March 2008 Issue by verge

downtown augusta

Experience Downtown shop dine play live

Shop Local First The Economic Impact

J.B. Whites

A Storied Past / A Progressive Future

march 2008

verge / march /

contents 13

Shop Local First

20+ Downtown Watering Holes

Something to Look Forward To

gallery: You Are Always Welcome soundcheck: Chairleg onstage: Sordid Lives offstage: Way of the Cross

past times: J.B. Whites

a startling look at the economic impact your dollars have when spent locally

playing downtown is easy with over 20 pubs and clubs, all in walking distance of each other

an intimate exhibit of abstract art by Americans of African descent at the Morris Museum of Art

A storied past with a progressive future: J.B. Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building experiences a renaissance.

experience more 5 5 7 9 9 11 18 23 26 26 27 29 30

volume one issue one

smatterings free stuff quick clips discover downtown DDA news he saw / she saw pipeline good chow from tree to tree augusta music 101 printed matter your space marketplace

cover: warehouse behind vintage 965 photo by Wes Childers

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smatterings / notes from the publisher publisher Matt Plocha editor Lara Plocha pipeline editors Claire Riche & Jason Barron web guy Andy Donnan graphics guy John Cannon 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 persmission is prohibited.

We’ve dreamed, planned and sweat (a little). And now you are holding our reality – verge: downtown Augusta. What started as loose conversation quickly turned into a viable vision. We reached out to real people from markets across the US to find out what they were doing to better their own communities. We collected ideas, captured conversations and grabbed up publications from every corner of this great country and came up with verge. It is all in a name. What is verge? verge has several definitions – we choose “of the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs.” Downtown is the verge, where it all begins, where we come together as a community. verge is a monthly newszine

dedicated to promoting Augusta’s vibrant downtown district, reporting on the positive, the upbeat, the forward-thinking side of the epicenter of our community. verge is positive. You will experience a taste of the great things downtown has to offer and discover opportunities to be part of your community. verge is a collaborative effort by independent writers, business owners, photographers and artists joining together to build a greater downtown for our community. verge propels one to action. It has already forced me out of my own comfort zone. I’ve spent the last month walking downtown, from 13th to 5th Street, from the Savannah River to Greene. I was amazed. We are building street by street, business by business and event by event the greatest “mall”

that Augusta has ever seen. It is being built from the large corporate offices to the unwavering entrepreneurial spirit that drives our independent business owners. verge is about fulfilling dreams, creating vision and building community that makes this the most dynamic district in the area. verge is a challenge to you – take the walk and see downtown firsthand. And while you’re on that downtown walk, stop in and meet your neighbors. Support the advertisers in this issue – they’re all passionately invested in downtown and its success. verge is downtown Augusta. Experience all downtown Augusta has to offer you. verge is you. We’ll see YOU downtown!

- matt

verge is a free monthly publication

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

sample downtown / free stuff

sample cool stuff from downtown merchants – just register to win ❏ Enter to win a skin glow starter set

Cloud Nine Natural products make healthy, glowing skin – get started with this fantastic kit, includes soap, salt glow exfoliating scrub, body yogurt, lip balm and shea & body butter. Your choice of fragrance. (value: $60)

❏ Win a limited edition Smithsonian Scientific book series

The Book Tavern challenges your mind with the limited edition Smithsonian Scientific Series 12 Volume Illustrated Edition. Originally published in 1929, each well-illustrated volume was written by an important scholar on their specialty and intended to enlighten and interest the general reader. (value: $125)

❏ Enter to win a piece of the world’s most adaptable jewelry

Brought to you by Elduets Treasures of the World, this jewelry fits everyone, everywhere. Special magnets make them change size and shape – your piece can turn into a choker, necklace, bracelet or headband. Your imagination is its only limit! Your choice of color. (value: $10)

❏ Enter to win a Halo signature facial

Halo Salon and Spa offers this hour facial completely personalized to you and your skin care needs (value: $85)

name: address:

email: phone:

enter to win – three ways - registration ends march 21, 2008 via email: editor@vergelive.com • via mail or in person: 1124 broad street 30901

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quick clips books for our troops begin to ship

200

people gave

1500 books

The Book Tavern has collected more than 1500 books for their “Books For Our Troops Drive” initiative which started in January. Over 200 people have participated in the project and they’ve already shipped 300 pounds of books to the Fort Gordon Unit Detachments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The drive is making a large local impact as well – books are also being distributed to Warriors in Transition Battalion at Fort Gordon, Active Duty Unit Rehab at the Uptown VA, Spinal Cord Unit at the Downtown VA, and the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. According to David Hutchison, owner of The Book Tavern, “We will continue our Annual Drive as long as our troops are in harms way.”

vintage 965 turns one

tuesday morning roundtable

Happy Birthday to Vintage 965 as they celebrate their first year in downtown. Vintage 965 is quickly becoming known as the place for unique handbags – whether your tastes run trendy, classic or vintage. A curious little shop with a big heart! Stop in on First Friday for birthday treats from 5 to 10 pm. Located at 965 Broad Street.

Get in the know and meet downtown’s movers and shakers at the Tuesday Morning Roundtable. The group meets at 8 am every Tuesday (except the last one each month) for breakfast at Sandwich City. Open to anyone interested in downtown issues – this group has tackled homelessness, street beautification, and more.

casa blanca to open soon Jai West, previous owner of White Elephant, is moving on up Broad Street! She’ll be opening a new café, Casa Blanca, in the White’s Building – hopefully within a month or two. This unique environment will serve light breakfast and lunch fare by day. By night, Casa Blanca will be available for special events. Be on the lookout for a yummy menu – featuring Jai’s signature salad dressing and her tasty soups!

modish welcomes stylist modish salon & spa welcomes our newest team member, Erin Marty. Erin brings 6 plus years of professional experience in some of the industry’s top salons. She has been personally trained by leading educators and hair care companies within the craft. Erin specializes in custom hairstyling and color techniques while meeting each individual’s needs. Her desire it to renew people’s lives through their appearance. Available for appointments and walk-ins: 706.722.1518.

ter downtown’s resurgence in loft living. Plans are to create a billiard room atmosphere with live stage entertainment and a full bar. Cabaret and cocktails. Perry Gunnells (one of downtown’s favorite hair designers) is expanding – Club Rehab is coming soon (where Room 9 used to be). Perry’s taking the old Room 9 and turning it into a vibrant bar and show hall. Martinis will still be the house specialty. The new show stage will be upstairs and the bar down.

the augusta colts – indoor football begins anew

heard on the street: music and drinks downtown just got a lot cooler Coco Rubio and the Soul Bar recently purchased the Mission. Word is they aren’t going to change the interior much, but expect a new name, great music and a lot more of it! Sky City should be open by the beginning of April. We’re hoping for a combo pack: merge the vision of Blue Horse and The Mission into a true music venue. Now that would be cool. Adrian Estrada is opening The Loft (target date unknown) at 927 Broad Street. Named perfectly af-

Indoor Football returns to the James Brown Arena on March 13th with the Augusta Colts – formerly known as the Augusta Spartans. Under entirely new ownership and management, the Augusta Colts is a member of the American Indoor Football League. The owners chose to name the team “Colts” as a reflection of CSRA football fans on both sides of the Savannah River, paying homage to the strong equine community in Aiken as well as the horse heritage in Augusta. The new managing partner, John Sisson, promises to bring a new community philosophy to the game, with a family oriented brand of football entertainment. To get tickets, call 706.828.6820 or stop by the business office at 712 Telfair Street.

www.catalogchoice.org Want an easy way to save natural resources and simplify your life? Catalog Choice is a free ser-

vice that allows you to decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive. Every year 19 billion catalogs are mailed to US households – that equates to 53 million trees used, enough energy to power 1.2 million homes, water to fill 81,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and carbon dioxide emissions from two million cars. Reduce unwanted clutter and positively impact your environment!

glow Everyone wants great looking skin, but because we are bombarded with advertisements for this or that product, many people forget some simple steps that will keep their skin looking and feeling its best with very little effort. • Drink lots of water. Hydrating your body helps hydrate the skin • Living skin does not dry out unless it is diseased or damaged. • Healthy skin looks flaky or dull because it’s covered with dead skin that naturally sheds. • Exfoliate dead skin once or twice a week and moisturize the fresh living skin daily, protecting it from the elements. by Carless Gay

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706 706 955 955 1120 1120 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM! 1432 rEYNOLDS ST DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA

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discover downtown shop

dine

play

live

Cottage Elegance

Hildebrandt’s

209 Music Lounge

Georgia Hatters

219 James Brown Blvd

222 Sixth Street

Eighth Street Bulkhead

318 Eighth Street

Looking for antiques, unique gifts, floral arrangement, or home accessories? Downtown’s newest retail shop, Cottage Elegance fits the bill. It’s located between Broad and Ellis Streets at 219 James Brown Blvd. Owner Joni Thurmond offers a wide array of products from china cabinets and china dolls to tea room tables and chairs and wall quilts. Cozy accessories for your home and lovely gifts abound in this tiny store. Cottage Elegance is open 10:00 am to 2:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Do not overlook this cozy shop the next time you are downtown.

