Verge Magazine August 2008 by verge

downtown augusta

The White’s Building Team Goes Green opening this month with eco-conscious interiors

Broad Street Bustles with New Business from jerk chicken to jewelry to jammin’ music

A Downtown Streetcar’s Desire proposed transportation system worth studying

free

august 2008

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Proposed Streetcar System Economic benefits proven to outweigh the costs

New Businesses Abound Downtown Four open this month; many more on the horizon

The New Wave of Electronic Music Local DJs fuse music together in new ways

Welcome to The Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building Green features abound in the new development

gallery: The Landscape of Slavery soundcheck: Dimlight Daylight onstage: Pret-a-Porter Fashion Show offstage: Take up Tango

Preserving the Past for the Future How historic preservation works for downtown

Le Chat Noir Raises the Bar Again 2008/2009 Season promises to amuse, challenge and thrill

experience more 5 5 7 9 11 13 27 29 33 35 41 42 43 45 47 volume one issue six

smatterings enter to win free stuff quick clips discover downtown he saw / she saw front porch / the merry family good chow pipeline: get plugged in downtown music scene printed matter / anne fadiman past times / union baptist church be a tourist in your own downtown hands across downtown / heritage academy augusta music 101 artscene on the cover: downtown as i see it #6 towering over original photograph by Annalee Narwold

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smatterings / notes from the publisher non sibi sed aliis: not for ourselves, but for others publisher Matt Plocha editor Lara Plocha pipeline editors Claire Riche & Jason Barron grammarian Gabi Hutchison web guy Andy Donnan graphics guy Ryan Davis Editorial content of verge is the opinion of each contributing writer and is not necessarily the opinion of verge, its staff or its advertisers. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

verge is printed on 50% recycled stock. It may be recycled further, please do your part. contact us 706.951.0579 publisher@vergelive.com advertising publisher@vergelive.com got a story tip? editor@vergelive.com free event listings pipeline@vergelive.com letters to the editor editor@vergelive.com mail 1124 Broad Street Augusta GA 30901 submit your ideas editor@vergelive.com www.vergelive.com

During a recent conversation, the topic of Augusta’s history arose and quickly turned to the monument walk on Greene Street (thanks, JP). The winding path down the center of Greene Street creates a walking “tour” of Augusta’s past and one worth taking. You can find out a lot about this great town we live in, and what history has to teach us. For those of you who might be new to the area, or if you are a life long resident, I also recommend a quick stop at the Augusta Common. There you will find a statue in remembrance of James Oglethorpe. When you gaze upon this statue, you are looking directly at the man who founded Augusta. Also in the Common, you can read James Oglethorpe’s orders given to Nobel Jones which instructed Jones to perform a survey of the area in 1739 after the completion of Fort Augusta. The communication by Oglethorpe to Jones clearly outlines his expectations for the development of Augusta into a vibrant city, complete with renderings. Our founding father put a lot of thought and care into the city’s construction with several demands in his lengthy discourse. The same forethought that Georgia’s founding fathers gave when they chose the colonial

state motto “non sibi sed aliis,” or “not for ourselves but for others.” Augusta’s original plan was focused on one large square/plaza, which was to be four streets deep. Fort Augusta sat adjacent to “town lots” near the river, forty total. At this moment in time, two streets (Reynolds and Ellis) were named after early colonial governers. What a long and storied history Augusta has. As with everything in life, times change, economies change, public demands change, industries change, populations change, demands from those populations change. Clearly, at this time in Augusta’s history, not unlike many others, you and I have an opportunity to be an active part of something great. As events continue to unfold, our hope is that, in a hundred years, residents will look back and say, “Wow, what an effort.” Keeping that in mind, I ask: are you involved? Are you asking yourself the question that our founding fathers were asking themselves? What can I do for others and not myself? What a challenge they put on the future of this great state. How are you living up to the motto? There are many opportunities for you to become a part of your community. Koinania. There’s that word

again. Do you get it? Let me give you another word to think about: doulos; which means to be devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. Doulos means to build a community that has the interests of others in mind first. A great goal for Augusta. This is our charge as put forth by Georgia’s founding fathers. With that new found energy and growth, as you enjoy the pages of this month’s verge, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of our supporters. verge is about you. verge is about our community. verge is about downtown Augusta. verge is about becoming a part of your community. Supporting the locally owned businesses that advertise, participating in the events that you see, and getting to know the people between these pages helps build our community. We have been extremely humbled by the support our publication has received. We’ve grown a little this month, due to our advertisers and you. We thank you and truly look forward to seeing you downtown – the heart of our community. Doulos. Koinania. Matt

free stuff / sample downtown register to win free cool stuff from downtown merchants ❏ enter to win a hardcover of the deathly hallows need some excellent summer reading? The Book Tavern offers one lucky winner a new hardcover copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Just in case you missed it the first time. (value: $35)

❏ enter to win a verge newsbag represent with this oversized canvas newsbag emblazoned with verge. perfect for carrying books, clothes or small dogs. (value: $25)

❏ enter to win an indigo wild gift set blue magnolia soothes the skin with this all-natural, organic line of skin care products. The Indigo Wild gift set includes soap, body wash, lotion and more. (value: $55)

name: address:

email: phone: enter to win – three ways – registration ends august 23, 2008 via email: editor@vergelive.com • via mail or in person: 1124 broad street 30901

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quick clips

eighth street brings back the music Tony Williamson and Jonathan Karow are reviving the music on Eighth Street during First Fridays beginning this month. The two swiftly found the Athens power trio The Suex Effect as the opening act for August’s First Friday. This jazz/funk/groove band promises a high-energy psychedelic show (they already have an impressive touring record with appearances at The House of Blues and the Georgia Theatre). Don’t miss this free concert provided by Rock Bottom Music and Eighth Street Tobacco.

crete sidewalks with brick borders and ramps, Sternberg lighting, trash receptacles, bicycle rack, trees and landscaping, and examples of wayfinding signage and banners. This project has been heralded as a prime example of the power of public-private partnership. Downtown Development Authority fronted the money, the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau provided the wayfinding signage, while Cranston Engineering and Haltermann Properties donated time and services. Total costs, including donated services, are estimated at $192,000.

mer version). verge has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of bicycles and mopeds downtown – please be aware and drive carefully!

cool off with dollar days at the history museum Deep into the dog days of summer, as the long hot days seem to melt into one, bring the whole family down for a fun, affordable, and enlightening look at Augusta’s rich past! During the month of August, you can tour the Augusta Museum of History, check out the James Brown exhibit, enjoy their incredible air conditioning, and learn more about Augusta’s history for just a buck a person.

commuter bikes on view at first friday Andy Jordan is taking it to the streets for August’s First Friday. They will be bringing out a wide array of unique bikes! Bikes designed for cruising around in style, bikes for commuting and carrying cargo, bikes built for speed and agility, and bikes built with comfort in mind. There will be something for everyone. If you haven’t taken a look at them in a while, this will be a great opportunity to see all the cool new bikes that are available. At blue magnolia, 1124 Broad Street.

do you have an up-and-coming diva? Mind’s Eye School of Acting (MESA) is registering now for fall classes for children who long to shine on the stage. Richard Justice of Le Chat Noir teaches these engaging and indepth courses. Intro to Theatre runs for six weeks, designed for ages 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. Level II classes run for twelve weeks. Fees range from $125 to $240. Check out the details at www. lcnaugusta.com or call 706.722.3322

deveran roof returns to teaching the bass Rock Bottom’s favorite bass teacher, Deveran Roof, has returned to his roots. “Rock Bottom Music is my bass teaching home. I don’t know why I ever left. I love downtown and everyone I know comes to Rock Bottom Music. I will never leave again unless I relocate or keel-over!” he recently exclaimed. Line up for lessons at 758 Broad Street.

whizzing around on an electric bike

streetscape demo block officially unveiled Mayor Deke Copenhaver was on hand with Margaret Woodard to officially unveil the Streetscaping Demonstration Block on Tenth Street (between Broad and Ellis). After six months of construction, the demo block includes: new sanitary/storm sewer drains, con-

wedding bells ring Congratulations to Gluestick owners Emily Carder and Joe Stevenson who are tying the knot this month after a downtown style courtship. Stop by to give the happy couple your best and check out their new office and soon-to-be recording studio at 756 Broad Street.

Downtown architect Alan Venable whizzes by these days on his new racy red power-assisted velocipede (that’s a fancy way of saying electric bike) – saving both gas and his legs simultaneously. Quick to show off all the bike’s features, Alan touts the 20 mph motor capacity and the comfort of coasting down Broad Street. These sweet rides range from $500 on upwards to $5500 (that’s the Hammacher Schlem-

get involved with your downtown voice: d(a)² Join the Downtown Augusta Alliance, d(a)², as the group celebrates its first anniversary this month and prepares to introduce the new loyalty program, Destination Downtown, in the upcoming weeks. d(a)² is the new voice of the downtown business and residential community, committed to making downtown the heart of our community. Downtown Augusta Alliance joins downtown merchants, business and property owners and residents together to create a vibrant multi-use neighborhood where all can flourish through cooperative efforts. The membership based group relies solely on member dues and donations for its initiatives. Cost to become a member is just $50 per year and all monies go directly toward marketing efforts and member communications. Contact laraplocha@gmail.com for more information on how you can get involved.

got news? verge wants to know what’s newsworthy in your life business expansion new menu items life’s changes new employees sales or promotions gossip heard on the street upcoming events email editor@vergelive.com or call 706.828.6550 with your news of the day

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discover downtown shop

dine

play

live

Augusta Art & Frame Shop

Beamie’s at the River

Augusta Golf & Gardens

Georgia Lock & Safe Service

1116 Reynolds Street

864 Reynolds Street

One Eleventh Street

921 Reynolds Street

Jody and Audrey McCullough own Augusta Art and Frame Shop on Reynolds Street. They offer a wide variety of custom framing from simple painted pieces to lavishly carved wood. Prices are fair and adjusted according to the size and complexity of the frame. All work is taken on with respect toward the customer and the art being framed. They work with the customer to design a frame that not only suits the customer’s personality but also fits with the décor of the room in which the art will hang. The store holds a large selection of Masters artwork including tournament news clipping collages and aerial views of the course from years past. Store hours are 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday.

Beamie’s at the River is reminiscent of a Surf and Turf joint you might stumble across on the beach during spring break. The restaurant specializes in seafood but also offers a wide variety, including steaks, burgers, and a full bar. Accompanying the meal is the sort of laid back atmosphere that is great for a night out with a group of friends. The food is great, the wait staff is lively, and the décor includes a giant fish tank and an air-conditioned patio great for getting out of the summer heat. Owners George Harrison and Pam Clifton keep Beamie’s open Monday to Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm; and Sunday from noon to 10 pm.

Open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am until 3 pm, Augusta Golf and Gardens is home to the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is set on eight acres of riverfront property and is the perfect place to take an afternoon stroll with the family. There continues to be a possibility that part of the botanical garden will be used for a dog-park on Sundays. But in the meantime, the rest of the garden’s beautiful flowers, which seem to thrive in the pre-August heat, are yours for enjoyment. The main gate can be accessed on foot at 11th and Reynolds, and parking is available at One 11th Street.

