Metro 03.13.2003

MARCH

13-19

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VOLUME

14

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ISSUE

31

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W W W. M E T S P I R I T. C O M

THE METROPOLITAN

ARTS, ISSUES & ENTERTAINMENT

TA L E S O F AN A U G U S TA MADAM

By Brian Neill

2

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Contents

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The Metropolitan Spirit

M A R C H

1 3 - 1 9

•

F R E E

W E E K L Y

•

M E T R O S P I R I T

M E T S P I R I T . C O M

ON THE COVER

M A R

Tales of an Augusta Madam

By Brian Neill ................................................18

THE “SMOKER”

Cover Design: Stephanie Carroll Cover Photo: Brian Neill

Hosted by the Augusta Sheraton

March 22, 2003

FEATURES

The Soul of Augusta

SPONSORED

By Lisa Jordan ................................................14

Opinion

Master of Ceremonies Austin Rhodes

Whine Line ......................................................................4 This Modern World .........................................................4 Words ...............................................................................4 Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down ...........................................6 Suburban Torture ............................................................7 Letters to the Editor .......................................................8 Guest Column .................................................................9 Austin Rhodes ...............................................................10 Insider ............................................................................12

7PM - 8PM • Reception 8PM - Until • Dinner/Program SCOPE

Arts

Opera Presents “Tosca,” YART Presents “Cheaper by the Dozen” ....................................................................32 A Sample Platter of Local Art ......................................34 Kari Gaffney Returns Home for Tuesday’s Music Live ................................................................................36

Events

Garden City Music Fest a Great Way To Start Spring...............24

8 Days a Week .............................................................26

Music

Garden City Music Fest a Great Way To Start Spring ...................................................................24 Patience Pays Off for The Joshua Tapestry ...............42 Music By Turner ............................................................43 Music Minis ...................................................................44 Night Life .......................................................................45

Stuff News of the Weird ........................................................48 Brezsny's Free Will Astrology ......................................49 New York Times Crossword Puzzle ............................49 Amy Alkon: The Advice Goddess ................................50 Classifieds .....................................................................51 Date Maker ...................................................................52 Automotive Classifieds ................................................54

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

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

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

OF

EVENT:

An evening of friends enjoying a variety of cigars, great food, and wonderful adult beverages while being entertained by one of Augusta’s leading radio personalities. Marcella and manufacture representatives will be providing information about each of the cigar selections, matched to the coursed meal, and accompanied by fine wines. The evening will be full of raffles for quality smoke shop accessories and other cigar related items.

COST

Cinema

Movie Listings .............................................................37 Review: “The Hunted” .................................................39 Close-Up: Queen Latifa ................................................40 Movie Clock ..................................................................41

BY:

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Whine Line I

read in The Spirit where someone said something about Mary Morrison. Well my opinion about her is she’s a put-on and they need to get rid of her and get someone who is real. As far as Matt Monroe, the weatherman, he’s the best weatherman on TV on any of the stations and also the man that’s on at 6 p.m. on Channel 6. That Bob Smith, you can never get an accurate weather report from him.

Martha Burk, Jesse Jackson and the KKK are all coming to Augusta to protest the “Masters Golf Tournament”!

Like there are not more important things going on! The U.S. is on the brink of war! These Simpletons are more concerned about messing with Augusta’s high point of the year! Get a life!

I saw a little program on PBS talking about Perdue’s calling upon state government workers to join him in trying to lose weight. If only he’d put the same effort into trimming the fat off the state budget, we’d be better off. If they can trim down the budget then those in government would become much more attractive. But instead of cutting the fat, he’s raising taxes. In essence, when it comes to the state budget Perdue is saying, “Let them eat cake”.

Welcome back Hootie and the Blowfish.

We missed you.

First, we had Planned Parenthood start off with their baloney called “choice.”

Second is the woman who applauded Planned Parenthood and is still happy with no regrets about aborting her child, which she referred to in her Whine Line entry as “this crisis.” Third, the woman with her typical scenario of a young pregnant girl who decides to keep her baby and all the misfortunes that it will bring. You’re right: A lot of children do go through this vicious cycle. But, you’re forgetting about all the teenage

mothers who do take responsibility for their actions, keep the baby, stay in school, and amount to something. It is not about where you begin in life, but where you are when it ends. And babies born in poverty do have limited options and a slim chance in making good things happen in their lives. But, what all you pro-death lovers fail to realize is that abortion offers a baby no chance at all.

Thought I’d let your readers know I’m starting up White Trash Limousine Service. It’s for folks who normally wouldn’t be able to afford to rent a limo for the evening. It’s the limo service with that “down home” feel. Just one vehicle — a white stretch limousine that’s always dirty and needs to be washed, with a big ol’ Rebel flag painted on the side. I shot out one window with a BB gun, and I’ve got some empty beer cans on the floorboard. It’s got a TV, one of those 4-inch black-and-white mini jobs. Instead of caviar and champagne I provide sardines and a pitcher of KoolAid. When I’m not pulled over to the side of the road with the hood up, I’ll take you and your “sweetcakes” anywhere you want to go. If you want me to maneuver this baby through the drivethrough at your favorite fast-food joint, just say the word. If you don’t have money for food, I can just drive you around your neighborhood or trailer park, honking the horn so your friends can see you in a limo. The South’s gonna ride again, y’all.

So, now the KKK is organizing counter protests to Martha Burke. Once again, Austin Rhodes finds himself on the same side of the fence as the KKK. It’s about time the bozos at the airport got real about what we need and don’t need out there. Their grandiose plans have been shelved because of the economy and budget woes and it’s a good thing.

Words “Harrick bought him a TV; Harrick paid his phone bill.”

— University of South Carolina Gamecock fans’ response to what they saw as bad calls by officials during USC’s basketball game against the Georgia Bulldogs, as quoted in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jim Harrick, the University of Georgia’s basketball coach, has been accused of allowing a former UGA player, Tony Cole, to use his personal credit card to buy a television. Cole, who was kicked off the Georgia team last year after being charged with aggravated assault with intent to rape, also accused Harrick’s son and former UGA assistant coach, Jim Harrick Jr., of paying some of Cole’s bills and giving him an “A” in a coaching class that Cole never attended. Harrick Jr. was forced to step down as assistant coach last week. His father could soon join him.

“If Gov. Perdue listens to them, he will be in the same unemployment line as Gov. Barnes.”

— Donald Newman, the Southeast brigade commander of Georgia’s Sons of Confederate Veterans, as quoted by The Augusta Chronicle, responding to an announcement last week that the Savannah City Council voted in support of a resolution urging Gov. Sonny Perdue not to have a flag referendum placed on the state’s ballot.

Ft. Gordon is a terrific base with many terrific facilities, programs and people to its credit. I worry about Augusta’s lessthan-sterling local support, especially when the base closure commission learns that Augusta’s mayor and first lady tried to (file a claim against) the Army because the first lady broke her ankle!

Look out Columbia County. Billy Morris is after your money to pay for his horse barns and civic center, and your Commission Chairman Ron “Double” Cross will be Morris’ lead dog to pick your pockets. Cross is a double-crosser and can’t be trusted. Besides, he owns a construction company ready to build anything from horse barns to courthouses to schools!

First of all who cares if you’re tired of the whines about Austin Rhodes? That’s your opinion and it’s not a crime to express it, just like it’s not a crime for the other readers to express their disdain for Austin’s unintelligent, uniformed, rightwing comments. Second, it doesn’t take much education to change a channel, but it does take some intellect to wade through the opposing view to get both sides of the issue.

They should bring charges against people who keep making stupid racist movies like “Bringing Down the House.” They don’t help, but keep the crap going. Why don’t they just go ahead and green light “Welfare Day: The Movie” and get it over with? continued on page 6

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believe it ends on March 16 if you haven’t seen it.

6

continued from page 4

M E T R O

The story about the Augusta airport was very complete but somewhat long. I appreciate the thorough coverage but next time do the story in two separate articles.

S P I R I T M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

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I’m miffed. Why would an educated woman like Martha Burk want to see other women members at the Augusta National Golf Club? They would overhear info on pending mergers, bribes paid to corporate thugs, politicians, DAs, judges, and a child molester let go and an occasional contract hit! Why put a woman at risk?

TARA SCHEYER & THE HALF SHIRT LEROYS

I have a complaint about the bums in Augusta. You know what? We have higher- quality bums in Aiken and I’m tired of being in Aiken and having higher-quality bums than you have in Augusta. I’m tired of it; I’m sick and tired of it. You need more bums and you need them now!

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The rock ‘n’ roll music exhibit at The Augusta Museum of History is good. I had not been to the museum before this.

Even more than the national exhibit I enjoyed the Augusta rock ‘n’ roll exhibits like the contract Jim Croce signed to play Bell Auditorium a few months before his plane crashed, pictures of popular local groups and items on famous artists that came from here, and other shows that came to Augusta. I

Senator Joey Brush’s lack of involvement and concern for important issues is appalling. He continues to play with the helmet laws and stays away from the real questions like the budget, reduction of the cost of government, and tax reductions for all Georgians. Will he next be pushing a bill to give favored treatment to builders, developers, and real estate peddlers? Answer: You can bet on it!

When are cigarette smokers going to realize that the cigarette pose with a cigarette sticking out of their hand or mouth is very unattractive? Did you know a good-looking woman looks disgusting with a cigarette sticking out of her mouth?

My friends and I were talking the other day about the Soul Bar fire and we all agreed that the Soul Bar is one place in Augusta that, if anything ever happened to it, it would be worth moving rather than staying here without it. I have a theory that no matter where you go, you can always come back and run into someone you know at the Soul Bar. Coco, we love you, and if you need anything we would be glad to help you out.

Why are so many Columbia County Republicans complaining about Charlie Norwood? You created that monster, now live with him.

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Last week, Coweta County agreed to settle a 2001 lawsuit filed by lawyers representing indigent defendants in Coweta.

According to The Atlanta JournalConstitution, when the lawsuit was filed in 2001, Coweta County had only two parttime lawyers hired to handle hundreds of indigent defendants. At times, the indigent inmates reportedly waited in jail for months before getting to talk to an attor-

ney. Under the settlement, Coweta County promised to change all that. Today, Coweta has three full-time public defenders and a full-time administrator to oversee the program and visit the jail at least three times a week to check on indigent inmates. Now that the test case for indigent defense reform appears to have settled its problems, maybe the rest of the state will clean up its act.

Thumbs Down We know times are tough for the Augusta Lynx with the slowing economy and struggling ticket sales, but that’s no excuse for Peter Gillespie, owner of the hockey team, to take his frustrations out on civic center employees or Rob Mueller, a sports writer for The Augusta Chronicle. According to The Chronicle, Gillespie has been accused

of punching Mueller in the stomach and arm in late February and hitting the civic center’s operations manager, Jason Green, in the stomach in November. Everyone knows hockey is a contact sport, but it looks like Gillespie is taking his role as head of the team a little too seriously.

In the time of the $640 million budget shortfall, it’s good to see Rep. Joey Brush taking care of the important business like motorcycle helmet laws, sparklers and the flag issue. Keep up the good work Joey!

Only in Augusta can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

Come on, Danny Craig. You continue to mislead people with your quotes in The Spirit. How can you possibly think we’re stupid enough to buy your ridiculous comments? You have not been “forthcoming” as you state and you did offer assistance in the sex offender case.

How can you say that you said “no” to the request for assistance? You are in denial, Craig, or worse: You’re knowingly not telling the truth. You don’t deserve to be the district attorney.

Would somebody please put the community back in Community Mental Health?

Every time the board calls a meeting, they move the AA meeting on Wednesday night to a small, cramped-up room which barely holds an adequate amount of people, while they have their board meeting in the conference room. Shouldn’t it be the other way around, that this is actually a place that serves the community not the board member?

Why do we have leaders dreaming up pedestrian bridges across the river? South Carolina and Georgia may not even have enough money to finish Bobby Jones across the river, let alone complete the connection loop to I-20. Why do we have leaders who dream up way, way too big airports, the golf hall of shame, and Fort Discovery as monuments? They are shining examples of a big waste of money.

Where are the practical leaders? Will they please stand up? Who will build what we really need? Who will use what is already there? Who will use Regency Mall?

As for the state flag, Roy Barnes changed it without notifying us first, without giving us a chance to vote on it.

Now our flag is the ugliest in the nation.

We need to go back to the very first flag, the one with the solid blue background and the state seal in the center.

Martha Burk, Jesse Jackson and KKK, stay out of Augusta. We have enough going on without you all stirring up things even more.

What part of Sept. 11, 2001, people don’t understand is a mystery to me. I told my mother after 9/11, people are united now but it wouldn’t be long before they forget. What will it take for that kind of unity to happen again – 3000 people to die, or more? If we have to go to war, so be it. The United States is the strongest country in the world. Who else lives as we do? What most people forget is how much it costs — millions of lives — just so people can stand up and say what they think.

Danny Craig, be aware that there are thousands of citizens in this community who support you and believe you are a man of honor and integrity.

Thank you for serving as the shining spot in a strife-torn government and doing it with impeccable character.

I am so sick and tired of people in this so-called town of ours being so rude and totally inconsiderate of anybody or anything other than themselves! On Saturday, March 8, I was practicing Frisbee with my dog at the Wheeler Road Y field, as we do compete professionally and nationally, and here comes a group of people, with absolutely no consideration for me or the safety of my dog, to play softball. Did not ask me if I minded or would it bother me, they just started hitting balls in our direction while we were trying practice for the up-and-coming season.

Regarding your cover story last week, entitled Hootie and the Blowfish. At first I thought you were talking about Hootie Johnson and the blowhards at Augusta National.

I read where the federal taxes on gasoline are going up. Does anyone remember “gasohol”? That’s a fuel that combines gasoline with alcohol. The South certainly knows how to make

alcohol! Now, with cigarette smoking on the decline, we should have plenty of farmland available. This land could be used to grow corn, as well as sugarcane. There you have it folks! The solution to lower gasoline prices!

Suburban Torture BY

JULIE

LARSON

M A R 1 3

Recent Republican Senator Don Cheeks did not make the March 8, 2003, Richmond Republican Convention. I wonder if it was an oversight on his part or did he know where he was not wanted?

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Congressman Norwood is all about himself. Ever since George Bush was elected president, Norwood’s ego has gone out of control. This is evident by his recent behavior toward many fellow Republicans. Has the hobnobbing with President Bush and National Party bigwigs caused Norwood to forget who sends him back to Washington, D.C.?

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

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

M E T R O S P I R I T

You can see what the Confederate battle flag stands for by looking at her enemies. They are the socialists, communists, atheists, black racists, bigots of every race and the politically correct.

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

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8 M E T R O

NONSTOP: HOUSTON. NEXT STOP: THE WORLD.

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Letters to the Editor

Says No to Columbia County’s Participation in Civic Arena Dear Editor,

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What is going on with the Columbia County Commission? My reason for asking is based on the consideration that is being given to spending $15 million of Columbia County money for the Augusta-Richmond County new civic center. Have the commissioners lost their minds or do they have some sort of special deal under consideration?

Maybe the most unsettling part of this whole issue is that Augusta-Richmond County has clearly demonstrated that they can ruin just about anything that comes under the control of the commissioners. At present, they can not even reach agreement on hiring a manager for the existing facility. With that kind of leadership in Augusta, why would anyone in their right mind not just laugh off this dumb request from Augusta?

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Come hungry.

It would appear to me that we have enough projects going on in Columbia County that are just crying for funding.

Therefore, such a consideration to support an Augusta program shows me that our commission leadership is either brainless or does not know how to say “No!” Ever since we got a countywide commission chairman, who also happens to be a builder, I’ve had some reservations about the future of Columbia County.

Based on what I’m hearing, the future of Columbia County will be established by the wants of the wheelers and dealers. If Chairman Ron Cross continues along the course he seems to have set during the past two months, he’ll be lucky if he makes it through one term.

Norwood: Ego Driven Non-Performer Dear Editor, Once again Congressman Charlie Norwood has shown his true colors. Just this past weekend he successfully engineered a coup to stab Columbia County’s Republican Chairman Alvin Starks in the back and oust him from office. Now that’s a real accomplishment since Starks is the only black conservative Republican in the Southeast. Sort of a Trent Lott deal. And all this occurred while Norwood served on President Bush’s committee to get more blacks and minorities involved with the Republican Party.

On top of that achievement, Norwood has done nothing in the past six years to help military retirees and veterans with their health care, as was promised for 20 or more years of service, or as is the entitlement for those with a service-connected disability. He did support a pack-

age that uses Medicare and requires us to pay $58 per month for what was supposed to be free. There continues to be nothing for retirees under 65, despite Norwood’s promises of the past six years to help us.

Norwood’s accomplishments for his home county have been a big zero also.

He appears to have no concern for us.

Maybe the biggest complaint I hear from my friends is that Norwood and his local office staff are non-responsive and uncaring when it comes to problems.

In short, Norwood has been a failure for retirees, veterans and the residents of his home county. He needs to be gone ASAP so we can get a real leader and caring person as our Representative instead of the ego-driven non-performer currently filling the office.

Sincerely, Willis Clifton

Opinion: Guest Column

Medical Malpractice “Crisis” or a Misdiagnosis of the Problem?

By David Bell

T

he medical malpractice insurance industry claims there is a “malpractice crisis” in Georgia and they have hoodwinked the doctors of this state into marching on the Capitol to tell their story. Your readers should know the other side of that story – the side that sheds the light of truth on the malpractice insurance premium crisis and what has caused it. The truth is that our medical community has misdiagnosed the condition that plagues them and they now seek to cure their suffering by imposing unwarranted limitations on their patients’ rights to obtain appropriate compensation for the harm caused by malpractice.

The Truth. There is no malpractice crisis in Georgia. There may be a malpractice insurance premium crisis – but that crisis has nothing to do with Georgia’s civil justice system. The number of medical malpractice claims that result in payouts has steadily decreased throughout the past decade. And the total amount paid out to victims of medical malpractice has increased at a rate far below the health care inflation rate over that time period. The real issue is the bad business decisions made by the malpractice insurance industry during the economic boom of the 1990s — decisions that benefited Georgia’s doctors then, but only now are coming home to roost in Georgia.

The Facts. The insurance industry today is making up for its improper investment speculation and rate-setting decisions of the 1990s.

During the 1990s, the malpractice insurers of this state decided to charge physicians and hospitals inappropriately low insurance premiums in an effort to capture a greater share of the premium-paying physician and hospital markets.

Insurers charged those low rates because their investment portfolios were swollen with profits that would more than offset their claims obligations and because they ignored their own actuaries’ recommendations to raise premiums to levels that would insulate them from declining investment returns.

With the current state of the capital markets, insurers have belatedly realized that they did not save enough premium or investment dollars to cover the harmful medical errors committed by their doctors and hospitals.

The Fiction. Just as they did in the sharp economic downturns of the 1970s and 1980s, the malpractice insurance companies have recently raised premiums, blamed lawsuits and lawyers for their financial woes and prescribed tort reform as their panacea.

However, a recently published study by the Consumer Federation of America entitled “Stable Losses/Unstable Rates” reveals the fallacy of the insurance industry’s claims.

That report shows there is virtually no correlation between claims payments and premiums insurers charge doctors and hospitals.

The report makes it clear that what has happened over the course of the last two years is absolutely consistent with what has happened in each of the two previous “insurance cycles” of the past quarter century. When the

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PORTRAIT STUDIO David Bell markets go down, premiums go up and the insurance industry blames the civil justice system and demands “tort reforms” rather than looking inward for solutions to its selfcreated crises. Georgians should reject such disingenuous claims this time.

Because malpractice premiums track the economy rather than insurance claims payouts, the legislative remedies that the industry now proposes will be useless. They will not lower the premiums physicians and hospitals are being forced to pay to the insurance industry. They have never had that effect anywhere. But, they most assuredly will deprive truly injured malpractice victims of appropriate compensation for their injuries and will shield the insurance industry and malpracticing physicians and hospitals from accountability.

Before we get caught up in the hysteria the insurance industry is trying to create, our elected officials need to take a long look at whether there is a crisis and whether the proposed legislative remedies will have any positive impact on our society. Doctors who are willing to look at all the symptoms – all the facts – will arrive at the same prognosis: The insurance company’s proposed cure will be a meaningless placebo or worse.

Doctors and hospitals need real solutions to their malpractice insurance premium problems – not worn-out rhetoric offered to cover up the real cause of those problems. Let’s be careful not to commit “policymaking malpractice” by only listening to the self-serving cries of the insurance industry. Let’s look at all the facts and decide what is best for the patient – for our society. Sometimes the proposed cure is worse than what’s ailing you.

In this case, we can avoid making that medical error, but only if we are willing to examine the whole story.

—David Bell is the president elect of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. The views expressed in this column are the views of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.

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S P I R I T

2003 Mazda 6

Opinion: Austin Rhodes

To My Daughter on Her 12th Birthday Editor's note: Regular readers of this column may be curious as to why The Spirit is publishing an article of such a personal nature that may not be of supreme interest to many people outside Austin's family.

The reason is that Austin asked that we indulge him this personal request. Due to our longstanding relationship with this column and its author we have agreed to publish the column. The flame-throwing that readers are accustomed to will resume next week.

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Dear Christine,

“ ...the 6 looks athletic.

The stance is aggressive, the proportions dynamic and the silhouette tense.”

—Car & Driver 6/02

“ ...the Mazda 6 proved to be a stable cruiser, providing a comfortable, quiet ride even into triple-digit speeds.”

—Car & Driver 6/02

“Behind the wheel, the driver is greeted by a well-executed interior brimming with quality” —Car & Driver 6/02

“Steering and stopping were equally impressive.

The rack-and-pinion setup exhibited precise linearity and seemed to be weighed perfectly, delivering driver input almost intuitively.”

—Car & Driver 6/02

Check out the all new Mazda 6 at

ANDY JONES MAZDA ISUZU (803) 202-0002

WWW.ANDYJONESMAZDA.COM OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM-8PM, SATURDAY 9AM-7PM AT THE TOP OF THE RISE ON THE AIKEN-AUGUSTA HIGHWAY IN NORTH AUGUSTA

It amazes me every single day how much this world is changing for you.

While your mom and I are caught up in the everyday business that fills the lives of grownups, your universe is expanding in leaps and bounds.

Of course, it has always been that way.

My happiest moments as a parent have been the times I have seen you discover life’s little surprises, and your own tastes and talents in the process.

You were barely nine months old when you grabbed the venison beef jerky from the TV table next to our big chair. While I watched the Steelers game with you in my lap, the sounds of a gurgling, giggling baby drew my eyes downward to see your face covered with ground pepper and jerky slobber. “She likes spicy food!” I reported to your mom, and then got a 20-minute speech on the effects of spice on a small digestive system and a tutorial on the Heimlich maneuver for babies. To this day, you still giggle that same way when you eat calamari and Italian sausage. Just like your daddy.

The other kids in preschool knew that Baby-Bop was Barney’s best friend. But you knew that Willie Loomis was Barnabas Collins’ best pal, right down to keeping his coffin clean and tidy. Hey … I knew that too when I was that age. It is important to learn the alphabet when you are little, but it is also cool to know the eight different ways to kill a vampire. And we both did.

In so many ways, you have thrilled me with your abilities that seem to reach far beyond your age. When you were 2 you could catch a ball 100 times in a row without dropping it. There was genuine disdain in your eyes when you would try to play catch with kids your own age and they couldn’t keep up. Get used to it babe.

There are going to be very few who will ever be able to keep up with you.

There is not a roller coaster we can’t handle together, and there is not a waterslide big enough to scare us. You are so much my little girl, I sometimes wonder how there is enough room in your head to be anything else. But there is.

You know the Bible and your faith as well as anyone your age, and far better than many much older. You know every NFL city and its team. You know horseback riding and soccer. You know softball and swimming. Slowly but surely, you are

moving far beyond the direct influence of me and your mom, and at the age of 12, you are leaving us in the dust.

How many 12-year-olds have been held in the arms of the president of the United States? How many 12-year-olds are able to say their handmade card was posted in the locker of one of the greatest defensive backs of all time, while he went out and won the game “for you”? (Rod Woodson, Steelers 20 Falcons 17, 10/27/96.)

Being adopted, I wondered early if there were going to be patterns of inborn behavior in you that would be difficult. That was such a foolish notion. Amazingly, you seem to have captured the very best from your parents while casting our bad habits aside better than we ever could.

You are a conscientious student and a wonderful friend. You have your mother’s kindness and your dad’s aggressive enthusiasm. You are one of the most tenderhearted preteens I have ever seen, turning your back on the destructive pettiness that seems to hit your generation like the plague.

I have never once heard you utter a cruel word, which shows me that, given the right conditions, it is entirely possible to see marked improvements from one generation to the next in the same family.

And for a 12-year-old, you have seen more than your share of sadness.

I so wish that the worst heartache you’d had was losing Sweetness, our cocker spaniel. I so wish that the tears you cried when we lost Abbie, our big white cat, were the only ones we’d had to share.

In fact, my love, you were the main thing that kept your mom and I afloat as we found ourselves coming apart and our marriage coming to an end.

No child should ever have to know the pain you have known, and it is the biggest regret I carry in this life.

Funny how you have helped turn a heartbreaking tragedy into more love and more family comfort. You now have two siblings who adore you, and a stepmom that loves you like her very own. You have a stepdad who enjoys you as his newfound princess, and a brand new baby brother who knows in his little bitty heart that his big sister is going to be one of the best friends he will ever have.

But at the end of the day, you have your mom and me. You, Christine, are the best thing we will ever do.

As much as you are your own person, it still makes my heart smile to see how much you are mine. When the Steelers lost in the playoffs this year...I wanted to run to the back and cry with you. I couldn’t, though. I had to come up with something to say to comfort you. That is what dads do.

Thank you, my love. You make me happy every day, and so, so proud to be your father. At the age of 12, that is the most you could ever do.

Love, The Daddy

10

MCG and the American Red Cross invite you and your family to the

19th Annual

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Family Health Fair Saturday, March 15 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Nothing is more important than your health– and the keys to staying healthy are prevention and education.

That’s why MCG and the American Red Cross have teamed up to bring you the Family Health Fair. We will offer screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, bone density, vision, hearing, glaucoma, diabetes and more.

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M E T R O

Opinion: Insider

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Civic Arena, SPLOST Face Uphill Battle

S P I R I T M A R

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DON’T LIVE WITH PAIN...LIVE YOUR LIFE!

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ugusta City Administrator George Kolb has taken the lead role in an effort to find support for building a new civic arena, performing arts center, trade and exhibit hall, judicial center, public works building and offices to house city employees.

According to existing plans, voters will be asked to extend a Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for 10 years to cover most costs of the projects. Columbia County will be asked to throw in $15 million and private investors will contribute a small amount to the effort; specifically, Billy Morris will provide money to help pay for equestrian stables at the civic arena site.

Proponents of the plan insist that these projects will transform Augusta into a thriving metropolis, generate additional tourist revenue, enhance economic development and improve the image of the city.

The problem facing Kolb and others who want to quickly hold a referendum on the matter is, there appears to be little enthusiasm for the idea on the part of several Augusta commissioners and many residents of Augusta. Not to mention Columbia Countians. Right now, the idea is a tough sell.

Kolb’s enthusiasm apparently got the best of him back in November 2002 when he gleefully anticipated the project was practically a done deal. He naively thought that Columbia County and Aiken County would help fund the civic arena.

He also indicated that a referendum could be held as early as March 2003 to approve SPLOST funding. He later had to back off from those ideas and face reality.

Getting money from South Carolina would involve so much red tape and legislative wrangling that Kolb soon dropped the idea. So far, Columbia County officials and residents do not appear in the mood to contribute. The referendum originally discussed for March was soon pushed back to June and currently is being discussed for the fall.

At a recent work session, some Augusta commissioners were skeptical about holding a vote any time this year. The question remains if Kolb and others who are pushing these projects have yet to face reality.