One of the oldest shops in Augusta, Hildebrandt’s has been serving up great food for 128 years and encompasses a small grocery store and sandwich shop. Owned by Luanne Hildebrandt, it is a regular stop for lunch on Sixth Street between Broad and Ellis. The sandwiches are made with fresh quality meats and cheeses and handmade right when you order, leaving a little time to browse the rest of the store or simply sit and converse with Ms. Hildebrandt. Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri: 9:30 am to 6 pm; Wed: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and Sat: 9:30 am to 3 pm. Closed on Sunday.

Fairly new to downtown, 209 Music Lounge is a great place to go out for dinner or catch a live band. The spacious building contains two full bars and a dining area for families, offering up great soul food and finger foods. With dinner and a drink comes a little entertainment. There’s karaoke on Wednesdays, DJ on Thursdays, and live bands on Saturdays. As the weather gets nicer, the riverfront patio will feature live jazz bands. Owner, Glen Brinson, keeps it open four days a week. Wed: 11 am to 11 pm; Thu: 11 am to 12 am; Fri: 11 am to 2 am; Sat: 12 pm to 2 am.

Located at 318 Eighth Street between Ellis and Greene, Georgia Hatters Dry Cleaning is easy to find and readily accessible for those who work in and around downtown and need laundry services. Owner Hyun Kim provides excellent dry cleaning, freshly pressed shirts, minor repairs and alterations, hat cleaning and one hour pant and shirt service for customer convenience (which is nice if you want to walk around and shop or get called into a meeting on short notice). Open for business every day: Sun to Fri: 7 am to 6 pm and on Sat: 9:30 am to noon. by Andrew Mullis

downtown development authority update Downtown Gets Cleaner & Safer: The Green Team Arrives in April Imagine downtown Augusta with steam-cleaned sidewalks, litter-free streets and bicycle ambassadors greeting visitors and creating a safe environment for all to enjoy. Those dreams are finally becoming a reality with the Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative (CADI), the city’s first Business Improvement District.

what is CADI CADI is a Business Improvement District, an organization of downtown property who tax themselves to raise money for downtown improvements. CADI is funded entirely by the property owners.

gram and, since then, CADI has been on the fast-track. Mr. Rick Wiggins, who has twenty years experience as an army drill instructor, has been hired as the Program Manager. Extensive training for the clean team and ambassadors is scheduled for early March.

what will CADI do for downtown CADI provides a wide range of services – focusing mainly on safety, cleanliness, hospitality and promotion. These services are in addition to those provided by our local government. Your CADI team will be on the streets and in full operation by April 1. Look for the guys in green!

who will manage CADI The downtown property owners are in complete control of CADI. The newly elected Board of Directors unanimously approved a three-year contract with Service Group Inc. of Malvern, Pennsylvania to run the pro-

For more information visit www.myaugustadowntown.com by Margaret Woodard, Downtown Development Authority

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he saw / she saw a few of our favorite things recently discovered on downtown date nights A bracelet made by Tibetan artists from blue magnolia because I appreciate all things handmade. This thing is carved out of yak bone with some amazing designs etched into it. Added bonus: a portion of the proceeds goes to the Tibetan children.

The Bomb Burrito from Nacho Mama’s is one of my favorite items on the menu. This baby is chocked full of chicken and jalapeno and goes great with a glass of their sweet tea.

While at the Book Tavern, I had David Hutchison put my name on the list to receive a copy of The Story of Augusta by Dr. Edward Cashin. I was impressed with David’s wealth of knowledge and the store’s selection of books.

We had dinner at the Pizza Joint where I enjoyed my slice of pizza (italian sausage and cheese) and the company of my husband and son. This is a restaurant that has a really laid back atmosphere and I like the fact that people of all ages come in to hang out and everyone seems to get along. We really like to wander around in the blue magnolia and check out the array of “eclectic stuff.” I purchased the TakeOut Book (from Knock Knock) because I know someone who treats people to lunch quite frequently and I’m hoping this will be perfect for her. This is a great store to visit if you like unique things or need to find a gift for someone who seems to have everything and is hard to buy for. You are sure to find at least one thing you like especially if you enjoy chocolate. It’s tradition for us to buy “something sweet” each time we stop in. One of my favorite things about downtown are the people. It is a great place to hang out in a group, or read quietly alone in a cafe, or “people watch” over a cup of coffee. Today, I was able to just enjoy spending time with my husband as we brought our little bundle, Colson, out for a downtown date. This was his first experience of downtown at night. Of course, he did sleep the whole time... but it was still a good memory made for me.

about the couple: Jason Webb is the music leader at the Well, a downtown community church. His wife, Wendy, has her hands full with Colson, their month-old baby boy.

12 / march / verge

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choosing local first boosts augusta’s economy A friend recently asked, “Does downtown Augusta really need another restaurant?” I replied with an emphatic yes. We do need more restaurants, plus galleries, retail stores, clubs, salons and parks resulting in a diverse and growing community. Downtown Augusta is a unique destination point – grounded in history, eclectic in its offering, and driven by locally owned businesses. Its success is Augusta’s success – and relies heavily on residents choosing to keep their dollars local. Spending local has benefits on many levels. I find the most compelling argument to support local For every $100 spent at a locally owned and operated busibusinesses is simple ness, $45 stays in the community. That same $100 spent economics. at a chain store only puts $13 back into our local economy. A recent study demonstrates the power of a dollar spent at a locally owned business versus that same dollar at a chain Want to learn more? or online. The study by Civic Economics, a national “Every dollar of city money and economic analysis and strategic planning consultancy every hour of city time wasted firm, posed the simple question “does local matter?” on unreliable non-local businesses are precious resources Their findings present an incredible case: for every unavailable to nurturing local $100 spent at a locally owned and operated business, businesses. Real economic de$45 stays in the community. That same $100 spent velopment should begin with the home team,” states Michael H. at a chain store only puts $13 back into our local Shuman, author of Small-Mart economy. Revolution: How Local BusinessFor Augusta, that means if each household in es Are Beating the Global Competition. This book is available Richmond County simply redirected $100 of planned at The Book Tavern (1026 Broad spending next month from chain stores to local Street • $16.95). merchants, the local economic impact would reach Shuman takes issue with the approximately $3.4 million for the month. If we did concept that there is no viable that every month, the annual impact would be $40 alternative to mega-stores like million and create almost 300 new jobs. Wal-Mart. In The Small-Mart Revolution, he presents a compelling The study illustrated how locally owned businesscase for his alternative business es contribute more to the community than chains or model, where communities reap Internet companies. Online retailers pay no sales tax the benefits of “going local” in four key spending categories: on products bought by Augusta customers, and, or goods, services, energy, and ficourse, have no employees in the area. Chains also do nance. Shuman argues that local not spend money in the local community on services businesses give more to charity, adapt more easily to rising labor they retain on a national level. Local businesses typiand environmental standards, cally pay other local businesses for their products and and produce more wealth for services – recirculating the money in our community. a community. They also spend more locally, thereby increasing When we shop at local businesses, we simultaneously community income and creating create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, wealth and jobs. The Small-Mart invest in neighborhood improvement and promote Revolution presents a visionary yet practical roadmap for everycommunity development. That’s powerful. one concerned with mitigating To put it on a more personal level: the next time the worst of globalization. you run to Lowe’s for your lumber, maybe you should

