underground sport,” says Spears, a selfdescribed avid disc golf player and the tournament director for the Augusta Disc Golf Association’s 2003 Ice Bowl.

If you’ve been wondering about those chain baskets dotting the landscape at Patriots Park, Pendleton King Park, Riverview Park and Lake Olmstead, wonder no more – they’re the targets for disc golf. Instead of hitting a golf ball into them, players throw special discs, much like Frisbees, into the baskets.

“There are 18 holes and it’s set up just like a regular ball golf course with tee markers,” says Spears. “Basically, it’s exactly the same game as ball golf.

You just use different objects.”

The only things you need to play a game of disc golf are the plastic flying discs, manufactured in various molds and weights. Like the different clubs used in ball golf, discs are made for varying types of shots: putting, midrange and driving.

“Other than buying the disc, it is a free sport,” says Spears. “There aren’t any green fees in Augusta. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.”

The Augusta Disc Golf Association is the Professional Disc Golf Association affiliate in the CSRA. It’s a non-profit organization dedicated to

promoting the sport in the Augusta area, and membership is open to anyone interested in disc golf, regardless of age or skill level.

The Ice Bowl, scheduled for Jan. 25 at Lake Olmstead, will showcase Augusta’s approach to the game and, most importantly, serves to benefit the Golden Harvest Food Bank.

Ice Bowls are held worldwide in a corridor from Jan. 11 to Feb. 17, building on a16-year tradition to break the monotony of winter and to raise money and food for local charities.

Last year, the 137 participating Ice Bowl events raised $65,531 plus 12,038 pounds of food.

“This year’s national goal is to raise $75,000 for local charities,” Spears says. “Locally, we are trying to raise about $1,500 in cash donations and a large amount of canned goods to donate to Golden Harvest. It’s a good time to replenish the resources that they use heavily over the holidays.”

The Ice Bowl is also a good time for those not familiar with the sport to come out and see what it’s all about, and maybe even try their hand at disc golf.

“We’re going to have five divisions,” says Spears. “We’re trying to gear some toward groups that have less players. There are not very many women that play disc golf in the area, not many children.”

Interested players may participate in the Novice/Recreational division; the continued on page 24

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continued from page 22 Women’s division; the Advanced Open division, open to players of all ages with advanced skills in long-distance driving and putting; the Masters division, for players over the age of 39 with advanced skills; or Open, for professional players and those with great skill levels.

“This is the best opportunity that I can think of for (the public) to come out and actually witness disc golf,” Spears says.

“We are counting on having between 50 and 60 players. We also hope to get the public involved. There will be bins for canned goods and baskets for putting demonstrations.”

Another incentive for participating in the Ice Bowl, as either a golfer or a spectator, is that playing in Augusta in the middle of January is more tolerable than playing in, say, Winnipeg. According to the national registration packet, the mandatory Ice Bowl rules are the same, no matter where you are on the planet: “1. Under no circumstances may an Ice Bowl be cancelled or postponed because of weather conditions. 2. No wimps or whiners are allowed. 3. There are no excuses for not attending. (Either be there or be a wimp!)”

“That is the national rule,” says Spears, laughing. “Even in places where they have extreme weather conditions. It’s an allweather sport and an all-weather event.”

Even on the warmest of days, the Lake Olmstead course presents its own set of challenges. “Lake Olmstead is especially challenging because of the wind that comes off the lake there,” Spears says.

What else makes a disc golf course challenging?

“The length of the holes, the diversity of the terrain, woods, any kind of

obstacles that you have to kind of throw through or around,” she says. “I do play competitively all across the Southeast, and Augusta has four of the finest courses that I’ve played. We also have some of the top players.”

And there’s more positive news on the horizon for disc golf in Augusta, says Spears. “Columbia county has plans in the works for a four-course disc golf complex that will be the home of the national disc golf headquarters. We’re trying to bring a different kind of golf to Augusta.”

The Ice Bowl is also a pre-season warmup and a chance to relax and have fun before the competitive season gets underway.

“You play so many tournaments a year that are sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association,” explains Spears.

“You get points for each tournament you play, and the Championship is by invitation only. They invite the top (players) across the world to come and play the World Championships. They do have touring professionals, just like any other sport.”

If all goes well this year, Spears hopes that Augusta will become a site for future Ice Bowls.

“I played a few Ice Bowls last year in Greenville, Columbia, places within a two-hour driving distance,” she says. “I decided to get involved as the tournament director to coordinate and oversee and make sure that this becomes a larger tournament that we can have permanently. … It’s my hope that the Augusta Disc Golf Association will form some sort of permanent relationship with the community.”

CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY “Georgia’s Oldest Catholic Church” Located in Downtown Augusta Corner of 8th and Telfair Streets Schedule of Liturgies:

Daily Mass: Mon-Fri 12:15 PM Sat 10:00 AM Sunday Mass: Vigil 5:00 PM 7:45 AM, 10:00AM & 12:30 PM Reconciliation 3:30-4:30 PM Sat Miraculous Medal Novena following Monday’s 12:15 PM Mass Solemn Exposition & Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following Thursday’s 12:15 PM Mass-4PM Daily Rosary Mon-Fri following daily Mass

Phone: 706.722.4944 • Fax: 706.722.7774 www.themostholytrinity.org

ALL ARE WELCOME!

25 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

26 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Arts

& Entertainment

Outside Acts Are Coming to Town

BY LISA JORDAN

T

he Fixx, Reverend Horton Heat, Stereomud, 2 Skinnee J’s, Seven Mary Three – those are just a few of the regional and national acts that have made a night of it in Augusta and treated us to a performance on their way through town. The Spirit wondered just what it takes for a local club to draw in big-name acts as a supplement to their roster of local talent.

Scott Levine, owner of Crossroads and the Playground, starts out by looking up band itineraries on pollstar.com. Owners of venues that host live music can subscribe to a service on the Web site that allows them to obtain the contact information of booking agents.

“I look them up on Pollstar and check routings and see who’s going to be in the area,” Levine says, explaining the initial stages of the process. “Then I call the agents and see if we can work out a deal to come here.

“I’ll call the agent and say, ‘You have an off night; you have to go through Augusta anyway.’ So I’ll submit a bid.”

Each band has an asking price, with room to play. On average, Levine estimates the difference between the bid and the asking price at up to $500 for a smaller band; the difference for larger bands can run into the thousands.

Another financial consideration is the expense incurred by the venue as a result of hosting the band.

“You submit the bid on the band; you pay for the PA, your advertising, opening band and everything else,” Levine says. “All the door goes to the band.”

For Pat Burke, in charge of booking for Somewhere in Augusta and Last Call, the process is slightly different.

“We approached some booking agencies, some talent agencies,” he says. Burke ended up meeting an agent that handles most of the bands for the two clubs, and booking is usually done through him.

“Basically, if (a band) was playing anywhere in the area, they would stop by and play,” he says. “Fortunately for us, after the first couple of months, we actually had other talent agents and groups contact us directly.”

But, Burke says, bringing in outside acts isn’t always as profitable as it may appear at first glance.

Stewart & Winfield (left) and Reverend Horton Heat (below) are some of the outof-town acts Augusta clubs have hosted in recent months.

“We’ve kind of got away from the live entertainment,” he says. But, he added, Somewhere in Augusta and Last Call remain open-minded about any shows that might come their way. “We’d give it a shot, if it’s worth it for us as well. The biggest thing for us is, we’re pretty much set up for a nightclub. Augusta doesn’t really have a live music venue in my eyes, personally. Augusta’s really a tough crowd for live music, and it proved to be not as successful as we hoped it would be. It’s just a really tough market in this area.”

However, that all seems to depend on the market you’re trying to corner. Augusta doesn’t have the college student patrons of a town like Athens or Columbia, and for places in Augusta trying to target that demographic, live entertainment may not be the most profitable venture.

“Customers the age we’d like to bring in just aren’t really in the market,” says Burke.

“We try to bring in the type of bands around the holidays when we know students will be home, bring in the bands that are appealing in those markets.” Two such bands that Last Call recently hosted are the Dave Matthews Cover Band and Stewart & Winfield.

Meanwhile, the acts that Levine has brought in seem to stimulate a crowd in search of a nostalgia trip of sorts – early ‘90s rockers Seven Mary Three and ‘80s staple The Fixx are among bands that have played Crossroads.

“People seem to like the national acts,” says Levine. “They come out for them.”

And that’s encouraging news for people who’d like to see Augusta continue to host

out-of-town bands, especially considering such shows take place mostly on weeknights. For one thing, Augusta venues don’t have much choice – a stop here is often scheduled around the band’s existing itinerary. For another, getting a national or regional act to come out on a weeknight is cheaper than booking them for a Friday or Saturday night.

“It’s tough on a weeknight to bring in the type of crowd we’d like to bring in,” says Burke. “We’re established on the weekends.”

Club owners must also consider the hospitality portion of the contract, which, although capped, can eat up expenses.

“The hospitality part of the rider I have to take care of – hotel rooms, food, liquor, beer, things of that nature,” says Levine. “They can’t always get what they want. The Fixx wanted organic chickens and hummus and things you couldn’t get.”

Bringing in bands from outside Augusta does have an unexpected positive side effect for the local bands – exposure.

“If the contract permits it, I always use an opener,” Levine says. “And it’s good on a resume. Every agent I’ve talked to is more interested in hearing a tour history. They’re looking for who they’ve played with and where they’ve played.”

He chooses local bands that have been working hard and playing consistently around Augusta. “It’s their chance to shine in the spotlight,” he says. “420 Outback, Jemani,

Crankshaft, Neato Torpedo – they all rose to the occasion and were very impressive, and hopefully people will come out and see them again. When Black-Eyed Susan opened up for Zoso, Zoso indicated they’d like them to go on tour with them as an opening band.”

It seems, then, that everyone benefits from the appearance of national and regional acts on the Augusta scene: Audiences get to see bands they might not otherwise travel to see, local bands get exposure, and venues draw in larger crowds.

“It’s fun, and it’s rewarding for me, and I think for the local bands,” says Levine. “It’s a lot of work – you’re there from 10 in the morning till 5 in the morning, making sure everything goes off, a lot of coordination and making sure things run smooth. It’s good for the music scene.”

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8

Days A Week

Arts

Auditions

“A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE” is coming to the Aiken Community Playhouse in April, and auditions to fill roles for six men and six women will be held Jan. 27-28, 7 p.m., at Bectel Experimental Theater Hall in the Washington Theater for the Per forming Ar ts. For more information, call (803) 648-1438.

AUDITIONS FOR “ART MEETS THE WORD: AN EVENING OF POETRY” PROGR AM: 10 local poets will be chosen to per form at the Morris Museum of Ar t’s First Friday program. Audition held Jan. 29, 7 p.m. in the Odeum at Paine College. Each poem must be original, take no more than two minutes to read/recite and reflect the evening’s theme, “A Celebration of Black History Month.” For information, contact Tania Beasley-Jolly, 724-7501, or Willie Thompson, 495-8428.

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR “COMPANY,” presented by USCAiken and University Theatre Jan. 28-29, 7 p.m., in the O’Connell Theatre at USC-Aiken’s Etherredge Center. Roles are available for a minimum of six men and eight women ages 18 and up. Rehearsals begin the last week of February; per formances are April 3-6. Prepare an upbeat song from a musical comedy; accompanist provided.

Wear clothing that allows for movement. (803) 641-3305.

THE AUGUSTA CHOR ALE holds auditions for its spring season 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 and 27 at Gilber t-Lambuth Memorial Chapel on the campus of Paine College. For information, call 481-8102.

AUDITIONS AND FIRST MEETINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING ENSEMBLES at Augusta State University: Augusta Flute Orchestra, 10 a.m. Jan. 18; High School Conservatory Jazz Band, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18; Jazz Workshop for middle school students 1 p.m. Jan. 18.

Call 731-7971 for more information.

AUGUSTA CONCERT BAND rehearses Monday evenings and is looking to fill vacancies on most band instruments. Interested par ties should contact Ben Easter, (803) 202-0091 or e-mail bandforaugusta@aol.com.

SWEET ADELINES PEACH STATE CHORUS OPEN REHEARSAL for singers each Thursday at 7 p.m. Held at 600 Mar tintown Road in Nor th Augusta. Contact Mildred Blain at 736-7740 or Mary Norman at (803) 279-6499.

Education

WINTER WATERCOLOR FLORALS adult workshop Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t. Call 722-5495 or visit www.ghia.org for information.

ART CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS are offered yearround at the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t. Classes and workshops are open to toddlers through adults and feature instruction in drawing, painting, photography, pottery, weaving and sculpture. For a newslet ter or detailed information on registering for classes at the Ger trude Herber t, call 722-5495 The Ger trude Herber t Institute of

Ar t also offers Educational Tours; for information, contact the Education Director at the above telephone number.

AUGUSTA THEATRE COMPANY WINTER ACTING CLASSES BEGIN the week of Jan. 20. Classes available are Voice/Movement, Intro to Acting and Acting I, and sessions are open to children, teens and adults. Call 481-9040 for details.

THE AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY CONSERVATORY PROGR AM announces music classes to star t in January: voice class meets Jan. 16, 7 p.m.; music fundamentals and music reading skills meets Jan. 28, 7 p.m. Call 731-7971 for info.

ART CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS at the Ar t Factory. Classes in visual ar ts, dance and drama are of fered. The Ar t Factory also has a homeschool program and scholarships are available. 731-0008.

CERAMICS CLASSES at the Weeks Center Ceramics House in Aiken. Fees include one class per week and students can choose any class time: Mondays, 9 a.m. to noon or 6-9 p.m.; Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m.; or Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon. $30 per month. Call (803) 642-7631 for info.

USC-AIKEN MUSIC CONSERVATORY PROGRAM now open. Students of all ages and experience levels welcome.

Private lessons available for musical instruments and voice; instructors are USC-Aiken faculty and have at least a master’s degree in their performance area. (803) 641-3288.

Exhibitions

“THIRTY YEARS OF ROCK AND ROLL: PHOTOGR APHY

BY LARRY HULST” showcases images of such influential musicians as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Iggy Pop and more through the eyes of photographer Larry Hulst. The exhibit opens at the Augusta Museum of History Jan. 25 and runs through March 8. Eagle 102.3 hosts a live remote Jan. 25, 2-4 p.m.; the museum holds a panel discussion on rock history Jan. 30, 7 p.m.; Larry Jon Wilson per forms at the museum Feb. 7 and Jef f Barnes per forms as Elvis on Feb. 12; “Legends” concer t featuring a Beatles tribute band March 8 at the Imperial Theatre. For information, call 722-8454.

“RECENT ACQUISITIONS: 2002” features works by John Baeder, Herb Jackson, Philip Morsberger, Tom Nakashima, Margaret Ramsey, Lorenso Scot t, Juanita Rogers, Purvis Young, Eleanor Hancock Pryor and Gilber t Gaul. The exhibit will be on display at the Morris Museum of Ar t through Feb. 23. Call 724-7501 for more information.

“THE DOGGY IN THE WINDOW” animal photography exhibition by Ginny Southwor th will be at the Aiken County Historical Museum now through Feb. 23. There is no admission charge. Call (803) 642-2015.

MARTHA SIMKINS SPECIAL EXHIBITION at the Morris Museum of Ar t Jan. 16-April 20. “Mar tha Simkins Rediscovered” lecture and members’ reception Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. Cost for lecture is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors/students/military; cost for reception is $10 non-

Photo: Joe White

28

The Augusta Lynx play at home Jan. 17, which is Martinez Elementary Night. members; both events are free for members. Ar t at Lunch features “Marks of the Impressionists” discussion, a walking tour and boxed lunch at noon on Jan. 17.

Reservations are required. “Mar tha Simkins Rediscovered” exhibit tour Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. is free. Call the museum at 724-7501 for more information.

AT THE MARY PAULINE GALLERY: Philip Morsberger and Dederick Ward exhibit through Feb. 22. Call the Mary Pauline Gallery for details at 724-9542.

“COLLAGE WORKS: MELINDA MOORE LAMPKIN AND LUCY WEIGLE” features pieces by two local ar tists.

The exhibit will be on display at the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t Jan. 17-March 14, with a gallery talk and reception Jan. 17, 6-8 p.m. Gallery talk and reception is open to the public and is free for Ger trude Herber t members and $5 for non-members. Call 7225495 for more information.

BRUCE NELLSMITH exhibits his paintings at the Etherredge Center Lower Gallery through Feb. 1. Call (803) 641-3305.

CIVIL WAR ARTIFACTS of the First Independent Brigade will be on display at the Euchee Creek Branch Library in January. Call 556-0594.

MASK AND FABRIC EXHIBITION through Jan. 20 at the Lucy Craf t Laney Museum of Black History. African masks and mud cloth fabrics from the collection of Roger Kablan will be on display. Call 724-3576 for more information.

THE ARTWORK OF NANCY BANNISTER is on display at the Raging Bull, 828 Broad St., through the end of February. Bannister specializes in landscape and abstract ar t, as well as interior/ex terior murals. Call 722-0444 for more information.

DANIEL HAYES will exhibit his ar twork at the Gibbs Library in January. For information, call 863-1946.

AT THE GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART: “Ware’s Folly: An Architectural Perspective” is in the First-Floor Gallery at Ware’s Folly through Feb. 21; “Creative Expression” is in the Ware’s Folly First Floor Gallery through Feb. 21; “Ar tist-in-Residence: Craig-

Houghton Elementary School Students Create” on display through Feb. 14. Call 722-5495 for more information.

Dance

AUGUSTA CHAPTER OF THE UNITED STATES AMATEUR BALLROOM DANCERS ASSOCIATION holds a dance the first Saturday of each month, from 7:15 to 11 p.m. Cost is $7 for members and $10 for non-members. Held at the BPOE Facility on Elkdom Cour t. Contact Melvis Lovet t, 733-3890, or Jean Avery, 863-4186, for information.

THE JIVING LINDY HOPPERS per form at the Newberry Opera House Jan. 27. The H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken hosts a bus trip, leaving at 6 p.m., to see the show. Preregistration is required by Jan. 27. Call (803) 642-7631 for information.

AILEY II dance ensemble from New York City per forms Jan. 20 at the Imperial Theatre, cour tesy of the Augusta Ballet. For more information, contact the Augusta Ballet Box Of fice at 261-0555 or visit www.augustaballet.org.

BALLROOM DANCE CLASSES March 11-April 22 at the H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken. Cost is $40 per couple and registration is accepted in pairs only. Call (803) 6427631 for registration information.

SQUARE DANCE CLASSES: Beginning classes run Jan. 27-March 31 and intermediate classes run April 14-June 16. Call (803) 642-7631 for more information.

CSR A/AUGUSTA BOGEY-WOOGIE DANCE AND SOCIAL GROUP holds a monthly dance every third Saturday of the month, star ting at 7:30 p.m. There are also meetings every Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Salsa Ruedo Casino and every Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. Men are especially encouraged to at tend. For information, phone 650-2396 or 736-3878.

SINGLES DANCE each Saturday night from 8-11 p.m. sponsored by the Christian Social Organization for Single Adults. Held at Westside High School. Tickets $5 for members, $7 for non-members, and are available at the door.

For more information, contact Doris Heath, 736-3376.

VIGNETTES FROM “LA RECHERCHE” will be per formed

by The Voices of Franklin Jan. 26 at the Morris Museum of Ar t as par t of the Music at the Morris per formance series. Held at 2 p.m. in the museum auditorium; free admission. 724-7501.

“THE BEST OF FLOYD” LASER SPECTACULAR at the Imperial Theatre Jan. 19, 8 p.m. Watch a laser show set to the music of Pink Floyd. Tickets are $19, $21 and $23, and are available at the Imperial Theatre box of fice or online at www.imperialtheatre.com. For information, call 722-8341.

“MADAME BUTTERFLY” will be per formed by the London City Opera at 8 p.m. Jan. 25 at USC-Aiken’s Etherredge Center, as par t of the University’s Cultural Series. Call the box of fice at (803) 641-3305.

AUGUSTA SYMPHONY ENCORE CHAMBER SERIES CONCERT Jan. 25, 8 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church on Walton Way Ex t. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $7.50 for students. Call 826-4705.

USC-AIKEN FACULTY ARTIST RECITAL featuring Katherine Brooks and Richard Maltz, percussion; Katie Taylor, harp; and James Bennet t, piano. Held Jan. 23, 7 p.m. at USC-Aiken’s Etherredge Center. Call the box of fice at (803) 641-3305 for more information.

“MENDELSSOHN AND BEETHOVEN” MASTERWORKS CONCERT to be per formed by violinist Sandra Wolf-Meei Cameron Jan. 18, 8 p.m. at ASU’s Per forming Ar ts Theatre. Concer t preview at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35, $28 and $15; student rates are $14 and $7.50. Cameron also per forms at the “Two Vir tuosos” Family Concer t Jan. 19, 3 p.m. at ASU’s Per forming Ar ts Theatre. Tickets are $6; free for Paine College and ASU students. Call the Augusta Symphony at 826-4705 for tickets.

“SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM” will be per formed by the Augusta Opera Jan. 23 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee per formance Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. Held at the Imperial Theatre. Tickets are $12-$40, with group, student and senior discounts available. Call the Augusta Opera at 826-4710 for information.

TUESDAY’S MUSIC LIVE CONCERT SERIES: All performances in the concer t series held at noon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Concer ts are free; optional catered lunch is $7 per person. 2002-2003 season schedule is as follows: Jan. 21, Joseph Gramley; Feb. 4, Lindsey McKee and Keith Shafer; Feb. 18, Cowboy Envy; March 4, The Augusta Children’s Chorale; March 18, Kari Gaf fney and Jef f Williams. 722-3463.

COMMUNITY HEALING MEDITATION DRUMMING CIRCLE hosted every third Monday of the month by IDRUM2U, the Not Gaddy Drumming Studio. Held 7-9 p.m. at the G.L. Jackson Conference Center, 1714 Nor th Leg Cour t. Fee is $5 or a donation of canned goods for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. All are welcome and drums will be available to rent. For info, phone the Not Gaddy Drumming Studio, 228-3200.

Theater

“WAX WORK” encore per formance presented by USCAiken’s University Theatre Jan. 30, 8 p.m. at the Etherredge Center. The play, writ ten by USC Honors College graduate Sarah Hammond, has been selected to par ticipate in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Region IV Festival in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. For information and tickets, call (803) 641-3305.

“AS YOU LIKE IT” will be per formed by the National Players Jan. 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m., at the Ma xwell Per forming Ar ts Theatre. Presented as par t of Augusta State University’s Lyceum Series.

Call 737-1609 for information.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” comes to the Abbeville Opera House Jan. 24-25 and 31 and Feb. 1, 7-8 and 14-15.

Matinee per formances held Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, 8 and 15. Call (864) 459-2157 for ticket information.

“TARTUFFE,” presented by the National Players, will be at the ASU Per forming Ar ts Theatre Jan. 23, 2 and 7:30 p.m., as par t of ASU’s Lyceum Series. Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 special admission for senior citizens and area students for the evening per formance and $6 general admission and $4 special admission for the af ternoon per formance; ASU students, faculty and staf f are admit ted free. 737-1609.

DAVIDSON FINE ARTS SCHOOL DESSERT THEATRE Jan. 23-24, 7 p.m., in the Beverly J. Barnhar t Theatre.

Tickets are $8 adult, $6 senior citizens and children under 5 and $4 for Davidson Fine Ar ts students. Call 823-6924, ex t. 124 for more information.

“LAST CHANCE” will be per formed by the Augusta Mini Theatre Jan. 17, 10 and 11:30 a.m., for area schools

and Jan. 18-19, 3 and 8 p.m., for the public at the Jack B. Patrick Technology Center on the campus of Augusta Technical College. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for youth groups of 10 or more. Call 722-0598 to purchase tickets.

“LION IN WINTER” Jan. 17-18, 24-26, 31 and Feb. 1 at the Aiken Community Playhouse’s new theatre in the Washington Center for the Per forming Ar ts. Call (803) 648-1438 for information and reservations.

NEIL SIMON’S “THE DINNER PARTY” will be per formed

by Stage III Jan. 16-19. Thursday through Saturday performances star t at 7 p.m., are $25 per person and include dinner, while Sunday matinee begins at 3 p.m. and the cost is $15 per person. Call 228-3636 for more details or to make reservations.