Several Augusta commissioners know their own reality. They question whether the county can fund these new projects and still provide basic infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water, etc., for Augusta residents. Some districts have dirt or gravel roads that should have been paved years ago. Potholes, trash, flood zones, and general maintenance are top priorities for these citizens. Voters in these areas could care less about a new civic arena or the other items on Kolb’s wish list. The commissioners representing these districts will be hard-pressed to explain support for allocating sales tax money to these new

George Kolb projects when the basic needs of the communities they represent aren’t being met.

It will take time and hard work to sell the idea of these new projects and the extension of sales tax to fund them.

Right now, the timing stinks. The stock market is in a nose dive; the economy is in the tank; the state has a budget shortfall of over $600 million, for this year alone; the jobless rate is up; terrorism is on everybody’s mind; North Korea is insane; and it appears we are about to start a war with Iraq.

In addition, local sales tax revenues are down due to the economy, state funding for local projects has dried up, and the city faces the possible loss of Fort Gordon during the next round of base closings.

Do city leaders really want to schedule a referendum in the near future asking voters to approve a 10-year extension of a tax? Don’t think so. Timing is everything and the current timing could not be worse. As exciting as this grand plan appears, it will go down in flames if supporters do not have their act together. Right now, they don’t.

Starks Out, Muns In As The Insider predicted two weeks ago, the Columbia County Republican Party voted out Alvin Starks as chairman. The move was orchestrated by U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood with the assistance of state Sen. Joey Brush, state Rep. Ben Harbin, and state Rep. Barry Fleming. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross joined in.

At a meeting last Saturday the party elected Lee Muns to serve as chairman for the next two years. Muns currently serves on the Columbia County Board of Education.

—The views expressed in this column are the views of The Insider and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.

13

Frustrated Contractor is "Giving Away" $2150 Furnaces for $499 with Off-Season Central Air Conditioners…

(This is great financial news if your furnace is over 8 years old) Yes, it’s absolutely true. You can actually replace your old (and probably very inefficient) furnace and air conditioner as a package for at least $1,600 less than you would have to pay at any other time. Let me explain. Every year, the months of January, February and March can "Kill" my business. I end up losing a ton of money during these "Killer" months and it can take me the remaining nine months to make up for them. And I’m looking for the same thing to happen this year.

My Problem Is Your Opportunity I’ve decided to give up trying to make a profit during the "killer" months. If I can only minimize my losses during January, February and March, I will come out ahead in the other nine months. Here’s how this (admittedly daring) offer came about. Every year, the big manufacturers of air conditioners have to guess how many to build to meet the demand. Of course, they’re never exactly right. So, they always have some inventory they must hold over until the next summer season. I went to one of these companies and contracted for the purchase of 18 premium air conditioners and furnaces in the four most popular sizes used in the Augusta area. Because of the quantity and time of year, I was able to buy them at drastically reduced, dirt cheap, out-of-season prices. They are brand new 2002 models. And they are NOT the seconds or "blems" or standard "builder" models.

They are factory-fresh, premium air conditioners and furnaces and have a full factory warranty.

Here’s How You Can Get A Furnace For Peanuts By putting this furnace and air conditioner package together (then "Jaw-Boning" the factory) and committing to a do-or-die purchase agreement of 18 systems, I was able to buy both the furnace and the air conditioner for less than anyone should have a right to pay! So, if you buy one of these normal 18 15 11 new, premium air conditioners (but only if one of the four sizes I have will fit your house, of course), I am "giv-

ing" you the furnace and all I ask for is the $499 in labor it costs to have your furnace installed.

Here’s How Just call us at 722-5304 anytime. We will come out and measure your home (and determine the availability of the proper size). Don’t forget, I only have 18 15 11 matched systems in four sizes. When they are gone, this remarkable offer ends also. I will show you the real world price on the air conditioner that fits your home.

Then, I will show you the substantial savings now. And it will include all labor and installation materials. Nothing is left out.

The Concept Is Simple Really By letting you win big now, I will win at the end of the year. I’m betting that if I make you an offer that is "irresistible" (at least it should be if your furnace or air conditioner is over 8 years old) and I barely mark it up above the price I paid, I will accomplish two things: 1. I will cover my rent, utilities, insurance and taxes in the "killer" months.

2. I can pay my professional staff of 14 technicians to work instead of paying them to sit at home or sweep floors.

Offer o t Extendedst April 1

You Can Buy With NO Cash You don’t even have to pay me right away. I have set up a terrific bank rate financing plan. I even decided not to mark up the interest rate like some companies do. Consider this. If you

S P I R I T M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

John Haynie, Owner decide to make monthly investments instead of paying cash the entire amount of your payments might be more than offset by the savings on your utility bills. It’s like "having your cake and eating it too".

Why This Offer Can’t Last You must act before April 1st. Here are two reasons why.

1. I can only have 6 of each of the three sizes.

When all of the air conditioners are sold and all the furnaces are "given" away in a particular size, that’s it. There are no more at this price.

11 2. If I have any of the 15 systems left on April 1st (although I doubt I will), this offer still ends. Here’s why. The only reason I am making this virtually no-profit (for me) offer is because of the "killer months.

Give us a call now at 722-5304, and we will set an appointment for your no-obligation survey.

“FIXED RIGHT OR IT'S FREE™”

If I can accomplish these two objectives, I will minimize my losses and the rest of the year, I can be a winner.

No Obligation Even after I completely explain the installation, there is absolutely no obligation. If you decide you don’t want to take advantage of the spectacular savings… that’s okay. I want you to think well of SIG COX even if you don’t buy.

M E T R O

Sig Cox, Inc. AIR CONDITIONING and HEATING 1431 Greene Street Augusta, Georgia 30901

722-5304 © 2001 AT500

14

THE SOUL OF

M E T R O

AUGUSTA

S P I R I T M A R 1 3

Soul Bar owner Coco Rubio checks out damage caused by fire.

B Y

“I

f James Brown is the Godfather of Soul, I think the Soul Bar is the godfather of modern downtown Augusta,” said John (Stoney) Cannon, speaking from behind the counter at his newly opened Lokal Loudness Words and Music store. His words echo the sentiments of many other downtown Augusta business owners who owe their success, at least in part, to being inspired by the Soul Bar’s success.

In the aftermath of a fire at the bar that started in the morning hours of March 5, Augusta’s ever-present love affair with the Soul Bar is manifesting itself in all sorts of ways. It’s in the hand-lettered sign reading “God Bless the Soul Bar” that had appeared outside the club’s darkened door by the following afternoon. It’s in the number of patrons that showed up in support of the club at the Imperial Theatre during last week’s First Friday celebration. And it’s in the bands that kept the Soul Bar tradition of live entertainment alive by lending their talents to the Soul Bar’s First Friday event at the Imperial.

Though the cleanup efforts are just getting underway, Soul Bar owner Coco Rubio is confident that, with a little help from his friends, the bar will be back up and running in no time.

“There’s just a lot of people, they feel connected to it and want to help,” he says. “I think everybody’s looking forward to going ahead and start putting it back together again.”

L I S A

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Cannon. “Now, downtown feels like a downtown should.”

When renting storefront space on Broad Street was dirt cheap and downtown was deserted, it was people like Rubio who poured time, money and a lot of heart into the area.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the Rubios were one of the first families to really take a chance on starting a business downtown before it was

“If James Brown is the Godfather of Soul, I think the Soul Bar is the godfather of modern downtown Augusta.”

–John (Stoney) Cannon

Revitalizing Downtown

Established in 1995 alongside a smattering of other businesses still going strong downtown, the Soul Bar has been credited as one of the premier venues to bring crowds looking for entertainment to a once-deserted Broad Street.

“People were afraid to come downtown,” recalled

Photo by Joe White

Photo by Jimmy Carter

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hip to come downtown,” Cannon said.

Eric Kinlaw, a seven-year employee of the Soul Bar who now owns music spot and tapas bar The Bee’s Knees, also recognizes the Soul Bar’s contribution to

revitalizing downtown.

“It’s really the beginning of the whole revitalization of downtown,” he said. “It wasn’t the first thing, but it was the first big thing. It really motivated people. I guess maybe it inspired people to say, ‘I can do this,’ or ‘I should do this.’ It really brought people together.”

Being involved in a successful nightclub venture also served to show Kinlaw the ropes of owning his own nightspot.

“I worked there for seven years. I worked there a month after it opened,” Kinlaw said. “It definitely taught me a lot. It taught me a whole lot. I got inspiration from traveling, mostly, and seeing other places, but the Soul Bar taught me how to do things.”

Kinlaw is just one of a whole crop of local business owners who have taken advantage of downtown opportunities in the wake of the Soul Bar’s success.

“It has a lot to do with people that are right around Coco’s age,” Cannon said. “They rented the buildings when they were cheap. Raygun, the Soul Bar, Nacho Mama’s, the Pizza Joint. I think the Soul Bar was the catalyst.”

The Heart and Soul of the Bar

Anyone who’s ever set foot in the Soul Bar would probably venture to guess that the long, narrow space Rubio carved into a music venue wasn’t originally intended as a concert space. Those first days, however, are long gone – the bar frequently hosts live music, of varying descriptions, on the weekends, and every Wednesday night is reserved for a live jazz session, which Kinlaw is still part of.

“Originally, the Soul Bar wasn’t even going to do live music,” remembers Kinlaw. “Then it just kind of evolved into a music venue, probably the most diverse music venue in town. continued on page 16

15

THE GREATER AUGUSTA ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

M E T R O

GARDEN CITY MUSIC FEST

S P I R I T

Saturday, March 22, 2003 On the Common in Downtown Augusta, GA

M A R

The Kevn Kinney Band

c: Musi pm - 11 noon e

Stewart and Winfield PH Balance Chariot Reggae Band The Big Mighty People Who Must 420 Outback Pat Blanchard The Vellotones Hellblinki Sextet

e Gat

th $10 at

r ets o No P Please! rs oole

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Horsepower Russell Joel Brown Jemani Kitty Snyder Shaun Piazza Livingroom Legends Bee’s Knees Jazz Trio Tara Scheyer & the HalfShirt Leroys Eryn Eubanks Bluegrass Band

$7 Advance/$10 at the Gate Advance Tickets Available at The Soul Bar, Nacho Mamas, Metro Coffee House, Lokal Loudness, and The Arts Council Office

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For info: 70 6.826.47 www.Augu

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Sponsors: Metropolitan Spirit, Papa Johns, Augusta Recreation and Parks, Southern Siding and Windows, Georgia Council for the Arts, Coca Cola, Comcast, WRDW News-12, 95 Rock, RedWolf, Inc.

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

Test your Word Power

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March 15 Two Shows: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

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M A R

Coco Rubio (on drums) jams with the Livingroom Legends. continued from page 14 “I started doing jazz there. Coco asked me to put a band together and I got this little band together with a couple friends of mine, and that turned into a regular Wednesday night gig. My band Deathstar, I think was the first band that played there, also.”

But beyond supporting local musicians, Rubio mixes it up by bringing regional and national acts to the Soul Bar, offering up one of Augusta’s more diverse musical palettes. Among the acts Rubio has been responsible for bringing to Augusta are Cat Power, 2 Skinnee J’s and Drivin’ ‘n’ Cryin’.

“People love playing there,” said Kinlaw.

“It was very intimate – it was like playing in your living room with your friends. I know a lot of bands really love that. They just loved the décor, they loved the intimacy of playing there and they loved Coco. He was just so nice to the bands. He’d feed them; he’d put them up if he could.”

Rubio’s involvement with downtown Augusta’s music scene doesn’t stop at the Soul Bar’s door – from being involved with bringing concerts to the Imperial Theatre to helping organize this year’s upcoming Garden City Music Festival, it seems you’ll find him anywhere you find music in Augusta.

“There’s also a big love and respect to Coco and what he does for the community,” said Cannon. “He doesn’t seem to run out of things to be able to give to help downtown move forward.”

“Coco does so much for this town,” Kinlaw said. “He just has ideas with everything.

Every kind of music event, anything that’s artistic or cultural, Coco’s involved somehow.”

The Love Flows Both Ways

It’s not just Augusta that shows admiration for Rubio and the Soul Bar. He’s carrying around a fair amount of love for Augusta, too.

“When we first opened up and we had that old building, we had a bunch of friends help us gut it out and help paint and clean,” Rubio said. “It’s always kind of been like that for us at the Soul Bar – it’s not just about me or a few people. It’s really a community kind of bar.”

The front page of the bar’s Web site, www.soulbar.com, currently features a thank-you note from Rubio for the support he’s received from the community thus far.

It also billed last Friday’s event as a place “to get together and give thanks to you.”

Last Friday’s event, loosely planned, was free, though donations were being accepted to help re-open the bar as soon as possible.

Cannon said, “For the people who might not know Coco, his character was shown (during First Friday). It wasn’t so much to raise money for the Soul Bar as it was a big party. He didn’t make it a sad event.”

What’s Next for the Soul Bar

Though the damage from the blaze, which warped the actual bar, melted the famed disco ball and burned a hole in the bar’s floor, wasn’t as bad as it could have been, there’s still a lot of work ahead in the next few weeks to restore the Soul Bar to its former glory.

“It was just mainly smoke damage and heat damage,” Rubio said. “We’re going to have to take everything off the walls. We’re going to have to pressure wash everything and repaint everything and throw away what we need to throw away, see what we can keep, clean up and keep. Pretty much start all over.”

The Soul Bar’s distinctive bar will have to be rebuilt. “The plexiglass that we had on top melted,” Rubio said. “It was like a little pile of plexiglass over here. It was weird.”

Rubio also said that the smoke and heat damage were random – memorabilia that was destroyed sat right next to pieces that emerged unharmed.

“If I know Coco, Coco did not put everything in the Soul Bar,” said Cannon. “The stuff on the walls, so many people added to these walls.”

In the coming weeks, Rubio expects that Augusta’s support for the bar won’t waver, and they’ll have some of the old collection – and a little bit of new gear – back on the walls.

“We’re going to start working on it as soon as we can,” Rubio said. “We’ll probably recruit some people to help us at least get some of the things down and out of the bar.” After that, he says, they’ll call in professionals to pressure wash and paint the interior of the building.

Until the restoration is complete, the Soul Bar will be closed. Rubio is planning to keep updates on the Web site. But for now, it seems supporters of downtown are breathing a collective sigh of relief.

“Thank God it didn’t burn all the way down,” Cannon said. “Downtown without the Soul Bar just isn’t downtown Augusta.”

17

R

CTA RCTA

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Every year in April, Augusta welcomes

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100,00 Visitors 200 Golfers 40 VIPs Find out why the Red Carpet Tour is one of the world’s Largest Economic Development Projects

www.RedCarpetTourAugusta.com Special Thanks to Hole-In-One Sponsors: Augusta Magazine, Leo Media, Inc., Ranco Tent Sales, Saturn of Augusta, Comcast, Development Authority of Richmond County, Sitel, Gary L. McElmurray Const. Co., Inc. Eagle Sponsors: WRDW News 12, RedWolf, Inc., Clearchannel Radio, Development Authority of Columbia County.

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18 M E T R O S P I R I T M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

TA L E S O F AN A U G U S TA MADAM

By Brian Neill

W

hen Julia Hunter reminisces about her early days as a call girl and madam, one truly knows how it must feel to be that proverbial fly on the wall.

There were the champagne-filled evenings in a brothel on Greene Street.

There were soirees at the homes of politicians. There were out-of-town trips with those same politicians and well-to-dos to places like Las Vegas and the Bahamas.

Hunter says she and her “escorts” would often kid each other when they saw some of their recent “appointments” giving lectures or addressing governmental bodies on C-SPAN. “For some reason I’ve always liked the C-SPAN channel, and I try to stay up to date with all my politics,” Hunter says, in her gravelly, cigarette-infused, Southern drawl. “So we’d be watching C-SPAN and these girls would say, ‘Boy, they look awfully familiar; isn’t that the guy who was here last year?’”

“You know, I had big customers, not just an insurance salesman,” she adds.

“We had big-time people. And it wasn’t unusual for eight or 10 girls to go to Las Vegas, or go to the Bahamas, or go anywhere. All their expenses were paid.

Plus every out-of-town trip, it was a thousand dollars a day.”

Sitting cross-legged in a chair at a local salon, the slight-of-build, 46-year-old native of Greenville, S.C., talks of how the escort business brought her the clothes, the shopping, the fancy dinners — and, of course, the money.

Oh, how she loved the money.

But, at the end of last year, Hunter found herself sitting in a Richmond

County jail cell on charges of prostitution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Her mugshot that appeared in the daily paper, along with the half-dozen others caught in a Richmond County vice undercover escort sting, looked anything but glamorous.

Things in the “business” had definitely changed, she says.

After a several-year hiatus from personally running her local escort service, “Amanda’s,” Hunter found herself in dire straits and in need of money following a divorce.

She decided to re-take the plunge into the “dating” business world — overseeing calls, even making a few herself — but quickly found the waters had become ever so deep.

When Hunter recently approached The Spirit to tell her story, she had found herself at a crossroads.

She had returned from living in Jamaica several years earlier in order to nurse the effects of a serious fall she had experienced while hiking in the Blue Mountain range. The fall severely broke her arm and sent her into a tailspin of depression. She locked herself in her Beech Island home for the better part of two years, and says she even developed a case of agoraphobia.

On top of all that, there was the divorce.

Without any financial help, Hunter turned to the thing she knew best.

She says it was her first time out since leaving the management of her escort business to others. Her first call didn’t last long, as Hunter was arrested by undercover vice cops.

Hunter says the charges from her arrest

in the summer of last year were recently dropped after a person she was with that evening claimed responsibility for the cocaine. She denies ever disrobing for or negotiating sex with the undercover agents in a local hotel room.

Now, Hunter says, she seeks to go legit.

She says she plans to start her own lingerie line, and currently runs a housekeeping and re-decorating business called “Rent a Girlfriend,” though authorities have already drawn into question the legitimacy of the enterprise.

Nonetheless, this is Hunter’s story, as only she could tell it.

FROM TANNING BOOTHS TO KNOCKING BOOTS Hunter says she grew up in Greenville, S.C., the daughter of a middle-class family and the product of a bi-racial marriage.

It was a family with “lots and lots of secrets,” Hunter says.

However, it was also a monied family, which enabled Hunter to exercise her free spirit.

It also allowed her to be an entrepreneur.

Hunter says she first got into the dating business through several tanning salons she owned and operated.

Tanning salons, Hunter says, naturally attracted the beautiful people. And a lot of men used to nag Hunter to fix them up with attractive members of the opposite sex.

“In the tanning salon industry, you service, like, an upper-crust type of people there. Not only the staff was pretty people, but the people who came in were pretty people,” Hunter recalls.

“These were the people that liked to socialize; they liked to party. These were the martini people.”

Hunter also saw them as a grand financial enterprise waiting to happen.

“Everybody was, like, ‘Why don’t you fix me up with that girl?’” Hunter says.

“I did that for years, so finally I decided to start cashing in from it and start making some money from it. So, that’s how that got started.”

Hunter slowly built her clientele over the years, acknowledging that she took some of the calls herself in the beginning.

By the end of the 1980s, business was booming and there was never a shortage of women seeking to become escorts, Hunter recalls.

“In the early 90s, you were always surrounded by gorgeous women wanting to work,” Hunter says. “You had some single mothers; you had a lot of people putting theirselves through college. And most of the women just liked the extra money and it gave them the freedom.

Doing this particular type of work, you’d go out to lunch; you’d shop. You’d go out to breakfast; you’d shop. You’d go out to dinner; you’d shop. You’d go to the ballet; you’d shop ... So there was never a shortage of women. I never had to advertise for women. They always came to me.”

Hunter eventually found herself operating a full-fledged whorehouse on Greene Street, she says.

“It was an entertainment establishment on Greene Street and we had a lot of fun there,” Hunter says. “It was the McDonald’s of entertainment. It was an adult Disneyworld.

19 “It was like a three-story house with a wine cellar. And there was a big back yard, so a lot of the customers who didn’t want to be visualized, they would park in the back and come in through the fire escape. There were women in every room. Most of the women lived there; we had made apartments out of it. So when your regular customers came in, you told them what room to go to.”

There was always champagne on hand, as well as a wet bar. Hunter said a lot of her customers got as much of a kick out of visiting the establishment as from what happened there once they got behind closed doors.

“Men liked the idea,” Hunter says.

“They just liked the idea of going in a brothel over there.”

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS Hunter is full of stories as humorous and tawdry as they are shocking, not just from the standpoint of the subject matter, but the participants.

She tells of a former politician in the area who was also an avid hunter. He would book escorts to attend private parties, and afterward, invite Hunter to help herself to the leftover spoils — liquor and food, for instance.

On this particular occasion, the politician had recently brought back a bounty of rare game birds he had gone abroad to hunt.

Hunter’s a vegetarian, but desired the birds in the refrigerator for her special friends.

“Those things (the birds), I guess after you count all those costs — the import and export, what it cost them — I guess those things were probably $200 or $300 apiece,” Hunter said. “I put them in a garbage bag and took them home and cooked them for my dogs.”

Then there was a psychiatrist who was a regular client and had fetishes for being burned and dressing up in women’s clothes.

Needless to say, he wasn’t overly popular with the escorts.

“Some of the women told me, ‘I’m not

going back there. We’re really scared we’re going to hurt him,’” Hunter recalls.

“He would get a coat hanger and put it on the eye of a stove and he’d want somebody to burn him with that. And all these women got so where they flat-out wouldn’t go to see him.”

After a while, Hunter began avoiding the doctor’s calls. It had been several months since she had heard from him, when he called her with a unique request.

“So he came into town one time and he said, ‘Julia? This is Dr. So-and-So. How much would you charge me just to ride around with the girls tonight, just to go on calls with them?’ So I quoted him a fee and everything was fine,” Hunter recalls. “So, the girls went and picked him up at his hotel and here he was in full drag, I mean, the Tina Turner wig, the mesh stockings, the whole nine yards.”

From there, the girls and the doctor drove to a historic hotel in Aiken.

“They told him, ‘We might be in here a couple of hours: Are you going to be OK?’ And this was, like, in February, you know, a cold time of year,” Hunter says. “To make a long story short, I get a call, and on my caller ID, it had ‘Aiken County Sheriff’s Department.’”

It turned out the good doctor had gotten himself in trouble.

“And in drag, he gets out at the (hotel) and handcuffs his penis to a fence in the back of the (hotel),” says Hunter. “Well, customers began to complain and they called the sheriff’s department and they put him in jail.”

Hunter couldn’t believe it and told the doctor to put one of the deputies on the phone.

With amusement, she recalls that exchange: “I said, ‘Is Dr. So-and-So incarcerated?’ He said, ‘Yes ma’am, he is.’ And I said, ‘Well, can you tell me what he’s in jail for?’ And he said, ‘Ma’am, at this point, I don’t know what we’re going to charge him with.’”

Hunter says she refused to drive to Aiken to get him out of jail.

“I said, ‘Well look, you wanted to be

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continued from page 19 humiliated, so I don’t think it gets any better than this; I definitely think you got your money’s worth,’” Hunter says, with a bawdy laugh.

There were those other unusual requests and fetishes, as well.

“Of course, every man’s fantasy is two women, you know? And strangely enough, there were a lot of people who liked transvestites,” Hunter says. “A lot of men loved them. And it was amazing.

These (clients) were what I thought would be real blue-blooded, allAmericans, that would be absolutely disgusted at the sight of a man, in or out of a dress.”

Hunter says her clients ran the gamut — or, as she puts it, “Doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs.”

And, contrary to a popular notion, Hunter says the Masters isn’t the windfall for escort businesses it has recently been made out to be.

Last year, vice officers made a number of escort arrests during Masters week, and many out-of-town escort services place Internet advertisements specifically targeting visitors for the golf tournament.

But Hunter says her best out-oftown clients, historically, were those of a higher calling.

“Everybody thinks that the Masters is a big deal, but my best year was when the Southern Baptist Convention came through,” Hunter says.

“That was better than the Masters. Those people spent money hand-over-fist. That was several years ago. That was more profitable than the Masters.”

“Of course, every man’s fantasy is two women, you know? And strangely enough, there were a lot of people who liked transvestites. A lot of men loved them.

And it was amazing. These (clients) were what I thought would be real blue-blooded, all-Americans, that would be absolutely disgusted at the sight of a man, in or out of a dress.”

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with this, is a lot of horror stories,” Hunter says. “That’s when the bigger crimes started to be committed — the murders, the robberies, a lot of drug transactions. And you can’t mix the two.

You’re either going to have to do the dating or you’re going to sell the drugs.”

But more and more, people did mix the two. And the drug of choice increasingly became crack cocaine.

Some of the people Hunter had known in the early stages of her 25-year career in the escort business weren’t opposed to smoking a joint or doing a line of coke now and then.

Hunter says she did her own share of partying back in the day, and prescription drugs were her substances of choice.

However, Hunter says, if one of her girls took to the coke spoon or pill bottle too much, she was quickly weeded out of the service.

“Amanda’s” clients, at the very most, liked their women to be dignified and sophisticated, but at the very least, coherent, Hunter says.

But even during the four-year span she spent living in the downtown section of Jamaica’s Montego Bay, part of that time at a condo belonging to a relative, Hunter says there was a drastic change in the way escorts conducted — Julia Hunter themselves.

“When I came back from Jamaica, there was an overwhelming difference in the caliber of women that wanted to work. Before I went to Jamaica, there was never a shortage of women,” Hunter says. “Every now and then you would see somebody with a substance abuse problem and you would cut it short from the very beginning.

“Well, when I got back from Jamaica, I had no idea how prevalent crack cocaine was. I had literally been out of touch with this society for almost four years.

When I came back it was just so amazing, the difference in the women. I was used to seeing women who were taking care of themselves — the heels, the stockings — to, 95 percent of the

Though in her mind, the worst is probably yet to come, Hunter says the escort business became more violent and unpredictable by the mid-‘90s as more and more people found that the path to easy money was as simple as placing a phone number in the Yellow Pages.

“Everybody and their brother went out and opened a dating service. And along

continued on page 22

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women who wanted to work were substance-addicted. I came back to a whole new world, something that I wasn’t used to and something that I had never seen. And it was just amazing how crack cocaine had literally destroyed the whole face of this business and I knew then that it would never be the same.”

Even when reflecting on the days when she says the escort business was “a lot of fun,” Hunter acknowledges that prostitution for most women becomes a trap.

Hunter says that most of the women who enter the escort business have been abused at some time in their lives, and she is no exception.

She is slow to answer when asked how it felt to sell her own body for money.

“A lot of things, maybe I’ve selectively forgotten about them,” Hunter says. “I’m not going to completely cop out here, but you know, I wish there was a support system for a lot of these women, because prostitution is an addiction. You get addicted to the lifestyle; you get addicted to the money.”

In a way, Hunter says, the cops that arrested her that day last year, probably saved her life.

“It (her arrest) did make me look back, and like I said, I had a lot of fun during my 25 years, but I’ve put my ‘Closed’ sign on,” Hunter says. “And I’ve got a line of lingerie going now. It’s called ‘Eighteenth-Century Bordello.’ So the good news is, it probably saved my life.”

However, Sgt. Greg Smith, who heads

“Everybody thinks that the Masters is a big deal, but my best year was when the Southern Baptist Convention came through. That was better than the Masters. Those people spent money hand-over-fist.

That was several years ago. That was more profitable than the Masters.”

— Julia Hunter

up the vice division of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department, has a hard time buying it.

Smith said the people he busts in escort

service stings always say they’re closing up shop.

“They all say that,” Smith said. “But it’s just easy money.”

Smith was also familiar with Hunter’s new venture, “Girlfriend for Rent,” which is advertised in The Spirit’s classified section.

He said vice officers had recently busted an escort who said she had obtained her call through the business’ phone number.

Hunter, however, denies Girlfriend for Rent is anything but a legitimate business when asked if it is a cover for an escort service.

“No. Nuh-uh,” Hunter says. “Because I’m trying to go in a different direction here.”

“We go in and remodel, clean, organize, pet-sitting,” she adds. “You know, like, a while back they had that husbands for rent? I just kind of spin it off that ad right there. You know, it’s hard work, but there’s nothing wrong with hard work.”

Earlier, however, as we walked through several downtown antique shops, Hunter got a call on her cell-phone, which she ended abruptly.

“Honey, we’re closed today,” she told the caller.

