LIVINGROOM LEGENDS | PAGE 31
verge AUGUSTA & THE CSRA
FREE | OCTOBER 19 2011 | VOL 4 ISSUE 17 | YOUR SOURCE FOR COMMUNIT Y DRIVEN NEWS
EXPLORE THE HAUNTS OF AUGUSTA
MUSIC KOKO BEWARE + AIKEN SAVING HISTORY + VISION THE NEW FORKFLY STORY GHOSTLY SAVANNAH + FUN HAUNTED HOUSES + SPORTS DISC GOLF
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 3
publisher Matt Plocha editor Lara Plocha events editor Andrea Bennett ad sales Erica Pastecki, Paul Rogers contributors Alison Richter, Alison Ryan, Amy Swann, Anne Lovell Swan, Ben Casella, Christopher Selmek, Dino Lull, Elizabeth Benson, Gabi Hutchison, Holly Birdsong, John Cannon, Josef Patchen, Karen Farley, Leah Deslandes, Mariah Gardner, Michael Swan, Skyler Andrews, Stephen Delaney Hale
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WE ARE BUZZING ABOUT FORKLY
October means autumn is here. Cooler weather becomes more prevalent, football season is in high gear, hints of fall foliage dot our landscape and verge begin its second year of publishing twice a month. Where has the time gone? The past 12 months have been a magical ride and we want to say a huge “thank you” to our advertising partners, our readers and our dedicated staff and freelance members. It is a pleasure to work with you. During this past year, our readership has grown, our online following has gone through the roof and we are continuing to grow. This is uncommon for most print publications in today’s market. We attribute this growth to a few factors: First and foremost, readers seem to love what they see on our pages. It’s a “breath of fresh air,” as one reader said. Second, we continue to provide a viable and affordable vehicle for businesses to deliver their message. So, explore the businesses you see advertising in these pages. Stop in and say hello, try something new or just let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our local community and economy. One of the most important aspects of verge from the beginning was to support local business owners and to promote the great events happening in our area. As we continue this course, we have featured excellent opportunities for business and reader to engage with and support each other. Third, the support from the community has been tremendous. This is what drives us. As more people find our newspaper and rely on it to find out what’s going on locally, we have even greater determination, focus and vision to provide more engaging content. Earlier this month, verge soft launched a new concept in online couponing: Forkfly. We now “fork out deals on the fly.” You can download the free app for your smart phone or go online to forkfly.com and set up a free account. Once you are there, you will find great deals being “forked out” by local merchants “on the fly.” This free service is another excellent example of community engagement. The merchants on Forkfly are offering great deals that you can only find on the Forkfly system. Best of all, there are no gift certificates to purchase to get the deals. Simply download the offer to your smart phone or print out the deal and present it to the merchant. That’s cool! The offers provided are excellent deals by local business owners. You can find nightly specials at some of Augusta favorite watering holes, free dessert offers and discounts on facials, Brazilian Blowouts and jewelry. You can get savings on custom framing and books. If you would like to receive an offer when it is posted by a particular merchant, click on the blue heart on their merchant profile page. Then, you will receive a message from that business when it puts up a new offer. How cool is that?
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You can share these great offers with your family and friends through email, Facebook or Twitter with the click of a button – easy! So, if you are going to a local restaurant that has an offer, you can download the deal and send it to your family and friends to join you. We know of no system out there that provides this type of engagement and communication. It’s an absolute win for Augusta and the surrounding community. Great deals designed with you in mind. Check it out, download the app, sign up for your free account and begin engaging with you community.
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WHAT’S INSIDE
SMATTERINGS
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In this issue, you will once again find opportunities to get out and experience our community. There are fall festivals, spooky houses to check out, mazes to master and friends to be made. This month winds down and gears up some of the excellent community events that we have partnered. The Augusta Market on the River has its last Saturday market on Oct. 29, but a special holiday market is on the horizon. Beat Cancer, a 26-hour drum-a-thon with Jay Jefferies, comes up in November (see more in our next issue about it). We are also looking forward to the Chilly Chili Cook-off event in December at the Augusta Common, which will benefit the Champions Made from Adversity. That one is going to be “hot”. As you can see, there are a lot of wonderful events and people for you to engage with in the coming weeks and months ahead. Hope to see you out and about. Please remember to watch out for all of the ghosts and goblins on Halloween night – and the kids that might be trick-ortreating. Matt
ON THE COVER THE FORGOTTEN CEMETERY by GABI HUTCHISON
Do ghosts roam the markerless Rollersville Cemetery? Find the story, and a few more, on page 24.
4 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
you won’t want to miss a page
the main feature
13 The Surf Rock of Koko Beware 15 The Craze of Disc Golf is Here to Stay 17 Aiken Looks to Preserve Heritage
Band releases four-track EP with Kickstarter plans for full album
Killer B Disc Golf store opens on Broad Street
A home for the African-American Center for the Arts
23 Ghost Hunting in Savannah 24 Spine-tingling Tales of Augusta’s Past A true tale of woe, misery and chilling disappointment
A mini-tour of seven purportedly haunted locales
29 The Special Effects of Halloween
Haunted attractions pull out the stops when it comes to terror
heard around town 5 7 19 39
Curiosity Shop’s New Home Improved Gateways for Augusta What’s the Buzz about Forkfly? Riverhawks Open Season
music | theatre | art | film 11 11 21 30 31 32 33 35 41 43
Art: Reflecting on ArtZilla Art: A Look at Artie the Garden City Dragon Music: A Night of Traditional Irish Film: The Film Reel Music: Livingroom Legends Music: Granny’s Gin Music: Sound Bites Good Cause: Chairity for the Library Art: Art Classes at The Kroc The Profiler: Rob Foster and Utake
regular stuff 05 09 27 35 40 43 44 45 45
Heard Around Town Living Green + Buzz on Biz Chow Bella + Food Bites The Daily Planner Between the Covers Nightlife Ask Dr. Karp The New York Times Crossword The Last Word
vergequotes
here’s what inspires us
“I
look for ghosts; but none will force Their way to me. ‘Tis falsely said That there was ever intercourse Between the living and the dead.” — WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
“Houses are not haunted. We are haunted, and regardless of the architecture with which we surround ourselves, our ghosts stay with us until we ourselves are ghosts.” — DEAN KOONTZ, VELOCITY
heard
around town
what’s happening in augusta and aiken
[ curiosity shop reopens ] The Curiosity Shop is preparing for the grand opening of its new location at 224 Park Ave. in Aiken on Oct. 27 and 28. “The move has definitely been successful and there is much more to come,” said John Heaton, who owns the store with his wife, Amy Neeley.
However, it is the British tea that put the Curiosity Shop on the map and a new tea bar and expanded café should also be open by the end of October.
“Our regular clientele have found us and we are meeting many new people,” he said. “Apparently the publicity has gotten people to come see our new capabilities and they have been telling others because people tell us so. Occasional and regular customers are curious about what new things they’ll find in The Curiosity Shop.”
“We serve tea, coffee and desserts in the café area downstairs now,” Heaton said. “By then, we will have sandwiches and more to offer to eat in or take out.”
The celebration will begin with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. on Friday and continue through Saturday special promotions and activities. The new location, which was Davor’s Olde Towne Market, greatly increases The Curiosity’s Shop’s retail floor space and, as a result, the product offering. There is an extensive book selection and sections filled with toys, jewelry, music and clothing – including just the right kilt for your clan from England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland. The owners are expanding their offering of European food,
[ tournament aims ‘fore’ CF funding ]
[
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation hopes to raise $15,000 from this fundraiser for research into a disease that affects 170 individuals in the Augusta area and more than 30,000 children and young adults in the United States.
rescuing historic
The second Great Strides “Fore” Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament will be held on Oct. 28 at Forest Hills Golf Club to raise money and awareness of cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the body produce abnormally thick mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to lifethreatening lung infections. More than 10 million Americans are unknowing and symptomless carriers of the defective gene, but recent breakthroughs in prenatal testing have been able to diagnose 80 percent of patients by age 3. Approximately 1,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Historic Augusta presented Properties List on Oct. 11, at the Reynolds Street This was the sixth A u g u s t a endangered which
o u r resources ]
the 2012 Endangered in a small press conference Depot. year Historic released an l i s t , includes
[ letter: try the whistle stop cafe ] Dear Editor: I would like to put in a good word for my favorite eating spot. The Whistle Stop Café has recently reopened after being closed for a year. It has new owners who were wise in rehiring the cook and waitress who worked there for many years. Barry is the cook who will make you the best omelet in town. Tammy is the waitress; she will give you the best of service even when the house is full. She is always friendly and makes you feel at home. Thank you, Gary Thuener Whistle Stop Café is at 573 Greene St., across the street from the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building.
“We will have the kinds of tea brewing that our British clientele enjoy,” he said. “Those who have been in so far are very excited about brewing up a bit of Merry Olde England and being able to have a spot of tea in the afternoon.” The store is also offering to match book prices found online. “If a customer with a smart phone with a bar code application shows us a lower price on the same book, same cover, same size, same edition, at a lower price than we have it, we will match that price,” said Neeley. “Instead of having it shipped to them, they can walk out our door with it.” The Curiosity Shop is located at 224 Park Ave. SW in Aiken, S.C. For more information, call 803.644.0004 or visit CURIOSITYSHOPTEA.COM. | by STEPHEN HALE
“Any time I talk to anyone about the school they said what a sense of pride it brings to the neighborhood, which is why it would be so sad to see it destroyed,” said Lorah. “It has been a church, a school and a gymnasium, but the common thread is that the property has a long standing history of service to the community, and we would like to see that service continue.” Historic Augusta’s immediate goal in releasing this list is to raise awareness about the community’s historic resources and suggest preservation tools which might be used. Although Historic Augusta does not have direct financial incentives available, they are happy to assist property owners identify grants or funding which might be available. For more information, contact Historic Augusta at 706.724.0436 or visit historicaugusta.org.
[ the inkling: call for entries ]
The CF Foundation supports scientific research, funds and a network of specialized treatment centers. Registration for the golf tournament will begin at 11 a.m. and there will be a shotgun start at noon. Foursomes cost $500 and the price includes golf, a visit to the driving range, a cart, lunch and a goody bag. For more information, email greatstridesforecf@gmail.com or visit GEORGIA.CFF.ORG/GREATSTRIDESFORECF.
including treats such as Tortuga Rum Cake, Scottish Black Pudding, Danish back bacon and Boylan’s birch beer. They also carry a wide selection of beers from around the world.
In celebration of the written word, verge is accepting entries for the annual edition of The Inkling, a literary journal properties that are at least 50 years old and in pressing need of preservation. The pouring rain during the meeting underscored the importance of preservation, since the roof of the Reynolds Street Depot had been repaired only after its inclusion on last year’s Endangered Properties List. “It is facilities like this that make us uniquely Augusta,” said Mayor Deke Copenhaver. “There are so many great resources that are sitting there waiting to give Augusta a sense of place, such as this building when it gets done being renovated, or the historic Miller Theatre that was just bought by the Symphony and which will become another gem for Augusta.” This year’s additions include Goodale at 745 Sand Bar Ferry Road, Coleridge in South Augusta, the Dr. S.S. Johnson House at 1420 Twiggs St., the Pearson House at 1247 Laney-Walker Blvd. and the Reid Range Building at 586 Broad St. Paul King, the chairman of the Historic Properties Committee, also reviewed several properties from previous lists which were still endangered, had been saved, were making progress, and one property which had been lost but would be documented for historical purposes. At the meeting, representatives of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. announced they had bought the Pearson House to support the community service activities of the Eta Theta Zeta Chapter. Mark Lorah, a structural engineer with Johnson, Laschober and Associates, was also announced the Housing Authority’s plans to preserve and repurpose the Immaculate Conception campus, which remains imminently endangered after appearing on the 2010 list.
discovering the best in local prose, poetry and art. Named in honor of the informal Oxford literary club of the ‘30s and ‘40s, which included famed authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, The Inkling mirrors the desire to encourage pursuit of the written word, while providing mind-stimulating stories, essays and poems for consumption. In 2010, more than 225 submissions were received and the final edition featured 21 writers and artists. For submission guidelines, write to editor@vergelive.com.
Around Town is written by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
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6 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
heard [ beautified entry points ]
around town
what’s happening in augusta and aiken
[ feeding the hungry with pumpkins ]
The Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau recently applied for and received, on the city’s behalf, a $200,000 Transportation Enhancement Award from the Georgia Department of Transportation to improve the gateways into Augusta.
A truck from the Golden Harvest Bank pulled up into the lot of Gerald Jones Honda on Oct. 13, delivering more than 800 pumpkins to raise money for food distribution. The Carve Out Hunger project was organized by Luke Crown to support the mission of the Golden Harvest Food Bank by delivering all of the profits to feed the hungry in the CSRA.
Part of qualifying for the award demands that the city provide at least a 20 percent match in funds enhancing the city’s gateways, meaning a total of $240,000 will be directed toward implementing gateway improvement at Riverwatch Parkway and Alexander Drive, while also establishing a standard of beautification for all future gateways.
“This is the first time I did anything for Golden Harvest,” he said. “A friend of mine is one of the special project coordinators for them, and he told me about a company called Elanco that offered to grow several hundred pumpkins for them. Elanco is very involved in the community and last summer they grew 1,000 watermelons, but they weren’t very organized and were just giving them away out of the back of a truck. I saw an opportunity to help, and things have been coming together so well that I’m really glad I took the opportunity.”
“A major part of this award is to put a plan in place for all our gateways, so we will work with a landscape architect to design a plan for three of Augusta’s current gateways,” said Jennifer Bowen, ACVB’s vice president of product development. “The plan will develop standards and guidelines for all future gateways and public roads and right of ways, but we will only be implementing the beautification at Riverwatch and Alexander Drive.”
Crown asked for $5 per pumpkin but gladly accepted donations beyond the basic amount, hoping to raise at least $5,000. The day before the pumpkin sale, 20 Automatic Data Processing employees sold two large boxes filled with pumpkins, and Crown believed the rest would be gone by the end of the day. “I think I know 700 or 800 people right now who need a pumpkin, and I hope this will bring a lot of money to a very good cause,” he said. “The really neat thing about this is that Golden Harvest is able to stretch a $1 donation into $7 of food through volunteers generous with their time and corporations generous with mass donations.” The Masters Table Soup Kitchen, 702 Fenwick St., feeds about 325 people lunch every day. To get involved, call 706.722.0607 or visit goldenharvest.org.
[ preserving our heritage ] Because the award comes from federal funds, implementation of the project depends on receiving the money, but Barry White, ACVB’s president and CEO, predicts that visitors to Augusta might see plants in the ground by 2012. “There’s a fairly lengthy process in administering award and project, we are now waiting for the Georgia DOT to give us official notice to proceed,” he said. “I don’t know if it will be in the spring or the fall, but June, July and August aren’t usually good months for growing, so if we miss the spring planting season we’ll probably just wait until the fall.” The ACVB learned of the award this spring and attended a Georgia DOT workshop in August. Once officially notified to proceed, the ACVB has 30 months to complete the project, though White hopes the project will not take that long. “For the application only, we did a few conceptual renderings and worked with a landscape architect to do that,” said Bowen. “The ACVB is the managing organization of the city’s wayfinding system. The Welcome to Augusta signs identify our gateways, and through this award we hope to create a beauty spot around each existing welcome sign and create corridors by enhancing the medians at each of these gateways.” If improvements to the Riverwatch gateway are successful, the city hopes to be able to make the same improvements to gateways at Doug Barnard Parkway and Sandbar Ferry Road. “The ACVB decided we need to strive to improve our gateways,” said Bowen. “It really is about creating a good first impression. By first doing improvements on the Riverwatch Parkway gateway, we should have a general plan and guidelines to improve all future gateways. We just need to secure the funding.” This is not the first time Augusta has benefitted from a T.E. award. The Downtown Development Authority, Augusta Canal, Augusta State University and the Medical College of Georgia have received money from the Georgia DOT and the CVB hopes Augusta will continue to benefit from this award into the future. “The gateways are the first impression people have of our community, and it’s our opportunity to make a good first impression,” said White. “Of course it’s good for tourism, but there’s also a resident pride factor, as well as an experience for anyone coming to Augusta. You can’t overestimate the value of a good first impression.”
Historic Augusta will host the second annual This Place Matters community discussion on the subject of preserving Augusta’s African American Communities on Oct. 28 and 29. The discussion begins Friday night at Tabernacle Baptist Church, where Dr. Richard K. Dozier, the dean of the Robert Taylor School of Architecture and Building Construction Sciences at Tuskegee University, will speak about architectural and historic preservation. The following day, participants may tour the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History before proceeding on a bus tour of African American Historical Sites. The event concludes with a tour of Paine College and lunch.
Stuart said. “It is my job to locate the meridian wherein a disharmony lies, and treat it with acupuncture, thereby returning the body to a state of homeostasis, or harmony; for example, eliminating pain, relieving an affliction, or even dispelling an addiction. My acupuncture is exacting, yet gentle and caring.” Stuart brings nine years of experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine with her. The spa also offers massage therapy, hydrotherapy and a complete fitness center. THEWILLCOX.COM.