The best place in town to ensure you are protected when it comes to your home, automobile, and assorted precious possessions is Georgia Lock and Safe. With over 35 years of experience in everything from wall and floor safes to car, home, and business locks, owner Pressley Rhodes offers 24hour emergency service as well as an enormous selection of new and used safes for any type of security. Services include safe opening and repair, lock installation, automobile keying, key duplication and master keying for any type of building. Hours are 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.

stories and photos by Andrew Mullis

mini-vacations / three great options for summer biking August is here and summer’s almost over. If you didn’t get that ultimate summer trip or don’t want to fuel up the family truck, you have other options right in your own backyard. All you need is a bike and these three great areas to ride bicycles within close proximity to downtown Augusta. Here are a few of Augusta’s not-so-secret best kept secrets. Augusta Canal Towpath: The towpath is a stretch of trail totaling about 17 miles that begins at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion and winds all the way down to the New Savannah River Bluff Lock and Dam. Downtown Augusta sits right in the middle of the trail! You don’t have to be a Tour de France cyclist to enjoy the terrain, as the towpath has very little elevation change and the surface is made up of hard packed Georgia red clay. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by fresh water, green foliage, and wildlife. There’s appealing architecture along the way and plenty of areas with access to the river and canal. For more of a challenge, hone your riding skills on the single-track mountain bike trail next to the Pump station, traversing rocks, roots, gullies and jumps. The real beauty of the Augusta Canal Heritage Area is its location. There are few cities that have a natural wetlands and wildlife area mere minutes from downtown. Augusta BMX Park: Should you feel the need for speed and the desire to catch some air, check out the Augusta BMX Park located near Lake Olm-

stead. It’s open to the public except on scheduled race days, which are typically Saturday nights. You’ll find one of the longest BMX race tracks in the Southeast. This “supertrack” is filled with a huge starting hill, big banked turns, and plenty of jumps for you to get “RAD!” Right next to the track you’ll find some of the best X-Games style dirt jumps in Georgia. These are not for the faint of heart and require a little more experience, so make sure you’ve got the proper safety equipment. North Augusta Greeneway Trail: Right across the Thirteenth Street Bridge is a multiuse 7+ mile paved trail that follows an abandoned railroad. Like the canal towpath, it too has very little elevation gain, making it great for any fitness level rider. The paved surface also makes it a good place for those youngsters that are just learning to ride. Canopied with thick foliage that provides an abundance of shade, the trail creates a perfect setting to see the wildlife. Be on the lookout for birds, hares, and a surprising number of deer. Riding a bike with your family and friends is a great way to spend the day. You’ll get some fresh air, a little bit of sun, and burn some calories too. Free admission and no gas needed, just a bike and a nice day! So hop on your bike and explore your backyard! To learn more about these areas and more great places to ride check out “www.andyjordans.com” by Drew Jordan

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he saw / she saw jonathan and jeanie / every night can be date night downtown When we sat down to express our thoughts for this article, we realized how much personal business we conduct in our downtown within walking

do recognize a professional studio when I see one! I’m ready to lay down some vocal tracks. “Move over Debbie Harry!”

distance of our store, Rock Bottom Music.

he saw: Next we walked to the Metro Spirit office to check out Jay Jacobs’ art exhibit. Augusta is the home of some very talented artists

he saw: We travel quite a bit for our music business and I have had some horrible travel experiences in the past. For a recent trip to Nashville, though, I was personally treated very well by the staff at Enterprise Car

Rentals on Walton Way. They even dropped me off promptly with much time to spare for a night on the town. What a comfortable experience. she saw: We are at Eighth Street Tobacco every day it seems. We stopped by tonight to grab a snack and cool off. I love the extensive beer selection and grabbed a Monty Python Ale! Yummy! Jonathan got a hilarious greeting card and a Led Zeppelin lighter for a friend.

he saw: I realized the “recycling” concept the second I walked into the grand opening for PVC on Eighth Street! It was great to see Harry Grimes working with John and Adrienne, some of the friendliest people you could meet. Harry had set two complete original KISS records from 1976 aside for me and then took notes about music and collectable Star Wars items I am looking for. (Rock Bottom Music now offers turntable needles/styluses because of the success that our neighbors Pyramid Music and PVC are having with vinyl sales.)

she saw: Jonathan needed to conduct some business next door at Glue Stick Music Promoting. I hope people realize what a blessing it is to have a state of the art recording studio in downtown Augusta. Okay, the huge, green lizard in a cage freaks me out…. but Jeff Able, Joe Stevenson, and Emily Carder are cool, hardworking, and intelligent people. This was the first time I got to check out the impressive recording studio. I’m not sure how all of the equipment works but it has enough lights for a Vegas show, and I

and I am proud to own original pieces by many of them. I told Jay “you are insane” when I saw his new paintings. Brilliant! I also couldn’t help but show off my copy of The Metropolitan Spirit that I saved since my band did a hurricane Hugo benefit decades ago.

she saw: Next we dropped into Joe’s Underground for food, drinks, and to enjoy the music from the talented band Perfect Picture. Jonathan ordered my favorite Joe’s Special Sandwich with potato salad for me. Their menu will surprise you with a large variety and small prices. What a friendly family of dedicated employees too. In my opinion, more people should “Eat at Joes.”

he saw: We made a quick stop at blue magnolia during our datenight. I wanted to thank them again for helping us out in a bind. They were the only place in town that I could find a last minute gift (penguin items) for bird lovers, Fred and Dina Gretsch of Gretsch Musical Instruments in Savannah, GA. I walked out with a ginger-mandarin soy candle that has a groovy pattern which unfolds on the glass votive while the candle burns. We got some more chocolate bars from blue magnolia with the Black Rhino on the wrapper that Jeanie loves. she saw: For our date, I finally got to wear a dress that Jonathan calls the “Marilyn Monroe.” Earlier in the day I asked him to get my watch batter y replaced at Furman Jewelers. To my surprise, he also bought me a beautiful gold Bulova watch with a mother-of-pearl dial background face. I love classic jewelr y pieces and Jonathan has classically great taste. I am certainly ver y blessed. We had a ver y memorable date; in fact “Date Night” can be ever y night in downtown Augusta. Maybe we’ll hit Sky City for some more music tomorrow? Jonathan Carter Karow, an outstanding drummer, owns Rock Bottom Music. His life partner, Jeanie M. Goodwin, is an accomplished vocalist and has toured with the Welsh Choir. photo by Elizabeth Benson

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front porch / the merry family one man’s treasure crosses four generations Businesses in downtown Augusta have a tendency to come, and a tendency to go. There are handfuls, however, that have truly stood the test of time. One that stands out is Merry’s Trash and Treasures. The current location of the Merry family business is 1236 Broad Street and has grown so large over the years that it now takes up five buildings. The Merry’s have been selling antique furniture and new furniture – designed to look like antiques – on the 1200 block of Broad St. since 1962. They have sold to celebrities such as Jack Nicklaus, Liberace, and William Perry (formerly of the Chicago Bears), as well as to over four generations of Augustans. How did the Merry tradition of furniture sales begin? Almost one hundred years ago, 1915 to be exact, the first Merry opened a store that specialized in new furniture and home appliances. This was across the street from the current location. In 1969, Bill Merry, grandson of the first store’s proprietor, bought the family business from his father. As time wore on, the business and its fame made its five block expansion. Any business that’s been around as long as Merry’s has seen its share of hard times. Bill Merry is quick to recall his early memories of taking over the family business. “When we first moved in here, we were renting the building on a ‘month-to-month’ basis. There was this horrible roof leak and we didn’t have the money to fix it. So, every time it rained, we had to pull tarps over all the furniture. It was a real mess and it made it really hard to get people in here when it got wet out.” “We finally bought the first building in 1974; then we began to expand. There was a horrible fire in 1987 and we had to shut down for some six months,” Mr. Merry reminisces. Now with more modern amenities, like airconditioning and the internet, the Merry’s find their success “mainly in the business of selling 18th century furniture and reproductions. Even the reproductions, though, are often made from centuries old wood. We have to order half-way around the world for this stuff. We really try to stick to a traditional style here.” Today the Merry’s are continuing their family tradition. “My boys finished college and they wanted to come home and run the business. I tried to argue with them, but they just wouldn’t listen! Now they pretty much run things and I do what I can to help!” said Bill with a hearty laugh. With beautiful pieces lining the sidewalk - complete with one humongous chair big enough to sit three NBA pros at once - and an unparalleled commitment to customer service, it is safe to say the Merry’s may very well be on the block for another hundred years. These days, customers at Merry’s Trash and Treasures can expect to see beautiful new furniture, built with the finest wood in styles from 18th century. The Merry’s also run a furniture refurbishing business on site for any and all of your furniture needs.

by Carl Elder • photos by Elizabeth Benson

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a streetcar’s desire / catalyst for downtown growth augusta streetcar worth the study

Many people have taken a strong stance against the proposed streetcar system based on very early reports, but even a small amount of research into existing streetcar systems and their overall effect on local traffic, development, and economic patterns might shed some positive light on the proposal. Americans took a record 2.6 billion trips on mass transit in the first three months of this year, an increase of 85 million trips over the same period last year, marking a continual uptrend in mass transit use due to rising gas prices. ‘The biggest surges — of 10 to 15 percent or more over last year — are occurring in many metropolitan areas in the South,” according to The New York Times Online. “Still, only 5% of workers commute by public transit, according to a U.S. Census survey in 2006…” says USA Today Online; perhaps because “no more than 20% of households have easy access to buses or trains.” While potential ridership is on the increase, accessibility is a challenge that must be overcome. Juriah Lewis of Augusta Public Transit says that a downtown streetcar “would replace four bus routes” and allow introduction of routes elsewhere in the area, thereby increasing ridership base. “Streetcars are the very investment that can help promote transit ridership because they provide that ‘last mile’ connection that makes the rest of the transit system work better.” Existing streetcar systems have routinely been catalysts for development. Upon the opening of The Portland Streetcar, new projects could not be built fast enough, and Portland set a record for the number of building permits issued 7 years in a row. Commuter rail systems across the country have been in the works for years, drawing people downtown without cars, while stimulating swift sales of densely clustered condos near stations. According to The Wall Street Journal Online, across the nation “baby boomers and millennials, the country’s 2 biggest generations, are showing a trend in relocation to higher density urban housing, expected to peak in 2015 at around 8 million potential urban housing consumers.” An increased urban relocation trend enhanced by a streetcar system could propel development to new heights. The Portland Streetcar, hailed as “a case study in the creative leveraging of local, state, and federal resources to link transportation investments and development,” engendered about 100 development projects worth $2.3 billion within 4 years of opening. In fact, many streetcar systems see returns equaling 10-20 times total initial investment. Federal programs like “Small Starts” and others can contribute up to 80 percent of the total investment, while sales of naming rights for stations and the streetcars themselves can further alleviate the burden from local governments. Less than $4 million of the total cost of the streetcar implemented in Little Rock, Arkansas was paid for by local funds. Streetcar systems are making a positive economic impact in downtown areas across the country. The small investment we make now to fully explore the idea could have exponentially greater rewards in the future. by Wylie Graves

Private Returns on Trolley Investment (in millions of dollars)

Kenosha Little Rock Tampa Portland (1) Portland (ext)

Start of Service 2000 2004 2003 2001 2005

Initial Track Miles 2.0 2.5 2.4 4.8 1.2

Initial System Cost Per Track Mile 3.10 7.84 20.13 11.5 14.83

Initial System Cost 6.20 19.60 48.30 55.20 17.80

Development Investment 150 200 1000 1046 1353

Return on Investment 2319.35% 920.41% 1970.39% 1794.93% 7501.12%

Source: Reconnecting America

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more growth downtown / newly opened spaces evoke / 107 macartan street Evoke has moved to a new studio on Macartan Street behind LaFayette Park. In a beautiful oasis setting, owner Lydia Giusto concentrates on massage, structural, and deep tissue therapy. Her training is as intensive as her massage: she just returned from advance training in structural integration in breathtaking Kaua’i, Hawaii. The advanced series is a continuation of Structural Integration’s 10 session process. In the 10 sessions, the client’s body changes into a more ordered structure by way of deep tissue bodywork and learned awareness. The ultimate goal of the 10 sessions and advanced work is to help clients live in a balanced, pain free body. Fans of her healing fingers will remember her from her previous venture Sacred Space on 8th Street. Reserve your massage by calling 706.627.7979

paper vinyl cloth / 206 eighth street During the grand opening of paper vinyl cloth (PVC), the love these folks have for recycling infused the space. Adrienne Thomas and John Burroughs are scouring Augusta for the quirky stuff of life and lovingly rehabilitating them into objects of desire. Harry Grimes has joined the PVC team (folks may remember Harry from the Infernal Racket, which downtown continues to miss). Harry’s knowledge of music recordings and LP vinyl records is extensive. Then there’s the outlet for local artisans to display their creations. From clothes to bikes to records, PVC is the place to find oneof-a-kind treasures.

covet / 1046 broad street Rebecca Bowman knows clothes: what’s hot, what’s in vogue, and what’s selling. Her new clothing store, Covet, in the 1000 block of Broad, now offers that savvy we all desire with new and nearly new styles of today. So sort through your closet, grab that Gap skirt you never wore or the Baby Phat tee that wasn’t the right color, and bring it to Covet. Rebecca buys and trades gently worn designer clothing and then she sells it at great prices. Covet is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm and Friday to Saturday from 2 pm until the shoppers go home for the night.