NOW ON SALE: Tickets for “Les Miserables” Feb. 11-16 at the Bell Auditorium. Call TicketMaster at 828-7700 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Attractions THE BOYHOOD HOME OF WOODROW WILSON: Circa 1859 Presby terian manse occupied by the family of President Woodrow Wilson as a child during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Original and period antiques, restored house, kitchen and carriage house. 419 Seventh Street. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tues.-Sat. Tours available; groups of 10 or more by appointment only.

Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students under 18 and free for ages five and under. 722-9828.

AUGUSTA GOLF & GARDENS OF THE GEORGIA GOLF HALL OF FAME features beautiful display gardens, as well as bronze sculptures of some of golf’s greatest masters. Available for rent for a variety of functions.

Group discount rates available. Closed Mondays; open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5.50 for adults; $4.50 for students, seniors and military; $3.50 for children (4 to 12); free for children 3 and under. Sundays are two for one with a Super Sunday coupon. Annual garden memberships are available. Call 724-4443 or 1-888-874-4443.

Also, visit their Web site at www.gghf.org.

FORT DISCOVERY/NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTER: Children and adults alike can immerse themselves in the wonders of science through live demonstrations, vir tual realities, Starlab, KidScape and more than 270 hands-on exhibits. General Admission: $8 for adults; $6 for children, seniors and active military. Group rates available.

Half-price admission daily af ter 3 p.m. Operating hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Call 821-0200, 1-800-325-5445 or visit their Web site at www.NationalScienceCenter.org.

REDCLIFFE STATE HISTORIC SITE: 1859 mansion of S.C. Governor James Henry Hammond, held by the family for three generations until 1975. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday-Monday on the grounds. House tours are noon-3 p.m. by appointment. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Admission to the grounds is free. Fee for house tours is $3 for adults and children ages 6 to 17.

For more information, call (803) 827-1473. 181 Redclif fe Road, Beech Island.

SACRED HEART CULTUR AL CENTER is of fering tours of its 100-year-old building. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $1 per person, children free. 826-4700.

HISTORIC COTTON EXCHANGE WELCOME CENTER: Open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Riverwalk. Free. 724-4067.

THE EZEKIEL HARRIS HOUSE: Deemed “the finest 18th century house surviving in Georgia” by the “Smithsonian Guide to Historic America.” Open Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. General admission is $2; senior admission is $1 and children get in for 50 cents. For more information, call 724-0436.

Museums

AN EVENING WITH SOUTHERN FOOD AUTHOR JOHN EGERTON Jan. 30, 7 p.m. at the Morris Museum of Ar t.

Eger ton will give a lecture and sign his book “Cornbread Nation I.” Reception featuring Southern dishes will follow; reservations are required and the fee is $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers. 724-7501.

AT THE AUGUSTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY: January’s film is “The Founding of Georgia.” For more information, call 722-8454.

THE GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART in Ware’s Folly exhibits works by local and regional ar tists. Ar t classes, workshops and other educational programming for children, youth and adults are held in the Walker-

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Music

GET ON THE WHEEL! Pottery Classes Call 722-5495 Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

www.ghia.org

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Studio. Ware’s Folly galleries open Tuesday, 30 Mackenzie Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6

Wednesday night per formances. Student and group discounts available. Optional British pub-style menu served one hour and fif teen minutes prior to show. Call (404) 874-5299 for reservations.

a.m.-7 p.m.; and Saturday by appointment only. The Walker-Mackenzie Studio gallery is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free, but a donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children and seniors is encouraged.

Call 722-5495 for more info.

“TWENTY YEARS AGO” will be presented by NarroWay Productions Winter Dinner Theatre in Myr tle Beach, S.C., on Fridays and Saturdays in January and Feb. 14-15.

Tickets are $24.95 or $23.95 for groups and senior citizens. To make reservations, call (803) 802-2300 or 1888-437-7473.

THE AUGUSTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY hosts permanent exhibition “Augusta’s Story,” an award-winning exhibit encompassing 12,000 years of local history. For the younger crowd, there’s the Susan L. Still Children’s Discovery Gallery, where kids can learn about history in a hands-on environment. The museum also shows films in the History Theatre and hosts a variety of programs.

Located at 560 Reynolds Street. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is $4 adult, $3 seniors, $2 kids (6-18 years of age) and free for children under 6. Free admission on Sundays. Call 722-8454 or visit www.augustamuseum.org for more information.

“FOR THIS WORLD AND BEYOND: AFRICAN ART FROM THE FRED AND RITA RICHMAN COLLECTION” through May 25 at the High Museum of Ar t in Atlanta. Call (404) 733-HIGH or visit www.high.org for info.

TICKETS FOR “VAREK AI,” a production by the Cirque du Soleil, now on sale. Shows are March 6-30 at Cumberland Galleria in Atlanta. Visit www.cirquedusoleil.com for more information.

2 0 0 THE MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART hosts exhibitions and 3 special events year-round. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10

a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Closed on Mondays and major holidays. 1 Tenth Street, Augusta.

Call 724-7501 or visit www.themorris.org for details.

THE MUSEUM OF LAUREL AND HARDY OF HARLEM, GEORGIA features displays of various Laurel and Hardy memorabilia; films also shown. Located at 250 N. Louisville Street in downtown Harlem. Open 1-4 p.m.

Thursday-Monday. For more information, call 556-3448.

LUNCH AT NOON LECTURE SERIES held the second Wednesday of every month at the Lucy Craf t Laney Museum of Black History, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Call the museum at 724-3576 for more information.

Special Events ANTIQUES IN THE HEART OF AIKEN Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at the Aiken Center for the Ar ts. Jan. 30, 7-9 p.m., is a preview par ty; tickets are $95 per couple or $50 per person. The show is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 31-Feb. 1, and 1:30-5 p.m. Feb. 2, with a brunch that day from noon until 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5 is good for the duration of the show. (803) 641-9094.

MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY PAR ADE Jan. 18, 1 p.m. on Laney Walker Blvd. The Buf falo Soldier Motorcycle Riders, a bat tle of the bands and more will be featured. For information, call 733-8657 or 396-6000.

“FIRESIDE CHAT WITH THE MAESTRO” Jan. 30 is par t of the Augusta Symphony’s Por t folio of Par ties. Call 826-4705 for an information packet.

WATERFOWL WALK Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-noon at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. Search for the park’s wintering water fowl. Cost is $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers; register by Jan. 24. 828-2109.

“SUCCESS COLUMBIA COUNTY STYLE” event, hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Jan. 27, 57 p.m. at John Deere Commercial Products in Grovetown. Free to members of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Call 651-0018 for information.

BASIC DOG HANDLING TR AINING SESSION Jan. 18, 10 a.m. at the Augusta-Richmond County Animal Control shelter. Open to the public with priority given to current Augusta-Richmond County Animal Control volunteers.

Bring a leash, but do not bring your own dog.

Registration deadline is Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m. If demand merits, a second session will be held the same day at a later time. Contact Heather Birdseye, 790-6836 for info.

13TH ANNUAL WINTER GATHERING OF WRITERS Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. in Allgood Hall, Room E158 at Augusta State University. Novelist Simone Poirier-Bures and poet Natasha Trethewey will read and sign books. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tony Kellman, 737-1500 or akellman@aug.edu.

A CELEBR ATION OF ROBERT BURNS by the St. Andrews Society Jan. 18 at the Aiken Municipal Center, 6:30-10 p.m. Dress is black tie or business at tire, and traditional Scot tish dress is encouraged. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for those under 12 and are available at The Curiosity Shop, Ar tists Parlor and Palmet to Package. Call The Curiosity Shop at (803) 644-0004 or visit www.thecuriosityshop.net for info.

24TH ANNUAL AUGUSTA FUTURITY Jan. 24-Feb. 1.

Tickets for individual events run from $6-$15.50 for adults and $2-$5 for children under 13. General admission gold tickets available for $40. The Ex tra

The Augusta Futurity runs Jan. 24-Feb. 1, with a wealth of cutting horse events. See calendar listing for details.

Inning World Championship Bull Riding competition will be held at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center Jan. 24, 8 p.m. ; tickets for the competition are $12 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under.

Tickets for all Futurity events can be obtained through TicketMaster, by phone at 828-7700, on www.ticketmaster.com or at all TicketMaster outlets, as well as at the Civic Center Box Of fice. The 2003 Augusta Futurity Parade will be held Jan. 26. For information, visit www.augustafuturity.com.

NINTH ANNUAL SIEGE OF AUGUSTA MINIATURES GAMING CONVENTION Jan. 17-19 at the Sheraton Augusta Hotel. Hand painted toy soldiers will be on display and used in games, and educational seminars and bat tle recreations will be staged. Open to the public. For information, contact Jim, 868-0986, or Drew, 667-9847.

UNITY AWARD BREAKFAST in honor of the life and bir thday of Mar tin Luther King Jr. Held at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Radisson River front Hotel. Louise Rice is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $20; call Johnny Holmes at 796-3117 for more information.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBR ATION Jan. 17, 6 p.m., at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center in Aiken.

Poetry readings, skits, musical per formances and more will be featured. Program is free, and people of all ages are invited to at tend. Call (803) 642-7635.

2003 CULLUM LECTURE SERIES at Augusta State University begins Jan. 16. The title of this year’s series is “Frontiers in Motion: U.S.-Latin American and Caribbean Borderlands.” Jan. 16 Keynote Speech features Dr. Rober t Pastor’s lecture on “A Nor th American Community: Vision or Illusion?” Morning presentation 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in Butler Lecture Hall; evening presentation 7-8:15 p.m. in W1002 Science Building. On Jan. 21, Jim Peach speaks on “The U.S.-Mexico Border: Economic and Demographic Interaction,” 11:30 a.m.12:45 p.m. and 7-8:15 p.m. in Butler Lecture Hall. For more information, visit www.aug.edu/library/cullum2003.

AUTHOR PROGR AM AT THE GIBBS LIBR ARY: Naomi Williams talks about “Two Rivers” Jan. 16, 6-8 p.m. Call 863-1946 for more information.

AUGUSTA BALLET LEXUS R AFFLE to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Augusta Ballet. A Lexus SC 430 coupe will be raf fled of f during the intermission of the Feb. 8 “Romeo and Juliet” per formance at the Imperial Theatre. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased by calling 261-0555.

JANUARY FILM SERIES at Headquar ters Library, Tuesdays at 6:30. Free admission. Jan. 21 showing of “Straight Story,” Jan. 28 showing of “The 400 Blows.”

Call 821-2600.

COLUMBIA COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY holds pet adoptions every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at PetsMar t. For more info, call 860-5020.

RICHMOND COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL AND AUGUSTA ANIMAL RESCUE FRIENDS holds pet adoptions at Superpetz of f Bobby Jones Expressway every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Call AARF at 364-4747 or visit www.aar f.net. Adoptions also held at the Richmond County Animal Control Shelter, Tues. through Sun., 1-5 p.m. Call the shelter at 790-6836.

LOW-COST R ABIES VACCINATIONS: Augusta-Richmond County Animal Control holds low-cost rabies vaccination

clinics the four th Sunday of every month for privately owned pets. $8 per animal. 1 p.m. at Superpetz. Dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier. Puppies and kittens must be three months old and current for all vaccinations. Schedule subject to change, so please call 7906836 to verify dates and times.

THE CSR A HUMANE SOCIETY holds pet adoptions every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pet Center located behind the GreenJackets Stadium on Milledge Rd. 261-PETS.

Out of Town

“SHAKESPEARE’S R&J” will be presented on the Her tz Stage in Atlanta by the Alliance Theatre Company Jan. 24-March 2. Tickets are $25-$31, with discount rates for groups of 10 or more, and are available by calling (404) 733-5000 or online at www.alliancetheatre.org.

THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART’S FOLK ART AND PHOTOGRAPH GALLERIES host two exhibitions Jan. 25-Aug. 9: “Land of Myth and Memory: Clarence John Laughlin and Photographers of the South” and “Faces and Places: Picturing the Self in Self-Taught Ar t.” Call (404) 577-6940.

THE ATLANTA TURKEY HUNTING, FISHING AND OUTDOOR SHOW Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Atlanta Expo Center.

Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors and kids 6-12 and free for kids under 6. For information, contact Doug Rithmire, (770) 787-7887 or drithmire@gwf.org.

RINGLING BROTHERS AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS Jan. 22-26 at the Carolina Center in Columbia, S.C. Tickets are $14-$33 and can be purchased from the box office, by phone at (803) 783-2222 or at TicketMaster outlets.

AT THE GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART in Athens, Ga., Jan. 18-March 23: “There Is No Eye: Photographs by John Cohen” and “Visualizing the Blues: Images of the American South, 1862-1999.” Call (706) 542-4662 for information.

AT THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS AND AGRICENTER in Perry, Ga.: Cut ting Horse Show Jan. 16-19, (770) 943-4929; Southeastern Exotic Bird Show Jan. 1819, (770) 593-3692; HQHA Quar ter Horse Show Jan. 24-26, (770) 227-2159. Also, tickets are now on sale for the Georgia National Rodeo, Feb. 20-22. Call (478) 9873247 or 1-800-987-3247 for info.

HANNAH’S BUDDIES GOLF TOURNAMENT AND CONCERT BENEFIT to fight spinal muscular atrophy Jan. 18 at Disney World’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Club and House of Blues in Orlando, Fla. Widespread Panic singer and guitarist John Bell will per form at the concer t and host the tournament. For more information, or to inquire about par ticipating, contact Duncan Elliot t at (813) 334-5877 or at fightsma@tampabay.rr.com.

“LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE” will be presented through Jan. 26 by Alliance Children’s Theatre. Tickets are $12.50 for children and $15 for adults. Special Families Centerstage per formance Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. is $25 and includes per formance, lunch and additional activities. Held at the Woodruf f Ar ts Center in Atlanta. Call (404) 733-5000 for tickets.

“A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM” through Feb. 9 at the New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta. Tuesday-Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday per formances at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $19.50 Thursdays and Sundays, $22.50 Fridays and $24.50 on Saturdays, with $10 Tuesday and

“DEFINING CR AFT I: COLLECTING FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM” exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Ar t in Columbia, S.C., through Feb. 23. For more information, call the museum at (803) 799-2810 or visit www.columbiamuseum.org.

“PARIS IN THE AGE OF IMPRESSIONISM: MASTERWORKS FROM THE MUSEE D’ORSAY” will be at the High Museum of Ar t in Atlanta now through March 16.

This exhibition marks the first time since the Orsay opened that pieces in its collection have traveled to the U.S. For more information, visit www.ParisinAtlanta.org, www.high.org, or call (404) 733-HIGH.

Benefits AUGUSTA ICE BOWL Jan. 25 to benefit the Golden Harvest Food Bank at the Lake Olmstead Disc Golf Course. A $20 donation is required. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the first round of play begins at 10 a.m.

Call Sue Anne at 737-6095 for more information.

SHEPEARD COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER BLOOD DRIVES in various locations around the CSRA this month.

The blood center is urging people of all blood types to donate in order to combat a blood supply shor tage. For detailed information on locations and times to donate, visit www.shepeardblood.org. You may also call Susan Edwards at (803) 643-7996 for information on Aiken locations and Nancy Szocinski at 737-4551 for information on all other locations.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES at the Aiken Red Cross Blood Center on Millbrook Drive and the Augusta Red Cross Blood Center on Pleasant Home Road. The bloodmobile will also stop at various area locations this week. For a complete list, call the Aiken Blood Center at (803) 642-5180 or the Augusta Blood Center at 868-8800.

Learning LANGUAGE SAMPLER: Learn basic phrases of conversational French, German, Spanish or Greek in three-week sessions at the Gibbs Library, star ting Jan. 28. Space is limited, so call the library at 863-1946 to register.

ASU LITERACY CENTER TEACHER WORKSHOP Jan. 25, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Washington Hall Towers on the Augusta State University campus. Workshop is open to teachers of infants, toddlers, preschool and elementary-aged children.

Workshop is $24 per person and at tendees will receive 6 DHR-approved hours. Call 733-7043 to confirm your place.

REGISTR ATION FOR WINTER 2003 CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES AT AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY is now underway. For course information or to request a catalog, call 737-1636 or log on to www.ced.aug.edu.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS WORKSHOP Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m. at Pullman Hall. Johnnie Sheats will speak on “Leadership vs. Management.” Admission is $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Call the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce at 821-1300 for additional information.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COURSES to be of fered in January by the University of Georgia Business Outreach Services Small Business Development Center Network: Smar t Marketing, Jan. 16; Writing a Business Plan, Jan. 21; Small Business Bookkeeping, Jan. 28. All classes cost $35 and are held 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Business Outreach Services Augusta of fice. Call 7371790 for information and registration.

BRIDGE CLASSES at the H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken.

Intermediate class is held March. 25-May 20. Cost is $20

LUNCH IN 15 MINUTES OR IT’S FREE!

FRESH “MADE FROM SCRATCH”

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31 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6

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Special New Classes TAP & BALLET • AGES 4-6

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INTRODUCING SPIRIT CLASSIFIEDS

S EE P A G E 53

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person, plus a $14 materials fee that must be paid at 32 per the first class. Call (803) 642-7631 for information.

M E T R O

THE CSR A HUMANE SOCIETY is looking for animal lovers willing to donate a lit tle of their time. Volunteers are needed every Saturday at the Pet Center located behind GreenJackets Stadium on Milledge Road. Call 261-PETS for more info.

USC-AIKEN CONTINUING EDUCATION of fers the following courses beginning in January: Sign Language, Italian, Paralegal Cer tification, Computer Courses and more. Call the Of fice of Continuing Education at (803) 641-3288.

SHEPEARD COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER is seeking donors to prevent a blood supply shor tage. To donate call 737-4551, 854-1880 or (803) 643-7996.

S P I R I T

AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY CONTINUING EDUCATION is now of fering the following classes: Spanish Language and Culture for Health Professionals, Neck and Shoulder Massage, Beginning Photography, SAT Review Courses, Driver’s Education, a Foreign Language series and more. Also, ASU of fers online courses. For more J A information, call 737-1636 or visit www.ced.aug.edu.

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Meetings AUGUSTA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 23, 11:30 a.m. at the Radisson River front Hotel. Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond from the Georgia Depar tment of Labor is the speaker. Cost is $25 per person or $250 for a corporate table. Call 821-1300 for information.

AIKEN TECH CONTINUING EDUCATION will offer the following courses in January: Intro to Computers, Windows 2000 Basic Concepts, Health Care courses, Rape Aggression Defense, Beginning Cake Decorating, Professional Cooking, Real Estate courses and more. Aiken Tech also offers Education to Go classes online. For more information or to register, call (803) 593-9231, ex t. 1230.

THE AUGUSTA ROSE SOCIETY meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Sister Mary Louise Conference Room at St. Joseph Hospital. The nex t meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. John Godwin presents a program entitled “Soil Preparation: One of the Keys to Growing Great Roses.” Call (803) 279-5502 for information.

Health “BACK TO BACKS” BACK PAIN/INJURY HEALTH EDUCATION CLASS at the Life Learning Center’s Uptown Division, Room 3C-104. Free workshop begins at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23. Call 733-0188, ex t. 7989 to enroll.

PEACHCARE FOR KIDS AND RIGHT FROM THE START MEDICADE of fers free or low-cost health coverage to qualifying families. Coverage includes prenatal care, hospitalization, vaccines, dental and vision care and is available to pregnant women of all ages and to children through age 19. Contact the RSM Project at 729-2086 or 721-5611 for information.

YOGA CLASSES at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 a.m. for $45/month or 10:30 a.m. to noon for $55/month. Call 823-6294.

FREE HIV/AIDS TESTING every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Ministry, 922 Greene Street. Free anonymous testing, pre- and post-test counseling and education.

HATHA YOGA CLASSES at the St. Joseph Home Health Care Center in Daniel Village Plaza. Held 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. $10 per class or $60 a month for unlimited classes. Mats are provided, but bring a towel and a water bot tle. Call Tess at 738-2782 for more information.

A FREE WOMEN’S HEALTH CLINIC is held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Salvation Army and Welfare Center, 1383 Greene St. Services include Pap smear, breast exam and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmit ted diseases. For more info or an appointment, call the St. Vincent dePaul Health Center at 828-3444.

W.G. WATSON, M.D., WOMEN’S CENTER CONDUCTS EDUCATION CLASSES at University Hospital. Course topics include Lamaze, breast feeding, parenting and grandparenting. Par tners will learn positive suppor t techniques. There are also programs designed to help older siblings adjust to new family members. Some classes are free, while others require a fee. Registration is required by calling 774-2825.

Kids VALENTINE CR AFTS WITH SANDY GREEN for children ages 6-12 Jan. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ma xwell Branch Library. Call 793-2020 for information.

SPRING SOCCER REGISTR ATION through Jan. 21 at Citizens Park II in Aiken. Open to boys and girls ages 5 and older by Sept. 1, 2003; teams will be divided by age and players will compete in league play. First-time players must bring a bir th cer tificate to register. For information, call (803) 642-7761.

The Ninth Annual Siege of Augusta Miniatures Gaming Convention comes to the Sheraton Augusta Hotel Jan. 17-19.

6275 to make arrangements.

GIRLS INCORPOR ATED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGR AM runs through the end of the 2002-2003 school year. A variety of programs will be of fered. Services include van pick-up at select schools, evening drop-of f, homework room and hot evening meal. Open to girls in kindergar ten through high school. Af ter-school program of fered 2:306 p.m. Mon.-Fri. For more information, call 733-2512.

THE SIERR A CLUB holds its nex t meeting Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 3501 Walton Way Ex t.

Jonathan Evans will show slides of the canal and discuss other area spots great for canoeing. The public is welcome. Call 863-2324 for information.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SKILLS PROGR AM for teens ages 12-19 held the third Saturday of the month at the Lucy Craf t Laney Museum of Black History. Call 724-3576.

UPCOMING AUGUSTA LYNX HOME GAMES: Jan. 17, Feb. 7-8, 12, 14-15, 20, 22-23 and 28 and March 1, 1415, 19, 21-22, 25, 28 and 30. For tickets, call the Lynx ticket of fice at 724-4423.

FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA COUNTY LIBR ARIES meets Jan. 21, 7 p.m. at the Gibbs Librar y. Call 863-1946 for details.

WEEKLY STORY SESSIONS at all branch libraries. Visit www.ecgrl.public.lib.ga.us for more information.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE for the Augusta GreenJackets 2003 season. Home games at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Tickets available at www.tixonline.com or by phone at (803) 278-4TIX. There is also a TIX outlet inside Harmon Optical in Southgate Plaza.

FIRST SATURDAY STORYTELLING at the Lucy Craf t Laney Museum. In addition, there is a tour of the museum. Held 10 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of the month. Call 724-3576.

Seniors THE ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING of fers lectures, courses, field trips, discussion groups and community information seminars on a variety of topics to mature adults. For more information, contact the USCAiken Of fice of Continuing Education at (803) 641-3288.

PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS CAN EXERCISE (PACE) meets at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. Call 823-5294.

THE SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL OF GREATER AUGUSTA AND THE CSR A of fers a variety of classes, including aerobics, quilting, tai chi, Spanish, painting, line dancing, bowling, bridge, computers, yoga and pinochle. For dates and times, phone 826-4480.

ARTHRITIS AQUATICS of fered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital. Classes meet 9-9:45 a.m., 10-10:45 a.m. or 12:15-1 p.m. $37.50/month. To register, call 733-5959.

SENIORNET provides adults age 50 and over education for and access to computer technology. Many dif ferent courses are of fered. Contact the USC-Aiken Continuing Education Of fice at (803) 641-3563.

Sports

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGR AM at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center in Aiken January through May, 2-6 p.m. Open to kids ages 5-13. Call (803) 642-7635.

THE AUGUSTA ROWING CLUB is sponsoring an open house at the Boathouse Jan. 25, 10 a.m. The public is invited to at tend and gather information about rowing and oppor tunities at the Augusta Rowing Club. For information, visit www.augustarows.com or contact Brenda Cole, 855-9710.

ACADEMIC HELP AND TUTORING available Saturdays, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Wallace Branch Library. Call 722-

THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS CSRA CHAPTER meets 8:15 a.m. Jan. 16 at Athens Restaurant. Larry Heath with the IRS will be the speaker.

For information, contact Jerry Brigham, 650-1700.

TEN STAR ALL-STAR BASKETBALL CAMP is now accepting applications for its summer programs. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible. Call (704) 373-0873 for information.