“The Laney Walker and Bethlehem neighborhoods are areas that are going through a lot of change, and with change comes uncertainty,” said Julia Jackson, Historic Augusta’s programs and marketing director. “Every neighborhood tells a narrative, and when you look at the people who grew up there and went on to have great careers, it’s really amazing and it increases your appreciation for the area you live in.” “It takes a lot to make preservation work and it’s not just the big fancy buildings we’re interested in,” said Robyn Anderson, the preservation services director. “It’s important to realize the historic nature of any neighborhood because historic buildings increase our quality of life. Not only can they be very attractive, but they connect our present with our past.” $20 covers the cost of the discussion, food and bus tour; the conference is limited to 55 seats. For more information, contact Historic Augusta at 706.724.0436 or the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History at 706.724.3576.
[ get needled at the willcox ] The Spa at The Willcox in Aiken has added acupuncture to its list of services, welcoming Noel Stuart, a doctor of Oriental medicine to the spa staff. “The Chinese consider good health to be a state of energy balance within the human body. The study of TCM is organ-based, each organ being connected by a ‘river’ of energy called a meridian,”
[ special trikes for special kids ] Five disabled children in Aiken County recently received AmTrykes – tricycles specially designed to improve motor skills of disabled individuals – from the Aiken Ambucs Club. “Local therapists who work regularly with the children nominated them to receive the tricycles so that they would be able to participate with neighbors and friends in biking around their neighborhoods,” wrote Julie Shade, a member of the club. “The trikes help to strengthen the children’s muscle tone.” AmTrykes are designed with a pulley system that works leg muscles as the tricycle is being pedaled or pushed. Handlebars have specialized braking systems that allow the use of one hand for braking. Pedals also have braking action for those with more advanced lower extremity ability. The child-sized tricycles retail from $399 to $718. Ambucs is a national nonprofit service organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. Aiken Ambucs is actively looking for members. For more information, contact Chuck Foster at 803.643.0808.
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8 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
the buzz on
biz
what’s moving and shaking in local business
SO LONG WIFE SAVERS, HELLO BULLCHICKS!
The long-time Highland Avenue Wife Saver closed recently because of increased crime and management issues. It was a tough call for owner Chris Cunningham – that store had been good to him for many years. Escubar Moore and Ray Boyette hope Cunningham’s mostly good fortune rubs off on them as they open the first CSRA Bullchicks in the vacated Highlands location. Moore has been a general manager with Waffle House, Pizza Hut and Burger King Bullchick’s claim to fame? Twenty varieties of chicken wings and 20 varieties of burgers! I promise your mouth will water when you go online and take a peek at the menu. You might not be able to wait until the Nov. 1 opening. bullchicks.com
living the
green life
Paper, Plastic or Canvas?
Nearly 25 years ago, grocers began to ask us whether we wanted our groceries packed in paper or plastic bags. Being environmentally conscience, I always chose paper bags because they were biodegradable and a paper bag could hold more groceries than a plastic bag. Today, the question of “paper or plastic” is largely moot. Grocery stores pay less for plastic bags, so most of them have stopped offering paper bags to their customers. Recently, however, several environmental groups have raised concerns about the impact plastic bags have on our environment. In response to those concerns, several grocery chains stopped using plastic bags and a number of communities across the country are considering measures to restrict or ban the use of plastic bags in grocery stores. Are plastic bags really so bad that they should be banned? Are paper bags really more environmentally friendly? THE PAPER BAG: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, manufacturing paper bags uses three times more water and generates 50 times more water pollution than producing plastic bags. The manufacturing process for paper bags also produces 80 percent more greenhouse gases and 70 percent more air pollutants than that for making plastic bags. Paper bags consume almost four times as much energy as plastic bags during production and they generate five times as much solid waste.
YOU’VE WON A BRAND NEW CAR – WAIT, MAKE THAT TWO CARS!
Beech Island’s Contis Davis and her niece Janette Simmons of Augusta were all smiles in midOctober when they picked up the keys to their new VW Beetles at the Gerald Jones Dealer Group on Washington Road. No charge. No taxes. No fees. Free, courtesy of Oprah and Volkswagen. Simmons applied for tickets to the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010 on a whim. She won them and took Davis with her to the November taping of the final “Oprah’s Favorite Things.” The talk show queen treated the entire studio audience that day with her favorites, from from iPads to cashmere clothing to food items to Nordstrom’s gift certificates to new VW Beetles. It took a while for the redesigned 2012 Beetles to arrive. The cars feature a beefed-up 170-horsepower engine, front-wheel drive and an enlarged body and cabin. Prerelease specs list the car with the 2.5-liter automatic transmission racking up 22 miles per gallon in city driving, 29 mpg on highway driving and 25 mpg on mixed driving. “We are thrilled to giveaway two new Beetles to two families from the CSRA,” said David Jones, the general manager of Gerald Jones VW.
GOLF CAR MAKER MAKES COURSE MORE MOOLAH
Club Car has added enhanced reporting capability to its mobile communications system Visage to help golf course operators increase food and beverage revenues. The new web-based reporting tool captures the menu choices golfers make from their golf cart and relays the information to the Visage control center. Operators can download the information to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to gather information about their F&B operations, including which items are selling best and which are generating the highest profits. The added insight helps operators make informed decisions regarding their menus, purchasing, inventory and staffing, said Randy Marquardt, the vice president of global marketing for Club Car. “Should we be promoting hotdogs or ham-and-cheese on rye? Could we cut back on staff on weekday afternoons without affecting our ability to fill customers’ orders in a timely manner? What would the take-rate be if we offered sausage biscuits before 11 a.m.? Operators can now have the answers to those questions at their fingertips,” said Marquardt. “It’s functionality that has a direct impact on financial performance.”
TWO BRANDS GET READY TO TAKE AIKEN BY STORM
The buzz is that a new Sam’s Club warehouse is being built on 31-plus acres of undeveloped land near the intersection of Aiken-Augusta Highway and Hitchcock Parkway (Highway 19), behind the former Dick Smith Chrysler-Pontiac dealership. It will be a 136,085-square-foot building on the 31-plus acres of undeveloped land just west of the city limits of Aiken. Plans are in the final predevelopment stages for the 136,085-square-foot building and construction could begin in late fall. A gas station, car wash and other outparcels are also proposed for the site. A new Cracker Barrel is under construction on Whiskey Road near Oak Grove Road across from Aiken Mall, on the lot formerly occupied by Rick’s Produce. The buzz is that the Cracker Barrel’s corporate folks first wanted to be out near Interstate 20 in Aiken County – as they usually locate near interstate exits – but they were denied because of the proximity of the Aiken Airport. The company moved on to choice No. 2 – the Whiskey Road location – but insisted on the lot occupied by Rick’s Produce. Ultimately, a deal was struck and Rick’s moved less than a quarter of a mile down the road to a spot next to Tire Kingdom.
Neil Gordon owns Buzz on Biz LLC, a company dedicated to highlighting business growth through newspaper, television, radio, and Web content. Story idea? Email neil.gordon@buzzon.biz
practical ways to be more eco-concious
THE PLASTIC BAG: Most paper bags are made from wood pulp and trees which are renewable resources. Plastic bags, on the other hand, are made from crude oil and natural gas, which are nonrenewable resources. Plastic bags can take 5 to 10 years to decompose outdoors, but take much longer in a landfill. Paper bags take about a month to decompose outdoors, but they decompose at about the same rate as plastic in a landfill. Plastic bags are more difficult to recycle than paper bags. When disposed of improperly, plastic bags end up as free-floating litter which is unsightly and can endanger wildlife. According to Australia’s Environment Protection and Heritage Council, tens of thousands of birds and marine animals die every year when they become entangled in, or choke on, the bags. Discarded plastic bags can also clog drainage systems, causing floods and damaging sewer systems. Paper and plastic bags are roughly equal in their pros and cons. Both paper and plastic bags consume large amounts of natural resources and cause environmental problems. Which one is more environmentally friendly depends on the environmental issues you see as being more important. THE REUSABLE BAG: In my opinion, neither one is the winner. The best choice is a reusable bag. A reusable bag is better for the environment regardless of what it is made from, as long as it is used at least four times, according to a study by the European retailer Carrefour. Depending on the style, reusable bags can hold up to 40 pounds and last for years. Most can be machine washed and can be kept in your car, purse or backpack. If you don’t have a reusable bag or you forget to bring it with you, just remember the three R’s of resource conservation, “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Put more items in fewer bags or skip the bag altogether. Avoid double bagging. Reuse any bags you do take and recycle them when they are no longer useable.
Anne Lovell is an environmental consultant who lives in Aiken with her husband and three dogs. Her column, Living Green, focuses on practical ways to be more environmentally conscious.
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10 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
a photo shouts
a thousand words
everyday LIVING CAUGHT ON FILM
a community builds
artie the dragon Artists of all types converged in front of the Old Richmond Academy from Sept. 29 until Oct. 4 to work together on a community art project known as Artie, the Garden City’s Green Dragon. Artie, designed by Artist’s Row scholarship winner Sara Mays, was made from donated recycled materials and assembled by volunteers. “When I found out I had won the scholarship I just about did backflips, but I don’t want anyone to think this is about me,” said Mays. “It’s even better than I had hopped because everyone in the community got to have their input. I’m totally in love with it, and I hope everyone else is too.” At the official unveiling on Oct. 6, a miniature version of Artie, constructed by Andrea Mortimer, was auctioned off for $255 along with Lisa Marks’ artistic photograph “Remote Lines” to raise money for next year’s scholarship fund. Artie’s construction was one of the highlights of Augusta’s Westobou Festival, which featured cultural events and art experiences over 10 days. article and photos CHRIS SELMEK CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The finished dragon; Sara Mays works on the body; Jason Lazerby created the finishing touches on the head; volunteers form the body and add the scales and spines.
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12 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
where the beach boys meet the ramones, you will find
koko beware
band gels while cutting first ep and plans to release full album this winter
Koko Beware is a four-piece surfrock band featuring Ryan Gay, Ashley Plocha, Albert Omstead and Heather Daniel. Based in Augusta and Athens, the band has built a following by playing their unique originals in local clubs and recently released an EP entitled, ))<>((, or Back and Forth Forever, which was recorded over the summer with Nick Duke. With Plocha and Gay as primary lyricists, the group writes collectively to craft melodies and arrangements, keeping the music simple with a focus on catchy hooks and memorable riffs. The band members recently connected with verge to share some history and discuss their goals for 2012. Verge: How long has the band been together and how did the four of you meet? KB: Albert and Ryan have known each other for several years. In December 2010 they began
playing together. They worked together to adapt some of Ryan’s previously written folk lyrics. Once they had a handful of songs completed, they began the search for a female drummer. Albert had played shows with Heather when she was a member of Athens band Soapbar. She had recently moved back to Augusta and began drumming for Koko Beware. Heather and Ryan played a twopiece set in Savannah, where they met Ashley, who was attending school there. Once she moved
“Now we fit together musically. It never feels like a lot of work when we’re writing songs. It’s about understanding music, essentially.” — KOKO BEWARE
back to Augusta, she and Ryan practiced together and decided she would be a part of the band.
understanding music, essentially. None of our songs go over the top; we don’t worry about having a giant pedalboard and a massive amount of effects. We know what we like, we know how we want to sound, we all agree on that. It’s a sort of unspoken understanding we have that makes it so easy. Whenever we begin working on a new song, it’s a pretty simple process. Ryan and Ashley will come up with some lyrics and a melody and will bring it up in our somewhat sparing practices, and if Albert and Heather are into it, it’ll be worked on more. We’ll tweak melodies, bounce some ideas for backing vocals, figure out the rhythm we want. Even songs we’ve already recorded, we’re always working on changing. There will always be something new and better, and we’re flexible with that. We know we’re not a perfect band and we never will be. We’re really just doing this because we love it and can have fun doing it. Verge: How often does the band play in Augusta? KB: We have usually played various Augusta locations about every month or so. Albert is still in
Augusta, plus our families, so Augusta will always be important to us. Merry Street will always be important to us. We’re definitely hoping to come back to our hometown for a show soon. For people who just can’t wait to see us, they can attend a special Halloween set at Go Bar in Athens, where we will be performing Ramones covers. For more information, visit facebook.com/ event.php?eid=271809189497465.
Verge: How much experience did the band members have, and were your previous projects
similar to this group?
Verge: What has been the biggest challenge in getting the name out, particularly in a town like Augusta, which is notorious for supporting cover bands?
KB: All of us have had lots of experience. Ryan has been playing folk music since high school.
KB: We’ve been fortunate to play with bands such as The Love Language and M-Tank, who have a
Albert has been bassist for local band Eat Lightning for half a decade. Ashley has been releasing her own work online for a few years. Heather had played previously in Soapbar. Really, Eat Lightning was the closest in sound/style. Soapbar was a more progressive rock band, and Ashley and Ryan had more experience playing folkier music.
Verge: Your social media sites describe your music as “surf rock.” What does that mean and how
it is applicable to your music?
KB: Surf rock is epitomized by Dick Dale, the Beach Boys, and more modernly, Best Coast, Tennis
and The Drums. A lot of reverb, simple songs. It’s more about the sound, the atmosphere created. It’s a good blend of pop and rock — not the sort of light rock you’d hear on a Top 20 station; it’s not laden with effects and overproduction.
Verge: The songs were written during the past year. Did they change during the writing process? Had they been performed live before being tracked? KB: The songs we recorded were actually written before Ashley joined. She really made the songs
her own, despite being rushed into the recording process and having only played with Koko Beware live once before. Other songs yet to be recorded have gone through more changes than those on the EP. Many of them went from folk songs with just guitar and bass to a surf-rock sound with full band and layered vocals. All of our songs are originally written acoustically, so they definitely undergo changes once we’re working on one as a whole band. Sometimes we’ll accidentally switch up the words, decide we like our mistakes better and change the lyrics. The songs become a lot fuller when performed as the four-piece, as opposed to when you are writing it with your acoustic guitar.
Verge: How would you describe the dynamic within the band? How do you challenge each other
creatively?
KB: Koko Beware has already gone through a few line-up changes. For some reason, now
we fit together musically. It never feels like a lot of work when we’re writing songs. It’s about
larger fan base already. Cover bands aren’t really our competition; we don’t do the same thing. The biggest challenge is being a part of an introduction of a new genre of music to Augusta.
Verge: How far along are you with the full-length album? KB: We have plans to begin recording a full-length album in January at Chase Park Transduction
in Athens. We’re working on a handful of new songs, including songs people know from our shows and potentially rerecording one or two from the EP. However, we can’t do any of that without money. That’s why we began a Kickstarter, a vehicle for people to donate to the album while receiving awesome rewards for their pledges, from posters and handwritten lyric sheets to vinyls of the album. And with each price tier, you’ll also receive all incentives from previous tiers. The site is a fundraiser, essentially. We want to raise enough money to record 10 tracks and release the album on CD and vinyl. We want to have a physical product for people to hold, to listen to, to pass around. We want to make available a more broad collection of songs and reach a wider audience. If anything, we’ll at least have created something we can leave behind and always be proud of. by ALISON RICHTER photos LEAH DESLANDES
ASHLEY
RYAN
ALBERT
HEATHER
GET THE SOUND
BUY THE EP kokobeware.bandcamp.com GET COOL STUFF kickstarter.com and search for Koko Beware
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 13
14 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
augusta is discovering
a love for disc golf
headquarters, courses, events and new store make this a mecca for the sport
The PDGA International Disc Golf Center, in Appling’s Wildwood Park, features a modern clubhouse, the Ed Headrick Memorial Museum of Disc Golf, the Disc Golf Hall of Fame and a full service pro shop. The Professional Disc Golf Association’s website, pdga.com, describes the center as the world’s premier destination for the sport of disc golf. Wildwood Park also features a state of the art training center, practice putting greens and three demanding championship caliber courses, which will be put to the test on Oct. 29 during the Disc Golf for Kids Sake fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. a college student practices disc golf techniques in a course taught at asu.
“I was a Big Brother for two-and-a-half years and it’s a really great program that can give help to some kids who really need it, and now I’m just trying to help out however I can,” said event organizer Brent Walton, who has run four such tournaments already out of his native Salt Lake City. “There were 81 participants this year at the event in Salt Lake City, and we raised quite a bit of money by selling mulligans, as well as through the opportunity drawing and straight donations. I don’t know how much to expect from a first year event, but if we could raise five grand I would count myself lucky.”
good distance and good rotation on the disc you have to perfect a kind of snap to your wrist when you toss it.”
Augusta’s proximity to the world headquarters, which registers more than 50,000 tournament players in addition to the millions of amateur players counted by ESPN Magazine, has led to a unique relationship between Augusta and the sport of disc golf. Most recently, Killer B Disc Golf opened at 863 Broad St. to show the downtown community how to get involved in this fast growing sport.
“This is very friendly to new players and people who haven’t played before, and Brent’s working very hard to make it family friendly and set up entertainment so there’s a reason for everyone to come down and have fun,” said Jason Allind, the IDGC superintendent.