think of Pratt-Dudley first. If you’ve gone into WalMart for a gift, try Elduets Treasures of the World. Instead of looking for books at Borders, call the Book Tavern (they can get it for you as fast & easy). It’s not hard to redirect your money – and it’s mostly cost competitive. You’ll also be getting personalized service from the folks who run the business and won’t be just another wallet in the checkout line. Roane Loudermilk, part of the team renovating the White’s Building, elaborates on the Horizon Group’s commitment to supporting local business. She says, “[We] feel that supporting downtown Augusta’s local businesses is paramount to stimulating growth and stability in the downtown corridor.” Her words are supported by her actions. With husband Sherwin, Roane makes a point of dining and shopping locally while in Augusta. They often start their day with coffee at New Moon Café, lunch at Blue Sky Kitchen or Cafe 209, and finish with dinner at White Elephant. The J.B. White’s building will host designs by blue magnolia, stone flooring by Tile Center Inc., commercial space signs by Wooden Features, and artwork from downtown galleries. Roane concludes, “Hopefully, by increasing the downtown population by approximately 10%, we can help promote a rebirth of downtown Augusta.” Of course, it’s more than just the money. When we choose to shop local first, we choose to support our neighbors, add to the character and diversity of Augusta, and create a sustainable community. Locally owned businesses add diversity and character to our community by offering original and unique products and services. Our Shop Menswear attributes their 38 years of successful downtown business to the uniqueness of their product which fills a niche a chain retailer cannot. Hildebrandt’s is a one of a kind small grocer and deli, serving downtown since 1879. From shoes to wigs, modern furniture to traditional, sushi to Creole, books to art, downtown offers an incredible array of products and services. Locally owned businesses also support local community organizations and charitable functions creating a web of support within the community. For instance, The Book Tavern’s recent “Give a Soldier a Book to Read,” collected over 300 pounds of books to send to troops overseas. This local initiative is making a community impact. Each of our daily decisions really does make a powerful collective impact on shaping Augusta. Remember, where you spend your money will truly determine what your neighborhood is going to look like in ten years. Lara Plocha owns blue magnolia with husband, Matt, and acts as president of the Downtown Augusta Alliance.

14 / march / verge

The Twenty Plus Watering Holes Downtown: A Guide Whether you crave familiarity, anonymity or verve, downtown Augusta’s got the nightlife for you. The following is a handy-dandy brief guide to the twenty plus watering holes of downtown Augusta.

Modjeska: 613 Broad Street

209 Music Lounge: 4 Eighth Street

Pizza Joint: 1245 Broad Street

Downtown’s newest music venue is just off Riverwalk. Plenty of music, with an emphasis on great jazz, this nightspot serves food too.

1102 Downtown Bar & Grill: 1102 Broad Street

Dance all night inside this renovated theatre from the 1940s. Downtown’s trendiest club has a VIP room, multiple bars and DJs that set the pace. A downtown staple, Pizza Joint just keeps getting better. With slices available all day and night, Augustans hang out on the patio and enjoy the great ambiance.

Sector 7G: 631 Ellis Street Downtown Augusta’s only all-ages nightspot for live music. Multiple bands are on each bill and this venue is packed early and often.

A full restaurant that stays open late with an atmosphere perfect for being “a regular.” 1102 hosts regional bands regularly in their huge backroom.

Ballroom Street

Billiards:

978

Soul Bar: 984 Broad Street

Broad

Named for the late Godfather of Soul, Soul Bar pays perfect homage to James Brown. Get groovy with Disco Hell and live music from great regional bands.

Just what the name says – a fun billiards bar, where you can also play shuffleboard and pinball. A great place for after work wind down.

Stillwater Tap Room: 974 Broad Street

Cotton Patch: 816 Cotton Lane

If you like bluegrass music, then Stillwater is the place for you. The warm & intimate setting offers an unusual selection of beers on tap – try something new!

A full service laid back restaurant/bar with a quaint outdoor seating area and side room that can be rented for parties. Features live music from great local artists.

The Bees Knees: 211 Tenth Street

Firehouse: 1145 Broad Street

Making a meal of appetizers your dream? Then this tapas bar fits the bill, with vibe perfect for romance. Try the Sangria or a flavored Mojito. (open on Sun!)

An Augusta staple, the Firehouse has a history of entertaining and keeping the downtownies happy. A great place to chill with friends or throw back a few shots.

Fox’s Lair: 349 Telfair Street On the first floor of The Olde Town Inn, Fox’s Lair provides a quiet atmosphere and regular live musical entertainment for those in the neighborhood.

photo by Andy Donnan

Stillwater Tap Room charms with warm ambience and woos with a great selection of brews.

Greene Streets Spirits: 402 11th Street Perfect your inner American Idol on the Greene St. stage where karaoke runs nightly. Grab a drink, grab the mic and belt out your favorite hits.

Joe’s Underground Café: Corner of 8th and Broad One of Augusta’s oldest pubs, Joe’s is open seven days a week with live music every night. Friendly staff serve up burgers along with your favorite drink.

Kokomo’s: Corner of 12th and Ellis St. Another new establishment in downtown, Kokomo’s provides a tropical theme for those wishing they were on a sandy beach.

The Playground: 873 Broad Street Like the name suggests, it’s all about play: trivia nights, karaoke contests, open jams and Guitar Hero tourneys abound. The rest? Live bands!

Tribeca: 969 Broad Street Downtown’s only Buddha lounge offers up drinks in style – it has a shoe store where you can check out the latest styles. Check out the unique locale for fashion.

Sports Center: 594 Broad Street If you want watch the game with buddies, this is your answer. Shoot pool while you’re their and enjoy one of their famous (and gigantic) burgers with a cold beer.

Soultry Sounds Café: 1035 Ellis Street If you like the soft sounds of R&B and jazz music, you should stop in sometime. Perfect for a dinner date or with musically inclined friends.

Metro A Coffee House: Corner of 11th and Broad Enjoy a drink (from café lattes to on the rocks) on a cushy sofa or at the bar where the bartenders know your name. Live jazz on Saturdays.

Mellow Mushroom: Corner of 12th and Broad The food is wonderful and they boast a vast array of beer on tap along with a full bar. The giant booths make it a great place for large group of friends.

If there’s a nightspot in Downtown Augusta that wasn’t on this list, let us know so we can include you next time. And if there’s something going on at your location, keep us posted so we can tell our readers where they need to be! Emily Carder is the co-owner of Gluestick – Music Management and Event Promotions – in Downtown Augusta. In her spare time she teaches, volunteers on downtown committees and listens to live music.

verge / march / 15

Something to Look Forward To: Abstract Art by 22 Distinguished Americans of African Descent opens to the public on Saturday, March 22, and remains on view through May 25, 2008, at the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia. This visually stunning exhibition pays homage to the exceptional talent, unique vision, and courageous persistence of twenty-two African American visual artists who have created dynamic abstract images and objects during extended and successful careers.

above: Frank Bowling, Reflection, 1999, acrylic on canvas. inset: Howardena Pindell, Autobiography: Water/Ancestors/Middle Passage/ Family Ghost, 1998. Collection of the artist.

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Organized by the Phillips Mu- exhibitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catalogue, adds: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Needseum of Art of Franklin and Mar- less to say, there is a grand tradition shall College in Lancaster, Penn- at work in this show that needs to sylvania, the exhibition features be explored, nourished, cherished, mixed media, sculptures, paint- and supported. Through the artists ings, and furniture and the artworks by Betty Blayton, in Something to Frank Bowling, Look Forward To, Yvonne Pickering we are offered first Carter, Edward and foremost the Clark, Melvin Edopportunity to see wards, Sam Gilgreat art by great liam, David Hamartists but secmons, Gerald ondarily to make Jackson, Lawrence a consideration of Compton Kolaabstract art that, wole, Alvin Loving, while not totally Richard Mayhew, original, is gloriSam Middleton, ous. Bringing toMary Lovelace gether these artists Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal, Joe Overâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; who all happen street, Howardena to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we Pindell, Helen can see that there Evans Ramsaran, is a black aesthetic John T. Scott, Sylvia to abstract art.â&#x20AC;? Related Events: Snowden, Mildred Discover more Sunday, March 16 Thompson, Jack about how and Adult Master Artist Workshop: Whitten, William T. why the exhibit was Abstract Collage Join renowned artist HowarWilliams, and Frank created and develdena Pindell as she leads a Wimberley. oped. The curator, day-long art workshop focusâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Few curators William Hutson, ing on abstraction. $$ realize the extent and artist Sam GilTuesday, March 18 to which Africanliam will lead in a Terra Cognita Contemporary American artists discussion on TuesArtists Lecture Series Mixed-media artist Howardehave participated in day, March 25, with na Pindell discusses her life aesthetic developa reception to foland work. free ments in abstract low (6 pm to 8 pm). Friday, April 4 art in America,â&#x20AC;? said This opportunity is Art at Lunch William Hutson, the hosted by Friends Mixed-media artist Yvonne exhibitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curator of American Art Pickering Carter talks about her career and her artwork and Franklin and and is free to the included in the exhibition. Marshallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cook public. Catered by New Moon. $ Distinguished ArtThe Morris ist-in-Residence. Museum of Art, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Contributing to knowledge about located at 1 Tenth Street on the this aspect of material culture, this Riverwalk in Augusta, Georgia, is exhibition honors American artists the first and largest museum in the of African descent who have main- country dedicated to the art and tained a consistent focus on ab- artists of the American South. The stract expression throughout their museum is open from 10:00 a.m. careers.â&#x20AC;? until 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through The art critic Franklin Sirmans, Saturday, and on Sunday from who has contributed an essay to the noon until 5:00 p.m.