AT THE FAMILY Y: Spring soccer registration through Jan. 18 for children 4-14 years old at the Wheeler Branch, 738-6678.

CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER at the Lucy Craf t Laney Museum of Black History open Monday-Friday, 4:30-6:30 p.m., through June. For information, call 724-3576.

lif t only, iron man and full power events. Held Jan. 18, 10 a.m. at the Mar tial Ar ts Tournament Center on Peach Orchard Rd. For more information or to enter, contact Tee Meyers, 790-3806.

THE RICHMOND COUNTY DEMOCR ATIC HEADQUARTERS will be the site of an election for state par ty membership open to Democrats in the 22nd Senatorial District. Election to be held Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-noon. Call 722-8111 for information.

2003 AUGUSTA OPEN DRUG-FREE POWERLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS is hosted by the Py thon Power League of Augusta and features bench press only, dead-

YOUTH MONTHLY SPARRING the last Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m., at the Augusta Boxing Club. Call 733-7533.

Volunteer GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART DOCENT TR AINING PROGR AM: Volunteers will guide “If Walls Could Talk” tour, featuring the history and architecture of Ware’s Folly. Contact the Education Director at 722-5495 for more information.

THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT COALITION CAMPAIGN seeks volunteers to prepare basic tax returns for low/limited income individuals, those with disabilities, nonEnglish speakers and the elderly. Volunteers receive free training and instruction materials from the IRS. Call the Mayor’s Office for Workforce Development at 821-1834.

GOLDEN HARVEST FOOD BANK needs volunteers during the day, Monday-Friday, to help sor t donated products and assist in their agency shopping area. Help is needed year-round. If you are able to lif t 25 pounds and would like to help fight hunger in the Augusta area, contact Laurie Roper at 736-1199, ex t. 208.

THOROUGHBRED R ACING HALL OF FAME DOCENTS NEEDED: Duties include opening and closing the Hall of Fame, greeting visitors and providing information about museum exhibits. Call Lisa Hall, (803) 642-7650 for information.

OLDER AMERICANS ACT SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM is looking for volunteers to serve meals to needy older residents. To volunteer, contact the Senior Citizens Council at 826-4480. For those in need of home-delivered meals, call 210-2018 or toll free at 1-888-922-4464.

AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL: New volunteer orientation is scheduled the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the shelter, 4164 Mack Lane.

Schedule subject to change; call 790-6836 to verify dates and times.

GIBBS LIBR ARY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP meets Jan. 20, 7 p.m. to discuss “The Emperor of Ocean Park” by Stephen Car ter. Call 863-1946 for information.

Weekly

THE FIRST STEP DIVORCE RECOVERY WORKSHOP Sundays through Feb. 9, 4-6 p.m. in Room 201 of the Walton Building at First Baptist Church of Augusta.

Meetings are free to the public and no pre-registration is required; however, you must call to reserve childcare for children age 5 and under. 731-5355.

WALT DISNEY PIN TR ADING GROUP is forming for all those interested in collecting and trading pins from Walt Disney World, Disneyland and other Disney resor ts. For more information, contact Tim Conway, 729-9900.

GEORGIA-CAROLINA TOASTMASTERS meets Wednesdays at noon at the Clubhouse, 2567 Washington Rd. $8 for lunch; visitors welcome. 860-9854.

SEXAHOLICS ANONYMOUS, a 12-step program of recovery from addiction to obsessive/compulsive sexual thoughts and behaviors, meets Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 p.m. at Augusta Counselling Services. Call 339-1204 and leave first name and phone number; a confidential reply is assured.

AUGUSTA TOASTMASTERS CLUB #326 meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at Advent Lutheran Church.

Call 868-8431.

BUSINESS NETWORKERS INTERNATIONAL Augusta Chapter meets every Thursday morning from 7 to 8:30 a.m. in the Par tridge Inn main dining room. All professionals welcome; breakfast provided for a fee. Call Stuar t Rayburn, 737-0050.

RIVERWALK TOASTMASTERS meets Mondays, 7 p.m. in Classroom 3 at University Hospital. Call Gale Kan, 855-7071.

GUIDELINES: Public Service announcements are listed in this section without charge at the discretion of the editor.

Announcements must be received by Monday at noon and will be included as space permits. Send to Events, The Metropolitan Spirit, P.O. Box 3809, Augusta, GA 30914 or fax (706) 733-6663. You may also e-mail listings to rhonda_jones@metspirit.com or lisa_jordan@metspirit.com.

Listings cannot be taken over the phone.

33

Arts: Theatre

Traveling Productions Provide Drama, Opera and Modern Dance

M E T R O

BY RHONDA JONES

S P I R I T

National Players Presents Two Comedies On Jan. 23 through Jan. 25, you will get to indulge in a double-trouble feast of National Player proportions. The 12-member cast and crew will perform in Augusta with productions of “Tartuffe” and Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” Yes, that’s 12 members for the entire shebang – cast, crew, everybody. They can do that because they are the National Players and the National Players can do anything.

Actually, that’s not far from the truth, if you consider what the individual actors are trained to do. When an actor completes a tour with the Players, that individual has had his hands in every aspect of the production world. This is because the troupe tours according to the old vaudevillian method – without a backstage crew. Not only are all the actors in both productions, but they each also have their non-acting roles to perform, as lighting technicians, stagehands, drivers.

Whatever is needed, the actors do for themselves. And they love it.

At least that’s their story. And they’re sticking to it.

“I really like it,” Tiffany Fillmore said during a recent conversation with The Metropolitan Spirit. She is acting the role of the Duchess Fredericka (traditionally Duke Frederick) in “As You Like It,” and Elmire in “Tartuffe.”

She says that kind of immersion helps the teamwork aspect of putting on a production, because some actors do tend to take the crew for granted. “It definitely helps with, when you’re working at a theatre, when you’re just doing the acting, it helps you to understand the jobs that everyone else is doing, and appreciate the people who are doing the work for you.”

According to Fillmore’s colleague Jesse Hooker, who plays Orlando in “As You Like It” and Vale`re in “Tartuffe,” there are other, more personal, benefits in belonging to the National Players.

“It gives you a real sense of ownership of everything,” he said. “After driving the truck all day, setting up the scene and the lights, you feel like you’re in absolute control of the production.”

The experience allows the actors to bond, too. “In our company, we’re all just one big family.”

That’s especially interesting, he said, for the actors who grew up as only children.

“They’ve said this is the first time they’ve had siblings,” he said. And the sibling rivalry that comes with it, he added. “It’s been really fun to have this tight group of friends,” he said.

Bill Gillett, general manager for the National Players, was once a tour member with the company. “It’s a very comprehensive, conservatory-like training program,” he said. The idea behind the company, he added, is to create a vehicle to help the young student of theatre make the transition into the professional world. “This might be

Photo by Roy Volkman

J A N

Ailey II, an African American modern dance company, passes through Augusta on Jan. 20. their first or second professional experience,” he said. “It’s sort of a trial by fire.”

He compared the experience to MTV’s “Road Rules.”

When Gillett did his tour several years ago, the Players were producing “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Of Mice and Men.” As a result, the tour became known as the “rodent tour.”

Just thought I’d throw that in there.

In that case, this tour could be nicknamed the “impostor tour.” Here’s the scoop on the shows. “As You Like It” is a funny bit of confusion as a host of people are banished to the forest of Arden, starting with Duke Senior. His little sister has usurped his power and sent him packing, and his daughter, her niece Rosalind, along with him. Well, the conniving Duchess Fredericka’s daughter Celia leaves with cousin Rosalind and they all meet up with Orlando, who has fled his evil brother.

But first, he has managed to fall for Rosalind, whom he meets in the forest disguised as a man, who is all too eager to provide Orlando with tips to help him woo Rosalind.

“Tartuffe,” by Molie`re, is about an imposter who poses as a member of the clergy for the purpose of attempting to get a wealthy man to hand over his riches. This play was banned by Louis XIV. “Tartuffe” will be performed Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. “As You Like It” will be performed Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

For information and tickets, contact the Augusta State University Student Activities office at (706) 737-1609.

Ailey II Presents Bodies in Motion “... We are not the end-all, be-all of dance,” Augusta Ballet artistic director Zanne Colton said of her company. She

was not disparaging Augusta Ballet, however, but merely stating that the dance world contains far more magic than is found even in classical ballet style.

Therefore, they have partnered with the CSRA Classic and Augusta Focus newspaper to bring the touring, New York-based, African-American dance ensemble Ailey II to the Imperial Theatre stage.

Named after its founding father, the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble was formed in 1974, and is now known as Ailey II. It is a modern dance company which incorporates forms of movement ranging from ballet to jazz and ethnic dance.

Sarah Shoemaker, a former dancer who now coordinates public relations for Augusta Ballet, is excited about their imminent arrival.

“I saw them for the first time in Nashville, Tenn., when they did a tour through Vanderbilt University – probably 12 or 13 years ago. Up until that point I had been a big fan of classical ballet and had not gotten into modern dance yet.”

But that was about to change.

“They did a piece called ‘Revelations,’ which they’ll be doing Monday night here.

It’s Alvin Ailey’s signature piece. It’s everything people say about it and more.”

The piece uses spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues to explore the realms of human grief and joy.

Four additional pieces will be performed on Jan. 20. “Aspects of a Vibe,” by Darrel Grand Moultrie, fuses jazz and modern dance. “Takedeme” by Robert Battle uses the rhythms of Indian Kathak dance, and incorporate lots of jumps. “The Hunt,” also

by Battle, is for six men, and is an exploration of human aggression. “Journey,” by Joyce Trisler, is a solo dance set to “The Unanswered Question” by Charles Ives.

As you can see, there are a lot of things

going on here that are not very much like “The Nutcracker” or “Carmen,” but it’s not always a simple thing to quantify the difference between “ballet” and “modern dance.”

“Because not all classical ballet is tutus and pointe shoes. Our ballet performances are not all classical.”

But, Shoemaker said, a modern dance company will travel farther from the often reserved movements of classical ballet.

“The emphasis in modern dance and specifically in Ailey’s choreography is the use of the entire body.”

She describes the effect as more dynamic than a classical technique.

“Modern dance offers a freer use of the body.”

Because of the dance genres’ constant borrowing from each other, however, the lines between them are blurring. “The trend in dance is to learn from each other so the classical ballet companies have been paying very close attention to what modern companies are doing,” she said, and viceversa. “Both types of dance are better for having each other to learn from.”

Dancers are trained at the American Dance Center, also founded by Ailey, and have a chance to go on to the American Dance Theater.

Ailey II performs Monday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Ga. Tickets may be purchased with credit card, by calling (706) 261-0555 or directly from the Augusta Ballet box office on the second floor of the Sacred Heart Cultural Center at 1301 Greene Street. Prices range from $12 to $36.

For more info on Ailey II, visit their Web site at www.alvinailey.org.

USC-Aiken Cultural Series: Few Tickets Left Jane Schumacher of USC-Aiken had sad news about the London City Opera’s production of “Madame Butterfly” scheduled for Jan. 25: It’s sold out. In fact, she said, tickets for the USCA cultural series, of which “Madame Butterfly” is a part, usually leave their offices pretty quickly.

“Last week we sold our last tickets,” she said of the opera. In fact, she said, the series was almost sold out in its entirety. And how quickly does that usually happen? By the first performance of the year, she said.

The series began the first of November with The St. Lawrence String Quartet, and continued two weeks later with a performance by Rhythm & Brass. “Madame Butterfly” is the third production of the series.

At the time of our conversation, however, Schumacher said there were about 20 tickets left for the rest of the season. The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra is set to perform Friday, Feb. 14, and there will be a production of “Porgy and Bess” on Friday, March 7.

Call (803) 641-3305 for ticket information.

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34 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Arts: Theatre

Local Theatre Offers Comedy and Drama

W

hile touring groups are busy leaping through the air with the greatest of ease and belting out opera classics, on the community front, it’s all drama.

This weekend you have a lot to choose from if you’re looking for a live performance, beginning with Stage III’s production of Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party” on Jan. 16. The next evening Augusta Mini Theatre is staging Tyrone Butler’s “Last Chance,” and Aiken Community Playhouse opens “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman.

If cozy is what you want, then Stage III, Columbia County’s community theatre, will fit the bill nicely. The founders, Fred and Maria Elser, recently spoke with The Spirit about their upcoming production of Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party.”

It’s a newer piece by the popular playwright, and only just left Broadway in 2001.

It uses six cast members, which fits right in with Stage III’s needs.

“We always perform on a small stage,” Maria said. But, she added, bigger is not always better, especially where live theatre is concerned. For instance, a show like this one makes the audience want to lean in toward the conversation, which makes them more a part of the whole thing, she said.

Maria told of a show they did before coming to Augusta, in which Fred decided to suspend a window at the edge of the stage for the characters to peer through. Maria worried that it may get in the audience’s way, but as it turned out, people responded positively to the prop.

“The first place they sat was right in front of that window,” she said.

So how often do they see an opportunity to use that kind of device?

“Mainly you have to stay true to the script and the action,” Fred said, adding that he will do neat things if he can think of a way to pull them off while remaining true to the author’s intent. For instance, he said, he’s had actors go through the auditorium to approach the stage.

Fred said “The Dinner Party” may provide a few surprises, even for veteran Neil Simon fans. “This is very different for him, because it is a dark comedy.”

Here’s the premise: In an effort to get back together with her ex-husband, a divorcee has invited him and two other divorced couples to a dinner party.

“The Dinner Party” will be staged at the Augusta Jewish Community Center from Jan. 16-18 at 7 p.m. These are dinner theatre performances, and tickets are $25 per person. The Sunday, Jan. 19, matinee is at 3 p.m., with tickets $15 per person. For reservations or details, call the Augusta Jewish Community Center at 228-3636.

“The Lion in Winter” Roars at Aiken Community Playhouse And in keeping with comedic antics, Aiken Community Playhouse (ACP) presents King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine doing battle over which of the

royal offspring will inherit the throne.

Director Collette Miller spoke with The Spirit recently about the production.

Of course, when we spoke, the production had not yet finished cooking, but Miller said it was coming along nicely. “Of course, by now the actors know their lines. We’re trying to fine-tune the characters.”

Though “The Lion in Winter” is a work of fiction, it’s based on historical figures, and that may lend additional appeal where history buffs are concerned, she said. That is, if they don’t take their history too seriously.

“Oddly enough, the play is built as a comedy. A lot of older people remember the movie with Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. I’m trying to keep the play lighter, and I think it would appeal to most general audiences. But, given the nature of the writing, it’s really not for young children.”

After that, we brought out the tough question: Of acting and directing, which is more fun?

“That’s a hard question, because I enjoy both really,” she said. “You get to see the play in a different perspective when you direct. You have a much more limited perspective as an actor.”

Directing, apparently, is an exercise in organization. “As director, I have to divide my energy between directing the actors as well as building the sets.”

It also requires a bit of studying. “We’ve been working very hard for five weeks, but my preparation has been a lot longer. I have to study the play, to know it very well.”

The time will have been well spent, however, if the audiences respond favorably. “I think they will be very pleasantly surprised by the interpretation of the play. When you think ‘The Lion in Winter,’ you do think of heavy drama, but it does have its lighter moments, its comedic side.”

“The Lion in Winter” runs Jan. 17-Feb. 1.

Evening performances are 8 p.m. on Jan. 17-18, 24-25 and 31, and Feb. 1. There is a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee on Jan. 26.

Performances are held at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts at 124 Newberry Street in downtown Aiken, S.C. For reservations or info call (803) 648-1438 Tuesday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. or Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased or picked up during the daytime hours above.

Any tickets unclaimed 15 minutes before curtain will be released to waiting-list patrons.

“Last Chance” by the Augusta Mini Theatre The Augusta Mini Theatre’s production of writer/director Tyrone Butler’s “Last Chance” is a different type of play altogether. Butler, who founded the Mini Theatre, tends to write plays concerning the social troubles of inner-city neighborhoods. “Last Chance” is just that kind of play. “‘Last Chance’ takes place in a neighborhood where there are stabbings and shootings. There’s poverty and broken homes.

BY RHONDA JONES

Aiken Community Playhouse members rehearse a scene for “The Lion in Winter.”

There are parents that are not responsible for their children.”

And politicians take an interest, he said, only when it’s time to solicit votes.

The way out for young girls trapped in neighborhoods like that, he said, is often pregnancy. That way, he said, they can at least get themselves on welfare, and afford to move across town.

“And another way out is to fall in love and get married to somebody, regardless of what kind of occupation they have.

“Usually, in that neighborhood, it’s drugs or illegal activities.”

If it sounds like he’s talking about a real place, there’s a good reason for that. He says he drives past it every morning on the way to work. And it’s not the only one.

“You can drive down Martin Luther King Boulevard. You can go down Twiggs Street, 12th Street.”

He’s also put in time himself living in neighborhoods like that.

Butler’s main character is a young girl named Punky who is at the age where she’s trying to devise her own escape plan. Her plan is to marry her boyfriend, Chucky – until a drive-by shooting in which he was the target kills her best friend, Trina.

“Eventually in the play, Punky learns that education is the most important way out,” Butler said. “And that another person or getting pregnant will not get you out of your neighborhood and help you to have a better life. Your last chance is yourself.”

We asked what effect Butler hopes his play, formerly called “Who’s Killing the Dream?” will have on its audience.

“One, I hope that our students will gain something from it. A better understanding of who they are. Some don’t live like that.

Sometimes I take them through neighborhoods and let them see people do live like that. Let them see they’re very fortunate they don’t have to live in a home where there’s no father.

“Students gain an appreciation of what they have, an understanding of how much work is needed in our community.”

It is his hope, also, that adults will gain an understanding as well.

“I’m reminded of a friend who used to have a business right next door to the Mini Theatre when we were on Branch Street. He moved to Highway 25. That was 15 or 20 years ago.”

When Butler visited the business recently, the man asked about the old neighborhood. “‘You know, I haven’t been down there since I left,’” Butler said his friend told him.

“I couldn’t believe it. Sometimes when we make it out, we don’t look back.”

He wants people to look.

“Last Chance” will be presented Friday, Jan. 17, which is the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday weekend. Showtimes are 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. for area schools and 8 p.m. On Jan. 18-19, the play will be performed at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Jack B. Patrick Technology Center on the campus of Augusta Technical College. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for youth groups of 10 or more. For tickets or information, call (706) 722-0598 or visit the Mini Theatre office at 430 8th Street in downtown Augusta.

35 M E T R O

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36

Breakfast

M E T R O

Symphony’s String Quartet at Unitarian Universalist Hall

S P I R I T

BY RHONDA JONES

J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Arts: Music

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ou can hear the gunfire over Dresden in Dmitri Shostakovich’s “String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110,” says violinist Ryan Kho. He and the rest of Augusta Symphony’s string quartet will appear Jan. 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Hall at 3501 Walton Way Extension.

It’s a “programmatic” piece, Kho said, explaining that the very notes have symbolic meaning. The piece is dedicated to the victims of fascism. “Shostakovich was really going out on a limb when he wrote this,” he said, adding that there will be an explanation of the piece before the quartet plays it next Saturday night.

It’s a different sort of piece, he says, written in five movements, with no breaks between them. It’s around 22 minutes of continuous playing, he said. “It’s one of the pieces where he actually quotes many of the other pieces he’s composed,” Kho said.

“In the first three or four notes, he actually inscribes his initials into the piece.” And if you want to experience how he’s done that, Kho said, you will just have to come and listen.

“I can’t give everything away.”

Kho spoke briefly about performing with a group in which the members have known each other for so long. “Three of us have been together since 1990. The fourth person, Jonathan (Aceto, violinist) – this is his third year.”

We asked if being together so long had improved the shows. “It helps us get to know each other’s playing, so that we can play so that we sound like one homogeneous string quartet. One of the difficult things, when you put four people together, four people have four unique styles of playing.

“If you can get four people to really sound like one, it’s almost like hearing a pianist play all the voices – except that they’re four people.”

“It’s the type of thing that takes a little while to kind of gel,” he added. “And in the 13 years we’ve played together, we play pretty well together.”

He said that can take an ensemble anywhere from five years to a lifetime to achieve.

Kho spoke also about what the function of chamber music was at one time. “It’s something people used to do on a Sunday afternoon for fun, ask people to come over to play some chamber music. It was the main activity before, I guess, TVs and movies came about.

It was another way for people to converse

“

without actually using words.”

In addition to the Shostakovich piece, the quartet will be playing “Beethoven’s String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135.” He says that Beethoven is asking a question with this piece, and that question is, “Must it be?”

The Encore Chamber Series has been created to provide audiences a chance to experience the Symphony principal players in action. The Symphony String Quartet is made up of violinists Ryan Kho and Jonathan Aceto, violist Carl Purdy and cellist Ruth Berry. If you check the Symphony’s Web site at www.augustasymphony.org, you can find a list of credits on these musicians as long as your arm.

For instance, Kho is the concertmaster of the Augusta Symphony and has studied at such schools as the New England Conservatory of Music and played Carnegie Hall. He has held conducting positions with various universities, and played all over the world as a solo artist.

Aceto holds a doctorate in music from Arizona State University and has held the Caroline Paul King Professorship of Strings at Mercer University. He has done both Spoletos, spending summers at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, and performing also at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C. He is a member of the Magellan String Quartet and is an adjunct faculty member at Georgia Southern University.

Purdy studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and was the principal violist of Wisconsin’s LaCrosse Symphony.

Purdy and Kho have both performed with the Franciscan Chamber Players String Quartet, which have recorded a CD with Stephane Grappelli. Purdy has toured Europe and South America as a recorder soloist.

Berry studied at the Boston University School of Music and recieved her master’s degree from Cornell University. She has recorded for the Spectrumm and Nonesuch labels and has completed research for “The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.” Summers find her in Cooperstown, N.Y., performing with the Glimmerglass Opera company.

Performance starts at 8 p.m., Jan. 25. Tickets are $15 general admission, $7.50 for students.

For info or to order tickets, contact the Symphony. Telephone: (706) 826-4705; fax: (706) 826-4735; e-mail: donnabranch@augustasymphony.org.

It’s something people used to do on a Sunday afternoon for fun, ask people to come over to play some chamber music. It was the main activity before, I guess, TVs and movies came about.

It was another way for people to converse without actually using words.

”

Cinema Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights (PG-13) —

Animated in the perky but flat Saturday morning TV manner, this oddball features Sandler as Davey Stone, who looks just like Sandler and is an orphaned, Jewish, former basketball hero. He has become a rancid at titude for his small town, especially hating holidays and the eight days of Hanukkah. He moons carolers and is a pest to solid citizens, gets drunk and belches like a gassed tuba. He makes the Grinch seem like a happy Rotarian. For one word to describe Sandler, try "schizo." He goes from being more brazenly aggressive than Fields, Groucho or Sid Caesar in their primes, to a simpy noodle of self-pity and cloying, clutchy sentiment. At the rate Sandler is going, he may soon reach the cuckoo rococo stage of his career.

Running time: 1 hr., 20 mins. (Elliot t) ★1/2 Adaptation (R) — "Adaptation" is an occasionally inspired film about a writer stymied by his screenplay.

Nicolas Cage plays both Charlie Kaufman and his brother (who isn't real), Donald, a sor t of creative antibody.

Cage's Charlie is a sweat bag of fear about every idea, frantic about losing his hair and not appealing to women he can barely approach; Don is an upbeat, pushy doof prone to bad jokes and happily stupid at titude. Beyond the doubled Cage compulsion (good acting, even bet ter tech work), the film has rich filler. Cast: Nicolas Cage,

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Mirimax Films

Movie Listings About Schmidt (R) — Sad, very sad. Not only because Jack Nicholson is playing a sour, dumpy bore, but because the movie is a bore. As Schmidt, he's the lit tle American loser who set tled for mediocre, false comfor t through conformity, but Alexander Payne directs as if this dull fact is a fresh revelation. The film is iner t, rarely funny, rarely dramatic, though Kathy Bates swings her jived bulk into a hot tub and briefly sparks Jack into an inkling of his stellar self; then he shrinks. Sad. 2 hrs.

(Elliot t) ★

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“Chicago”

Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Cara Seymour, Tilda Swinton. Running time: 1 hr., 54 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★1/2 Antwone Fisher (PG-13) — Denzel Washington directed himself, as a Navy psychiatrist in San Diego, and Derek Luke as Fisher, a sailor spikey with anger because of his tormented youth. Washington's authority is manifest and humane, the story has moments of honest searching, but the appealing Luke never quite gives us the pain of a truly agonized man. 1 hr., 53 mins.

