November Issue A 2011

JAY JEFFRIES BEATS THE DRUM | PAGE 11

verge AUGUSTA & THE CSRA

FREE |NOVEMBER 2 2011 | VOL 4 ISSUE 18 | YOUR SOURCE FOR COMMUNIT Y DRIVEN NEWS

VISION THE MILLER THEATRE’S REBIRTH

G0 LITTLE BIG TOWN + TASTE KITCHEN 1454 + ART MODERN UNICORN SEE ALEC SOTH + SPEAK CATHERINE ZICKGRAFF + DRINK THE HOMEBREWERS

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 3

4 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

publisher Matt Plocha editor Lara Plocha events editor Andrea Bennett ad sales Erica Pastecki contributors Alison Richter, Alison Ryan, Amy Swann, Anne Lovell Swan, Ben Casella, Christopher Selmek, Dino Lull, Elizabeth Benson, Gabi Hutchison, Holly Birdsong, John Cannon, Josef Patchen, Karen Farley, Leah Deslandes, Mariah Gardner, Michael Swan, Skyler Andrews, Stephen Delaney Hale

vergeconnect

we want to hear from you

call us: 706.951.0579 mail us: P.O. Box 38

Augusta GA 30903 email us: advertising and general stuff publisher@vergelive.com story tips, ideas and letters editor@vergelive.com free event listings events@vergelive.com find us online: vergelive.com

vergepolicies the boring part

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents

copyrighted 2011 by verge. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial content of verge is the opinion of each contributing writer and is not necessarily the opinion of verge, its staff or its advertisers.

DISTRIBUTION: verge is published twice a month and available free of charge at locations throughout the CSRA, including Publix, Kroger, Bi-Lo and Earth Fare.

RECYCLE: verge is printed on 50 percent recycled stock.

vergeadvertisers check out our partners

18 38 42 12 34 4 16 40 18 40 24 36 8 10 29 32 30 20 32 28 28 18 18 6 26 31 8 24 6 8 14 20 2 15 10 28 29 16 16 34 16 43 3 44 15

1102 Bar and Grill 8TH Street Hookah Lounge AB Beverage Aficionados Bar on Broad Drum - A - Thon Blue Sky Kitchen Book Tavern Buzz on Biz Casella Eye Center Chilly Chili Cookoff Clear Channel Y102 Columbia County Orchestra edge salon Family Y First Round Forkfly French Market Ground Zero Fighting Halo Salon Imported Auto Exchange International Uniform Learning Center Lofty Ideas Manuel’s Bread Café Metro Coffeehouse Modish Moon Beans/New Moon Nacho Mamas New Life / DiChickos Peach Mac Pecans Unlimited Rock Bottom Music Sanford Bruker Banks Sit a Spell Six Degrees/8th Street Sky City Soy Noodle House The Curiosty Shoppe The Loft Three Kosher Singers Tipsey McStumbles Wild Wing Café Windsor Fine Jewelers Zimmerman Gallery

WHAT’S INSIDE

SMATTERINGS

vergestaff

yeah, we made this

OCCUPYING OUR COMMUNITY

Occupy your local community.

Nothing pleases this publisher more than to see the recent local movement of supporting our local economy.

A recent Facebook campaign has blossomed into a cool Go Local campaign. Some clever local folks picked up the Occupy Wall Street mantra and turned it around by putting a very local spin on the message. Occupy Broad Street and Occupy Eighth Street challenge the community to choose the merchants of our local community first. It is an effort to demonstrate the power of supporting our local community and economy.

Verge has consistently – and will continue to – beat this drum. The importance of sustaining our local economy by shopping at local stores and supporting our local merchants could not be clearer and the return of this investment to our community could not be more important.

We have been writing about the importance of supporting our local business owners for over three years. The very essence of supporting our community has long-lasting effects and an immediate impact on our local economy. When our city is potentially looking at deficits and cuts instead of growth and wondering how to manage the tax revenues received, I ask you to think about your shopping habits and trends. Our community benefits greatly when the local tax receipts are higher, thus providing our city government with more revenue to do the things for which we all look: better schools, better roads and safer streets. That’s the short list. There are many more “wants and needs” that could be met. However, without the flow of revenue to our local government, they cannot be met or are put off until it can be afforded.

So, we applaud the recent community effort to Think Local first. We are happy to find that there are people within our community that have a similar desire to get out and create a movement so beneficial to our community. It is extremely encouraging.

As the holidays approach, we ask that you consider local first. Try your local business community to meet the needs on your shopping list. You might be surprised at what you can find with not much more effort than driving to a big box store. Remember that these shop owners are your family members, your neighbors and your friends. They need your support to help our community become what we all want it to be: a better place in which to live, work and participate.

As I wrap up, I want to share with you again – especially if you have not seen it or signed up for it yet –Forkfly. This innovative and localized system can be accessed on your smart phone or computer. Visit www. forkfly.com or download the free app for your phone. Sign up for free and start saving. The offers generated by the merchants are genuine deals that you can take advantage of without having to make a purchase of a gift certificate online. No credit card, no hassles. Just great offers by your local business community that can save you money. That’s a good thing. Supporting our local business community and saving money.

Too cool.

We hope that you will continue to support our local community and economy by shopping at local merchants first this year. They appreciate you and so do we.

See you out and about sustaining and “occupying” our local community!

Matt

ON THE COVER IT IS TIME by LEAH DELSANDES

you won’t want to miss a page

the main feature

11 Jay Jefferies Beats the Drum for a Cure 13 The Art of Spoken Word 17 The Joy of Home Brewing Beer This year’s drum-a-thon invites the public to drum along

Catherine Zickgraf bares her soul on paper and out loud

Ben Casella visits with the Augusta Homebrewers Association

19 Celebrating 120 Years 21 Capturing a Slice of Time

Adas Yeshurun Synagogue keeps its history alive for the future

Alec Soth talks about his photography at the next Terra Cognita

22 Rescuing the Miller Theatre

The efforts to save the historic theatre begin to see progress

heard around town 7 7 9 9

Gospel Centered Discipleship The Paralympic Experience Walk to End Alzheimer’s Augusta Museum of History’s Local Legends

music | theatre | art | film 15 19 26 27 29 31 33 33 35 37 39 39

Art: Lucy Craft Laney Quilt Exhibit Music: Three Kosher Singers Film: The Film Reel Music: Little Big Town Music: Sound Bites Music: Patrick Davis Literary: Modern Unicorn Release Art: Paint the Town Good Cause: Dancing with the Aiken Stars History: Civil War Symposium Music: Maze and Monsters Review Music: Eye of Abram

regular stuff 05 25 31 38 39 40 41 41

Heard Around Town Augusta Eats + Beers Locals Like The Daily Planner In Motion Nightlife In Good Health The New York Times Crossword Life Face First

vergequotes

here’s what inspires us

“A house is so much more than timber, cement, and mortar. It is a love structure which stores up memories. It is security, shelter, healing, and peace.”

— Rev. W.R. Bouknight, II

The Symphony Orchestra Augusta officially accepted Peter Knox’s gift of the historic Miller Theatre for its permanent home. The road to resuce the Miller has been a long one, as community activists worked hard to keep the theatre in the public eye. Now, the Symphony begins the hard work of restoring and repurposing the building for use once again. Read more on page 22.

“If we fail to defend our American heritage here at home, there is little point in defending ourselves against assault from abroad.”

— Charles E. LeE

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 5

6 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

heard

around town

[ the paralympic experience ]

what’s happening in augusta and aiken

Members do not choose what is in the box, as all boxes are prepared identically. A surplus box ensures that little, if any, food is wasted should any member not like something that comes in their box. For more information, stop in or call Sundrees at 706.945.1310.

Champions Made From Adversity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the lives of persons with physical disabilities and their families through sport and leisure activities, will host the 2011 Paralympic Experience – Augusta in conjunction with U.S. Paralympics on Nov. 5 at the Wilson Family YMCA. “We are more excited than ever about this year’s event,” said Jeff Snover, CMFA’s executive director. “We welcome anyone from the community to come out and spend the day with us. It is a great experience to be a part of, regardless of whether you are there as a participant, a volunteer or just an observer.”

The Paralympic Experience will introduce community members with physical and visual disabilities to Paralympic sports through hands-on participation in track, field and sitting volleyball and interacting with Paralympic athletes and coaches. Paralympian Jordan Bird, who placed first in the 800-meter track event at the 2011 U.S. Championships, will be this year’s guest athlete.

“The Paralympic Experience program encourages physical fitness and overall well-being for individuals with physical and visual disabilities, and we are thrilled to be working with Champions Made From Adversity on this initiative,” said Charlie Huebner, the USOC chief of paralympics.

“Research shows that individuals with physical and visual disabilities who participate in physical activity are healthier, more successful in school, have great access to employment opportunities and have an enhanced quality of life.”

[ fight clubs and memos ] The Well, a community church in downtown Augusta located at 1285-B Broad St., is hosting a seminar on Gospel Centered Discipleship on Nov. 12, which will feature special guest speakers Jonathan Dodson and Joe Thorn, the respective authors of Fight Clubs and Note to Self.

Jeremy Carr, The Well’s pastor of preaching and teaching, said both books are important resources for learning the gospel, either in groups or alone.

Participation in the experience is free. For more information, call 706.364.2422 or visit cmfa.us.

[ downtown clock now at airport ] The monument clock, which had become a Broad Street landmark since the Downtown Development Authority installed it in 1991 on the median between Ninth and 10th Streets, has been donated to the Augusta Regional Airport because of continued maintenance issues.

The DDA board arrived at the decision to move the clock after consulting with the insurance company, which concluded that it was no longer worthwhile to continue to repair an outdoor clock that was exposed to the elements and the risk of vandalism.

“It doesn’t do our downtown any justice to have a broken clock in the middle of Broad Street,” said Margaret Woodard, the executive director of the DDA. “We wanted to find a safe harbor for the clock while still providing a welcoming landmark to area visitors. Our board felt the airport would be the best answer for our needs.”

The clock has now been repaired, keeps accurate time and can be found inside the hold room where passengers can see it as soon as they arrive.

“The airport is an important gateway to the community and we are happy to provide a home for this beautiful Augusta landmark,” said Gary LeTellier, the airport’s executive director. “We expect almost 600,000 passengers each year will be able to set their watches and keep tabs on their flight times with the addition of the clock to the hold room.”

“It’s a great marketing piece that we hope will remind visitors to come and visit our downtown,” said Woodard.

The DDA has tentative plans to move the Welcome to Augusta sign, now located at Ninth and Broad Street, to the space previously occupied by the clock, but is considering other options.

[ vote for en voce in the glee off ]

En Voce, the Harlem High School after-school singing group, was picked as a finalist in the Glee Off 2011 Children’s First Finals. Under the direction of Phillip Streetman and Roy Lewis, the students will perform at the University of Georgia on Nov. 17.

The group needs online votes to secure the People’s Choice award: Go to YOUTUBE.COM/USER/GLEEOFF2011 and search for Harlem High School Glee Off 2011, then cast your vote by clicking on the “like” button.

“We are extremely proud of the dedication of this group to keep music in our school,” says Lewis. “Please help us promote their good work and encourage others to vote.”

[ a basket of veggies every week ]

Sundrees Urban Market, 930 Broad St., is sponsoring a Community Supported Agriculture program designed to allow members to share with local farmers the bounty and risk associated with growing food.

For $25 per week, CSA members receive a produce share of seven to 10 different fruits and vegetables each week. Optional shares are also available for milk/eggs at $10 per week or dairy/protein for $20 per week. There is a minimum six-week agreement.

“Making the choice to buy local and not from a grocery store is the only way to let the grocery store know what you expect out of your food,” said Chantelle Clark, a Sundrees cashier. “Most of the vegetables they sell at the big grocery stores have been genetically modified or sprayed with pesticides, and it costs more to ship them in by the truckload.”

“Locally grown is usually better for you, and it’s better for the local farmers we’re supporting,” said Donna Lewis, who signed up to try the CSA program for the first time. “I’m a vegetarian, so I eat a lot of vegetables and I look forward to trying the seasonal produce and finding out how this program works.”

“Fight Clubs has been instrumental and teaches the kind of methods of discipleship we use at The Well,” he said. “When it comes to sin and struggle, you have to know your sin and fight your struggle, but you’re not doing it alone. Fight clubs are groups of men who come together to talk about their struggles and share their successes and failures with each other, and the book is about how to start growing those groups of guys you can trust.”

“Thorn’s book [Note to Self] came out earlier this year and it’s really good,” Carr continued. “It’s 48 chapters, each of which are about two pages, so I started reading a chapter every day and I went through it very quickly. He has a more personal element to his book, because it’s about teaching yourself the gospel, and it reads almost like a devotional.”

The seminar aims to educate people about the true meaning of discipleship, following one’s teacher in order to become more like him. According to Carr, it is this struggle which changes every facet of Christians’ life including their goals, desires and relationships.

“There’s going to be something here for anybody who is interested in Christianity,” he said. “If you’re following Jesus, you are both a disciple and a disciple-maker, because the gospel tells us to spread the good news. No matter what stage you are in, any Christian would benefit from learning what we are trying to teach at this seminar.”

Twenty dollars covers the cost of breakfast, lunch and both speakers at The Well from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register and find more information, visit GRASSROOTSGOSPEL.ORG.

[ the inkling: entries due nov. 15 ] In celebration of the written word, verge is accepting entries for the annual edition of The Inkling, a literary journal discovering the best in local prose, poetry and art. Named in honor of the informal Oxford literary club of the ‘30s and ‘40s, which included famed authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, The Inkling mirrors the desire to encourage pursuit of the written word, while providing mind-stimulating stories, essays and poems for consumption. In 2010, more than 225 submissions were received and the final edition featured 21 writers and artists. For submission guidelines, write to editor@vergelive.com.

Around Town is written by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 7

8 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

heard

lex lugor (left) and nikita koloff (right)

[ former wrestling foes team up for alzheimer’s, health and fitness ]

The 1980s was a pretty colorful and over-the-top decade. Some might attribute much of it to the rise in popularity of cable television – such as MTV – while others might be of the opinion that Americans were seeking out avenues to keep out thoughts of possible nuclear attack during the final years of the Cold War era. Whatever the reason, the decade became known for grandiose entertainment, particularly in professional wrestling. The good versus evil ideals of wrestling was a perfect fit for the Reagan years, and foes “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff and “The Total Package” Lex Luger were right at the top of the list.

“We originally came to Augusta to entertain folks – now we are coming to help them on a different level,” said Koloff, with a vocal clarity far removed from the “Russian dialect” of his wrestling years. “Lex and I are reunited. Where we were once foes in the ring battling in steel cages, we’re now on the same side. Our goals have changed and it’s about being physically, emotionally and spiritually fit as we do evangelism together and as we do health and wellness seminars together.”

Koloff and Luger recently visited with residents of an area assisted living center. This is just one of many visits the duo has made – and will make – to Augusta.

around town

[ art on the wall complete ]

The final mural for the Art on the Wall project, which covered the wall of Augusta’s water treatment plant with depictions of the Savannah River, was completed on Oct. 15 with a small ceremony for the artists involved.

Fourteen art students from Augusta State University worked under the direction of professor Janice Williams Whiting to design and paint the final mural.

“The students’ biggest challenge was learning to paint as a team and incorporating the vision of everyone,” said Cindy O’Brien, the Art Factory’s executive director, who coordinated the mural’s completion with ASU and the Augusta Utilities Department. “It was a wonderful learning process for everyone involved. The students were delighted to represent the

what’s happening in augusta and aiken

ASU Art Department in their first public art commission, and the Art Factory is delighted to have their art on the wall.”

The final mural joins several others along Iris Street, which were painted by students, while those on the Wrightsboro Road side were painted by individual artists. This was the only mural on the wall painted by college students, who continued to work after the semester was over because of the narrow temperature range at which the paint could be applied.