16 / march / verge

gallery

soundcheck

photo by Katie McGuire

courtesy of Chairleg

You Are Always Welcome Augusta’s First Gallery • March 7 to 21

Chairleg March 15 • Sector 7G

When Mary Pauline Gallery announced its closing, a group of Augusta State students saw it as an opportunity. With Molly McDowell’s help, the three seniors will be the first to exhibit in the space now known as Augusta’s First Gallery. Jill Peterson, Tena Marie Aceto, and James Keener are eager to have their senior exhibition in a place regarded as an Augusta art staple. “For three students to be able to exhibit in a professional gallery space is kind of unheard of,“ says Tena, who is learning how to curate a show. This highly conceptual show welcomes the viewer into a space where taboo subjects are publicly exposed. The gallery will be divided to visually represent each artist’s work while creating a transitional movement through areas that represents the community, the church, and the home. Jill Peterson’s art consists of life sized portraits of political figures she finds in Newsweek. Her work extends beyond imitation painting and involves a deeper commitment to the relationship between the public and its politics. After visiting Italy for the first time, James Keener was “bombarded with iconic images of spirituality. This left me with questions about the function and relevance of icons in today’s culture.” He decided to make his own, a bottle, placed in a sacred realm challenging views of sacrament. The heart of Tena Marie Aceto’s exhibit lies in a series of personal portraits she created by arranging intimate and familiar objects in medicine cabinets. Each is an exploration into how she defines herself through a specific meaningful relationship. Her art evokes a voyeuristic feeling, allowing the viewer to explore a space normally considered so private. The exhibit’s opening reception March 7 at 5 pm.

Ah, the ides of March. Since Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15th, 44 BC, the ides of March has been a synonym for impending doom. And now, over two thousand years later, the same rings true. This March 15th marks a triumphant return for metal band Chairleg. The local Augusta band has finally crowned Billy Hickey with the shredder title. Chairleg, so named because names really don’t matter, is one of the most dynamic, energetic, and genuinely entertaining bands in Augusta. Their stage presence alone is worth the cover charge. Drummer Mike Brower’s double-tiered rack (a.k.a. The Great Wall of Chinas) creates a soaring backdrop both visually and musically. Hickey joins founding guitarist Matt Lawhorne in full stacked guitar crunch with a topping of shredding leads. Bassist Ryan Griffis more than holds down the low end with his melodic style. And on top of this musical mountain sits Larry Sprowles, whose presence alone can rile up a crowd in record time. Their music is refreshingly devoid of popular trends among metal bands. It’s just good, hard-hitting, bang your head metal. Joining them for a night of Romanesque musical mayhem will be Augusta’s fastest rising new band, Shotgun Opera, plus favorites Suns Collide and L.I.E. In memory of Julius Caesar, wear a toga to the concert. Door tickets are $5 with toga, $6 without. For more information or to check out the music, visit Sector 7G’s myspace: www.myspace.com/sector7g.

by Katie McGuire

by Nick Laws

verge / march / 17

onstage

offstage

photo by Ben Riche

photo by Walter Wilson

Sordid Lives: A Southern Immorality Play Le Chat Noir • coming in April

Way of the Cross: Community Art Walk 900 block of Broad St • March 21

In the midst of white trash, when all surroundings are unrecognizably absurd, we helplessly conjure images of our own families. In Del Shores’ play, Sordid Lives, squalid hilarity and down-home desperation collide and merge into a comedy that forces the audience to laugh through its, well, singular tooth. Directed by local theatre veteran Richard Justice of Le Chat Noir, this rambunctious farce excoriates the southern visage to reveal the elusive craving of personal redemption and familial acceptance. After the matriarch of the family dies in a seedy hotel by falling over one of her lover’s prosthetic legs, the survivors must assemble and plan for Grandma Peggy’s funeral. This is not a teary path, mind you, but a journey into such colorful characters as Brother Boy (John Hutchens), who thinks he is Tammy Wynette; Dr. Eve (Ann Beth Rutkowski), the pill-popping, alcoholic, nymphomaniacal therapist who is certain she can cure homosexuality; and Sissy Hickey ( Kay Gross ), who fights off her nicotine fits with the sting of a rubber band. And this is just a glimpse into Del Shores’ soap-operatic world of beautiful dysFUNction. This honky-tonkying, hands-free rollick reminds us as we sort out our own sordid lives, there is a little white trash and cornbread in all of us. [editor’s note: If you haven’t been to see a play at the intimate Le Chat Noir, seating is limited so reserve your tickets now – this one is sure to sell out quickly!] Sordid Lives runs for three weeks: April 11 – 12; April 18 – 19; April 24 – 26. Call 706-722-3322 or visit www.lcnaugusta.com for more details.

Since the beginning of time people have sought out relationship with God. The ways have varied from age to age, but the intent has been the same – to know God through personal experience. Meditating on the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus has become one way many faiths use at Easter time to draw nearer to God. The Way of the Cross was developed as a devotion by pilgrims to Jerusalem whereby prayers were offered at “stations” or sites associated with Jesus’ Passion and death. The Way of the Cross comes to downtown Augusta as two local churches, The Well and The Quest, desire to publicly display the Passion as a community arts event, while supporting downtown growth. “Visual art has been instrumental in the history of faith. The Way of the Cross is an opportunity for local artists to continue in that tradition, celebrating both faith and culture,” says Jeremy Carr, pastor of The Well. Featured artists in this inaugural exhibit include: Beth Fletcher, Sabrina Dickson, Chad Downard, Ron Hartshorn, Mary Claire Jones, Ron Turner, Karen Banker, Todd Wilkes, and Lillie Morris. Each artist has interpreted their “station” through a wide range of visual images, representing quite different artistic styles and theologies. The event “showcases some of our incredible local talent. Our hope is that it will become an annual event,” says John Kenney, pastor of The Quest. Experience The Way of the Cross on Good Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, outdoors on the 900 block of Broad. by Lara Plocha

by Doug Joiner

18 / march / verge

friday march 7

pipeline / march 7 - 14

saturday march 8

First Friday: Think Green Broad St • 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 Street, this family friendly event boasts over 22 live music venues, complemented by numerous locally owned restaurants & shops. One Year Celebration Vintage 965 • 5 to 10 pm • free First Friday marks Vintage 965’s first birthday. Celebrate with owners Claire and Ben Riche. Reception and free refreshments. Ask for one of their new Bag Addict punch cards & enter to win a black seatbelt bag style 45. Women’s History Month Kickoff Book Tavern • 5 to 10 pm • free

Harlem Globetrotters James Brown Arena • 7 pm • $14 to $65 With 82 years of touring, the Globetrotters continue to thrill audiences. They’re certain to dunk their way into your heart with this all new World Tour. Ed Turner and Number 9 Le Chat Noir • 7:30 pm • $25 see march 7 for more information

thursday march 13

Jim Perkins Augustinos • 8 to 11 pm Edison Project with Corn Mo 1102 Bar and Grill Keith Gregory with John Kolbeck The Cotton Patch Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 4 pm • $10 to $19 Lynx vs. Gwinnett Gladiators

monday march 10

Fuzz and Mac Soul Bar • 10 pm A beautiful pairing of what happens when Soul falls in love with Hip-Hop. Shotgun Opera The Playground • 10 pm

Mychildren Mybride For The Fallen Dreams Because of This Xiphoid Process Club Hollywood • 6 pm

March is Women’s History Month: Art & Vision. Book Tavern will showcase local female artists as well as recognizing those women who the NWHP is especially recognizing. First Friday only: bring in a reusable shopping bag and get a free book.

8th St. Plaza • Noon to 10 pm • $3 Featuring live entertainment, dance, children’s activities and plenty of eats & drinks. St. Patrick’s Day Parade Broad Street • 2 to 4 pm • free photo by Andy Donnan

Soul Bar’s Coco Rubio mixes it up in March with an array of live music you won’t want to miss. Fuzz & Mac: an incredible fusion of jazz and hip hop on March 8. Bayou Bleu: a family quartet that mixes their own blend of funk and zydeco into an rhythm that will keep you dancing on March 17. And my favorite, Happy Bones, on March 27. Their myspace profile claims they sound like “Alice in Chains made a baby with the Doors.” And it’s about the truth.