Cooper has been playing for about 25 years; however most of the participants in Disc Golf for Kids’ Sake probably will not have had that much experience, which the organizers say is just fine. “We want to encourage people to come out regardless if they’re disc golfers or not,” said Walton. “We’re going to have a bounce house for kids, face painting, the ASU cheerleaders are going to be there, and a lot of local mascots.”
at Augusta State University, who teaches a disc golf class. “I like Riverview Park up in North Augusta, and I know there are a lot of tournaments at the Hippodrome, also in North Augusta. Patriot’s Park and Lake Olmstead have some very interesting goals, including one that kind of sticks out of a tree, and Pendleton King Park has a very nice circuit that’s close by and good for beginners.”
The 36-hole tournament costs $35 to enter. Registration will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m., after which there will be a mandatory players meeting. article and photos by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
ASU’s disc golf program is another sign of Augusta’s special love for disc golf. Cooper said the kinesiology and health science department started offering disc golf two summers ago.
killer b disc golf on broad street
“There was an opportunity here, with four courses within 3.5 miles of the store and when my wife got a job working for the PDGA, her boss, the executive director Brian Graham, was very encouraging because he wants to see disc golf grow and grow all over the world, but particularly in his hometown,” said store owner John Borelli. “My old store in Massachusetts was not even a third of this size. There are so many courses in Augusta and a lot of foot traffic downtown that I’ve probably had more visitors in the first two weeks here than I did at any time in the previous store.” “I’ve been other places where disc golf is more popular, but there is a fair number of people here who play and some of the best courses nearby at the world headquarters,” said Dr. Craig Cooper, an assistant professor of kinesiology and health science
“About two-thirds of the students in my class have played before,” he said. “I usually have a few serious players in each class. I wouldn’t say it’s the most taxing sport, but anything that gets you outside in the fresh air and doesn’t cost a lot is good for you. It’s mostly just walking and throwing, so you need coordination and skill in order to be a good player.” Like traditional golf, players must use different tools to make different shots. Most of the customers showing up in Borelli’s shop have only been playing a few months, and for these beginners he usually suggests buying a mid-range and a putting disc, which cost around $8. Upper level discs start around $20. “I just want to get them into the hands of new players so people can enjoy the game,” he said. “The most important thing is to learn how to throw, because it’s very important to keep the disc level and you can’t just toss it the way you would a giant Frisbee. Once they get the mechanics down, then I’d say they should came back for a driver or try out some other discs.” “Different discs have different tendencies as far as which way they curve, or how far they fly,” said Cooper. “To really get a
discover disc golf
WHAT Disc Golf for Kids’ Sake Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sister. WHERE The International Disc Golf Center at Wildwood Park in Appling, Ga. | 3828 Dogwood Lane WHEN Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. TICKETS $35 to enter BUY Sign up the day of the event or buy in advance at discgolfforkidssake.org
MORE 706.261.6342
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16 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
aiken strives to
embrace its history
Aiken Center for African-American History, Art and Culture continues to work toward a permanent home
The Immanuel Institute, a now 122-year-old icon of Aiken education, was slated for destruction until 2004, when a small group of citizens stepped in. Now, the vision of those few has become the mission of many: to establish the Aiken Center for African-American History, Art and Culture in the very halls that educated the children of former slaves after the Civil War. The Friends of the Center have already raised the funds to ensure the Institute’s structural integrity and restore its façade, but the building might turn 124 before it is ready to open. However, Joanne Saunders, the Friends’ executive director, says that will not stop the center’s work. “We have been a functioning force in the Aiken community for several years,” Saunders says. “We actively put on historical celebrations, concerts and cultural events. We have put on art shows, themed exhibits, special events, concert series, a lecture series, film festivals and a committee of the board wrote a popular book named African Americans in Aiken County, a Pictorial History. We are actively functioning, but we will be able to do so much more once we are able to get into our building.” Saunders and Center Board Chairman, the Rev. Doug Slaughter of Aiken’s Second Baptist Church, point to many cultural events the group has already sponsored, including concerts by Winton Marsalis, The Count Basie Orchestra, an annual Christmas jazz concert and Aiken’s sixth annual Juneteenth celebration. “Our Juneteenth celebration has become our signature event,” says Saunders.
chronicle this diaspora and what came of it. “Our vision for the center involves transforming the building into an educational nexus and a centerpiece for cultural revival where artists, artisans, historians, history buffs, actors, writers, singers and dancers will celebrate the rich traditions of African Americans in Aiken and throughout the South Carolina and the nation,” says Saunders. The Center’s board is a sub-committee of The Aiken Corporation, which also supports the future SRS Heritage Museum nearby. Plans are well under way, with financial and promotional help from the South Carolina Heritage Corridor, to build an arbored walkway for tourists and locals to connect the three museums. Each is approximately a block apart along Aiken’s Richland Avenue. the rev. duug slaughter stands on the porch of the immanuel center
“We knew the history of the Immanuel Center and we wanted to save it for the community and for future generations.” — the rev. doug slaughter
Juneteenth is the nation’s oldest celebration commemorating the spontaneous celebration that occurred when soldiers on a Union ship reached Galveston Bay on June 19, 1865, proclaiming that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free – almost 2.5 months after the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox and the subsequent collapse of the Confederacy. It is this history the center wants to preserve. In August, the center finalized the drawings for first-floor exhibits and designs that will chronicle the passage of Africans to the South Carolina coast, their migration to Aiken County and many of the contributions that African Americans have made throughout the country and the county over the centuries. The Center has worked for two years with The History Workshop in Charleston, S.C., to
Wade Brodie, the chairman of The Aiken Corporation, said a capital campaign to provide the final funding needed for all three projects will be announced in the first quarter of 2012. The Cultural Center probably needs about $1.2 million to finish construction on the inside of the building and to build the interactive historical, artistic and cultural kiosks. The main building of the railroad depot is up and running as the city’s tourism center, with a depiction of the world’s longest railroad finished in 1833, which was designed and built by The History Workshop. Slaughter said the idea to save this historic building from impending sale and destruction came out of discussions with city leaders including Brodie, City Councilwoman Lessie Price and State Rep. Bill Clyburn.
“We started talking about how to save that building,” Slaughter says. “It was going into disrepair and was likely to be sold and demolished. We knew the history of the Immanuel Center and we wanted to save it for the community and for future generations. Once we decided to save it, we had to think about what we would do with the building. Because it was historically a school to educate African American children, first by the Presbyterians, then the Episcopalians and later the Catholics, we determined we needed to honor that history.” “From the beginning, we believed the focus should always be threefold,” he said. “First we would restore the building. Second we would create an educational center around exhibits that will chronicle the passage of Africans from Africa to America and on to Aiken County and third, to generate programs that would place emphasis on the contributions of African Americans to our county and our county. “We are at a point now where there is so much broad based support for the center throughout Aiken, among the corporate community, civic support and citizens to bring this vision to fruition. There is a lot of positive energy right now to make this contribution to the Aiken community.”
Saunders says she hopes the swell of support continues. “The people of Aiken have a remarkable opportunity to continue the legacy of the Immanuel Institute,” she says. “The Institute has had a profound effect on the people and the culture of Aiken for a century and a quarter. We have a great opportunity to carry on that tradition by establishing the Center for African American History, Art and Culture in this historic building, not as a museum but a center for education and cultural programming, chronicling some of the important historical contributions of African Americans in Aiken County, a story that has gone largely untold. That will be done with interactive attractions that engage people to take part in their own educational experience. We are closer than ever to making this vision a reality.” For more information, watch a short video clip about the project at EDGEMEDIA.TV/PROJECTS/CAAHAC/ or visit AIKENCULTURALCENTER.ORG by STEPHEN DELANEY HALE photos ALISON RYAN
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18 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
the buzz about
forkfly
an innovative cost-effective way to use social network marketing
Forkfly, a revolutionary new marketing system for local communities that began in Portland Ore., and then spread to communities such as San Francisco, New Orleans and Charleston, S.C., has come to Augusta. The concept is relatively simple. Local businesses can post up to four coupons at Forkfly.com, which can then be redeemed by customers online or by using their smart phone or other mobile device. “I have done, I think, every sort of advertising that has been available, including Groupon, LivingSocial, Daily Deals and Fox 54 Real Deal,” said Heather DiCicco, the owner of DiChickO’s Peri-Peri Café, located inside New Life Natural Foods on Washington Road. “I have to be really aggressive with marketing because DiChickO’s doesn’t have a storefront, so if I want new customers to learn where we are, I have to get creative with advertising. They were all successful, but the reason I am so excited about Forkfly is because I have been seeking out new forms of advertising and learning the ins and outs of each one.”
one item they have to entertain them is their phone. “I can’t imagine it not being good for business,” said Patty Thelen, the owner of Modish Salon. “Our clients are on their phone so often doing social networking that it’s easy for them to pull up Forkfly and see what the latest deals are. Plus, it’s convenient for me as an owner because I don’t always have time to talk to somebody about creating the ad I want; I can just manage it myself.” Many of the business owners who use Forkfly are already making plans for the coming months. DiCicco says she plans to promote the restaurant’s soups and hot sandwiches once the weather starts cooling down, while Thelen will help clients afford pricey Novalash treatments around the holidays. Then there are added benefits from working for a business on Forkfly.
DEMONSTRATING THE FORKFLY APP
One of the most creative concepts DiCicco has developed is Free Lunch Wednesday, during which anyone sporting the cafe’s mascot, Larry the Chicken, on their rear windshield can get a free lunch on the first Wednesday of every month. In this way she hopes to get her image out to the public and let her customers to the advertising for her. “The cool thing about Forkfly is that it gives me an outlet to be as creative as I want to be,” she said. “I’m trying to think of a way to tie the free lunch Wednesday in with a Forkfly coupon. I feel like if I can get someone to put a bottle of our Peri Peri sauce in their refrigerator, then they will think of us every time they open the door.” Other downtown fixtures have their own methods of getting the word out. Modish Salon has experimented with billboards, radio commercials, newspaper advertisements and hosting fashion shows to highlight their services. But, for the hour or two clients are sitting in the chair getting their hair done, the
“Some of the stylists that work here can make specials for themselves to build their client base,” said Thelen. “I have room with four ads for specials that I can help them with their own promotion if they ask for it. As a salon we reach out as a whole, and I expect them to reach out on their own as well.” “We’ve had about three redemptions so far, but we’ve had about 600 impressions, which means that many people have looked at our profile page and know where we are,” said DiCicco. “Not all of those people redeemed coupons, which means we got a lot of free marketing just by being on the application, which is the best kind of advertising there is.” Unlike other online advertising sources, Forkfly does not blast customers with emails that fill up their junk mail filter. The website is convenient and easy to use because it sorts deals based on who last updated and anyone can register, with no fee or certificate to purchase. DiCicco and Thelen both agree that the secret to Forkfly’s success will be getting a lot of people informed and using the application, but they also feel that this is the wave of the future. For more information, visit forkfly.com. article and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
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20 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
an evening with two
legends of irish music
cal scott and kevin burke perform an evening of traditional irish music on oct. 28
Kevin Burke grew up playing Irish music, and while it is the core of his work, it has taken him around the world many times, performing and recording with diverse groups of musicians and as a solo artist. Presently, Burke — who is indeed a legend in his field, albeit a humble one who likely eschews the title — is on tour with longtime colleague Cal Scott. The two were rehearsing for opening night when verge spoke to Burke about his fascinating career in the music industry. Verge: Your show is billed as an evening of traditional Irish music. Perhaps you can shatter a few stereotypes so that readers understand that this does not mean 25 versions of “Danny Boy.” burke: We’re not even going to do one version of “Danny Boy.” [laughs] It’s not entirely Irish traditional music, but mostly in the style of some kind of traditional folk music. We do a couple of American pieces and French Canadian and kind of a multinational approach. Mainly we’ll be playing Irish music but from the instrumental tradition, as opposed to the stereotypical big white sweaters and red beards and singing boozy songs about how much we miss Ireland and our mothers. Neither of us has a red beard!
cal scott (left) and kevin burke (right)
“If you go back 75 years, people were saying, ‘Recorded music should be banned because it’s going to put all the musicians out of work,’ but the opposite has happened, so who knows what the future holds.” — kevin burke
Verge: You perform and record quite a bit with Cal Scott, but also with Patrick Street, solo, instrumentals and with vocalists. How does your approach change with each situation?
chords but in melodies. He played the guitar with these searing melodic lead guitar lines and I found that really exciting. Also it was weird and noisy and loud – just what a teenage boy wants!
burke: I struggle gainfully! When you play with a band, you have a lot more support. On the other hand, you’re kind of restricted. It’s a group effort, so you do what the group wants to do, and in any group, compromise is often necessary. We end up with a fairly happy medium so everyone is comfortable. One of the advantages of playing in a band is it’s not all on you. Everyone gets a chance to do a little bit while you take a backseat for a while, so it’s quite relaxing in a way compared with a solo performance, where the responsibility for the whole night rests firmly on the solo player. On the other hand, I have complete freedom to do what I want and I don’t have to consider other people’s arrangements. I can take risks that I might not be able to take with a band. With a vocalist, the big trick – and I’m sure you hear this from most musicians – is staying out of the way of the song. You assist the narrative without getting in the way. Especially with these folk songs we play, most of them tell stories. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end, so just like telling a story with words, there’s a rhythm to the way a story is told and the instrumentalist has to be sensitive to all that, too.
Verge: You learned about music from your teacher, your peers and listening to records and the radio, discovering improvisation versus tablature and recordings, going to pubs. Has the overload of information and technology affected the way people learn about music?
Verge: Jimi Hendrix is not the first artist one would guess as your influence. burke: When I was a young teenager, I was playing my fiddle
music and my music lessons and I was hearing from the other kids in class about the new music, the pop music of the day. I’d hear a lot of it on the radio and a lot of kids would get pretty excited about it. I was mildly interested, but it didn’t excite me. When I heard the Beatles, I thought it was pleasant enough, but it didn’t interest me. Bob Dylan interested me a lot more because I could identify with a lot of the songs that he was singing. Some of them were a lot like the Irish songs that I grew up with, that kind of ballad poet aspect, stories in songs usually about poor people, the working class or the rural poor, and it made me think of a lot of the songs in Ireland. When Jimi Hendrix came along, what really excited me about him was this was a player, playing a lead instrument. He was interested, like I was, not in
burke: Just the way people listen to music is very different. The vast majority of people nowadays, especially younger people, seem to listen to music in private. We used to sit around and listen to the radio together, or the record player, and of course that caused a lot of trouble: “No, I want to hear this,” “Turn the record player off; I want to hear the radio,” or “Take that record off; I want to hear this one.” Whereas nowadays, with the iPod or iPhone or personal music gadgets, people listen to music when they’re walking around and it’s their own choice. Choice is a great thing, but sometimes you learn a lot through someone else’s choices. I know I learned a lot by listening to other people’s music, and they influenced me, because I wasn’t in a position to say no. If I’m in somebody’s house and they’re playing a record, I have to listen to it, and I think that happens a lot less these days.
Also sitting around playing in pubs – in this country, kids aren’t even allowed in the pub and it’s beginning to happen in Ireland, too, which is a great shame. I always thought it was
great to be a child and watch older people at play. I think it had a humanizing effect on the older people, knowing there were children around, and a lot of the musicians I met in situations like that were really helpful and supportive when they realized that I was serious about what I was doing. I value those times a lot and I’m sad to see them go, but that’s the constant cry of old people down through the ages: “Oh, it wasn’t like that in my day!” There’s probably more music today than there ever was. If you go back 75 years, people were saying, “Recorded music should be banned because it’s going to put all the musicians out of work,” but the opposite has happened, so who knows what the future holds. I’m pretty optimistic. I know we make a lot of mistakes, but on the way we generally improve things. I know a lot of people disagree with that, but I think if something is missing and it’s thought to be a loss, people will find a way to bring it back into their lives. Verge: There’s a quote on your website: “Music is a release from the tyranny of conscious thought.” Is that an original quote? burke: Yeah … but it’s not mine. I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist! I can’t remember the original source. I might have paraphrased it. That reminds me of [the late] George Shearing, the jazz pianist. Someone once asked him if he’d been blind all his life, and he said, “Not yet.” by ALISON RICHTER
Experience the music WHAT An Evening of Traditional Irish Music featuring Kevin Burke & Cal Scott
WHERE Enterprise Mill Event Center | 1450 Greene St. WHEN Friday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. TICKETS $15 advance, $20 door BUY Fat Man’s Mill Café at 706.733.1740 or by calling 706.267.5416 MORE KEVINBURKE.COM
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22 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
searching for the
ghosts of savannah THE haunting of foxhorN: A true ghost story by dino lull
It was a chilly September day, rare for the South. After my nightmarish visit to Savannah, Ga., my life would never be the same again. Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia and, if there is one place in the state that is certain to be haunted James Oglethorpe’s beautifully planned town is destined to be a haven for ghosts. Built upon seven different graveyards, many of them desecrated over the years by those with a need for the graves, a need for the land or, in the case of Sherman’s troops during the Civil War, a need to blow off some steam, Savannah is a spooky place at night.