gluestick / 756 Broad Street Popular local musician Joe Stevenson and his betrothed Emily Carder have started something new on the 700 block of downtown Augusta. The music promotion and management duo responsible for famed local events like Rock Fore Dough and The Twelve Bands of Christmas have opened a new business to spearhead these projects and start new ones. They provide the “glue” that keeps events and bands together. They opened Gluestick last October and are actively helping local musicians set up gigs, organizing events in town, and managing everything from concerts to conventions abroad. Now they’re venturing into the recording business, helping Bruce Freshley and Jeff Abell get set up with a recording studio behind the main Gluestick office. The studio is decked out with the state-of-theart ProTools recording equipment recently housed at The Blue Horse, and it promises to be the nicest studio in town. Bands will be able to rent studio time by the hour or the project. Musicians seeking more information or to get on the recording schedule can contact Jeff through Gluestick at 706.828.4773. compiled by Carl Elder and Wylie Graves • photos by David Hanna and Katie McGuire

the loft brings an industrial edge / 927 broad street The Loft is the new kid on the Broad nightlife scene in downtown Augusta. Owner Adrian Estrada began the journey into nightclub ownership with a vision of a clean, industrial styled bar. “We are the new look of downtown Augusta,” Adrian confidently grins. With an impressive selection of more than one hundred beers and ultra premium liquors, The Loft will definitely please the palate of a thirsty adult. With daily themes, there’s something fun to do every night of the week (well, they are working on a Wednesday night theme). Regardless of their vocal propensities, anyone can be a star on Monday or Tuesday night with karaoke. Not ready to face Simon and the gang? Put your inner diva to the test on their Thursday night open mic sessions. Fridays bring live bands, and on Saturdays DJ Point spins the night away with an eclectic mix of sounds. The beautiful, extraordinarily long bar accommodates more patrons than any I have seen downtown. The entire bar, shaped like a zigzag pattern, is welded from steel, and was constructed by the infamous Daniel Forman. The underside of the bar has track LED lighting that give the impression that the top is floating. The “ladies only” dance floor offers a safe haven for those gals who want to enjoy the music and evade unwanted advances from guys who might be having a little too much fun. There are several intimate lounging areas, three pool tables, video games, and “American Dream Motorcycles” on display every night. Everyone can find something to do while enjoying their favorite drinks. The Loft just released their August line-up of live local bands for Friday nights: Electric Voodoo (8/1), Bleeding Counterfeit (8/8), Bastard Suns (8/15), Shotgun Opera (8/22) and Hogslobber (8/29). The Loft also offers longer hours than your average bar, open from 3 pm until 3 am, Monday through Friday and from noon to 2 am on Saturdays. by Carl Elder • photo by David Hanna

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the 900 block explodes with new businesses / from jerk to jewelry alex slapak jewelry design 952 broad street After a mere two minutes in Alex Slapak’s presence, you will be swept into his passion for jewelry design and serving others. Alex came to Augusta in 1992, bringing with him an exquisite taste in jewelry design. (You might remember his work from the Raven’s Horde and Doris Diamonds.) He’s branching out on his own to offer all manners of jewelry services from creation to refurbishing to purchasing. The heart of his establishment, however, lies in the jewelry design studio at the rear of the store. Using his years of experience in jewelry design and physical rehab, he’s reaching out to physically disabled veterans to teach them a viable trade. “I want to give them hope, because hope is what brings about recovery,” Alex says. Meet Alex by appointment: 706.399.9514.

Island café and bar / 982 broad street The smells of jerk chicken and the sounds of Caribbean calypso will soon emanate from the old Mary Pauline Gallery. Anthony Mentis is bringing a true Caribbean flavor downtown, while keeping the modern aesthetics of the gallery intact. Plans are to open the café and bar later this month, with tropical drinks, fresh fruit smoothies, red beans & rice, and true Jamaican jerk chicken. Look for Thursday to Saturday hours from 6 pm to 2 am. With private booths and a loft seating area, the Island Café and Bar will feature live music, dancing, karaoke and excellent food.

the white azalea / 936 broad street White Azalea is one of the many new delights to come out of The White’s Building project. Expected to open in late September, this casual/fine dining experience will be Augusta’s new take on “the South meets the Southwest,” according to owners Peter McBride and John Pannell. “We’re going for New Mexico meets Georgia.” Plans include a quick lunch service, five-star dinner experience, full bar, and special event area.

casa blanca / 936 broad street Another exciting new venture coming to the White’s Building is Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is a coffee café that serves light breakfast and lunch options. Owner Jai West hints that some exciting, locally brewed “smart drinks” will be on the menu. Local artists will get star treatment with the “artist of the month” program. Casa Blanca expects to open in early September. The beautiful covered patio will be perfect for sipping a café au lait and reading verge.

rumors of bodega may be true / 1034 broad street New Yorkers call them bodegas. Elsewhere they’re known as corner stores. Enter one and you’ll find a place where convenience and community meet. They serve as more than a place to pick up milk, eggs, or fresh produce. They are the neighborhood’s front porch: a place to banter about the daily news, find out the neighborhood gossip, and pick up dinner on the way home. And it appears that downtown Augusta is getting one in the next few months, right next to Tap Tap. Plans are to offer locally grown organic produce, artisan breads, and other organic foods. And hopefully some good gossip too. compiled by Carl Elder and Wylie Graves

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new disco / cutting - edge LOOT emerges on the techno scene

Why did that dude take four laptops on stage? Is he working on a doctoral dissertation or playing a show? Why is that guy pressing buttons and turning knobs on that little box and how does it sound like an angel playing a theremin? Is that DJ GoogleImage searching “neon Nike Dunks” or is he rocking this dance party? The electronic artists you see on today’s stage are not simply playing Mine Sweep. Most of them are manipulating cutting-edge technology to expand the possibilities of what they can do rather than compensating for what they cannot do. Many people are under the supposition that all electronic music is the “techno” music they remember from the mid nineties. You know, pacifiers, parachute pants, Vicks Vapo-Rub, glow sticks, and the Regency Mall. Aside from the drug hype and the terrible fashion, the music from that era was relatively important because of its unwavering dedication to experimentation. Eventually, however, the ratio of quantity of drugs taken to creativity seemed to become inversely proportional. The result was an annoying formula of predictable break-downs and build-ups that earned much of that music a short-lived title. There are exceptions, but, honestly, who is really rushing to their CD wallets and dragging out Darude’s Sandstorm for their next all-night dance party? What you would be more likely to hear at any legitimate dance party is the music from fifteen years prior. In the ‘80s, musicians also seemed to be unabashedly experimenting with their craft. Coupled with huge technological advancements and a burgeoning hip-hop scene, electronic music moved away from being purely experimental and into a happy and successful marriage to several already existing genres. Early on, groups like Africa Bambaata, drawing stylistically from Kraftwerk and other preexisting electronic acts, showed the world what hip-hop was

like when fused with electronic instruments, particularly booming drum machines and gritty synthesizers. The result was imaginative and undeniable rump-shaking party music. This fusion provided an excellent break from played-out disco music that had fallen victim to the brutal “formula monster” as well. Ultimately, the presence of electronic instruments became the standard for nearly all pop music of the time. These instruments and their far-reaching capabilities allowed music to change extremely rapidly. New genres of music cropped up and suddenly there was a shift in the focus from performance to meticulous attention to production. People seemed more concerned with what a record sounded like than how the music was created. It seems that somewhere along the way, musicians and producers got overly concerned with how many drum machines, samplers, synthesizers, Vocoders, and effects they could run at once and stopped caring about the songs. Because of this, we now have to deal with songs like The Jet’s Private Number. (Cringe…okay, actually I love that song, but it’s truly terrible…but awesome… but atrocious…I’m going to listen to it right now…) Contemporary electronic musicians seem to have paid scrupulous attention to their predecessors, emphasizing many of their best qualities while “EQing” the bad ones right out of the mix. The focus, again, seems to be on fusing electronic and live music and this is being done in many fascinating ways. This type of performance allows many bands to cut down on members while still retaining a full sound. Only four members deep, long-time Augusta act The Cubists are currently doing the electric thing right. Front man Noel Brown has effectively introduced lap top sequencing and intricate synthesizer parts into the group’s already banging performances. This addition has really opened up the possibilities for these guys to do some spellbinding rock/ electro/dance songs that have made their live shows

even more enjoyable. Similarly, Augusta’s own Cielo uses electronic backing to support her atmospheric vocals often teetering close to a Portishead or Bajka type sound. The feisty girls of TBUC, backed by the impressive production of seasoned locals Jeff Able and Chris Ramos, seem to have nailed down a fusion of Disco Punk and Southern Crunk that is highly reminiscent of a female version of The Death Set. All of these musicians pay homage to the electronic music past while still keeping their finger on the pulse of currently developing electronic trends. Not only are more musicians in town utilizing electronic instruments to create their music, more and more DJ’s are cropping up around town to support this feverishly contagious electro sound. LOOT! (shameless plug) and Captain Crunk play an eclectic blend of electro, soul, funk, and rap celebrating predominately electronic music that spans several decades. LOOT! plays dance parties (not raves) every Wednesday night at Sky City. Also noteworthy, local DJ FELIX shows off his wealth of old-school hip hop and R&B knowledge at various venues around town, often leaving people saying, “Oh, I remember this song!” Electronic music will continue to grow and adapt. Old things will be used in new ways, new samples will be created, old samples will be found, and DJ’s will be there to play it all. Don’t worry! You’re not going to have to watch a chick in pants the size of bed sheets play with light sticks through a set of 3-D glasses. The electronic music pendulum is swinging in a positive direction, and so is local music. Check out these local groups and don’t be afraid to shake it a little while you’re there.

by Jamie McGaw • photos courtesy of LOOT!

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the white’s green building / the doors are open The long wait is finally over. Sherwin Loudermilk and Mike Raeis have done the seemingly impossible: The White’s Building opens its door this month. In what is likely to be the most significant economic contribution to downtown this year (maybe this decade), the White’s Building has also been a forerunner in corporate environmental responsibility. Let us forget for a moment that this one titanic project has brought fifty one condominiums to Broad Street; let us ignore the fact that these residences will bring people who will be likely consumers of downtown businesses; let us disregard the seven businesses set to open there next month and the five or six more there is room for; and lastly, just look right past those fifty plus jobs that are coming with the first round of businesses. While these are all significant, they’ve been covered before; to some extent, undoubtedly, downtown will reap unforeseeable benefits from them. What has received less attention is the “green” nature of this project. Significantly, almost the entire building has been recycled from the old one. Every brick inside The White’s Building was recycled, along with the hardwood floors and original decorative pieces. All have been resurfaced and restored from the original materials of the building. Surprisingly enough, it costs more to refurbish these resources than it does to buy new, but the owners firmly believe doing so was worth it. The insulation of the building is soy bio-based. This double cell insulation, formed from a health-nut’s favorite bean, “cocoons each unit from sound, smell, and other pollutants in ways that the traditional fiberglass insulations can’t match,” according to Mr. Loudermilk. “Furthermore, [the insulation] is exceptionally energy efficient, allowing for significantly lower than average heating and cooling costs.” Anyone who has ever lived in a downtown loft can appreciate this, since the high ceilings and older construction styles tend to place a heavy burden on the power and gas bills. Every appliance in the new building is Energy Star, which will bring further relief to those ever climbing utility costs. All the water heaters, electrical furnaces, and lighting are energy efficient as well. The exterior windows are insulated, which is a great change from the typical drafty windows in many downtown residences. There are other benefits to future residences of the White’s building. There will be onsite security guards, card key and palm readers for access to residences, a plethora of security cameras that can be viewed by a resident’s cell phone at any time, and several places in the building to get a bite to eat. Surely this new venture will bring great benefits to the area — benefits that will only be magnified by the further completion of the project set to occur over the course of the next four to five months. These subprojects, entitled phase three and four after the work on levels three and four of the building, will bring even more condos to the building. There is also the work on The Ellis Street Building that will bring new residents and possibly more businesses to an otherwise defunct area. Anyone got an idea for revitalizing Ellis? This could be the start of something beautiful. by Carl Elder • photo by Elizabeth Benson

the first resident of the white’s building / evelyn petrea Living in Augusta for many years, the JB White’s Store on Broad Street was always one of my favorite places to shop before they moved out to the mall, closing the Broad Street location. I lived in the downtown area for many years and walked Broad Street regularly, always saying one day when the building is renovated I was going to move there. So, with that said I think the building holds a good bit of Augusta history and the amenities offered in the building are attractive. I am excited to be moving back downtown and looking forward to the move.

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gallery

soundcheck

Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art The Morris Museum of Art • August 23

Dimlit Daylight Joe’s Underground • August 15

The traveling exhibition Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art opens to the public on Saturday, August 23 and remains on view through Sunday, October 19 at the Morris Museum of Art. Organized by the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, this groundbreaking exhibition offers a comprehensive examination of plantation images. The Morris is the ideal location for such an exhibit, with its strong emphasis on art and artists of the American South.