“If you really want to see the painting come alive, you should come here at sunset and watching it for the 30 to 45 minutes that the sun is going down,” said artist Daniel Carroll.

“The light reflects off the paint in a way that changes the way you see it, and that was a big inspiration for the way we painted the sky in our painting.”

“At Golden Living Center, we did the health segment for their folks and a little evangelism all woven together,” said Koloff. “We’re also working with a local health food store from a health perspective. We’re in town for a number of things – mostly to help people depending on what area of their life they might need some greater health. Augusta supported us for so many years by purchasing tickets, now we’re back to give back to them.”

Part of the work of these newly teamed allies involves sharing their personal stories.

Koloff, a born-again Christian for many years, was instrumental in Luger’s own personal transformation from what Luger calls “a life of folly.”

“I can tell people how not to live their lives,” said Luger. “And Nik gives them the positive message of how they should live their lives. We kind of paint that picture in what we call ‘The Power Hour’ and it’s a lot of fun.”

With almost 75 years combined health and wellness experience, including counseling athletes behind the scenes on nutrition and exercise, Luger and Koloff have big plans for the many places they once visited as wrestlers, including Augusta. Koloff will take part in the Augusta Alzheimer’s Walk on Nov. 5 at the Augusta Common. But, as Luger mentions, these visits are just the start of the two building a long-term relationship with Augusta.

“From Monday to Sunday, we have a real calling and purpose to our lives,” said Luger.

“We like to get into every setting from elementary schools to assisted living centers and much more. God has opened many doors for us and we’re doing that in Augusta and other communities, as well.”

If Koloff and Luger bring the same passion to Augusta that they once did in the ring, look for a leaner, meaner, healthier Augusta. | by john cannon photo holly birdsong

WHAT Walk to End Alzheimer’s WHen Saturday, Nov. 5 | 9 a.m.

WHere Augusta Common | 836 Reynolds St. JOIN A TEAM 706.731.9060 or alz.org/georgiawalk

WHY Funds raised will provide support services to the 200,000 residents of Georgia living with Alzheimer’s and contribute to advancing research.

Included in Local Legends are outfits worn by Brenda Lee, Flo Carter, Jessye Norman, Wycliffe Gordon, and the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown.

[ local legends opens]

The Augusta Museum of History opened Local Legends, a permanent exhibition celebrating the talent of famous Augustans, on Oct. 28.

The exhibit includes area-wide entertainers, musicians, singers, authors, athletes, journalists and other notable personalities.

“The public could be very surprised of who is in this show,” said Nancy Glaser, the museum’s executive director. “I know I was when we began doing the research three years ago, and there are many, many more people the museum hopes to add over time.”

The Augusta Museum of History is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 706.722.8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

[ riverhawks correction ]

In the Oct. 19 issue, we listed the Riverhawk’s website incorrectly. The official Riverhawks website is augustariverhawks.com.

Around Town is written by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 9

10 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

jay jefferies invites you to help him

beat cancer this year’s annual drum-a-thon will benefit 12 bands

Augusta folks might not know exactly where Jay Jefferies is, but the real question is: “Who is Jay Jefferies?”

Jefferies, a meteorologist at WAGT-NBC 26 known for his “Where in Augusta is Jay Jefferies” segment on the station’s morning show, is a man of many talents.

He is also a man with very humble beginnings.

“I was just a little guy from Cleveland, Ohio, who got lost and moved to the South,” he laughs.

His mother, originally from Macon, Ga., was a single parent and Jefferies an only child.

They made trips to Georgia every two years at Christmas to visit family. Although he looked forward to those trips to the South, the family struggled to get by back home. He remembers standing in welfare lines and eating the same food for days at a time. Those memories are what make Jefferies the man he is today.

At 13, he got his first job working at a car wash. Then, at age 15, he got his first radio job watching the boards at WJMO in Cleveland.

“I remember telling all of my friends to listen when I came on the radio. All I got to say was, ‘WJMO Cleveland Heights Ohio,’ ” he says.

“I really thought I was going to be a radio announcer.”

In high school, Jefferies was on the basketball, track and swimming teams, while holding down a job and keeping up his grades. He eventually got his own song dedication show on Saturday nights at WJMO. While he was playing music on the radio, he kept the beat on whatever he could get his hands on.

“My mom says I was born with natural rhythm.

I would beat on everything in the house,” says Jefferies. “In the ‘70s, I was a professional drummer for the O’Jays and still am. I would sneak into their practices and I became a roadie. When the job came open, I was there.

Now, when they come into the area, I am a fill-in for the drummer. I was also the original drummer for Kinsman Dazz Band. The band changed their name to Dazz and moved to California. I left the band before their first hit Let it Whip.”

Jefferies had big dreams of being a drummer, but his mom had different plans for his future.

“After high school graduation, she told me it was time for school and I wasn’t going to make music a career,” he says. “To please her, I went to college and saw my dream going away. But I am really thankful for my mom pushing me to higher education. I wouldn’t have what I have now if I had gone on the road with those guys.”

After 25 years in radio broadcasting, Jefferies began his weather career in Beaumont, Texas.

He was a roving meteorologist for MSNBC, travelled the world installing weather systems and training meteorologists and worked at several television stations in the South.

“When you see the look on people’s faces when you give them something, well, it is really something.

Once you give like that, you feel better about yourself.”

— jay jeffries

In 1994, Jefferies took a job with Channel 12 in Augusta where he met his wife, Bonita Jenkins. A few years after their marriage, Jenkins lost her father and Jefferies helped with the funeral arrangements. He realized he had an interest in this field. After the funeral, he attended mortuary science school and became a licensed mortician. He continues to help out at Mays Mortuary.

Then, in 2006, he joined WAGT-NBC 26 News in Augusta. His morning show has become very popular, but he is also well known for helping others in need.

“I try to work with the nonprofits that really need help,” Jefferies says. “The big guys need it too, but I want to show the smaller ones that they can raise money. When you see the look on people’s faces when you give them something, well, it is really something. Once you give like that, you feel better about yourself.”

Over the years, Jefferies has given his time and money to many causes. He has helped raise funds for several charities. This year, he will focus on children and cancer.

Stevenson is organizing the event that will take place at the new WAGT-NBC 26 studios at Television Park. Since its inception, 12 Bands has raised more than $250,000 in support of the cause. Jefferies’ commitment to help others, along with his music abilities, should make for a fun community event.

“I’ve known and respected Jay for years. He’s a great drummer and is very community minded. So it’s really a perfect fit for the Beat Cancer Drum-a-Thon. He’s really pushed himself this year by committing to drum for 26 hours straight,” Stevenson says.

Jefferies started his annual Drum-a-Thon in 2000, but this year’s event might set a record.

“This year will be different,” Jefferies says. “I have never done 26 hours of drumming, and this time people can come out and join me. I have never done one at night and, in November, it will be cold. If I can do it for 26 hours, people

can come by and help out. It helps me to keep going. It also gives us a chance to show off the new facility.”

All ages and all skill levels are encouraged to participate in the Drum-a-Thon. There will be extra drums and percussion instruments available.

“People do not have to own a drum or be a drummer to participate. Don’t have a drum?

Use a bucket,” Stevenson says.

Jay Jefferies might be a little guy from Cleveland, but in Augusta, he is the little guy with a big heart.

Where in the world is Jay Jefferies? On Nov. 11 at 10 a.m., he will be drumming his heart out and giving back to a community who is thankful he is here.

by KAREN E. FARLEY photo LEAH DESLANDES

drum along with jay 1) Register at 12Bands.org

On Friday, Nov. 11, Jefferies will attempt to drum for 26 hours to raise awareness and funds for The 12 Bands of Christmas.

2) Set a goal for how long you think you can play

“The 12 Bands of Christmas combines the universal appeal of music with the universal spirit of giving to support the fight against pediatric cancer,” says Joe Stevenson, the executive director for the organization. “Our purpose is to promote education and public support for the fight against pediatric cancer through the arts and entertainment.”

4) Turn in sheet with pledge-side filled out before your performance

3) Ask friends, family and co-workers to sponsor you: download the pledge form at 12bands.org.

5) Top 10 drummers who raise the most money get entered into a drawing for the limited edition pearl drum set to be drawn at the conclusion of the Drum-a-Thon on Nov. 12, at noon.

WHAT Beat Cancer Drum-a-Thon WHERE WAGT-NBC 26 studios | 1336 Augusta West Parkway WHEN Friday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. until Sat., Nov. 12 at noon MORE director@12bands.org or 12bands.org

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 11

12 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

on paper and in person, catherine zickgraf

bares her soul

poet and spoken word artist is passionate about sharing her art and encouraging others to join in

Her slender frame suggests fragility.

But, her voice is as sharp as the angles in her face and arms, and as piercing as what she has to say.

The power in her voice – the force in the cadence in her speech – defies the pain that come out of making oneself so vulnerable and open. She is as energized from the rough, shrill, blistering chill of putting her soul and heart out there, naked and raw as a wound, as she is from the crowd that eagerly listens, absorbs and applauds.

And that is just when she speaks her art – and her heart – aloud.

A self-described confessional poet who also turns her pieces into spoken word, Catherine “The Great” Zickgraf brazenly bares thoughts, feelings, secrets, memories and reflections on the page and relives them before Augusta’s finger-snapping spoken word and open mic crowds, almost faster than she can realize how much she’s exposing. While she presents an empowered persona, her poetry portrays weakness and struggle, primarily against the self.

Zickgraf says the key thematic thread that runs through most of her work is “struggling with sin.”

“People have to learn that the body might be caged but the spirit must be nutured in order to grow.”

— catherine zickgraf

“Even for people who don’t believe in sin, we all want to be better people,” she says. “It’s the idea of struggling to be a better person, and often you have to fight against yourself to do that. The idea of mind over matter, the spirit over the body, appears in so many areas in life. People have to learn that the body might be caged but the spirit must be nurtured in order to grow.”

Zickgraf ’s lyrical exploration of moral and spiritual concerns betrays what she hopes is a good fight of faith.

“I say that I believe,” confesses Zickgraf, “but I have trouble obeying.”

She continues, chuckling: “If you think this probably makes me confused, then you are right. I think it’s good to write about struggling. It’s good to talk about how I don’t have this under control, just like you don’t have this under control.”

Illustrative of this theme of the sinner’s relationship to the sin and one’s lot in life is “Incognizant Slithering,” the title piece of Zickgraf ’s upcoming chapbook. The poem explores the theme of sin’s curse and the lot of the potter and the clay via the tempting serpent in the Garden of Eden.

“The snake really wasn’t at fault, here. God cursed it to remind people how Satan works through temptations and that sin is exciting, and I wanted to acknowledge those things. So, I do believe, and that comes out; but I hope what also comes out is that I don’t have things under control, but that I’m struggling with those things,” she says.

Zickgraf already has two spoken-word DVDs under her belt, Threshold and Long Pine Sky, and a third to be released at the end of October, Gone Again. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2009, has toured (and is touring) throughout the country from her native Pennsylvania to Miami

to San Francisco. On top of that, she frequently wows crowds in open mics and poetry readings throughout Augusta in places such as Sit-A-Spell Coffee House and Alter Ego’z.

Yet, two years ago, Zickgraf was just edging her way back to writing after long, life-induced hiatus.

“When I was in college, I told my professor that I was going to be a poet. So I wrote some things that I’m proud of back then, when I was 19. And then I got married and got sick [with multiple sclerosis] at 22, and didn’t write again until 32. So, I didn’t have words, I had no words. I wrote one poem in the in-between time and I worked hard on that for years, but I just didn’t have any spark then,” she says.

“Now, as I look back on that, I’m excited that I endured being sick and endured when I couldn’t see a future for myself, because I was in a wheelchair for two years. Because I got so sick so fast, we didn’t see me getting better, we just said ‘Look how sick I am at 24, what on earth am I going to be at 30?’ ”, she says. “People lose that fight sometimes, just the fear of life. So I endured that fear of life, and I think a lot of people do. But I feel like that was a lot of payment for what I have now.

But it’s OK, because there was something better waiting for me. I love to do what I do.”

Poetry and spoken word, though two different art forms, are two sides of the same coin for Zickgraf, whose influences range from Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath to Eminem and Jay-Z. “I’ve turned some poems into spoken word. What I do when I write poetic prose is to make sure that each word counts. I take out as many words as I possibly can, and then sometimes you just have phrases. You put phrases together in a complex grammatical way that is still clean and clear, so when it becomes a spoken word piece I hit for three minutes. I think you can develop a concept, make a point, develop a theory or philosophy and try to convince someone of something, or even convince someone to just take the journey with me, even if they disagree with me,” she says.

Zickgraf is part of the Don’t Sleep Tour, a local artists/community service collective that includes her friend and fellow spoken word artist Sleepy Eyez Carter. Her participation with Don’t Sleep exemplifies, among other things, her solidarity with other artists and her conviction that literary art is a means of change and self-transformation.

“We do community service projects. One of our goals is to take what we do out to different places where he haven’t been heard before, and in a certain sense encourage writers,” she says. “Anytime I hear about a new spoken word artist, I grab them and push them and give them venues, get in touch with them by Facebook, tell them ‘here, you can get up on stage here.’ I make it my business to know everybody. I want to know everybody who wants to get on stage and be a performance artist, or even just get up there with a diary and read a poem that you wrote. We have a great spoken word scene here in Augusta, and I want people to jump on board.”

by SKYLER ANDREWS photo HOLLY BIRDSONG

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 13

14 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

good quilts

tell stories LUCY CRAFT LANEY MUSEUM OPENS ANNUAL QUILT EXHIBIT ON NOV 6.

Quilting is rich with stories, traditions and family history. The art of quilting also plays an important role in African American history.

Christine Miller-Betts, the executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, has fond memories of her mother making quilts.

“She would use leftover scraps of fabric from the clothes she made for us as children,” she says. “I remember the quilting bees in our home and the women gathering around the wooden frame.”

Before and during the Civil War, black slave women did the spinning, weaving, sewing and quilting on plantations. It has been said that secret messages in the form of quilt patterns aided slaves escaping from captivity in the Southern states. The patterns were placed in a certain order, and symbols forming codes relayed messages to slaves preparing to escape. Some of the most common patterns were stars, crossroads and wagon wheels.

These quilt patterns, still widely used today, were passed down along with oral history.

Despite their significance, Miller-Betts says many of these heirloom quilts have been discarded because they are not as stylish as their modern counterparts.

“Most of those quilts have been thrown away by the families,” Miller-Betts says. “Quilts were made for warmth back then, not style.”

In 1991, Hertha Blount, a founding member of the museum wanted to display a quilt that had been in her family for generations. Her idea prompted others to exhibit heirloom quilts made by the African American community.

In October of that year, the museum held their first exhibit.

“Quilting has really become an art,” MillerBetts says. “The reason we do the exhibitions is to show the importance of quilting in our culture. Some have forgotten, and some never knew.”

Though many quilters use patterns, the random designs in some of the quilts are unique to the black culture, and the vibrant colors and eclectic designs make these quilts one of a kind.

One of the quilts on display is “The Lucy Craft Laney Story,” made by Helen Robinson. The quilt tells the story of Lucy Craft Laney – one of Georgia’s most influential educational leaders.

Some of the others on exhibit include one made by Ann Rouse from Tabernacle Baptist Church. Tabernacle has a monthly quilting ministry whose projects include making a quilt for each baby dedicated at the church.

“Every year the church asks me if I need any quilts for our exhibit,” Miller-Betts says.

“They are always very supportive.”

Over the years, the museum has acquired many quilts with interesting stories. They contain history, and bring warmth to the gallery. Some of these colorful quilts will be on display during the exhibition, along with the permanent collection, which includes a quilt made from bridal scraps.