Stories swirl around the inn’s lurid past, including hidden tunnels beneath the streets for smuggling rum. CONCEPT DRAWING OF WESTOBOU CROSSING
It was to this city I traveled with my wife to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. The sky was gray and foreboding, promising a deluge of Biblical proportions that was never delivered. A chill wind pierced me deep down in my bones, bringing up a rash of goose flesh across my arms. Our silver minivan pulled to a stop at a little shop. This was not a voodoo shop such as Marie Laveau’s in the French Quarter of New Orleans. No, this place was the ABC Package Shop. Much to my horror, they did not carry Foxhorn Wine, a particular favorite of mine. We were not even in the historic poltergeistinfested part of downtown and I was already afraid, ready to head home with my tail tucked between my legs. What was I to do with no wine?
a savannah gravestone
The wine dilemma was forgotten once we checked in at the elegant Mansion on Forsyth, which sits facing Forsyth Park with its large expanse of rolling green land and jets of water erupting from fountains. Dogs ran amok and college students played disc golf across from this gorgeous hotel. Marble columns, free wine, gorgeous original paintings on the walls and a pool with a waterfall – the Mansion on Forsyth had all the things I only dreamt about. And the food – what can I say about 700 Drayton that will do it justice? This
restaurant served the most exquisite food, a treat for my taste buds. However, it was definitely haunted to the extreme. Figures dressed all in black walked back and forth across the floor carrying trays of food. The diners only spoke in whispers, the place as quiet as the tomb. Slowly, carefully, I picked up the menu and screamed in terror at the prices. And when I left, the cash in my wallet had mysteriously vanished – every single piece of it. The next day, we went to The Pirate’s House. One portion of the restaurant – the Herb House – was built in 1734, one year after the Savannah colony was created. Believed to be the oldest house in Georgia, it was home to the gardener of the Trustee’s Botanical Garden. Twenty years later, an inn for visiting seamen was built, which quickly attracted pirates and other shady characters. Stories swirl around the inn’s lurid past, including hidden tunnels beneath the streets for smuggling rum and pulling the old shanghai on people unlucky enough to get too drunk or too poisoned during their romp at the inn. This was the place to go for pirates who could literally walk off the ships and go inside for a drink and perhaps a bit more. The inn was even mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. Legend says that Stevenson spent a month or more there. Now, the restaurant is reportedly full of ghosts. I demanded to be seated in the Herb House, pressing my luck to meet the ghost of a blonde-haired boy who threw pie and haunted the room. I ordered some of the best Southern cooking I have ever tasted and took my chances with the banana pudding. Let’s see how the “Friendly Ghost” felt about homemade pudding. Apparently he had no problem with it and let me eat my dessert in peace. Later, some diners claimed to
see someone moving about in that room, but I think it was just Yolanda the waitress bringing me my nonflying banana pudding. Having pleased the “Friendly Ghost,” I dared to test the “Rowdy Ghost.” Apparently, it was his day off. There was also no sign of Captain Flint or the ghost in the Jolly Roger Room. Then it occurred to me. I finally understood. The next day was national Speak Like a Pirate Day and all the ghosts were taking the weekend off to celebrate. What else would ghost pirates do with their time?
no ghosts in the bar at the pink house
Slightly disappointed, I continued my hunt for ghosts at the Olde Pink House, a haunted colonial restaurant. I knew the upscale colonials would not mix with the likes of pirates and should be at their shift (as it was daytime, it would unfortunately not be the graveyard shift). An attractive blonde let my wife and me explore the two-story home. The furnishings were intricate and exquisite, especially the ballroom upstairs. We heard tales of a Civil War soldier who sits at the bar and messes with female patrons and of a little girl who locks women in the bathroom. Being that I am a male, I realized rather quickly that I would not be seeing any ghosts. But perhaps I could sense them. I walked into a darkened hallway and felt a strange chill. No, I was just walking past an air conditioning vent. Later, I checked to see
whether the bar had any ghosts, but all they had were spirits. Once again, I was foiled from re-enacting one of those cheap, green-lit ghost hunting shows on television by the real ghosts who refused to show up. How selfish of them. I had one last ditch effort in mind. I was going straight to the source. I got in my car and found a tour bus. I followed the bus with the windows rolled down, listening to the driver tell interesting stories – for free. How ghastly. Eventually, the guide led me to the Colonial Park Cemetery. I spotted a dog gnawing on a headstone and chewing on a bone, it even urinated on a skull, but no ghosts. Not even in the cemetery. Then I remembered the stories about the actual graves having been desecrated and moved. Of course, the ghosts would not actually be in the graveyard since there were no bodies there anymore. The ghosts could be anywhere – under a gift shop, playing disc golf in Forsyth Park or maybe drinking my Foxhorn Wine beneath the liquor store. Those thieving, stinking, drunk ghosts.
foiled at colonial cemetery park And that is how I learned the most important lesson of my life, the one thing that would haunt me for days: Never trust a pirate ghost with your $6 bottle of wine. by DINO LULL photos BECKY PRICE
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 23
the ha
chi
summerville COLORED CEMETERY
Augusta is said to be the se haunted city in Georgia (Sa No. 1, of course). Most of u tales of the Haunted Pillar, Man and the noose at the E House. Here are a few sligh haunts and their stories to Halloween bonfire.
Fitten Street
Wander through the graves of this remnant from Augusta’s segregated past and wonder at the lives of the people who are buried here. Eroded headstones line the walkways, sporadically punctuated by a more recent memorial. The three-acre lot was purchased in 1906 for a black cemetery, supposedly by 12 black Summer Hill residents. The cemetery was ill-maintained and its records – and the Perpetual Care funding – have long since disappeared.
an indian chief’s moonlit ride Reynolds Street and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Walking along Reynolds Street on a full moon night, you might feel the pounding of horse hooves, hear a chilling war cry and spot the horse and his rider barreling down the street. Legend has it that the rider belongs to a strange grave within the churchyard of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. An ivy-covered pyramid supposedly contains the remains of an American Indian chief, buried sitting atop his horse.
The resting place of 3,000
Rollersville Cemetery | 1600 block of Hicks Street William Trainum, an orphan who died in a fire trying to save others, was the first person to be buried at Rollersville Cemetery on Feb. 4, 1827. Twenty-two years passed before he was joined by the remains of Elizabeth Frish Huntington. Today, all that is left to remember them by – or the more than 3,000 bodies buried there – is a single monument in the center of a wide open field. The headstones might be gone, but the bodies remain.
The de L’Aigle House
The corner of Greene and Monument Street Wander the halls of this Italianate home built in 1874 and you might hear the heavy footsteps of Charles Tilley, an Irish immigrant whose untimely death marked the end of dueling in Georgia. Tilley was befriended by Nicholas de L’Aigle – that friendship apparently extended to Mary, one of de L’Aigle’s daughters. On a chilly day in December 1875, another Augustan, George Ratcliffe, impugned Mary’s honor by insinuating that she and Tilley were having an illicit affair. Outraged by the man’s slanderous words, Tilley challenged Ratcliffe to a duel – and lost. He died of the wounds and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery. Some also claim there is a troubling air of sadness that passes through the hallways.
24 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
The Grave of Wylly Magnolia Cemetery
Wylly Barron – whose name match and for owning the Atkinson Hote during a game of cards at the hotel to shelter you.”
The curse, combined with the man Barron. In 1870, he had a marble m years later, Barron’s wealth had van body was encased in spare bricks i to his crypt was filled with cement grounds, bitter and angry at the cu
aunting of Augusta
history that sends ills down the spine
econd most avannah being us have heard the , the Resurrection Ezekiel Harris htly more obscure share around the
the restless confederate soldier The Arsenal Cemetery | Augusta State University
On the edge of Augusta State University lies the remains of soldiers who were connected with the Augusta Arsenal and their wives and children. The cemetery stands a little apart from the Walker Family Cemetery. College students and professors have reported seeing a man dressed in a Civil War Confederate uniform crossing the campus and passing through the gates of the cemetery.
murder at the mill
Sibley Mill | 1717 Goodrich St. Built in 1880 behind the Confederate Powder Works monolithic smokestack, Sibley Mill looks more like a castle than a place where millworkers labored to produce cloth. Now, the mill sits empty, except perhaps for the ghost of Maude Williams – a young millworker, who in 1906 ended an affair with a married man. In a jealous rage, her lover came to the mill and shot her. Maude died, yet her co-workers continued to see her sitting at her loom working intently.
ylly BarRon
hes his business acumen – was well known in a Augusta for his wealth and style, el, which catered to gamblers. One night, a gambler who had lost everything l, cursed Barron with these words: “When you die, may you not have even a grave
n’s suicide later that night, began a downward spiral into superstition and fear for mausoleum placed in Magnolia Cemetery to ensure his resting place. Twenty-four nished and he died penniless, his estate could not even afford a casket. Barron’s inside the mausoleum. The final wish of his will was kept however – the keyhole t and the key thrown into the Savannah River. He is believed to stalk the cemetery urse that ruined his life.
more spooks
Discover more of the stories – and others to make your hair rise – in The Mayor’s Guide to the Stately Ghosts of Augusta by Scott A. Johnson, available at The Book Tavern, 1026 Broad St. BOOKTAVERN.COM photos GABI HUTCHISON
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26 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
fresh food bites an average joe’s guide to eating healthier
LOSE THE PIE
With Halloween just around the corner, it was a no-brainer to pull out something related to this most scary – and, often, silliest – of holidays. What food is a better representation of Halloween than that squash-like fruit, the pumpkin? Yes, the pumpkin, the Rodney Dangerfield of fruit. No one really thinks about the poor pumpkin until it is time to carve it up and turn it into a front porch decoration. It is easy to see why the pumpkin might feel unappreciated as a food. Heck, even fruitcake, the butt of many a Christmas holiday joke, gets more respect. But, the pumpkin is much more than merely a canvas to hollow out and turn into a candleholder. Pumpkin pie has long been THE traditional Thanksgiving dessert, and has found a spot on many Christmas dinner tables. Americans love them some pumpkin pie, especially with a dollop of whip cream on top. But how fun is it to stay healthy by just having a “sliver” of pumpkin pie? That’s enough to make even the tamest of Halloween creatures seem diabolical. What if you could have your pumpkin pie and eat it, too? Try this twist on pumpkin pie that takes a page from another holiday tradition – custard pie. After all, if custard can go without crust, why can’t a pumpkin? You won’t have to worry about all the fat in that old dry pie crust or even taking up space in your oven.
Uncrusty Low-Fat Pumpkin Pie INGREDIENTS 1 (15-ounce) can of pure pumpkin ¼ cup water 2 (1-ounce) packages of unflavored gelatin 2 cups fat-free evaporated milk ¾ cup packed brown sugar (or Splenda brown sugar blend) 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp of nutmeg ¼ tsp cloves 1 tsp vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS 1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside. 2. Place water in a large bowl, slowly add gelatin and let sit for five minutes. 3. Heat one cup of the evaporated milk into a small pan until boiling, then stir into gelatin. 4. Stir in rest of evaporated milk. Then add the pumpkin and dry ingredients. 5. Stir until well blended. 6. Pour mixture into pie dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and refrigerate for two hours. You will end up with a pumpkin pie, which in some ways could almost double as a thick pumpkin pudding that serves eight. Each serving is a mere 152 calories, containing less than one gram of fat, 2 mg. of cholesterol, 85 mg of sodium, around 32 carbs and a pretty nice five to six grams of protein. With those stats you might just feel up for a second slice! by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON John believes that anyone can learn to eat healthier - in small steps - taking one bite at a time.
a taste of autum
chow bella simple tips and recipes on cooking with natural goodness
pumpkin spice latte
“Pumpkin Spice Latte” is certainly a buzz phrase this time of year. It seems I can’t go in a coffee shop without hearing those three words uttered in giddiness. I agree, the impending holiday season and the weather calls for a festive drink to herald the autumn and all of its festivities. You would think that Pumpkin Spice Latte was a synonym for ambrosia, and I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of lament when coffee meccas put it away. Pumpkin is not my favorite flavor, but I thought I would get in the spirit of the season and challenge myself to enjoy the seasonal drink. And to aid autumn-loving friends, I decided to find a recipe befitting this beloved beverage. As I write this, I am in bed with a humdinger of a cold, tissues and a laptop. I’m a sight sad, but somehow staggered out of my haze to whip up this drink. It hit the spot and was just what I needed! Even though I haven’t tried the original Pumpkin Spice Latte, I love this version and will be making it again – probably within a few hours of writing this (and toasting to my recovery from this evil sickness that’s had me in bed for a week). I can now proclaim I love pumpkin-flavored things, although the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie might still be too much of a leap for me. I found this particular recipe online at thekitchn.com. They claim it is just like the original that you can get from a popular coffee chain that shall remain nameless. My only other suggestion is to not skimp on the whipped cream; it makes everything better. article and photo by ELLIE BENSON boyandabride.virb.com
from chow bella’s kitchen: pumpkin spice latte A perfect blend of fall flavors. Makes 1 to 2 servings.
INGREDIENTS: 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin 2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute (you can cut this in half, if it’s too sweet for you) 2 tablespoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice* 1 to 2 shots espresso (about ¼ cup of espresso or ½ cup of strong brewed coffee, if you don’t have an espresso machine.)
DIRECTIONS: 1. In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. 2. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy or simply whisk the mixture well with a wire whisk. 3. Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the espresso on top. Optional: Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice*, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top. *I created my own pumpkin pie spice, using three equal parts nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. I used the extra to sprinkle on the top of my whipped cream.
new bakery at flowers xpress
Flowers Xpress, at 1046 Broad St., has expanded to include a bakery and ice cream refrigerator, filling a niche that owner Kathy Norman believes downtown Augusta has been lacking for some time. “We have been the florists here for a little over two years and we saw there was a need that wasn’t being filled,” she said. “My family owns a restaurant and ice cream parlor in the North Georgia Mountains, but there just wasn’t one downtown so we thought we would do one.” The Department of Agriculture completed its inspection of the property just in time for First Friday in October, giving the bakery the thumbs-up to begin selling packaged icecream treats, cookies, cupcakes and cake pops, which contain cake and frosting inside a candy shell on a stick. Norman also hopes to begin selling cakes and pies that people can order in advance. “We are thinking about calling it Big Mama’s Incredible Edibles,” she said. “Flowers are fun. T-shirts are fun. So we want the bakery to be fun as well. We’re going to be experimenting with different recipes, taking requests and just playing it by ear until we find out what our customers like most.”
Most of the ice cream novelties sell for $1 or $1.50, while cookies start at 50 cents each and cake pops are $2. The flower shop also contains a wide variety of flowers, including 70 cm long-stemmed roses shipped directly from a farm in Ecuador that are larger than those produced locally. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 706.722.3277 or visit FLOWERSEXPRESSONLINE.COM.
by Christopher Selmek
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the special effects makeup of
the haunted house TERROR TOWN pulls out the stops to create realistic monsters, zombies and other ghastly creatures
Halloween is one of those holidays that most of us have participated in our whole lives. This wild and wicked of days has changed since I was a wee lad in the ‘70s running around in my Kiss costume. The days of hundreds of neighborhood kids roaming from house to house in a wild mix of costumes that range from the classic ghost to the latest pop fad character has largely been replaced by community center and church trickor-treat events. But, the one constant that remains is the desire to get all dressed up in order to scare the mess out of someone. People love shock value and people love to be scared.
people in the room with you, surrounding you,” said Hagler. “It’s very much like in the zombie movies and zombie games where there are a lot of people. I think a lot of haunted houses today use a lot of the fake electronic props. I think it’s scarier when you have a load of actors coming at you.” With so many actors set in place to scare paying customers, it takes a lot of preparation to get the job done. After all, who would be scared simply by someone donning a run-of-the-mill plastic mask?
open at 7 p.m. and we stop selling tickets between 11 p.m. and midnight.” Forget about how scary all this work is for actors and coordinators each night, the really terrifying thing is that they consistently pull it off! I would take some time to ponder what that might entail if not for one thing… …I only have one paintball gun and a whole pack of zombies to get through! by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON photos of Terror Town LEAH DESLANDES
“Most of the makeup is done by three or four people,” said John Irvine, the Terror Town casting director. “There are one or two leads that have helpers doing the basic stuff. Any of the applied stuff, the latex, is done by either David (Kiser) or Leslie (McGovern) and, of course, everyone wants the latex. It looks better.”