When I later ask her if the call had been for a date, Hunter answers in the affirmative.

“Like I said, this is a whole new era for me. I’m going in different directions,” Hunter says. “Sure, there’s always a number of people I keep in a black book, which is very, very limited.

But as far as, per se, being in business, no, I’m not in business.”

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Garden City Music Fest a Great Way To Start Spring

I

t’s that time of year again, when the afternoon temperature begins to creep up into the 70s, flowers start to bloom – and outdoor concertgoers emerge from hibernation.

Kicking things off is the upcoming Garden City Music Festival, a veritable showcase of all Augusta has to offer musically. On March 22, 20 acts give staggered performances between two stages set up at Augusta Common. The Greater Augusta Arts Council, sponsor of the event, bills the festival as “the first large concert to be held on the new Augusta Common.”

It’s an all-day affair. Gates open at 11 a.m., and the music begins at noon and doesn’t stop until 11 p.m. In addition to the sounds of the festival, food and arts and crafts will be featured. The only thing the Greater Augusta Arts Council asks is that you leave your pets and coolers at home. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. If you’re looking to get a head start on ticket purchases, advance tickets are available from the Greater Augusta Arts Council Office in Sacred Heart Cultural Center, the Metro Coffeehouse, Lokal Loudness and Nacho Mama’s. More information is available by calling the Greater Augusta Arts Council at 826-4702 or visiting www.augustaarts.com on the Web.

Now that the details are out of the way, it’s time to get to the fun stuff – who’s scheduled to play.

Eryn Eubanks

Stewart & Winfield

Augusta Natives Teen-age musician Eryn Eubanks is first to take the stage at the Garden City Music Festival with her bluegrass band, the Fold, but she’s not at all nervous. That’s probably because she’s such a seasoned performer. In fact, she’ll probably give two performances that day – at the festival and her regular Saturday afternoon bluegrass gig at the Metro Coffeehouse.

“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do that day,” she said. “I’ll probably be hearing some of the other groups while we’re packing up, so I’ll definitely hear them.”

The group she’s most likely to hear, then, will be the Vellotones, whose set follows Eubanks’. The Vellotones’ John Donnelly joked, “We’re going on at 12:30. We’re the only band in Augusta that can be up and playing that early.”

Donnelly’s wisecrack only serves to belie how tightly knit the Augusta music community is. “Everybody pretty much knows everybody,” he said.

“It’s a showcase for local talent, is what it is,” Donnelly continued. “It’s too bad you can only have 20, ‘cause there’s a

whole bunch of bands that should be in it, too. We’re just lucky to get in – I think it’s the dog thing.”

He’s referring to last year’s Garden City Music Festival, which the Vellotones also played. “We went over to the VIP party at (Greater Augusta Arts Council Executive Director) Brenda Durant’s house. I played with her dog, so I think I got brownie points for that,” Donnelly said, laughing.

Throughout the afternoon, other local favorites will perform, including Pat Blanchard, People Who Must, The Hellblinki Sextet, Tara Scheyer and the Half-Shirt Leroys, Horsepower, the Livingroom Legends, Shaun Piazza, The Bee’s Knees Jazz Trio and Russell Joel Brown.

Eric Kinlaw, owner of The Bee’s Knees and – surprise! – a member of The Bee’s Knees Jazz Trio, had nothing but praise for the festival’s variety. “It’s one of the most diverse festivals that has been in Augusta,” he said. “It’s a great lineup.”

After dark, expect sets from local favorites Jemani, the Chariot Reggae Band, 420 Outback and the Big Mighty.

Honorary Augustans “I know from a lot of times going to bluegrass festivals, if you have acts from other places that people know of, people

BY LISA JORDAN

will come out to see this person and find other things they like,” said Eubanks. “I think it’s a good thing.”

Joining Augusta musicians will be regional acts who have been welcomed to the Garden City before. In fact, they’re so well-liked here, they’re practically Augustans themselves, says Donnelly.

“Kevn Kinney, he plays here,” Donnelly said. “He played in the last (Garden City Music Festival), been here in the last year. He’s almost like a regular.”

The other out-of-town acts – Stewart and Winfield, Ph Balance, Kitty Snyder and Bain Mattox – all hail from Atlanta or Athens, that music mecca of the South. Stewart and Winfield came through here not so long ago, and Snyder brought her lovely melodies to the Soul Bar just last Saturday.

Most of the out-of-towners will be wrapping up the festival, playing the last three sets, with the exception of Mattox and Snyder, who will be playing in the afternoon.

Even if you’ve never been exposed to some of the performers, the half-hour, bite-sized sample sets will give you a good idea of whom to snap up tickets for next time they come through town.

“There’s a diverse group of musicians there,” Eubanks said. “It will be a good taste of everything.”

Russell Joel Brown

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2 0 0 3

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

8

Days A Week

Arts

Auditions ATHFEST LOOKING FOR MUSICAL ACTS to play one of two outdoor stages during AthFest 2003, June 19-22 in Athens, Ga. Submissions will be accepted through April 1.

Georgia ar tists must submit a CD, bio, photo and contact information; ar tists from outside of Georgia must submit the above as well as a $10 check payable to AthFest 2003 per ar tist submit ted. Send submissions to: AthFest 2003, At tn: Outdoor Stage Booking, P.O. Box 327, Athens, GA 30603. Visit athfest.com for information.

DIRECTORS, ACTORS AND SINGERS WANTED for “The Player’s Showcase” and “Othello,” to be per formed at the Imperial Theatre on July 12. Potential directors should send resumes to EternalNothing@hotmail.com or call Jonathan Marcantoni at 364-5047 for details.

Actors should bring t wo monologues and singers should bring t wo songs to the Hangnail Galler y at noon March 29. Contact Jonathan Marcantoni at the above number for details.

COWPARADE ATLANTA 2003 CALL TO ARTISTS interested in painting one of 200 life-sized fiberglass cows to decorate Atlanta this summer. Professional and amateur ar tists from throughout Georgia are welcome to submit designs for consideration. Deadline for submissions is March 28. For more information, call (404) 898-2915 or visit the Cow Parade Atlanta Web site at www.cowparadeatlanta.com.

AUGUSTA CHILDREN’S CHORALE AUDITIONS for training and per formance choirs open to children in grades 3-8.

Auditions held May 3. Call 826-4718 to schedule an audition appointment.

AUGUSTA CONCERT BAND rehearses Monday evenings and is looking to fill vacancies on most band instruments.

Interested par ties should contact Ben Easter, (803) 2020091 or e-mail bandforaugusta@aol.com.

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

Education LANDSCAPE AND WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP with Thomas Needham March 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration is required. Contact the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t at 722-5495 for more details.

ART CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS are of fered year-round at the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t. Classes and workshops are open to toddlers through adults and feature instruction in drawing, painting, photography, pot tery, weaving and sculpture. For a newslet ter or detailed information on registering for classes at the Ger trude Herber t, call 722-5495. The Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t also of fers Educational Tours; for information, contact the Education Director at the above telephone number.

ART CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS at the Ar t Factory. The Ar t Factory also has a homeschool program and scholarships are available. Available programs include voice lesson and pantomime workshops, as well as classes in dance, theater, music, visual ar ts and writing. Call 731-0008 for details.

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

USC-AIKEN MUSIC CONSERVATORY PROGR AM now open. Students of all ages and experience levels welcome. Private lessons available for musical instruments and voice; instructors are USC-Aiken facult y and have at least a master’s degree in their per formance area.

(803) 641-3288.

Exhibitions “OPTICAL ILLUSIONS 2 — YOU STILL WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES” on display in the Knox Gallery at For t Discovery through May 11. 821-0200.

NEW WORKS BY EQUESTRIAN ARTIST CHARLES HARPT will be on display at the Arnold Gallery in Aiken beginning with a 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 13 reception. Other ar tists showing new works will be Judy Adamick, Al Beyer, Rober t Campbell, Del Holt, Joan McIntyre, Mary Alice Lockhar t, Barbara Yon, Lenny Wooden and Trish Arnold.

(803) 502-1100.

PAINTINGS BY JANE NODINE will be on display at USC-Aiken’s Lower Galler y March 21-May 30. (803) 641-3305.

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF LAURIE LOCKLIEAR will be on display at A Silver Lining through March 31. For more information, call 303-9632.

ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT ART SHOW at Augusta State University through March 13. For information, contact the Fine Ar ts Depar tment at 737-1453.

CLAY POT PAINTING CLASSES with local ar tist Denise Zemora at the Ma xwell Branch Library. Intermediate class is March 15, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; advanced class is March 29, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $2 fee. For registration information, call 793-2020.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND MIXED-MEDIA PIECES BY SHELLY SCHMIDT will be on display at the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in Aiken through March 30. For more information, call (803) 642-7650.

THE GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART’S spring quar ter runs March 17-May 29. To apply, call 722-5495 or e-mail ghia@ghia.org to request a free catalog of class listings.

“WALTON’S REFLECTIONS: 30 DAYS OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION” features the winning pieces from the Georgia Ar tists With Disabilities 2002-2003 Exhibition, as well as works by local disabled ar tists. The ar twork will

The Tams provide live entertainment at the Triple Crown Street Fair in downtown Aiken March 14. be on display at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, 1355 Independence Drive, through March 28. Open to the public and free of charge; however, donations to the Walton Foundation Fund will be accepted. Call 826-5809 for info.

ARTWORK BY BING DAVIS will be on exhibit at the Lucy Craf t Laney Museum of Black History through March 30.

For information, call the museum at 724-3576.

AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ART SHOW in the Upper Gallery at USC-Aiken’s Etherredge Center through April 7.

For information, call (803) 641-3305.

PAINTINGS BY DANIEL HAYES will be on display at the Euchee Creek Librar y during the month of March.

556-0594.

AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT ART EXHIBITIONS in the Fine Ar ts Gallery March 15-31. Call the Fine Ar ts Depar tment at 737-1453 for details.

MARTHA SIMKINS SPECIAL EXHIBITION at the Morris Museum of Ar t through April 20. Call the museum at 7247501 for more information.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA QUILT SHOW will be at the Aiken County Historical Museum through April 6. For information, call (803) 642-2015 or (803) 642-2017.

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

The exhibit will be on display at the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t through March 14. Call 722-5495 for more information.

ROBERT BAZEMORE JR. AND ART ROSENBAUM EXHIBITION through April 19 at Mary Pauline Gallery. For information, call 724-9542.

ART BY STUDENTS OF CAROL KELLY DORN will be at the Gibbs Library throughout March. 863-1946.

PHOTO-BASED SCULPTURE BY SHANNON EVANS will be the first exhibition in the Ger trude Herber t Institute of Ar t’s new third-floor exhibition spaces. Evans’ work will be on display through March 28, with an ar tist reception 5-6:30 p.m. March 13. 722-5495.

AGNES MARKWALTER YOUTH ART COMPETITION: In celebration of National Youth Ar t Month, ar twork from students in the CSRA will be on display at the First and Third Floor Galleries at Ware’s Folly through March 28.

Call 722-5495 for more information.

“WALKING THE LOG: PAINTINGS BY BESSIE NICKENS” exhibit will be at the Morris Museum of Ar t through May 18. March 13 opening reception includes an informal discussion about Nickens’ work with the museum’s executive director, Kevin Grogan. Fee for non-members is $3 adult, $2 seniors, students and the militar y.

Members’ preview and reception to follow. For more information, call 724-7501.

AT THE GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART: “Recent Works From Youth and Adult Students of the Ger trude Herber t” on display through March 31. Call 7225495 for more information.

Dance “AB II SHOWCASE: ESTABLISHED REPERTOIRE AND EMERGING ARTISTS” ballet per formance is free and open to the public. Star ts at 7 p.m. March 27 at the Imperial Theatre. Call the Augusta Ballet at 261-0555.

TEENS IN ACTION WITH GOALS STEP CONTEST March 15, 7 p.m. at the Henry H. Brigham Community Center.

Tickets are $3 in advance or $5 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 792-1088.

THE AUGUSTA INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE CLUB meets Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. No par tners are needed and newcomers are welcome. Line and circle dances are taught. For location information, call 737-6299.

SECOND SATURDAY DANCE at the Ballroom Dance Center, 225 Grand Slam Drive in Evans, held the second

Saturday of every month, 7:30-11 p.m. Dress is casual.

Tickets are $10 per person. 854-8888.

HEALTH PAGE

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

SINGLES DANCE each Saturday night from 8-11 p.m. sponsored by the Christian Social Organization for Single Adults. Held at Westside High School. Tickets $5 for members, $7 for non-members, and are available at the door. For more information, contact Doris Heath, 736-3376.

Music GARDEN CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL March 22, noon to 10 p.m. at Augusta Common. Two stages will host 20 local and out-of-town acts throughout the day. Gates open at 11 a.m. and tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the gate.

For more information, call the Greater Augusta Ar ts Council at 826-4702.

“HealthTalk” on WGAC-580 AM Tune in Monday, March 17, at 8:30 a.m. to hear Douglas R. Phillips, M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and member of University’s medical staff, discuss osteoporosis and bone health.

“Osteoporosis – The Bone Facts for Women and Men” Featuring Orthopaedic Surgeon Douglas R. Phillips, M.D. March 20 Registration and dinner: 5:30 p.m.; physician presentation: 6-7 p.m.

University Hospital dining rooms 1-3.

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

“MUSIC TO THE PEOPLE” Augusta Symphony Concer t featuring light classical and Broadway music March 31, 7:30 p.m. Held in the Nor th Augusta High School Auditorium. Tickets are $12. For information, call the Augusta Symphony at 826-4705.

CONCERT FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO features violinist Claire Michaels Murray and pianists Ar temisis Thevaos and Lydia Porro and will be held at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Aiken. March 23 concer t begins at 5 p.m. and a reception will follow the concer t.

Tickets are $10 and proceeds benefit the Aiken Choral Society. Tickets are available at the Wine Cellar; call (803) 649-9463 for information.

JILLEEN will per form March 16 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 8:15 and 11 a.m. For information, call 733-6076. Jilleen will also give a concer t March 16 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aiken, 7 p.m. For info, call (803) 649-6417.

BROADWAY DELIGHTS CONCERT AND RECEPTION with the Columbia County Choral Society March 28, 7:30 p.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.

For information, visit www.ccchoralsociety.org or call 364-5920.

AUGUSTA JAZZ PROJECT CHAMBER JAZZ CONCERT March 29, 8 p.m., at the Unitarian Church. For information, call 823-0620.

UNITED STATES ARMY BAND IN CONCERT March 23, 7:30 p.m., at the Bell Auditorium. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 722-3521.

VERDI’S “REQUIEM” will be per formed by the Augusta Choral Society and the Augusta Symphony Orchestra March 15, 8 p.m. at ASU’s Per forming Ar ts Theatre.

Preview begins at 7 p.m. March 16 per formance begins at 3 p.m. with a preview at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$35.

Special matinee ticket prices are $10 adult and $5 student. For tickets and information, phone the Augusta Choral Society at 826-4713 or the Augusta Symphony at 826-4705.

“RITES OF SPRING” is par t of the Augusta Symphony’s Por t folio of Par ties. Held March 21. For an informational packet, contact the Symphony at 826-4705.

A BROADWAY CABARET will be presented by Adas Yeshurun Synagogue March 15 at 8 p.m. Cantors Steven Weiss and Nancy Kassel and accompanist Judith Cole will per form. Tickets are $75 per person and include the per formance, a raf fle ticket for a cash prize and a desser t reception. Tables of 8-10 may be reserved. For tickets, contact Marilyn Levy at 736-5824 or 733-7286 or Marcia Bogo at 733-9491.

ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE for show with The Big Mighty and special guests Days of Haze. Show is April 4 at Lake Olmstead’s Barbecue Pit. Only 250 tickets are available for this all-ages show, and the per formance will be recorded for an upcoming Big Mighty release. Tickets will be available at Lokal Loudness and CDs and More, as well as on www.bigmighty.com.

DAVIDSON FINE ARTS SCHOOL CHORALE SEND-OFF CONCERT March 18, 7:30 p.m., at First Baptist Church

M E T R O

Take care of yourself. Let University help.

SQUARE DANCE CLASSES: Intermediate classes run April 14-June 16. Call (803) 642-7631 for more information.

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

27

Save The Date!

March 30 12:15-5 p.m.

University Hospital Levi W. Hill III Auditorium, First Floor BabyFest is a FREE, fun-filled, educational afternoon designed for new and expectant parents and grandparents. Pediatricians and infant care medical specialists conduct classes and provide educational materials designed to answer your questions about parenthood and your baby’s first year. For more information, call 706/774-2825.

An Event Just for Women April 26 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Warren Baptist Church, 3202 Washington Road Learn more about the unique you as you traverse the emotional, physical and spiritual journey of life. This event, sponsored by University Community Education and Seniors Club, focuses on wellness and heart health for all women in the community.

Festivities will include door prizes, lunch, a fashion show and much more.

Seniors Club members: $10; general public: $15.

Attendance is limited to 200.

Reservations are required and will be taken after March 15.

For more information or to register, call 706/738-2580 or 800/413-6652.

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

F OR FREE 24- HOUR

Understanding Cancer Screening Guidelines When cancers are detected early, before the disease spreads, more than 90 percent of patients can be cured. The best way to detect cancer at an early stage is through routine screenings. Therefore, the American Cancer Society recommends the following S. Michael Shlaer, M.D. early detection guidelines Oncologist for people without symptoms. If symptoms are present or you are at high risk, see your physician about the frequency of the tests.

Both Men and Women From ages 20-39, both men and women should have cancer-related checkups every three years.

After age 40, they should have them annually.

These checkups should include examination for cancers of the thyroid, testicles, ovaries, lymph nodes, oral cavity and skin.

Colorectal Cancer: Both men and women should begin having regular colorectal cancer screenings at 50. People at high risk because of a family history or current gastrointestinal condition should speak to their physicians about beginning these screenings earlier.

Women Breast Cancer: Women should begin performing monthly breast self-exams beginning at age 20.

Women 20-39 should undergo clinical breast exams every three years. At age 40, women should begin having annual clinical breast exams and annual mammograms.

Cervical Cancer: All women who are sexually active or 18 or older should have an annual Pap test and pelvic examination. After three or more consecutive satisfactory normal exams, the Pap test may be performed less frequently at the discretion of the physician.

Men Prostate Cancer: Beginning at age 50, all men should have annual digital rectal exams and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests to detect prostate cancer.

Take the Offensive Don’t let fear prevent you from having these lifesaving tests. Early diagnosis of cancer just might save your life.

For more information on cancer screening guidelines, for FREE 24-hour health information or to find a physician, call University’s HealthService Center at 706/737-8423 (SER-VICE) or 800/476-7378.

Your resource for healthy living.

Healthy Adults “Health Risk Assessment Follow-up: Taking the Next Step” Featuring Holly Ford, program manager, University’s Weight Management and Nutrition Center, and Susan Cota, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.S., community relations manager, University Health Care System *March 17 or March 31 Participants in February’s heart month programming received a FREE health risk assessment (HRA) to complete. They are invited to come back in March for this one-hour dinner program on either March 17 or March 31 for the results of their assessments. *Participants should register for only one of these two programs.

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

Seniors Club members: $8; advance registration: $9; at the door: $10 Reservations are required.

To register, call 706/736-0847.

Surgically Assisted Weight Management Seminar March 27 5-6 p.m.

University Hospital Weight Management and Nutrition Center FREE Registration is required. Call 706/774-8917.

University Seniors Club, Daniel Village Shopping Center University Senior Club members only: FREE No appointment necessary Cholesterol Screening and Lipid Profile Third Wednesday of each month March 19 9 a.m.-noon.

Requires 12-hour fasting Senior Club members only: $5 No appointment necessary Healthy Women Registration is required. Call 706/774-4141.

FREE Mammograms Available Through a grant from the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, University Breast Health Center offers a FREE mammogram and education for women 40 and older who qualify.

“My Mom Has Breast Cancer” Presented by Pam Anderson, R.N., University Breast Health Center Education and support for children whose mothers have breast cancer TODAY, March 13 5-6 p.m.

University Breast Health Center FREE

Healthy Parents All classes are held in the Women’s Center classroom on the third floor unless otherwise stated. Registration is required. Call 706/774-2825 for information or to register.

Women’s Center Tour TODAY, March 13 7-9:30 p.m.

FREE Baby School March 18, 20, 25, 27 7-9 p.m. $50 Breast-feeding March 20 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Babies R Us, Bobby Jones Expressway FREE Weekend Childbirth Education (Lamaze) Friday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

March 21 and 22 $100

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

MUST PRESENT COUPON

Healthy Older Adults For more information, call 706/738-2580.

Glucose Screenings Blood Pressure Checks Height and Weight easurements Every Wednesday during March 9 a.m.-noon HEALTH INFORMATION , CALL

Log on to learn more: www.universityhealth.org ASK•A•NURSE

AT

737-8423 (SER-VICE)

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

OR

800/476-7378 (SERV)

TODAY !

S P I R I T M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

28 on Walton Way Ex t. For more information, call 868-6277.

M E T R O

MUSIC AT THE MORRIS March 16 features a per formance of “Music for Brass Quar tet” by the ASU Brass Quar tet and a per formance of “Solo Music for Trumpet”

by Richard House. For information, contact the Morris Museum of ar t at 724-7501.

S P I R I T

“TOSCA” will be presented by the Augusta Opera March 20 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and March 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12-$40 with student and senior discounts available.

Per formed in Italian with English super titles. For tickets, call 826-4710.

M JOSEF HOFMANN PIANO COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL A March 13-15 at USC-Aiken. (803) 641-3305.

R 1 TUESDAY’S MUSIC LIVE CONCERT SERIES: All per3 formances in the concer t series held at noon at St.

Paul’s Episcopal Church. Concer ts are free; optional

2 catered lunch is $7 per person. 2002-2003 season 0 schedule is as follows: March 18, Kari Gaf fney and Jef f 0 Williams. 722-3463.

3

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

Theater “BYE BYE BIRDIE” will be presented by Greenbrier High School March 27-28 at 7 p.m. and March 29 at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $6. For info, call 650-6040.

“THE WIZARD OF OZ” will be per formed by the Davidson Fine Ar ts School Drama Depar tment in the school’s Beverly Barnhar t Theater March 27-29, 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 adult, $6 for seniors and kids under 12 and $5 for DFA students. For more information, call Elizabeth Walper t or Heather Davidson at 823-6924, ex t. 136.

“CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN” will be presented by the Young Ar tists Reper tor y Theatre Company March 21-23 at the Bon Air Ballroom. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, with group discounts available. For more information, call 210-8915.

“THE MUSIC MAN,” starring Russell Brown, will be performed March 28-30 at the Ma xwell Per forming Ar ts Theatre. ASU Theatre and Opera Workshop are put ting on the per formances Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. To reserve tickets, or for more information, contact Linda Banister, 667-4876, or Leza Wetherington, 737-1500.

COMEDY NIGHT AT FORT GORDON DINNER THEATRE featuring The Disgruntled Clown and Dave Ugly is open to the public, ages 18 and over. Shows are 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 15. Tickets are $10 per person. Call the box of fice at 793-8552.

“GEORGE M! THE MUSICAL” at the Newberry Opera House April 17. The H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken has organized a bus trip that leaves the center at 1 p.m.

Registration is required by March 17. (803) 642-7631.

“THE BUTLER DID IT” will be at the Abbeville Opera House March 14-15, 21-22 at 8 p.m. with matinee performance March 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $14 for seniors and children. For reservations, call (864) 459-2157.

“A FLEA IN HER EAR” at the Aiken Community Playhouse’s Washington Center for the Per forming Ar ts.

Per formances are March 14-15 at 8 p.m. For tickets, call (803) 648-1438.

Special Events SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with The Breeze Kings March 15, 7 p.m. at Riverwalk. For more information, call Riverwalk Special Events at 821-1754.

PICKENS-SALLEY SYMPOSIUM to honor the contributions of Southern women and explore the life of Lucy Holcombe Pickens will take place at USC-Aiken March 24. Panel discussion at 4 p.m., with 5:30 p.m. open house at the Pickens-Salley House and an 8 p.m. evening lecture. Reception and book signing to follow. Free and open to the public. For information, contact Deidre Mar tin, (803) 641-3448.

PHINIZY SWAMP NATURE PARK DAWN WALK March 29, 5-7:30 a.m. Par ticipants will hike through the wetlands and welcome a new day. Contribution is $3 for members and $5 for non-members. Registration deadline is March 27. 828-2109.

NORTH AUGUSTA COUNCIL OF GARDEN CLUBS TEA AND FASHION SHOW to be held March 29, 2-4 p.m., at the Nor th Augusta Communit y Center. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by March 21 at the Nor th Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Bush Flowers and Jim Bush Flower Shop. For more information, contact Linda Smiley, 279-5074.

“AROUND THE DAY IN 80 WORLDS” FOREIGN FILM FESTIVAL at USC-Aiken. “Life and Debt in Jamaica” will be screened at 6 p.m. March 25 and 28. For more information, call (803) 641-3448.

ANTI-FREEZ BEER CAN AND BREWERIANA COLLECTABLES SHOW, sponsored by the Atlantic Chapter of the Beer Can Collectors of America, features brewery items, collectibles, vintage beer cans and more. Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 22 at the Belair Conference Center. Admission is $2. For more information, contact Mat t Parker at 8556397 or antifreezcanshow@yahoo.com.

SACRED HEART GARDEN FESTIVAL March 20-23 at Sacred Hear t Cultural Center. Garden exhibits, floral design displays, lectures and a walking tour of some of Augusta’s private gardens will be featured. March 20 slide tour of the State Botanical Gardens will be at the Morris Museum of Ar t with an evening garden par ty to follow at Sacred Hear t. For more information, call 826-4700, visit www.sacredhear taugusta.org or e-mail shear t@knology.net.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH COMMAND PROGRAM March 13, 1 p.m., at For t Gordon’s Alexander Hall.

Command Sergeant Major Michele S. Jones of the U.S. Army Reserve will speak. Free and open to the public. Call 791-2014.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center in Aiken March 17. Free. For information, call (803) 642-7635.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SEMINAR March 18, 11:30 a.m., at Pullman Hall, features a speech on “Balancing Work and Home in Crisis Situations” by Sandra Johnson. Cost is $12 for those registering before March 14 or $15 at the door.

For information, call the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce at 821-1300.

SANDHILLS WRITERS CONFERENCE March 20-22 at Augusta State University. All readings are free and open to the public. Keynote address by Doug Marlet te 11 a.m.

March 20; reading with Rober t Olmstead and Rosemary Daniell 7:45 p.m. March 20; reading with Doug Marlet te and Tommy Hays 7:45 p.m. March 21; open mic reading 10 p.m. March 21. For more information, visit www.sandhills.aug.edu or call 737-1636.

TRIPLE CROWN STREET FAIR at the Newberr y Street Festival Center in downtown Aiken. Held from 6-11 p.m.

March 14. The fair features live enter tainment by The Tams and local musicians, street per formers, family fun, a hot dog eating contest and more. Tickets are currently on sale at the H.O. Weeks Center and are also available at the gate the day of the fair. For information, call (803) 642-7631.

FREE TAX ASSISTANCE AND TAX PREPARATION at Volunteer Income Ta x Assistance sites throughout Augusta. Contact the Mayor’s Of fice for Workforce Development at 821-1834.

SPEAKER IMAM EARL ABDUL MALIK MOHAMMED, president of the World Council on Religion and Peace, will deliver a public address March 13, 7-9 p.m. in the main auditorium of Washington Hall on the ASU campus. For more information, contact the Muslim Community Center of Augusta at 481-8007.

HEALTH CAREERS OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM is accepting applications for its six-week summer academic enrichment program through April 1. The program is designed to provide students from underrepresnented groups and/or disadvantaged backgrounds with an opportunity to enter and graduate from schooling in health professions. Open to qualified rising high school seniors and pre-college freshmen interested in pursing a healthcare career. 821-8203.