(Elliot t) ★★1/2 Barbershop (PG-13) — In this day in the wacky life of a Chicago salon, the rapper/actor Ice Cube drops his rough, gruf f image to play Calvin, the current owner of the barbershop. The shop was passed down to him from his dad and has been a mainstay of the community for years. Calvin couldn't care less, because he has a pregnant wife and wants to make money fast. In a moment of stupidity, he sells the place to the neighborhood loan shark. Af ter spending a day talking with customers and fellow barbers, he realizes the impor tance of the shop.

He then has to buy back the shop at double the price.

Meanwhile at the barbershop itself, tensions begin to rise. Cast: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Troy Garity, Michael Ealy and Cedric the Enter tainer. Running time: 1 hr., 42 mins. (McCormick) ★★★ Brown Sugar (PG-13) — "Brown Sugar" is a romantic comedy focusing on two childhood friends who have both found success in the world of hip-hop: one is an A&R executive at a record label and the other is the editor of a glossy music mag. Even though they’re both involved with others, the two find that they may have already found love – years ago with each other. Cast: Sanaa Latham, Taye Diggs, Queen Latifah, Mos Def.

Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) — From the breezy opening credits done in '60s hip style, Steven Spielberg's charmed enter tainment flies along with confidence. Leonardo DiCaprio is entirely engaging as Frank Abagnale Jr., con ar tist and ace kiter of checks, pursued with increasingly caring fixation by Tom Hanks as a square FBI man. Christopher Walker is the smooth-talking flop dad whom Frank yearns to impress. 2 hrs., 15 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★ Chicago (PG-13) — A buoyantly explosive collision of Broadway show techniques, based on the mid-rank Bob Fosse musical, with Rob Marshall’s excitingly insolent film devices from countless pictures. It’s a postMTV musical, saved from schlock by blunt cynicism, immense physical verve, solid songs and bristling, funny show-gal work as tootsies on Death Row by Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, aptly suppor ted by Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, and Richard Gere having the best time of his life as a sexy shyster. This is ut ter show-biz, so don’t absurdly ask for “depth.” (Elliot t) 1 hr., 53 mins.

Die Another Day (PG-13) — Pierce Brosnan moves with energy and can fake conviction. His chest hair is superb, his voice remains Bondaceous. But he looks peaked, and we imagine he found time to remember when acting meant, well, acting. Not just pulverizing glass, plunging through ice, brandishing absurd weapons and making limp jokes. True to its Cold War roots, the series reaches for one more rot ten Commie enemy. So bring on dear old Nor th Korea. A Pyongyang lunatic has found the resources, via diamonds, to create a satellite sun called Icarus, to burn or blind the dumb Yanks, the snot ty Brits and the greedy South Korean stooges. He captures Bond, tor tures him, then zips of f to Cuba, where he is DNA-morphed into a sneery Brit named

Graves (Toby Stephens). We recall Connery, and old plots that, however abundantly silly, were adventurous larks and not just plastic shelves for hardware display.

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, John Cleese, Judi Dench, Rick Yune.

Running time: 2 hrs. (Elliot t) ★★ Drumline (PG-13) — A young street drummer from Harlem wins a scholarship to at tend a Southern university and decides to make the trek af ter being convinced by the university’s band director, even though he knows he’ll have a hard time fit ting in. Gradually, his drumming skills help the other students warm up to him. Cast: Nick Cannon, Orlando Jones, Zoe Saldana, Jason Weaver.

Friday After Next (R) — This is the third film in the "Friday" series and features the same people, places and pals highlighted in the first two. "Friday After Nex t" takes place around Christmas, as Craig and Day-Day are working as security guards after a "ghet to Santa" who’s been stealing presents. Cast: Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Don "D.C." Curry.

Gangs of New York (R) — Mar tin Scorsese's film is not a bore and is never less than a show, but it feels like having obscure history lessons hammered into your skull.

Filmed with potboiler instincts, this pungent flux of preglam New York centers on the rather mythic precinct of crime called the Five Points. The plot, a slender bone in an obese production, involves the arrival of the Irish in New York City in 1846 and after. They face the prejudice of a nativist gang of thugs, allied with young Tammany Hall.

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, Henry Thomas, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson. 2 hrs., 40 mins. (Elliot t) ★★1/2 Ghost Ship (R) — A salvage crew on a mission discovers an abandoned passenger ship, missing since

“National Security”

MGM

Columbia Pictures

“A Guy Thing”

RATINGS

★★★★ — Excellent.

★★★— Worthy.

★★ — Mixed.

★ — Poor.

0— Not worthy.

continued on page 38

38 “Just Married”

“Kangaroo Jack”

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N

20th Century Fox

2 0 0 3

Warner Bros. Pictures

1 6

continued from page 37 1953, floating on a lone stretch of the Bering Sea. When the crew decides to tow the passenger ship back, strange things begin to happen. Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Juliana Margulies, Desmond Harrington.

A Guy Thing (PG-13) — Jason Lee plays good guy Paul, who just wants to keep on the straight and narrow at his own bachelor par ty. Apparently, that’s too much to ask, because the nex t morning he wakes up nex t to a beautiful girl, his head too fuzzy to remember any thing from the night before. Even worse, the girl turns out to be his fiancee’s cousin, and what star ts out as one lit tle lie snowballs into a fib of comedic propor tions.

Cast: Julia Stiles, Jason Lee, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Shawn Hatosy.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PG) — Harry (Daniel Radclif fe) faces destiny with a

clear eye and spor ty will, not the least neurotic despite having been orphaned into a family of idiotic prigs who treat him abominably. He again escapes to Hogwar ts, to his pals (Ruper t Grint as wobble-faced Ron, Emma Watson as bookworm Hermione) and the snippish regard of Prof. Snape (Alan Rickman) and Prof.

McGonegall (Maggie Smith), and the wonder ful giant Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and Headmaster Dumbledore (Richard Harris, now dead). Jason Isaacs should be given more time as Lucius, the evil, white-maned father of snob Draco Malfoy. There is a sense of a grand machine greased, sometimes grinding. The "chamber of secrets" is less an exciting mystery at the center than a device to car t the bulky saga forward. Cast: Daniel Radclif fe, Ruper t Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane. Running time: 2 hrs., 41 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★ The Hot Chick (PG-13) — If the name isn’t enough to scare you, perhaps the idea that a vapid teenage girl wakes up to find herself inhabiting Rob Schneider’s body is. In the course of trying to get back to her true self, the popular teen discovers just how shallow she is. Cast: Rob Schneider, Andrew Keegan, Mat thew Lawrence.

Just Married (PG-13) — Sarah, who comes from a well-to-do, snobbish family, falls in love with a traf fic repor ter — much to her family’s chagrin. The happy couple embarks on a honeymoon plagued by bad luck and the inter ference of Sarah’s ex-boyfriend, commissioned by her family to split up the fledgling marriage.

Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Brit tany Murphy, Christian Kane, David Moscow.

Kangaroo Jack (PG) — Two pals from Brooklyn are somehow forced into delivering mob money to a location in Australia. In the Outback, they spy a cute photo op when one of them puts his jacket on a kangaroo. Af ter the kangaroo bounces away, still clad in his new outerwear, the two men realize the money was in the jacket and give chase. Cast: Jerry O’Connell, Anthony Anderson, Estella Warren, Christopher Walken.

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13) — Long, violent, death-fixated, dark in tone, heavy in

heroic mood, this is a film for addicts of the series. Lit tle Frodo is marginalized as Viggo Mor tensen leads the defense of a castle from hordes of vicious scumballs, and the two grand beards (Ian McKellan, Christopher Lee) contend for Middle Ear th. There's a lit tle schizo in a wispy loincloth, expressively per formed and voiced, but the almost Stone Age my thology rolls over us like layers of geology. 3 hrs. (Elliot t) ★★ Maid in Manhattan (PG-13) — The airy fantasy puts Jennifer Lopez into a cute maid's uniform at a swank New York hotel. She's Marisa, and when she tries

on the very expensive, if rather Bel Air trophy wife out fit of a snobbish guest, this at tracts the "playboy" eye of senatorial hopeful Chris Marshall (Ralph Fiennes). Chris' manager (Stanley Tucci) is in control-freak agony that the Republican politician might fall in love with someone not toity and rich. The film is most marked by the flagrant waste of talent. As the sitcom yucks racked up their lit tle nif ties, perked along by music, I had a weird, tiny pinch of nostalgia for "Jackass: The Movie." Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins, Natasha Richardson, Stanley Tucci, Tyler Garcia Posey. Running time: 1 hr., 35 mins. (Elliot t) ★1/2 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (PG) — Unmarried Toula Por tokalos is a 30-year-old waitress in her parents’ Greek restaurant, Dancing Zorba’s. Vowing to change, she gets a makeover and takes a job in her aunt’s travel agency, where, newly confident, she meets handsome Ian Miller — a high-school teacher who is definitely not Greek. The tale is familiar: strong and fiercely commit ted to their ethnic roots family but ts heads with the outsider wanting to marry into the group.

But “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” of fers enough in the way of wit to stifle the sitcom feel a film like this might otherwise have. Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbet t, Louis Mandylor, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone. Running time: 1 hr., 35 mins.

Narc (R) — opens with a breathless foot chase. One man is shot in the throat, another is shot dead, a pregnant woman is wounded. Narcotics detective Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) is mentally on the street every moment.

An ace at undercover work, but emotionally too strapped to his work, Tellis is suspended for that opening carnage.

His wife wants him to quit. It isn't a pension plan that makes him want to stay on the force, it's his pride — and the glory-in-risk of a topping case, to solve the murder of another narcotics of ficer. But to do that he must work with the strong-arm veteran Lt. Henry Oak (Ray Liot ta), who is stoking a hot fuse about his young, dead par tner and the worm farm that is depar tment politics.

The case drags them into a sor t of moral mudslide.

"Narc" suggests that the mean streets are meaner than you want to know — but might wish to see filmed and acted this ef fectively. Cast: Ray Liot ta, Jason Patric, Anne Openshaw, Busta Rhymes. Running time: 1 hr., 45 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★1/2 National Security (PG-13) — Mar tin Lawrence and Steve Zahn play L.A.P.D. rejects on both ends of the spectrum who get paired up as security guards. While on par tol, they uncover a smuggling operation, in between bits of slapstick that are obligatory for films of this genre.

Pinocchio (G) — "Pinocchio" is the latest Italian impor t from Rober to Benigni, who stars as the title character of the classic fairy tale. An Italian toymaker produces a wooden puppet who desperately wants to be a real boy. It’s in Italian, with English subtitles. Cast: Rober to Benigni, Nicolet te Braschi, Carlo Giuf fre.

Real Women Have Curves (PG-13) — Ana is a Mexican-American girl, recently graduated from high school and living with her working-class family in East L.A. Ana’s English teacher and mentor encourages her to apply to college, but her mother insists Ana stay and work at a dressmaking factory with the rest of the family.

She applies to Columbia University on the sly, but it’s in the factory that Ana’s eyes are opened to corporate injustice, and where she opens the other workers’ eyes to these and other oppressions perpetuated by the fashion industry. Cast: America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros, Ingrid Oliu, George Lopez.

The Ring (PG-13) — begins with the telling of an

urban-legend-like tale that, for a while, seems likely to consign this movie to the slasher/horror bin: A weird videotape is circulating. As soon as you're through watching it, the telephone rings. A voice on the phone informs you that you have seven days to live. Seven days later, you die. The film boasts first-rate per formances, a gorgeous look, an engaging plot and a jangly, thrumming sense of dread. The ef fectiveness of such a movie depends entirely on the beholder. Save for a long, uneasy feeling of foreboding and one solid jolt, I didn't find it all that scary. Two young women exiting the theater in front of me, however, declared that the thing had terrified them, and I'm willing to take their word for it. Cast: Naomi Wat ts, Mar tin Henderson, David Dor fman, Brian Cox. Running time: 1 hr., 55 mins. (Salm) ★★1/2 The Santa Clause 2 (G) — Tim Allen discovers af ter eight years of being Santa that there's another small detail in his contract: In order for him to continue being the Jolly Old Elf, he's got to take a wife. But first he has to deal with his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), who's landed himself on the naughty list. Charlie's principal (Elizabeth Mitchell) wants him gone pronto and is a bit blue because the holidays don't mean as much to her as they once did. With 28 days to go before the contract expires, Santa's got a lot of work to do. One of his trusty elves comes up with a machine that can duplicate Santa while he's out in the real world hunting for a wife. Allen is remarkable playing Santa as funny, wise and sympathetic, all at the same time. 1 hr., 42 mins. (McCormick) ★★★ Signs (PG-13) — Mel Gibson plays Father Graham Hess, an Episcopal priest who lost his faith and retired his collar af ter his wife was killed in an auto accident. He lives in an old farmhouse with two adorable kids, plus a younger brother (Joaquin Phoenix). Big, elegantly precise "crop signs" turn up in their cornfield. It's space aliens, and the movie teases us as the signs pile up. The aliens show up, shoving clawed hands under doors but scared by steak knives, full of evil strength, yet not able to knock down the pathetic blockade of a fruit cellar.

"Signs," though handsomely shot, seems meant for viewers who need to believe in tabloid aliens, and that we can beat them with plain-spun, homeland vir tues. It should be called "Sins" for compounding the sins of bad filming.

Cast: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, M. Night Shyamalan, Cherry Jones. Running time: 1 hr., 46 mins. (Elliot t) ★ Solaris (PG-13) — Dr. Kelvin (George Clooney) travels to Solaris, the very distant and unear thly planet that seems to be a floating brain mass, a Mind Realm from which lovely filaments of mat ter ex tend and loop like wispy flares. Solaris brings back Rheya (Natascha McElhone), his late and tormented wife. She's back, then gone, then back. "Solaris" is never a block of ice like "THX 1138" or big chunks of "2001." Nor is it a sof t chew like "Silent Running" and the slushy insides of "The Matrix." It is both cerebral and woozy, like a "Twilight Zone" episode with hyper visuals, or a more vulnerable, even feminized update on "Them." What it lacks is lucidly staged suspense. Cast: George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies, Ulrich Tukur.

Running time: 1 hr., 47 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (PG) — A cheer ful theme park of a comedy about junior

spies, with a bigger budget and more inventive fun than the 2001 original (the plot is no advance). Rober t Rodriguez directed, wrote, helped with the digital ef fects and gizmo touches, including excellent creatures. The many Hispanic rif fs do not land with PC heaviness, and the lively cast includes Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as the main kids, plus Antonio Banderas, Steve Buscemi,

Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming, Bill Pa x ton, Tony Shalhoub, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin and (still macho at 81) Ricardo Montalban. Running time: 1 hr., 27 mins.

(Elliot t) ★★★ Sweet Home Alabama (PG-13) — Only a year and two weeks af ter New York became our most tormented but inspiring city, it is upstaged by a happy hicksville called Pigeon Creek. Why? Because cute "Mel" (Reese Witherspoon) fled poor-folks marriage to Pigeon Creek sweethear t Jake (Josh Lucas). She is now a light of Manhat tan as fashion designer Melanie Carmichael.

And she has the love of politically upward dreamboat Andrew (Patrick Dempsey, son of The Apple's tough but dishy mayor, Candice Bergen). Andy doesn't know that his betrothed is still married to 'Bama boy Jake, who is hur t, haunted and planning his own rise from mediocrity.

Mel returns home for a divorce, puts on her corn-pone accent instantly, and rediscovers the joys of Pigeon Creek. Director Andy Tennant serves this corny material with the skill of a machine punching out Alabama license plates. Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey, Fred Ward, Mary Kay Place, Candice Bergen.

Running time: 1 hr., 40 mins. (Elliot t) ★★ Treasure Planet (PG) — The movie transmutes Rober t Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" into the heavily digitalized animation of a "Star Wars" of fshoot. Now Jim is a very American and stalwar t 'toon-teen voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levit t, and Silver (Brian Murray) is a huge cyborg with an old-salt pirate face and tech arms wor thy of the Terminator on a hardware rampage. A space movie that has interstellar craf t with lof ty, luminous sails and crusty barnacles on hulls is so absurd that it's charming. In visual fer tility, "Treasure Planet" rivals the top Japanese animations of recent vintage. For the sub-13 crowd (and many beyond it), this is satisfying holiday enter tainment. Voices: Joseph Gordon-Levit t, Emma Thompson, Michael Wincot t, Brian Murray, Mar tin Shor t, Laurie Metcalf, Roscoe Lee Browne, Patrick McGoohan. Running time: 1 hr., 35 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★ Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) — Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a smar t but stressed at torney whose client, millionaire George Wade (Hugh Grant), is deeply dependent on her. George won’t let her quit until she finds her own replacement – a young lawyer who has her eye on George. George, however, is looking elsewhere: at what just lef t. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, Alicia Wit t.

The Wild Thornberrys (PG) — Big-screen version of the animated Nickeloden series about a family who travels around the world to make nature documentaries. While in Africa, 12-year-old Eliza learns that she can speak with animals and, with their help, aims to stop a group of poachers. Cast: Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett, Flea, Lynn Redgrave, Marisa Tomei.

XXX (PG-13) — Vin Diesel is buff, which is surely the main point of his playing "edge spor ts" thrill-seeker turned CIA agent Xander Cage, but he has glints of boyish vulnerability. As he grooves into playing the new agent recruited by the agency's top dude (Samuel L. Jackson), the movie finds a rhythm that is like a more masculine, bulked-up "Barbarella." The plot is junk, about a gang of ex-Red Army crazies led by a satanic Slavic slime (Mar ton Csokas), nihilists eager to destroy the world with a superweapon. It's another movie where you must believe, or giggle. Cast: Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Asia Argento, Mar ton Csokas, Danny Trejo. Running time: 1 hr., 44 mins. (Elliot t) ★★ —Capsules compiled from movie reviews written by David Elliott, film critic for The San Diego Union-Tribune and other staff writers.

Cinema: Preview

Hollywood Starts Off 2003 With Major January Releases By Charles Britton

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The slight catch is that it takes a lot of money to produce and promote a big movie, so profits aren’t assured. A single bomb, like Disney’s “Treasure Planet,” can knock a hole in the bottom line. And holiday audiences showed some sign of sequel fatigue, with “Analyze That” and “Star Trek: Nemesis” turning in disappointing numbers. Still, sometimes movies that don’t do well in theaters turn out to be successful in videocassette and DVD formats, which together account for substantially more in dollars than do tickets.

For the most part, the studios will be holding off big-deal movies until later in the year. Here we list what look like the major movies through the rest of January. Release dates are from the distributors or authoritative industry sources, and, given the propensity of marketing departments to shift things around, all are subject to change.

“DARKNESS FALLS” – A vengeful spirit, annoyed that she was lynched 150 years before, returns in the form of the Tooth Fairy to endanger the residents of a small town. With Emma Caulfield (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”). Jan. 24.

“VIEW FROM THE TOP” – A small-town girl seeks wider horizons as a flight attendant. This film has been sitting on the shelf for a while. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Applegate, Mark Ruffalo. Jan. 24.

“FINAL DESTINATION 2” – The first of the year’s sequels takes us back to the idea whereby a young woman saves herself and others from the clutches of death, to learn that the Grim Reaper isn’t so easily cheated. With Ali Larter, A.J. Cook. Jan. 31.

“BIKER BOYZ” – In what’s described as an “action-packed contemporary western on wheels,” a group of gainfully employed men put on their leathers for nights of racing. With Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke (“Antwone Fisher”), Orlando Jones, Djimon Hounsou. Jan. 31.

“THE GURU” – A waiter in an Indian restaurant is mistaken for a powerful spiritual healer by trendy uptowners.

With Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei, Jimi Mistry. Jan. 31.

“THE RECRUIT” – A young fellow is recruited by the CIA and falls in love with another trainee. But is she a mole?

With Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan. Jan. 31.

“DELIVER US FROM EVA” – Men scheme to rid themselves of their gorgeous but meddlesome sister-in-law. With Gabrielle Union, LL Cool J. Jan. 31.

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39 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

MOVIE CLOCK REGAL AUGUSTA EXCHANGE 20 Movies Good 1/17 - 1/25 A Guy Thing (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 11:50, 2:20, 4:40, 7:15, 9:40, 11:55; Sun-Thur: 11:50, 2:20, 4:40, 7:15, 9:40 National Security (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:25, 2:15, 2:45, 4:50, 5:05, 7:20, 7:50, 9:55, 10:15, 12:15; Sun-Thur: 12:25, 2:15, 2:45, 4:50, 5:05, 7:20, 7:50, 9:55, 10:15 Chicago (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:00, 2:00, 2:30, 4:30, 5:10, 7:05, 7:35, 9:35, 10:00, 12:00, 12:25; Sun-Thur: 12:00, 2:00, 2:30, 4:30, 5:10, 7:05, 7:35, 9:35, 10:00 Adaptation (R) Fri-Sat: 1:05, 3:55, 6:55, 9:30, 12:20; Sun-Thur: 1:05, 3:55, 6:55, 9:30 Antwone Fisher (PG-13) 1:20, 4:15, 7:05, 10:00 Just Married (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:25, 9:45, 12:10; Sun-Thur: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:25, 9:45 NARC (R) 11:55, 2:35, 5:20, 7:45, 10:20 Kangaroo Jack (PG) Fri-Sat: 12:25, 2:25, 4:50, 7:00, 9:15, 11:30; Sun-Thur: 12:25, 2:25, 4:50, 7:00, 9:15 Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 About Schmidt (R) Fri-Sat: 1:00, 3:55, 6:50, 9:45, 12:35; Sun-Thur: 1:00, 3:55, 6:50, 9:45 Friday After Nex t (R) Fri-Sat: 8:05, 10:20, 12:25; Sun-Thur: 8:05, 10:20 Gangs of New York (R) 12:15, 3:45, 7:40 The Wild Thornberrys (PG) 12:40, 2:40, 4:45 Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 1:50, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50, 12:20; Sun-Thur: 1:50, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50 Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:00, 4:00, 7:00, 8:00, 11:15; SunThur: 12:00, 4:00, 7:00, 8:00 The Hot Chick (PG-13) 12:10, 5:25, 10:40 Maid in Manhattan (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:05, 2:35, 5:15, 7:40, 10:05, 12:30; Sun: 12:05, 2:35, 5:15, 7:40, 10:05 Drumline (PG-13) 1:35, 4:25, 7:30,10:15 Die Another Day (PG-13) 2:30, 7:50 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PG) 12:30, 4:05 EVANS 12 CINEMAS Movies Good 1/17 - 1/23 National Security (PG-13) Fri: 3:35, 5:35, 7:35, 9:35; Sat-Mon: 1:35, 3:35, 5:35, 7:35, 9:35; Tues-Thur: 5:35, 7:35, 9:35 A Guy Thing (PG-13) Fri: 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 9:50; Sat-Mon: 12:55, 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 9:50; Tues-Thur: 5:20, 7:40, 9:50 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (PG) Fri: 3:25, 5:25, 7:25, 9:25; Sat-Mon: 1:25, 3:25, 5:25, 7:25, 9:25; Tues-Thur: 5:25, 7:25, 9:25 Just Married (PG-13) Fri: 3:45, 5:45, 7:45, 9:45; Sat-Mon: 1:45, 3:45, 5:45, 7:45, 9:45; Tues-Thur: 5:45, 7:45, 9:45 Real Women Have Curves (PG-13) 7:05, 9:05 Kangaroo Jack (PG) Fri: 3:15, 5:15, 7:15,

9:15; Sat-Mon: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15; Tues-Thur: 5:15, 7:15, 9:15 Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) Fri: 4:00, 7:00, 9:45; Sat-Mon: 1:05, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45; TuesThur: 4:00, 7:00, 9:45 Gangs of New York (R) 8:00 The Wild Thornberrys (PG) Fri: 3:05, 5:05; Sat-Mon: 1:05, 3:05, 5:05; Tues-Thur: 5:05 Drumline (PG-13) Fri-Mon: 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 9:55; Tues-Thur: 4:50, 7:30, 9:55 Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13) Fri: 4:40, 8:20; Sat-Mon: 1:00, 4:40, 8:20; Tues-Thur: 4:40, 8:20 Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) Fri: 4:10, 7:10, 9:15; Sat-Mon: 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 9:15; TuesThur: 4:10, 7:10, 9:15 Maid in Manhattan (PG-13) Fri-Mon: 2:20, 4:30, 7:20, 9:40; Tues-Thur: 4:30, 7:20, 9:40 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PG) Fri: 4:00; Sat-Mon: 1:00, 4:00; Tues-Thur: 4:00 MASTERS 7 CINEMAS Movies Good 1/17 - 1/23 A Guy Thing (PG-13) Fri: 4:15, 7:30, 9:50; SatMon: 1:30, 4:15, 7:30, 9:50; Tues-Thur: 4:15, 7:30, 9:50 Kangaroo Jack (PG) Fri: 5:00, 7:00, 9:00; SatMon: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00; Tues-Thur: 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 National Security (PG-13) Fri: 5:15, 7:15, 9:15; Sat-Mon: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15; Tues-Thur: 5:15, 7:15, 9:15 Just Married (PG-13) Fri: 5:25, 7:25, 9:25; Sat-Mon: 1:25, 3:25, 5:25, 7:25, 9:25; TuesThur: 5:25, 7:25, 9:25 Antwone Fisher (PG-13) Fri: 4:00, 7:20, 9:45; Sat-Mon: 1:05, 4:00, 7:20, 9:45; Tues-Thur: 4:00, 7:20, 9:45 Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) Fri: 4:10, 7:05, 9:40; Sat-Mon: 1:10, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40; TuesThur: 4:10, 7:05, 9:40 Drumline (PG-13) Fri: 4:05, 7:10, 9:30; SatMon: 1:20, 4:05, 7:10, 9:30; Tues-Thur: 4:05, 7:10, 9:30 REGAL 12 CINEMAS Movies Good 1/17 - 1/23 The Ring (PG-13) 2:40, 5:00, 7:25, 9:40 Solaris (PG-13) 2:05, 4:30, 7:10, 9:35 Adam Sandler’s 8 Crazy Nights (PG-13) 2:45, 5:10, 7:40, 9:30 Treasure Planet (PG) 2:30, 5:15, 7:45, 9:40 Santa Clause 2 (G) 2:15, 4:35, 7:00, 9:30 Ghost Ship (R) 2:35, 4:50, 7:30, 10:05 Sweet Home Alabama (PG-13) 2:10, 4:40, 7:15, 9:50 Brown Sugar (PG-13) 1:55, 4:25, 7:05, 9:45 Barbershop (PG-13) 2:20, 5:05, 7:50, 10:00 Spy Kids 2 (PG) 2:00, 4:25, 7:35, 9:55 Signs (PG-13) 2:00, 4:45, 7:00, 9:25 XXX (PG-13) 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:50

Movie listings are subject to change without notice.