What was once basically a children’s outdoor costume party has turned into a young adult’s fright fest, thanks to the end of Halloween innocence and the rise in popularity of horror films in the late 20th Century. This has formed an elevated desire to be more creative and led to a rise in the number of “proper” haunted house attractions in cities across the United States. The CSRA has several pay-to-enter haunted houses, filled with creatures made up with more than simple makeup and fake blood. “I actually came up with the theme, the layout, and how each room and hallway would have a scare,” said Rebecca Hagler, a co-manager and the architect behind area haunt Terror Town. “Everything from how many people would be in each room, what all would be needed, just the behind-the-scenes kind of things that needed to be done.” With a haunted attraction that features up to 70 actors nightly and two areas that allow patrons to shoot zombies with paintball guns, Terror Town is a showroom of how Halloween attractions have progressed over the past few years. It is no longer enough just to slap some cheap makeup on and throw popular horror movie creatures, such as Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger, at people. It takes some creativity and a bit of originality to entertain and frighten an audience that in this day and age have seen just about anything and everything. “There are two or three scenes where there are just so many
With a maze of rooms, Terror Town’s dark hallways connect rooms filled with zombies and bloody victims. The creators have made an extra effort to ensure that the flow from beginning to end makes sense and does not appear as merely one gory room after another and that the actors look like they might really want to suck your brains out. It takes great effort to turn an average person into a believable scary monster. “It takes lots of experience,” said David Kiser, the head makeup artist. “I was at Netherworld in Atlanta for eight years off and on, Crypt of Terror, Nightmare Plantation here in Augusta. I’ve been doing this a while.” With almost 70 people having to be “scarified” four nights each week, you would think the makeup process would be the hardest thing about putting the show, but Kiser knows differently. “Keeping the actors in character is the most important thing,” said Kiser. “You have new actors come in and they’re not seasoned enough to realize that, once the makeup goes on, you’ve got to stay in character. It doesn’t matter whether you’re outside taking a smoke break or whether you’re in your room and there’s no one coming through at the moment. You’ve got to stay in character.” While a trip through Terror Town only takes 15 to 20 minutes, the time it takes to make each trip as scary as the next takes hours of effort with actors arriving at 5 p.m. to start putting on makeup. “Once you get all the color mixed and the blood, you cast them and tell them where they have to be,” said Kiser. “By then it’s usually time to get everyone into place and start the night. We
GET SCARED
Terror Town: Zombie Edition Until Oct. 30: Thursday to Sunday | 7 p.m. to midnight 4304 Sudan Road, Martinez (Near Adventure Crossing in the old Fright Factory), $15, 706.372.9607 Zombie Apocalypse Survival Boot Camp Oct. 18 to 22, Oct. 25 to 29 | 8 p.m. Le Chat Noir, 304 Eighth St., $13 to $20, 706.722.3322 LCNAUGUSTA.COM
Plantation Blood Oct. 20 to 23, Oct. 27 to 31, Nov. 4 and 5 | 7 p.m. to midnight 4127 Wallie Dr. Augusta, 18, 706.793.3100 PLANTATIONBLOOD.COM
NIGHTMARE PLANTATION Until Nov. 6: Thursday to Sunday | 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Entrance is off Gordon Highway, near Fort Gordon’s Gate 3, $15 to $20 NIGHTMAREPLANTATION.NET Frightmares Until Oct. 31: Thursday to Sunday | 7 p.m. to midnight 3336 Wrightsboro Road, $12 to $18, 706.220.8311 NIGHTMAREPLANTATION.NET
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the
film reel NOW PLAYING ON THE BIG SCREEN
Scary movie fans can get their Halloween treat a little early this year, as PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 opens Oct. 21. The series originated as a low-budget found-footage opener in 2009, 10 years after the success of The Blair Witch Project. This edition of the supernatural horror series serves as a prequel to the franchise’s previously established story about sisters Katie (Katie Featherston, who rose to fame with this series) and Kristi, who have been haunted by a demonic presence since their youth. Now fans travel back in time to 1988 to see the girls when they first encountered the strange being in their home. The home video cameras were a bit more cumbersome back then, but Katie and Kristi’s stepfather filmed their paranormal experiences nonetheless. Catfish directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman take the reins for this look at the girls’ chilling backstory. Austin Powers might be America’s favorite spy in the world of Bond parodies, but Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) is taking another shot at spoofing the notoriously suave international super-spy, too. Atkinson embodied bumbling spy Johnny English in a 2003 comedy that opened to lukewarm box office numbers and unfriendly criticism in the U.S. Why create a sequel, you might ask? The 2003 film found far greater returns at the overseas box JOHNNY ENGLISH office, making it a financial success worthy of a sequel. JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN takes Atkinson’s character from years of seclusion to a special project for the British secret service. Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) co-stars as English’s new boss in this comedy, which is already claiming top box office honors in some overseas territories – such as the U.K. and Germany – where the film has already opened. Hollywood adaptations of writer Alexandre Dumas’ THE THREE MUSKETEERS reach well into the double digits and now the classic swashbuckling adventure goes 3D with the help of Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson. Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz and Milla Jovovich step into villainous roles while Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) plays aspiring Musketeer, D’Artagnan. Early reviews have been far from complimentary for this update, which employs CGI tactics meant to appeal to the new-age video game THE THREE MUSKETEERS crowd. Limited openers include MARGIN CALL, a Wall Street thriller set during 2008’s financial crisis. Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Stanely Tucci, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore and Zachary Quinto lead the all-star cast of writer-director J.C. Chandor’s first feature about one firm’s scandal and its widerreaching implications. Carla Gugino, David Boreanaz and Ellen Burstyn star in the week’s other limited feature, a sports drama inspired by a the 1971-72 true story of a Philadelphia Catholic college’s women’s basketball team. Gugino (Watchmen) plays Cathy Rush, the new coach who shocked the collegiate sports world by leading her team to the championships in spite of their school’s financial and political challenges, in THE MIGHTY MACS. An Oct. 28 opener takes on the Shakespearean authorship debate, alleging The Bard was not the actual author behind such classics as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. Director Roland Emmerich’s (Independence Day, 2012) ANONYMOUS points to the Duke of Oxford (played by Rhys Ifans) as the masterful artist who actually wrote the plays and sonnets credited to William Shakespeare. Vanessa Redgrave plays Queen Elizabeth I. Shrek’s swashbuckling feline friend gets his own 3D spin-off with PUSS IN BOOTS. Antonio Banderas returns to voice the title character while Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis join the cast of this family-friendly offering. The week also brings IN TIME, a futuristic thriller starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried where wealth is tied to how long a person will live. Also opening, Johnny Depp stars as a lust-struck journalist in 1950’s San Juan in an adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel THE RUM DIARY.
RHYS IFANS AS EDWARD DE VERE
by MARIAH GARDNER, MOVIE GURU
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kick off your shoes with
livingroom legends southern charm lands them on THE 2011
12 BANDS OF CHRISTMAS CD
When you think of rock ‘n’ roll, a century-plus-old house near Grovetown is hardly what usually comes to mind. Then again, Augusta’s Livingroom Legends is hardly your typical rock ‘n’ roll band. For more than a decade, the band, created by husband and wife musical duo Ken and Mindy Stephens, has moved to the beat of a different kind of drummer and, sometimes, no drummer at all. The Stephens’ home exudes a warmth that perfectly matches the couple who, over the years, have woven old-world, Southern imagery into the sounds that make up the band’s two releases: the 2002 debut Honeymoon and 2005’s release Hearts and Bars. It is this Southern charm that comes across most when Mindy smiles and says that she would offer us a place to sit had the couple not already relocated the living room furniture to the field out back in preparation for the photo shoot to promote their 12 Bands of Christmas contribution. “It’s called ‘The Christmas Men’, ” says Ken. “One year, I recorded it solo acoustic which is nothing like I wanted the recording. The chords I used and the way it kind of came out seemed kind of like Neil Young and Crazy Horse. It’s not your jingle-bellsy kind of Christmas song.”
“We gonna rock this mutha out like no other group of 40- or 50-year-olds can or has.” — ken stephens
featuring a full band, which includes guitarist Mike Wilson and and drummer Steve Howard, formerly of long-running Augusta band Debt of Nature. “I was hoping the new CD could be done by Christmas,” says Ken. “But when it gets down to it, I start getting picky. It’s got to have the perfect name. It’s got to have the perfect sequencing of songs. Just everything you know.”
“We gonna rock this mutha out like no other group of 40- or 50-year-olds can or has,” says Ken. “It’s a good cause and it’s a fun thing.”
Mindy says that her husband’s pickiness when creating an album extends almost to superstition..
What better reason could anyone have to put on some socks, get off the couch and out of the comfort of their living room?
“I don’t know how many songs in we are or how many we’re lacking, but we gotta have 12. That’s his number,” says Mindy.
by John “Stoney” Cannon photos LEAH DESLANDES
Superstition or not, it works. Whether it’s the number of songs on the band’s releases or taking part in 12 Bands, Livingroom Legends has continued to move forward while other area bands have come and gone. For 10 years, the Stephens have continued to create and self-produce a product that pulls from the past without sounding old – timeless music, if you will, nostalgic yet ever changing. It is this down-home charm that makes it easy for the Stephenses to shift from concentrating on a barefoot photo shoot in a field with the couple’s antique furniture to a discussion about an annual event that brings hundreds downtown each December – the 12 Bands concert.
Livingroom Legends was part of the second 12 Bands of Christmas concert and have been featured on three of the CDs, including 2009’s Best Of release. “The Christmas Men” marks their fourth appearance – but is the first original release with a drummer.
“You’re playing at the Imperial Theatre,” says Ken. “It’s one show that’s a good show and everyone’s always in a good mood. It’s nice to be there with all those other people and get to see them. To be at the Imperial and to give back.”
“That was my $150 Yamaha PSR150 or whatever it is,” says Ken of the drums on the band’s previous recordings. “We recorded some demos in the past but the Christmas song will be the first one we’ve done with real drums.”
“It’s different than playing at a bar,” adds Mindy.
While Livingroom Legends’ recorded sound has always managed to maintain a sort of organic integrity despite the absence of “human” drums, Ken and Mindy are excited about a new release
CD and some potential touring. Three of the four members have day jobs sculpting young minds, which means summers off and the possibility of a future summertime caravan. But for now, the foursome has their sights set on Dec. 18 and the Imperial.
“I ain’t giving nothing back at a bar,” chimes in Howard. Ken sums up the experience of 12 Bands with his own jestful words: “And I always like the gift baskets our fans leave for us in the dressing room.” Gift baskets aside, the four talented folks who make up Livingroom Legends look to a fruitful future, involving the new
THE LIVINGROOM LEGENDS Ken Stephens: Guitar/Vocals Mindy Stephens: Bass/Vocals Mike Wilson: Guitar Steve Howard: Drums
HEAR THE MUSIC on MySpace KEEP UP WITH THE BAND on Facebook
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a sip of
granny’s gin
Fact: Granny’s Gin is not a jam band. Though they did start out as a power trio whose performances were based on a lot of improvisation, that was three years ago. Today, the band features Jake Guinn – guitars and vocals, John Hearn – bass, Ian Smith – drums and Aaron Darch – keyboards, euphonium and vocals, and their focus is on original material that blends elements of funk, blues, jazz, rock and even some reggae.
“We’ve really evolved ... We’re focused now on writing well-structured songs. — JAKE GUINN
“We’ve really evolved,” says Guinn, “and I honestly wouldn’t know how to categorize us according to a genre. The last group of originals we wrote fall into the alt-country realm and a few are even pop-rock. We’re focused now on writing well-structured songs.” Granny’s Gin experienced some changes in late 2010/early 2011. Their debut CD, Fables of Women, Wolves, and Frogs, was released this last November. In December, they played their final show with original bassist Mike Athan, who has deployed. The band had anticipated this being their final gig, as Guinn became a father in January and Darch prepared to do likewise in May. Between day jobs, parenthood, limited local venues to support original music and the rigors of touring, they decided to put their efforts mostly into recording and building an Internet presence. “We got together once or twice a week to write,” says Guinn, “and that’s when our direction changed. Ian and I both play bass and we were going to do the tracks ourselves, but it’s hard to have a real rhythm section without a bass player, so we started looking.”
After sifting through the ubiquitous Craigslist ads and music store postings, they found Hearn in February. With their lineup rounded out, says Guinn, it was soon obvious that the band would start playing live again, including bookings in Athens and Atlanta, his hometown. The musicians are already looking ahead to their next recording, contemplating an EP, a live disc or both. In the meantime, they’re gigging as often as possible, which is always a challenge for an original band in Augusta and more so when club owners and audiences expect eight-minute renditions of songs that either no longer exist on a set list or are now pared down to four-minute precision. Guinn again stresses that they are not a jam band, with those days behind them and the new sound based on “tight arrangements and parts that work for the song.” Hear it for yourself when Granny’s Gin performs at Wild Wing on October 19 and 1102 on October 22. by ALISON RICHTER photos LEAH DESLANDES the ‘67 Chevelle belongs to thomas bartlett
See the Show
WHO Granny’s Gin WHERE 1102 Downtown Bar and Grill 1102 Broad St. WHEN Saturday, Oct. 22 | 10 p.m. TICKETS TBA | 21 + only MORE | reverbnation.com/grannysgin
32 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
stoney’s
sound bites
the guy who put the “k” In lokal gets vocal about augusta’s music scene
As I sit here trying to decide whether I’m going to leave the porch light on this year for trick-or-treaters, I find myself with an even bigger dilemma – whether to carve up my pumpkin to look like James Brown or Amy Grant. It appears I might have to go with the Godfather. I am pretty sure I could carve his likeness from memory, even though he’s been dead for five years. Now that I think about it, Grant’s career has been dead for much longer. No wonder I can’t seem to remember what she looks like. Maybe if she came home more often… It’s pretty fair to say that while Brown passed away a few years ago, his music and spirit are more alive than ever. In my Oct. 5 column, I mentioned the new James Brown exhibit at the Grammy Museum. Now, Soul Brother Number One has been inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in Atlanta, which honors pioneers who shaped radio in the state. A no-brainer, you say? Well, this hall of fame isn’t for just any ol’ person who might have happened to get radio airplay. Brown has been played on the radio a lot, but he also was in the radio business himself, owning several stations at a time when there were hardly any African-American disc jockeys, not to mention owners. The Godfather was full- or partial-owner of stations in Augusta, Atlanta, Tennessee and Baltimore, M.D. He helped pave the way for black artists in music and now it’s nice to see him acknowledged for the racial barriers he helped remove in business. Speaking of Augusta radio, I was lucky enough to get hold of an hour-long CD copy of a WBBQ radio broadcast from Nov. 18, 1970 featuring legendary area DJs Buddy Carr and Harley Drew. The uncut, remastered broadcast features some pretty cool commercials for Southside Datsun, Smoakes Bakery (remember when you could win a birthday cake from there?), Honda of Augusta and Shakey’s Pizza, plus some neat WBBQ jingles including the “Tiger Radio” ID spot and, of course, great music. This particular broadcast featurea tunes from The Beatles, Elvis, Chicago, Santana and Gladys Night & the Pips. Why am I bringing this up? Well, it just so happens that several copies of this great broadcast are available on eBay and well worth the $10. If you want a piece of history that will bring back some great memories, get online and get a copy. Search for Buddy Carr Rock Radio Show at EBAY.COM.
Columbia County is gearing up to pay tribute to hot country music act Lady Antebellum (featuring Augusta boys Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood) at the kick-off for the new Evans Town Center Park on Oct. 28. However, the most original – not to mention corniest – tribute to the trio already happened last month in Grovetown. The band’s logo was recreated at the five-acre Steed’s Dairy in Grovetown. Pictures of the “maize maze” show the maze to be simple, straightforward and easy to digest, much like the trio’s pop country tunes. Find out more at LADYANTEBELLUM.COM or check out the maze in person. If anyone tells you rock ‘n’ roll is dead, I am about to tell you differently. Two area music stores are in the process of relocating and expanding. The Aiken branch of Rock Bottom music is set to move to a larger spot that many feel will enable the store to all but completely take over music retail in Aiken and a large surrounding area. On a similar note, Big City Music has moved from Wrightsboro Road to its new location on Windsor Spring Road, bringing a music store back to the southside.. Both businesses look to be the prime supplier of music instruments and accessories in those areas of the CSRA. Well, looks like all the seeds and gunk have been removed from my pumpkin. Now all that’s left to do is funk with it a while until it’s all soul. Maybe a whole different kind of “soul” than I would have gotten had I gone with the Amy Grant-o-lantern, but soul nevertheless! Until next time, remember to check those apples for razor blades, don’t eat any unwrapped candy and check out the Daily Planner in print and online at VERGELIVE.COM for great live shows. To get an earful of what is happening in Augusta music, listen CONfederation of LOUDness, which can be found, ironically enough, at CONFEDERATIONOFLOUDNESS.COM and, of course, as always … Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud.
SANTANA
If you have wandered over to the Lokal Loudness website and wondered either why it seems (a) out of date or (b) to have been taken over by the Russian mafia, well, you’re not that far off. The site, which has been online since October 1998, was recently hacked and rendered it useless. Thanks to the talents of chief webmaster Jessica King, the evil invaders were chased out of town and good and rockin’ has prevailed. Look for new content and the chance to nominate your fave lokal artists for February’s Choice Awards at LOKALLOUDNESS.COM.
John “Stoney” Cannon is considered the guru of “lokal” music. Check out his long-running Augusta music website: lokalloudness.com. Send any music news to lokalloudness@yahoo.com.