Morris Museum of Art Gala Morris Museum of Art • 8 pm • $200

Allison Williams Band Stillwater Taproom • 10 pm John Kolbeck Cotton Patch Jeff Liberty The Fox’s Lair Lisa Mills 1102 Bar and Grill

key to icons:

Forever In Terror Aesthetic Iwrestledabearonce The Eyes Of The Beloved Sector 7G • 8 pm

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Augusta Commons • Noon to 9 pm • free

Artistic Perceptions is proud to present the works of Wanda Dansereau. Wanda has won numerous awards for paintings, sculptures, and murals. Thru March 21st.

New Art & DJ Mix Soul Bar • 10 pm

Creative & Colorful Shapes: learn about shapes in our galleries and create an abstract sun catcher. Children 5 and younger. Details: 706.828.3867

friday march 14

Wanda Dansereau Artistic Perceptions • 5 to 10 pm • free

Performing selections from “Magical Mystery Tour” and other Beatles’ favorites. Benefits the CSRA Humane Society

Toddler Thursday Morris Museum of Art • 10 to 11 am • $4

Colts vs. Columbus Lions

City Club hosts this monthly dance party. March features the dynamic rhythm and blues of Perfect Picture and benefits The Augusta Training Shop. Dance the night away and support a worthwhile cause.

Ed Turner and Number 9 Le Chat Noir • 7:30 pm • $25

Based on the incredible true story of Eva (Evita) Peron. The musical is a story of love and politics, showing all the battles and triumphs Evita has in her short, but amazing life.

Augusta Colts James Brown Arena • 7:30 pm

First Friday Dance for Charity City Club • 7 to 11 pm • $5

The 15th annual Morris Museum of Art Gala promises to be the highlight of Augusta’s social calendar. The black-tie affair honors realist painters John Baeder. A fabulous evening of delicious food, wine, dancing, and entertainment. Details: 706.828.3825

Evita: Broadway Bell Auditorium • 7:30 pm • $32 to $45

tuesday march 11

Cliff Bennet The Cotton Patch

Dr. John Fisher The Fox’s Lair

Turf War with Eat Lightning The Firehouse Daddy Grace The Fox’s Lair

Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 7 pm • $10 to $19

Smoke Damaged 1102 Bar and Grill

Lynx vs. Gwinnett Gladiators

sunday march 9

wednesday march 12

The Hush Sound The Secret Handshake Paper Rival Charlotte Sometimes Club Hollywood • 7 pm

Straight Line Stitch Within Chaos Sector 7G • 7pm Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 7 pm • $10 to $19

Burden of a Day Once Nothing Human Flight Committee Agnes Sector 7G • 7 pm

outdoor events

special events

Lynx vs. Charlotte Checkers

art

theatre

dance

Spring Artist’s Market Reception Gertrude Herbert • 6 to 8 pm • Free The artists reception kicks off the second annual Spring Artists’ Market and Festival, giving you a sneak peak of the art for sale & 10% off! Details:706.774.1006 Art at Lunch: Roger Finch Morris Museum of Art • Noon • $13 Abstract sculptor Roger Finch brings examples of his metal constructions and discusses his techniques. Includes museum admission, lecture, and lunch. Details: 706.724.7501 Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives Imperial Theatre • 7:30 pm • $12.50 to $35 Marty Stuart is country music’s renaissance man. He has made lasting music as a front man and collaborated with virtually every major roots music figure of his era. Meet & Greet: Marty Stewart City Club • 9 pm to 1 am • free Open to the public after-party featuring the bluesy rock & roll of Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips. Ed Turner and Number 9 Le Chat Noir • 7:30 pm • $25 see march 7 for more info

for kids

live music

sporting events

verge / march / 19

pipeline / march 15 - 26 Nine Day Descent Dogskin Pinata Baptized in Broken Glass Sector 7G • 7 pm Dr. John Fisher with Roger Enevoldsen The Fox’s Lair Say Vandelay 1102 Bar and Grill 80’s Night Soul Bar

saturday march 15 Brain Awareness Day Fort Discovery • 10 am to 5 pm • $6 to $8 Hosted by MCG, this all day event includes MCG faculty demonstrations in the PowerStation at 11:30 and 3:30. Details: 706.821.0608 Spring Artists’ Market Gertrude Herbert • 10 am to 4 pm • free The Spring Artists’ Market and Festival will include an exhibition and sale of works by local and regional artists, free hands on activities for youth, demonstrations and more! Details: 706.774.1006 Playback the Night Fort Discovery • 8 pm to midnight • $8 to $12

monday march 17 Bayou Bleu & The Favors - St. Patty’s Show Soul Bar • 9 pm Sons Of Azreal The Classic Struggle As Eden Burns Seledora Sector 7G • 8 pm

Shaun Piazza Band Soul Bar • 10pm Blue Cotton The Cotton Patch Karaoke with Mario The Fox’s Lair Eldorado Deluxe 1102 Bar and Grill

sunday march 16 Abstract Collage Workshop Morris Museum of Art • 10 am to 4 pm • $40 to $60 Renowned artist Howardena Pindell an art workshop focusing on abstraction. Students will create a collage using found materials. Fee includes materials and lunch. RSVP by March 10: 706.828.3865 Keith Gregory with John Kolbeck The Cotton Patch Jim Perkins Augustinos • 8 to 11 pm

The Issues 1102 Bar and Grill Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 7 pm • $10 to $19

Dr. John Fisher The Fox’s Lair The Maine Danger Radio Powerspace Club Hollywood • 6 pm

Lynx vs. Gwinnett Gladiators

sunday march 23

thursday march 20

Easter Sunrise Service Jessye Norman Amphitheater • 7 am • free

Annual Easter Egg Hunt Augusta Commons • 11 am • $1

Join us for an ecumenical service that has become an Augusta tradition. Details: 706.821.1754

A downtown Augusta tradition. Lots of Easter activities for kids under 10. Details: 706.821.1754

Easter Celebration Service The Well • 10:30 am • free

Maundy Thursday Service The Well • 7 pm • free

Evergreen Terrace Casey Jones Secret Lives of The Freemasons Bull Durham Sector 7G • 7 pm

friday march 21 The Way of the Cross 900 Block of Broad • 10 am to 6 pm • free Experience the Passion of Christ as local area artists interpret each station of the cross in their own medium. Presented by The Quest and The Well.

photo credit: Sam Gilliam, Portal, 2003-2004, acrylic on plywood. Art critic Eleanor Heartney says of Sam Gilliam’s work, “He presents a body of works in which meaning is woven into the structure of works, as part of their strivings for unity and their measured accommodation of freedom and order.” See his art along with the abstract art of 21 other distinguished Americans of African descent at the Morris Museum of Art’s exhibition: Something to Look Forward To. Opening March 22.

Good Friday Service The Well • 6:30 pm • free The Well, downtown’s community church, offers a non-denominational Good Friday Service with an open house at 6:30 pm and service at 7 pm. La Tragedie de Carmen Imperial Theatre • 8 pm • $15 to $49 The Augusta Opera presents the story of Carmen: a beautiful gypsy with a fiery temper who woos the corporal Don Jose. Their relationship sparks rejection, mutiny, jealousy and madness. Details: 706.826.4710 Augusta Choral Society Sacred Heart • 7:30 pm Lotti’s Crucifixus, Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir Bach: Ruht Whol (From St. Johns Passion) and Rutter’s Requiem. Details: 706.826.4713

The Favors Soul Bar • 10 pm

L.I.E. The Playground

Mixed-media artist Howardena Pindell discusses her life and work.

Ed Turner and Number 9 Le Chat Noir • 7:30 pm • $25

By The Sins Diemona Death Virginia Your Chance To Die Run to Ruin Standing Behind You With Knives Sector 7G • 7 pm

Jeff and Shane The Fox’s Lair

Terra Cognita: Lecture Series Morris Museum of Art • 6 to 8 pm

A non-denominational, biblically based service celebrating Maundy Thursday through prayer and communion.