In a four-door Dodge Ram van, Josh Free and Anthony Montanino drive across Texas for a gig. Brittany is talking in the background with her soothing British accent, directing Josh and Anthony through traffic. Brittany, once a dull, nearly condescending American GPS system, was abruptly altered to make a more suitable fit for the long drives from town to town.

A common misconception about landscape painting is that it is only a depiction of beautiful expanses of scenery, nature at its peak of beauty. Though landscape paintings tend to be beautiful in their own right, to know exactly what you are looking at, what subject is depicted and its contextual history can add volumes of depth and beauty. This is exactly the case of what you may find with plantation paintings. Art historians have recently taken more notice of this genre of art because of its strong themes of wealth, power, race, memory, nostalgia, and conflict. Accompanying the exhibition is its title book, The Landscape of Slavery. This work provides an all-inclusive and holistic examination of the aesthetic motives and social uses of this art in the shaping of Southern history and culture. The Morris will also showcase other relative artwork. Because the exhibition has a consistent theme, the museum is able to produce a collection of work that includes a variety of mediums. The exhibition includes paintings, works on paper, and photographs, as well as mixed media and installation works done by artists such as Eastman Johnson, William Aiken Walker, Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Edwin Harleston, Carrie Mae Weems, Kara Walker, and others. Overall, the exhibit is not only groundbreaking in its content, but the diversity of the collection will hopefully attract anyone with an artful eye. Kevin Grogan, director of The Morris, explains, “Landscape of Slavery is a critically important examination of the myth of the plantation system, and it will help us to understand the strength, persistence, and peculiar vitality of that myth.” by Katie McGuire

More or less on tour since 2006, the two-man band Dimlit Daylight has learned that life on the road is the only life they want to live. Living out of hotels and the homes of friends they make along the way, the duo has managed to avoid stereotypical “band van” stays by way of intelligent budgeting and creating a loyal fan base in every town they play. They survive on an impressive diet comprised of whatever can be cooked on or in crock pots, hot plates, and convection ovens. Dimlit finds culinary excitement in creating meals by Googling the ingredients they have on hand. After releasing their first self titled album in 2005, Dimlit Daylight decided to go on tour in search of fans hopefully hungry for the sound they had to offer. While on that first tour, they wrote and recorded the follow up album Time Machine and are currently working on the newest offering tentatively titled Shadows & Machines. The band describes their sound as a mix of indie rock and electro pop. With influences from classic rock to 80’s new wave bands like The Cure, INXS and Depeche Mode, their music is truly a stew of sounds with flavors bursting in each strum of the guitar. Jenny from Joe’s Underground raves about this duo. If I hadn’t known better, I would think she was one of their biggest fans. Augusta is actually the home of the one and only fan to ever receive a tattoo in honor of the band composed of the first line of their song “Four Verses.” Is this what keeps bringing these guys back to Augusta? A fan tattooed in honor of them? Hardly. Very real, honest fans are what the two claim to be their reason to return over and over. On August 15th at Joe’s Underground for a measly five bucks, you can show these California boys just how honest and true Augusta fans can be. Music starts at 10 pm. by Jason Barron

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onstage

offstage

ˆ Pret-a-Porter Hair and Fashion Show Sky City • August 1

The Romance of the Dance Augusta Tango Club • classes ongoing

Ever wonder why the clothes in the magazines never look quite the same in the dressing room? The Pret-a-Porter Hair and Fashion Show is making a point to bring ˆ the clothes and style of today’s fashion elite out of those pages and back to the folks of downtown Augusta. They are showcasing the designs of Midtown Threads, Dirty Intentions, and Runaway Bear on their own real life customers, the models we see strutting down Broad Street everyday.

Tango is possibly one of the most intimate formal dances emerging from the twentieth century. While some may journey to Buenos Aires, the culture-enriched homeland of the Argentine Tango, those who prefer to keep closer to home can take pleasure in the social dance through the friendly, non-profit Augusta Tango Club.

The looks will be very contemporary. Angela Fern of Midtown Threds says, “They are clothes that anyone could wear from ages twelve to fifty two!” The music to guide our friends down the catwalk will be none other than DJ Joyce Tahop of the group LOOT. The stylists from Modish are working to include the models’ own unique panache into “everyday-wear” looks while still incorporating their own artistic style and vision. This isn’t just any fashion show as Angela points out, it’s a hair and fashion show. She hopes this show will really give the stylists at Modish a time to show off talents they’ve been harnessing for years. The atmosphere of the show will be easy-going, a community of family and friends, good music and drinks (and of age). Anyone is welcome to just stop in and, as Angela says, “see clothes on average sized people and not the mannequins in the store.” The search for models started with friends and family and then branched out to clients and customers; people that really wear these clothes on the average day of the week. All the models are being fitted to outfits that exhibit their own personal style. As Angela describes it, “We didn’t want to use all size two models; we’re not that boutique that only carries sizes two to four. We want people to really enjoy what they’re wearing.” ˆ The Pret-a-Porter show started as Patty Thelen’s vision to incorporate the stylists at Modish and the fashions of Midtown Threds (with co-owner Maggie Skulley), while showcasing the life, creativity, and vitality of downtown Augusta.

The show will be held at Sky City this First Friday, August 1, starting at 8 pm. Trust me, you’re going to want to get there early because the first fifty guys and girls to arrive will receive gift bags full of surprise goodies from Midtown Threds and Modish! by Marian Kaufman

Argentine tango is danced in an embrace that can be open, in which the leader (typically male) and follower connect at arms length, or closed, in which the connection is torso to torso. Close embrace is often associated with a more traditional style, while open embrace leaves room for improvisations on the couple’s behalf. While Argentine tango breaks into specific categories, the most popular is the milonga. A milonga is a formal tango dance party where the songs are grouped into threes and fours in order to create more lengthy pieces known as tandas. While tandas are danced with one consistent partner, they are broken by cortinas, shorter songs which make time for finding a new partner (especially if your date keeps stepping on your toes). To teach the basics of Argentine tango- musicality, connection between partners, navigating a tango dance floor, etiquette, and technique- ATC provides monthly beginners’ lessons at the Cutno Dance Center (739 Greene Street). Specific information can be found monthly on the club’s website, and most classes occur midmonth and cost between fifteen and twenty-five dollars per person. The club also holds public milongas at Cutno Dance on the third Saturday of the month, each costing about ten dollars per person. They host free practices, or practicas, at Tap Tap Tacos and Tapas on Broad Street. These are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month and begin at 7 p.m. Practicas are very casual and people are encouraged to coach and/or teach newcomers. Joining ATC costs a mere annual fee ($50/person, $25/student; all payments go toward club events). Members regularly meet to learn, practice, and perform Argentine Tango. ATC members enjoy discounts on dances and workshops and receive a weekly e-mail newsletter. Visit www.augustatangoclub.com or call 706.736.6670 for more information. by Ashley Plocha

Bringing in these books would earn you $52.00 in credit towards other used books. Come trade with us.

1026 Broad Street 706.826.1940  booktavern.com Su 12 - 4  M - W 10 - 6  Th - S 10 - 8

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stack ‘em to the heavens / our favorite downtown sandwiches Blue Sky Kitchen’s BLT The classic BLT has been reborn in this sandwich that should be named Beyond the BLT. I always thought of the BLT as basic. Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato. It seems so simple. But thick slices of Applewood Bacon with crisp Romaine Lettuce and fresh slices of tomato with a touch of pesto on a hoagie, then hot pressed to perfection make this sandwich beyond delicious. Like the traditional BLT, Blue Sky’s version makes for a light and satisfying lunch.

The Boll Weevil’s Curious George This savory sandwich stands out as one of the all time best I have ever eaten. Sliced turkey, provolone cheese, and spinach dip enveloped in the most delectable honey-wheat sweet bread will set your mouth to watering from the first bite. I used to go to Boll Weevil mainly for the dessert, but ever since discovering this gem I think of sandwiches. A small warning: once you’ve eaten one, you will wake up in the middle of the night filled with a desire which won’t diminish until you’ve eaten another.

Sweet Lou’s Club The first time I heard about Sweet Lou’s my friend Jamie told me to order the club, and if I didn’t love it, he’d buy it for me. So I went down, ordered one and entered heaven. A filet of chicken breast with lightly fried ham and bacon, lettuce, tomato and American cheese all stacked to perfection between an enormous bagel that will have you sated for the rest of the day (and maybe tomorrow for those with a smaller stomach than mine). PS – I have recommended the sandwich many times in the same way Jamie recommended it to me and never had anyone come to collect.

New Moon’s Tony Montana Who says you have to go to Miami to enjoy the taste of a Cuban? A generous heap of thinly sliced pork with Swiss cheese, spicy mustard, and quarters of dill pickle on a hot pressed roll brings the flavor of Havana to Augusta. While there is always debate about what exactly makes the Cuban a real mixto, this addition to the recipe book is worth noting. Like the medianoche, the Tony Montana has eighty-sixed the glazed ham but kept the mojo. by Jack Casey • photos by Katie McGuire

good chow the white azalea / southern and tex-mex fusion As the success of Broad Street Market proves, fusion cuisine continues to entice customers and delight their palates. Two young chefs are taking the concept of fusion to a new level of fine dining: juxtaposing comfort foods of the deep South with the flavor and zing of the Southwest and topping it off with a dash of French elegance. By the end of September, Peter McBride and John Pannell will serve up sass and class in their new restaurant, The White Azalea, located in the newly renovated White’s Building. Peter and John are childhood friends, having grown up together in South Augusta. John’s family roots are here in the South where the table overflowed with traditional Southern foods. Peter, on the other hand, grew up with TexMex as the daily fare, his parents being transplants from Texas. When the two reunited after college, they discovered they both shared a love for food and culinary degrees with classical French training. Toying around with restaurant concepts and possible menus, Peter and John kept coming back to their roots. “We wanted a restaurant that was personal,” Peter says. “Food defines us: who we are, what do we like, what do we like eating.” But in a departure from typical Southern or Southwestern restaurants, The White Azalea will elevate the concept to a fine dining experience. Expect an elegant atmosphere, surrounded by a wait staff ready to act upon your every need. “We want to change the dining experience. We want our staff to be fully knowledgeable about our food and our restaurant,” Peter explained. Peter and John also are committed to keeping it local. Look for locally grown produce and seasonal menus options. All of the plate ware for the restaurant was designed and created by local artisan Shashir Choski of Tire City Potters. “We’re trying to encourage exactly what the White’s Building stands for: keeping it local, keeping it downtown,” Peter explains. The White Azalea projects to be fully open seven days a week by late September with a casual lunch service (with a quick turnaround), fine dining in the evening, Sunday brunch, a full bar, and private party areas. by Wylie Graves • photo by Colleen McBride

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ovies at m

n ai

august Augusta HQ Library 902 Greene Street 6:30 pm • mondays • free

August 4:

In Bruges 2008 • R 107 minutes directed by Martin McDonagh

Bruges, the most well-preserved medieval city in the whole of Belgium, is a welcoming destination for travelers from all over the world. But for hit men Ray and Ken, it could be their final destination.

August 11:

Lars and The Real Girl

2007 • PG-13

friday august 1 outdoor event First Friday: Augusta Idol Downtown  5 to 10 pm  free Downtown comes to life as galleries, studios, and shops stay open late and the street is filled with vendors and live entertainment. Stretching from 5th to 12th St., this family friendly event boasts over 22 live music venues, complemented by numerous locally owned restaurants. Kids Zone – activities for kids. Live music and entertainment at 10th Street.

special event Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band blue magnolia loft  7:00 pm  free Silly monkey music fills blue magnolia as Tara Scheyer hits the stage with a special miniconcert of her ever popular HiFi Felix music. Bring the young ones out for this interactive concert full of dancing, singing and foot stomping. Play with bubbles & chalk on the sidewalk. Prizes and more. Details: 706.828.6550 Coffee Cupping New Moon Café  7:30 pm  free New Moon on Broad St. will be doing a comparative coffee cupping on 1st Friday. The cupping will be led by the coffee roasters from MoonBeam Coffees and will teach the basics of professional cupping, as well as a cupping of our charity of the month coffee. Seating is limited and begins at 7:30pm. Details: 803.644.0637

Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law’s home. The only problem is that she’s not real - she’s a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet.

August 18:

Old Joy 2006 • R 76 minutes

directed by Kelly Reichardt

Two old friends reunite for a camping trip in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. A serene, melancholy beauty permeates this meditative portrait of deep friendship and faded glory.