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the
daily planner
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
OCT. 19 to Nov. 5
[ BID FOR A PIECE OF HISTORY ]
Take home a little “Eamespiration” during the Eamesspirational Chairity Auction on Oct. 20. Twenty-three regional artists, designers, illustrators and architects have reimagined and embellished more than 100 original Eames chairs, discovered in the old Greene Street Library auditorium. The chairs, circa 1960, are icons of mid-century furniture. The molded plastic chairs, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, were the first industrially manufactured plastic chairs. From the highly stylized creations of Chris Rucker to the timeless elegant designs of Matthew Buzzell to the bright colors of Studio 3 Design, there is a chair – or pair – for any décor. Not ready to be the highest bidder? Purchase a $10 raffle ticket for a chance to win a teak table with four Eames chairs recreated by designer J. Quarles. All funds raised will benefit the new Headquarters Library. WHAT The Eamesspirational Chairity Auction WHERE Augusta Headquarters Library | 823 Telfair St. WHEN Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. TICKETS $50 MORE 706.821.2600 or ECGRL.ORG The Daily Planner is our selective guide to what is going on in the city during the next two weeks. IF YOU WANT TO BE LISTED: Submit information by email (events@vergelive.com) or by mail (verge, P.O. Box 38, Augusta, GA 30903). Details of the event - date, time, venue address, telephone number and admission price - should be included. Listings included are accurate at press time, check with specific venues for further details.
WEDNESDAY
10.19
CONCERT FACULTY ARTISTS RECITAL USC Aiken
Etherredge Center; 5:30 p.m.; free; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3305
program based on the Big Read from National Endowment for the Arts. Family entertainment show features Bob Franklin as emcee, the harmonica talent of Danny Dunaway, monologues, plays and more. URS Center for the Performing Arts; 7:30 p.m.; free; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438 ACP1011.com
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP Le Chat Noir
produces its first haunted attraction that breaks from conventional theatrics to create a walk-through play that requires audiences to participate. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; $13 to $18; 304 Eighth St.; 706.722.3322 LCNAUGUSTA.COM
THURSDAY
10.20
thing as good art? Kroc Center; free; 7 p.m.; 1833 Broad St.; 706.364.5762
THEATRE AIKEN’S WILD READ VARIETY SHOW Wild
Read is a monthlong reading
Little Bees by Chris Cleave. Columbia County Library; free; 11:30 a.m.; 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946
GOOD CAUSE EAMESPIRATIONAL CHAIRITY AUCTION
Read the article above. Headquarters Library; $50; 6:30 p.m.; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2612 ECGRL.ORG
sports AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs. Surge. Read
Roy Warner Park; free; 6:30 p.m.; 4287 Festival Trail Road, Wagner, S.C.; 803.642.7559 AIKENCOUNTYSC.GOV
the article on page 39. James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 712 Telfair St.; 706.993.2645 AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM
LITERARY ANNUAL GHOSTLY NIGHT OF STORIES Local young adults
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
read their winning entries from the annual Ghost Story Writing Contest. Nancy Carson Library; free; 7 p.m.; 135 Edgefield Road, North Augusta; 803.279.5767
THEATRE OKTOBERFEST
LITERARY BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB Discussion of LITERARY PHILOSOPHY CLUB Topic: Is there such a
FILM STARLIGHT CINEMA Remember the Titans
The Augusta State University Opera Ensemble presents excerpts from German opera and operetta, including scenes from The Magic Flute, Hansel and Gretel and Die Fledermaus, sung in English. Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $5; 2500 Walton Way; 706.667.4100 AUG.EDU
Arts. Augusta State University, University Hall room 170; free; noon; 2500 Walton Way; 706.724.7501
10.21 ART LECTURE: HIGH AND LOW The first of a two-
part series. Artist and author Franklin Einspruch addresses the aesthetical debate of what qualifies as excellence in the
different locations in the library for a chance to win prizes. Headquarters Library; 5:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600
CONCERT MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE Double D
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.
FRIDAY
FOR TEENS PICTURE IT SCAVENGER HUNT Identify
outdoors CHEROKEE LEAF PAINTING Learn
about the Native American craft of leaf pounding to set a leaf print on cloth. Ages 5 and up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; $2; 4:30 p.m.; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027
REEDCREEKPARK.COM
performs ‘60s and ‘70s pop and rock classics aboard the Augusta Canal’s Petersburg Boat. Reservations required. Augusta Canal; $25; 6 p.m.; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM
history WINE + SPIRITS DINNER North Augusta Living History Park; 6 p.m.; $50; 299 West Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta; 803.279.7560 COLONIALTIMES.US
find more @ vergelive.com
[ KIDS IN THE KITCHEN ] An old proverb says: “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.” It is with this concept in mind that the Junior League of Augusta hosts the annual Kids in the Kitchen on Saturday, Oct. 30 – except that the goal is to teach children to choose healthy lifestyle choices. The afternoon is full of demonstrations and hands-on activities, from chefs preparing health recipes to instructors teaching exercise techniques. Kids in the Kitchen coincides with a national initiative to fight childhood obesity by empowering kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. WHAT Kids in the Kitchen WHERE Kroc Center | 1833 Broad St. WHEN Saturday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | Free MORE 678.603.6261 or jlaugusta.org
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[ HALLOWEEN FUN FOR FAMILIES ] It is Halloween in the CSRA and that means it’s time for festivals, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, haunted houses and much more. To help you plan your Halloween festivities, we’ve collected a handful of events great for the entire family. Going trick or treating? Augusta’s Choice has created a great map of kid-safe trick-or-treating neighborhoods at augustaschoice.com/halloween-festivities-2011.
10.21 GOOD CAUSE WE THINK PINK DINNER The Augusta Chronicle’s annual event for breast cancer awareness. Christenberry Fieldhouse; 7 p.m.; 3109 Wrightsboro Road; 706.823.3476 AUGUSTACHRONICLE.COM
CORN MAZES, HAUNTED HOUSES AND GHOST TOURS Corn Maze at the Old Frontier Oct. 22, 29 & Nov. 5 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1965 Old Milledgeville Road Spend a day on the farm going through the corn maze, mining for gems at the gem mine or feeding the animals at the petting zoo. Admission by donation (we suggest $3 to $5). 706.533.2544
HALLOWEEN DISORIENTED EXPRESS HAUNTED HOUSE Proceeds
benefit Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot and the Aiken Jaycees. Old Belk’s building in Kalmia Plaza; 7 p.m. to midnight; 10 in advance, $12 at door; 1510 Richland Ave., Aiken; 803.649.9550
Kackleberry Farm Until Nov. 13: Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 1 to 6 p.m. 1025 Verdree Road, Louisville Try the eight-acre corn maze, ride a tractor, pick a pumpkin and catch a hayride, enjoy the petting zoo. $11. 706.830.4968 or
the
daily planner
GOOD CAUSE PINK RIBBON CAR + BIKE SHOW A benefit for University Health Care Foundation to fight breast cancer. Augusta Harley-Davidson; 11 a.m.; $20; 4200 Belair Frontage Road; 706.651.0444
GOOD CAUSE LOCK, STOCK + BARREL Shooting
tournament incorporates skeet- and trap-shooting with a bluegrass band, beverages and a low country boil. Guests can also enjoy festivities at the clubhouse for $25. Proceeds benefit the Augusta Training Shop. Pinetucky Gun Club; 2 p.m.; $25 to $100 for individuals, $450 team of five; 2096 Greenland Road, Blythe, Ga.; 706.738.1358
THEATRE WHO SHOT J.R.?
In observance of Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Raisin AJ Productions presents Who Shot J.R.?, a play written by local radio personality Miss Monique and based on a true story. Imperial Theatre; $22.50 to $26.50; 7:30 p.m.; 745 Broad St.; 706.722.8341 IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM
kackleberryfarm.com
Maize at Steed’s Dairy Until Nov. 13: Friday 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. 4634 Wrightsboro Road, Grovetown Find your way through a five-acre corn maze, and then enjoy a giant jumping pillow, hayrides and a pumpkin patch. $9 to $12. 706.855.2948 or steedsdairy.com
FRIDAY
Ghost Trolley Tours Ongoing: Friday and Saturday | 7 and 9 p.m. Discover the ghosts that lurk in downtown Augusta in this 75-minute guided tour. $22 ages 13 and older, $12 ages 5 to 12. Reservations required. 706.364.6608 or
Haunted Forest at Graystone Until Nov. 6: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Graystone Ranch Wildlife Education Center, 1017 McManus Road, Hephzibah Have the “boo scared out of you,” then enjoy fireworks and free treat bags. Admission includes Graystone’s petting zoo, hay rides and more. $10, weekend pass.
augustaghosttrolley.com
graystoneranch.com
THEATRE DEARLY DEPARTED Comedy takes
place in the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, where the Turpin family finds out that dying in the South is seldom tidy and always hilarious. William Miller Bouknight Theatre; 8 p.m.; $15; 405 Main St., Edgefield, S.C.; 803.637.3833
FOR TEENS MANGA MANIA WORKSHOP Learn
basic Manga drawing skills with Xavier Jones. Registration required. Headquarters Library; 2 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG
THEATRE THE CRUCIBLE See listing on Oct. 21. Aiken Community Playhouse; 3 and 8 p.m.
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.
SATURDAY FALL FESTIVAL AND SAFE TRICK-oR-TREATING ICCS Fall Carnival Games, face painting, fire truck rides, a petting zoo and more. Tara Scheyer & the Mud Puppy Band perform at 10 a.m. Oct. 22; 9 a.m. to noon; free; 811 Telfair St.; 706.722.9964 Fall FOX Family Funfest Free amusement rides, musical performances and educational booths. Oct. 22; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Evans; 706.868.3349 The Sanctuary Family Fest Food, carnival games, rides and trunk-or-treat. Oct. 26; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; free; 302 Byrd Road, Evans Safe Trick-or-Treat at USC Aiken Trick-or-treat in a safe environment with games and a fun haunted house. Oct. 27; 5:30 to 7 p.m.; free; Pacer Commons, USC Aiken, 471 University Parkway; 803.641.2171
Family Y Trunk-or-Treat Trunk-or-treat fun in the Wilson Family Y parking lot. Oct. 29; 10 a.m. to noon; free; 3570 Wheeler Road; 706.922.9623 Trick-or-Treat on Newberry Street Aiken’s downtown puts on this Halloween Festival with carnival games, a costume contest for all ages and trunk-or-treating. Oct. 29; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; free; Newberry Street, Aiken; 803.642.7631 Augusta SDA School Fall Festival An evening of games, food and fun. Oct. 29; 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Tickets for games can be purchased with cash or Box Tops for Education.; 4301 Wheeler Road First Baptist Fall Festival Trunk-or-treating, inflatables and carnival games. Oct. 30; 4:30 to 7 p.m.; free; accepting donations of canned goods; 3500 Walton Way Ext.; 706.733.2236.
Aldersgate UMC Trunkor-Treat Parade of costumes, pumpkin carving contest and hot dog dinner. Oct. 30; 5 to 6:30 p.m.; free; accepting donations of canned goods for the Golden Harvest Food Bank; 3185 Wheeler Road; 706.733.4416 Fall Festival + Trunk-orTreat Sweetwater Church of God welcomes all for fun, food, prizes and more. Oct. 31; 6 to 8 p.m.; free; 1444 Edgefield Road, North Augusta, S.C.; 803.279.6100 Hillcrest Baptist Trunkor-Treat Trunk-or-treat, drawings, games and more. $3 hot dog supper will benefit the Children’s Ministry. Oct. 31; 6 p.m.; free; 3045 Deans Bridge Road; 706.793.3104 Listings provided by AUGUSTASCHOICE.COM.
10.22 education CANAL DISCOVERY WALKS: The
Stallings Island Culture. Learn about Early Archaic people the Savannah River Valley with Rowe Bowen, PhD. Savannah Rapids Pavilion; 10 a.m.; $1 to $2; 3300 Evans to Locks Road; 706.823.0440
film MOVIE MARATHON
Featuring Blacula, The Blob and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Headquarters Library; 11 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.
SUNDAY
10.23 education CANAL DISCOVERY WALKS The Stallings Island Culture. See listing on Oct. 22; Savannah Rapids Pavilion; 3 p.m.
THEATRE DEARLY DEPARTED See listing on Oct.
sports SOUL CITY SIRENS vs. the Urge from Greenville, S.C. Red Wing Rollerway; 6 p.m.; 3065 Washington Road; 706.860.1548 SOULCITYSIRENS.COM
MONDAY
10.24
College; 3 p.m.; free; 1235 15th St.; 706.821.8200 PAINE.EDU
outdoors AUTUMN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Share and critique photographs, discuss equipment and technique and take photographs at the park. For ages 12 and up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; 4 p.m.; $5; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM
history SPIRITS OF HALLOWED EVE North
Augusta Living History Park; 6 p.m.; free; 299 West Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta; 803.279.7560
film WHITE FANG Half wolf, half dog, White Fang fully understands the cruelty of both nature and humans. After nearly starving to death during the frigid Artic winter, he’s taken first by a man who trains him through constant whippings, and then by another who forces him to participate in dog fights. Follow White Fang as he overcomes these obstacles and finally meets someone who offers him kindness and love. Nancy Carson Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 135 Edgefield Road, North Augusta; 803.279.5767 for kids HALLOWEEN PARTY Wear your costume to
enjoy treats, crafts, games and other activities. Friedman Branch Library; 6 p.m.; free; 1447 Jackson Road; 706.736.6758
LITERARY NONFICTION BOOK CLUB Discussion of
Gracefully Insane by Alex Bean. Columbia County Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG
for kids AUTUMN ACORN BIKE RIDE Event
benefits the Augusta Area Dietetic Association. Lake Olmstead bulkhead; 9 a.m.; $10; Milledge and Lake Shore roads; 706.627.5864
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
CONCERT FUNK YOU Paine
County Public Library; 3 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St., Aiken; 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG
Historical play about events in the Salem witch trials contains some violence, suitable for children 13 and older. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.; $12; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438 ACP1011.com
21. William Miller Bouknight Theatre; 8 p.m.
21. William Miller Bouknight Theatre; 3 p.m.
film THE GREEN LANTERN Rated PG-13. Aiken
THEATRE THE CRUCIBLE
THEATRE DEARLY DEPARTED See listing on Oct.
outdoors SUNSET BIKE RIDE Community ride
on the Greeneway. Boeckh Park Pavilion; 7 p.m.; free; Hammond’s Ferry; 803.613.1641 HAMMONDSFERRY.COM
sports AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs. Huntsville.
James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 712 Telfair St.; 706.993.2645
THEATRE ARMY SOLDIER SHOW High-energy, high-tech
show features some of the best talent in the Army. Alexander Hall; 8 p.m.; free; 32100 Third Ave., Fort Gordon; 706.793.8552
film THE ILLUSIONIST
Rated PG. Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature and based on an original screenplay by French humorist Jacques Tati. Augusta State University, University Hall room 170; 7 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1405 AUG.EDU
LITERARY LONDON CALLS
Retired librarian Sally Farris leads a discussion of Call of the Wild, Jack London’s most famous book. Nancy Carson Library; 7 p.m.; free; 135 Edgefield Road, North Augusta; 803.279.5767 ABBE-LIB.ORG
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TUESDAY
10.25
CONCERT USCA JAZZ BAND USC Aiken Etherredge
Center; 8 p.m.; free; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.
FRIDAY CONCERT TUESDAY MUSIC LIVE Featuring the Fred Moyer
Jazz Trio. Lunch is provided after concert. Reservations required. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; noon; $10; Sixth and Reynolds streets; 706.722.3463 TUESDAYSMUSICLIVE.COM
CONCERT USC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Comprised
of more than 75 college and graduate students, the symphony’s sparkling performances demonstrate a musical maturity beyond the age of the performers. First Baptist Church of Aiken; 7:30 p.m.; 120 Chesterfield St., Aiken; 803.643.4774
LITERARY OSWALD WRITER’S SERIES
Featuring John Lane. USC Aiken Etherredge Center; 8 p.m.; free; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.
THURSDAY
10.27
education GENEALOGY CLASS Topic is Ghostbusters:
investigating haunted houses. Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600
10.28
history LOCAL LEGENDS OPENING New permanent
exhibition celebrates the talent of area entertainers and other notable personalities. Augusta Museum of History; $2 to $4; 560 Reynolds St.; 706.722.8454
GOOD CAUSE GREAT STRIDES FORE CYSTIC FIBROSIS See article on page
5. Forest Hills Golf Club; 11 a.m.; $125, $500 for foursome; 1500 Comfort Road; 706.721.4658
ART LECTURE: HIGH AND
LOW The second of a two-part series. Artist Art Rosenbaum, Augusta State University professor Dr. Michael Schwartz and others continue the aesthetical discussion of what constitutes high and low art. Morris Museum of Art; noon; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501
outdoors CATCH THE SUN Collect colorful leaves
A Shakespeare experiment with magician Chad Crews. Nancy Carson Library; 7 p.m.; free; 135 Edgefield Road, North Augusta, S.C.; 803.279.5767
The 1960s legend, who has written countless songs including “Calendar Girl,” “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and “Oh Carol,” joins Maestro Kuwahara and Symphony Orchestra Augusta for a performance that is part of the Pops at the Bell series. Bell Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; $13.08 and up; 712 Telfair St.; 706.826.4705 AUGUSTASYMPHONY.ORG
sports AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs. Louisiana. James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 712 Telfair St.; 706.993.2645
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.