Chairleg Shotgun Opera Suns Collide L.i.E. Sector 7G • 8 pm

(r)EVOLUTION Soul Bar • 10pm

tuesday march 18

Dance the night away in the Knox Gallery with PlayBack “The Band” featuring Tutu D’Vyne. $2 beer and wine tickets.

see march 7 for more info

The Audition Hit The Lights Every Avenue Morning Light Kairos Sector 7G • 6:30pm

Pee Wee Moore and the Awful Dreadful Snakes Stillwater Taproom • 10 pm Keith Gregory The Cotton Patch Robert Eskew Project 1102 Bar and Grill Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 7:30 pm • $10 to $19 Lynx vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots

saturday march 22 La Tragedie de Carmen Imperial Theatre • 8 pm • $15 to $49 see march 21 for details

Keith Gregory with John Kolbeck The Cotton Patch Jim Perkins Augustinos • 8 to 11 pm

tuesday march 25 Gilbert and Sullivan Favorites Augusta History Museum • 7:30 pm The Augusta Collegium Musicum perform Gilbert and Sullivan Favorites. Light refreshments, limited seating. Details: 706.722.8454 Abstract Art by 22 Distinguished Americans of African Descent Public Opening Morris Museum of Art • 6 to 8 pm • free Join the exhibition’s curator, William Hutson, and artist Sam Gilliam as they discuss how and why the show was developed. Reception with the speakers follows. Hosted by Friends of African American Art. Ligeia With Blood Comes Cleansing Since The Flood Deterrant Within the Gallows Club Hollywood • 7 pm Happy Bones Soul Bar • 10 pm Dr. John Fisher The Fox’s Lair

friday march 28 Ballet Stars of New York Imperial Theatre • 7 pm • $15 to $35 The New York City Ballet’s finest stars. The evening continues with a black tie gala

20 / march / verge

pipeline / march 29 - april 4

at the Augusta Museum of History. Proceeds benefit the Augusta Ballet. Details: 706.261.0555

This traveling exhibition includes oils and watercolors by John Baeder with emphasis on his affectionate documentation of roadside architecture. Baeder’s paintings of diners—a continuing interest throughout his career—have been acclaimed as personal, anecdotal, and passionate. The exhibition comprises approximately forty paintings selected from public and private collections, including the collection of the artist.

Roar of Love Bell Auditorium • 7 pm The children’s classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is brought to life through the beauty of dance and the inspired music of the 2nd Chapter of Acts. Presented by the Columbia County Ballet. Details: 706.860.1852

Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art Agnes Markwalter Youth Art Competition

A Kiss For Jersey A Different Breed of Killer Oceana Knives Exchanging Hands Sector 7G • 7 pm

Now thru March 20 • free 506 Telfair Street • Tue - Fri from 10 am to 5 pm

Woodrow Wilson House, a National Trust Historic Site, Washington, D.C

DISCO HELL Soul Bar • 10 pm

Experience Wilson 150: The Exhibition, as part of a yearlong celebration of President Woodrow Wilson’s 150th birthday The exhibition examines Wilson’s triumphs and failings, and complex and timely issues such as Wilson’s progressive ideas and wartime foreign relations. On display are mementos of his personal and public lives, including the pen that signed the declaration of war and the first shell fired by American troops during WWI, Wilson’s typewriter and his golf club and golf balls, including one painted red so the President could play in the snow.

Eldorado Deluxe The Cotton Patch Thom Carlton The Fox’s Lair Signal 18 with Stein Remains 1102 Bar and Grill AUGUSTA LYNX James Brown Arena • 7:30 pm • $10 to $19 Lynx vs. Columbia Inferno

saturday march 29 Stupendous! Family Saturday: Military Salute

free concerts. Details: 706.724.7501 Keith Gregory with John Kolbeck The Cotton Patch Jim Perkins Augustinos • 8 to 11 pm

Actor Mike Wiley performs. Enjoy musical selections by the United States Army Signal Corps Dixieland Band in the auditorium, and complete patriotic-themed art projects in the activity room. Details: 706.724.7501 Roar of Love Bell Auditorium • 7 pm see march 28 for details

Lynx vs Mississippi Sea Wolves

tuesday april 1 Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 7 pm • $10 to $19 Lynx vs. South Carolina Stingrays

thursday april 3

The Dead Kinds Sick Sick Sick False Arrest Sector 7G • 7 pm

Toddler Thursday: Playful Patterns! Morris Museum of Art • 10 to 11 am • $4

Cary Ann Hearst with The Livingroom Legends Soul Bar • 10 pm

Learn about patterns, and create your own dot painting. Children 5 and younger. Details: 706.828.3867

Paul Arrowwood The Cotton Patch

Lunch in the Park Augusta Common • Noon to 1:30 pm • free

Havoc with Never Better The Playground Patrick Davis Le Chat Noir • 8:30 pm

sunday march 30 Music at the Morris Morris Museum of Art • 2 pm & 3:15 pm • free Music of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries featuring ASU music faculty in

key to icons:

First Friday: The Front Nine Broad St • 5 to 10 pm • free

Augusta Lynx James Brown Arena • 7 pm • $10 to $19

Morris Museum of Art • 10:30 am to 1:30 pm

A midday lunch break with live entertainment every other Thursday in the Common. Bring friends, co-workers and your lunch to enjoy a variety of live music performed by your favorite local artists. Details: 706.821.1754

friday april 4 Art at Lunch: Yvonne Pickering Carter Morris Museum of Art • Noon • $10 to $13

outdoor events

special events

Mixed-media artist Yvonne Pickering Carter talks about her career and her artwork. Catering by the New Moon Café. $RSVP by April 2: 706.724.7501.

art

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 Street, this family friendly event boasts over 22 live music venues, complemented by numerous locally owned restaurants & shops. During April, First Friday events extend through April 11th – The Back Nine First Friday. More details in April’s issue.

This 28th annual competition celebrates National Youth Art Month with an exhibition of works by K-12 students from Aiken, Burke, Columbia , McDuffie, and Richmond counties. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Triumph and Tragedy Now thru March 31 • $2 to $5 1116 Phillips Street • Tue - Fri: 9 am to 5 pm; Sat: 10 am to 4 pm Presenting new works by Malaika Favorite. A visual and literary artist, Ms. Favorite combines found objects and mixed media with her writings to compose a visual commentary surrounding southern ideals and traditions. An artist of increasing notoriety, she was recently commissioned by the Fulton County Arts Council to do a series of 28 paintings and published a collection of poems and prints in a book titled: “Illuminated Manuscript” through the New Orleans Poetry Journal Press. Historic Augusta Wilson 150: The Exhibition Now Thru May 23 • $3 to $5

First Friday Dance for Charity City Club • 7 to 11 pm • $5

415 Seventh Street • Tue – Sat from 10 am to 5 pm

City Club hosts this monthly dance party. April features the dynamic rhythm and blues of Perfect Picture and benefits The Rape Crisis Center. Dance the night away and support a worthwhile cause.

A traveling exhibition of Woodrow Wilson artifacts and documents on view at the Joseph R. Lamar Boyhood Home. Details: 706.724.0436

Zach Deputy Stillwater Taproom • 10 pm Augusta Colts James Brown Arena • 7:30 pm Colts vs. Baltimore Mariners

Ongoing Exhibitions Morris Museum of Art Pleasant Journeys and Good Eats Along the Way: A Retrospective Exhibition of Paintings by John Baeder Now thru March 9 • $3 to $5 • free on Sundays 1 Tenth Street • Tue – Sat from 10 am to 5 pm & Sun from 12 pm to 5 pm

theatre

dance

for kids

publicize your event Have a great event coming to downtown? Pipeline calendar is a free way to promote what you’ve got going on! Simply send us the who, what, where, when and tix info plus a brief description by the 22nd of each month to pipeline@vergelive. com. (the more you send, the more we put in!) Hi-resolution photos and graphics are encouraged.

live music

sporting events

verge / march / 21

augusta music history 101 before we move on

March 20, 1956

As downtown Augusta sits on the “verge” of taking the next great leap up the evolutionary ladder, Augustanites can rest easy knowing that the Augusta music community is as tight knit as ever. Last month’s 2007 Music Choice Awards was once again a beautiful family reunion-like gathering of musicians and fans all huddled together to toast another great year in Augusta music.

The King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, makes his first Augusta performance at the Bell Auditorium. While much has been made of the music legend’s June 27th show at the Bell, Presley’s debut in Augusta predated the heavily publicized June show by over three months on his rise to stardom.

On May 3rd, the Augusta Museum of History will celebrate the Godfather of Soul’s birthday by presenting an exhibit, The Godfather of Soul: Mr. James Brown, complete with memorabilia and lectures. In conjunction, The Big Payback (Celebrate James Brown), a festival style concert, is planned for the Augusta Common.