Art at Lunch: Bryan LeBoeuf Morris Museum of Art  noon  $10 to $13 Bryan LeBoeuf discusses his exhibition: Realist Paintings by Bryan LeBoeuf. Catering by French Market Grille. Cost includes museum admission, lecture, and lunch. Details: 706.724.7501

live music “Fish Fry” with Kris Fisher of HD98.3 Metro Coffee House Ladies Night with DJ Set Soul Bar  $3 The Band with No Name The Playground  10 pm  $3  metal Jeff Liberty Band Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  rock Blue Cotton Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free The Independents  The Chiltons  Against The Grain  Pursuit of Angels  Fatal Disorder Sector 7G  7 pm  $7  ska Temporary Setback  Philo The Playground  10 pm  $3  rock

The Band’s Visit 2007 • PG-13 87 minutes directed by Eran Kolirin  Israel

A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town.

The Skuds  The Decrepits  Hogslobber Firehouse  8 pm  free  rockabilly

Ruskin Yeargin Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  rock Jeff Liberty Band Joes Underground  10 pm  $4  rock

sunday august 3 special event Candlelight Jazz: Mike Frost 8th Street Bulkhead  8 to 9:30 pm  $6 Artrageous Sunday: Shadow Box Collage Morris Museum of Art  2 pm  free Create a mixed media shadow box collage inspired by the work of Jeffrey Kronsnoble. Details: 706.724.7501

live music Keith Gregory Cotton Patch  6 to 9 pm  free  folk

monday august 4 special event

Movies at Main: In Bruges Green St. Library  6:30 pm  free

live music Jamie Jones Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free The Soulphonics with special guest DJ Sky City  10 pm  $5  soul Shotgun Opera The Playground  10 pm  $3  numetal

Music on the Plaza 8th Street Plaza  7 to 10 pm  $5

outdoor event Saturday Market on the River 8th & Reynolds  8 am to 1 pm  free In the heart of Augusta a unique open air market experience.

live music John Kolbeck Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free Dead Sexy 1102  10 pm  $3  rock Cosmic Charlie Sky City  10 pm  $10 David Heath Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  rock Blue Cotton Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  funk

sunday august 10 live music

Duck Duck Goose  The Greenery  Agnes Sector 7G  7 pm  $5  punk Jamie Jones Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  folk

tuesday august 5 live music Trasher  Spewtilator  Sick Sick Sick  The Skuds  Defeat Sector 7G  7 pm  $6  punk Dave Firman Joe’s Underground  9 pm  rock

special event Candlelight Jazz: A Step Up 8th Street Bulkhead  8 to 9:30 pm  $6

live music John Kolbeck Cotton Patch  6 to 9 pm  free  folk

monday august 11 special event Movies at Main: Lars and the Real Girl Green St. Library  6:30 pm  free

live music

thursday august 7 live music Shotgun Opera  Chairleg  Radar Cinema Sky City  9 pm  $3  metal Ruskin Yeargin Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $3  rock

friday august 8 special event

Review Imperial Theatre  7:30 pm  $16 details: imperialtheatre.com 80s Night Soul Bar  $3

outdoor event Saturday Market on the River 8th & Reynolds  8 am to 1 pm  free. In the heart of Augusta a unique open air market experience. Every week, rain or shine.

special event

Whosehouse Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  rock

Deborah Allen with Mike Loudermilk and David Peterson with his Old Time Country

saturday august 2

August 25:

saturday august 9

Chuck Holt Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  rock

art event

106 minutes directed by Craig Gillespie

pipeline / 8.1 - 8.12

live music Loch Ness Johnny Stillwater Tap Room  10 pm  $4 Daniel Douglas Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free  folk Not Yet! 1102  10 pm  $3  rock Jeff Liberty Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  rock Joe Stevenson and Friends Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  rock

Paul Arrowood Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  rock

tuesday august 12 live music John Kolbeck Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  folk

wednesday august 13 special event Senior Luncheon Lucy Craft Laney Museum  1:30 pm  $7 On the second Wednesday of each month, area seniors and working professionals are invited to enjoy lectures on a variety of topics while dining on food from our city’s finest restaurants. As one of our oldest traditions at the museum, the senior luncheons are an interactive occasion. Please RSVP with Emily Capers at 706.724.3576.

live music By the Sins Fell Angels  She is a Liar  Within the Ruins  Aralic  Undead Forest Sector 7G 7 pm  $9  metal

thursday august 14 kids event Toddler Time: The Ugly Duckling Morris Museum of Art  10 to 11am or 11:15 am to 12:15 pm  free to $4 After reading the book The Ugly Duckling,

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pipeline / 8.13 - 8.23 create a web footed fan inspired by a Robin Hill Painting. For children 5 and younger. Register by calling Sarah Alexander at 706.828.3667

live music Bucktown Kickback Stillwater Tap Room  10 pm  $4

london arrington: candlelight jazz on the river sunday august 17 • 8 pm • the eighth street bulkhead The vocal techniques of Nat King Cole, the tonal fluidity of Johnny Hartman, the ability to personalize a composition like Louis Armstrong, the soulful inflections of Mar vin Gaye, and the ability to delicately dance around the notes of a melody like Sarah Vaughn personifies the vocal stylings of A. London Arrington. London’s lyrical imager y makes the listener feel as though the compositions are autobiographical. The willingness to ride the ebb and flow of a composition’s chord progression into the uncharted land of improvisation, is an adventure that he will readily set sail for ever y time the tune leaves the dock on a musical expedition. That exploration is what he lives for. His mission is to preser ve the integrity and elegance of jazz, while making the music entertaining and inviting to those visiting the art form for the first time.

live music The Phillip Experience  Canon Law  The Chiltons  Murder Media Sector 7G  7 pm  $5  punk The Whigs Sky City  10 pm  $5  indie

Amen  The Animal  When Girls Kiss Girls  Say You Will  The Strangeview Sector 7G  7 pm  $9  punk David Firman Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $2  rock

tuesday august 19 live music Jeff Liberty Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $2  rock

Picture Perfect Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free

Saturday Market on the River 8th & Reynolds  8 am to 1 pm  free In the heart of Augusta a unique open air market experience.

kids event Stupendous! Family Saturday: Circus Bezerkus Morris Museum of Art  10:30 am  free Witness Roger, the Dare-Devil Cat, dancing unicorns, and other unique characters during a highly energetic, carnival-style marionette show. Create your own puppet in the activity room and try your hand at making balloon animals.

wednesday august 20

live music

live music Electric VooDoo 1102  10 pm  $3  blues

Tony and Michael Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free

Society Distort  The Skuds Sector 7G  7 pm  $5  punk

Lexie’s Legacy Memorial Scholarship Fund Concert Sky City  9 pm Jemani  420 Outback  G-City Rockers  Veara  The Dew Hickies  48 Volt (r)evolution Soul Bar  10 pm  $3

thursday august 21 live music John Krueger Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $3  pop

friday august 22 live music

Roger Enevoldsen Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  rock

The Brothels Stillwater Tap Room  10 pm  $4

Dimlit Daylight Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $5  indie

saturday august 16 outdoor event Saturday Market on the River 8th & Reynolds  8 am to 1 pm  free

special event Ed Turner and the #9 Band: The White Album Imperial Theatre  7:30 pm  $10 to $35 Embroidery for Adults Green St. Library  10 am  free Learn the basics of embroidery from the Embroiderers Guild of America. Class registration limited to 25. Sign up at the information desk or call 706.821.2600

live music Keith Gregory Cotton Patch  6 to 9 pm  free  folk Meg and Dia  Jonzetta  Dropping Daylight Sector 7G  6 pm  $10  pop

create a web footed fan inspired by a Robin Hill painting. For children 5 and younger. Register by calling Sarah Alexander at 706.828.3667

live music

John Kolbeck Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free  rock She Hulud  Full Blown Chaos  Elysia  A Girl  A Gun A Ghost Sector 7G  7 pm  $8  metal Dixie Mafia 1102  10 pm  $3  rock Ajustmentz  4 Zero Alpha  Undefined  Suhgarhim The Playground  10 pm  $4  metal Billy & Chris Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  rock Mason Jars Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4

saturday august 23

Paraphernalia 1102  10 pm  $3  classic rock The Phillip Experience  Canon Law  Randall Bramblett Sky City  9:30 pm  $10 to $12  rock R2D1 Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  folk Stone Dogs Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $2  rock

sunday august 24 special event Candlelight Jazz: After the Storm 8th Street Bulkhead  8 to 9:30 pm  $6 Join us each Sunday along the banks of the Savannah River for an enchanted evening of Jazz featuring regional and local jazz artists. Details: 706.821.1754

live music John Kolbeck Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free By the Sins Fell Angels  Chairleg  The Moultri Killer  Pursuit of Angels  Undead Forest Sector 7G  7 pm  $10  metal

monday august 25

special event Music on the Plaza 8th Street Plaza  7 to 10 pm  $5

special event Movies at Main: The Band’s Visit Green St. Library  6:30 pm  free

outdoor event

live music

Suexe Effect 1102  10 pm  $3  funk The Skuds with Turf War Soul Bar  10 pm  $3  indie 420 Outback Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  rock

sunday august 17

Jacob Kolbeck Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  folk

friday august 15 special event Ed Turner and The #9 Band: The White Album Imperial Theatre  7:30 pm  $10 to $35 Ed Turner and the Number 9 band reprise the music and songs of one of the all time greatest albums by the Fab Four. This event is to benefit the Child Abuse Projects of the Columbia County Exchange Club. Reserved seat tickets are going fast – get them while you can.

kids event Toddler Time: The Ugly Duckling Morris Museum of Art  10 to 11 am or 11:15 am to 12:15 pm  free to $4 After reading the book The Ugly Duckling,

special event Candlelight Jazz: London Arrington 8th Street Bulkhead  8 to 9:30 pm  $6 Join us each Sunday along the banks of the Savannah River for an enchanted evening of jazz featuring regional and local jazz artists. Details: 706.821.1754

tara scheyer: silly monkey music friday august 1 • 7 pm • blue magnolia

Music at the Morris: The Unmentionables Morris Museum of Art  2 pm  free Join us for the summer’s last music concert – the great country rockabilly group the Unmentionables.

monday august 18 special event Movies at Main: Old Joy Green St. Library  6:30 pm  free

Bring the little ones out this First Friday for an intimate miniconcert with Tara Scheyer. Giggles and wiggles abound as Tara involves children in the music, featured on her Mud Puppy Band’s first CD, HiFi Felix. You can take the music home with you – CDs will be available for purchase. Door prizes, bubbles, and chalk round out this evening of family fun. Live in the blue magnolia’s mezzanine on August 1.

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pipeline / 8.24 - 9.5 live music Valencia  Sing it Loud  Zolof and the Rock and Roll Destroyer  Single File  Cash Cash Sector 7G  7 pm  $8  rock

tuesday september 2 live music Jacob Beltz Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  folk

wednesday september 3 live music Recon  Stray from the Path  Soldiers Sector 7G  7 pm  $8  metal

thursday september 4

the brothels: hobo junk rock

kids event

friday august 22 • 10 pm stillwater tap room The Brothels create music centered around one common root: the love of creating original music. The six piece “Hobo-Junk-Rock” band keeps things interesting by including up to 13 instruments a night, The Bakers Dozen. The Brothels are an intricately intertwined, bluegrass inspired, punk rock mingled, rock ‘n’ roll express train. You’ll always know its a high energy Brothels show. The band members are named as quirkily as their music: Jasper James, Shlycat, Jersey Cowboy, Gary Ripper, Steve the Sledge and Sterile Darryl. Meet the boys on August 22 at Stillwater Tap Room.