Cinema: Review

“National Security” Bound To Grate on Theatergoers’ Nerves By Rachel Deahl

Columbia Pictures

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M

artin Lawrence is a lot like Joan Rivers – he could be really funny if he weren’t so damn annoying. But, like Ms. Rivers, the rub with Lawrence is that part of his charm is his obnoxious repartee.

It’s this unfortunate fact, and a mass of bad scripts, that have perpetually stalled each of the comedian’s films, and “National Security” is no exception.

Returning to familiar territory as a wannabe LAPD officer (this is the fourth time the comedian has played a boy in blue), Lawrence’s latest action comedy rests solidly on its frenetic star’s shoulders, hitting when he does, which isn’t often enough.

Working off of a script that puts a “Lethal Weapon” bent on “Bad Boys,” “National Security” pairs Lawrence with the whitest of white guys, Steve Zahn (“Joyride”). Zahn supports as a supercop whose life falls apart after his partner is killed in the line of duty. Reeling from the event, Zahn’s badge is stripped from him on the heels of a comical run-in with Lawrence that involves a bee, a nightstick and a civilian’s videotape. Put in jail after being caught on camera in what appears to be a Rodney King-type beating, Zahn endures six months in lock-up to come back to the street and get work as a security guard.

Determined to find the gunman who killed his partner, Zahn attempts to piece the crime together on his own. In doing so, he encounters Lawrence, who also works as a security guard. Eager to get a taste of “real” police work after repeated-

ly failing to make it onto “the force,” Lawrence’s fast-talking idiot thrusts himself on Zahn, announcing he’s the new partner. Together the two become an unlikely team as they go after a band of well-armed thieves, led by Eric Roberts (mysteriously donning a platinum blonde ‘do), pulling off heists around the city.

From the shoot-out in a soda factory (see the glass, plastic and carbonated liquids fly) to the car chase that safely lands Lawrence and Zahn in a slow-floating barge filled with garbage (thank god for cushy vessels), “National Security” is waded down by the deluge of canned action scenes. With its police procedural plot feeling entirely procedural, the film suffers from its uninventive and tired script. (It’s better if I leave out the bit about how the bad guys are in pursuit of a high grade and expensive alloy which has been repackaged in the form of empty kegs.) But, whether your boiling point comes after watching the boys repeatedly outgun the crew of thugs with semi-automatics, the car chases that end with a slow-motion shot of a vehicle soaring through the air, or Eric Roberts’ hair, “National Security” will eventually get on your nerves.

And, although Zahn is a fine straight man to Lawrence’s ADD wind-up doll, there isn’t enough humor to hide the film’s idiotic attempts at action. In the end, Lawrence becomes grating all too soon with his empowered black man routine and his ridiculous catch phrase, “What the problem is?” To answer Mr. Lawrence, the problem is, well, everything.

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Music

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N

“Stronger” Billarabi Rolls Through Town

W

ho knew that the military would be a healthy breeding ground for a rock band?

When Dan Cashman of Billarabi got out of the Army at Fort Gordon a few years ago, he re-formed the band that had started as a hobby when the members were stationed in Monterrey, Calif.

“We run the operation exactly like we ran our units in the Army,” Cashman says. “One thing the Army is really good at is organization and keeping track of stuff and planning. We carry a lot of gear; we carry lights; we carry smoke and all kinds of neat stuff. Every item is accounted for. It’s all maintained properly. Every aspect of our business has been touched. It works like clockwork – how many businesses fail because of lack of organization?”

As Cashman implies, Billarabi is more than just a band; it’s a business, too.

That’s the side of touring that the group never takes for granted.

“What it does seem is that a lot of the other band guys just want to play rock ‘n’ roll and don’t want to be bothered by the minor details,” says Cashman.

“That’s the sordid aspect of the business.

The music is what everybody wants to do. There’s a heck of a lot more to this than just playing your instrument. There are days when it seems like playing your

instrument is cursory, at best.”

But a Billarabi show, despite how organized these guys may be, is anything but uptight, says Cashman.

“As for how we play together, me and the bass player, Matt, have been together going on for about eight years in every sort of environment,” he says. “We

BY LISA JORDAN

served in the Middle East together, went to school together, lived together. I know Matt better than I would think his parents know him.

“One of the things that bond’s allowed us to do: We haven’t had a setlist for years. Whether we play for a half hour or whether we play for two hours, there’s

Dan Cashman (L) and Matt Sovitski (R) make up 2/3 of Billarabi.

Theology on Tap Brings Discussion, Debate to Area Bars The impending war with Iraq, the Virgin Mary, abortion, relationships – it seems like no topic is taboo at Theology on Tap. The discussion series, which is now in the middle of its fourth session, is a way for young Catholics – and those of other faiths – to discuss and debate these and other topics in a relaxed environment, says Sam Alzheimer, one of the committee members responsible for bringing Theology on Tap to Augusta.

Oh, and that environment is a bar. “Yeah, people register surprise, but they shouldn’t, I don’t think,” Alzheimer says. “Obviously, we’re not encouraging drunkenness.”

Theology on Tap is a national program that’s been around for 20 years, and is, first and foremost, a way for Catholic

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parishes to reach out to those in their 20s and 30s, a demographic that Alzheimer says is often lost in the shuffle.

“Sometimes, the parishes themselves haven’t done as good a job as they could in reaching out to every single demographic range,” he says. “It is true that there are opportunities in all Catholic parishes for adult education, for Bible studies, but there’s nothing specifically for the 20s and 30s. It’s just not specifically for the 21-35 age range.”

Aiming to change that, Theology on Tap, supported by local parishes, is bringing a speaker to Modjeska every Wednesday night in January. Things start out with a happy hour from 7 to 8 p.m., before the speaker gives a lecture for half

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no confusion. There’s never any bickering. The shows are seamless, without any hassle, and that’s really due to that close bond we have. Quite honestly, when we liberated ourselves from the setlist, that was a real eye opener. This is the way it’s supposed to be.”

And there are other advantages to ditching the setlist. Without constraints, Billarabi can easily transition between the wealth of material they’ve amassed over their years together. The tour that brings them through Augusta, started just last weekend, is in support of their new album, “Stronger.”

“We are often compared to the Red Hot Chili Peppers,” says Cashman. “We have a very funk-oriented kind of groove to our music. I would say we have a pretty wide selection of music that we actually play.”

The comparison to the Red Hot Chili Peppers is evident on the album’s title track, an energetic assault of rhythms and half-spoken lyrics that pushes on right to the end. “Lies,” another track from “Stronger,” is a bit more low key, with a darker melody and a chorus that sticks in your head.

You have two chances to catch Billarabi Jan. 17. They perform at PJ’s Coffee and Tea Café from 8-9 p.m. and then head over to the Highlander in North Augusta to play from midnight to 5 a.m.

BY LISA JORDAN

an hour to 45 minutes.

“People get into it,” says Alzheimer.

“People stay on and talk with their friends about the same topic.”

And the setting is precisely what makes it work. “The medium is the message. What we’re saying by this is that where do you go if you want to have fun, sit down and talk with friends?” he says. “Where do you go when you’re hanging out with your friends, where do you naturally go? We’re just building on what we think is maybe a natural thing for many people.”

Upcoming topics include the Jan. 22 presentation by Noreen Coughlin entitled “Babies-R-Us” and “First Comes Love,” Miguel Grave de Peralta’s Jan. 29 presentation. “Babies-R-Us” promises to cause

quite a stir – it’s about abortion.

“It’s probably our most controversial topic yet,” Alzheimer says. “We anticipate there to be strong debate, and that’s OK.” Even though the primary focus is outreach to Catholics in the 21-35 age range, Theology on Tap is open to those of all faiths; the topics, of course, don’t affect young Catholics exclusively.

“We wanted it to be a place where people could really just connect, and it’s not like this huge commitment,” says Alzheimer. “It’s just a place where normal people can come, hang out, talk to people who are like-minded, talk to people who aren’t like-minded who’ve been through some of the same things.”

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ike Vick and the Atlanta Falcons’ quest for a second Super Bowl appearance is over, but another contingent of the winged variety will perform in their place.

THE DIXIE CHICKS, SANTANA, and NO DOUBT will entertain fans Jan. 26 in San Diego.

SHANIA TWAIN and CELINE DION complete the lineup, with the latter singing “God Bless America” before the contest. The Dixie Chicks will handle national anthem duties, which have been prerecorded and lip-synched by various singers over the past few years.

For No Doubt, it’s been quite an interesting last few months, as the band opened several stadium dates for the ROLLING STONES (including a strong performance at Turner Field). GWEN STEFANI is quite the charismatic lead singer, and the band continues to get stronger with every album. No Doubt garnered three Grammy nominations for their latest release, “Rock Steady.”

Santana’s performance is a tune-up for their huge upcoming international tour in support of their excellent “Shaman,” which raced to the top of the charts in its very first week of release. As The Spirit went to press, a June 11 date had just been confirmed for Atlanta with the venue to be named later. We’ll keep you posted.

“Don’t Know Why” She Looks Familiar Dept.

The unexpected success of singer-songwriter NORAH JONES’ debut, “Come Away With Me,” was a shock to almost everyone in the industry. The 23-year-old has been nomi-

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The oft-delayed DVD from the STRING CHEESE INCIDENT, “Waiting for the Snow To Fall,” should be in stores this week. It contains interviews, on-stage performances and even ski footage of the band. The band’s cult status remains strong among jammers.

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nated for five Grammys, including the rare, sweet combination of Best New Artist and Record of the Year. Of course, a strong musical lineage can’t hurt matters, especially when you realize that her father is RAVI SHANKAR, the sitar legend who tutored GEORGE HARRISON on the instrument. You might expect that he would be her biggest musical influence, but no, that honor goes to the “Queen of Soul,” ARETHA FRANKLIN. In other Grammy news, ROBERT PLANT was a surprising nominee for “Darkness, Darkness,” a solid rendition of the YOUNGBLOODS classic. “Dreamland,” his strong but under-promoted album of covers from last year, contains all-over-the-place interpretations of “Hey Joe,” (THE LEAVES, LOVE, JIMI HENDRIX), “Milk Cow Blues” (ROBERT JOHNSON), and BOB DYLAN’S “One More Cup of Coffee.”

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ED TURNER Visit us online. For all the latest in Arts, Entertainment and Local Events. Visit our website at metspirit.com.

Photographer Larry Hulst Preserves Rock’s Legends

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JIMI HENDRIX dic, it certainly captures all the giants in rock ‘n’ roll music.”

The Augusta Museum of History was lucky enough to snag the Hulst exhibit while looking for ideas for traveling exhibitions to bring to Augusta. “The exhibit team at the museum was exploring ideas for special or rotating exhibitions and reviewing catalogs of traveling shows and also looking through the collections here,” Loehr explains. “This national touring show was available and also fit a vacant slot in our schedule. It just seemed to work. We consider ourselves fortunate.”

Items from Augusta’s musical past will also be on display, as a complement to Hulst’s photographs. Special programs of local interest are also scheduled.

“There is a local element to the exhibition that is augmenting the traveling shows, and that’s being curated by museum staff,” says Loehr. “We have borrowed quite a few objects and images from persons in the Augusta community to create this local chapter for the exhibition. And I think people will be surprised with what they see, because there is a history, here in Augusta, of rock music, production of rock music. There are local rock musicians who have gone on to some acclaim, and for years there were bigname rock acts that came through Augusta.”

Some of the planned events include a live remote by Eagle 102.3 from 2 to 4 p.m. the opening day of the exhibit, Jan. 25; a panel discussion on rock history with an emphasis on Augusta, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.; and live concerts. Larry Jon Wilson performs Feb. 7 and Jeff Barnes performs as Elvis Feb. 21. Both concerts will take place in the museum’s rotunda and begin at 6:30 p.m. The grand finale is the “Legends” concert March 8, 8 p.m., at the Imperial Theatre. The concert features a Beatles tribute band.

Reservations are required for some of the events, and VIP tickets are available for the “Legends” concert. For information, ticket prices and to make reservations, call the Augusta Museum of History at 722-8454.

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T

hink history’s a bore? Think again, says the staff at the Augusta Museum of History. The museum’s latest offering, an exhibit chronicling 30 years of rock ‘n’ roll history, is sure to draw a crowd as diverse as the rockers on display.

“We are anticipating, not only a new audience, but also a larger audience for this show,” says the museum’s executive director, Scott Loehr. “The museum is anticipating that the exhibition and the associated public programs will attract a new audience and certainly the museum hopes that the audience will return to the museum with subsequent exhibitions and programs. It is a little bit outside the box for a traditional history museum.”

The show, entitled “Thirty Years of Rock and Roll: Photography by Larry Hulst,” is a study of one of the bastions of popular culture through the eyes of Hulst, a Colorado Springs, Colo., photographer who’s attended over 2,800 concerts, camera in tow.

But while the subject matter may seem outside the box for a museum focused on history, Loehr says that the exhibit does fit in with the museum’s mission. “The museum operates on the premise that yesterday is now history, so to the staff at the museum, it doesn’t have to be ancient history to be considered history,” he says. “Anything from the past … has validity and must be studied and preserved.

That’s the attitude taken by the staff of the Augusta Museum of History.”

The 75 black-and-white photographs are a study of the metamorphosis of the rock industry, from the influence of blues legends B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Bo Diddley to the British invasion of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and acts like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Iggy Pop. And that’s to name just a few making the rounds on this tour of Hulst’s work.

“The exhibit, in offering a full spectrum of rock music and rock musicians really chronicles the ongoing evolution of rock ‘n’ roll and certainly the rock music industry,” says Loehr. “In a sense, although not encyclope-

Call us at (800) 654-3038 or visit us at www.gpb.org for more information about our programming.

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

More to “Lord of the Rings” Star Viggo Mortensen Than Meets the Eye

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s one of the central stars in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, actor Viggo Mortensen blends seamlessly into the role of Aragorn.

But it seems that Mortensen is equally comfortable filling the role of photographer, painter poet and, yes, even musician.

You can hear two mp3 files at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/47/viggo_ mortensen.html. Both are from his album “Don’t Tell Me What To Do,” available from Action Box Records. The song “One,” clocking in at just over seven minutes, opens with simple, jazz-inspired piano sounds before Mortensen launches into spoken-word verse. “Three” is a lot shorter and a bit more experimental, filled with violin and plucking sounds.

He’s also appeared with artists like Buckethead, DJ Bonebrake and Pilar Perez on several other compilation albums: “One Man’s Meat,” “Live at Beyond Baroque,” “The Other Parade” and “One Less Thing To Worry About.”

Each album Mortensen appears on is a mixture of instrumental music and poetry, continuing his tradition of blending the media he works in to form one cohesive creation. One reporter asked if that was due to fear of commitment, but Mortensen surmised it was all just because of curiosity.

Described as a Renaissance man by “Lord of the Rings” co-star and sometime hobbit Elijah Wood in a recent Impact

magazine interview, Mortensen has showcased his work in a variety of media.

His paintings and photographs have been on display at several galleries, and some of his visual artwork appears in his two books, “Coincidence of Memory” and “Hole in the Sun.” Both are available from Perceval Press, a publishing company Mortensen himself co-founded. “Sign Language,” which has been out of print, is due to be released by Perceval Press in a third edition. Used copies are for sale on amazon.com from $100.

Mortensen’s books also blend visual images with words, works of poetry much like the spoken-word selections he performs on his albums.

Perhaps for Mortensen, creation is all about control. In several interviews, he places his job as actor as merely an agent, or a subject, for the director, who is ultimately in control of the finished product. But with painting, or photography, or poetry, Mortensen points out, the product is his, from start to finish, in all stages of life.

For more information on the various incarnations of Mortensen’s art beyond acting, visit The Many Faces of Viggo Mortensen, http://specialrealms.com/VM/index.html; Action Box Records, www.actionbox.com; and Perceval Press, www.percevalpress.com.

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Night Life

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6

Thursday, 16th

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The Bee’s Knees - 12 Tone Lounge Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford Club Argos - Karaoke Continuum - Playa*Listic Thursday Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Fox’s Lair - Karaoke Garden City Bar and Grill - Karaoke with Mad Dog Mike Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Michael Baideme Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Modjeska - Westobou Playground - Open Mic Night The Shack - DJ Billy Time Piecez - DJ Dance Par ty Whiskey Junction - DJ Chaos

Friday, 17th The Bee’s Knees - Jazz Sessions Par t 1 Blind Pig - Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford Club Argos - Special Guest Enter tainer Coconuts - DJs Doug and Eric Cotton Patch - E&L Productions Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - 420 Outback, Camel Spur D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Durango’s - Heavy Dose Five Pines Saloon - The Hard Times Band Fox’s Lair - Dennis Hall Garden City Bar and Grill - Karaoke Greene Streets - Karaoke Highlander - Billarabi Honk y Tonk - Danny Rhea and the Empty Pockets Joe’s Underground - Medicine Hat Last Call - Tony Howard, DJ Richie Rich Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Modjeska - DJ Boriqua The Shack - DJ Buckwheat Soul Bar - Dance Par ty with DJ Uno Dos Tres Treybon’s Backstreet Lounge - The Recaps featuring Sassy Brass, Augusta Lynx Post-Game Par ty Whiskey Junction - Voodoo Tuna, DJ Paul Whiskey Road Oyster Factory - Keith “Fossill” Gregory

Saturday, 18th The Bee’s Knees - Jazz Sessions Par t 2 Blind Pig - Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford Club Argos - Cabaret Show Coconuts - DJs Doug and Eric Cotton Patch - Kool Katz Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - 420 Outback, Ly thium D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Durango’s - Heavy Dose

The boys in Trapt come to Atlanta Jan. 23 for a show at the Cotton Club.

Five Pines Saloon - The Hard Times Band Fox’s Lair - Tara Scheyer Garden City Bar and Grill - Karaoke with Mad Dog Mike Greene Streets - Karaoke Honk y Tonk - Danny Rhea and the Empty Pockets Joe’s Underground - Pat Blanchard Last Call - Tony Howard, DJ Richie Rich Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Modjeska - DJ Boriqua The Shack - DJ Buckwheat Soul Bar - Soul*Bar*Sound*Lab Treybon’s Backstreet Lounge - The Recaps featuring Sassy Brass Whiskey Junction - Voodoo Tuna

Sunday, 19th Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford and The Last Bohemian Quar tet Pizza Joint - John Kolbeck The Shack - Karaoke with Buckwheat and Doober Somewhere in Augusta - Doug and Henry Whiskey Junction - Terry and Jordan

Monday, 20th Continuum - Monday Madness with Perry Anderson Crossroads - Dance Par ty with DJ Chris Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - John Kolbeck

The Shack - DJ Billy

Tuesday, 21st Adams Nightclub - Karaoke with Bill Tolber t The Bee’s Knees - Comin’ ‘Round the Bend D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - John Kolbeck Metro Coffeehouse - Irish Music Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock The Shack - DJ Billy

Wednesday, 22nd The Bee’s Knees - Blue in Green Continuum - Open Mic Night Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - The Family Trucksters D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Keith “Fossill” Gregory Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Modjeska - Theology On Tap: “Babies-R-Us” Playground - Karaoke with Dave Long The Shack - DJ Billy Somewhere in Augusta - Jason Saybo Soul Bar - Live Jazz

Upcoming Dead Meadow - Soul Bar - Jan. 23 PH Balance - Soul Bar - Jan. 25

Shirley Q. Liquor - Club Argos - Jan. 25 Battery - Crossroads - Feb. 13 Jerry Halliday - Club Argos - Feb. 15

Elsewhere The Zen Tricksters - Senate Park, Columbia, S.C. - Jan. 16 George Strait - Bi-Lo Center, Greenville, S.C. Jan. 16 Plain White T’s - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - Jan. 16 2003 Holy Hip Hop Showcase - Ear thlink Live, Atlanta - Jan. 17 DJ Spook y - Echo Lounge, Atlanta - Jan. 17 Phil Vassar - Cowboys Atlanta, Kennesaw, Ga. Jan. 17 Da Vinci’s Notebook - Red Light Cafe, Atlanta Jan. 17 Saliva - Tremont Music Hall, Charlot te, N.C. Jan. 18 Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - Jan. 18 Hair Care Atlanta - Nine Lives, Atlanta - Jan. 18 Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - Jan. 18 Countdown Quartet - Echo Lounge, Atlanta Jan. 18 Leftover Salmon - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta Jan. 18 Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - Jan. 19 Trapt - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - Jan. 23 Coldplay - BJCC Concer t Hall, Birmingham, Ala.

continued on page 46

46 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

(Left) On Jan. 17, Dennis Hall plays at the Fox’s Lair. (Right) Tara Scheyer performs at the Fox’s Lair Saturday. continued from page 45 - Jan 24; Grady Cole Center, Charlot te, N.C. Jan. 25 moe. - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - Jan. 24-25 Honda Battle of the Bands - Georgia Dome, Atlanta - Jan. 25 Ferron - Red Light Cafe, Atlanta - Jan. 25 Richard Bickness and the Shameless Lovers Variety Playhouse, Atlanta - Jan. 25 The Pretenders - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - Jan. 27 Finch - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - Jan. 28 Mad Margritt - The Maple Street Mansion, Atlanta - Jan. 30 Todd Rundgren - Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - Jan. 31 Mac McAnally - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta Jan. 31 Avail - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - Jan. 31 Jorma Kaukonen - Variety Playhouse - Feb. 1

Jimmy Buffett - Philips Arena, Atlanta - Feb. 1; The Carolina Center, Columbia, S.C. - Feb. 5 Lyricist Lounge - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - Feb. 2 David Gray - Fox Theatre, Atlanta - Feb. 4 Big Head Todd and the Monsters - Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - Feb. 5 Swinging Medallions - Cowboys Atlanta, Kennesaw, Ga. - Feb. 7 Dave Matthews Cover Band - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta - Feb. 8 Papa Roach - Eleven50 Club, Atlanta - Feb. 12 Bon Jovi, The Goo Goo Dolls - Philips Arena, Atlanta - Feb. 13 Henry Rollins Spoken Word - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta - Feb. 13 Marvin Sease - Macon City Auditorium, Macon, Ga. - Feb. 14 Juliana Theory - Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - Feb.