“My mother-in-law was a seamstress and made wedding dresses. She saved the scraps and gave them to a friend that made quilts,” Miller-Betts says. “Another local woman gave us a quilt made in 1928 that was given to her as a wedding gift.”

Among the featured quilts is one by Pollie Stevenson, Miller-Betts’ sister from Elmont, N.Y., who submits a quilt each year for the exhibition.

The annual event showcases the significance of quilts in the African American culture.

This year’s exhibit of more than 16 quilts promises to bring warmth during the cooler weather and might even inspire folks to find scraps of fabric and make some of their own history. article and photo by KAREN E. FARLEY

SEE THE QUILTS

WHAT 20th Anniversary Quilt Exhibit Where Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History | 1116 Phillips St. WHEN Nov. 6 through Dec. 30 | Opening reception on Nov. 6, 3 to 5 p.m.

TICKETS $5 for adults; $3 for seniors; $2 for children.

WHY To showcase the significance of quilts in the African American culture MORE 706.724.3576 or lucycraftlaneymuseum.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 15

16 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

homebrewers share a serious

passion for the brew our beer expert, ben casella, takes on the augusta homebrewers association

Beer is quite possibly the most complex drink on Earth.

Dozens of ingredients can go into a single pint, most of them firsthand from Mother Nature herself. Indeed, the seed-bearing plants are truly celebrated with the process of brewing beer.

Think I am getting too biblical?

Just ask any Trappist monk if he disagrees.

That being said, I have been writing about quality beers for verge for years and I truly apologize for waiting this long before writing about the Augusta Homebrewers Association, a grassroots society of brewers and brew lovers that meets, brews and enjoys beer as a celebration (moderately, of course) on a periodic basis. I recently struck up a friendship with Mike Marty, the craft and import specialist for A.B. Beverage and Grand Poobah of Augusta Homebrewers, and (just like the “Beers Locals Like” column) this assignment literally and serendipitously fell into my lap.

“They who drink beer will think beer.”

— washington irving

It is late on a Sunday morning when I drive up to a discrete yard off of Central Avenue between Monte Sano and Glenn avenues.

My assignment is to cover a meeting/brew-day of the Augusta Homebrewers Association. I park my ’97 Accord across from the Knights of Columbus and walk up to an unassuming group of men gathered around a table under a tent in a way that reminds me of those hardcore tailgaters who would set up shop below my Athens loft on game day at the crack of dawn (before anyone else got out of bed). The only thing different (so far) is the lack of red and black and the older man on the north side of the yard stirring a caldron. Being Catholic, I feel a bit guilty about not being at Mass, but I attend St. Mary’s, so I am just across the street (I hope the Church recognizes worship by means of osmosis). Little do I know that my Sunday is to be a religious experience, after all.

Under the tent, I stand next to a table strewn with some chips, dip and a few small glasses. I am not really sure what to say when Marty comes up and welcomes me to the meeting. He explains that the members take turns brewing for each meeting, but that most of them also bring one or more samples of their recent home-brews. He introduces me to a few of the guys before excusing himself, as he is one of the brewers today. He retreats several feet away to his homemade brewing device, which consists of – among other things – wood and a Gatorade cooler.

I strike up conversation with Lonnie Best, the beer historian for the Homebrewers. He speaks eloquently about the society and about beer, in general. He should, because he holds a bachelor’s

degree in English literature and he reviews extensively for Examiner.com and BeerAdvocate.com. I quickly realize I am way out of my league. He hands me a beer critique card with spaces for qualitative descriptions, a full-color flavor wheel and a bitterness quantifier (measured in IBU’s – International Bitterness Units – of course). Best is not brewing today, but he has brought a sample of his most recent creation – a Belgian specialty brew that simply cannot be categorized further (a rare attribute for a brew). A quarter-pint goes down smooth as silk with a yeasty tone that, if not for the heat of the day, would have made me feel as though I was skipping church in northern Europe.

The man to my right is Chris Smith. He is a self-described “Hop Head” with a military background and has spent considerable time living in Europe. With a chiseled athletic build and a sixfoot-two frame, he is the type of man you want fighting for your freedom. He tells me he came back to the States, in part, because of the craft beer renaissance and its almost pneumonic taste for hops. He smiles the entire time he is describing what he tastes in our next sampling, a full-bodied and sinewy meade made by Shawn Burke.

paradigm altogether – he would be right at home stirring that caldron a 150 years ago. He is quick to mention that as many of his ingredients as possible come from right here in the CSRA, including wheat from Thompson Brothers on Columbia Nitrogen Road. I very much want to taste whatever is brewing in Burress’ caldron, but I look at my phone and realize that my fun is up. I now have to spend the second half of my Sunday at a 2-year-old’s birthday party outdoors. Does anyone have something cold I can take with me?

Walking away, I reflect on how much I learned, experienced and enjoyed in such a short amount of time. These guys are so well versed and knowledgeable, yet approachable and courteous that anyone from novice to brewmaster would be made to feel right at home with them. I highly recommend Marty and the Augusta Homebrewers Association to anyone who has ever given thought to getting serious about a love and respect for brewing beer. Their council, camaraderie and fun spin on beer reinforce that the act of beer-crafting is truly a labor of love. Amen.

by BEN CASELLA

Then, I meet Kurt Meyer from Albany, Ga. He has been brewing his own beer since 1987 and exudes the seamless flow of lingo that only a seasoned brewer could begin to articulate. He has brought a sample today, which he terms a 1760’s porter, a name designating a complex and multifactorial concoction whose age describes the ingredients used and the style in which they were prepared (such as the 1700’s tradition of carefully roasting barley). I don’t want to let on too much to the group, but this is literally one of the better beers I have tasted and I would pay this man top dollar for a growler full of his 1760 period piece. Plus, Meyer is the type of guy with whom you want to drink beer. He is as well-versed as anyone in the guild, but has an approachability that makes it easy to ask him anything about his brew and know you will get an honest, correct and user-friendly answer.

At this point, I turn my attention to the older man stirring the caldron on the north side of the yard. He looks intriguing, with jean cargo shorts, shin-length white socks, a wide-brim hat and a certain sense about him that seems to communicate the fact that he’s comfy and doesn’t care what you think about it. His name is Roy Burress and he is brewing today. I can tell by his accent that he is not a native Augustan (few of these brewers are), but I cannot quite pinpoint his origin. He is from northern California, however, it seems as though he is from a different

roy burress concocts the day’s brew

meet the brewmasters GET INVOLVED Find out more about the Augusta Homebrewers Association at augustahomebrewers.org

LEARN MORE Check out Homebrewing 101 at homebrewersassociation.org

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 17

18 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

for adas yeshurun it is a

year of remembering 120th anniversary of local synagogue closes with concert by the three kosher singers

adas Yeshurun sunday school class mixed confirmation class of 1946

ADAS YESHURUN CELEBRATES

Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, which has been the cultural focus for much of Augusta’s Jewish community since the city’s beginnings, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.

“It’s good to do a 120th, because a lot of the people who were at the 100th anniversary and remember a lot of the history of the congregation might not be there for the 150th,” said Jack Steinberg, who is helping to coordinate the event. “We had a big reunion this summer where a lot of former members who had moved out of town came back for a service and a picnic, and the last New Year’s Eve was also a big affair. We’re making a book and taking pictures of all the members of the congregation so that we remember this moment a hundred years from now.”

In 1891, three Orthodox minyans, or Jewish prayer groups, merged and hired Rabbi Abram Poliakoff to care for their spiritual needs. The Jewish community in Augusta had been strong even before then, with a large group fleeing Poland around 1875, at a time when Russians required all Jews to live in a region known as The Pale.

“The Russians required that all their Jewish citizens move there, and they very frequently got conscripted,” said Steinberg. “I knew one man who put his eye out so he wouldn’t have to serve in the military. They chose to come to Augusta because there was already a community of Jews here that came around 1800 from Germany.”

THE THREE KOSHER SINGERS The Adas Yeshurun Synagogue is a

community of people who takes great pride in the rabbinic law of “al tifrosh min hatzibbur,” which means “do not separate yourself from the community.”

On Nov. 13, they will celebrate their 120th anniversary at the Imperial Theatre with a variety show featuring The Three Kosher Singers.

Ten years ago, three Jewish cantors from South Florida performed to a sold out crowd in Charleston, S.C. The trio called themselves The Three Southern Cantors. Irvin Bell, Bertram Kieffer and David Sirull were colleagues in Miami. At the time, Sirull was a professional cantor in Charleston.

“It was originally a take-off on The Three Tenors. There were many variations from Jewish singers from that idea,” Adas’ Rabbi/ Cantor David Sirull says. “In Charleston, we were just three Jewish professional singers from Florida putting on a variety show.”

a wedding at the synagogue

The first Synagogue, built in 1914 at 1120 Ellis St., was started by five families, one of which was Steinberg’s grandfather. In 1954, that congregation moved to their current location on Johns Road; the original location burned down and was eventually sold as a warehouse.

“In 1925, nearly all the merchants between 13th and Fifth streets on the right side of Broad Street were Jewish and 90 percent of them were members of our congregation,” said Steinberg. “A lot of the buildings that are still there were built by Jewish families, with the store on the bottom and homes on the top floor.”

“My brother in Atlanta says people gave Jews a hard time, but I think the government of Augusta was very kind to them,” he continued. “The city gave them a section of the cemetery that they used for many years. Jews have always been a part of this community.”

According to Steinberg, the ADAS congregation changed from Orthodox to Conservative several years ago; this allows for men and women to sit together during services, and for women to be allowed to approach the altar.

Steinberg appreciates this opportunity to celebrate Augusta’s Jewish community, who he says have become doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs since they arrived in town as mostly peddlers and farmers.

“They’re part of every facet of the city,” he said. “We have lawyers, a lot of doctors, merchants and professional people. We have had people on the city council and good Jewish athletes at Richmond Academy in the past.”

The congregation at 935 Johns Road holds prayer services twice a day, every day, and serves more than 165 families in the Augusta area. For more information, visit adasyeshurun.net.

by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK photos courtesy of JACK STEINBERG

“I was a cantor before I was a rabbi, but two of us became rabbis after the show. Most nonJews do not know what a cantor is, so we changed the name to The Three Kosher Singers.

Cantorial concerts have been around for generations. Granted, they were a bigger deal 50 years ago, but the cantorial arts have been perpetuated and still exist in our time. Kosher is not a term that is generally associated with music, but it can also be used for the correct procedure by which we perform the Jewish rituals. The name gets the point across that it is a Jewish program,” Sirull explains.

Sirull and his family moved to Augusta in 2002. The Adas Yeshurun Synagogue was looking for someone to fill the roles of both cantor and rabbi. He feels it was a perfect fit for him – he is able to serve the congregation, while pursuing his love of music. On his days off, he can be found in a recording studio he built in his home. Sirull is also becoming a household word in the Augusta country music scene.

“A lot of folks in Augusta have come to know me as the Jewish Redneck, Sirull says. “I try to teach a Jewish custom or tradition when I write songs. About a year ago, I wrote one that stuck.”

The “Jewish Redneck” is one that is always requested when Sirull performs at area venues.

The song exaggerates the Jewish custom of Minhag Hamakom, the accepted practices of a place. He uses the song to illustrate the hobbies and interests he has taken on since the move to Augusta.

“I like to camp, fish and be outdoors, something that the locals like to do,” he says.

“That is what the song is about. There are only about 500 to 600 Jews in Augusta, so 25,000 hits on YouTube is something.”

Sirull has also produced a CD of cantorials that has sold copies around the world. He has a new CD he hopes will be available at the concert.

“The new one will have both religious and secular music. They are all original English songs with half of them being Jewish opera,” he says. “One of the songs, which can also be found on YouTube, is called, ‘There’s No Place Like Augusta.’ ” The Three Kosher Singers will perform Jewish cantorials, plus a selection of Pops and Broadway tunes, at the Imperial Theatre.

And Sirull promises that there just might be a little bit of country music from a local Jewish redneck.

by KAREN E. FARLEY

GO TO THE SHOW

WHAT THe Three Kosher SIngers WHERE The Imperial Theatre, 749 Broad St. WHEN Sunday, Nov. 13 | 7 p.m. TICKETS $10 to $60 BUY imperialtheatre.com MORE 706.722.8341

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 19

20 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

alec soth captures america’s

loners and dreamers noted photographer will give next lecture in morris museum of art’s terra cognita series

Photographer Alec Soth’s work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide and published in countless magazines. Born and still residing in Minneapolis, he was initially drawn to painting, but made the transition to photography as a college student. Soth’s work has brought him fellowships and awards.

His photographs are featured in public and private collections and compiled in his self-published books, beginning with 2004’s Sleeping by the Mississippi. In 2008, he launched his own publishing company, Little Brown Mushroom.

Verge contacted Soth via email in advance of his upcoming lecture at the Morris Museum of Art. Verge: You are giving a lecture as part of the Morris Museum of Art’s Terra Cognita series. Can you enlighten readers as to what this will entail?

SOTH: Lecturing is an opportunity to create a narrative – to connect the dots between the paintings I made at 16-years-old to the photographs I’m hoping to make tomorrow. In the end, my participation with photography is fundamentally about my desire for narrative, the lecture allows me to articulate this desire.

Verge: How does one lecture about photography? It brings to mind the quote that “Writing about music is like dancing to architecture.”

SOTH: I’ve thought a lot about this. For me, the ultimate vehicle for narrative photography is the book. A book functions very much like a family album – a way to tell a family’s story. But there are other ways. When I was a kid, my family used to have slideshows. There is something really wonderful about showing pictures and telling stories. I’ve sometimes wondered if one could make an art out of it.

Verge: You went to school to be a painter, but took up photography after attending a lecture by Joel Sternfeld.

Do you see a correlation between the two mediums?

SOTH: Painting and photography are wildly different.

Photographers often fall into the trap of trying to imitate painting. So mingling the two mediums is dangerous.

I admire painting, but it feels like a different universe.

Verge: In 2004, you stated, “Photography is not very good at telling stories.” Has your opinion changed?

SOTH: Yeah, that is my curse. I still believe photography isn’t good at storytelling, but I’m still trying to do it. I’m surprised I haven’t torn all of my hair out by now. A large part of my lecture will be about this wrestling match I have with the medium.

Verge: Regarding that statement, one thinks about landmark images that capture moments in time. Are they not stories for the eyes instead of the ears?

SOTH: No, I don’t think so. Stories have a beginning, middle and end. Stories require time. Photographs are just a slice of time. Photographs suggest a story, they don’t tell a story.

Verge: Do you have a preferred photography format, and how do you determine what to use at a particular time? Does the subject determine the camera or does the camera determine the subject?

SOTH: More and more I use the model of a filmmaker. Just as a director chooses a certain kind of cinematography for a particular film, I’m interested in using different technology for different projects. I don’t want to be tied

down to one particular way of making a picture.

Verge: How much of your work is commissioned work and how much is independent, and how do both fulfill different areas of your creativity?

SOTH: I’d say about 25 percent of my work is commissioned. But I’ve gotten good at only accepting commissioned work that interests me. This has proven to be successful creatively. I’ve leaned so much from these unexpected encounters I’ve had with the world.

ALEC SOTH. CHARLES, VASA, MINNESOTA, 2002. From Sleeping by the Mississippi, 2004.

“Photographs are just a slice of time.

Photographs suggest a story, they don’t tell a story.”

— ALEC SOTH

Verge: Another comment you made: “Great pictures are all about luck and anyone can take a great picture.”

If that is the case, why study photography? Why learn to operate a camera outside of the auto-everything setting? Light, shadow, depth of field — so many factors that go into creating a great picture. Can anyone really accomplish this?

SOTH: Yes. Operating a camera is a cinch. Making a great picture is luck. But making a bunch of pictures that work together in a meaningful way – that is an extraordinarily difficult thing to do and takes years of study, practice and devotion.

Verge: Thanks to cell phones, everyone is a “photographer.” (Or so they believe.) What does this to do the art?