MARCH FILM SERIES at Headquar ters Library Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. March 18 screening of “Colonel Ef fingham’s Raid,” March 25 screening of “Bot tle Rocket.” For information, call 821-2600.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS TICKETS ON SALE through TicketMaster. The Globetrot ters will be at the AugustaRichmond County Civic Center March 13, 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $13-$41. Order online at www.ticketmaster.com or call 828-7700.

2003 CULLUM LECTURE SERIES at Augusta State University: The title of this year’s series is “Frontiers in Motion: U.S.-Latin American and Caribbean Borderlands.”

March 18 features the Crossing the Border festival from

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Held in the Quadrangle behind Fanning Hall; rain location is the por tico of the Science Building.

On March 25, two movies will be shown in Butler Lecture Hall: “ Y Tu Mama Tambien” at 11:15 a.m. and “Sugar Cane Alley” at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.aug.edu/library/cullum2003.

MCDUFFIE FRIENDS OF ANIMALS holds pet adoptions each Saturday, 1-3 p.m. at Superpetz on Bobby Jones Expressway. Call 556-9090 or visit www.pet finder.com.

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

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

LOW-COST RABIES VACCINATIONS: Augusta-Richmond County Animal Control holds low-cost rabies vaccination clinics the four th Sunday of every month for privately owned pets. $8 per animal. 1 p.m. at Superpetz. Dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier. Puppies and kittens must be three months old and current for all vaccinations. Schedule subject to change, so please call 7906836 to verify dates and times.

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

Benefits CSR A HUMANE SOCIETY SPEND THE NIGHT IN JAIL fundraiser March 29. Lock up begins at 7 p.m., with food, drink, videos and games included, as well as a continental break fast. Bail is $25, plus an additional amount to unlock the gate early. To avoid overcrowding, please make reservations by calling Raynet te Mayer or Deborah Herring at 261-PETS. TOP 10 DANCE PARTY REUNION March 22, 6-11 p.m., at the Augusta Museum of History. Open to the public.

Tickets can be purchased for $10 per person at WJBF NewsChannel 6 studios 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. All proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Augusta. 722-6664.

MARGARITAVILLE WEEKEND March 14-15 to benefit the Children’s Medical Center at MCG. The Parrot Heads of the Savannah River and the Augusta Lynx team up to of fer live enter tainment, raf fles and jersey auctions af ter the March 14 and 15 games. For ticket information, contact Tim or Doug at 724-4423.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION March 14, 7 p.m., at Vineyard Cafe. Dinner and music will be featured. All proceeds benefit the Homeless Day Center. Tickets are $40 per couple and $25 per person and are available in advance. Contact Gerry Oliver at 860-8658.

GIRLS INC. “GAMBLE TO GAMBOL” CASINO NIGHT EVENT March 14, 8-11 p.m. at the Old Medical College.

Admission is $35 per person and includes live enter tainment, hors d’oeuveres, raf fle ticket and play money. Dress for event is black tie optional. 733-2512.

“SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS” BLOOD DRIVE March 14, 2-6 p.m. at the Daniel Field Airpor t parking lot. For more information, contact Sherrell Gay at sherrellgay@at t.net.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2003 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN will be accepted from nonprofit, human health and welfare agencies with 501c(3) ta x-exempt status through April 14. Selected local agencies will receive donations raised Sept.1-Oct. 15 by federal employees. For applications, call 724-5544 or e-mail bend@uwcsra.org.

THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY MS WALK 2003 at Lake Olmstead March 15. Registration is at 8 a.m.; the walk begins at 9 a.m. at GreenJackets Stadium. For more information or to sign up for a team, call 1-800-FIGHTMS or visit www.nmssga.org.

AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL is in need of dog and cat food, cat lit ter and other pet items, as well as monetary donations to help pay for vaccinations. Donations accepted during regular business hours, Tues.-Sun., 1-5 p.m. at the shelter, 4164 Mack Lane. Call 790-6836 for information.

SHEPEARD COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER BLOOD DRIVES in various locations around the CSRA this month. The blood center is urging people of all blood types to donate

Recording artist Jilleen will give three separate performances March 16 at churches in Augusta and Aiken. in order to combat a blood supply shor tage. For detailed information on locations and times to donate, visit www.shepeardblood.org. You may also call Susan Edwards at (803) 643-7996 for information on Aiken locations and Nancy Szocinski at 737-4551 for information on all other locations.

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

Learning FINANCIAL WORKSHOP on fraud and embezzlement and IRS audits March 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Held at the Georgia Depar tment of Labor Conference Room, 601 Greene Street. Cost is $25 per person. Call Brenda Mor ton at 821-1323 to register.

BOATING SAFETY AND SEAMANSHIP COURSE begins March 18, 7 p.m., at River front Marina Por t Authority Building. Exam is April 8, and state requirements will be included. For reservations, contact Norman Daniels or Wade Hammer at 738-6446.

“TAMING THE WILD CHILD” PARENTING CLASS March 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at USC-Aiken. Discover how to recognize and understand the motivation behind misbehavior and appropriate ways to respond, as well as how to increase instructional time and positive interaction. Cost is $82 per person or $125 per couple and includes lunch.

(803) 641-3288.

STUDY SKILLS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS course available to high schoolers looking to improve study skills through methods such as goal set ting, time management, note taking and more. Held March 21, 1-4:30 p.m. at USC-Aiken’s Penland Administration Building, Room 110.

Cost is $50. (803) 641-3288.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH SERVICES SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS held this month at the center’s Augusta of fices: Star ting Your Own Business March 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Smar t Marketing March 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Writing a Business Plan March 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. All workshops are $35. 737-1790.

STAMPING AND SCRAPBOOKING WORKSHOP at the Appleby Branch Library March 15, 10:30 a.m.

Registration is required. Call 736-6244.

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

Intermediate class is held March 25-May 20. Cost is $20 per person, plus a $14 materials fee that must be paid at the first class. Call (803) 642-7631 for information.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION of fers the following 30 USC-AIKEN courses: Debt Free Living, Computer Courses and more.

USC-Aiken also of fers Education to Go classes online. Call

M E the Of fice of Continuing Education at (803) 641-3288.

T R AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY CONTINUING EDUCATION O is now of fering the following classes: Language Series, S P I R I T

Computer Literacy I, Basic ICD-9 Coding, SAT Review Courses, Reflexology with Aromatherapy, Ice Skating, Yoga Intensive and more. Also, ASU of fers online courses.

For more information, call 737-1636 or visit www.ced.aug.edu.

AIKEN TECH CONTINUING EDUCATION of fers the follow-

M ing courses: Windows 2000, Microsof t Word, Microsof t A Excel, Health Care Career Courses, Genealogy, R

Professional Cooking, Real Estate Courses, Floral Design,

1 Driver Education and more. Aiken Tech also of fers 3 Education to Go classes online. For more information or to 2 0 0 3

register, call (803) 593-9231, ex t. 1230.

Health USC-AIKEN HEALTH AND FITNESS FAIR March 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. is free and open to the public. Free screenings and health information will be provided.

Held in the Student Activities Center Gym. For info, call (803) 641-3277.

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ALHZEIMER’S DISEASE March 14, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on Walton Way. The conference, entitled “With Dignity and Grace: A Discussion of End of Life Issues” assists families to make educated decisions to maintain the dignity and comfor t of those in the later stages of the disease. Registration is required, and there is a $10 charge for family caregivers.

Adult day care available. For information, call 731-9060 or 1-800-236-0688.

“I DESERVE RESPECT: FINDING AND HEALING SHAME IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS” free health education class March 27. Held at 2:30 p.m. in Room 3C-104 of the Life Learning Center’s Uptown Division. To enroll, call 7330188, ex t. 7989.

FREE ADULT CPR CLASS March 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Abilene Baptist Church. Sponsored by the American Red Cross of Augusta. Registration is limited to the first 125 interested persons, so call 724-8483 to reserve a space.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: If you want to stop using any drugs, there is a way out. Help is available at no cost. Call the Narcotics Anonymous help line for information and meeting schedules at 855-2419.

“DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: ALL ABOUT IMAGING” free health education class at the Life Learning Center’s Downtown Division 2:30 p.m. March 13. To enroll, call 733-0188, ex t. 7989.

CPR AND FIRST AID TRAINING COURSES AT THE AUGUSTA RED CROSS: CPR for the Professional Rescuer Review March 13, 17 and 25, 6-10 p.m. Class is one session. Held at the Augusta Red Cross of fice, 1322 Ellis St. To register, call 724-8483.

DIET COUNSELING CLASSES for diabetics and those with high cholesterol at CSRA Par tners in Health, 1220 Augusta West Parkway. Free. Call 860-3001 for class schedule.

PROJECT LINK COMMUNITY LECTURE SERIES is held the first Tuesday of every month and is sponsored by the MCG Children’s Medical Center. Project Link provides educational resources and guidance for families who have children with developmental delays, disabilities and other specialized health concerns. Free and open to the public; takes place from 6:30-8 p.m. in the main conference room at the Children’s Medical Center. Call 7216838 for information.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM COMMUNITY EDUCATION holds workshops, seminars and classes on a variety of topics: weight and nutrition, women’s health, cancer, diabetes, seniors’ health and more. Suppor t groups and health screenings are also of fered. Call 7360847 for details.

mous testing, pre- and post-test counseling and education.

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

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

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

Kids FAMILY AND BABY FAIR March 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Julian Smith Casino. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (803) 279-2330.

“LARRY CAT IN SPACE” program at the Dupont Planetarium on the USC-Aiken Campus March 21-22 at 7 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $4 adult, $3 seniors, $2 for K-12 students and $1 for USC-Aiken faculty and staf f. For information and reservations, call (803) 641-3769, (803) 641-3654 or (803) 278-1967, ex t. 3654.

CAMP BREATHE EASY, the American Lung Association of Georgia’s camp for children with asthma, will be held June 1-7 at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Ga. The camp is open to children with asthma who need daily medication and are limited in summer camping oppor tunities.

Week-long asthma day camps are also of fered later in the summer in Albany, Augusta and Columbus. The deadline for camp registration is March 24. For information, call (770) 434-5864 or 1-800-LUNG-USA. UNDERWATER EGG HUNT open to children ages 6-12 at the Family Y Wheeler Indoor Acquatics Center March 29.

From noon to 3 p.m., kids can search for prize eggs in the pool, jump on the moon bounce, get their faces painted and visit with the Easter Bunny. Par ticipants must bring swimsuits and towels. Phone 738-6678 for information.

It’s the last weekend to catch the Aiken Community Playhouse’s “A Flea in Her Ear” at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

STORY HOUR FOR ALL AGES WITH KAREN GROSS March 18, 7 p.m., at the Gibbs Library. For more information, call 863-1946.

of programs will be of fered. Services include van pick-up at select schools, evening drop-of f, homework room and hot evening meal. Open to girls in kindergar ten through high school. Af ter-school program of fered 2:30-6 p.m.

Mon.-Fri. For more information, call 733-2512.

PHINIZY SWAMP NATURE PARK FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES program on tur tles March 20, 5:30-7 p.m. at the park’s Pharmacia Pavilion. Bring a picnic dinner. Call 8282109 for more information.

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

STORYTIME WITH PUPPET SHOW, SONGS, FINGERPLAYS AND STORIES at the Appleby Branch Library March 19, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 736-6244.

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

COMPUTER SKILLS FOR YOUNG MINDS WORKSHOP for children ages 4 and 5 at the Wallace Branch Library March 15, 1:30-3 p.m. Registration is required; call the library at 722-6275.

STORYTIME IN THE GARDENS every Tuesday, 4 p.m., March-May. Senior citizens will read favorite children’s stories to kids 8 and under at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken.

Bring a blanket or chair and snacks. Free. Rain location is the H.O. Weeks Center. (803) 642-7631.

HOMEWORK STUDY SKILLS FOR STUDENTS Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center. Computers are available. Call 738-0089 for info.

STORYTIME AND CRAFTS every Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m., at Zany Brainy. Open to kids 2-4 years old; parental supervision is required for the duration of the event. Call 736-6229 for details.

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

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

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

ACADEMIC HELP AND TUTORING available Saturdays, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Wallace Branch Library. Call 7226275 to make arrangements.

FREE HIV/AIDS TESTING every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Ministry, 922 Greene Street. Free anony-

GIRLS INCORPORATED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM runs through the end of the 2002-2003 school year. A variety

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

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

Call 724-3576.

Seniors INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION at the Senior Citizens Council of Augusta and the CSRA March 21, 10-11:30 a.m. For information, call 826-4480.

COMPUTER CLASSES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center. For more information, call 738-0089.

AARP TAX ASSITANCE is available at the Gibbs Library Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through April 8. Free; registration is not required. Please bring a copy of your previous year’s ta x return. Call 863-1946 for more information. The Ma xwell Branch Library also of fers this service Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon through April 15. Free; persons over 50 have priority. In-person registration required. Call 793-2020. AARP Ta x Aide is also available at the Senior Citizens Council of Greater Augusta and the CSRA Mondays, noon to 4 p.m. and Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; call 826-4480 for information.

AIKEN PARKS AND RECREATION of fers a multitude of programs for senior adults, including bridge clubs, fitness classes, canasta clubs, line dancing, racquetball, ar ts and craf ts, tai chi, tennis and excursions. For more informa-

tion, call (803) 642-7631.

JUD C. HICKEY CENTER FOR ALZHEIMER’S CARE provides families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia a break during the day. Activities and care available at the adult day center, and homecare is available as well. For information, call 738-5039.

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

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

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

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

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

Sports AMATEUR BOXING OFFICIALS CERTIFICATION CLINIC March 15, 9 a.m., at the Augusta Boxing Club. The clinic will teach the rules of amateur boxing and cer tify people to work as an of ficial at the state level. 733-7533.

AUGUSTA/AIKEN COUNTY SPRING REGATTA will be held March 22. For more information, contact the Augusta Rowing Club at 821-2875.

TRIPLE CROWN GOLF CLASSIC March 31, 12:30 p.m., at Woodside Plantation Golf Club in Aiken. Proceeds benefit Helping Hands of Aiken, Tri-Development Center and the American Red Cross. Registration must be completed by March 26. (803) 641-4152.

YOUTH BASEBALL REGISTRATION at the Family Y’s Wheeler Branch March 24-April 5. Games begin in May, and baseball programs are open to boys and girls 4-11 years old. Fees vary by program. For more information, call 738-6678.

DRAWING FOR HUNTING AND FISHING PERMITS ON POST AT FORT GORDON open to individuals not associated with For t Gordon. 250 permits will be made available in a random drawing. Those 16 years of age and older with a valid Georgia Hunter Safety card or its equivalent may apply for the drawing through March 15. For information, contact Ken Boyd, 791-2397.

AIKEN TRIPLE CROWN events run March 15-29. March 15 Aiken Trials post time is 2 p.m.; advance tickets are $8 and tickets are $10 at the gate. Children 6 and under admit ted free. For more information, call the Aiken Training Track at (803) 648-4631; for tickets, call (803) 278-4TIX. March 22 Aiken Steeplechase post time is 1 p.m.; tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate.

Children 6 and under free. Contact the Steeplechase Association for more information at (803) 648-9641.

March 29 Aiken Harness Race post time is 1 p.m.

Advance tickets are $8 adult, $5 children 6-11 years; tickets at the gate are $10 adult, $6 children 6-11.

Children under 6 free. For information, contact the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, (803) 641-1111.

SOCCER SKILLS class is designed for children 4-6 years of age who have never played soccer before or who want to improve their basic skills. Cost is $25 per par ticipant and classes will be held at the H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken Mondays, March 17-April 28. Call (803) 642-7631 for more information.

FAMILY Y ADULT VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE REGISTRATION March 17 at Wilson Branch. Coed recreational leagues open to players 16 years of age and older, of all skill levels. Games are played Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m. and league play begins April 14. Call 733-1030 or visit thefamilyy.org for details.

INTRODUCTORY AND DROP-IN CLIMBING Fridays, 5:306:30 p.m., at the Virginia Acres Park Climbing Wall in Aiken. Cost is $5 per session. Call (803) 642-7631 for information.

ADULT SPRING SOFTBALL in Aiken is open to men and women. Fees and rosters are due March 25 and league play begins in April. For more information, contact Jason Burke at (803) 643-4664.

SPRING SOFTBALL LEAGUES for men and women now forming at Citizens Park in Aiken. Open to adults 18 and older. Fees and rosters due March 18; play begins April 21. Call (803) 642-7761 for information.

THE AUGUSTA RUGBY CLUB is always looking for new members. Teams available for women and men; no experience necessary. Practice is Tuesday and Thursday nights, 7-9 p.m. at Richmond Academy. For more information, call Don Zuehlke, 495-2043, or e-mail augustarfc@yahoo.com. You may also visit www.augustarugby.org.

TEN STAR ALL-STAR BASKETBALL CAMP is accepting applications for its summer programs through April.

Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible. Call (704) 3730873 for info.

UPCOMING AUGUSTA LYNX HOME GAMES: March 1415, 19, 21-22, 25, 28 and 30. For tickets, call the Lynx ticket of fice at 724-4423.

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

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

BEGINNER MONTHLY SPARRING for youth and adults March 20, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Augusta Boxing Club. Open to the public at no charge Call 733-7533 or visit www.augustaboxing.org for details.

Volunteer AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S “REACH TO RECOVERY” TRAINING for outreach program to women with breast cancer. Volunteers are carefully selected and trained, and

are breast cancer suvivors who have fully adjusted to surgery. Volunteers will be cer tified March 22 at the Doctors Hospital Senior Friends Building. Breast cancer survivors interested in becoming Reach to Recovery volunteers may call 731-9900 for info.

THE KITTY ORTIZ DE LEON FOUNDATION needs volunteers to help promote organ donor awareness. For more information, please contact Cassandra Reed at 481-0105 or kodfoundation@aol.com.

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

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

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

AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL: New volunteer orientation is scheduled the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the shelter, 4164 Mack Lane. Schedule subject to change; call 790-6836 to verify dates and times.

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

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

Meetings BEECH ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY meets March 18, 7:30 p.m. at 144 Old Jackson Highway in Beech Island.

Milledge Murray will speak on George Galphin, who established a trading post in Beech Island during the early 1700s.

The public is invited. Contact Jackie Bar tley, (803) 8270184 or (803) 867-3600.

ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS luncheon meeting March 21. Cost is $13 for AFP members and $18 for non-members. To reserve a place, call Beth Jones, 724-8481, by noon March 19.

THE AUGUSTA ROSE SOCIETY is open to the public and meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Sister Mary Louise Conference Room at St. Joseph Hospital. The nex t meeting is scheduled for March 18, 7:30 p.m. Spring rose care will be the topic of discussion. (803) 279-5502.

SELF HELP FOR THE HARD OF HEARING meets March 17, 5:30 p.m. with program beginning at 6 p.m. Gloria Garner and Danny Jones will present a communications devices update. Held at First Baptist Church on Walton Way, in Room 100 of the Adult Education Building. For more information, contact Dave Welter at 738-2796 or welter@csranet.com.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP meets at the Gibbs Library March 17, 7 p.m., to discuss “The Jew Store” by Stella Suberman. For information, call the library at 863-1946.

PARENTS WITHOUT PARTNERS to star t a CSRA chapter.

Organizational meeting will be held March 22, 10 a.m.11:30 a.m. in Room C101 of the Welcome Center at Warren Baptist Church. All single parents who are separated, divorced, widowed or never married are invited to at tend, and custody of children is not a membership requirement. For more information, contact Larissa Illyn at (803) 819-0150.

NEW ADULT WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB based on the NBC “Today Show” book club is forming, and organizers are looking for interested par ties. Beginning in April, the club is planning on holding monthly meetings at Borders on a Tuesday evening. Those interested in joining are advised to page Marian at 785-0006 for details.

PRISMS GROUP for singles is star ting up at Mar vin Methodist Church. Prisms is not a dating ser vice, but will provide a casual, comfor table atmosphere for singles to get together, as well as outings and meetings.

For more information, call the Mar vin Methodist Church of fice at 863-0510.

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

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

Listings cannot be taken over the phone.

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AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AND FRIENDS LAUDERDALE CHAMPIONSHIP March 28 at Forest Hills Golf Club. Casual dinner and silent auction to be held March 27. Registration deadline is March 25. For information, contact the ASU Of fice of Development and Alumni Relations at 737-1759.

Get ready for the Garden City Music Festival See Page 24

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Arts: Theatre

Opera Presents “Tosca,” YART Presents “Cheaper by the Dozen”

By Rhonda Jones

H

anging out in the lobby outside the rehearsal hall at St. John’s United Methodist Church downtown, Gary Simpson, who plays the lecherous chief of police Baron Scarpia, compared opera with woodworking.

“To me it’s craftsmanship,” he said, acquiescing that talent and passion are indeed part of it. “But that in itself is nothing.”

Rehearsal is where it all happens, he said.

Gary’s been in the business for almost 21 years, and has discovered some hidden perks associated with the opera life.

Hidden Perks One of those unseen benefits is exposure to other cultures, which Simpson said he would not have pursued on purpose. He’s been to 12 different countries, and named Sri Lanka, Spain, Portugal, France and Germany among them.

“You’re forced to experience stuff. Your mind is forced open. And I never got into this because I wanted to be more open. I love singing.”

Minutes later, two of Simpson’s colleagues joined him: Shiela Smith, who plays the title character, Floria Tosca, and Benjamin Warschawski, who plays her lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, came to add their perceptions to the pot.

To Smith, being an opera singer is all about friendship and being a part of a greater whole. “Well the singer community is very interesting,” she said. “It’s full of nice, giving people. The medium requires trust and some of that trust is earned in that very process,” she said, alluding to Simpson’s comments about rehearsal.

“The three of us work so physically and emotionally closely. I love this part of the rehearsal process. And then you bond and remember these people and hopefully your paths cross again.”

Warschawski agreed, explaining that friendship in their world is handled differently than it is on the outside. “You become very close very quickly, and then you may not see each other again.”

“For me, it’s a separate family,” Smith said.

Simpson said that, when you meet people you haven’t seen in 10 years, and begin to talk and compare notes on all these people that you have both run into in that time, that you know independently of each other, “That becomes ridiculously wonderful.”

And besides that, he added, “We’re all junkies for the music.”

The Economics of Art That’s why a singer in his 20s or 30s doesn’t necessarily think in terms of practical matters like health insurance, he said, and may pass by opportunities to get into more stable careers. “There’s no heavy lifting and this is a great gig,” he said. But eventually you realize that when you’re in your 40s, those other careers don’t want you anymore, and you have limited yourself.

Smith pointed out that the Social Security generation is probably the last one that went

From Left to Right: Benjamin Warschawski (Cavaradossi), Gary Simpson (Scarpia), Shiela Smith (Tosca)

to work and stayed at one company their whole lives, no matter what job you’re talking about. The world is used to the idea that people will have a half-dozen jobs during a lifetime. But like everything else, it’s simply more pronounced in the opera world.

“We go through them (jobs) every three or four weeks,” Smith said.

And because of the need to hunt for work, Simpson said, rejection is a constant companion. “We don’t get half the jobs that we audition for.”

“You do all these auditions, and you say, ‘Yeah, I’m booked for the next 21 months,’” Warschawski said. “But when that happens, there’s no chance to audition for future jobs.

Then all of a sudden, there’s a realization.

‘Dude, I’m out of work in two and a half months.’ You have to fight for everything.

There aren’t too many gimmies.”

So why make opera? we asked.

“I never really believed there was a purpose to what I did when I first started,” Simpson said. “I thought it was all about me.”

He believes now, though, that he has answered the question of whether society needs opera. “It’s so visceral and it leads you emotionally and there can be an emotional response.”

When people come to a performance, Warschawski added, they are looking for release.

Simpson and Smith were in agreement and spoke simultaneously. “You need it,” they said.

“They want to come and be thrilled,” Warschawski said. “They want to come and cry. Be born a new person.”

And it doesn’t particularly bother them that there are plenty of people out there who have the “Eww!” reaction when they think of opera.

“I don’t think opera has to be liked or understood by everybody,” Simpson said.

“What you liked at a certain age is not something that’s going to salve you later.”

Smith chimed in. “Although I will say, if you’ve never seen one and you want to try one, this is an excellent one.”

Here is what you will experience if you decide to go. Two lovers, one of them hiding a fugitive from prison, the other desired by a lecherous police chief, find more drama and adventure than they bargained for. Tosca agrees to allow Scarpia to use her if her Cavaradossi is set free, but her plans go awry, and bodies pile. In the end, she takes the only measure she feels is open to her.

“Tosca” will be performed March 20 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and March 23 at 3 p.m. at the Imperial Theatre. It will be performed in Italian with English supertitles. Tickets range from $12-$40. Call the Ticket Hotline at 826-4710, and don’t forget to ask about student and senior discounts.

YART Produces “Cheaper by the Dozen” John Greene, executive and artistic director and general creative guru of the Young Artists’ Repertory Theatre, has assembled a cast ranging in age from 9 to 19 for YART’s production of “Cheaper by the Dozen.”

“There are 16 total,” he said. “Plus the dog.”

The play is about a terminally ill man named Frank Gilbreth engaged in a struggle to retain some control of his life and environment. He is an efficiency expert who observes how factories operate and develops methods so that they can become more efficient. (In real life, he developed the operating room protocol for nurses to hand doctors their instruments.)

But there are problems when he tries to take his discoveries home.

“He thinks he can run his family like a factory,” Greene said. “But his daughter (Ann) has other ideas when she becomes interested in boys.”

“He’s trying to get everything in place before he dies. Ann doesn’t realize until the end that he is so ill.”

For all its bittersweet moments, Greene

said, it’s quite a cute and comedic play.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

One interesting thing about the play is that it was actually written by two of the protagonist’s children, Ernestine Gilbreth and Frank Gilbreth Jr. Characters representing them serve as narrators.

The play is set in the 1920s, back when people would actually do things like have 12 children, which is what the Gilbreths did, and which is why the play is called “Cheaper by the Dozen.”

Because of the time period, there will be obscure references. But never fear, Greene said. They are including a section in their program in which these references will be explained. This, he said, is a good learning opportunity, for both the audience and his young actors.

“Just little references that make things, I think, a little more enjoyable, and then these kids come away with a little bit of history knowledge.”

Another learning opportunity lies in the music.

“There’s a lot of music mentioned in the show,” he said. “All the music that’s mentioned will be played during intermission.”

In fact, Greene is all about education when it comes to working with his actors.

“I will stop and explain to them what a line means. These kids don’t have the experience of being a parent or anything of that nature,” he said. “I have to explain to them the emotion.

“I don’t believe in just blocking a play and letting it go. I love seeing the light go on.”

The Young Artists Repertory Theatre Company will be presenting “Cheaper by the Dozen” on March 21, 22 and 23 at the Bon Air Theatre. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. For info call 210-8915.

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Arts: Visual

A Sample Platter of Local Art

There is lots of art in this area. Here is just a sample. We’ve gone off the beaten path a bit for these discoveries – well, if you don’t count the chickens at Broad Strokes Gallery, which is on Artists’ Row. We couldn’t resist.

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By Rhonda Jones

Pam Danzer

Shelly Schmidt

These chickens were hatched by guest artist Pam Danzer, and there are 11 of them in the gallery window. Most of what you will find are paintings done over a newspaper surface. Frames and canvas, I speculate, have been covered with newspaper, which were then coated with a magical art substance, before the painting of the chickens – all kinds of chickens in all kinds of poses. In fact, there is a certain life force in the chickens. They’re more than cute; they’re electric. Taken as a whole, the exhibit is full of movement – the pecking and scratching of the barnyard. I wonder if there’s any sort of sociopolitical message behind the chicken paintings?

Long live the chicken.

For more information call the Broad Strokes Gallery at 774-1026.

Shelly Schmidt loves racehorses. That is obvious in the creativity she exhibits when creating photographs of them. “To the Finish” features a couple of runners, which appear to be almost in a void.

Much of the photograph has been erased, the artist preserving the surface of the track, the rail, a few of the spectators – and of course, the horses.

“Steeplechase” is a different sort of photograph, beautiful in its earthiness. You can almost hear the horses grunting as each one struggles for the lead. There is a cluster of three, shining and chocolate-brown in the sun, beneath jockeys decked out in festive silks. I don’t know how old the photograph is, but if not age, then the artistic process has muted the colors and left it looking like a piece that could be sitting on your grandfather’s desk from decades past.