18 Mission of Burma - Echo Lounge, Atlanta - Feb. 20 Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Cot ton Club, Atlanta Feb. 21 Gary Allan - Cowboys Atlanta, Kennesaw, Ga. Feb. 21 Susan Tedeschi - Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - Feb. 22 Steve Earle - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta - Feb. 22 Engelbert Humperdinck - Gaillard Auditorium, Charleston, S.C. - Feb. 26 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Arena at Gwinnet t Center, Duluth, Ga. - Feb. 28 Bill Gaither and Friends - Charlot te Coliseum, Charlot te, N.C. - March 7 The Smiling Assassins - Variety Playhouse,

Atlanta - March 8 Les Nubians - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 8 Grenadier Guards - Fox Theatre, Atlanta March 9 Yanni - Philips Arena, Atlanta - March 11 Many tickets are available through TicketMaster outlets, by calling 828-7700, or online at w w w.ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be available through Tix Online by calling 278-4TIX or online at w w w.tixonline.com. Night Life listings are subject to change without notice.

Deadline for inclusion in Night Life calendar is Tuesday at 4 p.m. Contact Rhonda Jones or Lisa Jordan by calling 738-1142, fa xing 736-0443 or e-mailing to rhonda_jones@metspirit.com or lisa_jordan@metspirit.com.

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News of the

Weird U

pscale pet hotels are open in New York, Hollywood and (based on a December Washington Post report) Fairfax County, Va., where the Olde Towne Pet Resort charges up to $230 a day for pooches’ use of a hydrotherapy pool, stateof-the-art exercise room, beauty parlor and suites with satellite TV, classical music and original, color-pleasing artwork (even though dogs are basically color-blind).

(Products and services elsewhere on the petcare market include gourmet food, heated dog beds, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, herbal flea collars, water bowls with purifiers, and, according to a December Reuters dispatch from Tokyo, therapeutic mud packs for dogs, using mud from the Dead Sea.) • A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled in November that the U.S. Department of Justice has for about 20 years blatantly denied attorneys overtime pay in violation of federal law, a practice the department defended merely by arguing that it thought there ought to have been an exception in the law (which is an argument the department usually scoffs at when filing its own lawsuits against lawbreakers).

Court of Claims Judge Robert H. Hodges Jr. said the department apparently years ago simply declared itself immune from overtime-pay law for attorneys and has been maintaining two sets of time sheets (one for pay, one to track work on cases).

Readers’ Choice • Taiwanese national Shuo Shan Wang, 29, pleaded guilty in December in Oak Park, Mich., to practicing surgery without a license, specifically the kitchen-table castration of a 48-year-old man who had found Wang’s “service” on the Internet.

Wang told police he had 50 such surgeries under his belt, but that this patient began to bleed uncontrollably after bursting out laughing while eating a post-operative piece of pie at Wang’s house. Police recovered two testicles in a Tupperware container in Wang’s refrigerator.

Bright Ideas • In November, incoming Colombian defense minister Marta Lucia Ramirez rescinded the military’s policy of encouraging the country’s Marxist rebels to defect by airdropping sexy photos implying that the depicted women were waiting for them upon their surrender. Said Ramirez, “I, as a woman, add myself to (the protests of this policy).” (The so-called FARC rebels, mostly men, are not allowed to have sex without permission of their commanders.)

• In November, the city council of Soap Lake, Wash., a 1,700-population town that did a booming tourist business in the 1950s but has fallen on hard times, voted the first step toward a revitalization that it believes will draw visitors back in droves: a 60-foot-

tall Lava lamp on Main Street. The architect of the campaign, Brent Blake, said, “I just for some reason thought of (a) lava lamp.”

Animals Being Animals • Among the performers at the International Professional Rodeo Association’s show at the Hardeeville (S.C.) Speedway in October: Tim Lepard and his sheep-herding dogs (which is not so novel, in that dogs are bred to herd sheep in some countries, but Lepard’s three dogs are ridden during the herding by small, screaming monkeys). Said Lepard, “I wanted to put an act together that people will always remember.”

• In November, the Longchi Scenic Area in southwestern China, apparently bowing to public pressure, canceled plans to put to sleep the five monkeys that had been terrorizing the park’s visitors. According to the Commercial Daily newspaper in Chengdu, the park had become so exasperated by the marauding monkeys that it had been planning on a formal execution by firing squad.

The park decided instead on faraway exile.

People Different From Us • Air Force Academy cadet Matt Bayless of Topeka, Kan., was expelled in April for honor code violations. Among the charges was that Bayless had lied to his colleagues about the reason he kept certain jars in his room, which, it was finally revealed, was so he could urinate in them at night without having to walk down the hall to the bathroom. In December, the academy demoted Bayless to the enlisted ranks for three years.

Least Competent People • The Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star reported on Dec. 10 that an unnamed man was taken to a hospital in Modesto, Calif., after his head was split open by a brick. Police, called to the scene, were expecting to find foul play, but witnesses said the man was merely trying to see how high up he could throw a brick, and since it was dark (2:30 a.m.), the man lost track of the brick’s flight and could not get out of the way when it came down on his head. Police said alcohol appeared to be involved.

47 Aiken Community Playhouse

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Recurring Themes • A November 2002 News of the Weird item reported that a U.S. Immigration official whose “visa express” program might have made it easier for some of the Sept. 11 terrorists to enter the United States, received a $15,000 “outstanding performance” bonus for his work including Sept. 11. In December, FBI official Marion “Spike” Bowman received an FBI “exceptional performance” award (and five-figure cash bonus) for his work that included Sept. 11; Bowman is in charge of the headquarters office that whistleblower Colleen Rowley blamed for impeding the Minneapolis FBI office’s pre-Sept. 11 investigation of socalled “20th terrorist” Zacarias Moussaoui.

Corrections • Whew! The Dallas Morning News has retracted as bogus its story about the thief who inadvertently made off with containers of dog poop (on which I based an item two weeks ago). And the report on the British man who sells hotel decor accessories (on which I based an item four weeks ago) apparently was published as a joke in London’s Independent, and I apologize for my personal lapse in judgment on that one.

— Chuck Shepherd © United Press Syndicate

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M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Brezsny's Free Will Astrology ARIES (March 21-April 19)

It’s show and tell time, Aries. Are you ready to reveal the semi-beautiful truths you’ve been holding back? Your knees may knock and your palms may sweat up until the moment you hit the spotlight.

But I bet a magical calm will settle over you then, and suddenly you’ll be flowing freely, showing off as you haven’t since maybe the school play in third grade. Unless, of course, you’re not sincere about what you’re trying to do, in which case you’ll faint and embarrass your descendants for five generations.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

You and I are equals. Though I may sometimes have the power to provide you with guidance and amusement, you have skills that are beyond my ability, and you know mysteries I can’t fathom. Let this thought be the hub for more extensive meditations in the coming days, Taurus. It’s time for you to democratize your world down to the roots.

Regard everyone — me, your boss, the president, the homeless guy in front of the post office, J. Lo — as no better and no worse than you, no higher and no lower. Each of us is potentially your teacher and your student, a dazed and amazed seeker in a mysterious world whose mix of wonders and terrors is impossible to master.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

My old friend John liked to joke that he lived “in tent city.” It was his way of bragging about how he loved to steep himself in a level of intensity that would make most people’s eyes bug out. I bring this up, Gemini, because I suspect you’ll be staying “in tent city” for a few days. Since you’ll only be visiting, not moving in, your time there should be more exciting than exhausting. Here are tips for getting the most out of your trip: 1. Do what you fear at least twice. 2. Set in motion plans to seize back any rights that have been stolen from you. 3.

Resuscitate an ailing dream as if your life depended on it. (Your life doesn’t really depend on it, but the

“as-if” experiment will supercharge your courage at just the right time.)

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

You know how sometimes you get a dramatic demonstration of telepathy or precognition, but it’s utterly trivial? For instance, on the same night a few years ago my brother and I both had a dream of Frank Sinatra eating onion soup in a snake pit.

Interesting, but so what? You, on the other hand, are about to experience a more interesting version of this phenomenon. Your latent psychic powers will become available for you to use in practical ways. For instance, you’ll be able to read the minds of very important people and gather crucial previews of the future. Oh, there is one condition: For best results, you must vow to use any information you gather only for good works that benefit everyone.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

In the history of your relationship with togetherness, you’ve maybe never experienced a stretch as demanding as the one that’s about to begin. The stakes will be high and the challenges daunting; and yet if you bravely venture to question everything you thought was true about love, you will break through into a radical new level of intimacy that is deep and playful beyond anything you’ve imagined.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

In the video for her song, “I’m Gonna Getcha Good,” Virgo singer Shania Twain portrays a flying robot chased by the devil. The powers-that-be at MTV were so impressed that they awarded it “Most Demented Video by a Country Artist” for 2002. I hope that in the coming weeks the rest of you Virgos will unleash your imagination with the same fervor that Twain summoned. Not only is there no need for you to stick to humdrum traditions; your best chance at being happy and fulfilled between now and Feb. 15 is if you think way, way outside the box.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

I predict that some night this week you will dream of a secret garden. From a distance, you’ll spy it below you as you’re walking alone in a hilly wilderness. As you approach, you’ll be filled with dazzled thoughts like, “Wow! That’s exactly how I’d create a secret garden if I ever had the chance!

It’s got everything I love!” When you finally arrive at the gate to the garden, you’ll find it bears a sign with your name on it, and when you slip your hand in your pocket you’ll find a golden key that fits the gate’s lock perfectly. As you stride in, you’ll realize this is in fact your very own secret garden: You created it long ago, but forgot about it until now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

All roads would lead to you if you’d only sit still long enough. Gifts would come pouring in if your potential benefactors weren’t in the dark about where you’re at. Keep up this faithless lurching around, Scorpio, and fate will conspire to trip you up and pin you down wherever you happen to fall.

Don’t let that happen! Drop everything that’s contributing to your agitated distraction so that you can tune in to your poor, neglected homing signal. I swear you will find instant relaxation the moment you surrender to the obvious.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

swing

9 Of 25-Down,

e.g.

1 4 Its capital is

Port Moresby 1 5 Super time?: Abbr.

1 6 You may make one for yourself 1 7 Mimicry 1 8 Storage medium for Middle Easterners?

2 0 Pleading child’s words 2 1 Cy Young Award winner Doug 2 2 La lead-in 2 3 Loss on a grand scale?

2 5 French silk center 2 6 Copa locale 2 7 Abbr. on a baseball card

L I S P

A L T I

F L A T C S A G A T U R R I D A S C I D K E E N A N S H E E H A G O R G P T S

C R T E H E A K N E T H S U E S C T S O P R O S T

L O T T E

A M T

I G O

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Ruth Lilly, 87-year-old heiress of a pharmaceutical fortune, recently donated $100 million to a cause that’s usually ignored by her fellow philanthropists: poetry. Her electrifying endowment to the modest but well-respected Poetry magazine was even more miraculous in light of this irony: Over the years she has submitted many of her own poems to the magazine in hopes they’d be published, but the editors have rejected every one. Can there be any more perfect embodiment of unconditional generosity? Let Ruth Lilly be your role model in the coming week, Aquarius. Bestow your blessings not only on helpers who like you; reach out, as well, to those who have rebuffed and underestimated you. The rewards will be worth more than you can imagine.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

I suspect that you’re the object of more than a few greedy fantasies these days. Even people who are normally quite prudent may crave an extra piece of you, so just imagine what excesses that energy vampires might be prone to. Beware, therefore, of being manipulated and exploited. Try to monitor, as well, your own unconscious responses to all this grabby action. I’m afraid you may be secretly pleased that everyone seems to want you so badly, and as a result agree to be depleted. How about this compromise, Pisces: Allow three worthy and noble people — no more — to claim a larger dose of you than usual.

— © Rob Brezsny

An impressive array of beneficent cosmic omens has gathered in your honor. As a result, I’m finally able to give you an assignment I’ve been aching to deliver for months. Are you ready for a burst of proof that the “no pain, no gain” approach is not

1-900-950-7700

You Can Call Rob Brezsny, day or night, for your Expanded Weekly Horoscope

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

and chlorine 3 0 Commit in confidence 3 3 Seemingly forever 3 4 Ant-ics?

3 7 Bébé’s intake 3 9 U.F.O. pilot, possibly 4 2 One may show you to your room 4 5 Verbal jewel 4 6 Ball field covering 4 8 Anthony Eden, for one 4 9 Rookie with an even temper?

5 2 Flap 5 3 Violent struggle 5 4 Twin in the Torah 5 5 Romeo who bets on cards?

5 7 Monetary unit of Senegal

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE O G E E

the only way to acquire wisdom? During the coming days, Capricorn, act as if life is crazily in love with you; as if every force of nature longs to be of service to you; as if animals and children and welladjusted adults are eager to see the best in you.

Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in becoming the gorgeous curiosity you were born to be. Visualize the possibility that the entire universe is endlessly conspiring to bring you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.

Visualize wacky comedian Robin Williams doing an improvisational skit in which he portrays a slightly tipsy Santa Claus who insists on giving you a few too many nice presents. That’s one way to understand the effect of the planet Jupiter on your life.

Now imagine that for the first part of 2003, this influence will be hanging out in your astrological ninth house, also known as the House of Exploration, Experimentation and Expansion. What effects do you think that’ll bring? To enrich and complicate your meditations, I’ll act like an overly generous Santa Claus and tell you some other names for the ninth house: House of Wild Frontiers; House of Goose Bumps and Shivery Possibilities; House of Lucky Accidents; House of Very Big Ideas.

2 8 Like hydrogen

ACROSS 1 Great one?

6 Got into the

New York Times Crossword Puzzle

48

A M O R O M A N O P A X E S I S L E G U S B U M G R U M P G O A D O N D S S P P P O T P L A Y A R D E N P A R A D I N I O N P O E T S A W A T S T A

L I A M

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5 8 Bowl 5 9 Shaq’s alma

mater 6 0 Out of the way 6 1 “Bad, bad” Brown of song 6 2 “Got that right” 6 3 Flaps DOWN 1 One just filling in 2 From head to toe 3 It’s what you think 4 Ancient Greek attire 5 Running game 6 Beachcomber’s find 7 Atmospheres 8 Leaves holder 9 Smoker’s purchase 1 0 “What happened next?”

1 1 “Wayne’s World” catchphrase 1 2 In the mood 1 3 Auto racing locale 1 9 As yet unmarketed, as software 2 1 Free of errors 2 4 “The Art of Arousal” author 2 5 Paul V’s predecessor 2 9 Directed at 3 1 Govt. debt instrument 3 2 Duncan of the N.B.A.

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$1.99 per minute • 18 & over • Touchtone phone required • C/S 612-373-9785 • www.freewillastrology.com/

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Puzzle by Joe DiPietro

3 5 No longer

feeding, as a photocopier 3 6 Pressing needs 3 7 Galena, e.g.

3 8 Well-watched weatherman 4 0 Reiteration lead-in 4 1 “Impossible”

4 2 “C’mon, help

me out here” 4 3 Big name in newspaper publishing 4 4 Not all the way 4 7 Low pair 5 0 Real heel 5 1 Left-hand page

5 3 Carhop’s load

5 6 Musician Brian

5 7 Overabundance

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.20 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554.

Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. Online subscriptions: Today's puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/diversions ($19.95 a year).

Crosswords for young solvers: The Learning Network, nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

FREE AUTO CLASSIFIEDS

* Automobiles for sale by an individual may be placed in our FREE Auto Classifieds. The same ad will run continuously for six weeks or until the vehicle sells, whichever comes first. After two weeks, if you want to keep running the same ad, you must call The Metropolitan Spirit by 5 p.m. on Friday or we will assume you sold the vehicle and will delete the ad. All vehicles must indicate price. FREE Auto Classified ads are offered to individuals only and are not offered to commercial companies or dealers.

M

y boyfriend can be very solicitous, sending loving e-mails, calling, and touching me tenderly. That’s why I’m so confused as to why he doesn’t give me gifts on special occasions, although he makes twice the money I do. Last Christmas, he mentioned wanting to get me a leather jacket, so I got him a couple nice gifts.

But, then came that awk ward moment when I realized he had nothing for me. He thinks to send cute e-mails for Groundhog Day, but last Valentine’s Day, not even an electronic greeting card. Because of that, I told him it was important to me that he did something — anything — for my birthday. When he didn’t, I let him know I was so hurt I almost broke up with him.

This Christmas, I curbed my generosity and didn’t get him anything. Is this shabby treatment I shouldn’t accept, or am I blowing this out of proportion?

—Giftless

The mall is a theme park for women, with all the requisite at tractions. Roller coaster fans can hur tle from store to store on the American Express, inches from the jaws of bankruptcy and repossession. There’s even a jungle zone like “African Safari,” except wild animals don’t just peer into your car windows as you drive by. As you enter the depar tment store, predators leap at you, then chase you around the makeup counters trying to mark you as their sales territory by spraying you with expensive cologne. No need to buy a day pass, ladies. Your Visa will take you “everywhere you want to be”: trying on 38 pairs of black jeans, which look exactly like the 38 pairs you already have at home, except to the bionic eye.

Men go to the mall for more dire reasons, such as being forced at gunpoint by someone who seems likely to pull the trigger. Or, because they’re slaves to rigid fashion demands, such as “no shir t, no shoes, no service.” Most men approach shopping as they would a sneak at tack on enemy territory: Parachute in when the coast is clear, make a beeline for the target, get the khakis, and get out. For men, whether they’re going for clothes or gif ts, like war, mall is hell.

In other words, thoughts of shopping come about as naturally to most men as the urge to put Yanni CDs on endless repeat. This brings us to the big question: No, not “What is love, af ter rebate?” (Be still my calculating hear t!) But, can you let your man show his love for you his way,

not direct how he shows it like a Hollywood starlet micromanaging her omelet? (“Egg whites only; only from chickens you’re positive are Capricorns with Scorpio rising!”)

Why, exactly, do you need presents anyway?

Because other girls get them on bir thdays, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day? (Yeah, but do their boyfriends remember them on Groundhog Day?) At first glance, it’s troubling that the guy has a mind like a steel sieve about something of primo impor tance to you. Then again, since even furry, burrowing rodents inspire fond thoughts of you, chances are he simply needs remedial education about your gif t-receiving needs.

Of course, you’d have your work cut out for you if malls were more male-friendly — if the outsides looked like stadiums, and the insides were big living rooms. Men could sit in easy chairs, eating corn dogs, watching underdressed girls mud-wrestling while they shop. If that were the mall environment, probably the first thing on a guy’s mind would be get ting there to get you a present. Okay, maybe not the first thing, but surely it would be right up there with visions of lingerie models’ muddy thighs.

I think I love my girlfriend too much.

Fear of causing her pain tears me apart. If our relationship ever stops making me happy, how will I end it, since I just couldn’t do anything that might hurt her?

—Bliss-Bombed Excess happiness get ting you down? Lend yourself out to suf fer for other people! Star t by having friends’ bunions transplanted to your feet and work your way up to psychological debilitation and total financial debacle. Digging into others’ dir t might be the per fect antidote to your approach to relationships, which appears to be pat terned on my grandma’s plastic-covered sofa. Supposedly, Grandma was preserving it for “company,” but never did she meet company fine enough to merit a seat on virgin couch. (Perhaps it was the Messiah she was waiting for?)

Instead of acting like an 80-year-old lady, subtract 72 years, and make like an 8-year-old with an ice-cream cone. Trust me, if a kid has ice cream, he’s eating it, not let ting it melt while thinking existential thoughts about the meaning of being and freezer burn. In other words, stop creating issues where there are none. Want problems? Nex t time I’m up late, yanking words out of my pores with a crochet hook...

— © 2002, Amy Alkon

Got A Problem?

Write Amy Alkon

171 Pier Ave., Box 280 • Santa Monica, CA 90405 or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com

TO PLACE YOUR AD: Mail: P.O. Box 3809, Augusta, GA 30914-3809 Email: classified@metspirit.com Fax: 706-733-6663 Website: www.metspirit.com Visit Us At: 825 Russell Street, Augusta, GA MUST BE MAILED, FAXED OR EMAILED ON SPECIFIED FORM. ADS ARE NOT TAKEN BY PHONE.

GENERAL POLICIES: The Metropolitan Spirit reserves the right to reject, revise, alter, or reclassify any classified advertisement. Please check your ad for errors the first week the ad is published.

The Metropolitan Spirit is not responsible for any errors which appear after the first week the ad is inserted.

AD PLACEMENT FORM:

DEADLINES: In person - Monday at 3PM By mail, fax or email - Friday at 4PM

Name_________________________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone_________________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________________State________Zip_____________ Ad Copy 20 words or less________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

GUARANTEED CLASSIFIEDS

* Items for sale by an individual may be placed in our Guaranteed Classifieds. The same ad will run continuously for ten weeks or until the item sells, whichever comes first. You must call by 5PM on Friday every two weeks to renew the ad or The Metropolitan Spirit will assume the item has been sold and will delete the ad. There is a $5 reinstatement fee if you forget to renew your ad. All items must indicate price. Guaranteed classified ads are offered to individuals only and are not offered to commercial companies. Guaranteed Classified ads do not include any automotive vehicles, real estate or pets.

RATES: FREE ADS Merchandise Under $250 $8 ADS Merchandise $251 to $500 $15 ADS Merchandise $501 to $1000 $20 ADS Merchandise over $1000 20 Words or Less - No Exceptions.

ADS MUST BE PREPAID DEADLINES: In person - Monday at 3PM By mail, fax or email - Friday at 4PM

TO PLACE YOUR AD: Mail: P.O. Box 3809, Augusta, GA 30914-3809 Email: classified@metspirit.com Fax: 706-733-6663 ADS ARE NOT TAKEN BY PHONE Website: www.metspirit.com Visit Us At: 825 Russell Street, Augusta, GA MUST BE MAILED, FAXED OR EMAILED ON SPECIFIED FORM. PAYMENT OPTIONS: (ADS MUST BE PREPAID) Cash-Money Order-Check

AD PLACEMENT FORM:

Name_______________________________________Daytime Phone_____________________ Address______________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________________State________Zip_____________ Payment ❑ Cash ❑ Check ❑ Money Order ❑ Visa ❑ MC Card No./Exp. Date_____________________________________________________________ Billing Address (if different from above)_____________________________________________ City______________________________________________State________Zip_____________ Ad Copy 20 words or less________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ GENERAL POLICIES: The Metropolitan Spirit reserves the right to reject, revise, alter, or reclassify any classified advertisement. Please check your ad for errors the first week the ad is published. The Metropolitan Spirit is not responsible for any errors which appear after the first week the ad is inserted.

49 M E T R O S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

M E T R O S P I R I T

Classifieds Business Opportunity $$$JOB SECURITY IS GONE! Financial security is available!

Free Booklet. Full Training.

Home-Based Business. www.livingezstreet.com 888-576-1940 (1/30#7954)

J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Mind, Body & Spirit

SPECIALS

$39 Massage Special

Help Wanted Looking for individuals in your area to promote Jagermeister and Grey Goose.

Must be 21 + and have reliable transpor tation. 1-800-865-2437 (01/16#7957) Bridal & Formal Wear Shop Two positions available, Assistant and Seamstress.

Full and par t time available.

Call for interview between 10:30 am to 5:30 pm daily.

706-724-7220 (1/16#7953)

Equipment

Stop Smoking LoseWeight Weight Lose lSmoking

Do you want clarification in your life or help with decisions?

Try Angel Harp Readings

Sessions with the angels

If you have chronic headaches, regardless of severity, you may be eligible for admission to a non-drug VA and MCG study. Biofeedback or relaxation treatments are provided at no cost, and subjects may receive a fee for completing study requirements. Please call (706) 733-0188, extension 2678, for additional information.

(03/06#7955)

Religion Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer A Christian Church reaching to all: including Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered Christians.

Meeting at 311 Seventh Street, 11 am and 7 pm each Sunday. 722-6454 MCCAugusta@aol.com www.mccoor.com

Massage is wonderfully soothing Massage promotes optimal health in mind, body, and spirit.