SOTH: It does complicate things. I’ve certainly felt like I’ve had to come to terms with the flood of images I see on my computer. For me, it has only emphasized the need to link these images and connect the dots.

Verge: Between the death of print and the rise of video – again, with cell phones and handheld digital devices – is the medium of the printed image facing extinction?

SOTH: I wouldn’t say that print will be extinct, but it will be a niche. The analogy I use is vinyl records. They still exist. In fact, sales of vinyl have been rising. People want an object. But this will always be a small group of devotees.

by ALISON RICHTER above photo ALEC SOTH. F.P. RESACA, GEORGIA, detail, 2006

BY ALEC SOTH. KRISTIN, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, 2007. From Paris Minnesota.

GO TO THE lecture

WHAT Terra Cognita: Alec Soth WHERE The Morris Museum of Art | 1 10th St. WHEN Thursday, Nov. 10 | 6 p.m. TICKETS Free MORE THEMORRIS.ORG | ALECSOTH.COM

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 21

rescuing a community t

symphony orchestra augusta plan to bring new life to the miller A night at the Miller Theatre can change your life. Ed Pollock left Augusta during World War II and moved to Dearborn, Mich. to find work at the Ford Motor Company. It was there he met and fell in love with Alice Ruth Buckley but, because both had some debt, the couple decided to postpone marriage. Ed returned to Augusta to work at the arsenal.

One Sunday afternoon he went to the Miller Theatre with a friend and watched a love story on the big screen. It moved him so much that he called Alice from the theatre and asked her to forget logic, get on a bus and head for Augusta. In less than a week, on June 13, 1942, Ed and Ruth were married.

Ed and Ruth’s story was used in a display at the Miller Theatre on Veterans Day 2008 as part of a series of WWII Love Stories, designed to keep the Miller alive in the minds of Augustans.

out on the other side. When Frank Miller built this place many critics classified it as the classiest venue in the South, and it is still one of the South’s finest.”

Deas, who noticed the Miller for sale in 2004, became invested first because of the dilapidated condition into which the theatre had fallen. The Miller had two different owners since its closing, but Deas said neither had done anything to maintain the property.

“The old carpeting was torn up all over the place and the roof was leaking very badly and it just broke my heart because I wondered how anybody could let a place get in this state,” he said.

“I worked for two years to get the Miller listed and on the market,” said Janie Peel, a real estate broker who later became involved with Friends of the Miller.

“Mike has been a huge Miller activist, and he’s been really great about keeping it cleaned up and finding historical information that keeps it alive in the hearts of people living downtown.”

The work of the Symphony, however, wa to match 25 percent of the funds app the theatre, and they needed to make committing to make the Miller their pe

“When a person comes to town for o to find the symphony,” said Shizuo Z. “Everywhere we perform we experienc can’t hear one another, because the hall i to ensure top notch sound on all of our p to bring in was the acoustician because live performances, it was a no-go.”

Deas’ first response was to create a one-page website called Friends of the Miller that eventually grew to 20 pages. He also kept one set of keys to routinely lead tours through the building, even after Knox purchased it in 2005, with the hope of one day seeing it reopened.

After stabilizing the roof to prevent further decline and commissioning an extensive structural study, Knox offered the theatre to several different organizations, including the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta.

“At that point, we were thinking in terms of building a large performing arts center on the river for $100 million,” said Sandra Self, SOA’s executive director.

“Three years later, in ’08, we began to see the idea of a new building on the riverfront as too expensive, but the Master Plan still included a theatre district in the heart of downtown. That was when we began to reconsider Mr. Knox’s generous offer.”

“I always hoped someone would adopt the Miller and take on the enormous task of opening the doors ...”

— tricia hughes

“It’s what we did to keep this theatre alive in the minds of everyone,” said Tricia Hughes, a downtown activist who helped open the Miller for tours. “We opened it for everything, anytime there was a First Friday or a Downtown Augusta Alliance event like the Jingle Bell Jaunt. My very favorite was the WWII Love Stories. It was so much fun. I always hoped someone would adopt the Miller and take on the enormous task of opening the doors to visual and performing arts events.”

The Friends of the Miller continued to host small exhibits inside the Miller while working for its continued development. Getting the Miller approved for $5.2 million in funds from the Special Local Option Sales Tax – perhaps their biggest accomplishment – required a heavy investment of time and concentration by Deas and Peel as they filled the paperwork for the measure that was passed on June 16, 2009.

“I’ve always been a downtown activist, so I felt it was very important to get SPLOST passed, not just for the Miller’s sake but for all of Augusta, and we found that people were incredibly supportive of our efforts,” said Peel. “There was a lot of paperwork to go through but we had a dedicated group of volunteers who were passionate about seeing the theatre lit up again.”

“We opened it up for tours every First Friday from June 2008 to June 2009, but after SPLOST was passed I was ready to do other things,” said Hughes. “The Symphony is a major force that I felt would do good things for the Miller and I felt that my job was done.”

The acoustician was only the first of se deciding to accept the Miller. Next, they and then a group of accountants to dete and whether SOA could afford it.

The fourth agency, New York based interviews to assess the feasibility of sustainable, five-year business plan for r

“One thing that all the consultants said and was very well built,” said Self. “It ha buildings take time to achieve, and the of experience in these matters all over t gave us is realistic and manageable and

The SOA formally accepted Knox’s gift to move forward with a full renovation Theatre as the permanent home of the Arts experiences.

Now, the Symphony Orchestra Augusta is breathing new life into this historic theatre with help from Peter Knox and the downtown community. The theatre, originally built in 1939 and closed in 1983, once played first-run movies and hosted performances and comedy routines at a time when Augusta was the entertainment hub of the South.

“This really needs to be a space for all you can open up a theatre only at night people get in touch with each other, as people can go downtown to find out eve we would like to accomplish with the M

“Entertainment was king, which is why Augusta was a boomtown,” said Mike Deas, the founder of Friends of the Miller. “Between 1900 and 1950 there were 15 theatres on Broad Street, and four African American theatres, such as the Lennox where James Brown first performed. When I spoke to Deanna Brown, James Brown’s daughter, she told me that her father always loved the Miller and felt it should be preserved.”

One of the biggest challenges involved in realization that the stage was too small Self noticed the first time the SOA was o

The theatre has remained an important landmark in Augusta history and a bright spot in the memories of many of Augusta’s older residents.

“I used to come to see movies when I was a kid, and I think a lot of the people who grew up here and remember going to the Miller when it was in its heyday are very passionate about it,” said Deas. “I remember brass poles with red robe going all the way up the incline that led into the theatre, and there were posters in glass cases on either side that people would pass going up one way, and going

“It just broke I wondered let a pl

all

22 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

“This really needs to be a space for the Arts. Gone are the days you can open up a theatre only at night.”

— SANDRA SELF

“It’s a vaudeville stage with a theatre intended for,” said Self. “Apparently th don’t think the symphony ever did bec why we’re looking into expanding it so w

Unfortunately, increasing the size of the s the line of sight from the balcony. The S method of solving this problem would of the balcony, making space for box sea

treasure

a begins r theatre

as just beginning. They were required proved by SPLOST to help renovate e sure the plan was feasible before ermanent home.

only a week they don’t know where Kuwahara, the SOA music director. ce some challenges where musicians is part of the instrument and we want productions. The first thing we asked e if it wasn’t going to be good to hold

my heart because

d how anybody could lace get in this state.”

— mike deas

everal consultants hired by SOA before y brought in a theatre design consultant, ermine the price of restoring the theatre

d WEBB Management, conducted 45 f the project and finally gave SOA a running the theatre.

“We’re staying within the footprint of the original stage rather than purchasing the land behind the theatre and trying to build it back that way,” said Self. “It seemed more realistic, and the best way to avoid altering the design of the theatre any more than we have to.”

Deas disagrees, pointing out the vacant lot behind the theatre, which currently serves as the parking lot for Joanie Lamb’s Hair Salon.

Right now, the Symphony is hard pressed to give any dates or a timeline for completion of the project, though it will have access to SPLOST funds through 2015. Self says that the next several months will be spent taking care of the legalities of the actual transfer of the gift to the theatre board, and developing the corporate structure for Miller LLC, which will have its own board of directors.

ft of the theatre on Sept. 23 and plans n, the goal being to establish the Miller Symphony and as a hub for downtown

n reopening the building came with the l to support a full orchestra, something offered the Miller.

space, and that’s all it was originally he opera performed there before but I cause the stage is quite small, which is we can fit a whole orchestra there.”

stage and orchestra pit means obscuring Symphony determined that the cheapest be to remove the first four or five rows ats on either side of the concert hall.

While Deas might have lost this particular battle, he still hopes Friends of the Miller can have a place at the table when discussing other issues, such as historical preservation and theatre promotion.

“I believe our two opinions can be melded together to do what’s best for the Miller and what’s best for the city of Augusta,” said Deas. “If I had one request for the Symphony, I would ask them to open up and involve Friends of the Miller, Augusta Landmarks and other arts organizations in the discussions with the contractors. Once it opens up, you’re going to need the community to come out and buy tickets, so involving the whole community from the beginning is very important to the overall success of the project.”

d was that this theatre has good bones, as soul, which is something your newer consultants who told us this have a lot the country, so we believe the plan they has been very diligently researched.”

the Arts,” said Self. “Gone are the days ht, and times have changed for the ways s well. Right now, there is no one place erything that is going on, which is what Miller.”

again, but they can’t [have my parking lot],” said Lamb. “The Symphony has already made plans that don’t involve cutting into my back parking lot, and I support them 100 percent.”

“We had a dedicated group of volunteers who were passionate about seeing the theatre lit up again.”

— JANIE PEEL

“Other theatres around the country have had similar dilemmas and they’ve solved it by knocking out the rear wall, which would allow for more dressing rooms and restrooms downstairs, and a loading door on Ellis Street,” he said.

“We agree the Miller needs to be restored, and we agree the Symphony needs a stage. What we don’t agree on is taking the balcony off and decreasing the seat count.”

“I love the Miller, I love how beautiful it is inside and I can’t wait to see it open

Deas and Hughes hope to continue to stay involved in whatever capacity the Symphony needs them, and when at last the theatre does open they look forward to seeing what new experiences downtown Augusta has to offer.

“I love the Symphony and I’m glad they have a home, but they won’t be performing every night so they’re going to have to open it up to the whole community,” said Hughes. “I want everything in there so that it becomes a true visual and performing arts center for the whole community, and I want it used.

And when it finally does open, I’ll be first in line.”

by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK exterior of The Miller LEAH DESLANDES interior photos Brian StewART

follow the progress

Symphony Orchestra Augusta | SOAUGUSTA.ORG Friends of the Miller | FRIENDSOFTHEMILLER.COM

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 23

24 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

beers locals like a quartet of fine dark brews for november

I sincerely hope you took some time to watch the original Halloween this Halloween season. As the big brother of sorts to the American slasher film, this movie marries terror with a non-classically structured thriller through the use of almost no blood, hardly any violence and as many extended hair-raising moments as Silence of the Lambs. Michael Myers (listed as “The Shape” in the closing credits) wears the plainest of clothes – coveralls and a Captain Kirk mask, yet, even with hardly a single close-up and no special effects, his appearance is seemingly vivid, horrifying and almost supernatural. Quite honestly, it’s the perfect horror movie, and it ages like a fine wine … Oh yeah, here are some dark brews for November:

Delirium Nocturnum

A dark and finely complex Belgian ale with an 8.5 percent ABV to match, Nocturnum makes a fine sister-brew to Delirium Tremens (which you might have tried at Takosushi). It pours a nice deep brown with a healthy head that persists through much of the sitting. A sour floral aroma gives way to an intense taste of berries, figs, chocolate and a nice hint of caramel.

It is strong ale, in more ways than one and, if you are serious about your brews, it is one you must try.

from the fork of

augusta eats a genuine foodie takes on augusta’s fare one bite at a time

kitchen 1454

Listen up, Augusta: Kitchen 1454 is now open. This statement might not astound you, but the restaurant’s chef/owner should. When I heard that Edward Mendoza – an acclaimed chef who has traveled the world, was listed as one of Bon Appetit’s 2006 top-10 hottest chefs and has spent the past five years teaching at the Cordon Bleu in Dallas – was behind the latest reincarnation of 1454 Walton Way, my curiosity was whetted.

It appears that while Mendoza is returning to his native Augusta with significant culinary experience and great recipes under his belt, he is also bringing with him the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Mendoza is cooking up some great Southern diner food and cooking it up well. He is also committed to using local food from our area farms, a benefit to our health and our economy. Mendoza is cooking up what’s in season – rather than buying his produce from the same huge truck that most of the others do, paying a cheaper price and having a static menu. Kitchen 1454 does the work, pays a little extra for quality products and brings you true goodness to your breakfast and lunch plate.

Mr. George’s Ruby Porter

The nose of this dark pour is what I can only describe as chocolaty potpourri.

The taste brings with it moderately sweet malts, alcohol and a bit of orange zest. A pleasant and unassuming combination that does not offend any portion of the palate makes this deep red porter an enjoyable session beer. Also, at 5 percent ABV, it has a mildly hoppy decay that would do well to complement most meats.

Naturally and as usual, I had mine with a turkey sub – perfect.

Victory Festbier

I know it is a little late in the season for a fest beer, but this brew deserves your attention.

An amber pour with an impressive head fades into a nice lingering lace as you sip.

Low carbonation allows sweet malts to dominate, but the surprising decay is dry, a tad hoppy and low key. Overall, Festbier is a great autumn brew that I highly recommend to complement your Turkey Day feast or to enjoy by itself. I enjoyed mine in a pint glass while wearing jeans and a flannel shirt (for some reason, I felt very consistent doing so).

I went straight for pure Southern: fried chicken, fried okra and cheese grits. If this fancy Cordon Bleu chef could fix me up some good Southern food and cook it right, he had my vote.

See, not everyone can cook fried chicken and grits correctly; these two southern delicacies just aren’t easy to get perfect.

He did! They were perfect! The fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy and succulent on the inside and it tasted like chicken, not some mysterious white meat covered in 11 herbs and spices. The cheese grits had a creamy texture and tasted as though my mama cooked them (which is high praise, because she’s been cooking them for more than 35 years). The okra was lightly fried on the outside with a tangy bite of fresh okra on the inside – not over- or under-cooked which seems to be a consistent problem with several restaurants in the area. They just don’t know how to cook okra – Kitchen 1454 does.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is relaxed and casual, nothing extravagant. The only thing at Kitchen 1454 that will make your heart pound faster and tickle your fancy is the food. Isn’t that the point of dining out, anyway? The menu, for now, is on paper, which only tells me Mendoza might plan on changing up the fare based on what’s available locally. The dishes are sectioned plates – brought me straight back to elementary school – and, again similar to cafeteria style, you must pay before you eat.

But, our service was awesome, the atmosphere friendly and prices fair (bring a 10 spot with you and you are good as gold).

And, of course, to top it off – this food has personality, just like the chef.

Southern Tier Pumking Ale

A deep and cloudy orange pour into a snifter lets you experience a nose that conveys butterscotch and pumpkin pie.

The taste is full and significant and focuses mainly on not-too-sweet pumpkin and spices. It goes down seamlessly but with a perfect fullness of flavor throughout.

I have never been particularly into pumpkin ales, but Pumking is truly one of my favorite beers – period.

These and more can be found at Aficionados on Eighth Street.

by BEN CASELLA Ben Casella does not recommend the liberties taken with Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween. All he’s saying is that giving Michael Myers such personality makes him nauseatingly close to Freddy Krueger. The original 1978 Halloween is the only way to go.

Kitchen 1454 is located at 1454 Walton Way (in the downtown medical district) and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 706.945.1828 or like Kitchen 1454 on Facebook.