Alan Harmon If you’d planned to swing by the Cotton Exchange to check out Duane Brown’s photography, don’t. That exhibit has made way for the work of Alan Harmon, who puts together (frequently) large

pieces inundated with confusing shapes, but which are nevertheless compelling.

For instance, a piece called “Promises,” contains orange oscillating fans and green cell phones with a figure in the center that could be a face. Not entirely sure.

Other pieces involve charcoal and ink on paper. “People’s Choice” is one of those, and it pictures busloads of people meeting (but not crashing) head-on. The drawings are crude and emotional. Buses and bananas are two images that show up over and over in this exhibit. But, as random as it may at first seem, there is a reason the artist chooses these images.

According to his artist’s statement, available for viewing at the Cotton Exchange, Harmon’s recent work has been inspired by his own experiences with community development in rural Uganda.

He is interested, the statement reads, in the suggestions of hope found in the media that reflect the culture itself: newspapers, advertisements, icons, games, educational materials, and political and religious propaganda.

It’s interesting stuff.

For info call 724-4067.

Laurie Lockliear WGAC news anchor Laurie Lockliear has been doing time on the other side of the camera. In a recent conversation with The Metropolitan Spirit, she said that she fell into exhibiting the same way that a lot of people wind up showing off their talents: She was bullied into it by family and friends.

“Dreaming,” which also uses muted colors – looks like it may even be sepia toned – involves a closeup of a horse’s eyes, with an image superimposed in the corner of (presumably) this horse frolicking with a pasture playmate.

Schmidt’s work is currently on exhibit at the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in Aiken, S.C. Sponsored by the City of Aiken Parks and Recreation Department.

For info call (803) 642-7650.

Actually, that’s not exactly what she said. But after she started getting a few “You really ought to exhibit those” comments, and then proceeded to get a whole lot more, she said what the heck and took her friends’ advice.

If you look closely at her photographs, you may be able to tell – and then again, if you’re like me, you may not – that her work is unenhanced by photoshop or other digital darkroom magic. In fact, she said, she doesn’t even use light filters to control the image. What you see is what she saw.

Apparently, the journalism bug is active, even in her personal work – in the desire to document objectively.

If you’d like to take a look at her work, stop

by A Silver Lining downtown on Broad Street in Augusta. For info, call 303-9632.

In Conclusion ...

But don’t just stop at these art venues.

There is an exhibit at at the Walton Rehabilitation Hospital at 1355 Independence Drive, until March 28. These are the winners of the Georgia Artists With Disabilities 2002-2003 Exhibition, which are joined by works from local disabled

artists. For info call 826-5809.

Augusta State University is always a good place to check out interesting art.

That’s because it’s mainly by students and they are still enthusiastic and fresh and eager to learn all that their professors have taught them – sometimes all at

once. The ASU Fine Arts Gallery is hosting just such a group March 15-31. If you’d like information, call 737-1453.

For plenty of other exhibition venues, check out the Exhibitions section of our 8 Days a Week calendar, where we present an assortment of galleries, studios,

cultural centers, museums, schools and yes, bars, that play host to artists and their work.

So keep your eyes open. Never know what kind of cool stuff you’ll see.

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Arts: Music

Kari Gaffney Returns Home for Tuesday’s Music Live

W

ell, now she’s done it. Local jazz songstress Kari Gaffney has let the world in on the music she’s making, and now they want more. That means life on the road for 10 months out of the year, but she doesn’t mind.

She’s not leaving anyone behind.

For one thing, her husband Jeff Williams is her music partner, the guitarist backing up the voice. They homeschool their 12-year-old, David, and so he joins them on tour. Even their cat, Sandy, comes along for the ride.

She says it’s the fastest-paced tour they’ve done, which has had them driving 11 to 14 hours a day. “I think we’ve learned our lesson,” she said, laughing.

They’ve learned not to travel North during the winter months also.

“We hit some really bad weather this time,” she said. “We got caught in an avalanche and a 14-car pileup.”

That was in Snowbird, Utah. They were evacuated at 4:00 in the morning.

In Wyoming, they encountered 100mph winds and seven wrecked big-rigs.

“I think what we’re going to do is stay much more South,” she said. Next winter,

they’re playing Florida.

They know this, she said, because they’re booked until Jan. 2004.

And they’re starting to hit the charts as well. Jazzreview.com reports that they have spent some time at No. 3 on the Jazz Charts and at No. 8 on the Top 200 Radio Releases on CMJ. The new CD is called “Satin Doll.” It’s a polished, professional production. A beautiful piece of work.

There is something about Kari Gaffney’s voice in the first track, “Speak Low,” that brings to mind the soulful, sultry likes of Karen Carpenter.

Other tracks, like “Summertime,” transport you to a cool drink, warm body place of late-night music clubs when you’ve forgotten why you came out or where you’re going, and the images no longer make sense because you haven’t slept a full night in days. But there you are, not sure whether you’re dreaming or going crazy, but it’s all beautiful, and you wouldn’t be anywhere else.

It’s a long bath-and-candles CD; a quiet evening at home with your honey CD; a rainy-day, chillin’ over a slow glass of wine CD.

By Rhonda Jones

And it’s a different creation than their previous “Angel Eyes.” Gaffney said that is because of their decision to focus on the guitar, as opposed to the piano, as the main instrument. “It’s an instrument our generation really relates to,” she said.

“You don’t hear a lot of vocal, guitar releases. That’s not very unheard of in other genres, but it’s pretty unique in jazz.

“We wanted to experiment with different colors and tones.

“To me, music is not just notes on a piece of paper. It’s about emotions. And I see colors when I think of music, the motif of the song. I think that instruments create colors.”

You can experience the voice and the guitar in the flesh as part of the Tuesday’s Music Live series. This will be the last Tuesday’s show of the season, and will take place at noon on Tuesday (of course), March 18. The way things are going, this may be your last chance to see them free of charge.

If you would like to order lunch, make advance reservations at (706) 722-3463.

The cost is $7. La Maison on Telfair will cater a Caribbean Chicken Salad meal with vegetable, bread and dessert sides.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church currently The Catholic Church of the Most Holy Trinity invites you to celebrate

St. Patrick's Day Mass Monday, March 17, 2003 12:00 noon Fr. Allan McDonald ~ celebrant Fr. Miguel Grave de Peralta ~ homilist Dr. Janet E. Hunt, FAGO ~ Organist/Choir Director

The Church of the Holy Trinity is located at the corner of 8th and Telfair Streets in Historic Downtown Augusta 706-722-4944

Cinema

37

“Shanghai Knights”

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

Movie Listings t ypical teen-ager with a secret — he’s par t of a CIA pilot program, in which youngsters are trained to become spies. Banks’ latest mission has him going undercover at a prep school to befriend beautiful and popular Natalie Connors, whose father, a scientist, is unknowingly involved in the development of deadly weapons for an evil group. All of which could be a problem for Banks — he doesn’t exactly have a way with the ladies. Cast: Frankie Muniz, Hilar y Duf f, Angie Harmon.

Biker Boyz (PG-13) — Described as a “contemporar y Western on wheels,” “Biker Boyz” delves into the underground world of motorcycle racing.

Undefeated champ Smoke dominates California’s racing scene, but his position is threatened by a young racer named Kid. Kid’s out to win Smoke’s helmet — and his fame. Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Orlando Jones, Djimon Hounsole, Lisa Bonet, Kid Rock.

Bringing Down the House (PG-13) —

Queen Latifah smoothly pockets "Bringing Down the House" as Charlene, a good-hear ted fugitive from the law, turning to a starchy, divorced ta x at torney for refuge and suppor t. Steve Mar tin is the lawyer, Peter.

The core idea of this ver y simple comedy is pure buzz of contrast: Latifah is abundantly, explosively black, while Mar tin may be the whitest man ever to star in movies. Latifah rides out the nonsense in her queenly, Pearl Bailey st yle. It's a cookie-cut comedy.

The movie delivers its ver y manufactured goods, but it lacks the guts to be a meaningful comedy. Cast: Steve Mar tin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright, Jean Smar t, Bet t y White. Running time: 1 hr., 45 mins. (Elliot t) ★★ Chicago (PG-13) —- It's been 23 years since Richard Gere stripped on Broadway for "Bent." Now he gets to pull of f his clothes as slick shyster Billy Flynn.

Mostly in wonder ful suits, his hair shining like creased silver, Gere is having the best time of his movie life, singing and tapdancing and lording over women with rakish snaz. He's a lioness-tamer; the main cats are Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a cabaret sex

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bazooka and killer on Death Row and newcomer Roxie Har t (Renee Zellweger), a Bet ty Boop who killed her lover. For cash and headlines, Flynn will help guilty women beat the law. "Chicago" is zip for depth, but it has all the sexy sur face it needs to be ex travagantly alive. It tops of f at the Chicago Theater, and the old show palace looks delighted. Cast: Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, Queen Latifah, Christine Baranski, Taye Diggs. Running time: 1 hr., 53 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★★ Cradle 2 the Grave (R) — DMX stars as thief Tony Fait, who pulls of f a heist involving rare black diamonds. On Fait’s trail is Su (Jet Li), a Taiwanese government agent who has been tracking the path of the diamonds throughout the world. Su’s former par tner Ling, lured by the diamonds and looking to procure them for himself, kidnaps Fait’s young daughter in an at tempt to exchange her for the diamonds. Fait realizes his only chance to get his daughter back is to team up with Su. Cast: Jet Li, DMX, Anthony Anderson, Gabrielle Union, Mark Dacascos.

Daredevil (PG-13) — Ben Af fleck as Mat t Murdock is another lonely " tormented" orphan whose only therapy is a revenge quest that pretends to be a moral, city-saving crusade. His boxing father (David Keith) came to a brutal end, not long af ter the sensitive boy was blinded by a chemical spill. Now his other senses are "heightened," which somehow gives Daredevil immense strength, the talent to leap great distances. Colin Farrell plays enemy Bullseye, who loves hurling sharp objects at people's throats. The hero's fem interest is Elek tra (Jennifer Garner). There is immense Michael Clarke Duncan as bad guy Kingpin. We want to believe that corporate Hollywood can evolve beyond this form of serial constipation, so full of action, but with nothing truly human moving.

Cast: Ben Af fleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, David Keith, Michael Clarke Duncan. Running time: 1 hr., 35 mins. (Elliot t) ★ Deliver Us From Eva (R) — Eva, described as the “sister-in-law from hell” by the men in her life, is one big nagging pain in the — well, you get the idea.

The guys, desperate to stop her nagging and shut her

MGM/UA Pictures

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up for good, hope that the right man will do the trick.

They pay a smooth studmuf fin, played by LL Cool J, to seduce Eva. The results of the experiment come as a surprise to ever yone. Cast: Gabrielle Union, LL Cool J, Essence Atkins, Dar tanyan Edmonds, Meagan Good.

Die Another Day (PG-13) — Pierce Brosnan moves with energy and can fake conviction. His chest hair is superb, his voice remains Bondaceous. But he looks peaked, and we imagine he found time to remember when acting meant, well, acting. Not just pulverizing glass, plunging through ice, brandishing absurd weapons and making limp jokes. True to its Cold War roots, the series reaches for one more rotten Commie enemy. So bring on dear old Nor th Korea.

A Pyongyang lunatic has found the resources, via diamonds, to create a satellite sun called Icarus, to burn or blind the dumb Yanks, the snot ty Brits and the greedy South Korean stooges. He captures Bond, tortures him, then zips of f to Cuba, where he is DNAmorphed into a sneery Brit named Graves (Toby Stephens). We recall Connery, and old plots that, however abundantly silly, were adventurous larks and not just plastic shelves for hardware display. Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, John Cleese, Judi Dench, Rick Yune. Running time: 2 hrs. (Elliot t) ★★ Drumline (PG-13) — A young street drummer from Harlem wins a scholarship to at tend a Southern university and decides to make the trek af ter being convinced by the university’s band director, even though he knows he’ll have a hard time fit ting in.

Gradually, his drumming skills help the other students warm up to him. Cast: Nick Cannon, Orlando Jones, Zoe Saldana, Jason Weaver.

8 Mile (R) — As Jimmy "Rabbit" Smith, Eminem flunks his first hip-hop bat tle, a cut ting contest of insult rhymes at a black club, is pegged a choker and sulks back to his grueling job at a metal-stamping mill.

The simple story is how Rabbit motorizes his mouth, confirming the "genius" proclaimed by pal and club emcee Future (Mekhi Phifer). As a buzzer, it has juice.

Thanks to Eminem and the rising rap momentum, "8 Mile" is engrossing. In this urban, if not urbane, fantasy, the hero takes a bad beating, gets up and goes to work, interrupts work to wow everyone at the hip-hop club, then returns to work af ter a verbal outlay that would have put even Winston Churchill in bed for days. Cast: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Evan Jones, Brit tany Murphy, Anthony Mackie. Running time: 1 hr., 58 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★ Final Destination 2 (R) — As in the first movie, a group of teen-agers manages to cheat death. But death, unsatisfied with the teens’ getaway, pursues in a myriad of disturbing ways. Kimberly, driving a group of friends to Florida, has a premonition that helps them avoid being caught in a fatal freeway pileup. Death has other plans. Cast: Ali Lar ter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landes, T.C. Carson, Jonathan Cherry, James Kirk, Tony Todd.

Friday After Next (R) — This is the third film in the "Friday" series and features the same people, places and pals highlighted in the first two. "Friday

★★★— Worthy.

★★ — Mixed.

★ — Poor.

Af ter Nex t" takes place around Christmas, as Craig and Day-Day are working as security guards af ter a "ghet to Santa" who’s been stealing presents. Cast: Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Don "D.C." Curry.

Gods and Generals (PG-13) — Rober t Duvall brings his rather gaunt but vinegar presence to the role of Gen. Lee. In this 216-minute epic, Lee is sidelined

by Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, played by Stephen Lang not as a stone wall but a statue-inprogress. The Nor therners exist mostly to die, like dutiful blue ants. It's like an old history cyclorama "brought to life" with a mix ture of wa x, starch and pulped hymnals. The main audience will clearly be military buf fs, armchair warriors and re-enactors. For them, here is a devotional of death, inferior to "Get tysburg" and, of course, a vir tual car toon of the war in its true and awful glory. Cast: Rober t Duvall, Stephen Lang, Jef f Daniels, Kevin Conway, Mira Sorvino, Bruce Boxleitner. Running time: 3 hrs., 36 mins. (Elliot t) ★★

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

clear eye and spor ty will, not the least neurotic despite having been orphaned into a family of idiotic prigs who treat him abominably. He again escapes to Hogwar ts, to his pals (Ruper t Grint as wobble-faced Ron, Emma Watson as bookworm Hermione) and the snippish regard of Prof. Snape (Alan Rickman) and Prof. McGonegall (Maggie Smith), and the wonder ful giant Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and Headmaster Dumbledore (Richard Harris, now dead). Jason Isaacs should be given more time as Lucius, the evil, whitemaned father of snob Draco Malfoy. There is a sense of a grand machine greased, sometimes grinding. The "chamber of secrets" is less an exciting mystery at the center than a device to car t the bulky saga forward.

Cast: Daniel Radclif fe, Ruper t Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane. Running time: 2 hrs., 41 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★

How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days (PG-13) —

should be retitled "How to Lose a Movie in 10 Minutes." The spirited opening credits are a clever visual and musical introduction to Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) as she dashes and fumbles though research for "how-to" ar ticles published in a glitzy women's magazine. But all promise evaporates when the lame dialogue begins. Andie is destined to meet Mat thew McConaughey's womanizing adver tising executive, Ben Barry, whose major goal is snagging the world's biggest diamond account. These two up-andcoming New York hot ties bump along through the contrived plot, which involves Andie's "how to lose a guy" assignment and Ben's bet with competing co-workers that he can make a woman fall in love with him — all in the same 10-day deadline. The teasers for "10 Days" tout: "One of them is lying. So is the other." Ah, yes, the per fect date movie. Cast: Kate Hudson, Mat thew McConaughey, Adam Goldberg, Bebe Neuwir th.

Running time: 1 hr., 50 mins. (Wood) ★1/2 The Hunted (R) — Benicio Del Toro is U.S. special forces soldier Aaron Hallam, fresh out of the

0— Not worthy.

continued on page 38

38 “Deliver Us From Eva”

“Willard”

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continued from page 37 bloody conflict in Kosovo and AWOL. Living in the woods of Oregon, Hallam tracks deer hunters, inflicting his own eye-for-an-eye brand of vigilante justice for the hunters’ misdeeds. To solve the string of murders plaguing the woods of the upper Nor thwest, the FBI calls in L.T. Bonham, Hallam’s former military teacher, to hunt Hallam. Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Benicio Del Toro, Leslie Stefanson, Connie Nielsen.

The Jungle Book 2 (G) — Mowgli and friends return in this animated sequel to the Disney classic.

Mowgli has adjusted to life in the village with all the other humans, but he still misses his animal friends, especially Baloo. When Mowgli sneaks away to the jungle to visit his old pals, it’s a race to see who can find him first: the friends he’s looking to visit or maneating tiger Shere Khan. Cast: John Goodman, Haley Joel Osment, Tony Jay. The Life of David Gale (R) — Kevin Spacey stars as David Gale, a family man and popular professor who is convicted of murdering a fellow activist.

Just days before he is scheduled to be executed, Gale agrees to an exclusive interview with rabid journalist Bitsey Bloom, who soon discovers that there is more to Gale’s story than meets the eye — and that his life is in her hands. Cast: Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney.

Maid in Manhattan (PG-13) — The airy fantasy puts Jennifer Lopez into a cute maid's uniform at a swank New York hotel. She's Marisa, and when she tries on the very expensive, if rather Bel Air trophy wife, out fit of a snobbish guest, this at tracts the "playboy" eye of senatorial hopeful Chris Marshall (Ralph Fiennes). Chris' manager (Stanley Tucci) is in controlfreak agony that the Republican politician might fall in love with someone not toity and rich. The film is most marked by the flagrant waste of talent. As the sitcom yucks racked up their lit tle nif ties, perked along by music, I had a weird, tiny pinch of nostalgia for "Jackass: The Movie." Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins, Natasha Richardson, Stanley Tucci, Tyler Garcia Posey. Running time: 1 hr., 35 mins. (Elliot t) ★1/2

Old School (R) — Three buddies, men in their

twenties, wish to recapture the good ol’ days: college, when raging keggers and hot girls were plentiful. They get their chance when one of them decides it’s a good idea to star t their own off-campus frat house. Cast: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Elisha Cuthber t.

The Pianist (R) — The story of how gif ted pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman (played by delicately featured, demurely expressive Adrien Brody) survived the Nazi rape of Poland and the Holocaust is blended without hysteria, indeed with sobering control, into the personal gravity of director Roman Polanski's childhood during the war hell. It's a wonder ful film, with surges of honest feeling that can knock you nearly flat, and Chopin underscores the emotions. 2 hrs., 28 mins.

(Elliot t) ★★★★ Punch-Drunk Love (R) — The movie opens with a pointless auto smashup that could represent the whole film. Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) barely reacts to the dawn crash near his warehouse lot, but shows mild interest in a harmonium, mysteriously dropped of f on the driveway. He is everywhere seen as cute but weird. He at tends a par ty and impulsively smashes three plate-glass panels. He goes to a restaurant men's room and wrecks it. Barry finds love. Lena (Emily Watson) arrives, an English businesswoman who is perplexed but smit ten. (Why?) The story is a flighty ef for t that never took wing for me. Director Paul Thomas Anderson clearly thinks that Sandler has a sustaining magic, as if the spirits of Harry Langdon, Jerry Lewis and Jacques Tati were flowering from his weird, jerky "niceness." Cast: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Luis Guzman, Philip Seymour Hof fman.

Running time: 1 hr., 29 mins. (Elliot t) ★ The Recruit (PG-13) — Al Pacino, as CIA recruiter Walter Burke, takes young MIT grad James Clay ton (Colin Farrell) "through the looking glass," for spy training and tough tests at The Farm, the CIA school outside Washington. His insider hook on Clay ton is that he might have the secret the younger man needs to know, about the dead father whom he suspects died on a CIA mission in 1990. The story tangles boyish Clay ton with the recruit Layla (Bridget

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Moynahan), another go-for-it brain with a similar taste for danger. The story twists and snaps through the set tings with tricky confidence, and the modern device of using computers fits this plot snugly. "The Recruit" manages the commercially savvy trick of being both insolent and patriotic about the CIA. It will probably recruit some fans of this movie. Cast: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Gabriel Macht, Bridget Moynahan. Running time: 1 hr., 45 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★ The Ring (PG-13) — begins with the telling of an urban-legend-like tale that, for a while, seems likely to consign this movie to the slasher/horror bin: A weird videotape is circulating. As soon as you're through watching it, the telephone rings. A voice on the phone informs you that you have seven days to live. Seven days later, you die. The film boasts first-rate per formances, a gorgeous look, an engaging plot and a jangly, thrumming sense of dread. The ef fectiveness of such a movie depends entirely on the beholder. Save for a long, uneasy feeling of foreboding and one solid jolt, I didn't find it all that scary. Two young women exiting the theater in front of me, however, declared that the thing had terrified them, and I'm willing to take their word for it. Cast: Naomi Wat ts, Mar tin Henderson, David Dor fman, Brian Cox. Running time: 1 hr., 55 mins. (Salm) ★★1/2 Shanghai Knights (PG-13) — This is a sequel to 2000's silly hit "Shanghai Noon." The sequel feels longer and has some sag. Jackie Chan is a former imperial guardsman from 19th-century Peking, but gone to the Old (then young) West as Chon Wang, a.k.a. John Wayne. He's now a sherif f, and Owen Wilson as scampy ladies' man Roy O'Bannon has decamped to Victorian London, where he is a stubblecheeked waiter, but still has a harem of loyal females.

The Chinese imperial seal with a huge diamond is falling into the sneaky hands of an imperial wannabe in exile, who is allied with a wannabe future king of England. The film ends with the usual Chan bonus, a spree of blooper shots. Cast: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Fann Wong, Aaron Johnson, Gemma Jones.

Running time: 1 hr., 42 mins. (Elliot t) ★★1/2 Tears of the Sun (R) — Antoine Fuqua's film is

about a Special Ops team of U.S. soldiers sent from an aircraf t carrier into civil-warring Nigeria to rescue an American ("by marriage") doctor and some missionaries who quickly decide to mar tyr themselves. The team leader, Waters (Bruce Willis), tricks the doctor (Monica Bellucci) onto a chopper out, leaving her Nigerian wards behind. But something moral clicks in Waters' hard head and he returns with the doctor to lead the innocents out by foot, hoping to make it to the border while being hunted by a well-equipped regiment of ruthless soldiers. With soldiers like Waters preparing for war in Iraq, on a mission they hope will be this morally credible, it is the stark fear and danger, and the stunned, desperate civilians, that make "Tears of the Sun" seem timely. Cast: Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser, Bourke Floyd, Malick Bowens, Tom Skerrit t. Running time: 1 hr., 45 mins. (Elliot t) ★★★ Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) — Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a smar t but stressed at torney whose client, millionaire George Wade (Hugh Grant), is deeply dependent on her. George won’t let her quit until she finds her own replacement – a young lawyer who has her eye on George. George, however, is looking elsewhere: at what just lef t. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, Alicia Wit t.

The Wild Thornberrys (PG) — Big-screen version of the animated Nickeloden series about a family who travels around the world to make nature documentaries. While in Africa, 12-year-old Eliza learns that she can speak with animals and, with their help, aims to stop a group of poachers. Cast: Lacey Chaber t, Tim Curry, Ruper t Everet t, Flea, Lynn Redgrave, Marisa Tomei.

Willard (PG-13) — Willard Stiles, a 30-year-old man with antisocial tendencies and a very Norman Bates relationship with his mother, cannot bond with other humans. He befriends a pack of rats living in his basement; the rats, in turn, terrorize and exact revenge on those who have done Willard wrong. Cast: Crispin Glover, R. Lee Ermey, Laura Elena Harring, Jackie Burroughs.

—Capsules compiled from movie reviews written by David Elliott, film critic for The San Diego Union-Tribune and other staff writers.

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39

Cinema: Review

Action Movie Focuses on Solid Filmmaking By Rachel Deahl

F

rom the opening lines, in which a verse of Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited” is solemnly uttered by Johnny Cash, to the country legend’s spirited rendition of that song in the closing credits, “The Hunted” is a terse, exciting, bittersweet chase. Recalling the classic, and effective, camera work which put its director, William Friedkin, on the Hollywood map, the veteran delivers a refreshing action movie that relies more heavily on solid filmmaking than poorly executed, computer-generated effects.

Still best known for that lengthy, unforgettable subway chase in which Gene Hackman’s gruff New York City cop attempts to chase down the bad guys in “The French Connection,” Friedkin manages to bring much of the vigor and excitement of that taut sequence to his latest effort. About an expertly trained Special Forces soldier who becomes unhinged after a bloody tour in Kosovo, “The Hunted” chronicles a simple search and destroy effort with an AWOL officer as the target. The bait is played by a beady-eyed Benicio Del Toro, who embodies the soft-spoken, broken, uber-G.I. Joe of Aaron Hallam with an eerie dose of tenderness and sensitivity. Taught to kill with precision and stealth by a loner outdoorsman named L.T. Bonham (Tommy Lee Jones), who did “contract work” for the U.S. Army, the elder woodsman is called back on the job after Hallam brutally murders two hunters in the Oregon woods.

Not much for subtlety, “The Hunted” trumps various scenarios that depict a seeker moving in on his prey. From Jones’ introductory scene in which he tracks down a white wolf that’s been caught in a trap to Del Toro’s first taste of illegal blood (which comes from those two hunters, who happen to be in pursuit of a majestic moose), the film seemingly tosses out a variety of promotional material for the ASPCA. And, in the end, the message here is about as deep and blunt as a something that organization might have put on TV: toying with the balance of nature and killing other beings is wrong.

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Tues - Fri 10 am - Until • By Appointment Only • 3124 Washington Rd. Suite H • Across from Applebee’s Like its sparse and direct message, the film thankfully keeps the chatter to a minimum, letting the action play out in well-crafted tracking sequences. From the lush greenery of the Oregon wilderness to the crowded streets of Portland, Friedkin shows he still knows how to film a damn good chase scene. In one of the most electrifying segments of the film, Jones’ tracker tries to chase down a fleeing Del Toro as the elusive soldier escapes into a local fountain, a derelict-ridden park and finally onto a familiar site: a city subway. Pulling from his bag of tricks, Friedkin employs many of the same visual bells and whistles he used in “The French Connection” from terse background music to lengthy, uncut sequences.

And while “The Hunted” certainly never grabs hold of you in the same way Friedkin’s signature, Oscar-winning, picture did, it does recall an earlier of filmmaking when action was staged instead of merely programmed.

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40

Cinema: Close-Up

M E T R O

Success a Pleasant Surprise for Queen Latifah By Joey Berlin

S P I R I T M A R

Q

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ueen Latifah, born Dana Owens of Newark, N.J., has masterfully navigated the tricky transition from music star to movie star.

The rapper/actress recently crowned her accomplishment with a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination for her scene-stealing portrayal of Matron “Mama” Morton in the smash hit musical “Chicago.”

And Latifah begins another section of her resume with “Bringing Down the House.” Besides co-starring with Steve Martin, she executive-produced the broad and brash comedy. Latifah, who turns 33 on March 18, plays a brassy escaped convict inflicting herself on Martin’s vanillaflavored life. He’s a straight-laced tax attorney, and she’s the flashy felon who blackmails him into helping clear her record. Following her more dramatic bigscreen work in such films as “Bringing Out the Dead,” “Sphere” and “The Bone Collector,” “Bringing Down the House” marks another upsurge in Latifah’s career, which always seems to be moving upward.

Q: What is it like to get the call that you just received an Oscar nomination?