Legendary Georgia artist Ray Charles refused to play a segregated show at the Bell Auditorium after receiving a telegram from Paine College students. Once Charles learned that there would be a whites-only dance floor and a rear stage setup for the black audience he promptly informed the public that there would be no show and immediately left town. The show’s promoters sued for breach of contract. Charles paid the fine but did not play in Georgia again until it was for a desegregated audience.

But, before we get any further into 2008, let’s take a look back at a little Augusta-related music history that took place during the month of March.

March 21, 1929 In the early days of film, crews would shoot subjects they found interesting while en route to designated film locations. One such “drive-by shooting” was taken on March 21, 1929, in Augusta, Georgia. The footage consists of African-American field hands performing the spiritual “Mary, Don’t You Weep” complete with banjo accompaniment. The song dates back to the early days of slavery and would later become a Civil Rights movement anthem. The 1929 footage would eventually end up on the documentary Times Ain’t What They Used to Be: Early Rural & Popular American Music 1928-1935.

March 15, 1961

March 26, 1971 Augusta band Dixie Grit debuts at the Bell Auditorium. The fledgling band featured guitarist Steve Morse and bassist Andy West and became a prominent regional band before forming the internationally acclaimed Dixie Dregs (a name they chose as they considered themselves the “dregs” of Dixie Grit). With a little help from the Allman Brothers, the Dixie Dregs signed to Capricorn Records. Morse would go on to become a member of Kansas before replacing legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple, a band he now splits time with between solo shows and the occasional Dregs reunion show.

March 13, 1997 Maureen “Moe” Tucker visits Augusta for a solo show at the Red Lion Pub. Tucker was the second drummer for legendary band The Velvet Underground replacing Angus Maclise who refused to play for a paying audience.

March 23, 2004

March 3, 1956 James Brown, soon to be titled “Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” releases his first single Please Please Please on the Federal record label. The single would eventually reach number six on the R&B charts and 105 on the U.S. Pop charts kicking off the amazing career of one of the worlds most influential musical icons. Brown would stay with Federal until signing with the King label in 1960.

The legendary Roy “Pop” Lewis passes away. Lewis was the long-time guiding force behind the Lewis Family, a legendary area-based bluegrass and gospel group that began in the early 1950s as the Lewis Brothers. In 1954, the group began taping on their own TV program on WJBF which ran every Sunday for a national record 38 years. “Pop” Lewis, a Southern Gospel Hall of Fame inductee, was 98. by John “Stoney” Cannon

photo by Ben Riche

22 / march / verge

1/4 PAGE AD

verge / march / 23

good chow good coffee for a good cause: fair trade Do you know where your coffee comes from? Just behind oil, coffee is the second most widely traded global commodity and for many of us a very crucial part of the day. Your morning brew makes a long journey from seed to cup and it is not always an equitable one. Many coffee farmers are forced to sell their crops for significantly less that it costs to produce them, trapping them and their families in a cycle of poverty. The good news is that you don’t have to drink your java with the bitter aftertaste of guilt, just look for the Fair Trade label. Fair Trade is a both a market and a movement. Fair Trade connects farmers, businesses and consumers in more sustainable and meaningful ways. To insure equity in trade relationships Fair Trade works to: • Guarantee farmers and their families a living wage and a fair price for the goods they produce. • Encourage sustainable practices, such as organic farming, that help to protect the environment • Provides access to affordable credit, helping farmers stay out of debt to local loan sharks. • Creates a direct trade link to farmers, bypassing exploitative middlemen. • Promotes a new buying relationship that links consumers with farmers. Downtown Augusta provides several options for shoppers to buy and enjoy Fair Trade. In addition to New Moon Café’s many Fair Trade coffee and tea offerings, Fair Trade products can be found at Elduet’s Treasures of the World, BeesKnees, blue magnolia and Metro Coffeehouse. by Chris Allewelt

Augusta has a lot of clubs. There are chess clubs, night clubs, boxing clubs, racquet ball clubs, and a myriad of others. I’m not one to spread rumors, but I’ve heard there is some sort of golf club on Washington Road, as well. Who knows? The names of these clubs are as varied as their clientele. There is Soul Bar, Club Dreams, Coconuts, and Modjeska (just to name a few). A friend of mine briefly considered opening his own night club, but, upon further consideration, deduced that “Club Baby Seals” would be doomed from the onset. Ladies and gentlemen, there is a new club in town and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s the freshest in the area. Get ready to have your taste buds dance to a bangin’ bass line of toasted bagel, chicken, ham, and bacon, and sing to a melody of cheese, fresh lettuce, and tomato. What’s the name of this club? It’s the Sweet Lou’s Club, and it’s the best sandwich in town, bar none. Chris King, proprietor of Sweet Lou’s on the corner of 13th and Broad Street proudly boasts that “…there’s no freezer at Sweet Lou’s!” All of his ingredients are fresh, and he celebrates a vast array of coffee ranging from a delicious Jamaican Blue Mountain blend, to a sumptuous imported Italian mocha. In addition to the “Sweet Lou’s Club,” Chris serves many other savory sandwiches, pasta salad, and chips. Other menu items include breakfast sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, shrimp and grits, and a variety of bagels. This is one club that will have you dancing down the street.

by Jamie McGaw

sweet lou’s 1293 ½ broad street 706.922.1699

24 / march / verge

verge / march / 25

past times / the White’s building Augustans are watching with excitement and anticipation the ongoing work on the former J. B. White department store. Vacant since White’s joined other stores in the late 1970s mass exodus to the mall, the building is currently being rehabilitated as fashionable, urban condominiums on the top three floors with offices and retail space on the first floor. The J.B. White department store was a longtime anchor of the 900 Block of Broad Street servicing the needs of the Augusta community by selling clothing, shoes, china and home furnishings. Downtown supporters are looking forward to this building being given the opportunity to once again have pride of place on this block.

1924 J.B. White & Company, founded in 1874 by an Irish immigrant named James Brice White* (1847-1917), moved from the first floor of 724 Broad Street, which it shared with the lobby of the Albion Hotel, into a newly constructed Italian Renaissance style building located at 936 Broad Street. The general contractor of the new building was C.H. Van Ormer of Augusta. The mill work was made by Woodward Lumber Company, the roof and windows were provided by Augusta Roofing and Metal Company, headed by W.W. Jones, and Young Electrical Works installed the extensive wiring.

1946 A fourth story was added to the White’s store and the façade was remodeled.

1978 J. B. White’s and other retailers left downtown for the promise of greater prosperity at the Regency Mall. J.B. White & Company, which had been sold by Mr. White in 1904 and had gone through a succession of owners, was eventually bought out by Dillard’s.

1999 Augusta Renaissance Partners, formed with the goal of preserving buildings and encouraging downtown redevelopment, purchased the building, stabilized it, replaced the roof, cleaned the façade and removed asbestos, paving the way for future reuse.

Today

Horizon Group Investments of Atlanta purchased the building from Augusta Renaissance Partners in 2007. The group is rehabilitating the structure as condominiums, office and retail space to be occupied this spring. The Augusta Downtown Development Authority will be one of the first tenants to get on board. by Julia Jackson / Historic Augusta * It is interesting to note that James Brice White, a millionaire and one of the wealthiest people in Augusta, died in Genoa, Italy in 1917 without ever having married or having had children. The bulk of his estate went to Irish siblings, nephews and nieces but a total of $400,000 was left to the Augusta City Council to be distributed to Augusta charities as they saw fit. Eventually this would provide $150,000 to build the Y.M.C.A. building at Broad and Macartan Streets (now Health Central), $50,000 to build the West End Y.M.C.A. (which evolved into the Boys Club in the Harrisburg Neighborhood), $50,000 to support the Y.W.C.A. (then located at 924 Greene Street) and $150,000 invested to support worthy causes (which still exists as the J.B. White Foundation).