SATURDAY
10.29
GOOD CAUSE DISC GOLF FOR KIDS’ SAKE HALLOWEEN BASH Read
article on page 15. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia. Wildwood Park; 8 a.m.; $35; 3828 Dogwood Lane, Appling; 706.541.0586 DISCGOLFFORKIDSSAKE.ORG
Arts and crafts vendors, entertainment, attractions, games, raffles and a costume contest. Proceeds benefit the Christian Giles Scholarship Fund to alleviate financial burdens on Richmond and Columbia county teachers. Augusta Common; 10 a.m.; attractions are 50 cents; 836 Reynolds St.; 706.855.5035
on page 7. Tabernacle Baptist Church; 9 a.m.; $20; 1116 Phillips St.; 706.724.3576
FESTIVAL SPOOK-TACULAR
[ GET READY FOR HOCKEY ] The Augusta Riverhawks Hockey Team begins a new season on Oct. 20 at the James Brown Arena, with a rematch of last season’s championship game versus the Mississippi Surge. Now in their second year in Augusta, the Riverhawks boasted the best inaugural season in the league, with incredible on-ice success that launched them to the finals. Organizers are hoping that the season opening rematch draws an even larger crowd than last year, which averaged 1,700 people per event. “We have a lot of special events planned for this season, but opening night should stand alone as a rematch of the finals,” said Candace Whitehead, the director of ticketing. “The lower level is going to be sold out and all tickets are going quickly. It’s been six months since we’ve had any hockey in Augusta and people are going to be excited to see the new team and the new look of the jerseys.” Future home games will carry themes such as Harleys and Hockey Night, Faith and Family Night, Pink in the Rink, St. Patrick’s Night and the Oct. 28 Star Wars Night featuring the 501st Georgia Garrison of Storm Troopers, who will be raising money for charity at the event. “Those who haven’t experienced hockey here in the past should definitely come out for a completely different type of entertainment,” said Whitehead. “We try to make every game as interactive as possible.” Parents might want to take advantage of Monkey Joe’s Kid Zone, featuring several inflatables and activities for a small fee. Games last about 2.5 hours. Upper deck seats are $10, lower deck $14 and at the glass $18. Military ID card holders, students and seniors need pay only $10 for any seat.
WHAT Opening Night: Augusta Riverhawksvs. the Missisippi Surge WHERE James Brown Arena WHEN Thursday, Oct. 20 | 7:35 p.m. TICKETS $10 to $18 BUY 706.262.4567 or GEORGIALINATIX.COM MORE | riverhawksbc.com CONCERT MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE Erica
Sunshine Lee performs country and Southern rock music aboard the Augusta Canal’s Petersburg Boat. Bring aboard snacks and beverages and enjoy live music on a 1.5-hour tour of the canal. Reservations required. Augusta Canal; 6 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440
education THIS PLACE MATTERS See article on page CONCERT NEIL SEDAKA
21. William Miller Bouknight Theatre; 8 p.m.
FOR TEENS NIGHT OF THE UNDEAD Wear old clothing
benefit the CSRA Partnership for Community Health. Paine College, Gilbert-Lambuth Chapel; 7 p.m.; 1235 15th St.; 706.821.8200 PAINE.EDU
daily planner
THEATRE DEARLY DEPARTED See listing on Oct.
education THIS PLACE MATTERS Read the article
(in case there is a lot of blood) and zombie makeup for dinner and deadly fun. Headquarters Library; 5:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600
the
in the Peace Corps, James, a young speech therapist, joins the faculty of a school for the deaf, where he meets Sarah, a dropout who was deaf from birth. Oct. 28 show is interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.; 17; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438 ACP1011.com
and make suncatchers. Ages 5 and up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; 4:30 p.m.; $5; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM
GOOD CAUSE HALLELUJAH FOR HEALTH Proceeds
for kids SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD After three years
7. Tabernacle Baptist Church; 7 p.m.; $20; 1223 Laney-Walker Blvd.; 706.724.3576
sports SANDY OAKS PRO RODEO Lazy J Arena;
history LAST SATURDAY IN THE PARK Everything
Pumpkins scarecrow contest display. North Augusta Living History Park; 10:30 a.m.; free; 299 West Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta; 803.279.7560 COLONIALTIMES.US
THEATRE CINDERELLA
Storyland Theatre presents an original musical based on the classic tale. Imperial Theatre; 3 p.m.; $5, active military families free; 745 Broad St.; 706.736.3455 STORYLANDTHEATRE.ORG
CONCERT HEPHZIBAH OPRY Concert held on the
last Saturday of each month. Hephzibah Opry; 6:30 p.m.; free, love offering taken to cover expenses; 4406 Brothersville Road, Hephzibah; 706.306.7537
MONDAY
THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD See listing
page 35. Kroc Center; 1 p.m.; free; 1833 Broad St.; 678.603.6261
on Oct. 28. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.
Oct. 21. William Miller Bouknight Theatre; 8 p.m.
CONCERT AN EVENING OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC Featuring Kevin Burke
THEATRE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL BOOT CAMP See listing on
film ANIMATED SHORTS
Oct. 21. William Miller Bouknight Theatre; 3 p.m.
10.30 10.31
THEATRE DEARLY DEPARTED See listing on
for Halloween: Scared Shrekless and Monsters vs. Pumpkins. Aiken County Public Library; 3 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St., Aiken; 803.42.2020
SUNDAY
THEATRE DEARLY DEPARTED See listing on
2237 S.C. Highway 23 W, Edgefield, S.C.; 803.637.5369 SANDYOAKSPRORODEO.ORG
sports SANDY OAKS PRO RODEO Lazy J Arena; 7:30 p.m.;
7:30 p.m.; 2237 S.C. Highway 23 W, Edgefield, S.C.; 803.637.5369 SANDYOAKSPRORODEO.ORG
and Cal Scott. See article on page 21. Enterprise Mill Event Center; 8 p.m.; $15 in advance, $20 at the door; 1450 Greene St.; 706.267.5416
fourth annual Halloween party. There will be a DJ, libations, victuals, costume contest and more. Le Chat Noir; 10 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.; 706.722.3322
Oct. 19. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; 304 Eighth St.
halloween BLACK CAT BALL Play with the cast and
crew of the Zombie Apocalypse Bootcamp at Le Chat Noir’s
for kids KIDS IN THE KITCHEN Read the article on
film WAR STORIES Video presents recollections of WWII veterans from the CSRA. Their stories describe dramatic events from overseas and within the Aiken/Augusta area. The 70-minute video was produced by Mark Albertin of Scrapbook Video Productions and includes 23 veterans interviewed over three years for the national Veterans History Project. Aiken Community Playhouse; 2 p.m.; free; 124 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 706.738.8242
film THE SILENT HOUSE
Unrated, in Spanish with subtitles. Filmed in a single continuous shot of 78 minutes and based on a true events that occurred in the late ‘40s in a small village in Uruguay, the film focuses on Laura who intends to leave a house that hides an obscure secret, unharmed. Augusta State University, University Hall room 170; 7 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1405 AUG.EDU
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 39
between the
covers ARE YOU WHAT YOU READ?
best of the best cookbooks Have you ever read the perfect recipe in a cooking magazine and then been unable to remember it? You might go to the local library to find a back issue or contact the magazine. Or you could check out one of these “Best Of” cookbook compilations: The Bon Appetit Cookbook, The Essential Eating Well Cookbook, The Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook, The Best Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated and 1001 Ways to Cook Southern from Southern Living. You won’t find page after page of glossy photos in these cookbooks. Instead, all of these hefty tomes are loaded with great recipes. Eating Well has the fewest at about 350 and Bon Appetit tops the scale with more than 1,200 recipes. All five cookbooks are based on the same basic concept: A team of chefs and other cooking professionals test and choose the very best recipes from an already good selection. The cookbook that best fulfills this concept is Best Recipe. Not only do the test-cooks taste and improve all the recipes, but they also analyze the component ingredients in an almost scientific way. If this sounds boring, then you will be pleasantly surprised when you read how they find the “best recipe.” The questions that they answer in pursuit of the perfect potato salad are a great example: Does it matter what kind of potato you use and should you peel it? Should you put the vinegar on the potatoes before the other ingredients? According to Best Recipe, the potatoes should be firm after cooking, not mushy, so you should use unpeeled, red (lowstarch) potatoes. If you peel the potatoes, or use starchy (yellow or white) potatoes, they will get mushy. Starchy potatoes are also not best because they absorb too much of the vinegar. Adding some vinegar to the red potatoes before the other ingredients does improve the salad’s flavor. I decided to test out these guidelines myself by making a potato salad recipe from each of the five cookbooks. Best Recipe says that there are three basic components added to any potato salad: an acidic ingredient, a fatty ingredient and spices. I found they were right about both their cooking guidelines and the basic components, so I compared the different recipes for tasty variations on the basics. I thought the best acidic ingredient, used by both Southern Living and Vegetarian Times, was lime juice, instead of vinegar or pickle juice. The best fatty ingredient, used by Eating Well, was plain yogurt, instead of mayonnaise, buttermilk, or olive oil. The best spice, used by Best Recipe, was tarragon, instead of parsley or cilantro. And for a twist, the best special ingredient, used by Southern Living, was hot peppers, instead of red bell peppers, pickles or Dijon mustard. All of the potato salad recipes were fun to try and delicious to eat, but the best overall was Eating Well’s with a smorgasbord of ingredients to really jazz up the potatoes, including capers, pickles, anchovy paste, onions, celery and more! Based on my potato salad experiment alone, I would say that Eating Well is the best. On the other hand, the others have some unique features that add to their value. The huge size of Bon Appetit is its best feature; it includes some types of recipes left out by most of the others, such as jams and drinks, although Best Recipe does include nonalcoholic drinks and Southern Living includes jams. While all have some information on beginning cookery, Best Recipe has more than 200 illustrations of basic techniques. Southern Living, Eating Well and Vegetarian Times have recommended combinations of their recipes for complete meals, especially for holidays and entertaining. Although the basic slant of Eating Well and Vegetarian Times is toward healthy meals, I have to give them a bonus for providing nutritional information. Mostly vegetarian myself, I was pleased to see that Vegetarian Times was not the only one to include vegetarian recipes. Bon Appetit and Eating Well include sections on vegetarian main courses, while Bon Appetit and Best Recipe include sections on beans and grains. All of the cookbooks, even Southern Living, include some unusual international recipes. The more I think about which one might be the best of the best, the only conclusion I can make is that I need to try more of the recipes. I might have to buy a few of these and get rid of some tired ones. I wish you all the cooking and eating joy that reading these “Best Of ” cookbooks can bring. by MICHAEL SWAN, DIRECTOR OF THE AIKEN LIBRARY
40 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
MONDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
10.31 11.4 11.5 GOOD CAUSE SCARE CANCER Stop by Halloween
TUESDAY
11.1
ART OPENING RECEPTION: QUILT EXHIBIT Popular exhibit runs through Dec. 31. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History; 3 p.m.; $2 to $5; 1116 Phillips St.; 706.724.3576
largest event to raise awareness and money for Alzhimer care, support and research. Augusta Common; 9 a.m.; donations; 836 Reynolds St.; 706.731.9060
film FILMS ON FRIDAY
View the comedic masterpiece The Lady Eve, starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck. Afterwards, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion. Morris Museum of Art; noon; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG
FESTIVAL FIRST FRIDAY
Arts galleries display new works, performers take to the sidewalks and streets and arts and craft vendors sell their handmade goods. Family friendly. Downtown Augusta; 5 p.m.; free; Broad Street; 706.826.4702 AUGUSTAARTS.COM
ART CYNDY EPPS RECEPTION Artist is latest to
film RACE TO NOWHERE
Film seeks to mobilize families, educators and policy makers to challenge current assumptions about education and how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. Etherredge Center; 7 p.m.; 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC; 803.641.3305
THEATRE MAMMA MIA
This ultimate feel-good show combines ABBA’s greatest hits with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Bell Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; 712 Telfair St.; 706.724.2400 GEORGIALINATIX.COM
WEDNESDAY
11.3
FESTIVAL FIRST THURSDAY ON KINGS WAY Enjoy an evening out
in Summerville as stores stay open, refreshments are served and friendships are made. Kings Way in Summerville; 5 p.m.; free; Kings Way; 706.755.2665
ART OYSTERS ON TELFAIR Annual fundraiser features music, oysters, food and a silent auction of small works by more than 50 regional artists. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 6 p.m.; $50 to $65; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495
join Gallery on the Row. Event features the Mo Chicken Blues Band. Gallery on the Row; 5 to 9:30 p.m.; free; 1016 Broad St.; 706.724.4989
CONCERT MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE Rob Foster
and Utake use mellow and meditative bamboo flutes to perform newage and jazz musicaboard the Augusta Canal’s Petersburg Boat. Reservations required. Augusta Canal; 6 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440
CONCERT COVENANT CONCERT SERIES The
Selkie Celtic Band presents a Celtic music discussion and demonstration then performs original compositions from the traditions of the British Isles and Euope. Covenant Presbyterian Church; 6:30 p.m.; free, offering taken; 3131 WaltonWay; 706.733.0513 COVENANTAUGUSTA.ORG
CONCERT MUSIC IN BOECKH PARK Karen
Gordon plays jazz. Hammonds Ferry; 7 p.m.; free; 506 Front St., North Augusta
THEATRE THE WOMEN OF TROY See listing on Nov. 3.
Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.
sports AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs.
Columbus James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 712 Telfair St.; 706.993.2645 AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM
HUNTING BELLE MEADE HUNT OPENING MEET
Ride along on a Tally-ho wagon for what is likely the largest opening day meet of any foxhunt in the world, riding through the historic sites and beautiful rolling countryside of McDuffie County, following hunters and hounds on a simulated fox hunt. Belle Meade Hunt; 9 a.m.; TBA; 3532 Wrightsboro Road, Thomson; 706.597.1000
ART PAINT THE TOWN
Downtown’s Artists Row galleries host a variety of art demonstrations. Artists Row, downtown Augusta; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; free; along Broad and Eighth Streets; 706.724.4989 GALLERYONTHEROW.COM
CONCERT WAR & PEACE
The Augusta Choral Society performs. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 7:30 p.m.; free; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4700 SACREDHEARTAUGUSTA.ORG
ONGOING
ART
ART STUDIO-F: MONOPRINTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA + MEDIUM ANXIETY Ends Oct. 25. Georgia Southern University; free; 233 Pittman Drive, Statesboro; 912.478.2787
CAROLINA’S GOT ART
Ends Oct. 29. Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta; 100 Georgia Ave., North Augusta; 803.441.4380
YOU + YOUR DOG Part of the Art Center’s Wild with Dogs Exhibition. Ends Oct. 29. Aiken Center for the Arts; free; 122 Laurens St. SW, Aiken; 803.641.9094
THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD See listing
on Oct. 28. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.
CONCERT FREDDY COLE THEATRE THE WOMEN OF TROY Presented by the
Augusta State University Theatre. Through strong pacifist and feminist opinions, Euripides explores the devastating features of post-war landscape, an environment without a glimmer of hope, especially for women. Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $5 to $10; 2500 Walton Way; 706.667.4100 AUG.EDU
daily planner
GOOD CAUSE ALZ MEMORY WALK Nation’s
party for drinks and food to benefit 12 Bands and fight pediatric cancer. Home of Patti Ann and Greg Smith; 7 p.m.; donation; Highland Avenue and McDowell Street; 706.664.5595
12BANDS.ORG
the
USC Aiken Etherredge Center; 8 p.m.; $40 adults, $20 students; 471 University Parkway; 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU
sports PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING USC
Convocation Center; 8 p.m.; $13 to $16; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3714
WHISKEY PAINTERS Ends Nov. 1. Zimmerman Gallery; free; 1006 Broad St.; 706.774.1006 ART ROSENBAUM Ends Nov. 7. Morris Museum of Art; $5; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THE EBONY LEGACY EXHIBITION Ends Oct. 31.