A: It’s a pretty intense high. It’s like you just take off. I wasn’t expecting that call, and I’m glad I wasn’t, because I got to just feel it. I wasn’t sitting in front of the TV waiting for the announcements or anything like that. I was coming off of a big weekend at the NBA All-Star Game, so I was recovering on the way back from all the parties and everything. I was up all night watching the first season of “Good Times” on the tour bus, driving back home. It was drafty on the bus, so I couldn’t sleep, and it wasn’t our normal bus, so I just felt weird.

Q: You got the call on your tour bus?

A: No, at home. I fell asleep about an hour before I got home, so I was drowsy as heck when I came in the house. I had just gotten under the covers when the phone rang. It was my partner Sha-Kim saying, “Yo, we got the nomination!” I said, “What nomination?” He says, “The Oscar nomination!” And I say, “No way!

No way!” I just went jumping and running around the house, woke up my best friend who was on the other side of the house. My assistant was downstairs sleeping and I dived on top of her, woke her up. I said, “Yo, we got it.” So it was pretty exhilarating. I was shocked.

Pleasantly shocked.

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Q: Do movies like “Bringing Down the House” help society break down racial barriers?

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A: I think so. I think they show how ridiculous classism and racism are, and how we can all wind up being pawns to that mentality and attitude.

Q: Would you say Steve Martin’s character is a victim of some of that classism, as well?

A: Yeah. Steve’s character has to tolerate a bunch of crap from his neighbor across the street, the sister of his boss. He’s got a young, up-and-coming lawyer clipping at his heels, taking his parking space. He has to tolerate a woman whose thinking is just archaic, to keep a big account that means a lot to his firm and his job security. I think this is realistic, and a lot of people are in that position.

Q: Why is there such a lack of women behind the scenes in hip-hop?

A: It’s a good, strong boys club out there.

Anybody who doesn’t know that is really naive. But it’s not a boys club that you can’t be a part of. It’s really a hustle. You have to be strong, you have to be credible. You can still go out there and do your thing, it’s just a question of wanting to do it, and what you’re willing to do and not do. We do have some strong women out there, you know, people who have been putting in work for years and making a name for themselves.

Q: In the past, you had been critical of the Motion Picture Academy. Have you re-evaluated your thinking about the Oscar voters now?

A: They’re getting hip in their old age. At 75, they’re getting kind of sharp, ha ha.

No, I haven’t re-evaluated my thinking. I still think we live in a country that judges people by the color of their skin, unfortunately. That’s always going to play a part in various elements of life in America.

But I felt “Chicago” was great. I thought Richard Gere should have been nominated too, because I really think he gave an Oscar-worthy performance. I’m just glad that the movie was recognized in the way that it was, everybody from wardrobe to editing to sound editing, to screen writing. You know, it’s not just about the actors all the time.

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MOVIE CLOCK REGAL AUGUSTA EXCHANGE 20 Movies Good 3/14 - 3/20 Tears of the Sun (R) 1:05, 2:10, 3:55, 4:45, 7:25, 7:55, 10:10, 10:35 Willard (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00, 12:25; Sun-Thur: 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00 The Hunted (R) Fri-Sat: 12:15, 1:20, 2:35, 3:35, 4:55, 5:45, 7:15, 8:15, 9:45, 10:30, 12:05; SunThur: 12:15, 1:20, 2:35, 3:35, 4:55, 5:45, 7:15, 8:15, 9:45, 10:30 Agent Cody Banks (PG) Fri-Sat: 12:20, 1:30, 2:45, 4:15, 5:10, 7:20, 7:50, 9:50, 10:20, 12:15; Sun-Thur: 12:20, 1:30, 2:45, 4:15, 5:10, 7:20, 7:50, 9:50, 10:20 Bringing Down the House (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 12:45, 2:00, 3:10, 4:30, 5:30, 7:05, 8:00, 9:35, 10:25, 12:10; Sun-Thur: 12:45, 2:00, 3:10, 4:30, 5:30, 7:05, 8:00, 9:35, 10:25 Cradle 2 the Grave (R) Fri-Sat: 12:25, 2:50, 5:15, 7:50, 9:30, 10:20, 11:55; Sun-Thur: 12:25, 2:50, 5:15, 7:50, 9:30, 10:20 Gods and Generals (PG-13) 1:00, 7:00 Daredevil (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 11:55, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55, 12:20; Sun-Thur: 11:55, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55 Jungle Book 2 (G) 12:00, 1:45, 3:30, 5:25, 7:10 Old School (R) Fri-Sat: 12:05, 2:15, 4:40, 7:35, 10:05, 12:30; Sun-Thur: 12:05, 2:15, 4:40, 7:35, 10:05 Deliver Us From Eva (R) 2:05, 4:35, 7:10, 9:40 Shanghai Knights (PG-13) 12:40, 3:15, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40 How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 1:25, 4:05, 6:55, 9:25, 12:00; Sun-Thur: 1:25, 4:05, 6:55, 9:25 Final Destination 2 (R) 12:10, 2:25, 5:05, 7:45, 10:15 The Recruit (PG-13) 12:35, 3:05, 5:35, 8:05, 10:45 Chicago (PG-13) Fri-Sat: 1:15, 4:00, 6:50, 9:20, 11:50; Sun-Thur: 1:15, 4:00, 6:50, 9:20 EVANS 12 CINEMAS Movies Good 3/14 - 3/20 The Hunted (R) Fri: 3:05, 5:10, 7:25, 9:45; SatSun: 1:00, 3:05, 5:10, 7:25, 9:45; Mon-Thur: 5:10, 7:25, 9:45 Agent Cody Banks (PG) Fri: 4:30, 7:15, 9:30; Sat-Sun: 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:30; Mon-Thur: 4:30, 7:15, 9:30 Tears of the Sun (R) Fri: 2:30, 4:10, 5:30, 7:10, 8:30, 9:45; Sat-Sun: 1:10, 2:30, 4:10, 5:30, 7:10, 8:30, 9:45; Mon-Thur: 4:10, 5:30, 7:10, 8:30, 9:45 Bringing Down the House (PG-13) Fri-Sun: 2:10, 4:40, 7:30, 9:50; Mon-Thur: 4:40, 7:30, 9:50 Cradle 2 the Grave (R) 7:00, 9:35 Gods and Generals (PG-13) 8:00 Old School (R) Fri: 3:35, 5:35, 7:35, 9:55; SatSun: 1:35, 3:35, 5:35, 7:35, 9:55; Mon-Thur:

M E T R O

5:35, 7:35, 9:55 The Pianist (R) Fri: 4:00; Sat-Sun: 1:00, 4:00; Mon-Thur: 4:00 Jungle Book 2 (G) Fri: 3:25, 5:25, 7:15; SatSun: 1:25, 3:25, 5:25, 7:15; Mon-Thur: 5:25, 7:15 Daredevil (PG-13) Fri: 3:10, 5:25, 7:45, 10:00; Sat-Sun: 12:55, 3:10, 5:25, 7:45, 10:00; MonThur: 5:25, 7:45, 10:00 How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days (PG-13) Fri-Sun: 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40; Mon-Thur: 4:50, 7:20, 9:40 Shanghai Knights (PG-13) 9:15 Chicago (PG-13) Fri-Sun: 1:55, 4:20, 7:05, 9:20; Mon-Thur: 4:20, 7:05, 9:20 Kangaroo Jack (PG) Fri: 3:35, 5:35; Sat-Sun: 1:35, 3:35, 5:35; Mon-Thur: 5:35 MASTERS 7 CINEMAS Movies Good 3/14 - 3/20 The Hunted (R) Fri: 5:15, 7:45, 10:00; Sat: 2:45, 5:15, 7:45, 10:00; Sun: 2:45, 5:15, 7:45; Mon-Thur: 5:15, 7:45 Agent Cody Banks (PG) Fri: 5:00, 7:30, 9:45; Sat: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45; Sun: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30; Mon-Thur: 5:00, 7:30 Willard (PG-13) Fri: 5:30, 8:00, 10:15; Sat: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:15; Sun: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00; Mon-Thur: 5:30, 8:00 Bringing Down the House (PG-13) Fri: 5:10, 7:40, 10:05; Sat: 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:05; Sun: 2:40, 5:10, 7:40; Mon-Thur: 5:10, 7:40 Tears of the Sun (R) Fri: 5:05, 7:35, 9:55; Sat: 2:35, 5:05, 7:35, 9:55; Sun: 2:35, 5:05, 7:35; Mon-Thur: 5:05, 7:35 Cradle 2 the Grave (R) Fri: 5:20, 7:55, 9:50; Sat: 3:10, 5:20, 7:55, 9:50; Sun: 3:10, 5:20, 7:55; Mon-Thur: 5:20, 7:55 Old School (R) Fri: 5:25, 8:05, 10:10; Sat: 2:55, 5:25, 8:05, 10:10; Sun: 2:55, 5:25, 8:05; MonThur: 5:25, 8:05 REGAL 12 CINEMAS Movies Good 3/14 - 3/20 The Life of David Gale (R) 1:55, 4:35, 7:15, 9:50 Punch-Drunk Love (R) 2:20, 4:25, 7:05, 9:25 Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) 2:00, 4:25, 7:35, 9:55 Biker Boyz (PG-13) 2:05, 4:30, 7:00, 9:35 Wild Thornberrys (PG) 2:30, 4:20, 7:30, 10:05 Maid in Manhattan (PG-13) 2:10, 4:40, 7:00, 9:20 Drumline (PG-13) 2:15, 4:40, 7:15, 9:50 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PG) 2:00, 5:15, 9:15 Die Another Day (PG-13) 1:55, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45 Friday After Nex t (R) 2:30, 4:45, 7:40, 9:30 8 Mile (R) 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:50 The Ring (PG-13) 2:40, 5:00, 7:25, 9:40

Movie listings are subject to change without notice.

Award-Winning Actor Tom Key Presents “C.S. Lewis on Stage” Thursday, March 13, 7PM Tom Key’s dramatic monologue highlights scenes from C.S. Lewis’ life. C.S. Lewis On Stage has been presented at the Kennedy Center, Oxford, Harvard and Yale Universities, and across the United States and Canada.

An event in the series from A 4-Week adventure through the world of c.s. lewis FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF AUGUSTA For More Information:

733-2236 or visit www.fbcaugusta.org

S P I R I T M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

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• Hanging Baskets 50 varieties • Fountains • Garden Accessories

• Herbs & Vegetables 36 varieties • Concrete Planters • Windchimes

BEDFORD GREENHOUSES 1023 Oleander Drive, Augusta 733-2269 Open Monday-Saturday 8-5 Washington Road to Woodbine Drive at St. Mark UMC, turn at second left - Redbird, left at second stop sign - Bedford, right at next street Oleander

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

Music

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Patience Pays Off for The Joshua Tapestry

T

“If you’re good enough, you’re going to get a chance to showcase what you’ve done. There’s a lot of people that are trying to get to the front of the line.”

— Josh Pierce

BY LISA JORDAN

here’s just something powerful about the dynamics of a lone acoustic guitar and a strong, soulful voice – and Josh Pierce knows it.

His solo project, The Joshua Tapestry, is quickly emerging as one of the most promising acts in Augusta. Pierce is consistently lining up gigs, at home and elsewhere. Last weekend, it was a Friday night show at Borders Books and Music. He’s scheduled as an upcoming acoustic street performer for April’s First Friday.

Mondays, you can usually find Pierce at open mic night at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta.

“When you go there, there’s a lot of talent,” he says. “I just kept going back. I went for the experience, and after that, you can meet people.”

Open mic winners get the opportunity to book a full show at Eddie’s Attic. Pierce is one of them. On May 14, it’s The Joshua Tapestry’s turn.

“I’m going there when we do the main show,” says Pierce. “We’re recording a live CD.” Though it may seem like The Joshua Tapestry just appeared out of thin air, Pierce’s music is the result of a lot of focus – and a lot of patience. It’s a journey he seems to be enjoying.

“If you’re good enough, you’re going to get a chance to showcase what you’ve done,” he says. “There’s a lot of people that are trying to get to the front of the line.”

Pierce got his start in choir during his school days in his native Arkansas. After moving to Shreveport, La., Pierce was exposed to another set of musical influences at Shreveport’s street festivals.

“There were blues bands – Cajun blues bands – all up and down the street. I’d run up to them: ‘Hey, can you teach me this?

Can you teach me that?’” he recalls. “I just soaked it in.”

At 15, Pierce taught himself to play guitar on an instrument owned by his grandfather. After a failed attempt by Pierce and his best friend to start up a band – the guitar ended up collecting dust – his grandfa-

ther took the guitar back.

“I went into the hospital one day when he was in chemo, watching a program about caves – I’ll never forget it – and begged him for the guitar back,” Pierce says. “He said, ‘If you don’t learn how to play it, I’ll take it away from you.’”

He pauses, and then grins. “That just proves I didn’t do it for the chicks.”

Then there were the formative college years. “I went to Henderson State, did a lot of frat parties, had a lot of experience with people not paying attention.” He laughs. “I would stay up late at night and jam. It got to the point where, I’m 21, I can do this, people are saying I can do it, so I’m just going to do it.”

Since moving to Augusta, Pierce has been bent on honing his craft. “There’s always somebody better. There’s always room for improvement,” he says. “I’ve got a lot of focus on it right now. … Augusta has been a cool place to learn a lot of things I wanted to learn.”

“I wouldn’t mind contributing things to the roots of songwriting,” he continues.

“Songwriting, to me, it should be something that allows other people to say, ‘I relate.’ If I can write a song that makes somebody feel a little less alone, I’ve done my job. Regardless of what people say, I feel like I have a responsibility if I’m going to do this. You have a responsibility to make it something worth singing. I write a lot about what is around me. Something will happen to me, and that’s what I’ll do; I’ll write about it. I really don’t have any qualms about being truthful.”

Listen to a few of his samples posted up at www.duckonbike.com, and that’s evident. The two live tracks, “Whips and Roses” and “Disease,” both complete with commentary, tell stories about real people Pierce has encountered. You’ll even get a laugh out of the story behind “Whips and Roses.”

The site also keeps a list of upcoming concerts scheduled for The Joshua Tapestry. Pierce’s next show is this weekend. On March 15, you can catch The Joshua Tapestry at Squeaky’s Tip-Top.

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PETER GABRIEL’S first leg of his “Growing Up” tour was supposed to debut in Atlanta last year but was canceled due to logistical problems. Of course, when 50 tons of staging equipment are involved, things get a bit expensive, so the former GENESIS frontman has scaled down his show. You can enjoy Gabriel and his always talented sidepersonhumans at Atlanta’s Chastain Park June 16. It will be fun to see if the typically indifferent and noisy Chastain crowd is louder than the band. TicketMaster.

MATCHBOX TWENTY and SUGAR RAY are hitting the raging slabs of interstate for an extended trek around the states. ROB THOMAS and band remain one of the biggest rock acts today, as their million-selling “More Than You Think You Are” indicates.

“Disease” and “Unwell,” the two singles excised from the album, are getting major airplay all over. Sugar Ray is busy in the studio putting the final touches on their next project.

Catch the pair June 29 at Philips in Atlanta or in Charlotte July 5 at the Coliseum.

Recently, MARK KNOPFLER has enjoyed a low-stress lifestyle away from the pressure of leading DIRE STRAITS with a series of lowkey solo projects and film scores. His last two projects, “Sailing to Philadelphia” (a terrific, underrated set) and “The Ragpicker’s Dream,” haven’t approached the numbers of his former band, but hey, the singer-guitarist

BY

I N T E R N E T P R I C E S - LO C A L CO N V E N I E N C E 246-A Bobby Jones Expressway | 650-9977 | Open 7 Days

Olde Towne’s Best Kept Secret KORN seems to be having a swell time. His next project is a duets album in Nashville, but in the meantime the brain and voice behind “Sultans of Swing” and “Brothers in Arms” has a solo tour scheduled. A July 9 show at Atlanta’s Chastain Park was announced just as The Spirit went to press.

Where’s Schillinger and Beecher? Dept.

Ozzfest 2003 should be another extremely hot ticket this summer with KORN, DISTURBED, MARILYN MANSON, and OZZY headlining this year’s music and mayhem. As in past years, tickets for Ozzfest are priced lower than most festivals, with ticket prices for lawn seating as low as a tenner. The fest, which sports multiple stages, visits Charlotte’s Verizon Amphitheater Aug. 24 and Atlanta’s Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre on the 26th. Bring the entire family.

Turner’s Quick Notes “Hittin’ the Note” from THE ALLMAN BROTHERS is new and in stores this week ...

“14 Shades of Grey,” the next release from rockers STAIND, is set for May 6 ... YUSUF ISLAM, formerly known as CAT STEVENS, has re-recorded his classic “Peace Train” as an anti-war protest ... BOSTON, with original lead singer BRAD DELP in tow, visits Atlanta’s Chastain Park June 29 ... New DVDs issued this week include concerts from JOE JACKSON, GOO GOO DOLLS, ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION, THE ART OF NOISE and THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND. Turner’s Rock and Roll Jeopardy A. This former guitarist with EDGAR WINTER had a top ten hit in 1984 with “I Can Dream About You.” Q. Who is Dan Hartman?

everal major recording artists have announced U.S. tours this week.

The FLEETWOOD MAC tour we mentioned in these pages last year has been finalized. It’s the band’s first performance since 1997 and includes founding members JOHN MCVIE and MICK FLEETWOOD along with the tandem twosome of mid-‘70s members LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM and STEVIE NICKS. The group will be promoting their soon-to-be-released disc “Say You Will” with two nearby dates: June 1 at the Bi-Lo (not to be confused with the J. Lo) Center in Greenville S.C., and June 3 at Atlanta’s Philips Arena.

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Another One for Stella?

According to reports from Billboard.com, Shavo Odadjian, who plays bass for System of a Down, is taking a security company to court.

His claim? Assault. Humiliation. Ethnic intimidation. (Billboard reports call him Armenian-American.)

He said that the guards from DK Security working an October Slipknot concert roughed him up when he tried to go backstage, i.e., elbow to the face, and dragging him from the arena.

The company’s attorney said that Odadjian started it by assaulting, i.e., pushing, the guards first.

Video Gaming & Rap: A Marriage Made Where?

“Oh Def Jam ...!”

“Oh Electronic Arts Inc. ...!”

“Wanna get hitched?”

“Yeah!”

The child of that union is called “Def Jam Vendetta,” according to Billboard.com. The voices and animated likenesses of several Def Jam performers – such as Ludacris and DMX – will appear on the game. The game appar-

ently fuses wrestling and hip-hop. The object?

Fight good enough to match with the big-baddie D-Mob. Def Jam music will be in there somewhere, too. No word yet on when this monster-child will be released.

Still No Satisfaction The Rolling Stones, set to play two landmark shows in China next month, have been ordered by the Chinese government to cut four of their hits from the setlist, according to an Associated Press report. The banned songs – “Brown Sugar,” “Honky Tonk Woman,” “Beast of Burden” and “Let’s Spend the Night Together – all contain sexual references, though the Chinese government has not made any official comment as to why the songs have been banned.

And, while we’re on the subject, what is up with all the topless photos of Keith Richards that have been appearing in “Rolling Stone” magazine as of late?

You Gotta Fight for Your Right…

MTV News reports that The Beastie Boys

have released their first song in three years.

“In a World Gone Mad,” a song protesting the Bush administration’s push for war, was penned during a writing session for the trio’s next album. It’s currently available for download on their Web site, www.beastieboys.com, along with the lyrics, which include lines like, “Politicians are shady / So people watch your back ‘cause I think they smoke crack / I don’t doubt it look at how they act” and “They’re layin’ on the syrup thick / We ain’t waffles we ain’t havin’ it.”

Early Retirement Rapper DMX is set to retire from hip-hop after his next album, according to MTV News. “It’s Not a Game” is expected to be released sometime before the summer and is rumored to feature a collaboration with 50 Cent. DMX, who is planning on filling his days with family and church, isn’t completely abandoning the entertainment business – he’ll still be involved with his Bloodline Records label and acting in films.

COMPILED BY RHONDA JONES & LISA JORDAN

INTRODUCING SPIRIT CLASSIFIEDS

SEE PAGE SEE DETAILS ON 54 PAGE 63

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Night Life

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HUMP’N & BUMP’N WEDNESDAYS

The Breeze Kings perform at the Blind Pig March 14. They’ll also be performing at Riverwalk March 15 as part of Saturday Night Live.

Thursday, 13th

Friday, 14th

The Bee’s Knees - The Kilpatrick Project Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford Club Argos - Karaoke Night Coliseum - Karaoke, High-Energy Dance Music Continuum - Playa*Listic Thursday with DJ FAB Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - Spiritfall, Order by Chaos, 420 Outback D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Fox’s Lair - Karaoke Greene Streets - Men’s Country and Western National Karaoke Contest Joe’s Underground - Ruskin Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Modjeska - Steven Phillips, Vegas Mike Orange Moon - Spoken Word Poetry Playground - Open Mic Shannon’s - Keith “Fossill” Gregory Somewhere in Augusta - 2 Year Anniversary Party Stool Pigeons - Jason and Michael Time Piecez - DJ Dance Par ty Whiskey Junction - DJ Chaos Whiskey Road Oyster Factory - Wayne Capps

The Bee’s Knees - Jazz Sessions, Moniker Blind Pig - The Breeze Kings Borders - Billy S Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford Club Argos - St. Patrick’s Day All-Male Revue, Tower Par ty Coconuts - DJs Doug and Eric Coliseum - Hollywood Knockouts Continuum - El Diablo Ninos, Origin Cotton Patch - Jason Sabo, Russell Jared Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - Sulcus Groove D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Durango’s - Magic Hat Fox’s Lair - Tara Scheyer Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Black-Eyed Susan Last Call - Tony Howard, DJ Richie Rich Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Modjeska - DJ Boriqua Rio Bomba - Karaoke Shannon’s - Bar t Bell, Alan Black Surrey Tavern - Playback Villa Europa - Armen Boyajian

Whiskey Junction - J. Edwards Band, DJ Paul Whiskey Road Oyster Factory - Denise and Chuck

Saturday, 15th Aiken Brewing Co. - Flat Front Tire The Bee’s Knees - Indie Rock Anthems Borders - Paul Gordon Cadillac’s - Live Enter tainment Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford Club Argos - Argos Angels Cabaret, Tower Blackout Par ty Coconuts - DJs Doug and Eric Coliseum - St. Patrick’s Day Par ty Continuum - Strictly About Business Cotton Patch - John and Andy Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - 420 Outback, Machine 7 D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Durango’s - Magic Hat Fox’s Lair - Tara Scheyer Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Keith “Fossill” Gregory Last Call - Tony Howard, DJ Richie Rich Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock

continued on page 46

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Modjeska - DJ Boriqua Orange Moon - Sweeney Rio Bomba - Saturday Night Live with The Breeze Kings, Karaoke Shannon’s - Alan Black Squeak y’s Tip Top - The Joshua Tapestry Surrey Tavern - Playback Villa Europa - Armen Boyajian Whiskey Junction - J. Edwards Band Whiskey Road Oyster Factory - Weston and Preston

Sunday, 16th Cafe Du Teau - Buzz Clif ford and The Last Bohemian Quar tet Pizza Joint - Jason and Michael The Shack - Karaoke Shannon’s - Shelley Watkins Somewhere in Augusta - John Kolbeck Whiskey Junction - Terry and Jordan

Monday, 17th The Bee’s Knees - Eryn Eubanks and the Fold Coliseum - Green Par ty Continuum - Monday Madness with DJ Nick Snow Crossroads - Club Sin Dance Par ty with DJ Chris Eagle’s Nest - Karaoke with DJ MJ Greene Streets - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Jar, Keith Gregory Rio Bomba - St. Patrick’s Day Af ter Par ty with Shinebox, Black-Eyed Susan

Tuesday, 18th Adams Nightclub - Karaoke with Bill Tolber t The Bee’s Knees - Comin’ ‘Round the Bend Classic Country Coliseum - Tournament Tuesday

D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Greene Streets - Karaoke Highlander - Open Mic Night Joe’s Underground - John Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Stool Pigeons - Karaoke with Linda Eubanks Surrey Tavern - Tuesday Night Jam Session with Pat Blanchard and friends

Wednesday, 19th The Bee’s Knees - Mellow Sounds Supper Club Coliseum - Wet ‘n’ Wild Talent Search Continuum - Open Mic Jam Sessions Coyote’s - The Rhes Reeves Band Crossroads - The Family Trucksters D. Timm’s - Joe Patchen and the Blue Diamond Express Greene Streets - Women’s Country and Western National Karaoke Contest Joe’s Underground - Keith “Fossill” Gregory Michael’s - Marilyn Adcock Orange Moon - Cinema Cafe Playground - Karaoke with Dave Long Shannon’s - Bar t Bell Somewhere in Augusta - Patrick Blanchard

Upcoming Travis Tritt - Bell Auditorium - March 21 Garden City Music Festival - Augusta Common - March 22 Ra - Crossroads - April 1

Elsewhere Stereomud, Saliva, Breaking Benjamin - Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - March 13 Eddie From Ohio - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 13 The Exies - Senate Park, Columbia, S.C. - March 14

Mandorico - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. March 14 Todd Snider, Dodd Ferrelle - Tasty World, Athens, Ga. - March 15 Switchfoot - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 15 Sister Hazel - St. Pat’s, Columbia, S.C. - March 15; The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - April 3 Jim Brickman - Rober t Ferst Center for the Ar ts, Atlanta - March 15-16 The Datsuns - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 17 Tim McGraw and the Dance Hall Doctors Philips Arena, Atlanta - March 18 The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 18 Old Blind Dogs - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 20 Project/Object - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta March 21 Earl Scruggs, The Blind Boys of Alabama - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - March 21 Dezeray’s Hammer - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 21 Sister Hazel, Indigo Girls, Edwin McCain Ear thlink Live, Atlanta - March 22 Trout Fishing in America, Cast Iron Filter - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 22 2 Skinnee J’s - Senate Park, Columbia, S.C. March 22; The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. March 24 Duncan Sheik - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 23 Folk Implosion - Echo Lounge, Atlanta - March 26 The Red Elvises - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 26; The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 28 Sigur Ros - Tabernacle, Atlanta - March 27 Dave Mason, Don Humphries - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 27 Nocturne - Riviera, Atlanta - March 27 Slightly Stoopid - Cot ton Club, Atlanta - March 29 Ronnie Bowman, Robert Bradley, Josh Joplin The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. - March 29 Insane Clown Posse, 2 Live Crew -

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PAT BLANCHARD & FRIENDS $1 JAGER TOOTERS + $1.75 BUD LIGHT NO COVER

Many tickets are available through TicketMaster outlets, by calling 828-7700, or online at w w w.ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be available through Tix Online by calling 278-4TIX or online at w w w.tixonline.com. Night Life listings are subject to change without notice.

Deadline for inclusion in Night Life calendar is Tuesday at 4 p.m. Contact Rhonda Jones or Lisa Jordan by calling 738-1142, fa xing 736-0443 or e-mailing to rhonda_jones@metspirit.com or lisa_jordan@metspirit.com.

• •

471 Highland Ave.

Masquerade, Atlanta - April 2 Rebirth Brass Band, Mofro - Georgia Theatre, Athens, Ga. - April 3 Vic Chesnutt - Echo Lounge, Atlanta - April 4 Springing the Blues Music Festival - Seawalk Plaza, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. - April 4-6 Jimmie Vaughan - Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - April 5 Zwan - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - April 7 The Used - 40 Wat t Club, Athens, Ga. - April 9; Roxy Theatre, Atlanta - April 11 George Lopez - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - April 11 Jimmy Buffett - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, Atlanta - April 17 Pearl Jam - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, Atlanta April 19 Guster - The Tabernacle, Atlanta - April 19 Suwannee Bound Festival - Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Fla. - April 19-20 Ellen DeGeneres - Woodruf f Ar ts Center, Atlanta - April 20 Taking Back Sunday - Cot ton Club, Atlanta April 23 Cher - Philips Arena, Atlanta - April 25 Superfly Jazz Fest - Various Venues, New Orleans, La. - April 25-May 4 Widespread Panic - Savannah Civic Center, Savannah, Ga. - April 29 Avril Lavigne - The Arena at Gwinnet t Center, Duluth, Ga. - May 8

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Sulcus Groove takes the stage at Crossroads March 14.