Swedish • Shiatsu • Stress Relief Call Sasha 803-441-0001 (01/16#7922) READINGS BY

MRS. GRAHAM

Open from 9 a.m. til 9 p.m.

Call (706) 733-5851

Betty L ❤ve, CHT. Reiki Master 2477 Wrightsboro Rd.

733-4187 ❤ 733-8550 TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION Classes/Private Lessons *Lowers Blood Pressure *Reduces Stress *Improves Sleep 706-860-6483 (2/06#7959)

INTEGRAL YOGA Classes/Private Classes Bhakti Brown, RYT

(706) 556-8490 • 556-2112 or (803) 279-8262

Mind, Body & Spirit

341 S. Belair Rd.

706-772-4989

Stop

Medical Research

R E A D I N G S

1944 Walton Way, Suite H Augusta

HYPNOSIS WORKS!

WOLFF TANNING BEDS Payments From $25/month FREE Color Catolog Call Today 1-800-842-1310 www.np.etstan.com (03/27#7924)

Mrs. Graham, Psychic Reader, Advises on all affairs of life, such as love, marriage, and business. She tells your past, present and future. Mrs. Graham does palm, tarot card, and crystal readings. She specializes in relationships and reuniting loved ones.

Advanced Chiropractic

L❤ve & Light HEALING CENTER

BUY FACTORY DIRECT

C A R D

1 Hr. Session By appt.

Gift Certificates Available

Full Body Massage!

Therapeutic tension relief, intense or tender touch, rela xing music, aromatherapy, by appointment only - $49.00/hr.

Call Joy - 706-771-9470 or John - 803-474-1314 (01/16#7943)

SPECIAL READINGS WITH WITH CARD

50

Professional Massage By experienced male.

Designed for healthy men 18 - 45.

A great way to rela x House & Hotel Calls Only 706-589-9139 or pgr 739-9139 (01/16#7949)

Call 738-1142 to place your Classified ad today!

Miscellaneous For Sale Outdoor Furniture, Chase, 3 cushion set te, and chair, sell for $50.00. Cock tail Table, four pedistal base in gold with heavy glass top sell for $75.00, Call 803-649-6658 (03/20#7963) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Computer Workcenter By Sauder with doors. Holds monitor, CPU., printer, etc.

New $499.00 sell for $100.00, Call 803649-6658 (03/20#7962) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Luxman Phono Preamp was $600 sell $90.

AudioSource SS Five surround sound processor was $200 sell $50.00. Call 706210-4884. (03/20#7961) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Computer - 166MHZ Pentium-Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, 56k Modem. Good Condition and internet ready. $250.00, Call Nancy at 803-641-0446 (03/13#7951) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Golf Clubs: Biggest Big Ber tha, regular graphite, 10°, $150.00; Adams GT-363 Titanium, regular graphite, 10°, $100.00; Steelhead Plus 7-wood, graphite $90.00; Call Les 860-3387 (03/13#7951) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mounted Deer Head and shoulder 8 point,Very Good Condition $145.00/Door 15 panel solid oak ex terior $95.00 (03/13#7950) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Book: Black West Documentary, Pictorial History, 9 & 10 Calvary Buf falo Soldier & more $300, OBO Call, C. Allen 706-5609782 (03/06#7946) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Commercial Freezer, 1 year old , double door, all stainless steel. $800.00 OBO Barstools 803-594-9594 (03/06#7942) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sears Lawn Tractor L.T. 1000 - 21 Horsepower 46”-cut Used 4 Months - Like New - Original New Price $1,400.00 - Now Only $900.00 OBO. 706-836-3082 (02/27#7941) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Midwest Ferret Cage, 4 f t. tall. 3 Levels.

Great Condition. $125.00. 2 Water bot tles are free with cage. Retails for $189.99. Call 706-854-0231 (02/20#7932) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Queen Anne Style Dining Room Group, Cherry finish, table, 6 chairs, and china cabinet. $250.00, Call 706-836-3120 (02/13#7927) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Kenwood Stereo, 3 disc CD changer, equalizer, dual casset te player, surround sound speakers and rack. $200.00. Call 706-7930077 (02/13#7927) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Small Truck Toolbox. Metal with tonneau cover for bed. $50.00, 803-278-2669 (02/06#7919) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 6 New Patio Chairs, Outside - Mar tha Stewar t - Paid $360.00 - Sell $180.00, Call 279-0447 (02/06#7917) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Kindercraft Crib, White enamel wide slats excellent condition. Linen drawer pulls out from underneath w/ mat tress $200.00 Call Kim, 706-733-0031, Leave message.

(01/30#7913) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Golf Clubs. Several golf clubs: custom set of irons ($95.00), Mizuno driver ($35.00), 2 fairway woods ($20.00) 706-495-9900 (01/30#7911) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mountain Bike, Gary Fisher Big Sur, 18” frame, Indy C, New velociraptors, completely rebuilt $400. 706-534-9639 (01/23#7903)

Yard Sales FREE Pickup of large items for upcoming Junior League of Augusta At tic Sale Call 706-736-0033.

(02/20#7960)

Alt. Lifestyles

MARLBORO STATION Your Party Station

Live Entertainment

Fri, Sat & Sun 18 to Party • 21 to Drink Name___________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________ DOB___________Email___________________________________ $1 off Admission w/ coupon 141 Marlboro Station, Aiken • 803-644-6485

www.marlboro.4mg.net

www.metspirit.com Talk Line BORED HOUSEWIVES Swingers! Bisexuals! * Live One-on-One * 1-702-216-3500 .66¢ - $1/min. cc/checks 1-900-420-0420 Ex t. 165 $2.95/min. 18+ T-tone (01/16#7902)

Wheels

Dead Bodies Wanted

We want your dead junk or scrap car bodies.

We tow away and for some we pay.

706/829-2676

OR

706/798-9060

Club Argos The Friendliest Alternative Bar in the CSRA Dance Bar Opens Daily at 9:00 PM

Thursday - Karaoke Party Whether you can sing or not, it’s fun!

Friday - Bring any talent and enter our Talent contest, winner gets cash and show booking.

Saturday - Argos presents Claire Storm (Barbie Doll from Hell), Petite De Jonville, Carmen Divine & Special Guest!

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, January 25th Shirley Q. Liquor Call for ticket info Friday, February 14th Club Argos Miss Sweetheart Pageant Entry fee: $35 Categories: Ladies in Red & Talent Argos welcomes Gay, TVTS, BDSM, Bi, Swingers & all others.

481-8829 Argos opens daily @ 9:00pm Email: Club Argos@Aol.com 1923 Walton Way across from Ming Wah Parking and Entrance in back on Heckle

Travel

51 M E T R O S P I R I T

To become a member, call 1-888-223-7044 To listen and respond to ads, call 1-900-226-8908 Calls cost $1.99 per min., Must be 18+.

,call 1-866-832-4685

To respond to ads using a ALL I THINK ABOUT IS YOU SBF, 28, enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, spending time with my kids/family. Looking for a male, 25-40, who likes similar things, friendship first. ☎672206 POSITION AVAILABLE! Mother of two lovely daughters, 34, employed with the Board of Education, seeks SW/HM, 33-48, to begin with friendship and possibly evolve into an LTR. ☎651992 KIND-HEARTED, REAL Petite, green-eyed SWC mother, 39, Scorpio, N/S, seeks WM, 33-45, N/S, to build a love that lasts a lifetime. ☎648419 I’LL COOK Fun-loving, intelligent SBF, 22, Capricorn, N/S, student, mother of three, seeks man, 21-30, to accompany me in life. Kids a plus. ☎647824 TIME WITH YOU Voluptuous BF, 39, seeks a BM, N/Drugs, social drinker ok. I enjoy reading, dining out, movies, church activities. ☎646176 IN SEARCH OF MY SOULMATE He must be a tall (5’10”-6’4”), Christian man, 42-55, N/S, who is honest, faithful, devoted and lively. I am a SBPF, 5’6”, 150lbs, and looking for LTR. ☎641005 TAKE IT SLOW SWF, 49, 5’6”, reddish/blonde hair, outgoing personality, wants to build a serious relationship with a SWM. ☎642309 THE MAN OF MY DREAMS... is easy to get along with, and has a great sense of humor and fun. Single mom, 28, 5’, brown/blue, is looking for her soulmate. ☎640587 GOOD-HEARTED DWF, 61, 5’9”, honest, neat in appearance, with a good sense of humor. Seeking WM, 60-70, who’s honest and caring. ☎574264 LONELY WOMAN SBF, 32, single mom, seeks SWPM, quality military man who has old-fashioned values, financially secure, for LTR. ☎591885 OPEN-MINDED Fun-loving, humorous SF, 18, 5’4”, blond/blue, likes shopping, clubbing, sports.

Seeking SM for friendship and casual dating. ☎589903 SENSE OF HUMOR REQUIRED SF, 33, 5’, full-figured, cocoa complexion, looking for friendship leading to relationship with SM, 25-40, who doesn’t play games. ☎579505 MAKE MY HEART LAUGH SBF, 22, 5’8”, 155lbs, part-time student, seeks sensual, kind man with a great heart, for movies, dining out, and open-minded conversation. ☎565120

We Purchase Fine Swiss Watches, Estate Jewelry and Diamonds.

Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm 2635 Washington Road | Augusta, Georgia 30904 | 706.738.7777 www.windsorjewelers.net LONELY HEART Hard-working DWF, 41, 5’5”, 234lbs, brown/blue, enjoys conversation, music, poetry, cuddling. Seeking DWM, 38-42, who still dreams of that one true love. ☎563879 SEEKS GENTLEMAN SWF, 29, 5’11”, 145lbs, enjoys outdoors, dining, movies, bowling and quiet evenings at home. Seeking honest SM, 29-39, for LTR. ☎550425 AN AUTUMN SPECIAL Hard-working WF, 38, 5’4”, 100lbs, blonde/brown, enjoys biking, watersports, cooking, and travel. Seeking WM, 35-50, for possible LTR. ☎965904

IT TAKES TWO SBM, 33, Gemini, N/S, enjoys art, jazz, classical music, hiphop. Seeking SBF, 2343, for shared interests in music, life, and happiness. ☎941377 IF YOU’RE READING THIS... why not give me a call? SWCM, 19, 6’, 185lbs, brown/blue, relaxed attitude, Capricorn, N/S, seeks WF, 19-25, N/S, for possible LTR. ☎938173 LOOK ME UP Well-educated, professional SWM, 45, no children, never married, enjoys boating, fishing, camping and exploring life. Seeking SF, with similar interests, for fun and friendship. ☎898023

OLD-FASHIONED GUY SHM, 34, 5’4”, 170lbs, Virgo, N/S, writes and loves country western music, helping the homeless, church. Seeking SHF, 32-36, N/S, with similar interests. ☎835306 LET’S MAKE A CONNECTION Laid-back, easygoing, employed SBM, 48, seeks similar SB/WF, 30-60, into music, dining out, spending quality time together.

There’s no need to be lonely! ☎919786 A REAL MAN Handsome SBM, 39, compassionate, financially secure, seeks romantic, attractive, compassionate BF, 21-45, for romantic dinners, movies, walks along the beach, true friendship, LTR. ☎920361 WAITING ON YOU Clean-cut DWM, 44, 5’4”, brown/hazel, great personality, enjoys dining out, trips to the lake, camping, sports (football, baseball). Searching for young lady, no games, interested in LTR founded on friendship. ☎910547 MY DREAM LADY... is a spontaneous woman with a serious mind and who knows what she wants in life.

SBM, 42, believes dreams can come true. ☎907741 MATURE WOMAN WANTED Hardworking DM, 48, brown/green, looking for S/DF, who’s independent, spontaneous, open-minded and mature, D/D-free, who knows what she wants in life, for friendship and maybe romance. ☎898762 FUN FOR ALL SWM, 50, seeks intelligent, aware SF, in shape, for indoor and outdoor fun. Looking for a friendship, that may lead to more. ☎902103

Stud Finder YOU HAVE 6 NEW MATCHES

HONESTY IS KEY DWF, 38, mother of two/homemaker, loves Bon Jovi, dining out, quiet time at home.

Seeking honest, sincere SWM, 38-45.

Could it be you? ☎910404 THE LONG RUN SBF, 43, single parent, health service technician, Capricorn, N/S, loves basketball.

Seeking BM, 37-47, N/S, for friendship, love, and beyond. ☎872160 OLD-FASHIONED VALUES Honest, relaxed, christian SBF, 56, Aries, N/S, enjoys cooking, dining out, quiet times at home. Seeking marriage-minded, financially secure SBM, 50-56, N/S, for LTR. ☎829149 TRUE: One is a lonely number. DWF, no children, self-supporting, my physical appearance won’t embarrass you, retired and seeking a loving, truthful, reliable man, 50-75. ☎896701 SWEET AND SINGLE SBF, 30, Scorpio, N/S, student, enjoys quality time, movies, dining out, quiet times.

Seeking friendship with SBM, 29-43, for possible LTR. ☎890152 TIRED OF BEING ALONE SWF, 49, 5’9”, 164lbs, Cancer, N/S, social drinker, mother of one, enjoys music, dining out, reading. Seeking SWM, 44-59, N/S, for LTR. ☎890570 SERIOUS ABOUT LIFE SBCF, 50, 165lbs, Scorpio, N/S, churchgoer, mother of one, seeks outgoing, christian SBM, 50-60, N/S, with good heart, who is serious, for LTR. ☎885036 BEACH BUM SBF, 31, with bachelor’s degree in communications, Taurus, N/S, loves dining out, movies, working out, and reading. Seeking man, 26-36. ☎869451 I’LL WRITE YOU A POEM! SF, 25, 5’4’’, 150lbs, Virgo, enjoys reading, cooking, music, movies. Seeking a man who likes to try new things. ☎841437 COMPATIBLE? Funny, smart SBF, 19, fun-loving, friendly, enjoys movies, clubbing, hand holding, dancing. Seeking SM, with like interests and qualities for friendship and possible LTR. ☎701088 ARE YOU THE ONE? College educated SWF, early 40s, 5’6”, 136lbs, extroverted, enjoys camping, country living, animals, movies, traveling.

Seeking same in SWM, 40-50, similar interests. ☎965910 GOOD GIRL Attractive SWF, 38, 5’4”, 145lbs, blonde/ hazel, N/S, Pisces, enjoys outdoors.

Seeking tall SWM, 30-42. ☎864247 ARE YOU SINCERE? SF, 28, blond/blue, enjoys the gym, time with family and friends. Looking for an honest guy, 26-35, who is not into games. ☎857530 A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN... inside and out. SBF, 26, 5’10’’, light complexion, enjoys movies, music, just having a good time. Seeking honest, sincere man for LTR. ☎861401 SINCERE BEAUTY Sophisticated SBCF, 23, 5’2”, 140lbs, interested in seeking educated, independent, employed SBM, 23-30, long walks, stimulating conversation, friendship, dating, more. ☎849311 GENUINE GEMINI Sweet SWF, 21, 6’, in medical field, enjoys Nascar, long walks. Seeking tall SWM, 2535, with similar interests. Friendship first, possible LTR. ☎848654

I LIKE LIFE Single mom, 32, looking for a man with a vibrant personality and a love for living. ☎844138 WILLING TO MAKE TIME Busy, hard-working SBF, 31, nurse, mother of one, Taurus, N/S, enjoys traveling, walks, shopping. Seeking SBM, 31-39, N/S, for LTR. ☎836074 TAKE A CHANCE Laid-back SF, 30, enjoys dining in/out, going to the movies, church activities.

Seeking SM, secure in himself to share those things. ☎767576 BRAINS & BEAUTY Spirited executive SBF, 41, 5’8”, 138lbs, Gemini, enjoys dancing, dining, intellectual conversation, laughter, picnics, adventures.

Seeking humorous, classy gentleman, 3545, with kindred spirit. ☎751454 SKATE, RIDE, BOWL, ETC. African-American mom, 23, 5’, 159lbs, mother of two, currently in school, looking for honest, trustful family-man, 20s-30s, who’ll give his 100%. ☎751642 I’M YOUR VENUS SWF, 44 (looks younger), 5’, blonde/blue, with a full-figure, seeks HM, 5’5”-6’, who is secure. ☎747133 WORK OF ART Voluptuous SBF, 28, loves fishing, swimming, cooking. Looking for a man with the same passions. ☎747775 IMPORT FROM EUROPE This foreign born SWF, 40, Aries, N/S, seeks a fine BM, 35-50, smoker, for friendship and dating. ☎744559 ATTENTION... your miracle date is in Augusta. SF seeks military male, 28-50, with good qualities and values. Children ok, race open. ☎732101 COMPANIONSHIP DWF, 48, enjoys antiquing, travel, dining out, movies and more. Seeking DWM, 4858, for loving, tender relationship. ☎ 732056 AQUARIUS HERE SWF, 18, brown/brown, loves, reading, travel, movies, outdoors. Seeking mature companion with an easygoing attitude, for friendship, possibly more. ☎732141 GOD LOVER Athletic, shy SBF, 33, 5’5”, 160lbs, Gemini, smoker, enjoys church, dining out, cooking, traveling, shopping, reading. Seeking outgoing man, 35-50, smoker, for LTR. ☎709843 BE MY FRIEND Attractive SWF, 29, 5’7”, 129lbs, brown/brown, N/S, no kids, never married, seeks SWM, 20-37, in shape, friendship first, possible LTR. ☎706587 NEED A SPARK... try me. Attractive, petite SWF, 57, fun, friendly and affectionate, raising grand children, seeks SWM, mid 50s-60s, trustworthy with open heart, for dining, movies, music.

Friendship first. ☎702738 NO GAMES PLEASE DWF, 33, 5’10”, full-figured, brown/hazel, self-employed mother of three, seeks WM, 25-45, honest, faithful, devoted, for fun, friendship, LTR. ☎680330 TWO PIECES OF A PUZZLE Full-figured, very attractive, independent woman, 31, 5’2”, seeks someone special to spend time with. You: honest, fun-loving, varied interests. ☎685405 ABSOLUTE ALTRUISM SBF, 42, 5’7”, 125lbs, seeks emotionally secure gentleman, 35+, with honor, wit, and wisdom. ☎605946 STRONG WILL SBF, 45, outgoing, attractive, youthful, enjoys writing, music, traveling. Seeking mature, strong-willed SBM, 35-48, for friendship. ☎965893

Mobile Dating. The easiest way to meet great people.

GUIDELINES: DATE MAKER ads are for adults 18 or over seeking monogamous relationships. To ensure your safety, carefully screen all responses. First meetings should occur in a public place. Abbreviations are permitted only to indicate gender preference, race, and religion. We suggest your ad contain a self-description, age range, lifestyle and avocations. Ads and voice messages containing explicit sexual language will not be accepted. This publication reserves the right to revise copy containing objectionable phrases; to reject in its sole discretion, any advertisement on account of its text. This publication assumes no responsibility for the content or reply to any DATE MAKER ad. The advertiser assumes complete liability for the content and all replies to any advertisement or recorded message and for any claims made against this publication and its agents as a result thereof. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold this publication, its employees and its agents harmless from all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney fees), liabilities and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. By using DATE MAKER, the advertiser agrees not to leave his/her phone number, last name or address in his/her voice greeting. Not all boxes contain a voice greeting.

ABBREVIATIONS

To purchase more than your free 30 words, at $2.00 per word, please call 1-800-234-5120

M B D F H C LTR

Male Black Divorced Female Hispanic Christian Long-term Relationship

G W A S J P N/D N/S

Gay White Asian Single Jewish Professional Non-Drinker Non-smoker

Become a member of Augusta’s hottest new way to meet singles! Call today!

J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

52

To become a member, call 1-888-223-7044 To listen and respond to ads, call 1-900-226-8908

S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

Calls cost $1.99 per min., Must be 18+.

To respond to ads using a LET’S HOOK UP 34-year-old SBM, 5’9”, 180lbs, Aquarius, nurse, bald head, new to area, open-minded, fun-loving, hopeless romantic. Seeking woman who loves to be romanced. ☎849401 ARE YOU LONESOME? SM, 37, 6’5’’, 350lbs, would like to meet a nice female, 18-40, to get to know first. Let’s see where this leads! ☎780940 PHONE CALL AWAY Self-employed SWM, 40, Pisces, N/S, N/D, enjoys dining out, movies, cooking in, many activities. Seeking similar SWF, 28-45, N/S, to share good times with. ☎882776 IN NEED OF LOVE, SERIOUS SWM, 44, 6’, never married, blond/blue, Aries, smoker, seeks honest, romantic SWF, 25-38, enjoys sports, country walks, and more, for LTR, marriage. ☎889184 LET’S GET IN TOUCH! SWM, 20, Cancer, smoker, enjoys fishing, hunting, walking, playing games. Seeking older woman, 30-60, for possible relationship. ☎888111 NOT JUST ANOTHER... stud. DBM, 33, with 3 children, Libra, N/S, seeks a lucky lady, 25-45, N/S, with whom to share quality time. ☎868350 DON’T MISS THIS! SBM, 45, 5’10’’, 230lbs, interested in sports, jazz, movies, dining out. Would like to meet a woman with the same interests. ☎862898 SHOW ME YOUR SMILE SM, 44, enjoys kayaking, cooking, art, biking, exercise, outdoors. Looking for a female, 34-50, who has the same kinds of interests. ☎858979 SEEKING CHRISTIAN WOMAN Friendly, committed, independent SBCM, 42, 5’11”, enjoys quiet evenings. Seeking attractive, committed, independent SBCF for friendship, possible LTR. ☎796760 ARE YOU 26-48?

WM, brown/blue, likes fishing, camping, scuba diving, travel, and woodworking. If you would like to jon me, call! ☎715263 NOT A JOCK Peace-loving, dark blonde, 5’11”, 200lbs, friends say handsome, I say ok. Seeking Asian, mulatto, or dark haired american lady, 25-35, no kids, for travel, dining out, plays, and music events. ☎882215 THE PERFECT MATE DBM, 40, 6’, 195lbs, with 1 child, Capricorn, smoker, homeowner, loves gardening, cooking, and hunting. Seeking WF, 28-42, petite, to bedazzling. ☎873556 KNOCK-KNOCK, WHO’S THERE? Call me and find out. SWM, 34, Cancer, N/S, loves to tell jokes. Seeking WF, 25-39, N/S, for friendship and relationships. ☎775609 GET IN TOUCH WITH ME SM, 21, 6’3’’, athletic build, student, loves movies, clubs, church. Seeking compassionate, down-to-earth, fun woman. ☎861556 POET SEEKS MUSE SBM, 45, loves all sports, board games, fishing, travel. Seeking a woman to share movies, dining and romance with. ☎843396 DARE TO DREAM Outgoing SBM, 21, 5’9”, 165lbs, Capricorn, N/S, loves going out, outdoors, children.

Seeking SWF, 20-26, N/S, for possible family. ☎835444 EARLY XMAS GIFT Very romantic SBM, 31, 6’1”, 255lbs, Scorpio, N/S, enjoys church, dining out, cooking. Seeking stable SBF, 25-35, for friendship first, leading to something longterm. ☎837718 LET’S TALK SM, 28, 6’5”, 320lbs, enjoys sports, reading, movies, dining out, travel. Seeking attractive, intelligent, sensual SF, with similar interests, for dating and more. ☎796390 LET YOUR HAIR DOWN SHM, 26, Leo, N/S, lives a regular, cleancut lifestyle. Seeking a petite, active woman, 18-30, sophisticated southern belle, with back woods babe heart. ☎790345

YOU WIN MY HEART SWM, 44, N/S, seeks clean, sincere, honest, intelligent, wise, crafty SBF, 35-45, N/S, for life mate and deep friendship. ☎704669 I’M HERE FOR YOU SM, 42, teacher, seeks honest SF, 21-42, for friendship, possibly more. I like music, movies, conversation. How about you? ☎779153 CALL ME SM, 51, fun-loving, enjoys sporting events, movies, dancing more. Seeking fun woman with similar interests. ☎761290 SEEKS MATURE Spontaneous, sincere SM, 20, seeks older, loving lady, to explore life with, possible LTR. ☎767728 LET’S BE FRIENDS Outgoing, active SM, 31, enjoys sports, traveling, movies, dining out, and fun.