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History; $5; 1116 Phillips St.; 706.724.3576
for ongoing and weekly events see the daily planner @ vergelive.com
[ A TASTE OF ART AT THE KROC ] The grand opening of the new Salvation Army of Augusta Kroc Center was in August, but the Salvation Army’s vision of healthier lives – spiritually and physically – continues through arts, education and music. In partnership with The Art Factory, the center is offering a variety of classes for all ages. The Art Factory is providing the majority of the visual, dramatic, music and dance classes. The center will also partner with other organizations to expand their programming in the future. In September, the Kroc Center invited the media to sample some of the new classes. Since my stick figures don’t even resemble human form, I jumped at the chance. Tamika Mason, the Kroc’s arts and education manager, is coordinating the classes. “We are offering introductory classes and hope that those students will continue to the next level. We wanted to offer the community something different. This is a brand new program and so far the reaction has been very good. The instructors are very knowledgeable and the feedback is good. We just need to get the word out now,” Mason said. As a child, my mother hung every piece of artwork I brought home. During college, art history was one of my favorite classes. As an art writer, the visual arts motivate me to create in a different form. Since it has been a while since my childhood drawings, I was looking forward to the introduction to drawing class. I arrived early and had a chance to talk with the instructor. Lorenzo Williams, an art education teacher at Butler High School, has been teaching students the elements and principles of design for years. He has won several teaching awards and has been a professional artist for more than 20 years. His passion for art education is contagious. “If you have art education, it will spark ideas,” Williams explained. “Knowing the elements and principles of design helps you communicate your art work to the public. I wish I would have learned those a long time ago.” As promised, he started with the basics. After a short introduction to the elements – line, shape, form, color, value, texture and space, Williams gave us warm-up exercises. He explained that value refers to the degree of darkness or light. I
worked on the first set of blank boxes. At first, shading the boxes seemed easy. But, as I started to shade from dark to light, some of them looked the same. Williams offered a few tips on shading. One of those was to start at the light boxes and move up darkening as needed. Once my boxes were filled, I got a “thumbs up” and started working on the second handout. This one was a little more difficult. In each of the 14 boxes, the class was to draw or shade using the some of the elements. We were told to also incorporate the principles of balance, movement, rhythm, contrast, emphasis, pattern and unity. As I worked on line, shape and form, I looked around to see how the other students were doing. A woman sitting next to me definitely showed promise of being an artist. Her drawing of different types and colors of lines, compared with my box of black squiggly lines, was a work of art. I learned that lines are not all the same: They can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal, straight or curved, thick or thin. The element of texture was a challenge as I tried to draw a piece of fabric with raised embroidery. My drawing of the sheer material with dots looked like a box with measles. Williams told us that textures do not always feel the way they look. A texture can be expressed by looking at an object and recreating it on paper without having the feel of the object. “You can also use words to express texture. If you write the word rope in the shape of a rope, you have drawn the texture of a rope,” Williams added. By the end of the class I was hooked. On my next shopping trip, I plan to pick up a drawing pad and colored pencils. I might not be a Picasso, but with a few art classes, those stick figures might start to look a little human. The next session begins the week of Oct. 31. Available art classes include mixed media, painting, drawing and pottery. Classes in dance and acting will also be offered. The classes are open to all ages and skill levels. For a complete schedule, call 706.364.4064 or visit krocaugusta.org. article and photo by KAREN E. FARLEY
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 41
42 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
night
A SELECTIVE GUIDE TO NIGHTLIFE IN THE CSRA
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26
FRIDAY, NOV. 4
MIRANDA POKRYZYWINSKI @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 6:30 p.m.
THE REDHEADS @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 6:30 p.m.
80s Night featuring new art by Billy S. @ Sky City | 8 p.m.; $5
COMEDY ZONE: Ed Caylor and Jared Stern @ Somewhere in Augusta | 8 p.m.; $8
COMEDY ZONE: Claude Stuart and Herbie Gill @ Somewhere in Augusta | 8 p.m.; $8
SATURDAY, NOV. 5
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
THURSDAY, OCT. 27
OPEN MIC NIGHT hosted by Matthew Acosta @ Sky City 8 p.m.
The Graveyard Boulevard + Onion Stew @ First Round Sports Bar | 9 p.m.; $5
JASON SHEPARD @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9:30 p.m.
JOE STEVENSON @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9:30 p.m.
FUNK YOU @ Surrey Tavern 10:30 p.m.; $5
ERIC LEE BEDDINGFIELD ERIC LEE BEDDINGFIELD @ Coyote’s | 8 p.m.; $5 after 9 p.m. FUNK YOU @ Surrey Tavern 10 p.m.; $5
FRIDAY, OCT. 21
BLOODFEST 17 @ Sky City 8 p.m.; $7
WEEKLY
DEAD CONFEDERATE
DEAD CONFEDERATE @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $10
FRIDAY, OCT. 28
TUESDAYS TRIVIA @ Mellow Mushroom Evans | 8 p.m. TRIVIA @ Mellow Mushroom Downtown | 8 p.m.
BLOODKIN + BISCUITS & GRADY @ Sky City | 8 p.m.; $5
Trivia with Charles @ Somewhere in Augusta | 8 p.m.
DALLAS MARTIN BAND @ Coyote’s | 8 p.m.; $5 after 9 p.m.
JOE OLDS BAND @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; $5 after 9 p.m.
Twisted Trivia @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.
THE LAROXES @ The Playground Bar | 9 p.m.
ESKIMOJITOS + Halloween party @ Metro Pub & Coffeehouse | 9 p.m.
TRIVIA @ Soiree | 9 p.m.
DALLAS MARTIN BAND
MATT ACOSTA @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9:30 p.m. HOLMAN AUTRY BAND @ Country Club | 10 p.m.; $3 girls, $5 guys after 8:30 p.m.
HALLOWEEN PARTY @ Somewhere in Augusta 9:30 p.m. JAR @ Somewhere in Augusta 9:30 p.m. CORDOUROY ROAD @ Still Water Taproom | 10 p.m.; $4
PAPA STRING BAND
THOMAS TILLMAN @ Country Club | 10 p.m.; $3 girls, $5 guys after 8:30 p.m.
PAPA STRING BAND @ Still Water Taproom | 10 p.m.; $5
SATURDAY, OCT. 29
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
HALLOWEEN PARTY with John Karl @ Country Club | 10 p.m.
BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL 19801989 CLASS REUNION @ Sky City | 8 p.m. TFS HALLOWEEN RAVE Featuring Nightmare on Ellis St., LinearNorth, Polyphase and Number5 @ Sector 7G 8 p.m.; $5
TURF WAR @ Sky City | 9 p.m.
MONDAY, OCT. 31
ROMANCE LANGUAGES + SURF/HARP Halloween show @ Soul Bar | 9 p.m.; $2
SUNDAY, OCT. 23
FUNK YOU HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA featuring Matt Acosta @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2
HALEY DRIES @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 6:30 p.m.
SOUL CITY SIRENS AFTER BOUT PARTY @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCT. 25
Erik Smallwood @ Wild Wing Café | 10 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS DRINK + DROWN @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; $15
THE PROFILER: Ütaké
Krazy Karaoke @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.
GENRE mellow new age
THURSDAYS TANGO NIGHT @ Casa Blanca Café | 6 p.m. KARAOKE @ Coyote’s | 8 p.m. $5 after 9 p.m. SINGER/ SONGWRITER OPEN MIC CONTEST @ The Playground Bar | 9 p.m.; $5 SASHA’S SHOW @ Club Argos 9 p.m. FRIDAYS A Step Up @ Doubletree Hotel 6 p.m.
SOUTHSIDE OF THE TRACKS @ Coyote’s | $5 after 9 p.m. JASON JONES @ Country Club 10 p.m.; $3 girls, $5 guys after 8:30 p.m.
life
THRU nov. 5
COMEDY ZONE: James Sibley and Dan Whitehurst @ Somewhere in Augusta 8 p.m.; $8
THURSDAY, NOV. 3
EYE OF ABRAM + UNCROWNED + MY LATEST FASHION @ Sky City | 8 p.m.; $3
Doc Easton Smooth Jazz @ French Market Grille West 7 p.m. SATURDAYS DJ C-4 @ The Loft | 9 p.m.
FIND THE VENUE
the country club @ 2834 Washington Road; 706.364.1862 CASA BLANCA CAFE @ 936 Broad St.; 706.504.3431 club argos @ 1923 Walton Way; 706.481.8829 Coyote’s @ 2512 Peach Orchard Road; 706.560.9245 DOUBLETREE HOTEL @ 2512 Peach Orchard Road; 706.855.8100 FIRST ROUND SPORTS BAR @ 210 11th St; 706.364.8278
MEMBERS Rob Foster – shakuhachi bamboo flute, Northal “Not” Gaddy – drums/percussion
MUSIC Rob Foster plays with several projects in Augusta, including a jazz ensemble. But it is a
stripped-down version of his group Ütaké – Foster and Not Gaddy – that will serenade guests on an upcoming Augusta Canal Moonlight Cruise. The Canal Authority refers to Foster’s music as “mellow and meditative bamboo flute music.” Foster takes the Eastern approach to music and believes that the silence between songs and chords is just as important as the sound itself. He also says that texture and rhythm are vital to the sound Ütaké will play for the cruise. “We play a tune or two and then just listen to the sounds of nature,” Foster says. “I will have some haiku and some poetry about nature interspersed during the show.”
HISTORY Foster has been playing jazz since middle school and has performed with someof the world’s most renowned musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie. He is now a professor of music at Augusta State University and directs the ASU Jazz Ensemble. His passion is the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute, and he plays several woodwind instruments and the saxophone. HORIZON Dubbed the “Zen Flute Cruise,” Ütaké takes to the canal on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and advance reservations are required. Call 706.823.0440 or visit AUGUSTACANAL.COM. D.I.Y. robfostermusic.com or check out his album with the Russian Dragon Band, How’s That at HOWSTHATCD.COM.
FRENCH MARKET GRILLE WEST @ 368 Furys Ferry Road; 706.855.5111 THE LOFT @ 917 Broad St.; 706.955.7954 manuels bread cafe @ 505 Railroad Ave., North Augusta; 803.380.1323 Metro Pub & CoffeeHouse @ 1054 Broad St.; 706.722.6468 MELLOW MUSHROOM DOWNTOWN @ 1167 Broad St.; 706.828.5578 MELLOW MUSHROOM EVANS @ 4348 Washington Road; 706.364.6756
the profiler is DINO LULL THE PLAYGROUND BAR @ 978 Broad St.; 706.724.2232 SECTOR 7G @ 631 Ellis St.; 706.496.5900 SKY CITY @ 1157 Broad St.; 706.945.1270 Soirée @ 231 The Alley, Aiken; 803.226.0097 SOUL BAR @ 984 Broad St.; 706.724.8880 Somewhere in augusta @ 2820 Washington Road; 706.739.0002 STILLWATER TAP ROOM @ 974 Broad St.; 706.826.9857
SURREY TAVERN @ 471 Highland Ave.; 706.736.1221 WILD WING CAFE @ 3035 Washington Road.; 706.364.9453 Submit event listings to events@vergelive.com for inclusion in Nightlife.
find more nightlife @ vergelive.com
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 43
ask
dr. karp NO-NONSENSE NUTRITION ADVICE
Emily, at the fruits and veggies section of Publix asks…
What the heck do you do with autumn squash? Yes, it is finally autumn, so this is a great question, Emily. With all those autumn squashes showing up in the veggie bins of supermarkets, you need to know what to do with them. There’s spaghetti squash, acorn squash, butternut squash and, of course, pumpkin, to name a few. Winter squash is an inexpensive and nutritious food to eat, so don’t just use squash as part of your autumn decorations. Guess what? Squash is not just for casseroles with bacon. There are some easy, nutritious and delicious ways to cook squash that make it perfect for you and your family. Nutritionally, winter squash is a big winner! It is low in calories and salt, high in fiber, has NO fat or cholesterol, high in vitamins and CHEAP. It fills you up and can take the place of pasta at any meal. For example, butternut squash has more than 400 percent the recommended daily intake for vitamin A and is loaded with vitamin C. Honestly, aren’t you impressed? Winter squash is like a nutritional gift from Mother Nature. So, how do you cook it? Easy, easy, easy. Begin by doing some really simple things with squash. For example, buy a spaghetti squash, bring it home and then, jab it with a knife in five or six places. Next, pop it into the microwave and cook it on high. When you start smelling it and seeing liquid come out those jab holes, open up the microwave and feel the squash. If it is soft, then it is done. You need to turn it about half way in the cooking. This might take 5 to10 minutes, depending upon the size of the squash. Now, here is the part your kids will love. Simply take the squash out of the microwave (careful, hot), let it cool a bit and cut it in half. Scoop out all the seeds in the middle and then the magic begins. With a fork, begin scraping the inside of the squash and, honestly, it will turn into “spaghetti” right before your eyes. The first time I saw this, I couldn’t believe it. I have posted a video on Facebook to show you what it looks like. Next, simply use the spaghetti squash in the place of spaghetti. Top it with pasta sauce or spray it with butter spray and sprinkle on some parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Acorn squash is just as simple. Poke the squash with holes and microwave it until soft. When it has cooled a bit, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, put it on a plate as a side dish instead of, for example, potatoes. Then, drizzle (not drown) some maple syrup over the top, sprinkle on a bit of cinnamon and spray on a little butter spray. Delicious and nutritious. Let’s talk about pumpkin, next. The pumpkin dish that makes my mouth water is not pumpkin pie, it is pumpkin soup. I make it from (don’t tell anyone) CANNED pumpkin. Just take a little olive oil and cut up onions, brown them in the same pot you will use for the soup, then add the canned pumpkin, some fresh rosemary, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth (you can add salt to taste later), some skim milk mixed with low fat or nonfat liquid coffee creamer (makes it look creamier, but doesn’t add all that fat), cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper and some chopped scallions to sprinkle on the top. How much skim milk? How much broth? How much cinnamon? How much nutmeg and pepper? Who cares, just add whatever you want to your taste. So, it doesn’t come out the same way twice. I tell my guests “enjoy this soup, today, because the next time I make it, it will not taste the same.” Your kitchen is not a standardized fast food restaurant. I think the same meals should taste differently on different days, depending upon what you put into the dishes and how you feel that day. Honestly, who cares, as long as it is delicious and nutritious? If you feel intimidated by this casual approach to cooking, look up some recipes on the internet. One word of advice, put the word “healthy” before any recipe searches you perform, so you don’t end up getting recipes with butter, bacon, three tons of brown sugar, etc. Make sure to read the recipe first, since some ideas of “healthy” can be pretty strange. What is the real definition of “healthy”? Simple, it needs to follow the USDA Dietary Guidelines. So, the next time you see squash in the supermarket, pick it up, bring it home and do something with it other than use it for autumn decorations. Try it, you’ll like it! Why did I turn this column into a cooking column today? Because, I think one big area in which health professionals fail, is the ability to take important scientific nutrition information and turn it into delicious food. Ask Dr. Karp focuses on food, diet and nutrition. Dr. Warren Karp is a professor emeritus at Georgia Health Sciences University. If you have a question you would like answered in this column, email him at DrKarp@ vergelive.com, or visit his Facebook page, facebook.com/AskDrKarp or website at sites.google.com/site/drkarpverge.
44 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
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Edited by Will Shortz | by JEFF CHEN | No. 0914 Across 1 Foe of 71-Across in Mad magazine 4 Slaps on 9 Mass seating 13 Some round components 15 “There, there” 16 Stack server 17 Genetics-orenvironment debate 20 Utensil drawer compartment 21 Like guns and dump trucks, over and over 22 Brewskis 24 Shade of blue 25 “And ___ Was,” 1985 Talking Heads song 28 Decathlete’s implement 30 Brute 35 Discovery Channel survival show 38 “___ Theme” (1965 soundtrack tune) 39 Piedmont wine town 40 Neighbor of St. Kitts 42 Pack down 43 Wozniak or Jobs 45 Home-seeker’s decision 47 Usher in 49 ___ avis
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RUMINATING ON LIFE IN THE SOUTH
“I just recently finished a commissioned piece that someone wanted to give as a wedding present,” said Cherry, who specializes in graphite pencil drawings and welcomes commissions. “Business has been a little slow because of the economy, but I’ve been able to do about 10 commissioned drawings since I’ve been here. When I’m not doing commissions, I do a lot of figurative work to keep my skills fresh.”
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Mike T. Cherry Portraits and Illustrations celebrates one year at its 206 Eighth St. location this month.
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Carlos Ayala and Melissa Pryor, the couple featured in Cherry’s latest work of art, will be married on Nov. 5 at Savannah Rapids. The 18x24-inch drawing was commissioned from a digital photo for less than $300 and took about a month to complete. Cherry typically does commissions starting at $145 for an 11x14inch drawing of one person and increases in price depending on size, complexity and number of people. The portrait hung in Cherry’s store window for about a week beneath the “in progress” sign before the commissioner picked it up to have it framed less than a block up the street at Oddfellow’s Art Gallery. Although the commissioner remains anonymous, this text message sent by bridesmaid Emily Hammond on Oct. 2 might shed some light on his identity: “Your task is to get a sweet couple photo of Melissa and Carlos and do a little ‘getting hitched’ write up and submit it to verge by Wednesday,” she wrote. “The end.” Only in the South. by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
a parting shot Zombies invade augusta
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The next issue of VERGE hits the newsstands on
NOV. 2 Look for our outdoor boxes or find your copy at Publix | EarthFare Kroger | Bi-Lo and more than 150 locations in the CSRA
The rumors appear to be true: Augusta has been infected with zombies. The ghoulish undead have been spotted across the CSRA, culminating in a mass attack on Broad Street during October’s First Friday. More than 400 of the living dead took over the sidewalks, scattering the crowds and slavering for more brains. Thankfully, our heroes at Le Chat Noir have come to the rescue with the necessary training to combat the zombie plague. Don’t miss Zombie Apocalypse Survival Camp. Boot camps offered on on Oct. 19 to 22 and Oct. 25 to 29. Call 706.722.3322 to book your training session. Learn more about preparing yourself against a fullscale zombie invasion and help Augusta in her darkest hour at LCNAUGUSTA.COM. photo taken at First Friday’s Zombie Crawl by LEAH DESLANDES
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 45
46 October 19, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com
vergelive.com | community driven news | October 19, 2011 47