My lunch guest tried the hamburger with fries and, of course, I had to sample that dish. The burger was so juicy and flavorful that I honestly believe I have finally found the best burger in Augusta. Now, I enjoy a pink-centered burger, so if you don’t share my carnivorous ways, make sure to let the cook know that you want yours “well done.” I find most folks in the South do not care too much for Burger Tartare.

The fries that accompanied the burger were the skinny ones – you know the ones that you love right out of the fryer loaded with lots of salt and ready for ketchup dunking with four or five fries at a time.

by AUGUSTA EATS Augusta Eats is literally eating Augusta, from restaurant to roadside gourmet. Considered by some to be the original Augusta foodie, Augusta Eats has more than 25 culinary years under his (or her?) apron strings and has a deep-seeded love for all things tasty. Follow Augusta Eats on Facebook or visit AUGUSTAEATS.NET

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 25

the

film reel NOW PLAYING ON THE BIG SCREEN

Heist movies have an inherent element of excitement where the Robin Hood principle of stealing from the rich to benefit the less fortunate comes into play. Nov. 4 brings a heist movie with a premise that should hit home with the Occupy Wall Street crowds and anyone who has ever felt taken advantage of by the proverbial man, especially in regard to finances. TOWER HEIST features Alan Alda as Arthur Shaw, a Bernie Madoff replica billionaire who is under federal investigation for stealing pension funds entrusted to him by the blue-collar employees of his luxury Manhattan highrise. Ben Stiller plays Josh, the building’s long-time manager and one of the wronged investors who organizes his fellow workers in an attempt to take back the $20 million they know is hidden in Shaw’s penthouse – some of which is rightfully theirs.

Josh’s rag-tag team of revenge seekers includes concierge Casey Affleck, bellhop Michael Pena, the building’s resident squatter Matthew Broderick, and Jamaican maid Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). Because the team members are rookies in the theft game, Josh enlists the aid of his childhood friend Slide, a guy well-versed in the art STILLER AND MURPHY of robbery with the prison record to prove it. Eddie Murphy plays Slide with the street-wise comic edge fans embraced in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours. Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) directs this film produced

by Eddie Murphy and power producer Brian Grazer. One of this film’s writers, Ted Griffin, also penned the screenplay for another big-screen heist with the 2001 update of Ocean’s Eleven.

A Christmas movie opening on Nov. 4? Either the film’s distributors were taking a hint from overzealous department stores or someone got a hold of whatever Harold and Kumar have illegally consumed for their third flick, A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS. Seven years after their epic excursion in search of tiny White Castle burgers, this generation’s Cheech & Chong are putting their stoner stamp on a beloved religious holiday. Kal Penn and John Cho return as the title characters and Neil Patrick Harris is back to pay his dues to the franchise that helped re-launch his acting career. Comedian Patton Oswalt plays a drug-dealing mall Santa in this family unfriendly holiday comedy.

Opening in limited release, writerdirector Dieto Montiel reunites with Channing Tatum (Fighting) for a thriller involving the police cover-up of a deadly 1986 cold case. In SON OF NO ONE, Tatum plays a cop who gets involved with the case after an anonymous newspaper ad accuses his department of unscrupulous practices in relation to the murders.

As he digs into the mystery, the TATUM AND PACINO IN SON TO NO ONE young cop’s family is put in danger and he finds his late policeman father might have been involved in the scandal. Al Pacino, Juliette Binoche, Ray Liotta, Tracy Morgan and Katie Holmes also star.

Nov. 11 brings a challenging role for Leonardo DiCaprio, one of this era’s most prominent actors who has yet to take home an Oscar. Clint Eastwood directs DiCaprio in J. EDGAR, a biographical look at infamous former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. This screenplay comes from Milk writer Dustin Lance Black.

The producers of 300 are bringing another CGI-heavy mythological battle fantasy to viewers with IMMORTALS. Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) plays King Hyperion, the powerhungry villain in this archetypal tale of good versus evil. Henry Cavill (cinema’s next Superman) stars as the working-class man capable of saving mankind.

Adam Sandler dresses in drag and picks up a persona from an old SNL sketch to play both HENRY CAVILL AS THESEUS IN IMMORTALS a man and his annoying twin sister in JACK AND JILL. Sandler’s low-concept comedy was directed by his frequent collaborator, Dennis Dugan (Happy Gilmore, Grown Ups) and also features Katie Holmes and Al Pacino.

by MARIAH GARDNER, MOVIE GURU

26 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

with success and kids in tow, here comes

little big town

13 years of striving for the top brings top country

act to the kicks 99 guitar pull

Little Big Town — Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook — survived personal and professional hardships on their way to becoming one of the biggest names in country music. The band hit their stride with their third album, The Road to Here, cementing a fan base that volleyed their latest album, The Reason Why, to the top of the charts upon its release last August. To date, Little Big Town have sold almost 2 million records, received four Grammy nominations, eight Academy of Country Music nominations, nine Country Music Association awards and walked away with ACM Top New Vocal Group.

Jimi Westbrook spoke to verge about the reason why Little Big Town resonates with millions of fans and how this album represents growth and change.

VERGE: How is this album the next step in your timeline?

WESTBROOK: It’s definitely a picture of where we’re at in this period in our journey as a band. We’ve got new families on the road. Karen and I have a 19-month-old boy, Kimberly has a 4-year-old and Philip has a 3-and-a-half-year-old and we’re all on one bus. There’s a lot of happiness and contentment and such great things going on, and it’s reflected a lot on this record. Sonically, there’s a progression. We stepped out and did some things we haven’t done before. When we were done, I was real proud of the work, and I think people hear the things we’re trying to do to grow and be creative in different ways. Looking back through the years and all the things we’ve gone through, and when we were driving ourselves around in a van doing it all on our own, all brought us to this record.

VERGE: What were some of the firsts and things you did differently?

WESTBROOK: I don’t know that it’s totally obvious to everybody.

One song in particular, “Can’t Have Everything,” is a stone-cold country ballad that Kimberly sings. We’re such huge fans of old country music and those classic country songs, and we wanted to write one and show people that we do those kinds of things too. “Kiss Goodbye” is definitely another type of song that people haven’t heard from us. Even production-wise, there are some elements that maybe they haven’t heard us do. It was fun to step out and satisfying for us on a creative level.

VERGE: Almost 13 years – what has changed and what has stayed the same?

WESTBROOK: What has changed is the romper room that used to be a bus! That has changed in a beautiful way. There’s nothing better than to wake up and go into the front lounge and there are babies and toys and Mickey Mouse on TV. It has changed how the band operates and functions on the road in a good way. That is definitely a different existence, but we’ve very blessed to be able to bring our families on the road, because separation is the hardest

“... not trying to be anyone else is the key to anything you’re doing. You have to find your own unique voice.”

— jimi westbrook

part of this. What stayed the same is the people that we were 13 years ago. We have the same mindset. We’re fighters and continue to strive to do better as a band. That’s what’s gotten us through these 13 years and kept us relevant. We’re still that same core of four people we were when we started, when we were traveling in a van and no one listened to us.

WESTBROOK: To be honest with you, and I don’t say this in a braggadocios way, we were the first. When we came into the format 12 years ago, there were no mixed groups in country music. In the beginning, people looked at us like, “I’m not sure about this.

We haven’t seen anything like this before.” As far as the country format, it was us taking a chance. With all that’s happened in the past few years with these kinds of groups, the great thing is that there’s diversity. We don’t make music like Lady A or Gloriana.

We all make different music and we separate ourselves with what we do. Staying on the path of who you are and not trying to be anyone else is the key to anything you’re doing. You have to find your own unique voice, and hopefully we’ve done a good job of that.

by ALISON RICHTER photo JAMES MINCHIN III

VERGE: The industry has also changed tremendously during that time. Has the new paradigm worked in your favor?

WESTBROOK: Those changes are what they are; it’s the progression of technology and the way that music is purchased and consumed. You think back to when we started and where we are, as far as the digital revolution and those kinds of things, it’s a completely different world, but I think it works in our favor. For connecting with fans and giving them a personal experience with the band, it’s been great. We do a cover series online that’s been a big hit with our fans, where we take pop songs and put our own spin on them, put Little Big Town harmonies on them and break them down to an acoustic level. We’ve gained a lot of fans because we’re showing a lot of diversity. People who saw us as one thing see that we can do other things. With a few clicks on a keyboard, fans can connect with you, and in that way it has been good for us. The accessibility of our music has been good for everybody.

VERGE: In the past few years, there has been a wave of male/ female groups. What kept you from being swept up into the vortex?

hear the music

WHAT Kick’s 99 2011 Guitar Pull with Gary Allan, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery, Jerrod Niemann, and Corey Smith WHERE James Brown Arena | 601 Seventh St. WHEN Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS $30 | Go to kicks99.com for a complete list of ticket stop locations.

MORE LITTLEBIGTOWN.COM

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 27

28 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

stoney’s

sound bites

the guy who put the “k” In lokal gets vocal about augusta’s music scene

Fall is a weird time of year for me. With the dark and dreary early evenings and the first hints of a chill, fall has a ghostly vibe to it. There is something about the oddly lit evenings, winds that make almost word-like sounds and barren that conjures up ghosts of falls past. Fall has an aura that rarely changes over time.

When I think of fall, I immediately picture a 30-minute TDK cassette I made years ago. Back in the day, mixed tapes were pretty common for a kid with a love of music and a way-too-big boom box. On this particular cassette, I scratched out the words “radio tunes” and prepared to recycle (yeah, I was green well before there was a “green”) this used audio canvas into the perfect autumn soundtrack.

To be honest, with the exception of adding Neil Young’s 1992 “Harvest Moon,” I would not change a thing. If I close my eyes, I can hear each song as though it was yesterday.

Frank Sinatra: September Song

Many artists have recorded this Kurt Weill penned tune including Bing Crosby, Lou Reed and, yes, James Brown. But for me, Sinatra captured it best – not only once in 1946, but again in the first half of the ‘60s. The final version is one of the first sounds recorded in my musical memory and holds a special place in my childhood heart and a regular spin on my life’s fall season soundtrack.

Journey: Wheel in the Sky This track,

released in 1978 on Journey’s Infinity album, helped kick off a four-year military brat tour in Hoechst, Germany, just outside Frankfurt and below the Taunus Mountains. Talk about cold, dark, and dreary. It might have been a sad song but, at the time, it was also a fairly rockin’ tune by a band the girls liked. Definitely a nobrainer to put on the mix.

FRANK SINATRA

Led Zeppelin: Ramble On In the late ‘70s, no other band could write just about anything and make it sound mystical and spooky like Led Zeppelin could. All sorts of bizarre rumors surrounded these guys and their music became a magical soundtrack to every recess and afterschool discussion. Granted, at the time, I had no clue who or what Gollum or Mordor were, but it sounded pretty cool. Great lyrical imagery pulls in the creeping start of fall.

The Mamas & the Papas: California Dreamin’ Few songs in history capture the desire to escape winter’s sullen grasp and escape to the warmth of the West coast such as this legendary Mamas & Papas song. This tune battled it out with “The Ballad of the Green Berets” during the final weeks leading up to my birth in 1966 and perhaps best captures the feel of fall better than any other song.

Nat King Cole: Autumn Leaves This pop/jazz standard based on the 1945 French song “Les Feuilles Mortes” (Dead Leaves) has been recorded by several artists but the version sung by Nat King Cole in the 1956 Joan Crawford flick Autumn Leaves is a personal favorite thanks to my father’s father. The closing lines – “But I miss you most of all, my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall” – are saturated with the somberness of fall.

Van Morrison: Moondance The title track from Morrison’s 1970 classic release holds the odd distinction of not being released as a single until 1977 when it was added as the A-side to track “Cold Wind in August” on Morrison’s A Period of Transition. The beauty of “Moondance” is that, despite its jazz fusion leanings, it became a rock era classic years after similar style tracks fell out of mainstream popularity.

Once again, the lyrics speak of falling leaves which might explain why this is just as special a track to my wife and I as it was to me as a teenager.

VAN MORRISON

So there you have it, my very own fall soundtrack. There might be other tunes that manage to create a fall vibe, but for me these hit the spot now as much as they did back then. Perhaps it will inspire you to put together your own fall “mix tape”. In the meantime, check out the Daily Planner in print and online at VERGELIVE.COM for great live shows. To get an earful of what is happening in Augusta music, listen CONfederation of LOUDness, which can be found, ironically enough, at CONFEDERATIONOFLOUDNESS.COM and, of course, as always … Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud.

John “Stoney” Cannon is considered the guru of “lokal” music.

Check out his long-running Augusta music website: lokalloudness.com.

Send any music news to lokalloudness@yahoo.com.

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 29

30 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

the

daily planner

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

NOV. 2 to NOV. 18

[ songs by the songwriter ] Patrick Davis makes music people want to hear. Raised on a steady diet of Americana and the blues, Davis has an extensive songwriting career – he has written (and co-written) songs for some of country’s finest: Jason Michael Carroll (“Numbers” and “Where I’m From”), Lady Antebellum (“The Woman Makes the Man”), Jewel (most of The Merry Goes Round), Josh Kelley (“Ain’t Letting Go”) and Darius Rucker (“Be Wary of a Woman”).

He’s also got a big heart. Davis joins 12 Bands/12 Kids (part of 12 Bands of Christmas) as the November artist for the month and will be in Augusta on Nov. 10 to raise funds for the fight against pediatric cancer.

12 Bands/12 Kids raffle items will be on display Davis is also promoting his new single “Lucky,” a song that explains how Davis feels about his place in the county music world.

“I feel lucky to do what I do. I make my living making music,” Davis says.

WHAT Patrick Davis Live in support of 12 Bands/12 Kids WHERE Fat Man’s Enterprise Mill Event Center | 1450 Greene St. WHEN Thursday, Nov. 10 | 8 p.m. TICKETS $16 or $50 for four, all ages BUY PATRICKDAVISMUSIC.COM The Daily Planner is our selective guide to what is going on in the city during the next two weeks. IF YOU WANT TO BE LISTED: Submit information by email (events@vergelive.com) or by mail (verge, P.O. Box 38, Augusta, GA 30903). Details of the event - date, time, venue address, telephone number and admission price - should be included. Listings included are accurate at press time, check with specific venues for further details.

WEDNESDAY

11.2

HISTORY VETERANS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT Fred

Gehle talks about the four years he spent searching for and interviewing veterans and civilians who experienced World War II. Augusta Museum of History; 12:30 p.m.; $3; 560 Reynolds St.; 706.722.8454 AUGUSTAMUSEUM.ORG

FOR KIDS VOULEZ-VOUS PARLER LE FRANCAIS?

Karine Madaus, a French native, invites students in grades 1 to 5 to begin learning French.

Registration required. Aiken County Public Library; 4 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St.; 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG

THURSDAY

11.3

FESTIVAL FIRST THURSDAY ON KINGS WAY Enjoy an evening out

in Summerville as stores stay open, refreshments are served and friendships are made. Kings Way in Summerville; 5 p.m.; free; Kings Way; 706.755.2665

ART OYSTERS ON TELFAIR

Annual fundraiser features music, oysters, food and a silent auction of small works by more than 50 regional artists.

Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 6 p.m.; $50 to $65; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495

LITERARY BOOK TALK

Kathy Huff discusses her book The Aiken Historical Cookbook.

Nancy Carson Library; 7 p.m.; free; 135 Edgefield Road, North Augusta; 803.279.5767

THEATRE DREAM WITH YOUR EYES OPEN Take a

voyage within the stirring life of Carrie Lynn Matthews, who represents women that continue to live in the past, in her daily struggle to deal with broken promises, shattered dreams and generational curses. Bell Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; $29.50 to $35; 712 Telfair St.; 706.722.3521 GEORGIALINATIX.COM

FRIDAY

11.4

SPORTS KATYDID DRIVING EVENT Dressage event in one of the premier driving events in the Southeast. Katydid Farm; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $40; 359 State Park Road, Windsor, S.C.; 803.642.3216

ART CYNDY EPPS RECEPTION Artist is latest to

join Gallery on the Row. Event features the Mo Chicken Blues Band. Gallery on the Row; 5 to 9:30 p.m.; free; 1016 Broad St.; 706.724.4989

film FILMS ON FRIDAY

View the comedic masterpiece The Lady Eve, starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck.