Seeking SF,with same interests. ☎769857 HEY LADIES! Outgoing happy SM, 24, 5’6”, 150lbs, slender and fit, brown complexion, braided hair, seeks SF, who’s open-minded and down for whatever. ☎767971 FIT FOR A QUEEN Restaurant manager SWM, 40, 6’, black/green, moustache, enjoys outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, movies. Seeking big beautiful woman, 25-50. Tell me about you. ☎754399 GREAT CATCH SWM, 53, enjoys church, music, dining out, travel and more. Seeking kind, understanding SCF, with similar interests. ☎732175 CHANGE R LIVES 4 THE BEST Outdoorsy SWM, 57, enjoys fishing, quiet conversation seeks the right woman to be at my side. Let’s accomplish much in life!

Looking for a SW/HF, 45-60. ☎718103 RESPECT AND DESIRE SBM, 37, 5’8”, 164lbs, hazel eyes, Virgo, N/S, enjoys walks, traveling, mountains, cooking, candlelight dinners. Seeking hardworking SBF, 38-55, business owner, for LTR. ☎707443 TRUE TO HEART SWM, 42, 6’, brown/blue, no children, home-owner, Pisces, N/S, seeks spontaneous SW/A/HF, 21-42, loves the beach, movies, sailing, bike rides, for faithful relationship. ☎709121

YOU CAN MAKE MY DAY Male, 60, Cancer, N/S, seeks a WM, 49-65, N/S, for casual relationship. Why not call me? ☎927707 YOU NEVER KNOW Fun-loving, easygoing GWM, 51, 5’11”, 198lbs, enjoys cooking, movies, fishing, walking. Seeking interesting GWM, 18-33, who’s full of life, for casual relationship, possibly more. ☎676662 DOESN’T PLAY GAMES Unattached GBM, 41, interested in meeting open-minded, fun-loving, honest, truthful, compassionate and loyal GM for LTR. ☎920995 DARK CHOCOLATE SBM, 23, with a dark complexion, wants to go out and have good times with a great guy. ☎917508 CALL ME... you will not be disappointed. SM, 35, Indian, 5’9”, seeks the same. Let’s get together. ☎916175 COOL WORLD SBM, 22, loves bowling, football, chess. In search of a man who loves the same things. ☎907631 LET’S JUST CUDDLE Lonely GWM, 33, Aries, smoker, enjoys quiet nights, relaxing, being with somebody.

Seeking GWM, 20-30, for possible LTR. ☎887748

How do you

BE YOURSELF Honest, caring SM, 47, 5’10”, 220lbs, seeks outgoing, ambitious, down-to-earth man, to share friendship, fun times and maybe more. ☎895468 I’D LOVE TO MEET! SM, 47, likes dining out, having fun, malls, movies, television. Looking for sincere male for possible relationship. ☎861252 YOU WON’T BE SORRY Real, honest, and sweet GBM, 18, 5’11”, dark-skinned, Gemini, N/S, seeks friendly GBM, 18-35, not into games. I’m ready for a commitment. ☎831448 NEW TO THIS BiWM, 49, 5’10”, thick, black/blue, Libra, N/S, seeks friendly, fun-loving GWM, 35-65, N/S, for possible LTR. ☎839145 IT’S YOUR CALL GWM, young 46, 5’11”, 200lbs, brown/ brown, masculine, outgoing, enjoys travel, dining out, movies, shopping, Nascar.

Would like to meet honest, passionate GM, with similar interests, for dating, possible LTR. Serious inquiries only. ☎792384 FREE SPIRIT SBM, 24, loves having fun, enjoys tennis, racquetball, waterskiing. Seeking SM, to share a night out on the town, friendship and maybe a lasting relationship. ☎768054 TAKE THAT CHANCE Brown-skinned GBM, 35, 5’11”, 150lbs, who likes quiet evenings, reading, dining out, movies and stimulating conversations.

Seeking SB/HM, 30-50, for friendship, possibly more. ☎753854 SHOW ME THE TOWN... and what there is to do around here. Me: SWM, 42, N/S, new to the area. You: SWM, under 51, anxious to show me how wonderful Augusta is. ☎719366 LOOKING FOR LOVE GWM, 41, 5’8’, 140lbs, Pisces, enjoys fishing, television, wood working, gardening, arts, crafts. Seeking GWM, 25-45, for friendship first, possible LTR. ☎705204 I KNOW WHERE IT’S AT SBM, 25, practical yet fun, outgoing, Aquarius, smoker, seeks a masculine, alluring, well-rounded BM, 23-45, smoker, with his priorities in order. ☎695448 OUT SPOKEN SWM, 32, 5’11”, 145lbs, enjoys camping, fishing, Nascar. Seeking laid-back WM, 2335, for LTR. ☎560095 BEYOND SWM, 32, 5’11”, 155lbs, light hair, looking for good time with GM, 18-45, ☎966003

,call 1-866-832-4685

MAN FOR ALL SEASONS GBF, 31, 5’6”, brown/brown, Cancer, smoker, enjoys kids, bowling. Seeking openminded, passionate, understanding GBF, 23-45, for LTR. ☎941850 NO INTRO NEEDED SWF, 39, 5’7”, 145lbs, homeowner, easygoing, selfless, Taurus, smoker, loves movies and bowling. Seeking WF, 35-49, with comparable interests. ☎935299 CHURCH-GOER SBF, 38, Virgo, N/S, heavy-duty equipment operator, seeks BF, 30-45. Enjoys motorcycle riding, playing bass guitar. ☎799776 I WON’T LET YOU DOWN Single GBF, 32, mother, non-smoker, looking to become acquainted with a laid-back, sensual GBF, who enjoys quiet times, movies. Interested? ☎910581 FRIENDSHIP SBF, 38, 5’7”, slim, fit, seeks SF, for friendship and fun. Must be outgoing, love to wine and dine, travel, movies and theater. ☎878217 CHOCOLATE SEEKS CREAM SF, 39, new to the area, down-to-earth, loves laughing, sight-seeing. Seeking WF, 30-45, to show me a great time! ☎861222 SOMEONE TO LOVE GBF, 21, with brown complexion, seeks femme GBF, 21-30, with no baggage, and her priorities straight. ☎843696 VERY PRETTY SBF...

28, two children, confident, feminine, seeks female, 20-35, with the same qualities, who is not into head games. ☎785531 A GOOD HEART SF, 39, goes to church, works for a living, likes having fun, going on trips. Seeking a similar female, 37-49. ☎780112 SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP Attractive, feminine SWF, 41, 5’4”, seeks a very open-minded WF, 35-48, for fun and exciting times. ☎775074 RAINBOW SEEKER Seeking my butch. SWF, 41, 5’2”, enjoys movies, walks, reading, quality snuggle time. Honesty is a must. Seeking SWF, with no drama, 30+. ☎754885

JOIN ME GBF, 32, nurse, part-time student, Capricorn, N/S, enjoys bowling, movies, shopping, traveling. Seeking casual relationship with woman, 25-45. ☎711628 BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN SBF, 58, mature, attractive, young-at-heart, Sagittarius, N/S, seeks woman, 48-62, N/S, who is ready to live again and likes traveling, playing cards, and bowling. ☎691703 TO THINE OWN SELF... be true. SBF, 27, 5’5”, 165lbs, Sagittarius, N/S, has 2 kids, enjoys walks, movies, and quiet times. Seeking an honest woman, 2735, N/S, for friendship first and foremost. ☎693934 IT’S ALL IN YOUR HANDS Nice, available stud wanted. I’m a teacher in Augusta, 40, who would like to start a friendship with another female, and progress into something more. ☎664842 BEAUTIFUL WOMAN SEEKS... beautiful woman. I’m 5’3”, physically fit, 132lbs, would like to meet fit female, 25-40, who would enjoy going to movies. Please be discreet. ☎661884 GET TO KNOW THE REAL ME Dark-skinned young woman, 23, 4’9”, attractive, fun-loving, nice, caring, honest, laid-back. Seeking GF, 23-29, for casual relationship. ☎635372 I’M LOOKING 4 U Easygoing, loyal SBF, 31, 5’3”, 155lbs, security officer, people person, fun-loving, nice, caring, honest, enjoys bowling, movies, cuddling at home. Seeking trustworthy, outgoing SBF, 26-35, for friendship, maybe LTR. ☎965835 FRIENDSHIP FIRST! Funny, smart, down-to-earth GBF, 5’6”, 125lbs, loves long walks, hand holding.

Seeking GF, 21-30, who likes kids and doesn’t play games. ☎965829 ZEST FOR LIFE Articulate, adventurous WF, 32, 5’8”, brown/brown, enjoys animals, running, movies and dining. Looking for WF, 25-40, for friendship. ☎965827 GIVE ME A RING Cute SBF, 30-something, seeks attractive SF, 25-45, for friendship, maybe more. No games. ☎965825 WASTE NO TIME GBF, 36, enjoys dining out, cooking, dining out. Seeking attractive, open-minded, fun, nice GF, 25-45, for friendship and possibly more. ☎965823 © 2002 TPI GROUP

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■ Automotive Spirit

53 M E T R O S P I R I T

Free Automotive Ads

J A N 1 6

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE METROPOLITAN SPIRIT AND GERALD JONES HONDA

Cars 1981 FORD GRANADA, gray, 4dr, 68K, good car, needs tires, $1000 OBO, 803-649-2422 after 3 pm or leave message (889/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1982 HONDA ACCORD, silver, 4dr, 5spd, good clutch, new tires, not running, $300 OBO, 706868-7599 (829/130) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1986 FORD TEMPO, white/blue, one owner, runs well, 5spd, am/fm, cassette, $950 OBO, 706-651-9969 (872/213) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1987 HONDA ACCORD, needs body work, drums & rotors turned, has new master cylinder, shoes & wheel cylinders, $650, 706-667-0915 (885/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1989 CADILLAC SEVILLE, 4dr, leather, blue, tip top condition, $4000, 706-556-6124 (553/0206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1990 PORSCHE 928, black/black, 5spd, leather, 135K, 6CD changer, excellent condition, call Ralph 706-651-1114 or 706951-0013 (870/213) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1991 VOLVO 240, maroon, good condition, AC, PS, PB, PW, am/fm, cassette, cruise, $3000, 912-829-4556 (817/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 BMW 525, auto, air, CD, low miles, factory warranty, 37 mpg, must sell, $8500, 706-8637071 (832/206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 BMW 525, series sedan,

auto, great engine, leather, power sunroof, 155K, only $5790, 706495-9900 (831/206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 BMW 735il, gray, CD, 14K, lovingly cared for, all extras, $13,000, 706-736-5333 (827/130) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 CHEVY CAMERO RS, 25th Anniversary Edition, green, gray interior, 305, auto, t-tops, excellent condition, 120K, $6000 firm, 706-339-4531 (811/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 HONDA CIVIC LX, white, 4dr, auto, 115K, local one owner, good condition, $2500, 706-7333683 (821/123) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 INFINITI G20, runs great, 4dr, CD, leather interior, must sell, $1500 OBO, 706-823-6607 (815/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 FORD T-BIRD, excellent condition, 100K, AC, new tires, adult driven, non-smoker, garage kept, service record, hard to find, $2750 OBO, 706-836-3082 (823/123) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 FORD TAURUS, very good condition, new tires and brakes, low mileage 66K, loaded, as is, reduced, for quick sale, $3000, 706-733-9434 or 706-721-8304 (808/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 HONDA ACCORD, white, manual, PL & W, AC tape, cruise, $2000 FIRM, 706-854-8665 (833/0206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 CADILLAC DEVILLE, hard

the power of dreams

GERALD JONES

HONDA 2 0 0 3 G O R D O N H I G H W AY • A U G U S TA , G A • 7 0 6 - 7 3 3 - 2 2 1 0 • W W W. G E R A L D J O N E S H O N D A . C O M

to find any nicer, 94K, great in and out, $8000, 803-648-6731 or 803-645-2352 (828/130) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 BMW 325i, white, 5spd, 72K, excellent condition, premium package, priced to sell (KBB: $12-$15,000) asking $11,800, 706-722-0665 (816/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 VW JETTA GLX, VR6, red, loaded, mint condition, $6500 OBO, 803-819-0132 (826/123) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 HONDA ACCORD EX, V6, automatic, all power, leather, alloys, CD, cruise, sunroof, remote, garaged, excellent condition, 81K, $10,500, 706-733-

7297 (813/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 NISSAN 200SX, green, 5spd, cruise, CD, well taken care of, $3400 OBO, 706-267-1295 (814/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88 LSS, 4dr, 62K, new tires, leather interior, like new, $7500, 706-8550468 (820/123) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 PONTIAC GRAND Prix GTP, white, rear spoiler, tint windows, 3.4L, V6 high output, 4spd auto w/OD, well cared for, 129K, $6500, Jim 706-721-3365 days or 706-547-7878 eve. (822/123) –––––––––––––––––––––––––

1996 TOYOTA COROLLA, hunter green, very clean, 4dr, auto, excellent condition, new tires, $3900, 706-364-6756 (213/868) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 ACURA 3.2TL, Premium, loaded, great ride, new tires, remote keyless entry, power locks & windows, AC, climate control system, Bose radio/cassette/CD, remote sunroof, $10,900, 803279-8326 (887/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 VW PASSAT GLX, VR6 package, gun metal grey, black leather, auto, sunroof, heated seats, mint condition, 68K, $9500, 706-832-1812 or 706-

868-7159 (213/867) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998 ACURA INTEGRA GSR, white, excellent condition, all power, many extras, 66K, warranty $15,500 OBO, 706-2849693 (812/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, CD, auto, lots of miles left, $10,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-7332210 (855) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL, total luxury, loaded, spotless show stopper, $18,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-733-2210 (852) –––––––––––––––––––––––––

continued on page 54

CHECK US OUT ONLINE WWW.METSPIRIT.COM

2 0 0 3

54 M E T R O

A L L

N E W

S U B A R U

2 0 0 3 B A J A

S P I R I T J A N 1 6 2 0 0 3

S TA R T I N G AT $23,995* - All wheel drive - Open Cargo bed - Switch back system expands cargo bed into passenger area for hauling longer items - 2.5 liter box engine - Fully independent heavy-duty raised suspension * Plus destination charge, tax, title & fees

GERALD JONES 1801 Gordon Highway, Augusta

706.738.2561

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Check out Cinema Movie Listings to make the best choice for your viewing pleasure!

continued from page 53 2000 ACURA INTEGRA, silver, 2dr, 5spd, all power, sunroof, cold air intake, low miles, warranty, excellent condition, must sell! $13,000 OBO, 706-297-2691 (886/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 CADILLAC CATERA, leather, roof, sport edition, $316 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (880/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 FORD MUSTANG LX, white/tan, new tires, oil change, 36K, excellent condition, $11,400 OBO, call 706-733-1901 (866/213) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 FORD TAURUS, white, full power, V6, must sell, (stk#479), $11,850 wow, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (858) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 HONDA ACCORD SE, 4dr, auto ABS, alloys, PW, PL, CD/cassette, security system, 32K, trunk liner & net, $15,600, 706-733-6807 (835/0206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 MAZDA MIATA, green, convertible, extra clean, must have, won’t last, (stk#240-A), $16,515, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (857) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA, full power, must see, very low payments, (stk#409), $17,030, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (856) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 CHEVY METRO, auto, economical, $142 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (882/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HONDA ACCORD, coupe, V6, 5K, $21,595, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-733-2210 (846) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HONDA CIVIC EX, CD, auto, extra clean, $13,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-7332210 (849) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 SATURN SL2, auto, 2 to choose from, $188 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (878/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HONDA ACCORD EX, leather, manual transmission, $19,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-733-2210 (847) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 HONDA ACCORD, 15K, loaded, absolutely beautiful, $18,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-733-2210 (851) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX, silver, coupe, auto, CD, full power, extra clean, (stk#2560-A), special $14,350 very sharp, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (859) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, silver, coupe, auto, CD, full power, must see, low miles, $14,995, low payments, call now, call quick, Andy Jones Mazda, 803202-0002 (860) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANTS DE, ES & GT’s, 2 models starting at $241 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (881/116)

Motorcycles 1985 HONDA SABRE, VF700, V-4 engine, adult-owned, excellent condition, 14K, $1300, 706373-9068 (830/206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 HONDA XR650R, enduro off road only, XC, #1 winning bike in desert racing, many power enhancing extras, priced to sell 706-309-9526 after 6 pm (458/0206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 HONDA SABRE, 1099cc, custom pearl silver paint job w/fadin candy blue flames. 1920 miles, excellent condition, $7600, matching helmet available, 803279-3410 (818/116)

Other CESSNA 150 H COMMUTER, 4000 TT, <150 SMOH, for more information call, 803-278-2669 leave message, (869/213)

SUVs 1992 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 4X4, new tires, new transmission, $4500, 803-279-9278 (873/213) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 4WD, PW, PS, PL, PM, leather 85K, extended warranty, excellent condition, $9500, 706-733-6582 (834/0206) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 GMC YUKON SLT, white/burgundy leather, excellent condition, $14,000 OBO, 706833-0624 (819/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998 ISUZU TROOPER, luxury package, loaded, only $13,500 wow! Andy Jones Mazda, 803202-0002 (864) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999 KIA SPORTAGE EX, 4X4, auto, $188 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (883/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 CHEVY TRACKER, auto, all power, $193.00 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (874/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 FORD EXPEDITION, 3rd seat, rear air, running boards, $369 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (876/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 GMC JIMMY SLT, leather, sunroof, 2WD, $279 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (879/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 HONDA CRV EX, auto, low miles, $16,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-733-2210 (848) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 JEEP GRAND Cherokee, gold, loaded, (stk#189), won’t last, only $16,700, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (865) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, loaded, must see, full power, $18,200 must sell, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (862) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE LS, 4X4, 32K, auto, power package,

rugged performance, $24,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-7332210 (854) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, auto, CD, power package, smooth performer, $14,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-7332210 (853) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 ISUZU RODEO, V6, full power, very clean, (stk#7063-A) $17,500, call now, call quick!

Andy Jones Mazda, 803-2020002 (863) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 ISUZU RODEO LS, 4X4, auto, loaded, $298 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866-729-9999 (877/116)

Trucks 1984 GMC SEMI, Cummings 350, 7spd, 12 ton hydraulic tilt trailer, runs great, new rubber, $10,000 firm, 706-339-0189 (894/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 CHEVY S-10, LS, green, 3dr, V6, auto, CD, 83K, $6500, 803-279-3961 (892/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 FORD RANGER, silver, sport bed, 2.3L, 5spd, AC, stereo, alloy wheels, 75K, showroom condition, $5495 OBO, 706-738-3830 (891/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 FORD RANGER, 24K, warranty good to 36K, auto, air, disc player, 4cyl, looks new, $9000 OBO, 706-736-8032 (884/220)

Vans 1982 FORD VAN, 12 passenger, well maintained, V8, auto, air, $2500, call Bert, 706-736-8185 9a to 2p or Jimmy 706-738-0911 after 6p (890/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1990 CHEVY ASTRO, loaded, power everything, very good condition, V6, auto w/overdrive, cold AC, many extras, 110K, $3450, 706-541-0656 (888/220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 CHEVY ASTRO, 177K, AC replaced 2 yrs ago, excellent condition, $3000, 706-738-9662 (871/213) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 FORD WINDSTAR GL, dark red, 7 passenger, 3.8 V6, AC, tilt, power windows, 146K, $4200 OBO, 706-860-5001 (774/0220) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 CHEVY VENTURE, quad seats, power doors, $259 per month, Saturn of Augusta 866729-9999 (875/116) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 NISSAN QUEST, one owner, 26K, loaded, excellent condition, $15,100, 706-8633895 (825/123) ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY LX, meticulously maintained, $19,995, Gerald Jones Honda, 706-733-2210 (850)

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Or Lease For

Per Mo.

**48-mo. lease with approved credit. $0 due at signing. 12,000 mi. per year.

Located On The Corner Of Gordon Hwy. & Mil edgevil e Rd., Augusta GA

888-770-9676

If You Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Find It Out There, Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Find It In Here!

Visit Our Website: www.saturnofaugusta.com

C H E C K O U T T H E S E G R E AT P R E - O W N E D D E A L S

C A L L

2002 MITSIBISHI ECLIPSE COUPE

LOW $14,995 MILES!

Silver â&#x20AC;˘ CD â&#x20AC;˘ Full Power â&#x20AC;˘ AT â&#x20AC;˘ Low Payments

SOLD

2001 FORD EXPLORER

$17,350

STK 476

MUST SEE!

V-8 â&#x20AC;˘ White â&#x20AC;˘ Full Power â&#x20AC;˘ Extra Clean â&#x20AC;˘ Low Miles

NISSAN MAXIMA

$17,030

STK 409

MUST SEE!

MAZDA MIATA

$16,515

2000

2000

STK 479

$11,850

WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LAST!

Convertible â&#x20AC;˘ X-Clean â&#x20AC;˘ Green â&#x20AC;˘ Must Have

Full Power â&#x20AC;˘ Very Low Payments

FORD TAURUS

STK 240-A

WOW!

Full Power â&#x20AC;˘ V-6 â&#x20AC;˘ White â&#x20AC;˘ Must Sell

2000

HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX

$14,350

STK 2560-A

VERY SHARP!

AT â&#x20AC;˘ CD â&#x20AC;˘ Full Power â&#x20AC;˘ Extra Clean

2002

N O W C A L L Q U I C K

ANDY JONES MAZDA ISUZU

2000 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER

$18,200

Loaded â&#x20AC;˘ Must See â&#x20AC;˘ Full Power

$17,500

STK 7063-A

CALL QUICK!

Full Power â&#x20AC;˘ V-6 â&#x20AC;˘ Very Clean

WOW!

2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

#(%69 3 8#!"

34/#+ !

(95.$!) %,!.42!

34/#+ !

*%%0 '2!.$ #(%2/+%% 34/#+ !

(95.$!) 4)"52/.

WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LAST!

HUGE SELECTION OF PRE-OWNED AUTOMOBILES & SUVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN STOCK!

(803) 202-0002

!)+%. !5'534! (79 . !5'534!

3# Â&#x201E; 4/9/4! #!-29 ,%

STK 189

Gold â&#x20AC;˘ Loaded

www.andyjonesmazda.com Open Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-7pm At the top of the rise on the Aiken-Augusta Highway in North Augusta

Luxury Package â&#x20AC;˘ Loaded

$16,700

47/ 4/ #(//3% &2/-

34/#+ !

1998 ISUZU TROOPER

$13,500

(95.$!) 3/.!4!

MUST SELL!

2001 ISUZU RODEO

7!3().'4/. 2/!$ !5'534! '! Â&#x201E;

,/!$%$ 4(2%% 4/ #(//3% &2/-

4/9/4! %#(/ ,)+% .%7 '!3 3!6%2

4/9/4! 4!#/-! $#!" ,/!$%$

4/9/4! 45.$2!

6 ,)+% .%7 ,/7 -),%3

4/9/4! 25..%2 3),6%2 ,)+% .%7

OPEN EVERY WED IN JAN THEOLOGY ON TAP

THURS - F & B NIGHT LIVE MUSIC DANCE DJ’S TO FOLLOW BAND $1 16 OZ DOMESTIC DRAFT $2 16 OZ IMPORT DRAFT

HAPPY HOUR 7-8 GUEST SPEAKER 8-9

EVERY FRI & SAT

LOCAL AND REGIONAL DJ’S SPIN

feb 1st

costume disco party

Photos: Joe White

2003’s inaugural costume party

MODJESKA

Eclectic Lounge & cocktails 813 Broad ~ www.modjeskalounge.com ~ 706.303.9700

AUGUSTA’S HOMETOWN PIZZERIA PIZZA • PIZZA BY THE SLICE • BEER • WINE • SANDWICHES • CALZONES • STROMBOLIS

VOTED BEST OF AUGUSTA 7 YEARS IN A ROW!

Specials TUESDAY NIGHT

Cold 16 oz. Miller Lite $1.25

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Cold 16 oz.Killians Red $1.25 THURSDAY NIGHT

Cold 16 oz. Bud Light $1.25 SUNDAY ALL DAY

OPEN 7 DAYS

Monday-Thursday 11am-Midnight Friday 11am-2am | Saturday 12 noon-2am Sunday 12 noon-Midnight

1245 Broad Street | Augusta, GA 30901 | 774-0037

White Zinfandel $2.75 & SMIRNOFF ICE $2.50

Live Music - Yard Specials $4 yards $3 refills You keep the glass