••• ••• ••• •••

Crossroads hosts Spiritfall (pictured), Order by Chaos and 420 Outback March 13.

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2 0 0 3

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niversity of California, Santa Barbara, researcher J. Gordon Melton’s new edition of the “Encyclopedia of American Religion” lists 2,630 denominations in two dozen informal “families” (e.g., 116 Catholic flocks, “hundreds” of Pentecostal flocks), according to a January Associated Press report. Among the least mainstream: the (John F.) Kennedy Worshippers, the Nudist Christian Church of the Blessed Virgin Jesus, the Church of God Anonymous, the Church of the New Song (once offered porterhouse steaks for communion), and 22 that believe in UFOs (including the clone-happy Raelians).

• The British government proposed privacy-rights legislation in January that would permit people to have sex in public restrooms as long as they could not be seen by others using the restroom. The week after that, the California Patriot (a publication of students at the University of California, Berkeley) reported that a university-funded gay students’ Web site was openly discussing which restrooms on campus were the most hospitable for public sex (acts which are still illegal in California).

America’s Real Gun Problem • Some recent accidental self-shootings: Jason Gins, 19, Baton Rouge, La., January, in the genitals (gun stuffed in waistband during getaway from robbery); Michael Bent, 30, New York City, September, hit an artery near the groin (fatal) (fooling with gun in car while talking to his girlfriend); Randal Lewis, 40, near St. Louis, September, in the head (fatal) (while demonstrating to 12-yearold son how to unload gun); Robert E. Slay Jr., 55, Gonzalez, La., October, leg (trying on pants at an outlet store); Dr. Steve Kyplesky, 57, Raceland, La., hand (fumbling with gun in his truck’s glove compartment); Dale B. Grimmett, 41, Ione, Wash., shoulder (pointed rifle at himself while cleaning it); 15-year-old high school student, Detroit, December, leg (bent over to pick up pencil in class).

People Worse Off Than Michael Jackson • Police in Lowell, Mass., said in January that dozens of young Asian women had purchased sloppy breast augmentations, nose jobs and eyelid surgeries from a Cambodian couple posing as doctors in a bloody “Frankenstein’s workshop.” And a Venezuelan couple were sentenced to from two to seven years in prison by a New York City court in December for injecting a rooster-comb derivative into the faces of 20 women as cut-rate wrinkle-smoothers but which scarred them for life. And authorities in Guadalajara, Mexico, arrested fake “Dr.” Myriam Yukie Gaona (a former stripper)

in July for performing cut-rate plastic surgery on “hundreds” of women, augmenting the breasts and lips of some with industrial silicone and motor oil.

Yeah? What’s the Problem?

• In February, the lawyer for former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke (who is to be sentenced in March for defrauding financial contributors in order to feed his gambling habit) appealed to the judge to send Duke to an upscale prison because otherwise black inmates would tear him up. And Kenneth Hawthorn, a Jehovah’s Witness proselytizer, filed a lawsuit in Adelaide, Australia, against a couple whose ram attacked him, battering him to the ground, as he approached the couple’s door. (The parties settled the lawsuit in January.)

World’s Greatest Lawyer • In Holmes County, Miss., in October, Mr. Chocwe Lumumba, Esq., earned an acquittal for his client, former policeman Eddie Myers, having convinced the jury that it was self-defense when Myers killed his sister-in-law (who was the assistant police chief). Myers told the jury that, yes, he grabbed two .40-caliber handguns and fired 36 shots, hitting the woman 14 times, and yes, the victim’s own handgun was found by emergency workers still strapped inside its holster, but it was still self-defense.

Unclear on the Concept • In November, the Pentagon rejected a Freedom of Information Act request by a reporter to see an internal training video, claiming that the law allowed it to be withheld. The video is the 22-minute “Freedom of Information Act / The People’s Right to Know,” which is utilized to teach Pentagon employees how to carry out the maximumdisclosure purpose of the act.

• Convicted sex abuser Daniel Ray Erickson (who once “purchased” a 5-yearold girl whom he then molested) petitioned a judge in Brooksville, Fla., in December to have his photo removed from Florida’s sex offender Web site.

“How,” he asked, “can a guy get married and become a good, stable citizen if they’re putting your picture there?”

(Indeed, he said, his previous girlfriend had left him when she found out he was on the Web site.)

Things You Thought Didn’t Happen Anymore • The men of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Ripon, Calif., voted 25-17 in December to let women start voting on church matters, but that was still three votes shy of the required two-thirds majority. And health researchers told a conference in San Antonio, Texas, in January that they had treated a well-fed college student who had come down with the old-time mariner’s disease of scurvy (absence of vitamin C in the student’s steady diet of cheese, crackers, cookies and soda). And a retired professor was appointed in November by the town of Colwood, British Columbia, to find out why garage doors suddenly open, sprinklers come on, TVs and VCRs start automatically, and one couple’s mechanical bed folds up while they’re asleep. (Two new broadcast transmission towers are the suspects.)

— Chuck Shepherd © United Press Syndicate

ing weeks, you will most likely experience what amounts to a resurrection. You might consider having another astrological chart drawn up for the official moment of your relaunch.

Brezsny's Free Will Astrology ARIES (March 21-April 19)

I got an e-mail from a reader who calls himself Drek, Agent of the Future. His words are apropos to what you’ll be living through this week. “How come in the long list of human fears, ‘showing one’s true self’ is never included?” Drek mused.

“Hell, compared to the frighteningly wonderful madness of tapping into our naked souls, stuff like snakes and public speaking really doesn’t seem that terrifying.” I trust you’ve already guessed what this has to do with you, Aries. It’s a perfect moment to overcome your fear of revealing your raw beauty to the world.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Want to stay sane and healthy in the coming weeks? Then get up-close and personal with the animal that rules your sign. It won’t be enough merely to gaze at images of bulls, though that would be good for starters. But if I’m reading the astrological omens correctly, you need to be in the actual presence of a robust, full-grown bull. To commune with his primal energy will be strong medicine. It’ll awaken in you instinctual powers that have gone to sleep, and will galvanize you for the mysterious challenges ahead. Feel like going in search of a pasture where your teacher is waiting?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Before he died in 1992, avant-garde composer John Cage wrote the score for “As Slow As Possible,” a piece of music designed to be played continuously for a long time. No one has ever actually tried it until recently, when a group of musicians and philosophers in Germany began a performance they hope will last for 639 years.

Make them your role models, Gemini, as you launch your own long-term project in the coming weeks. It’s the ideal astrological time to commit yourself with strategic patience to a labor of love that could take you all your life to master.

New York Times Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS 1 Pool pull-over 5 Shooters 9 It may let you

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

I once knew a talented writer who had four planets in Cancer. With his fertile imagination, nurturing intelligence, and articulate artistry, he embodied the best of our tribe. With his narcissism, hypersensitivity to criticism, and habit of bearing a grudge, he also had some of our sign’s wellknown liabilities. It was always a risk hanging out with him; I never knew which facet would be ascendant. I haven’t seen the guy for years, but I hope his sweet genius has found a way to tame his evil twin. If not, the coming weeks will be an ideal astrological time for him and for all of us Cancerians to win the war within us.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

When I ran for president back in 1992, one of my campaign promises was an affirmative action program that would make a majority of Americans celebrities by the year 2005. Though I wasn’t elected, I’m pleased to see that my idea may still come to pass. With the growing popularity of reality TV, from “Joe Millionaire” to “American Idol,” increasing numbers of average citizens are getting the chance to bask in the limelight. Your special moment could very well arrive in the next few weeks, Leo. There’ve rarely been more favorable astrological aspects for you to become famous or notorious. You will at least become more widely known, or be gossiped about outrageously.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Darien is a 45-year old woman who had a neardeath experience when she was 26. “My NDE was exactly like a rebirth,” she told me, “so I have wondered for many years whether I really have two charts, one for my original birth and one for my rebirth. And if so, which should take precedence?” I congratulated her on how lucky she is to have such a rich mystery to work with, and I urged her to treat both charts as equally true. I mention this, Virgo, because although you won’t have anything as dramatic as an NDE in the com-

35 Mrs. McKinley 36 Approximate

62 Ablutionary

number of weeks in a Roman year see a hearing 37 Rose buds?

14 Fawning target 44 Spick-and-span, 15 Buckets now 16 1939 Best 45 Vardalos of “My Actress role Big Fat Greek Wedding” 17 The “T” in Britain’s ITV 46 Global positioning 18 Cause for meas. alarm?

47 Checks out 19 Millionairess portrayer in “The 52 Sacagawea, for Millionairess” one 20 Shoots for a 55 Like some salad curves 23 Poorest 56 Elated 24 Bank acct. info 57 Old newspaper section 25 Accident scene arrival, for short 58 12/25, e.g.

26 Fog 59 “Coriolanus” setting 30 Big name in TV journalism 60 Mix 34 Stadiumgoer 61 Quire member

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE O R C A

J O U R

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S I E B T I N O N N E M R E C T R O S R S A L O U R U R B P P I T T O S

O T A S R A N T G C O R T R I O A K D S K E I C N O B S P O L R E G O E S T I A N G S E I E I N N E R D

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Z O O N C K A L E A M M K A N O P W H N A S E

A B E L

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vessel 63 Sign of overexertion DOWN 1 Colossus 2 Dance partner for Fred 3 Husband of Pocahontas 4 One on bended knee, maybe 5 Crisp fabric 6 A thief may go under one 7 Get the better of 8 Measure to take 9 North, for one 10 Really let have it 11 Separate 12 Spear carrier of myth 13 Photographer Goldin 21 Bird’s perch 22 “Rubyfruit Jungle” novelist ___ Mae Brown 26 Acronym on a police jacket 27 Card game declaration 28 “The Haj” novelist 29 ESP and such 30 It may be skipped or jumped 31 Frank or Francis 32 Orange coat

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“Dear Dr. Brezsny: Why do you sometimes refer to God as ‘He’? You of all people know very well that God is both a ‘He’ and ‘She.’ Furthermore, ‘He’ has hogged the God references for 2,000 years. The only way to correct the distortion is to always refer to God as ‘She’ for the next 2,000 years. It’s payback time, don’t you agree? - Libra SuperWoman.” Dear SuperWoman: You’re absolutely right. From now on, God will be “She” in my column. But let me caution you not to take this as license to hate or demean the masculine aspect, either in God or in yourself. Especially now, as pathological expressions of macho run berserk in the world, we need to nurture beautiful forms of virility. In the coming weeks, it will be particularly important for Libras of all genders to reinvent and regenerate their inner male.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Is it global warming? This winter has been even milder than usual in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I live. As a result, the roses in my backyard have been blooming nonstop since last April, failing to take their usual sabbatical between October and February. I like it, but it’s also a little freaky and creepy — and definitely not a healthy approach for a human being to emulate. So don’t be like my unnatural roses, Scorpio. As relentlessly glorious and fascinating as you’ve been lately, you need to take a break.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

In a commercial for a new dream interpretation show on the Sci-Fi cable channel, a middle-aged man is planted on a couch, gobbling an oversized sandwich and gazing blankly into a TV. His wife, clad only in black bra and panties, saunters into the living room astride a massive white stallion.

The man looks up at her briefly, then returns to his vegetative trance. A voiceover suggests that this is a dream about the wife having needs that the husband is not fulfilling. I predict that you will have a comparable dream in the coming week, Sagittarius. Both the man and the woman will symbolize aspects of your own life.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

I’m not one of those astrologers who insists on stereotyping you Capricorns as compulsively cautious, staid, and obsessed with order. In fact, some of the most imaginative and dynamic people I’ve known have been members of your sign. Still, the current astrological omens strongly suggest that it’s time for me to remind you to take yourself less personally, less seriously, and less literally. Here’s a quote, courtesy of novelist Tom Robbins, that you should put on your bathroom mirror for the next ten days: “Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You will soon have the power to see what has been invisible and to decipher codes that have been impenetrable. You’ll shed a belief that has been crippling your intelligence, and you’ll lose a “friend” who has been undermining your understanding of yourself. And that’s not all, Aquarius.

Just in time, you will shake yourself free of a curious numbness, allowing you to tune in to feelings that you desperately need to experience. And you will finally find the words to name truths that have been dangerously fuzzy.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

One of the most enduring stories from ancient Greece has been the set of events that legend says occurred at Troy, on the coast of Asia Minor. Yet this epic place, site of Homer’s “The Iliad,” was a village covering only seven acres. Keep that factoid in mind in the coming week, Pisces. I believe it’ll serve as the perfect metaphor for events that are currently unfolding in your own life. A humble patch of ground may become the scene of a mythic turning point. An experience that begins small may be the seed for a story that will achieve monumental importance for you in the years to come.

— © Rob Brezsny You Can Call Rob Brezsny, day or night, for your Expanded Weekly Horoscope

1-900-950-7700

$1.99 per minute • 18 & over • Touchtone phone required • C/S 612-373-9785 • www.freewillastrology.com/

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733-1935

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld

33 Inits. on a

toothpaste tube 34 Broadcasting overseer: Abbr.

38 Pepsi One’s one 39 Up the creek 40 Neighbor of Ger. 41 No typical stock trader

42 Nothing, in

Nantes 43 Fashionable pendant 47 Simmering 48 Former New York mayor 49 Orchestra seat 50 Have something at home

51 High-hat 52 Pahlavi, for

one

53 Can’t take 54 Mean man 55 L.S.A.T. takers

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.20 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554.

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To Your Ticket eat Finding Gr Flicks.

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* Automobiles for sale by an individual may be placed in our FREE Auto Classifieds. The same ad will run continuously for six weeks or until the vehicle sells, whichever comes first. After two weeks, if you want to keep running the same ad, you must call The Metropolitan Spirit by 5 p.m. on Friday or we will assume you sold the vehicle and will delete the ad. All vehicles must indicate price. FREE Auto Classified ads are offered to individuals only and are not offered to commercial companies or dealers.

TO PLACE YOUR AD: Mail: P.O. Box 3809, Augusta, GA 30914-3809 Email: classified@metspirit.com Fax: 706-733-6663 Website: www.metspirit.com Visit Us At: 825 Russell Street, Augusta, GA MUST BE MAILED, FAXED OR EMAILED ON SPECIFIED FORM. ADS ARE NOT TAKEN BY PHONE.

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H

as “I debate you” replaced “I love you”? A woman I know (whose relationships never seem to last) insists that women don’t really like what she calls “the mushy stuff” from men. According to her, women prefer men who will “spar” with them to men who are sweet and do nice things for them. I just broke up with my girlfriend of five years — a woman who always seemed appreciative of every thing I’m now told I shouldn’t do.

I’m not ready to start dating, but I will be in the near future. So, tell me, am I now supposed to be rude and combative for women to like me? What, exactly, is the unwritten dating protocol on how not nice I’m supposed to be?

—Conflicted About Conflict Nothing like telling a woman you love her, only to get ragged on for lacking originality.

Take a woman like this to a five-star hotel, with an in-room Jacuzzi big enough for Olympic water polo, and she’ll find some reason it compares unfavorably with her dinky, no-waterpressure shower at home: “The grout’s too clean here. It lacks personality.” Fill her apar tment with hundreds of roses, and she’ll accuse you of turning it into a giant mobile home park for aphids. No mat ter what you do, her champagne glass will always be half-empty — even if you lay an intercontinental champagne pipeline direct to her place from Moet & Chandon.

This isn’t because you’re doing the wrong things. You’re doing the right things. You’re just doing them for the wrong woman — one who’s a fighter, not a lover. One who confuses the term “girlfriend” with “jack-booted thug.” (You needn’t let this stop you from trying to be her soul mate — providing you’re willing to set tle for being a mate who lets her use his head to kick the mud of f her big, black Vibram soles.)

A woman like this — if she could get frequent flyer miles for power trips — would upgrade her way in no time to a private jet, complete with wall-to-wall cashmere carpeting and gold leaf-covered bar f bags.

Deep down, she might not think she’s right about absolutely every thing, but she is convinced of one thing: You’re wrong. About every thing. And then some. In fact, she probably has the words “HE’S WRONG!” lasered into a steel plate in her head. Who’s “HE”? You, the nex t guy she’s with, the guy af ter that — who cares? She isn’t looking to get close to you (or

anybody), just to keep somebody, anybody, in her general vicinity at all times, so she won’t have to be alone with herself. Unfor tunately, she’ll be too busy cataloguing what’s wrong with you to make an appointment or two (or 2,642) for herself at the therapist’s of fice.

That’s where she might get a handle on the notion that you have to work your way up to being comfor table alone before you can make a nontoxic at tempt at being together.

Now, about the mushy stuf f: Women who have successfully completed their mental health homework want men, not mush-dispensers.

Men do nice things for women they like just to be nice. Mush-dispensers carpet-bomb a woman with gooey words and bright, shiny objects — generally, af ter knowing her for about 3.5 minutes — hoping sugar rush and gif t-glare will blind her to their small, brown loserness. If “small, brown loserness” doesn’t describe your overall aura, just keep nice-ing it up like you always have ... that is, until you get a response like, “Yeah, so you promised me the moon. Too cheap to throw in the sun and stars, huh?” That would be your cue to develop “intimacy issues.” In a word: RUN!

I have this curse when it comes to women. I feel unequipped to connect with those I want. I really like a girl in my college English class. I think of her all day long. She seems to like me (although she’s given me mixed messages), and I want to tell her how I feel about her. As usual, I can’t get enough of a conversation going to let her know.

Please help me!

—Wordless Wonder You could introduce yourself as “The Human Bra,” and of fer to help her lif t and separate her way around campus. As boldly unsuccessful pickup lines go, that one’s right up there with announcing, “Hi, I’m obsessed with you, and I’d like to get to know you a lit tle bet ter.” (It could help you get to know some of the campus authorities — perhaps a lit tle bet ter than you’d like.) Instead, strike up a conversation about something you’re studying, move on to any of about 600,000,000 other subjects which do not include a description of how you spend your days, then ask her out on a date. If she accompanies you on one, do try to avoid declaring your undying whatever for any thing but another nice, cold Heineken.

— © 2003, Amy Alkon

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Excellent condition. Sold as a set! $250.00.

706-836-3120 (05/15#8035) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bedroom dresser with large mirror $50.00; Octagan shaped lamp table $15.00; Over tub shower bench $50.00, Call 706-736-7356 (05/15#8034) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Electric Lift Chair, Recliner.Blue by Invacare.

Paid $900.00 new, will sell for $500.00. Will hold a very large person. Call 790-0793.

(05/08#8026) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Three End Tables and Night Stand, very nice solid wood - All for $25.00 One large microwave and stereo receiver & speaker - All for $30.00 Call - 706-774-6400. (05/08#8027) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Boxwood Shrub, three years old, 18 inches tall $2.50 Call 706-863-3518 (05/08#8028) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sears 3HP Power Reel Mower; 7 Blade Power Propelled. $150.00 Call 855-7162 (05/08#8029) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Books - Most $2.00 - $3.00 - Lots on Holocaust - Wiesel, Levi - Others. 706 7376219, Leave Message. (05/08#8030) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Childs wood play fort with lad, slide, sandbox.

Treated/GC, great for spring/summer. 706-8408635 LM. $75 OBO (05/01#8014) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bathroom/Vanity mirror 3 foot x 29 inch with chrome slides for top and bot tom. $25 OBO, 706-840-8635 LM (05/01#8014) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Porsche Service Sign $50.00 service sign from dealership 11”X14” pic available.

PlatinumPorscheX@aol.com (04/17#8007) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Yearbooks: Mercer (The Cauldron) 1934 & 35; University of Richmond (The Web) 1948 & 49; John Marshall High 1945 Richmond, Virginia (Marsallite) $49 each 733-7735 (04/10#8001) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sony 5-disc CD carousel w/remote, works great, $75. 869-8931 (04/10#8000) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Magna Flip 400 Boys Bicycle Ages 9 - 13 $55/OBO 706-869-8888 (04/10#7999) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Scott 6.75HP Lawnmower (John Deere) GC with bagger $60.00/OBO 706-869-8888 (04/10#7998) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 36” Metal full glass ex terior French Door New $95.00 706-541-0656 (04/10#7995) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mahogany End Tables, nice condition been in family for years $70 each. 706-444-8619 (03/27#7973)

THE COLISEUM

READINGS BY

MRS. GRAHAM

C A R D R E A D I N G S

Mrs. Graham, Psychic Reader, Advises on all affairs of life, such as love, marriage, and business. She tells your past, present and future. Mrs. Graham does palm, tarot card, and crystal readings. She specializes in relationships and reuniting loved ones.

341 S. Belair Rd. Open from 9 a.m. til 9 p.m.

Call (706) 733-5851

Bhakti Yoga Yoga for Every Body (706) 556-8490 (706) 825-2113

WWW.METSPIRIT.COM Miscellaneous For Sale Golf Clubs-Taylor Made irons super steel. Rifle shafts reg. flex 3-PW $199, 706-650-7487 (03/27#7972) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EMACHINES 333cs Computer, keyboard, mouse, speakers, stand. $250 OBO! Call 7962769 after 5pm. (03/27#7971) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Nordic Track, Excellent condition. Comes with video tape and info. $65.00 Small exercise cycle use sit ting in chair, $25.00. 855-5521 (03/27#7970) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Outdoor Furniture, Chase, 3 cushion set te, and chair, sell for $50.00. Cocktail Table, four pedistal base in gold with heavy glass top sell for $75.00, Call 803-649-6658 (03/20#7963) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Luxman Phono Preamp was $600 sell $90.

AudioSource SS Five surround sound processor was $200 sell $50.00. Call 706-210-4884.

(03/20#7961) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Computer - 166MHZ Pentium-Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, 56k Modem. Good Condition and internet ready. $250.00, Call Nancy at 803641-0446 (03/13#7951) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Golf Clubs: Biggest Big Ber tha, regular graphite, 10°, $150.00; Adams GT-363 Titanium, regular graphite, 10°, $100.00; Steelhead Plus 7-wood, graphite $90.00; Call Les 860-3387 (03/13#7951) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mounted Deer Head and shoulder 8 point,Very Good Condition $145.00 706-541-0656 (03/13#7950)

Place your Classified ad today!

Call 738-1142

MARLBORO STATION

Premier Entertainment Complex & High Energy Dance Music Friday, 3/14 Hot Male & Female Strippers Hollywood Knockouts All You Can Drink Well Liquor or Draft Beer for $9 Saturday, 3/15 St. Patrick’s Day Party Monday, 3/17 Green Party w/ 50¢ Drafts

Your Party Station

Live Entertainment

Drink Specials: WED $7 Wet N' Wild SAT $2 Bud/Bud Light

Open Mon-Fri 8pm-3am Sat 8pm-2:30am

Fri, Sat & Sun 18 to Party • 21 to Drink Name___________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________ DOB___________Email___________________________________ $1 off Admission w/ coupon 141 Marlboro Station, Aiken • 803-644-6485

Fri & Sat. No Cover Before 10 p.m.

1632 Walton Way • Augusta, GA

www.marlboro.4mg.net

706-733-2603

Email: ColiseumAugusta@aol.com

If You’re not Partying at Argos, The Tower of Argos or at The Shack ... You’re Not Partying Club Argos & The Tower of Argos Leather Bar Open Daily at 6pm Thur Fri Sat

Karaoke Pizza Party St. Patricks Day All Male Revue & Tower Party Argos Angels Caberet & Tower Blackout Party at 12

Coming Events Sat-3/22 Tower Blacklight Party Sat-3/29 The Great American Strip Off Argos welcomes Gay, Bi, BDSM, Swingers, TVTS & all openminded patrons

Call us at 481-8829 or email us at ClubArgos@aol.com 1923 Walton Way

Travel

The Shack The CSRA’s Only All Night Place (803) 441-0053 425 Carolina Springs Rd North Augusta, SC Wed

Sun

M E T R O S P I R I T

Alt. Lifestyles

SPECIAL READINGS WITH CARD

COSMETICS & SKINCARE CO. Seeking photogenic female models for print ads/promotions No experience necessary.

Make-up Ar tists & Estheticians Spa & medical uniform catolog available.

Call 786-556-2405 colorar tistry@netzero.net (03/13#8008)

Call 738-1142 to place your Classified ad today!

Mind, Body & Spirit

Employment SALON Great location!

Stylist Needed with license & clientele booth rent For more info call A.J. Home: 706-793-2561 Pager: 803-441-4403 (03/13#7986)

51

2-4-1 Frozen Margaritas $2 Long Necks $1 Quervo Shots $5 Beer Bust Karaoke $1 Jello Shots

Come have fun where the party doesn’t end at 3:00 am!

Advertise your Yard Sale in The Metro Spirit Classifieds!

Wheels

Dead Bodies Wanted

We want your dead junk or scrap car bodies.

We tow away and for some we pay.

706/829-2676

OR

706/798-9060

M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

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

To become a member, call 1-888-223-7044 To listen and respond to ads, call 1-900-226-8908

M A R

Calls cost $1.99 per min., Must be 18+.

,call 1-866-832-4685

To respond to ads using a

2 0 0 3

SINGLE MOM DWF, 40, 5’3”, brown/brown, full-figured, new to the area, seeks non-smoking SCM, 40+, for companionship, friendship, possibly more. ☎319109 NURSES SEEKS DOCTOR LOVE SWF, 24, blonde/brown, full-figured, attractive, financially independent, N/S, N/D, single mom of one, desires for special SWM, 24-33, honest, employed, N/S, N/D, for friendship, possible LTR. ☎323553 BE HONEST SF, 60, enjoys good conversations, going to Church, yard sales, music. Seeking SM, 50-70, N/S, likes to go to Church. ☎965856 A LOT TO OFFER SWPF, 39, 5’2”, 155lbs, loves, sports, dining out, cooking, movies, walks in the park, playing pool, travel, dining out. Seeking young man, with similar interests, for friendship and companionship. ☎321666 GET INTO THE GROOVE SWF, 43, 5’4”, 110lbs, slender, active, Capricorn, N/S, enjoys playing frisbee and nature walks. Seeking WM, 37-47, wide shoulders a+. ☎301123 GOD IS OUR SAVIOR SWF, 50, Sagittarius, N/S, loves Christian music, Christian tv, and reading the Bible.