Lecture: Unbroken Morris Museum of Art  6 pm  free Musical writers Michael G. Hennessy and Barbara Jo Franklin present the creative process behind Unbroken, their original musical depicting the personal lives of plantation slaves. Unbroken is part of the Westobou Arts Festival and will be performed at the Davidson Fine Arts School on Sept 25.

live music Paul Arrowood Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $3  rock

friday september 5 Kill Whitney Dead  Camitex  Salt the Wound  The Demonstration  With Faithor Flames Sector 7G  7 pm  $9  metal Ruskin Yeargin Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  folk

tuesday august 26 live music Joe Stevenson Joe’s Underground  9 pm  $2  rock

special event

Terry and Gordon Cotton Patch  7:30  free  folk

“Fish Fry” with Kris Fisher of HD98.3 Metro Coffee House

Voo Doo Vibe 1102  10 pm  $3  rock

art event

Disco Hell Soul Bar  10 pm  $3 Chris Drieti Fox’s Lair  8 pm  free  folk Daddy Grace Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  rock

saturday august 30 thursday august 28 art event Exhibition Opening: Landscape of Slavery Morris Museum of Art  6 to 8 pm free Angela D. Mack, deputy director for the curatorial affairs at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, discusses how the diverse exhibition, Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art was conceived and assembled.

special event Healing Gardens & Gardens that Attract Wildlife Green St. Library  6:30 pm  free Master gardeners Chris and Sandy Randall will discuss garden spaces that nurture, restore, and re-energize us, and the 5 key elements found in these spaces.

live music Keith Gregory Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $3  Funk

friday august 29 live music Trees Leave Stillwater Tap Room  10 pm  $4

outdoor event Saturday Market on the River 8th & Reynolds  8 am to 1 pm  free

live music Keith Gregory Cotton Patch  7:30 pm  free  folk Modern Skirts Sky City  10 pm  $5  Indie Pop David Heath Project Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  Rock

sunday august 31 special event Paine College Evening of Jazz Jessye Norman Amphitheater Presented by Paine College, the 9th annual Evening of Jazz promises to continue in the tradition of great jazz music. Details: 706.821.8223 Candlelight Jazz: quietSTORM 8th Street Bulkhead  8 to 9:30 pm  $6 Join us each Sunday along the banks of the Savannah River for an enchanted evening of jazz featuring regional and local jazz artists. Details: 706.821.1754

High Art and Low Country: A Friend-Raiser with Jonathan Green Morris Museum of Art  6:30 to 10 pm  $35 to $50 The friends of African American art invite you to join them in making the opening of Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art. Mingle with nationally renowned Gullah artist Jonathan Green and enjoy live music while feasting on a low country boil overlooking the beautiful Savannah River. Lecture 6:30, Reception 7 pm. RSVP to 706.724.7501 by August 22.

live music Picture Perfect Cotton Patch  7:30 to 11:30 pm  free Dubconscious Sky City  10 pm  $8 to $10  reggae Impulse Ride Joe’s Underground  10 pm  $4  rock

every week

mondays Open Mic Night Kokomo’s  free

tuesdays Jazz Jam Sessions w/ Jazz Collective Metro Coffee House  9 pm  free Dr. John Fisher Fox’s Lair  9 pm  free  irish

wednesdays Open Mic Night 209 Music Lounge  8 pm  free Fox’s Lair  free Wednesday Night Dance Party Sky City  10 pm  $2  Various DJs Open Mic Night Kokomo’s  free

thursdays Rhyme and Dine 209 Music Lounge  7 pm  spoken word

fridays Friday Night Mix 209 Music Lounge  9 pm  $5  DJ

saturdays Saturday Market on The River 8th & Reynolds  8 am to 1 pm  free In the heart of Augusta a unique open air market experience. Jazz Collective Metro Coffee House  9 pm  $2 Open Mic Night Kokomo’s  free Metro Coffee House  9 pm  $2

ongoing exhibitions The Inventions of Leonardo DaVinci Fort Discovery  thru October 11 Leonardo’s scientific and technical drawings have captured the imagination for centuries. This exhibition focuses on 16 drawings, through reproducing Leonardo’s drawings on graphic panels and also realizing the idea in model form. Originally developed by the IBM Corporation, this interpretive exhibition encourages visitors to explore these concepts, in many cases through hands-on experiences with working models. (Free with paid admission to Fort Discovery)

The Godfather of Soul: Mr. James Brown Augusta Museum of History  thru May 2011 $2 to $4 The first major exhibit devoted to the life of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. The exhibit celebrates his life through three studies – the man, the music, and his great legacy.

Notes on the 19th, 20th, and 21st Centuries: Jeffrey Kronsnoble Morris Museum of Art  thru August 10  $3 to $5 This exhibition includes more than forty works of art, dating from the late 1960s to the present, by renowned painter and teacher Jeffrey Kronsnoble. From landscapes to meticulously rendered figure paintings, Kronsnoble’s work is characterized by fluent draftsmanship and a deep appreciation of art history. His paintings often incorporate portions of historically important works of art while reflecting the influence of photography and the most modern of 20th century art forms, collage.

Realist Paintings by Bryan LeBoeuf

sundays Candlelight Jazz 8th Street Bulkhead  8 to 9:30 pm  $6 Join us each Sunday along the banks of the Savannah River for an enchanted evening of jazz featuring regional and local jazz artists. Go to gardencityjazz.com for more info Museum Tour Morris Museum of Art  2:30 pm  free

Morris Museum of Art  thru September 28  $3 to $5 The artist’s first solo museum exhibition introduces the work of Louisiana native Bryan LeBoeuf through ten of his large-scale paintings. Highlighted by the artist’s mastery of beautifully painted surfaces, careful composition, and baroque lighting effects, his paintings are quite contemporary in their psychological and social implications, with many of them suggesting open-ended relationships between the figures depicted as they interact with the moody environments he creates.

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modern skirts / mixing brit pop charm with athens indie sound sky city • august 30 While listening to the Modern Skirts “N.Y. Song,” I flip through the boys’ promo pictures. They immediately give off a 60’s London vibe. Could it be the corduroy jackets and ties, quirkily staged black and white photos, or their music’s quick and easy charm reminiscent of The Beatles or Traffic? These boys are far from calling the other side of the pond their home. More like a little town called Athens, Georgia. The fellows of Modern Skirts, Jay (vocals, guitar), Jojo (vocals, keyboard, bass), John (drums/percussion), and Phillip (vocals, guitar, bass), came together at the University of Georgia through mutual friends who introduced them as “two pairs of dudes looking to play music.” The result is a foursome that creates the smooth appeal that only Indie Pop can translate. The band put out their first album, Catalogue of Generous Men, during their first tour. The lead and background vocals have moments when the harmonies simply melt together into one. This is most noticeable in “Soft Pedals,” in which they juxtapose haunting lullaby-like melodies to lyrics of “give me a knife and a merry go round.” Catching a different boat, “Radio Breaks” has serious head-nodding and body-swaying bass beats supporting a beautiful arrangement of overlapping vocals. Throughout their record, the band carries a signature sound that hits you almost like a rocking rhythmic chant. Modern Skirts’ music has a familiar quality like you grew up listening to it. I hear bits of Brian Wilson, The Kinks, CCR, Stevie Wonder, and The Beatles. Indeed, The Modern Skirts manage to bring that irresistible charm and easy listening quality to their music that The Beatles brought to every one of their songs. But at the same time their unique and signature sound reminds you that they are a band all their own. When it comes to song writing, the boys describe their lyrical content as “fiction lined with personal experiences” and also heavily grounded in random creativity. Phillip says he personally has always been fond of “open-ended, more abstract lyrics that allow multiple listeners to interpret differently.” Modern Skirts are enjoying every moment of band life right now, appreciating the “absolute freedom of it.” As Phillip says, “There are constantly new locations to see/play/eat/sleep and you can rarely count on a schedule or timeline. There’s something fairly romantic about that.” They should be enjoying every moment of it, as they have opened for R.E.M. in Amsterdam, performed at the Glastonbury Festival in the U.K, headlined at ATHFEST, and opened for Vampire Weekend in Belgium. Touring life is more than just the music for Modern Skirts. They put high value on the friendships formed along the way, like that with Coco Rubio, co-owner of Sky City, naturally driving the band’s excitement to return to Sky City this August. Modern Skirts will be ready to expand your music library this fall with their sophomore record. They are determined to put it out “independently or otherwise.” Check out the music at modernskirts.com or myspace.com/modernskirts (they request that you not question what the band sounds like but more what they might taste like). From my perspective, this band tastes like a pretty stellar Saturday night at Sky City on August 30th.

by Marian Kaufman

hogslobber / stewing punk and bluegrass into cowpunk firehouse bar • august 2 A lonely girl sits outside the bar crying as two guys hit each other back and forth arguing over who hits more like a girl. Inside the bar, bottles clank and clamor with an occasional shattering as the elbow-to-elbow crowd cheers and jeers at the rampant noise from the small stage. Joe yells for shots of whiskey and more PBR. The stench of stale cigarettes, sweat, blood, and spilt beer fills the air. This is a punk rock show. Born and bred in the south, Joe, Chance, John, Jody and Henry III have been making some of the best punk rock the town of Augusta has ever known. With a list of songs too long to name, the band has been tearing up bars in Augusta for as long as they have been able to avoid being kicked out of them. And they have (both as individuals and as a band) been kicked out of quite a few. But, hey, isn’t that the true chaos that punk rock is? Yes, these guys are true to the core, no holds barred punk rock. With the somewhat recent addition of Henry Wynn III and his amazing fiddle, a new facet to their own brand of Cowpunk has been invented. The inspiration and cries from their fans have inspired them to reach further into their southern roots…. “Mean Ass Bluegrass,” as Joe calls it; “Henry says we put the ass in bluegrass.” If you haven’t heard the word on the street yet, what I’m talking about is The Decrepits new band, Hogslobber. With these hardcore punk rockers working steady jobs, having kids, and trying to live slightly more “respectable” lives (whatever that may mean), they have reached deep into the backwoods of Georgia to create the meanest bluegrass act to ever grace the music scene of Augusta. As Joe describes, “It’s kinda like when a pig’s eating and he’s got all the slobber and foam from all the corn and feed and it’s just nasty as hell. It’s just like us; it ain’t pretty to look at.” Hogslobber aims to try and make music that even Grandma and Grandpa could enjoy while still being and enjoying who they are. It’s simple grassroots punk rock with a country fried edge to it. Having played two official gigs as Hogslobber, with the first at the illustrious Highlander and the second at the brand new Sky City, this third show at The Firehouse Bar will undoubtedly be the rowdiest. Playing for one of their loyal fan’s birthday bash with fellow punk rockers The Skuds and as the traditional Decrepits, this is a show not to be missed. Coming on the heels of First Friday, we will see the true fans out for this one, and perhaps a small handful of curious onlookers. Five bucks gets you in to see the show. Don’t miss it! by Jason Barron

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printed matter / anne fadiman I first encountered Ms. Fadiman when I picked up her first collection of essays, Ex Libris, which appropriately bore a sticker stating “Special Gift edition for Booksellers.” At the time, I hadn’t sold nearly the number of books since, but I considered myself to be one of those privileged to bear the title Bookseller and therefore added the book to my shelf. I do this often. A book appears tantalizing and I pick it up thinking, “I must read this,” so on the shelf it goes. I suppose at these moments I cease, momentarily, being a Bookseller and become a book collector. One thing it does not make me, however, is a book reader. So my first meeting was a rather dull one, laden with cramped shelves, dust, and being packed up in boxes (she moved twice with me before settling down on her current shelf) and then unpacked. I think at one time the book was actually taken to the store to sell. But the sticker called out to me and back home it went, still appearing doomed to remain unread. Then, last year, having quite forgotten about this tiny tome, my wife read The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down and encouraged me to read it. Since I listen to my wife like a good husband should, I accepted her advice and entered the world of the Hmong, Merced Community Medical Center, and an epileptic girl, Lia Lee. Finally, I had progressed from collector to reader. Reading can be an undertaking fraught with trepidation. There exists the risk of becoming involved, swept up into another life with sufferings that may overwhelm you. The life of Lia Lee is surely a life of suffering. Presenting a very severe case of epilepsy early in life, her childhood was one of seizures and the resulting complications, the greatest of which was a cultural barrier. Her parents spoke no English and the doctors spoke no Hmong. The barrier of language may be secondary to the complication of cultural divergence, which became a nearly insuperable obstacle in obtaining appropriate treatment. With a near obsessive attention to everything, Anne Fadiman places you firmly in the midst of these trials. The risk of grief is not without the equal risk of gladness. And though it is tempered by pain, there is happiness in this story also. Anne brings forth loving parents whose devotion and heart for their daughter uplifts our spirit. The persistence of doctors and social workers and a writer who chose to dig deeper into one girl’s story brings with it countless moments of joy. Having taken nearly eight years to write The Spirit Catches You, obsession may be understating what Anne went through to tell this story. Thousands of pages of medical papers reviewed with doctors. Hundreds of evenings spent talking with Lia’s parents, Foua and Nao Kao. Weeks turning into months and then years spent researching Hmong culture and history. I imagine her painstaking effort to craft