26 / march / verge

to call from tree to tree (a davidson fine arts literary venture)

roots breathing when soot covered the ferns the hundreds and hundreds of sporophytes, we would crouch on our elbows to see the small ones bloom in grainy film, time lapsed for effect if you whispered good enough (which was impossible to do) you could see every blade move i named my baby’s toes after shades of green we found on those leaves and you named your fingers dead when they curled into brown fists we could not climb the trees and did not dare touch their limbs instead we crawled underneath the moist ashes singing to the roots are you alive disentangling the rope like a strangling umbilical cord being unwrapped from a fetal neck these seeds are back in the womb of the earth we are done and descend back down into enveloping fronds we breath for you and see every feather move when we look to the sky

Ashley Plocha is a sophomore at Davidson Fine Arts High School, majoring in communicative arts. She is best known for her recent film “On The Wrong Foot.” Talents include improv story telling for her baby brother and making her mother’s heart sing.

verge / march / 27

printed matter / phillip k. dick “I have read all the books.” Harold Bloom, in The Western Canon, laments the death of this possibility. Because there are too many books, one must choose which books should be read. Likewise, it is impossible to review all the books, and in a monthly publication, impossible to review all the books which merit attention. Therefore, the reviews appearing in this column will not review books, but authors. And for this premier edition of verge, I will present one of my favourite authors: Philip K. Dick. Though Dick is a lesser known science fiction author, his work is treMan is manipulated by the police for purposes that cannot be undermendously influential in modern popular culture. Recently, he became stood by the rational mind. In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the the first science fiction author recognized by the Library of America. police create an environment in which the necessity of policing produces Several of his stories have been adapted to film, from Do Androids Dream criminals. Dick repeatedly explores this connection between the state of Electric Sheep? (Blade Runner) and We Can Remember It For You and its need to continue. If the justification for police control Wholesale (Total Recall) to the recent releases of Minority Report and A is crime, then police take actions that will produce Scanner Darkly. With dozens of novels and well over criminals. If the justification for the state is terrorone hundred short stories published, Dick presents an ists, then the state perpetuates terror. Sometimes impressive selection for those starved to read somethis is through intent, other times, just through the thing both enjoyable and philosophical. nature of the philosophical system of a police state. Growing up during the height of pulp fiction masAnd since all police are the same everywhere, ters like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, Dick proposes it doesn’t matter which political Dick’s style reveals the same tonal language system wins. In his Hugo Award Winning The Man and simplicity of structure adapted to in the High Castle, the Japanese and the Germans his own beat generation. Characters win the war. The result looks suspiciously like the speak and think in a language that is Americans and the Soviets (I guarantee an A+ paper common and accessible, even when the if you compare and contrast this and Vonnegut’s words are not actual words. In Dick’s world, Mother Night). While his wit is often acerbic and you probably live in a conapt (contraction of cynical, the oppressiveness of his world does not condominium and apartment). There is actually overtake our own. Instead Dick uses these absurdia PKDicktionary online, though you won’t need ties to help us see our own world more clearly. it unless you just want to confirm that CAN-D is Whether you want to escape the mundane or hallucinogenic drug and not a lollipop. view yourself through a new lens, read Philip K. Parents beware! Drugs are a major mechphoto by Katie McGuire Dick. Don’t worry which book you begin with, they anism in Dick’s stories. Every work all interrelate and correlate. I am personally a big fan touches on altered states of reality (or of Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said and Confessions perception) induced by chemicals, of a Crap Artist. I’ve read nearly a third of his writing, machines, god-like beings or simply and so far each one has been compelling. Though I an oops in the space-time continuum. have not read all the Philip K. Dick, at least it is possible. Discovering and testing nature are pursuits that define humanity and Dick spends a great deal of time trying to uncover the difference between Next month: Explore one of the most compelling minds of the the simulated and the world of ideas. In We Can Build You, he brings twentieth century by way of his greatest novel. A work of controversy Abraham Lincoln and Edwin M. Stanton back to life as simulacra (a type then obscurity then revived and now relished. of android/robot) in a battle between personality and pathos. Are we David Hutchison is the proprietor of the Book Tavern, located at 1026 Broad Street. alive? How do we know? Perhaps we are all simulacra. David is best known for his unique ability to match the perfect book to a customer’s Another Dickian motif is the police state. Over and over again he personality and being a veritable walking encyclopedia of literary works. presents a world in which the enforcers of law are the rulers of man.

28 / march / verge

verge / march / 29

your space / transforming eat cetera

Fall 2006 I had been talking with my quilting friends about opening a quilt shop. We thought that North Atlanta could support another shop. We began dreaming about what we would want in such a shop: the best location, what the name might be, types of classes we could offer. My husband, Robert, and I looked at several places close to our home. But our dreams felt, well, just like dreams. Real estate in Alpharetta is very expensive!

January 2007 While I was visiting our daughter, Megan, who lives in Augusta, I stopped to look at an old building on Telfair Street in downtown Augusta. Megan had encouraged us to take a look at it – I finally caved in. The building was built in 1890 as a grocery

store on the ground floor and an apartment on the second. Its last occupant was a Chinese restaurant. The building was in rough shape, but I could feel the potential. I called Robert to drive over and look at it with me. He brought two of our best friends. It was an interesting mix. Beth, Robert and I could see the potential. Don could see the expense and the work. I will admit that the apartment overwhelmed me. But I could envision my dreams for a quilt shop turning to reality. We made a leap of faith and got the building.

March 2007 The upstairs apartment reno-

vations begin! We began the upstairs renovation on March 12. The kitchen is in great disrepair – consisting of a utility sink, homemade cabinets and a stove top and no oven. We start tearing down walls and rearranging the spaces. Robert plans a full kitchen renovation with new tile, quartz counters, glass pantry doors and new appliances. The main bathroom consists of a sink and a claw foot tub (that’s definitely worth saving).

water closet and tile. The master bath has two large original windows with new shutters for privacy.

May 2007

Kathy Mullis moonlights as a nurse when not dreaming of fabric and quilting machines. Her husband, Robert, is an IT manager by day and a Mr. Fix-It by night.

The master bath is finished! We refinished the claw foot tub, put in a double sink and double shower, separate

June 29, 2007 Move In Day! Three full weeks of work and many weekends later. Nothing in the upstairs apartment has been untouched.

January 2008 Finally, we’ve finished virtually all of the upstairs except some trim and paint in the master bedroom and bathroom. We’ve begun renovating downstairs where the quilt store will be. Crossing our fingers to open mid2008.

30 / march / verge

verge marketplace

marketing for the people get maximum results from minimal resources brand: what is it and how to get it Marketing is possibly one the most important factors of any successful company, yet the subject most small business owners know least about. The purpose of this monthly column won’t be to sell you on a certain type of marketing, but rather to stimulate your thoughts about effective marketing strategies for your company and practical ways to do it. This first column focuses on branding. Branding - most business owners dream of having an official brand, easily recognized through the product, in the marketing and to the people. The most common misconception is that branding is buyable. It is not. Slick commercials, timeless logos and sleek packaging are all buyable but they do not create a brand. Most people think that a “brand” is a unified look that stretches across every avenue of company, and more importantly, something people will not forget. The problem is that buying a cool logo or ad campaign from a marketing company is not enough. A brand is at the core of your business. A brand is built. Successful brands are built by doors that stay open for every moment of your regular business hours. They are built by relationships with returning customers, staying later if duty calls or getting in earlier to wipe down the glass on the case. They are repeating top notch customer service and a level of professionalism that leaves you knowing without a doubt that the client will return. A locally developed brand is the Windsor Green Box, known throughout the entire area and widely advertised. Most people don’t realize that the customers wanted the green box before Windsor started using it in its advertising. Windsor had a consistent look that it developed on its own, excellent values, superior quality service and the brand grew within it. I personally love the tomato-based hash of one bar-b-que restaurant – which is located in a shed, out in the country and I will drive 20 miles from downtown just to get a plate of it. I can count on the hours, the consistency of the recipe, and the low price. That restaurant has branded itself on product and service alone. The fact of the matter is that having a consistent look and a theme is a buyable product, but making your company into a desired brand is combination of consistency, quality and customer service. Having a brand to publicly establish is a major part of the foundation of effective marketing. Shane Thompson is the founder of Westobou, a downtownl marketing and design firm. He’s from Augusta, and enjoys chatting about financially efficient and effective ways to market a small business

verge / march / 31

march snapshot a quick look at march for your fridge

First Friday Think Green Allison Williams Band

Harlem Globetrotters Ed Turner & Number 9

Charlotte Sometimes Edison Project at 1102

Evita: Broadway at the Bell Augusta Colts vs Columbus Lions

St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Parade Spring Artists Market at GHIA

Playback the Night Fort Discovery Chairleg & Shotgun Opera

Bayou Bleu at Soul Bar St. Patricks Day Festivities

Terra Cognita Series at Morris Museum Powerspace at Club Hollywood

Annual Easter Egg Hunt Secret Lives of the Freemasons

Way of the Cross Augusta Choral Society

La Tragedie de Carmen by The Augusta Opera

Easter Sunrise Service at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater

Gilbert & Sullivan Favorites Happy Bones at Soul Bar

Roar of Love at the Bell Ballet Stars of New York

Military Salute at Morris Museum Patrick Davis at Le Chat Noir

Morris Museum of Art Free Sundays: Something To Look Forward To