Afterwards, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion.

Morris Museum of Art; noon; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

FESTIVAL FIRST FRIDAY

Arts galleries display new works, performers take to the sidewalks and streets and arts and craft vendors sell their handmade goods. Family friendly.

Downtown Augusta; 5 p.m.; free; Broad Street; 706.826.4702 AUGUSTAARTS.COM

CONCERT MO CHICKEN BLUES BAND Featured as part

of gallery’s First Friday events.

Gallery on the Row; 5 p.m.; free; 1016 Broad St.; 706.724.4989 GALLERYONTHEROW.COM

CONCERT MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE Rob Foster

and Utake use mellow and meditative bamboo flutes to perform new age and jazz music aboard the Augusta Canal’s Petersburg Boat. Reservations required. Augusta Canal; 6 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM

CONCERT COVENANT CONCERT SERIES The

Selkie Celtic Band presents a Celtic music discussion and demonstration then performs original compositions from the traditions of the British Isles and Europe. Covenant Presbyterian Church; 6:30 p.m.; free, offering taken; 3131 Walton Way; 706.733.0513 COVENANTAUGUSTA.ORG

find more @

vergelive.com

[ FINDING AMERICA ] Welcome to Shelbyville is a glimpse of America at a crossroads. Shelbyville, Tenn.

– a stone’s throw from the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan – is a community grappling with rapidly changing demographics. Longtime African American and white residents are challenged with accepting a growing Latino population and a recent influx of Muslim Somali refugees.

THEATRE THE WOMEN OF TROY Presented by the

Augusta State University Theatre.

Through strong pacifist and feminist opinions, Euripides explores the devastating features of post-war landscape, an environment without a glimmer of hope, especially for women.

Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $5 to $10; 2500 Walton Way; 706.667.4100 AUG.EDU

Through the vibrant and colorful characters of Shelbyville, filmmaker Kim Snyder explores immigrant integration and the interplay between race, religion and identity. The film intimately portrays a community’s struggle to understand how to build community and what it means to be American.

WHAT Southern Circuit: Welcome to Shelbyville WHERE The Morris Museum of Art | 1 10th St. WHEN Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. | Q&A session with the filmmaker TICKETS $3 MORE 706.724.7501 or THEMORRIS.ORG

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 31

32 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

Arts Council and the North Augusta Star. Proceeds will benefit the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta.

North Augusta High School Auditorium; 6 p.m.; $5 to $10; 2000 Knobcone Ave., North Augusta; 803.441.4380

the

daily planner

MONDAY

11.7

OUTDOORS BUCKING ANTLERS Learn about white

tailed deer and search for tracks, scat and other evidence during their rut season. For ages 5 and up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; 4:30 p.m.; $5; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

[ paint the town ] Broad and Eighth streets will burst will brilliant color and talent on Nov. 5 and 6 as artists take to the sidewalks to demonstrate their techniques during the Artists Row’s Paint the Town. Find out how artisan Randy Barr turns everyday objects – such as pine cones and corn cobs – into workable pens. Watch Abby Laurens paint in Technicolor with acrylics. Learn how to paint on silk with Janet Sterzen. Experience the transformation of canvas to watercolor with Lou Ann Zimmerman.

These artists and more and discover the vibrancy and art of the galleries in downtown Augusta.

WHAT Paint the Town WHERE Downtown Augusta | Along Broad and Eighth streets at Art on Broad, Artistic Perceptions, Gallery on the Row, Oddfellows Art Gallery, Gaartdensity Gallery ‘and Zimmerman Gallery WHEN Saturday, Nov. 5; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Sunday, Nov. 6; noon to 3 p.m.

TICKETS Free MORE 706.774.1006 or ARTISTSROWAUGUSTA.COM FRIDAY

SATURDAY

11.4 11.5 CONCERT MUSIC IN BOECKH PARK Karen

Gordon plays jazz. Hammonds Ferry; 7 p.m.; free; 506 Front St., North Augusta

Redeemer Lutheran Church; 7:30 p.m.; $5 to $8; 402 Aumond Road; 706.826.4707 AUGUSTAPLAYERS.ORG

THEATRE THE WOMEN OF TROY See listing on Nov. 3.

Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.

sports AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs.

Columbus James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 712 Telfair St.; 706.993.2645 AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM

THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD After three years

in the Peace Corps, James, a young speech therapist, joins the faculty of a school for the deaf, where he meets Sarah, a dropout who was totally deaf from birth.

Oct. 28 show is interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.; $17; 126 Newberry St. SW; 803.648.1438 ACP1011.com

CONCERT FREDDY COLE

USC Aiken Etherredge Center; 8 p.m.; $40 adults, $20 students; 471 University Parkway; 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU

largest event to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer care, support and research. Read article on page 9. Augusta Common; 9 a.m.; donations; 836 Reynolds St.; 706.731.9060

EDUCATION SWAMP SATURDAY The Academy’s

OUTDOORS ADOPT-ASTREAM TRAINING FOR ADULTS Macrobiological

THEATRE DISNEY’S ARISTOCATS KIDS Our

GOOD CAUSE ALZ MEMORY WALK Nation’s

Certification Training. Learn how to collect data on insects and invertebrates. Be prepared to get wet. Reed Creek Nature Park; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $2; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

sports BELLE MEADE HUNT OPENING MEET Ride

along on a Tally-ho wagon for what is likely the largest opening day meet of any foxhunt in the world, riding through the rolling countryside of McDuffie County, following hunters and hounds on a simulated fox hunt. Belle Meade Hunt; 9 a.m.; 3532 Wrightsboro Road, Thomson; 706.597.1000

trained volunteers lead free 2.5mile, 1.5-hour hikes through the Nature Park every month.

Phinizy Swamp; 9:30 a.m.; free; 1858 Lock & Dam Road; 706.828.2109

LITERARY LIBRARY BOOK SALE Center for the Study of

Southern Art offers bargains on books, CDs, videos and more.

Morris Museum of Art; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

ART PAINT THE TOWN Read

SPORTS KATYDID DRIVING EVENT Cross country marathon event in one of the premier driving events in the Southeast.

Katydid Farm; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $40; 359 State Park Road, Windsor, S.C.; 803.642.3216 KATYDIDFARM.COM

by the Escorts; ballroom, shag and line dancing; cash bar and silent auction. Dance proceeds benefit the scholarship funds of the Savannah River Sail and Power Squadron, the auction benefits the Metro Adult Literacy Council and Augusta State University’s Born to Read Literacy Center. Julian Smith Casino; 7 to 11 p.m.; $20 in advance, $25 at the door; 2200 Broad St.; 706.796.5052

CONCERT BRASS + FLASH Chorus soloists and

orchestra performance features Haydn’s Mass in Time of War and Karl Jenkins’ Te Deum.

These contrasting pieces feature multiple percussionists. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 7:30 p.m.; $10 to $25; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4713

THEATRE THE WOMEN OF TROY See listing on Nov. 3.

Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.

CONCERT WAR & PEACE

“It is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime.” – Firenze, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD See listing

Firenze, of course, believed the unicorn to be the purest of creatures. M-Tank’s Jason Walter is about to turn that theory on its head.

on Nov. 4. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

11.6

LITERARY AUTHORS OF SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORY Alexia Helsely, the

LITERARY LIBRARY BOOK SALE See listing on Nov. 5.

the creative works of Richmond County Public School students.

Headquarters Library; 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

THEATRE CSRA’S GOT TALENT Revue and competition

for residents of the Central Savannah River Area, sponsored by the North Augusta Cultural

[ modern unicorn ]

The Augusta Choral Society performs. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 7:30 p.m.; free; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4700

ART PAINT THE TOWN See

FESTIVAL STUDENT MEDIA FESTIVAL Celebrate and enjoy

Rated PG 13. Winner of the

GOOD CAUSE HARVEST BALL Event features music

the article to the left. Downtown Augusta; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Broad and Eighth streets; free ARTISTSROWAUGUSTA.COM

author of Lost Columbia, and Janice McDonald, a co-author of The Myrtle Beach Pavilion and Aiken, give short presentations about the colorful histories in their books and sign copies.

Aiken County Public Library; 2 to 5 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St.; 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG

FILM OF GODS AND MEN

Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix, the film tells the story of eight French Christian monks who live in harmony with their Muslim brothers in a monastery in north Africa in the 1990s.

When a crew of foreign workers is massacred by an Islamic fundamentalist group, fear sweeps through the region.

Loosely based on the life of the Cistercian monks of Tibhirine in Algeria. Augusta State University, University Hall room 170; 7 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1405 AUG.EDU

listing on Nov. 5. Downtown Augusta; noon to 3 p.m.

Morris Museum of Art; noon

ART ARTRAGEOUS FAMILY SUNDAY Celebrate Southern

traditions and folk life during Down Home Day. Events include a performance by Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold, traditional basket weaving and pottery demonstrations and old-time games and art projects. Morris Museum of Art; 2 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD See listing

on Nov. 4. Aiken Community Playhouse; 3 p.m.

THEATRE THE WOMEN OF TROY Listing on Nov. 3.

Maxwell Theatre; 3 p.m.

Enter Modern Unicorn – a hero for the steampunk age of blending machine and mammal – the latest character in Walter’s S.W.U. comic book series. Named after M-Tank’s CD release and partly based on the band’s experience in a serious automobile accident while on tour, the comic relates the adventures of four mythological creatures, including Modern Unicorn. Their battles twist and turn through Plato’s Realm of True Forms which eventually collides with the human world.

Walter releases the comic at the kick-off to the Book Tavern’s Boxed-Wine Wednesdays on Nov. 9, which also features the comic book debuts of Joey Hart’s City Tiger and Zach William’s Rad Dads.

The party will spill onto the sidewalk with acoustic performances by Brandon Skelton of The Num Nums, Nick Bass of Romance Languages and Surf/Harp.

WHAT Boxed Wine Wednesday and the debut of Modern Unicorn: The Prequel and the Aftermath WHERE The Book Tavern | 1026 Broad St. WHEN Wednesday, Nov. 9 | 6 to 9 p.m.

TICKETS Free MORE REASONS TO GO Enter the raffle to win a poster made by Nick Bass of Romance Languages.

Listen to DJ Duder MacGruder. Sample Buona Caffe’s locally roasted coffee. Buy books about unicorns, Plato and wine.

MORE 706.826.1940 | BOOKTAVERN.COM

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 33

34 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

TUESDAY

11.8

the

daily planner

[ AIKEN IS DANCING WITH THE STARS ]

CONCERT TUESDAY MUSIC LIVE Featuring

After a smashing debut last year, the buzz is all around town for Dancing with the Aiken Stars 2011, which will benefit the Child Advocacy Center and the Aiken Free Medical Clinic.

the John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Chorale. Lunch is provided after concert. Reservations required. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; noon; $10; Sixth and Reynolds streets; 706.722.3463 TUESDAYSMUSICLIVE.COM

In 2010, several hundred people over-filled the hall to watch the dance partnership of Pam Johnston and Robbie Shellhouse take first place. The Willcox hotel handled the overflow with a live satellite feed. The hotel will do so again this year and is joined by two other satellite locations – Houndslake Country Club and the Hotel Aiken.

FILM CITIZEN RUTH

“There is so much enthusiasm this year,” says Betty Ryberg, one of the event’s organizers.

“There is going to be a real wow factor this year.”

WEDNESDAY

The group has also devised a real-time computerized vote counting system so that fans at the hall and the other locations will be able to see which dancers are getting the most votes.

Voting for favorite dancers is done by donation – $10 per vote.

Rated R. Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

11.9

Some of Aiken’s best known personalities will be either dancing or judging the merriment.

Los Angeles singing star and Aiken native Brook Lundy and Aiken Chamber of Commerce President David Jameson will co-host the evening. Lundy and another Aiken native, J. Lucas, who works as a Michael Jackson impersonator in Branson, Mo. will perform between dances.

EDUCATION SENIOR LUNCHEON The Diamond

Lakes Honor Choir performs and monthly luncheon. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History; 11:30 a.m.; $10; 1116 Phillips St.; 706.724.3576

The dancing teams are: Paige Tiffany and Arturo Costa, Brenda Wyatt and Lionel Smith, Samantha Caniglia and Adam Shults, Molly Hunt and Jeffrey Reynolds, Shannon Ellis and Len Cherry, Jackie Kane and Michael Murphy.

literary modern unicorn release Read

The 470 tickets available sold out shortly after tickets went on sale in June, but Ryberg says they have a waiting list of sorts. People can apply by calling her at 803.270.6403 or Beth Newburn at 803.648.7612.

THURSDAY

“We are so grateful for the response of the people of Aiken,” says Ryberg. “To sell out in June for a November event really speaks for the people of Aiken and the excitement of this event.

We are also so pleased to be able to help both the Child Advocacy Center and the Aiken Free Medical Clinic. To whatever degree we can raise awareness of these two wonderful nonprofits here in Aiken is so very gratifying for all of us involved.” | by STEPHEN HALE

the article on page 33. The Book Tavern; 6 to 9 p.m.; free; 1026 Broad St.; 706.826.1940

11.10 Samantha Caniglia and Adam Shults

ART TODDLER TIME Listen

to Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s book Banjo Granny and learn about painter Art Rosenbaum and his work. Afterward, make a banjoinspired collage. Morris Museum of Art; 10 a.m.; $4; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

EDUCATION RELISH COOKING SHOW The

Augusta Chronicle presents a cooking demonstration by Relish magazine. Christenberry Fieldhouse; 2 p.m.; 1763 Broad St.; 706.284.5576

GOOD CAUSE PATRICK DAVIS LIVE Read the article

CONCERT ASU JAZZ ENSEMBLE Vibrant group of

FRIDAY

11.11

FESTIVAL CHRISTMAS MADE IN THE SOUTH

Annual event features craftspeople, art, gourmet food and entertainment. James Brown Arena; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; $6; 601 Seventh St.; 706.722.3521

FOR KIDS HARRY POTTER THANKSGIVING Ages 6 to 11.

Columbia County Library; 5 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Evans; 706.821.2600

ART TERRA COGNITA with

Alec Soth. Read the article on page 21. Morris Museum of Art; 6 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

THEATRE CHRISTMAS BELLES A church Christmas

pageant spins out of control as three squabbling sisters try to reign in the mayhem. Amidst an ailing Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator, a family secret emerges that just might derail the entire production. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre; 6:30 p.m.; $25 show only, $40 dinner theatre; 32100 Third Ave.; 706.703.8552

GOOD CAUSE ROAST + TOAST Read the article at

right. Misty Lake Clubhouse; 7 p.m.; $50 each, $90 couple; 2246 Ascauga Lake Road, North Augusta; 803.641.4152

ART DAVID SWANAGIN + MIKE C. BERRY Opening Reception Swanagin, an

Augusta native, specializes in mood-evoking landscapes.

Berry paints colorful, vibrant cityscapes and landscapes that often have a twisted perspective.

The duo’s exhibit runs through Dec. 31. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 5 p.m.; free; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4700

EDUCATION CANAL DISCOVERY WALKS: Fall

on page 31. Fat Man’s; 6:30 p.m.; 1450 Greene St.; 706.664.5595

student artists perform under the direction of Dr. Rob Foster.

Maxwell Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $5; 2500 Walton Way; 706.667.4100

THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD See listing

FESTIVAL VETERANS DAY CEREMONY Event honors

nation’s veterans. Augusta State University Amphitheatre; 11 a.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1643 AUG.EDU

OUTDOORS SKULLS AND SCAT Learn to identify animal species based on their tracks, skulls and scat. Ages 5 and up.

Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; 4:30 p.m.; $5; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027

WHAT Dancing with the Aiken Stars 2011 WHERE St. Angela Hall at St. Mary’s Elementary | 118 York St. SE WHEN Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. MORE | 803.270.6403

on Nov. 4. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

11.12

CHURCH GOSPELCENTERED DISCIPLESHIP

Seminar will feature Joe Thorn, the author of Note to Self, and Jonathan Dodson, the author of Fight Clubs. Read article on page 5. The Well; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $20; 1285 Broad St.

Foliage Stroll. Learn to identify canal vegetation in its fall finery with Judy Gordon, PhD. Savannah Rapids Pavilion; 10 a.m.; $1 to $2; 3300 Evans to Locks Road; Martinez; 706.823.0440

FESTIVAL CHRISTMAS MADE IN THE SOUTH See

listing on Nov. 11. James Brown Arena; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

[ oyster roast for a cause ] FILM CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING Columbia

County Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Evans; 706.821.2600

GOOD CAUSE ERYN EUBANKS AND THE FAMILY FOLD Fourth annual

music festival features several regional and local musicians and benefits Lynndale Inc., which supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Kroc Center; noon to 8 p.m.; $10; 1833 Broad St.; 706.738.3395 LYNNDALEINC.ORG

CONCERT APPLING OPRY SECOND SATURDAY CONCERT SERIES Music of

Easy Pickin’s. Love offering taken and jam session after show.

Old J.D. Howell General Store; 6 p.m.; free; 5701 Whiteoak Road, Appling

It’s a roast and toast for the American Red Cross, Aiken Chapter at Misty Lake Clubhouse in North Augusta. Support the chapter’s disaster relief fund while enjoying an oyster roast and low country boil and dancing to the music of Palmetto Groove Band.

The Roast and Toast is one of this year’s two fundraisers for the Aiken chapter, says Lindsay Findley, the chapter executive.

Door prizes will be awarded, including tickets to the Carolina vs. Clemson football game, a pendent from Floyd & Green Jewelers and a round of golf for four at Houndslake Country Club. The food will be prepared by J.C.’s Seafood. Wine and beer will be available on a floating boat bar moored to the lake’s deck.

WHAT Aiken American Red Cross Roast and Toast WHERE Misty Lake Clubhouse 2246 Ascauga Lake Road, North Augusta WHEN Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.

TICKETS $50 each or $90 couple | Advance only BUY Aiken Red Cross, 1314 Pine Log Road MORE 803.641l.4152

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 35

36 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

SATURDAY

11.12 THEATRE CHRISTMAS BELLES See listing on

Nov. 11. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre; 6:30 p.m.

ART ART AFTER DARK

Evening features art, wine and entertainment. Proceeds benefit the Artists’ Guild of Columbia County scholarship fund. The Church of the Holy Comforter; 7 p.m.; $5; 473 Furys Ferry Road; 706.414.9566

CONCERT WEST SIDE STORIES Symphony Orchestra Augusta presents songs of life, weaving stories and connecting with us through the different languages of love: between lovers, father and child and brother and sister.

First Baptist Church of Augusta; 7:30 p.m.; free; 3500 Walton Way Extension; 706.826.4705 AUGUSTASYMPHONY.ORG

THEATRE CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD See listing

on Nov. 4. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.

CONCERT 3 KOSHER SINGERS Singers perform

songs from Pops to Broadway to Cantorials. See article o page 19.

Imperial Theatre; 7 p.m.; $15 to $75; 745 Broad St.; 706.722.8341 IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM

FILM SOUTHERN CIRCUIT: Welcome to Shelbyville. See article on page 31. Morris Museum of Art; 6 p.m.; $3; 1 10th St.; 706.828.3815

morning radio host presents his comedy act. Smiley will also be looking for three singers, comedians and rappers to join his show. Bell Auditorium; 8 p.m.; $37 and up; 712 Telfair St.; 706.262.4556

SUNDAY

11.13

CONCERT MUSIC AT THE MORRIS New Orleans style brass band Bailey Jerusalem Sounds presents a selection of uplifting gospel tunes.

Morris Museum of Art; 2 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

LITERARY PASSION AUTHOR DISCUSSION PANEL Discussion of writing and publishing in today’s market. Headquarters Library; 2 to 5 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

11.14

LITERARY PHILOSOPHY CLUB Kroc Center; 7 p.m.; free; 1833 Broad St.; 706.364.5762 KROCAUGUSTA.ORG

THURSDAY FILM Waking Ned Devine Rated PG. Two elderly best friends learn that someone in their tiny Irish village has won the national lottery. They go to great lengths to find the winner so they can share the wealth, but discover the “lucky” winner has died of shock upon discovering his win. Not wanting the money to go to waste, the village enters a pact to pretend Ned is still alive by having another man pose as him, and then to divide the money between them. Augusta State University, University Hall room 170; 7 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1405

11.17 FAMILY RETRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Turn off the

electronics and play board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Life and Candy Land. Headquarters Library; 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

ART ELIZABETH MORETZBRITT + BEA KUHLKE

Opening reception. Aiken Center for the Arts; 6 p.m.; free; 122 Laurens St. SW; 803.641.9094

by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society. Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre; 3 p.m.; $25; 2500 Walton Way; 706.790.9274 HJCMS.ORG

EDUCATION CANAL DISCOVERY WALKS: Fall

Foliage Stroll. See listing Nov. 12.

Savannah Rapids Pavilion; 3 p.m.

[ exploring augusta’s civil war history ]

CONCERT USCA CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT USC Aiken

Within days of Georgia’s succession from the Union in January 1861, Gov. Joe Brown visited the Augusta Arsenal to officially demand the surrender of federal troops stationed there. The arsenal’s commander responded by requesting an honorable surrender and Augusta militia units quickly occupied the arsenal.

TUESDAY

The Arsenal, now referred to as Payne Hall on the campus of Augusta State University, is but a short walk from the Center for the Study of Georgia History, where director Dr. Lee Ann Caldwell can see both buidings from the third story of the college library.

11.15 FOR TEENS GREEN SCIENCE WORKSHOP

Ages 12 to 18. Columbia County Library; 4 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Evans; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

FILM THE LONG GOODBYE Rated R. Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

CONCERT ASU CHOIRS

Augusta State University choirs perform under the direction of Dr. William Hobbins. Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church; 7:30 p.m.; free; 2261 Walton Way; 706.737.1453 AUG.EDU

CONCERT GUITAR PULL

With Gary Allan, Martina McBride, Little Big Town and more. Read article on page 27.

James Brown Arena; 7:30 p.m.; $30; 601 Seventh St.; 706.722.3521 KICKS99.COM

CONCERT ROBERTO PLANO, PIANIST Presented

daily planner

MONDAY

Etherredge Center; 7 p.m.; 471 University Parkway; 803.641.3305

CONCERT RICKEY SMILEY & FRIENDS Augusta’s top

the

WEDNESDAY

11.16

CONCERT LIVE JAZZ Joel

Cruz & Travis Shaw. Sit-A-Spell Coffeehouse; 6 p.m.; Free; 903 Broad St.; 706.305.3046

FOR KIDS DISNEY ON ICE

In celebration of 100 years of magic, more than 60 characters and their unforgettable stories come to life. James Brown Arena; 7 p.m.; $15 to $45; 601 Seventh St.; 706.722.3521 GEORGIALINATIX.COM

“Georgia considered itself a republic after it succeeded, kind of like a small country of its own, and the commander of the arsenal agreed to an honorable surrender,” she said. “Considering what happened in April in South Carolina, when the commander of Fort Sumter would not surrender and the first shots of the Civil War rang out, I think we’re very lucky that things were not much worse for Augusta had the war started earlier than it did.”

CONCERT JOHN BROWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA Ensemble,

Caldwell is one of the speakers at the Augusta and the Civil War in 1861 Symposium, which will begin Nov. 11 at the Old Medical College and continue Nov. 12 at the Morris Museum of Art, giving the community a chance to learn about the people, places and events affecting Augusta during the War.

comprised of renowned musicians and soloists, is known for its performances of the music of legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra and more.

URS Center for Performing Arts; 8 p.m.; 126 Newberry St. SW; 803.643.4774

Eight Augusta organizations collaborated to present the symposium, including Historic Augusta, the Morris Museum of Art and the Augusta Civil War Roundtable. Organizers hope to make this symposium the first in a five-year series exploring the Civil War from diverse perspectives in honor of the war’s 150th anniversary.

FRIDAY

“With the sesquicentennial coming up a number of different organizations wanted to address it in some way, but we wanted to address it in a way that was accurate and scholarly,” said Caldwell, who will give the final lecture on Augusta in 1861. “What we hope to accomplish is a five-year series which will focus on the local community during each of those years.”

EDUCATION SRSP SCIENCE + MATH SEMINAR SERIES Active

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Orville Vernon Burton, the director of humanities, arts and social sciences at the Clemson Cyber Institute and author of The Age of Lincoln, who will be speaking about Lincoln as a Southerner. Other notable speakers include Dr. David Connolly speaking about his own great-great grandfather in “Henry Cumming and the Secession Debate,” Dr. Erskine Clarke speaking about “Augusta and the Formation of a Confederate Church” and Dr. Ronald Bailey speaking about “African Americans and the Civil War: Causes, Conflict and Consequences.”

11.18

Galactic Nuclei: What Are They and What Can We Learn from Them? Presented by Dr. Carol Hood. Augusta State University, Science Hall W1002; 1 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1541

THEATRE ELI’S BETHLEHEM INN Musical

dinner theatre production features Eli, the proprietor of the Bethlehem Inn, his wife, Sarah, and their three children, and depicts the story of the birth of Christ. Menu includes potato soup, skewered chicken and apple tarts, but no utensils because they were not invented during Eli’s time. Kroc Center; 7 p.m.; 1833 Broad St.; 706.771.7777 ENOPION.COM

visit the online daily planner @ vergelive.com to discover more stuff to do and places to go.

“I think it’s important for us to understand the Civil War, because it was the worst breakdown in the history of the United States,” said Caldwell. “If succession had been upheld, it would have begun the balkanization of the United States, and there would have been nothing to stop the West from succeeding, or from every state becoming their own country.”

“I also have to wonder, if slavery had been upheld, what would that mean for the South going into the 20th Century?” she continued. “Would they be the only western nation that still condones slavery, and how backwards would that make them? The Confederate Flag is still an issue that comes up a lot, and it proves that we are still dealing with the aftermath of the war 150 years later, and I think as we begin this series of lectures it may help to educate people and to begin dealing with these issues that need to be addressed.” | by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK photo from MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART

Keynote Speaker and Reception Friday, Nov. 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Old Medical College of Georgia | Free Morning Lectures and Lunch & afternoon bus tour and lectures Saturday, Nov. 12 | Morning: 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. | Afternoon: 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Morris Museum of Art | 1 10th St.| $15 or both sessions for $25 Advance registration is required by calling 706.828.3867.

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 37

in motion a look into the art of mechanics

A 70th Anniversary Salute to an Automotive Icon On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese flew their Mitsubishi and Toshiba fighter aircraft over Hawaii and bombed Pearl Harbor. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,282 were wounded. Thus began the United States’ involvement in World War II and the birth, from great necessity, of the Willys-Outland Jeep four-wheel-drive military vehicle.

During WWII, one of Gen. George S. Patton’s regular Jeep drivers was stationed at Fort Gordon – considered a dangerous but honorable mission.

The early military Jeep was commonly referred to as a GP (Government Purpose or General Purpose) vehicle – slur “GP” and you get “Jeep.” By 1945 the Willys Universal Jeep 4WD civilian vehicle was available to farmers, park rangers and the occasional bird watcher or camper. Jeep was the first mass produced off-road 4X4 vehicle and it has helped America win many wars, including WWII and Vietnam.

Through its 70 successful years, 1946 Willys Overland Universal Jeep Jeep has also aided in putting out forest fires and brought first-aid, food and water to campers and hikers. Jeep has delivered billions of United States Postal Service parcels and made millions of Jeep enthusiasts happy.

Over the years, Jeep has been powered by Ford, AMC and Chrysler engines. Recently, Jeep was acquired by Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. Though it will now be produced at factories under the umbrella of Alpha Romeo and Ferrari, Jeep will continue to be built in the U.S. I can only imagine what a Jeep designed by Ferrari Engineers would be like.

Chrysler Corporation has been marketing Jeep with the slogan “It’s a Jeep thing, you wouldn’t understand.” Indeed, I have found most “Jeep People” to be in a class of their own, and many signal victory when passing each other on the road or trail.

The newest version of the Jeep Wrangler JK (and the companion Wrangler Unlimited 4-Door), introduced in 2007, has several new features aimed at fuel economy. It is not quite a tree hugger’s dream, but definitely signals the demise of the Hummeresque gas-guzzler, off-road, Jersey Shore cruiser. The most notable aim toward a better environment and fuel economy is the “Hemi Inspired” 3.8L V-6 THE JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED 4-DOOR engine replacing the in-line 4.0L inline-6. During highway or cruising speeds, the eternal computer goes into ECO mode, reducing two valves per cylinder and greatly increasing fuel efficiency without sacrificing power or torque.

The interior is beautifully designed with almost everything within reach. The classic analog and digital instruments are easy to navigate and large enough to read at a glance. I was unhappy with some of the fit-and-finish of the interior plastic parts, especially around the Sirius XM Radio equipped sound system or optional Navigation system. The unit seemed to be recessed on one side and flush to the center dash board on the other. In retrospect, this makes sense for cleaning purposes, if you transport muddy soccer players or go off-road. Jeep JK models are advertised as “having a washable interior” – every section of the molded carpet can easily be removed and the interior sprayed out with a garden hose.

The Jeep exterior remains classic and timeless, yet rugged and sporty. I have never heard a Jeep accused of looking “dated” or “out of style”. One of the coolest (literally) features of the Jeep JK Unlimited (4-door) is the three-piece hard-top. The entire top can be removed to “go topless,” only exposing the padded safety-cage. The front two top panels can be removed by a single person just by turning safety levers similar to T-tops on sports cars.

Jeep has made one of the most successful and longest running production vehicles in history. It’s a Jeep thing.

by Jonathan Karow, an enthusiast of the mechanical arts. He started racing bicycles as a young man, then moved on to restoring exotic automobiles, motorcycles and lightweight aircraft as a three-time certified mechanic. Ideas or comments, email rockbottommusic@bellsouth.net

CAR-FLICK

Tugger: The Jeep 4X4 Who Wanted to Fly 2005 Animation starring the voices of Carrot Top, Lance LeGault and Tom Kinney.

CAR-TUNE

“Jeepster” by T. Rex, 1971

38 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

night

A SELECTIVE GUIDE TO NIGHTLIFE IN THE CSRA

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2

life

THRU NOV. 19

SATURDAY, NOV 12

HALEY DRIES @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 6:30 p.m.

COMEDY ZONE: James Sibley and Dan Whitehurst @ Somewhere in Augusta 8 p.m.; $8

THURSDAY, NOV. 3

album review

eye of abram

mazes and monsters the space in between

Eye of Abram will perform their final concert this month, closing out a year of gigging and beginning a hiatus for vocalist Jason Dixon.

Mazes and Monsters introduces a spectacular piece of musical craftsmanship with its first album The Spaces in Between.

“I have a lot going on in my life and it’s a decision I’ve been struggling with for a few months,” Dixon says. “I need to step away from playing live, but I still want to pursue the creative side, the writing, until I feel I’m being called back into it.”

Cutting through a lot of literary nonsense and getting right down to brass tacks, the album is a ferocious piece of electronic indie rock.