the story just so, moving this paragraph, rephrasing that sentence, until it was perfect. And I am grateful for her obsession and for every bit of sorrow and delight her story brought me. The Hmong have a phrase … which means “to speak of all things.” It is often used at the beginning of an oral narrative as a way of reminding the listeners that the world is full of things that may not seem to be connected but actually are; that no event occurs in isolation; that you can miss a lot by sticking to the point; and that the storyteller is likely to be rather long-winded. When I read this for the second time in The Spirit Catches You, I immediately wondered if this was why Anne fell in love with the story of Lia Lee. As a modern master of the familiar essay, she would enjoy this discursive process of storytelling as a means of exploring the world and communicating discoveries to others. The essence of the familiar essay, according to Anne Fadiman in an NPR interview, “is that it is autobiographical, but also about the world.” I would like to add to her definition that it speaks of all things. While Ex Libris had floundered upon a shelf, I had acquired her second collection of essays, At Large and At Small, and paired them up as logical companions. Being captivated by The Spirit Catches You, I needed to read these, and found the perfect inducement in writing this column. Suddenly I was thrust into the world of Arctic Explorers, merging libraries, coffee, ice cream, butterfly collecting, and innumerable subjects and authors. I found each essay utterly captivating and I was provoked to jealousy over the great number of books she must have read to write them. But more than reading went into writing since often the subject of the essay could be experienced. So while she pens about Balzac’s addiction to coffee, she feeds her own addiction, consuming cup after cup. While the familiar essay originally implied not only the author’s but also the reader’s familiarity with the subject, I found myself envying the breadth of her experiences and knowledge. In an essay from Ex Libris entitled “My Ancestral Castles,” Anne tells us, “My brother and I were able to fantasize far more extravagantly about our parents’ tastes and desires, their aspirations and their vices, by scanning their bookshelves than by snooping in their closets. Their selves were on their shelves.” After reading her books, I think perhaps Anne’s self is in her prose. Next month: If Utopia, in the Greek, means “not a place,” then where is Dystopia? David Hutchison is the proprietor of the Book Tavern, located at 1026 Broad Street. David is best known for his unique ability to match the perfect book to a customer’s personality and being a veritable walking encyclopedia of literary works.

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the importance of downtown historic preservation reasonably protecting the past while developing the future You know the type: we affectionately call them “hysterical” preservationists. These are the folks that believe protecting the buildings of our past is more important than any other consideration. While this is an extreme viewpoint, it is just as inappropriate to simply disregard that history. We have the downtown historic district, therefore, not because it is a necessity, but because it is simply a good idea for the people of Augusta. Who decided it was a good idea? The citizens of Augusta petitioned our local elected officials to create and regulate the historic district shortly after the effects of urban decline and sprawl started to decimate the character of our downtown. We are currently experiencing a resurgence of our downtown, in part, because we chose to save the old structures as the physical expressions of our history, and regulate the new ones to be respectful of that history. Now, however, driven by large proposed projects for downtown and the recent loss of several buildings due to neglect, there has been a lot of discussion about historic preservation in downtown Augusta. Inevitably, questions arise. Do we have to choose between historic preservation and economic development? If done correctly, the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. Many businesses and residents choose to locate in areas specifically because they have the charm, character and benefits of the historic district. While there are certain structures, such as the Woodrow Wilson and Ezekiel Harris houses, that are appropriately preserved and maintained as monuments to the past, most of the old buildings in the district must satisfy the needs of a contemporary society. For that reason, Augusta only regulates the historic appropriateness of a building’s exterior. This then encourages development that meets our current needs in a manner that respects our history. Who is in charge of historic preservation in Augusta? The elected members of the Richmond County Commission regulate historic preservation. The commission enacted the Historic Preservation Ordinance into law, and each member appoints a resident with a specific historic or design professional expertise to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The HPC then makes decisions about individual cases based on national standards, consistency with similar historic districts, precedents of previous decisions, and locally developed historic guidelines. Any individual decision made by the HPC is legally binding unless appealed to and overturned by the County Commission. Is something historic simply because it is old? Age is the most uniformly applicable method to equitably define historic structures. Therefore, Augusta defines all buildings in the regulated district of a certain age to be “historic.” The Historic Preservation Ordinance makes a distinction between a building that “contributes” to the character of the district and one that is “non-contributing.” Under these definitions, a building may actually be non-historic but still “contribute”to the history of the district. Why does historic preservation apply to new construction? The Historic Preservation Ordinance regulates new construction because Augusta is concerned about preserving an entire district’s character. The HPC strives to make sure new construction “contributes” to the district. It is generally more practical (and in many cases preferable) to design a new building that respects the history of the district rather than try to recreate it. Being respectful includes consideration to the size, scale, and presence of the structure in relation to its neighbors. It also requires that the building blends into the historic streetscape and does not overshadow the truly historic and other contributing structures in the area. Are modern materials acceptable on old buildings? Modern materials have many beneficial characteristics that are more economical and do a better job of protecting a historic structure. For these reasons, the HPC and the historic guidelines are not against the use of modern materials as long as they accurately replicate the look of the material they are replacing. The guidelines specifically designate acceptable and non-acceptable modern materials.

Why am I not allowed to do what I see on my neighbor’s property? Many conditions apply that might not necessarily be obvious. For instance, chain link fences are not permitted on the streetscapes of the downtown district but may under certain circumstances be permitted on the sides and back of a property. HPC has also approved certain inappropriate historical features, such as handicapped ramps in order to provide a necessary modern function. In most cases, however, non-historic modifications to a building were done prior to the enactment of the Historic Preservation Ordinance and are grandfathered into the law. Many owners, however, perform inappropriate modifications without obtaining the appropriate building permits and authorization from the HPC. When such cases are discovered, the owners are cited by the county and may be required to remove the illegally-applied inappropriate modifications. Why can’t I tear down my run-down old building? A truly historic building can never be brought back after it has been demolished. It is simply gone forever. There are cases where demolitions are justified, for instance if the building has been so drastically modified over the years that no historic elements remain, or if the structure of the building is so compromised by deterioration that bringing it back to a safe status would not be possible. Unfortunately, some property owners purposely allow their buildings to deteriorate to the point that demolition is the only option. Sometimes this is a willful attempt to force a demolition, but more often than not owners simply do not realize the devastating effect of neglect or do not have the means of effecting the maintenance and repairs. Who is responsible for maintaining my building? The individual property owners are responsible for maintaining their structures. By law this includes all structures within the historic district whether the building is historic or not. HPC has the authority to cite negligent property owners who do not provide basic maintenance to their historic structures. What right do you have to tell me what to do with my own property? Any reasonable society has rules and regulations which are imposed on others. For our buildings we have building codes, setback requirements, safety regulations, height restrictions, zoning laws, etc., all which effectively regulate what a person can and cannot do with their own property. Because historic regulation in Augusta is overseen by a board of design and historic professionals, many times such regulations end up benefiting the homeowner as much or more than their neighbors. by Mark Lorah chair of Augusta’s Historic Preservation Commission For more information on the Historic Preservation Commission, the Historic District boundaries and the specific design guidelines for downtown Augusta, visit: www.augustaga.gov

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le chat noir / magicians of the theatrical stage Doug Joiner, Richard Justice, and Krys Bailey are veritable magicians, pulling one winning rabbit out of the Le Chat hat after another. From satirical back to horror on steroids to criticism of humanity to riotous humor, the three have once again crafted a season of theatre destined to engage, challenge and delight audiences. The 2008/2009 Season begins with Forbidden Broadway on September 12 (season tickets are on sale now). Last season’s shows consistently sold out, so they have added a Sunday matinee performance. Due to the increasing popularity of the cabaret performances, Le Chat is also offering a Cabaret Season Subscription, including the cabaret package for five shows (there will not be a cabaret performance of the Grand Guignol), two tickets to the Grand Guignol: Theatre of Horror, two invites to the Black Cat Ball, and two invites to the 08-09 Wrap Party. Here’s a look at this season’s sextet of “Off-Broad” theatre:

September: Forbidden Broadway This off-Broadway satirical cabaret revue sharply spoofs show tunes, characters, and plots of contemporary and current Broadway musicals. Forbidden Broadway is a four-person show, with two men and two women, that has run for over twenty-five years. It has mocked popular shows like Wicked, Les Misérables, Annie, The Music Man, Miss Saigon, and Rent. It also targets famous Broadway actors, writers and directors, including Carol Channing, Elton John, Ethel Merman, Mandy Patinkin, Stephen Sondheim, Barbra Streisand and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

October: Grand Guignol - Theatre of Horror

January/February: Widows and Children First / Torch Song Trilogy, Part III Torch Song Trilogy is a collection of three plays by Harvey Fierstein rendered in three acts: International Stud, Fugue in a Nursery, and Widows and Children First! The story centers on Arnold Beckoff, a torch song-singing Jewish drag queen living in New York City in the late 1970s and 1980s. Each play focuses on a different phase in Arnold’s life. In this play, Arnold is a single father raising a gay teenager and forced to deal with his mother’s intolerance and disrespect.

The Grand Guignol was a theatre in Paris which, from its opening in 1897 to its closing in 1962, specialized in March: The Beauty Queen of Leenane naturalistic horror shows, featuring a distinctly bleak worldview as well as The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a blend particularly gory special effects in their of black comedy, melodrama, horror and notoriously bloody climaxes. These bleak tragedy. The story is set in an Irish plays often explored the altered states, village Leenane, Connemara in 1989. The like insanity, hypnosis, and panic, under entire play takes place in a shabby, poorly which uncontrolled horror could haplit kitchen, resulting in a claustrophobic pen. Some of the horror came from sense of entrapment. The play centers the nature of the crimes shown, which on the life of Maureen Folan, a young often had very little reason behind them spinster who takes care of her 70 year-old, and in which the evildoers were rarely selfish and manipulative mother Mag. The plot, full of deceptions, secrets and punished or defeated. Le Chat turns betrayals interspersed with turnabouts, keeps the audience surprised. Hopes are Grand Guignol into a visual haunted raised just to get dashed. house, just in time for All Saint’s Eve.

May/June: The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer November/December: A Tuna Christmas A Tuna Christmas is the second in a trilogy of comedic plays, each set the fictional town of Tuna, Texas. Written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, the plays are at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes, but also a withering satire of the same. The plays are notable in that two men play the entire cast of over twenty eccentric characters of both genders and various ages.

J. Robert Oppenheimer’s rise and fall erupt in this kaleidoscopic play exploring questions of faith, conscience, and the consequences of the never-ending pursuit of knowledge. Oppenheimer led the team of physicists at Los Alamos that developed the atomic bomb during World War II. Carson Kreitzer’s play delves into a fascinating facet of Oppenheimer, his Jewishness, and she proposes that for him, creating the bomb was all about taking vengeance on “one little German man with a mustache.”

For specific dates and ticket costs, visit lcnaugusta.com or call 706.722.3322. Le Chat Noir is located at 304 Eighth Street.

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past times / union baptist church Union Baptist Church, located at 1102 Greene Street, was built in the Carpenter Gothic style. Its architectural features include board and batten siding, a steeply pitched pressed metal shingled roof, gothic windows set with stained glass, and two vertically oriented front towers. The interior includes theatre-style seating, a baptismal pool beneath a painting depicting the River Jordan, and a mosaic tile floor in the vestibule. Restoration of the church began in 1995 and has been adopted as a major project of Historic Augusta, Inc. The small but determined congregation has held worship services in the church throughout the restoration process. The church will continue to be used for worship services but will also be available for weddings, lectures, and appropriate musical performances. During the Westobou Festival, on Saturday, September 27, 2008, a concert will be given by gospel singer Oral Moses.

1851 First Presbyterian Church purchased the lot and built a mission church for the workers in the textile mills along the Augusta canal.

1861-1865 The Rev. Joseph Ruggles Wilson, father of the future President Woodrow Wilson, began using the building as a Sunday school for African Americans.

1872 The property was purchased by Greene Street Methodist Episcopal Church, an African American congregation connected to Saint John Methodist Church.

1883 The building was bought by the Union Baptist congregation, which had been established in 1879 as an offshoot of Springfield Baptist Church, the oldest African American Church in the United States.

1888 The congregation improved the building and extended the sanctuary closer to Greene Street. This is when the present faรงade and the corner towers were constructed and when the stained glass windows were installed.

Early 1900s A Tiffany-style stained glass window was added to the church by the family of Mrs. S.J. Carey.

1995 Historic Augusta, Inc. began a partnership with the pastor and congregation of Union Baptist in order to raise funds for the preservation of the church.