Grinding, wailing guitars; insistent drum beats, high-pitched feedback energy and emotionally raw vocals combine to form an intricate 10-song album and style that has few peers locally.

a swan song for

The group – Dixon, guitarist Angel Graves, drummer David Cooper, bassist Mitch Doss – knew that changes were under way when Graves announced his decision to relocate to Los Angeles at the beginning of the new year.

“Angel is getting ready to leave the military and his family is in L.A.,” says Dixon. “It will be very, very difficult to replace him, musically and personally. He fit really well and we worked well together as a group.”

Eye of Abram released their debut CD, The Fallen, in April 2011, and enjoyed considerable success and positive feedback as a result. They gigged in Augusta and Atlanta, and networked with a fan base that is larger than they realized.

Still, Dixon felt stretched thin between work, family, band and his involvement with his church, and he knew it was time to walk in faith to determine his next move.

“I need to reassess the situation and see what we’re supposed to do as far as a replacement for Angel and a direction,” he says. “I’ve been playing since 1996 and this is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Expect new songs during their set at Sky City.

“David and I have played together since the beginning; Mitch and I went to kindergarten together. We all love each other,” says Dixon.

“There have been a lot of good times, a lot of blood, sweat, tears and creativity. It’s been an awesome experience. I love the creative side and the stage, interacting with the crowd. Music is a passion of mine. This is not a breakup at all. It’s a step back and a reassessment of this situation and things that are going on outside of the band.”

Eye of Abram performs with My Latest Fashion and Uncrowned at Sky City, 1057 Broad St., on Nov. 3 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $3.

SKYCITYAUGUSTA.COM | by ALISON RICHTER

Several local bands have released tight, wellproduced albums that still sound raw and edgy, but few delve as deep into electronic indie rock and ‘90s Brit pop as Mazes and Monsters does on this intense record.

“Spaces In Between” – the title track – starts the record with an explosion of wild energy and amazing, ripping guitar work.

“Cavatina No. 1” moves right into “Time Is Slow,” with an emphasis on the quieter, moody side of musicianship. Fans of Radiohead might find a similar emotional openness in this song.

The next song, “From Our Grave,” is slow, but with a completely different feel. The headbobbing beat dives back into more celestial, airy space-age waters, moving into more current indie rock realms. The heavier, deeper sounds continue until “Find Me If You Can,” which has wonderful electronic background music and sing-along capacity.

“Wake O’ Sleeper” pours forth with a more raw, rock sound. This song keeps the pulse pounding and blasts out with a harder sound that is unlike the other tracks on the album, demonstrating the versatility of the band.

The album finishes up with “Cavatina No. 2” and “Drown So Low,” with a slow, moody, melodic style of subdued music and vocals.

The Spaces in Between harks back to a preindie explosion sound without sounding too retro or nostalgic, yet it sits right on the edge of the emotionally forward modern electronic sound. This is, without a doubt, one of the best local albums to come out in a long time.

Get the album at mazesandmonsters. bandcamp.com. | by DINO LULL

EYE OF ABRAM + UNCROWNED + MY LATEST FASHION @ Sky City | Read the article at left. | 8 p.m.; $3 JEREMY GRAHAM @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; $7 ladies with drinks until midnight, $5 guys after 9 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 4

80s Night featuring new art by Billy S. @ Sky City | 8 p.m.; $5 CHRIS LANE BAND @ The Country Club | 8 p.m.; $5 after 9:30 p.m.

JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD

JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD has toured with the Avett Brothers and Ryan Adams. Hear her spin on Americana @ Sky City | $10; music at 10 p.m. Go to FORKFLY.COM for a special concert-only deal.

SUNDAY, NOV. 13 THE DRINKING DEAD @ 1102 Broad St. | 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

HALEY DRIES @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 6:30 p.m.

HEYWIRE HEYWIRE @ 1102 Bar & Grill 8 p.m.

COMEDY ZONE: Tim Kidd + Dave Waite @ Somewhere in Augusta | 8 p.m.; $8

THURSDAY, NOV. 17

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

FUNK YOU @ Surrey Tavern 10 p.m.; $5

SUNDAY, NOV. 6

AGNOSTIC FRONT

Agnostic Front @ Sector 7G 8 p.m.

BUFORD REUNION @ Sky City 9 p.m.; $5

FRIDAY, NOV. 18

DANIEL JOHNSON BAND @ The Country Club | 8 p.m.

THE K-MACKS

JOE OLDS BAND @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; free before 9 p.m.

THE DRINKING DEAD + THE K-MACKS @ 1102 Bar & Grill 8 p.m.

90S NIGHT + YPA AFTERPARTY @ Sky City 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9

JOHN, RINO + ZACH (of Eskimojitos) @ Soy Noodle House | 9:30 p.m.

MORRIS DAVIDSON @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 6:30 p.m.

COMEDY ZONE: Jason Russell and Derrick Tennant @ Somewhere in Augusta 8 p.m.; $8

THURSDAY, NOV. 10

FUNK YOU @ Still Water Taproom | 10 p.m.; $4

SATURDAY, NOV. 19

BOBBY COMPTON @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; free before 9 p.m.

JEREMY GRAHAM @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; $7 ladies with drinks until midnight, $5 guys after 9 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV 11.

JEREMY GRAHAM BAND @ Coyote’s; 8 p.m.

L.I.E. + ARTEMIA + ROOFTOP HARBOR @ Sky City | 8 p.m.; $5 MICHAEL STACEY BAND @ The Country Club | 8 p.m.; $5 after 9:30 p.m.

SIBLING STRING @ Still Water Taproom | 10 p.m.; $4

Twisted Trivia @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.

TRIVIA @ Soiree | 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS Krazy Karaoke @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.

THURSDAYS KARAOKE @ Coyote’s 8 p.m.; $5 after 9 p.m.

SINGER/SONGWRITER OPEN MIC CONTEST @ The Playground Bar | 9 p.m.; $5

ESKIMOJITOS @ Metro Pub & Coffeehouse | 10 p.m.

ERIC LEE BEDDINGFIELD @ Coyote’s | 8 p.m.; $5 after 9 p.m.

Trivia with Charles @ Somewhere in Augusta | 8 p.m.

JEREMY GRAHAM

TYLER HAMMOND BAND @ The Country Club | 8 p.m. $5 after 9:30 p.m.

TRIVIA & KARAOKE

TUESDAYS TRIVIA @ Mellow Mushroom Evans | 8 p.m.

TRIVIA @ Mellow Mushroom Downtown | 8 p.m.

FIND THE VENUE

the country club @ 2834 Washington Road; 706.364.1862 Coyote’s @ 2512 Peach Orchard Road; 706.560.9245 manuels bread cafe @ 505 Railroad Ave., North Augusta; 803.380.1323 Metro Pub & CoffeeHouse @ 1054 Broad St.; 706.722.6468 MELLOW MUSHROOM DOWNTOWN @ 1167 Broad St.; 706.828.5578 MELLOW MUSHROOM EVANS @ 4348 Washington Road; 706.364.6756 THE PLAYGROUND BAR @ 978 Broad St.; 706.724.2232 SECTOR 7G @ 631 Ellis St.; 706.496.5900 SKY CITY @ 1157 Broad St.; 706.945.1270 Soirée @ 231 The Alley, Aiken; 803.226.0097 SOUL BAR @ 984 Broad St.; 706.724.8880 Somewhere in augusta @ 2820 Washington Road; 706.739.0002 STILLWATER TAP ROOM @ 974 Broad St.; 706.826.9857 SURREY TAVERN @ 471 Highland Ave.; 706.736.1221 WILD WING CAFE @ 3035 Washington Road.; 706.364.9453

more nightlife @ vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 39

in good

health

news from the csra medical community to help you

tai chi: the ultimate exercise for health

An ancient Chinese proverb says: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” That is to say, when someone has suffered enough, they are willing to listen. A few years ago, late middle age found me with a number of ailments, living a miserable life. Tai Chi changed me and now I share this ancient Chinese art and philosophy with all who are interested.

Tai Chi is a form of ancient martial art. Once used primarily for hand-to-hand combat, it later split off into a form of exercise with a spiritual dimension. You might have seen elderly people in city parks performing these slow graceful choreographies and wondered what they were doing.

Literally translated as “supreme ultimate exercise,” Tai Chi is rapidly becoming the go-to exercise prescribed physicians for a multitude of senior ailments such as arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes. It is also prescribed for patients suffering from the onset of multiple sclerosis.

But, it is not a quick-fix miracle program like many fad diets promise. Tai Chi is complex; it takes time and patience to learn.

Its effectiveness comes from the way it achieves a mind, body and spirit balance.This balance, a vital component of Chinese medicine, works to remove blockages, which then enables and enhances the body’s own healing system.

This happens two ways: First, there is the physical aspect, where a spiral rotation of the body is combined with specific movements to unlock nutrients, lubricants and toxins that have become lodged in the muscles, tendons, ligaments and other areas. As we become older, many of us become more sedentary.

SAM BEASLEY The spiral movements of Tai Chi release blockages much as a wash rag releases water when it is wrung out. Because the movements are gentle and slow, this function does not cause injury and soreness. Participants are more likely to continue with it because of the way it makes them better.

Second, and perhaps more important, Tai Chi is a form of meditation. Sometimes called meditation in motion, it is effective in helping to quiet the mind. Tai Chi’s complexity is such that one cannot daydream or worry about outside issues and continue to perform the movements.

After a few minutes of this peaceful focus, the mind will become quiet, having transcended the busy cognitive functions or the worry aspect of ego. With a relaxed mind, this new consciousness releases powerful feel-good hormones that make the participant feel better. With stress levels almost at zero, the body’s immune system can engage to help with healing. The mood is uplifted, depression can be put at bay and one remembers what it is like to feel good.

by SAM BEASLEY | Sam Beasley is a certified Tai Chi instructor In Sun Style Tai Chi through the Tai Chi for Health Institute and is certified to teach the Arthritis Foundation’s Tai Chi for Arthritis.

He teaches at several venues in the Augusta area. augustameditation.com

40 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

puzzle 1

2

3

4

5

6

14

7

9

10

15

17

18

25

26

21

27

22

28 31

32

33

The Season of Peace: as defined by a society unhinged

29

34

35

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

47

44

45

46

48

50 53

54

56

57

58

59

63

64

65

66

67

68

60

61

62

Edited by Will Shortz | by Ben Fish | No. 0929 Note: Two hints for 17- and 57-Across and 11- and 26-Down appear somewhere in this puzzle.

Across 1 Easy catch 6 Site of some Galileo experiments 10 “The ___ lama, he’s a priest” 14 Dutch princess who’s the daughter of Queen Juliana 15 Air show sound 16 Grievous 17 [See blurb] 19 Year St. Augustine of Canterbury died 20 Org. with a targetlike mark on its flag 21 School yr. section 23 Time for a pique-nique, maybe 24 Honeybun 28 Ming jar, e.g.

30 Second bananas 31 Kind of knife 32 Bugs 33 Seventh heaven 36 N.L. West team, on scoreboards 37 Fairy tale 38 Reporter’s aid 43 Best-selling PC game released in 2000

face first Negotiating one calamity at a time

Early November is a magical time of crisp air and orange leaves as the world shakes off the heat of summer and prepares for a long nap. Coffee shops serve spiced pumpkin lattes. Stores stock the newest trends in scarves and hats. The short days make for cozy nights before the fire with a loved one. Long sleeves, warm socks, pots of simmering soup. All is tranquil.

And then your doorbell rings.

51

52

life

13

23

36

55

12

19

30

49

11

16

20 24

8

47 Hot 48 Simple

ski lift 49 Learned ones 51 Analgesic 52 Scot’s negative 53 Service award?

54 Upper body: Abbr.

55 Sphere 57 [See blurb] 63 Enamored (of) 64 Home for Samuel Beckett 65 Language known to native speakers as “te reo” 66 Reverse 67 Esposas: Abbr.

68 Tries Down 1 Glutton 2 Bomber pilot in “Catch-22” 3 Green globule 4 German connection 5 British aristocracy 6 Claim 7 ___ exchange 8 Link in the food chain?

9 #33 on a table 10 ___ duck 11 [See blurb]

12 Baritone

piece sung by Renato 13 New Orleans sight 18 Sondheim’s Mrs. Lovett, e.g.

22 Range parts: Abbr.

24 Airer of hearings 25 “In ___,” Nirvana album 26 [See blurb] 27 Prison staple 29 Suffix with real or surreal 34 One who says a lot in a game 35 “___ can” (campaign slogan) 39 The Depression, e.g.

40 Runners do it 41 Occasionally 42 Hopelessness 43 Wrecks 44 Puts an edge on 45 Curie, Kelvin and Fermi 46 But: Lat. 49 Major mess 50 Sorkin who wrote “The Social Network” 56 Shakespearean stir 58 La-la lead-in 59 Bath ___ 60 Flapper wrapper 61 Sphere 62 French flower

The holidays are here! Aunt Phyllis arrives critiquing your decor; Uncle Joe hogs your favorite arm chair. Friends and family descend on your dining table like starved gorillas.

Oh, holiday season, how I’ve learned to hate thee, with your Christmas trees for sale in September and your turkeys on sale in May. Once upon my childhood, you were three agonizing weeks of longing for Santa’s arrival. Now you are a parking lot filled to capacity blasting “Feliz Navidad” in mid-October.

Once again, we will put on our holiday best and create memorable family moments, such as the time Sister lit Grandma’s hair on fire or the time the cat threw up on the turkey. We will perform gastronomic feats of daring as we eat Thanksgiving lunch at Mom’s at 2 p.m. and Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws at 4:30 p.m.

We will catch the sales at Wal-mart beginning at 6 p.m.

Thanksgiving evening, and then rush home for a power nap.

Sleeping all night is for sissies! Black Friday starts at 2 a.m., soldier! On your feet! Hurry up and wait in line for the store to open. Little Susie will just die if she is the only kid without a cyber gerbil.

We will agonize over what to buy for Great Aunt Lilly – yes, fuzzy reindeer slippers, again. We will rip sales tables apart like a lion through a gazelle. Other shoppers are potential enemies, hunting the same prey. We will tear their throats out to get the last toaster. Someone call the EMT’s ‘cause that baby’s going home with me!

Up goes the tree, no longer filled with nostalgic ornaments of Snoopy ice skating or tin Santas. Move over, Martha Stewart!

This house has matching ornaments! Dad will string the lights on the front of the house and grumble that the Johnsons were smart to leave theirs up year round. Marathon wrapping sessions ensue – punctuated by reruns of classic Christmas movies in turn punctuated by TV commercials screaming their wares at decibels loud enough to be heard over your neighbor’s garage band.

Down to the wire, it’s Christmas Eve, 20 minutes until closing with three names left on your gift list. Sprint through the store! Buy whatever you can lay your hands on: hand crank weather radio for Grandma, Snuggie for Dad, electric nose hair trimmers for your boss.

Parties, fruit cakes, Secret Santa, Dirty Santa, the recession ate my bonus, tinsel, stockings, stuffing – the madness doesn’t end ‘til January!

So, enjoy your 45 seconds of fall without the bustle, then strap on your helmet, lace up your boots and prepare to drop kick your way through the next six weeks. The season of peace is descending upon us, but only the strong will survive.

Nora Blithe is the author of Door In Face, a humor blog about all things that lay you flat. Read more at doorinface.com.

a parting shot

help for rescued birds

Find the solution to this puzzle at VERGELIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM

Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

The next issue of VERGE hits the news stands on

NOV. 17 Look for our outdoor racks or find your copy at Publix | EarthFare Kroger | Bi-Lo New Moon Cafe and more than 150 locations in the CSRA

The Nov. 17 issue of verge will be the second Hands Across the CSRA issue, featuring area people and nonprofits that are making a difference in the community by giving of their time, talents and resources. Discover how to get involved with groups such as Feathered Friends Rescue, Love of God Ministries, Girls on the Run and Fatherhood Task Force.

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 41

42 November 2, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | November 2, 2011 43