Today Preservation funds of over $500,000 have been raised thanks to many generous donors, including grants from the Knox Foundation, the Houston Family Foundation, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The restoration of the church is nearly complete, with only a number of stained glass windows and the Sunday school room remaining to be finished. Work began on the adjacent parsonage this summer. The former parsonage will become a rental property which will provide income to aid the congregation in paying for the maintenance of the church in the future. Julia Jackson is the Programs and Marketing Director for Historic Augusta, Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve historically or architecturally significant structures and sites in Augusta and Richmond County.

photos by Elizabeth Benson

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be a tourist in your own hometown The Savannah River and Augusta Canal The sweltering heat of the summer is finally settling in and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m having trouble finding the energy to do much of anything in Augusta. As the harsh humidity hits I tend lose my ambition and quietly retire to my air conditioned living room during the day. As comforting as this may seem, I have two energetic dogs begging to escape the confines of my house. My conscious also tells me that I should spend less time watching reality television, and more time outside. Personally, I think the best attraction downtown has to offer is probably its easy access to water. The Savannah River and the Augusta Canal offer a variety of things to do, especially when temperatures rise and the need to stay cool becomes essential. When it comes to the river and the canal, I am always drawn to the same quaint and shady watering hole located just a few minutes from downtown.

THIS IS NOT A BUILDING

When the Augusta Canal was built in 1845, a wood aqueduct was installed to allow the man-made canal to flow over Raeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek near its confluence with the Savannah River. Due to rapid deterioration, it was replaced by a stone structure just 5 years later. Charles Olmstead fulfilled the demands of local text-tile mills that needed more hydropower by sealing the stone arches and creating a dam that backed into Raeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek to create the reservoir that we now call Lake Olmstead. In 1882, William Goodrich built Warwick Mill to reutilize spillways from the Augusta Canal. Presently, only the ruins from this mill can be seen in the area that locals refer to as Raeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aqueduct. Two opposite flowing spillways form a picturesque watering hole that gathers and then flows into a creek that lies under a train trestle. Really, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to describe encountering this hidden nook for the first time and believing that something so serene can be kept such a large secret. The water is shallow and safe enough to allow local residents to bathe or swim or just lay out on large formations of rock that surround the area. For many years this area was littered like a local dumping ground. Although the stone walls have provided a great location for rock climbing, I doubt anyone enjoyed having to scale over trashed refrigerators and recliners to get to it. Once, my nostrils even met with the most nauseating stench of a cow head and carcass dumped just a few feet from the dirt road that leads to it.

Alan Venable Architect, LLC â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good Design is a Wise Investmentâ&#x20AC;?

309 11Th Street Augusta, GA 30901 P: 706.722.7414

Earlier this spring, hundreds of local volunteers gathered to clean the aqueduct. Their hard work proved to be worthwhile, eventually clearing out six tons of trash and removing the overgrowth of weeds and brush. My eyes were caught with a surprise when I descended down one of its rocky paths and saw dozens of local residents fighting off the summer humidity in the cool waters of the aqueduct. Fortunately, the area is large enough for me to let my dogs run loose around one of the shallower areas near a waterfall without having them bother anyone. Although I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t condone letting your pets off their leash around others, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to deny them the pleasures of freely playing in water. Eventually we were joined by three other dogs and it was pleasant to see them all interact without any trouble or fuss. At the end of the day, we retired back to our conditioned house where I, of course, rewarded myself with reality television. As a dog owner, I can tell you that nothing makes me happier than watching two completely exhausted dogs collapse onto to floor into a well-rewarding slumber. The park area is accessible from Goodrich Street, a dirt road that runs west along the Augusta Canal from the Sibley Mill complex off Broad Street. by Katie McGuire

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hands across downtown / heritage academy making quality education available and affordable for all You might have noticed last year that the old Houghton school building in Olde Towne is no longer abandoned. In fact, the building is once again a place of learning – true to its original intent per John Houghton’s last will and testament from 1853. The 333 Greene Street building that now houses Heritage Academy was once a free school in the 1800s, before the establishment of public education that guaranteed schooling for all children. The schoolhouse then became Augusta’s first elementary school, Houghton Elementary. It is with this same spirit that Heritage Academy continues the tradition of serving Augusta’s poorer children, striving to make a quality education affordable. Last fall began Heritage Academy’s first school year in its current permanent location. While Heritage Academy originally met at Broad Street Baptist Church for its first three years of operation (2001 to 2004), it then moved to the old Curtis High School facility as enrollment grew. Last year, Heritage Academy educated 100 children in grades kindergarten through 6th. Heritage continues to add one grade per year, and will offer a combined 6th/7th grade class for the upcoming 2008-09 school year. Curriculum is composed of Singapore and Saxon math, with Harcourt publications used for reading and social studies, in addition to BJU Press for grammar instruction. Students are also offered Suzuki violin lessons free of charge, although they must come an hour early to school three mornings a week. Heritage Academy is a tremendous network of immense volunteer effort and generous private donation. While tuition is charged on a sliding scale according to income, the school’s operating budget is dependent by 80% upon private donation (40% individual donors). While families contribute what they can afford financially, they invest a sacrificial commitment in their child’s education by transporting students to and from school (very few are walkers), packing a lunch each day (meals are not yet provided in the cafeteria), and maintaining communication with school leaders. In fact, discipline is less of a problem because “we can expect more and we do,” states Principal Jan Hitchcock, also a founding Board

Member. Jan herself taught for years in the public school system and acknowledges that teachers at Heritage must feel called to Christian ministry. In fact, the vision for Heritage Academy grew from a burden she and others have shared to stop the cycle of poverty in Augusta. * Sometimes, Jan and Linda Tucciarone (Executive Director) feel as though they are “plowing concrete.” You would not believe the amount of “plowed concrete” that contributes to Heritage Academy’s success! After the Houghton school building was sold by Richmond County in 2000 for private development, it received exterior renovation thanks in part to a façade grant from the Downtown Development Authority. Heritage Academy was then able to purchase the building for $1 million. Dr. Tucciarone sees its renovation and use as a “tipping point” for downtown. “We want to attract young families by making quality education affordable for this area, rather than seeing families choose to leave the neighborhood.” Dr. Tucciarone cites the building renovations as “historically respectful” since they boast original flooring and plaster walls, while using as much recycled materials as possible in addition to adding new electricity and plumbing. The first floor of the old Houghton school is beautifully equipped with donated furnishings, including a volunteer-run library and a 320-seat auditorium available for public use. Renovations are continuing on the second floor as Heritage Academy plans for future expansion. “We want to be here for generations to come,” states Dr. Tucciarone. Enrollment at Heritage Academy is growing predominantly through word of mouth. Currently, the student body is approximately 80% African American and 20% Caucasian. While marketing efforts were attempted early on, Principal Jan Hitchcock states that word of mouth is spreading as “parents are satisfied.” Teachers who hear about Heritage inquire about employment as they are drawn to the mission. In terms of academic performance overall, standardized test scores for Heritage students beat CT Walker last year. Principal Hitchcock adds, “We’d love to bridge with other people, schools, and places.” Jan says this before answering a phone call from an interested parent, and after thanking a volunteer from a local church for bringing by donations of office supplies. It is apparent that Heritage Academy is building a legacy of generosity and community involvement for low-income children of Augusta, children who are “a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Heritage Academy enrollment requires an initial $75 application fee and placement testing administered by appointment. More information can be found at heritageacademyaugusta.org. by Melody Carr • photos by Elizabeth Benson

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augusta music history 101

August is Just Augusta with One Less Letter Do you ever find yourself accidently adding an “a” to the end of August when typing it? I think it may be my most consistent typographical error. It’s understandable; after all, I find that I type “Augusta” far more than I do “August.” Heck, you don’t even have to live in the Garden City to consider Augusta more often than a hum drum holiday-less month like August. But what August lacks in holiday cred, it more than makes up for in historical dates. The beginnings of the internet kicked off in 1969, and thirty years later Capitol, Universal, BMG, and Sony dropped their case against Diamond Multimedia, helping to start the portable mp3 player boom! Who could have ever guessed those two events would have such significance in today’s music industry? Augusta has had its fair share of musical moments during the month of August as well. Ray Charles and Public Enemy are just a couple of the acts that have rocked the Garden City in August. Sure, Augusta had a musical lull in the late 70’s while the likes of Ole Anderson and Ivan Koloff were terrorizing the Bell Auditorium (four times in August 1978) but, as you will soon see, August, um, Augusta music has always been pretty happening.

August 11, 1953

August 18, 1998

On this day in 1953, the “Immortal” Hulk Hogan was born right here in Augusta. “This is not musicrelated,” you say? The Hulkster was a career musician before falling to the charms of professional wrestling, and to this day he still enjoys a good jam now and then. Don’t believe me? Check out Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band on YouTube.

Impulse Ride, also rocking since the late ‘80’s, re-releases their CD Corn Dog Money on Indie Label J-Bird Records. Put out by the band a few months earlier with slightly different packaging on Bordertown Records, Corn Dog Money would include great rock tracks such as “Bore,” “Johnny Carson,” and a blistering cover of The Plimsouls’ “A Million Miles Away.”

August 19, 1959 1990 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductee “Blind” Willie McTell passed away on this day in 1969. The Thomson, Georgia native, and Blind Willie Music Festival namesake, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the state hospital in Milledgeville, Ga.

August 19, 1995 Augusta musical vets People Who Must release their debut label CD The Road You Travel on Creativeman Records. Included among the many great tunes on the CD are crowd favorites “Laurel Lane” and “One Thousand Miles.” The latter was voted song of the year on Augusta radio station Channel Z, beating out tunes by artists such as Pearl Jam and R.E.M.

August 4, 1999 Legendary Augusta radio deejay “Handsome” Harley Drew was honored by the City of Augusta as Mayor Bob Young declared August 4, 1999 “Harley Drew Day” in commemoration of Drew’s forty years in Broadcasting. Young and Drew worked together for 13 years at one-time national radio juggernaut WBBQ. John “Stoney” Cannon is the creator of Augusta music resource Lokal Loudness and has been covering area music since 1992. For more information visit www.lokalloudness.com.

Alexis All-Star Picks: The Lexie’s Legacy Memorial Scholarship Fund Concert Sky City • August 15 • 9 pm Jemani • Veara • 420 Outback • G-City Rockers • Dew Hickies • 48Volt Instead of featuring one of Alexis’ favorite Augusta CDs this month, we’re going to pimp an event honoring Alexis that will feature live music by some of her closest family, friends, and artists. This special show to raise funds for the Lexie’s Legacy Scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time this fall at Augusta State University, will feature performances by G-City Rockers, Veara, Dew Hickies, 48Volt, 420 Outback, and Alexis’ all-time favorite Augusta band, Jemani. Doors open at 8 pm, with music starting shortly after. All proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund. For the small price of $5 you can enjoy six great area bands, add to a great cause, and help us remember a special lady who left us much too soon. If you’re more of the “sit down and enjoy a nice dinner while bidding on cool stuff ” kind of person, keep checking the Lexie’s Legacy web page for information on how you can get tickets to the Lexie’s Legacy Memorial Dinner and Silent Auction to be held First Friday, September 5th at The City Club located at 724 Broad Street. This cool event will feature a buffet of Italian fare, cash bar, and the opportunity to bid on various items including music memorabilia, gift certificates, tickets, and more. Ticket information will be available on the website soon. For more information on this special event visit www.lexieslegacy.org and www.lokalloudness.com.

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5not to miss

free things

(during august’s first friday)

college night: morris museum of art learn about the New York art scene during an evening chat with contemporary artist Bryan LeBoeuf. pizza included. 6 pm to 8 pm

tara scheyer: blue magnolia calling all silly music monkeys for an evening of musical fun with Tara Scheyer. free concert starts at 7 pm.

the suex effect: eighth street stage

this high energy band brings a jazz – funk – groove to the newly revived eighth street stage.

pyroteque: tenth street stage be entranced with the remarkable skill and breath-taking talent of these fire dancers extraordinaire. 7:30 pm

prêt-a-porter (ready to wear): sky city midtown threds and modish salon feature the latest trends in clothing and hair to the beats of DJ Joycette. 8 pm. free

artscene / lou ann zimmerman retiring As the anchor of Artists’ Row, Lou Ann Zimmerman’s paintings capture the beauty she has discovered while travelling throughout Asia and Europe, and a new appreciation for the exquisite landscapes we find ourselves surrounded by everyday in America. Known for many years as primarily a landscape painter, Lou Ann’s imaginative and thought provoking style runs from the traditional landscape to more experimental representations of people and their environment. Her work is handled exclusively by the Zimmerman Gallery, 1006 Broad Street.