Seeking BCM, 50-55, N/S, who sees things the same as I do. ☎299661 TO THE POINT DWF, 37, administrative assistant, Capricorn, N/S, seeks WM, 29-49, N/S, occasional drinker ok, honest, for dating. ☎299335 GOOD GIRL Attractive SWF, 38, 5’4”, 145lbs, blonde/hazel, N/S, Pisces, enjoys outdoors. Seeking tall SWM, 30-42. ☎864247 I’M YOUR VENUS SWF, 44 (looks younger), 5’, blonde/blue, with a full-figure, seeks HM, 5’5”-6’, who is secure. ☎747133 HOPELESS ROMANTIC SBF, 25, no children, very independent, Leo, N/S, seeks BM, 26-40, N/S, with whom to share movies, dancing, and quality time. ☎300467 MEET THE CRITERIA? SBF, 32, mother, smoker, seeks considerate male, 35-42, with capability to be understanding and sincere in a relationship. ☎288180 FIRST TIME AD! Employed SBF, 35, no children, wants to meet a laid-back, spontaneous man, 33-41, race unimportant, to get to know as a friend and maybe progress to more! ☎280007 COMPANIONSHIP DWF, 48, enjoys antiquing, travel, dining out, movies and more. Seeking DWM, 48-58, for loving, tender relationship. ☎732056 ENVELOPING EMBRACE Kind-hearted SBCF, 52, non-smoker, enjoys dining out, attending church. Seeking loving SBCM, 52-65, with similar interests. ☎287845 FALL IN LOVE AGAIN SF, 46, dark complexion, cosmetologist, seeks caring, sensitive, employed man, 46-56, for long walks, cuddling, and more. ☎284967 OLD-FASHIONED GIRL SWF, 34, attractive, blonde, with good morals and values, Leo, N/S, enjoys nature, cooking, animals, movies, and home life. Desiring marriage-minded, family-oriented WM, 32-45. ☎261032 SEEKING DEDICATED PERSON SWF, late-30s, blonde/blue, is dedicated and looking for the same in a man, for friendship first, possibly more. ☎251283 LEO SBF, 31, wants to share quality time with a man who loves movies, dining out, quiet times, for friendship. ☎202217

GIVE ME A JINGLE SBF, 46, is loving, kind and sweet, mature at every beat, can weave anything and loves to sing. Want to sing with her? ☎200842 A GOOD-HEARTED WOMAN Honest SWF, 5’4”, long dark brown/hazel, would like to meet a trustworthy SWM for a good, honest, open relationship. I smoker, so another smoker is preferred. Grovetown. ☎111411 TABLE FOR TWO SWF, 57, 5’4”, blond/green, easygoing, outgoing, enjoys cooking, fishing, reading, NASCAR. Seeking honest, respectful S/DWM, 57-65. ☎965851 BE MY FRIEND Attractive SWF, 29, 5’7”, 129lbs, brown/brown, N/S, no kids, never married, seeks SWM, 2037, in shape, friendship first, possible LTR. ☎945103 HONESTY IS KEY DWF, 38, mother of two/homemaker, loves Bon Jovi, dining out, quiet time at home. Seeking honest, sincere SWM, 38-45. Could it be you? ☎910404 TRUE: One is a lonely number. DWF, no children, selfsupporting, my physical appearance won’t embarrass you, retired and seeking a loving, truthful, reliable man, 50-75. ☎896701 SWEET AND SINGLE SBF, 30, Scorpio, N/S, student, enjoys quality time, movies, dining out, quiet times. Seeking friendship with SBM, 29-43, for possible LTR. ☎890152 TIRED OF BEING ALONE SWF, 49, 5’9”, 164lbs, Cancer, N/S, social drinker, mother of one, enjoys music, dining out, reading. Seeking SWM, 44-59, N/S, for LTR. ☎890570 SERIOUS ABOUT LIFE SBCF, 50, 165lbs, Scorpio, N/S, church-goer, mother of one, seeks outgoing, christian SBM, 50-60, N/S, with good heart, who is serious, for LTR. ☎885036 THE LONG RUN SBF, 43, single parent, health service technician, Capricorn, N/S, loves basketball. Seeking BM, 37-47, N/S, for friendship, love, and beyond. ☎872160 BEACH BUM SBF, 31, with bachelor’s degree in communications, Taurus, N/S, loves dining out, movies, working out, and reading. Seeking man, 26-36. ☎869451 ARE YOU SINCERE? SF, 28, blond/blue, enjoys the gym, time with family and friends. Looking for an honest guy, 26-35, who is not into games. ☎857530 A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN... inside and out. SBF, 26, 5’10’’, light complexion, enjoys movies, music, just having a good time. Seeking honest, sincere man for LTR. ☎861401 SINCERE BEAUTY Sophisticated SBCF, 23, 5’2”, 140lbs, interested in seeking educated, independent, employed SBM, 23-30, long walks, stimulating conversation, friendship, dating, more. ☎849311 GENUINE GEMINI Sweet SWF, 21, 6’, in medical field, enjoys Nascar, long walks. Seeking tall SWM, 25-35, with similar interests. Friendship first, possible LTR. ☎848654 I LIKE LIFE Single mom, 32, looking for a man with a vibrant personality and a love for living. ☎844138 I’LL WRITE YOU A POEM! SF, 25, 5’4’’, 150lbs, Virgo, enjoys reading, cooking, music, movies. Seeking a man who likes to try new things. ☎841437 OLD-FASHIONED VALUES Honest, relaxed, christian SBF, 56, Aries, N/S, enjoys cooking, dining out, quiet times at home. Seeking marriage-minded, financially secure SBM, 50-56, N/S, for LTR. ☎829149

WILLING TO MAKE TIME Busy, hard-working SBF, 31, nurse, mother of one, Taurus, N/S, enjoys traveling, walks, shopping. Seeking SBM, 31-39, N/S, for LTR. ☎836074 TAKE A CHANCE Laid-back SF, 30, enjoys dining in/out, going to the movies, church activities. Seeking SM, secure in himself to share those things. ☎767576 SKATE, RIDE, BOWL, ETC. African-American mom, 23, 5’, 159lbs, mother of two, currently in school, looking for honest, trustful family-man, 20s-30s, who’ll give his 100%. ☎751642 WORK OF ART Voluptuous SBF, 28, loves fishing, swimming, cooking. Looking for a man with the same passions. ☎747775 GOD LOVER Athletic, shy SBF, 33, 5’5”, 160lbs, Gemini, smoker, enjoys church, dining out, cooking, traveling, shopping, reading. Seeking outgoing man, 35-50, smoker, for LTR. ☎709843 NO GAMES PLEASE DWF, 33, 5’10”, full-figured, brown/hazel, selfemployed mother of three, seeks WM, 25-45, honest, faithful, devoted, for fun, friendship, LTR. ☎680330 TWO PIECES OF A PUZZLE Full-figured, very attractive, independent woman, 31, 5’2”, seeks someone special to spend time with. You: honest, fun-loving, varied interests. ☎685405 STRONG WILL SBF, 45, outgoing, attractive, youthful, enjoys writing, music, traveling. Seeking mature, strong-willed SBM, 35-48, for friendship. ☎965893 AN AUTUMN SPECIAL Hard-working WF, 38, 5’4”, 100lbs, blonde/ brown, enjoys biking, watersports, cooking, and travel. Seeking WM, 35-50, for possible LTR. ☎965904 IN SEARCH OF MY SOULMATE He must be a tall (5’10”-6’4”), Christian man, 42-55, N/S, who is honest, faithful, devoted and lively. I am a SBPF, 5’6”, 150lbs, and looking for LTR. ☎641005 GOOD-HEARTED DWF, 61, 5’9”, honest, neat in appearance, with a good sense of humor. Seeking WM, 6070, who’s honest and caring. ☎574264 SENSE OF HUMOR REQUIRED SF, 33, 5’, full-figured, cocoa complexion, looking for friendship leading to relationship with SM, 25-40, who doesn’t play games. ☎579505 MAKE MY HEART LAUGH SBF, 22, 5’8”, 155lbs, part-time student, seeks sensual, kind man with a great heart, for movies, dining out, and open-minded conversation. ☎565120

We Purchase Fine Swiss Watches, Estate Jewelry and Diamonds.

Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm 2635 Washington Road | Augusta, Georgia 30904 | 706.738.7777 www.windsorjewelers.net ARE YOU THE ONE? College educated SWF, early 40s, 5’6”, 136lbs, extroverted, enjoys camping, country living, animals, movies, traveling. Seeking same in SWM, 40-50, similar interests. ☎965910

SAY YOU, SAY ME SWM, 25, 5’10”, 165lbs, medium build, brown/blue, Gemini, N/S, outgoing, energetic, seeks WF, 19-28, for friendship, possible LTR. ☎302503 YOU SUPPLY... the marshmallows. I’ll supply the bonfire, SWM, 36, truck driver, Aries, N/S, loves camping. Seeking a woman, 40-58. ☎316730 JUST YOUR AVERAGE GUY SWM, 37, N/S, likes motorcycles, fishing, camping, farming, relaxing weekends. Seeking SWF, 25-40, to join me on life’s journey. ☎287476 WOULD YOU BE MY GIRL? Light-skinned SBM, 20, 5’8”, short/brown, likes going to movies and more. Seeking single lady, 18-30, who’d like to be my girl. ☎275833 ENJOY LIFE WITH ME! SM, 52, wants to meet a fun-loving woman, 3548, who is easy to get along with, likes sports, music, and more. ☎282853 MY DREAM GIRL SM, 29, 5’8’’, likes basketball. Looking for a female, 25-40, who enjoys going out and having a nice time! ☎274284 EARLY RETIREMENT SM, 63, works part time, deep sense of spiritual conviction, loves the Bible, fellowship, life.

Searching for similar woman, 45-56. ☎279329

LET’S FALL IN LOVE SM, 25, enjoys travel, movies, writing. Looking for a good woman, 25-42, who shares some of these interests. ☎281603 MY DEMANDS ARE SIMPLE SBM, 34, seeks a relationship with a faithful and honest BF, 28-39, smoker, for an honest relationship. ☎949160 IF YOU’RE READING THIS... why not give me a call? SWCM, 19, 6’, 185lbs, brown/blue, relaxed attitude, Capricorn, N/S, seeks WF, 19-25, N/S, for possible LTR. ☎938173 SHOW ME YOUR SMILE SM, 44, enjoys kayaking, cooking, art, biking, exercise, outdoors. Looking for a female, 3450, who has the same kinds of interests. ☎858979 OLD-FASHIONED GUY SHM, 34, 5’4”, 170lbs, Virgo, N/S, writes and loves country western music, helping the homeless, church. Seeking SHF, 32-36, N/S, with similar interests. ☎835306 LET’S DO LUNCH SBM, 28, Leo, homeowner, entrepreneur, attractive, seeks friendship with average, every day woman, 20-40. Have your heart talk to mine. ☎270867 SOCCER LOVER SHM, 21, 190lbs, loves to play soccer. Seeking a woman with a good personality. ☎250070 TRUE FRIENDSHIP Handsome SBM, 40, with a compassionate nature, seeks a S/DBF, 43-50, with the same qualities for a passionate relationship. ☎200917 GET IN TOUCH WITH ME SM, 21, 6’3’’, athletic build, student, loves movies, clubs, church. Seeking compassionate, down-to-earth, fun woman. ☎861556

Stud Finder YOU HAVE 6 NEW MATCHES

1 3

Mobile Dating. The easiest way to meet great people.

GUIDELINES: DATE MAKER ads are for adults 18 or over seeking monogamous relationships. To ensure your safety, carefully screen all responses. First meetings should occur in a public place. Abbreviations are permitted only to indicate gender preference, race, and religion. We suggest your ad contain a self-description, age range, lifestyle and avocations. Ads and voice messages containing explicit sexual language will not be accepted. This publication reserves the right to revise copy containing objectionable phrases; to reject in its sole discretion, any advertisement on account of its text. This publication assumes no responsibility for the content or reply to any DATE MAKER ad. The advertiser assumes complete liability for the content and all replies to any advertisement or recorded message and for any claims made against this publication and its agents as a result thereof. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold this publication, its employees and its agents harmless from all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney fees), liabilities and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. By using DATE MAKER, the advertiser agrees not to leave his/her phone number, last name or address in his/her voice greeting. Not all boxes contain a voice greeting.

ABBREVIATIONS

To purchase more than your free 30 words, at $2.00 per word, please call 1-800-234-5120

M B D F H C LTR

Male Black Divorced Female Hispanic Christian Long-term Relationship

G W A S J P N/D N/S

Gay White Asian Single Jewish Professional Non-Drinker Non-smoker

Become a member of Augusta’s hottest new way to meet singles! Call today!

To become a member, call 1-888-223-7044 To listen and respond to ads, call 1-900-226-8908 Calls cost $1.99 per min., Must be 18+.

To respond to ads using a EARLY XMAS GIFT Very romantic SBM, 31, 6’1”, 255lbs, Scorpio, N/S, enjoys church, dining out, cooking.

Seeking stable SBF, 25-35, for friendship first, leading to something long-term. ☎837718 SEEKING CHRISTIAN WOMAN Friendly, committed, independent SBCM, 42, 5’11”, enjoys quiet evenings. Seeking attractive, committed, independent SBCF for friendship, possible LTR. ☎796760 LET’S TALK SM, 28, 6’5”, 320lbs, enjoys sports, reading, movies, dining out, travel. Seeking attractive, intelligent, sensual SF, with similar interests, for dating and more. ☎796390 MAY GOD BE WITH US Christian with deep spiritual convictions. DWM, 61 years young, 5’11”, 155lbs, full head of saltand-pepper hair. Seeking S/DWCF, 45-60, N/S, N/D, attractive, feminine, slender, good health, self-supporting. Must exercise four times weekly, do eight military push-ups and carry your own backpack five miles to keep up with me physically. Enjoys outdoor activities such as rafting, hiking, swimming and canoeing. I’m willing to participate in your interests also.

Waiting to hear from you. ☎327909

NICE PERSONALITY A MUST SM, 29, 5’7’’, moustache and goatee, seeks down-to-earth, nice, masculine, real man, 2730, for friends, possible LTR. ☎280741 LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP Senior SWM seeks sincere, honest SWM, 2545, to share home and lifestyle. Many interests including gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, travel, camping. ☎294303 YOU CAN MAKE MY DAY Male, 60, Cancer, N/S, seeks a WM, 49-65, N/S, for casual relationship. Why not call me? ☎927707 OUT SPOKEN SWM, 32, 5’11”, 145lbs, enjoys camping, fishing, Nascar. Seeking laid-back WM, 23-35, for LTR. ☎560095 ENJOYS ALL THAT LIFE HAS GWM, 40, shaved head, goatee, Pisces, smoker, seeks very special, attractive, strong, funloving GBM, 30-50, for dating, possible LTR. ☎257126 NASCAR FAN SWM, 38, 6’1”, 190lbs, brown/green, is goodlooking and masculine. Seeking a man who is also masculine and enjoys going for drinks and RVing. ☎250111 BE YOURSELF Honest, caring SM, 47, 5’10”, 220lbs, seeks outgoing, ambitious, down-to-earth man, to share friendship, fun times and maybe more. ☎895468 I’D LOVE TO MEET! SM, 47, likes dining out, having fun, malls, movies, television. Looking for sincere male for possible relationship. ☎861252 YOU NEVER KNOW Fun-loving, easygoing GWM, 51, 5’11”, 198lbs, enjoys cooking, movies, fishing, walking.

Seeking interesting GWM, 18-33, who’s full of life, for casual relationship, possibly more. ☎676662 100% LAID-BACK SBM, 35, 5’11”, brown skin, dark brown eyes, Virgo, smoker, bookworm, loves tv. Seeking masculine, spontaneous BM, 30-45, smoker. ☎958192 WHAT’S HAPPENING? SWM, 30, 5’7”, 200lbs, brown/blue, Aries, N/S, seeks BM, 19-35, N/S, outgoing, for friendship first, possible LTR. ☎958402 DOESN’T PLAY GAMES Unattached GBM, 41, interested in meeting open-minded, fun-loving, honest, truthful, compassionate and loyal GM for LTR. ☎920995 DARK CHOCOLATE SBM, 23, with a dark complexion, wants to go out and have good times with a great guy. ☎917508

How do you

CALL ME... you will not be disappointed. SM, 35, Indian, 5’9”, seeks the same. Let’s get together. ☎916175 COOL WORLD SBM, 22, loves bowling, football, chess. In search of a man who loves the same things. ☎907631 LET’S JUST CUDDLE Lonely GWM, 33, Aries, smoker, enjoys quiet nights, relaxing, being with somebody. Seeking GWM, 20-30, for possible LTR. ☎887748 YOU WON’T BE SORRY Real, honest, and sweet GBM, 18, 5’11”, darkskinned, Gemini, N/S, seeks friendly GBM, 1835, not into games. I’m ready for a commitment. ☎831448 NEW TO THIS BiWM, 49, 5’10”, thick, black/blue, Libra, N/S, seeks friendly, fun-loving GWM, 35-65, N/S, for possible LTR. ☎839145 IT’S YOUR CALL GWM, young 46, 5’11”, 200lbs, brown/brown, masculine, outgoing, enjoys travel, dining out, movies, shopping, Nascar. Would like to meet honest, passionate GM, with similar interests, for dating, possible LTR. Serious inquiries only. ☎792384 LOOKING FOR LOVE GWM, 41, 5’8’, 140lbs, Pisces, enjoys fishing, television, wood working, gardening, arts, crafts. Seeking GWM, 25-45, for friendship first, possible LTR. ☎705204 I KNOW WHERE IT’S AT SBM, 25, practical yet fun, outgoing, Aquarius, smoker, seeks a masculine, alluring, wellrounded BM, 23-45, smoker, with his priorities in order. ☎695448 BEYOND SWM, 32, 5’11”, 155lbs, light hair, looking for good time with GM, 18-45, ☎966003

BEAUTIFUL AND FEMININE GWF, 32, 5’7”, 135lbs, enjoys reading, movies, dining out, travel, sports, music, movies.

Seeking GWF, 25-39, with similar interests, for friendship, possible LTR. ☎329063

WELL-ROUNDED GWPF, 24, 4’11”, brown/brown, loves animals, movies, dancing, travel, dining out, sports, conversation. Seeking GF, with similar interests, for friendship, possible LTR. ☎329740 A REFRESHING CHANGE SWF, 30, Libra, smoker, is hoping to find it in a woman, 25-45. Will show a lot of a affection. ☎307177 CHURCH-GOER SBF, 38, Virgo, N/S, heavy-duty equipment operator, seeks BF, 30-45. Enjoys motorcycle riding, playing bass guitar. ☎799776 SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP Attractive, feminine SWF, 41, 5’4”, seeks a very open-minded WF, 35-48, for fun and exciting times. ☎775074 I’M LOOKING 4 U Easygoing, loyal SBF, 31, 5’3”, 155lbs, security officer, people person, fun-loving, nice, caring, honest, enjoys bowling, movies, cuddling at home. Seeking trustworthy, outgoing SBF, 26-35, for friendship, maybe LTR. ☎965835 AVID READER Quiet SF, 24, part-time student, into all types of music, especially oldies, pets, writing poetry.

Seeking a female, 24-40, with same interests. ☎283861 BUILDING A FUTURE Hard-working, mechanically inclined SBF, 46, loves to build and rebuild. Seeing female who prefers the home life and knows what she wants from life. ☎120569 YOUNG AT HEART Active GWF, 62, 5’5”, 122lbs, brown hair, enjoys camping, fishing, meeting new people, dining out, short trips. Seeking plus-sized GWF, 45-65, for friendship first. No games. ☎292839 LOOKING FOR LOVE SBF, 32, 140lbs, 5’8”, down-to-earth, likes clubs, movies, and quiet times. Looking for a female, 30-35, with the same interests. If you’re the one, call me. Aiken, South Carolina. ☎113533 LIKE MALLS & MOVIES? Feminine BiBF, 25, 5’4”, 145lbs, short hair, Sagittarius, smoker, loves movies and tv.

Seeking another feminine woman, 18-30, with whom to hang out and chat. ☎958642 OUTGOING FUN WF, 28...

5’3”, medium build, loves movies, putt-putt golf, and bowling. Seeking WF, 25-40, medium build, for fun and friendship. Hope to hear from you soon. ☎958847

MAN FOR ALL SEASONS GBF, 31, 5’6”, brown/brown, Cancer, smoker, enjoys kids, bowling. Seeking open-minded, passionate, understanding GBF, 23-45, for LTR. ☎941850 NO INTRO NEEDED SWF, 39, 5’7”, 145lbs, homeowner, easygoing, selfless, Taurus, smoker, loves movies and bowling. Seeking WF, 35-49, with comparable interests. ☎935299 I WON’T LET YOU DOWN Single GBF, 32, mother, non-smoker, looking to become acquainted with a laid-back, sensual GBF, who enjoys quiet times, movies.

Interested? ☎910581 FRIENDSHIP SBF, 38, 5’7”, slim, fit, seeks SF, for friendship and fun. Must be outgoing, love to wine and dine, travel, movies and theater. ☎878217 CHOCOLATE SEEKS CREAM SF, 39, new to the area, down-to-earth, loves laughing, sight-seeing. Seeking WF, 30-45, to show me a great time! ☎861222 SOMEONE TO LOVE GBF, 21, with brown complexion, seeks femme GBF, 21-30, with no baggage, and her priorities straight. ☎843696 VERY PRETTY SBF...

28, two children, confident, feminine, seeks female, 20-35, with the same qualities, who is not into head games. ☎785531 A GOOD HEART SF, 39, goes to church, works for a living, likes having fun, going on trips. Seeking a similar female, 37-49. ☎780112 JOIN ME GBF, 32, nurse, part-time student, Capricorn, N/S, enjoys bowling, movies, shopping, traveling. Seeking casual relationship with woman, 25-45. ☎711628 ZEST FOR LIFE Articulate, adventurous WF, 32, 5’8”, brown/ brown, enjoys animals, running, movies and dining. Looking for WF, 25-40, for friendship. ☎965827 GIVE ME A RING Cute SBF, 30-something, seeks attractive SF, 25-45, for friendship, maybe more. No games. ☎965825 WASTE NO TIME GBF, 36, enjoys dining out, cooking, dining out.

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SEEKING BBW SWM, 41, 6’, black/green, enjoys reading, movies, dining out, travel, dancing, quiet times.

Seeking queen-size female, with a heart to match, for love and romance. ☎325398 SEEKING TRUE LOVE Handsome SBM, 39, compassionate, financially secure, seeks romantic, attractive, compassionate BF, 21-45, for romantic dinners, movies, walks along the beach, true friendship, LTR. You won’t be disappointed. ☎920361 CHEF/PIANIST 6’, 190lbs, brown/blue, handsome, amateur psychologist, nice car, time off to travel, will send photo. Seeks pretty female companion, 26-39, no kids, light smoker/drinker okay. ☎882215 SINGLE TOO LONG SWM, 35, 5’10”, curly/hazel, in good shape, loves kids, cooking, movies, animals. Seeking WF, 25-42, fun and witty. ☎945669 IT TAKES TWO SBM, 33, Gemini, N/S, enjoys art, jazz, classical music, hiphop. Seeking SBF, 23-43, for shared interests in music, life, and happiness. ☎941377 LET’S MAKE A CONNECTION Laid-back, easygoing, employed SBM, 48, seeks similar SB/WF, 30-60, into music, dining out, spending quality time together. There’s no need to be lonely! ☎919786 MY DREAM LADY... is a spontaneous woman with a serious mind and who knows what she wants in life. SBM, 42, believes dreams can come true. ☎907741 LOOK ME UP Well-educated, professional SWM, 45, no children, never married, enjoys boating, fishing, camping and exploring life. Seeking SF, with similar interests, for fun and friendship. ☎898023 MATURE WOMAN WANTED Hardworking DM, 48, brown/green, looking for S/DF, who’s independent, spontaneous, openminded and mature, D/D-free, who knows what she wants in life, for friendship and maybe romance. ☎898762 FUN FOR ALL SWM, 50, seeks intelligent, aware SF, in shape, for indoor and outdoor fun. Looking for a friendship, that may lead to more. ☎902103 PHONE CALL AWAY Self-employed SWM, 40, Pisces, N/S, N/D, enjoys dining out, movies, cooking in, many activities. Seeking similar SWF, 28-45, N/S, to share good times with. ☎882776 IN NEED OF LOVE, SERIOUS SWM, 44, 6’, never married, blond/blue, Aries, smoker, seeks honest, romantic SWF, 25-38, enjoys sports, country walks, and more, for LTR, marriage. ☎889184 LET’S GET IN TOUCH! SWM, 20, Cancer, smoker, enjoys fishing, hunting, walking, playing games. Seeking older woman, 30-60, for possible relationship. ☎888111 THE PERFECT MATE DBM, 40, 6’, 195lbs, with 1 child, Capricorn, smoker, homeowner, loves gardening, cooking, and hunting. Seeking WF, 28-42, petite, to bedazzling. ☎873556 NOT JUST ANOTHER... stud. DBM, 33, with 3 children, Libra, N/S, seeks a lucky lady, 25-45, N/S, with whom to share quality time. ☎868350 KNOCK-KNOCK, WHO’S THERE? Call me and find out. SWM, 34, Cancer, N/S, loves to tell jokes. Seeking WF, 25-39, N/S, for friendship and relationships. ☎775609 DON’T MISS THIS! SBM, 45, 5’10’’, 230lbs, interested in sports, jazz, movies, dining out. Would like to meet a woman with the same interests. ☎862898 LET’S HOOK UP 34-year-old SBM, 5’9”, 180lbs, Aquarius, nurse, bald head, new to area, open-minded, fun-loving, hopeless romantic. Seeking woman who loves to be romanced. ☎849401 POET SEEKS MUSE SBM, 45, loves all sports, board games, fishing, travel. Seeking a woman to share movies, dining and romance with. ☎843396 DARE TO DREAM Outgoing SBM, 21, 5’9”, 165lbs, Capricorn, N/S, loves going out, outdoors, children.

Seeking SWF, 20-26, N/S, for possible family. ☎835444

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53 M E T R O S P I R I T M A R 1 3 2 0 0 3

54 M E T R O S P I R I T M A R 1 3

■ Automotive Spirit

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE METROPOLITAN SPIRIT

Cars 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, Z-51, PW, PL, PS, targa top, 4+3 trans, leather, Bose, $9000 OBO, call 803-278-2669 leave message (936/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1986 CADILLAC DEVILLE, 160K, minor transmission problem, sell for $300, may negotiate. 706-733-8966 (1023/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1987 BMW 525i, grey, auto, power everything, CD, nice, 195K, just needs driveshaft, $1400, 706-855-1639 (1005/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1988 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24, convertible, needs top, clutch, shifter cable, $800 firm, will trade for boat, trailer and motor. 706-790-3425 (988/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1988 LINCOLN TOWN Car Limo, TV, bar, VCR, CD, 20 inch extended drop desks, 60K, $5900 Firm, 706-7339867 after 6 pm (952/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1989 HONDA CIVIC, 2dr, 5spd, 123K, $1500 firm, 803279-2935 (976/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1989 PONTIAC GRAND Prix SE, white, 5spd, alloy wheels, looks & runs good, good dependable car, $1800 OBO, Good for the Money, 706650-0955 (956/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1990 INFINITI Q45, white/tan leather, runs great, power windows & locks, sunroof, AC, excellent condition $5500 cash, OBO, 706-736-3225 (933/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1991 CHEVY CAMERO RS, convertible, 305 V8, auto, power group, never wrecked, very good over all condition, many new parts, 706-4951765 (992/0403)

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUSTOM Cruiser, 9 passenger station wagon, $2000, 706547-0893 (1026/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1991 OLDS CUTLESS Ciera S, light blue, AC, power steering, Am/Fm, cassette, 4dr, $1000, 706-855-1381 (942/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE, auto, AC, 35+ mpg, 92K, one owner, very clean, $1650 OBO, 706-736-1035 (990/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 HONDA ACCORD DX, 5spd, 132K, new tires, $2650, 803-279-2935 (977/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 MERCURY CAPRI, green, black convertible roof, 145K, new tires & timing belt, frequently maintained, fun car, $2400, 706-294-7529 (950/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Supreme SL, burgundy, 107K, maintenance records, air, PL, PW, clean, dependable, $3000, 706-729-0789 (1019/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 BUICK PARK Ave, green, camel interior, all power, 4dr, V6, low miles, good condition, $5000 OBO, 706-796-9421 or 706-5891969 (980/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 DODGE NEON, white, 5spd, AC, CD, new battery, 97K, runs good, $1600 OBO, 706-729-0789 (987/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 FORD CROWN Victoria LX, dark green, all power options, extra clean, excellent condition, Michelins, 69K, $5500, 706-733-8971 (982/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 MERCURY GRAND Marquis LS, 92K, leather, clean, all power, cruise, wire wheels, $5700, 706-730-2697 (948/0313)

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 CHEVROLET CAMERO, 41K, factory purple, 5spd, 6 cyl, AC, FM, cass, immaculate, one owner, $6500 OBO, 706-868-0090 (975/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 HONDA ACCORD EX, champagne, V6, leather, auto, CD, alloys, sunroof, keyless entry, maintenance records, garaged, excellent condition, $9500, 706-733-7297 (957/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT, with spoiler, whole or parts $750, very good motor and transmission, 706-560-0775 (949/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 ACURA 3.2TL, Premium, loaded, great ride, new tires, remote keyless entry, power locks & windows, AC, climate control system, Bose radio/cassette/CD, remote sunroof, $10,900, 803-279-8326 (993/0403 –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA SE, 5spd, leather, sunroof, Bose CD, alloys, no wrecks, very clean, 64K, $10,250, 706724-2668 days (940/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA, 86K, 5spd, AC, am/fm, CD, great student car, $5500 OBO, 706-790-4396 or 706373-6073 (1031/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 VW PASSAT GLX VR6, gun metal grey, black leather, sunroof, heated seats, new tires, 68K, NADA $11,500, must sell $9500, 706-8321812 or 706-868-7159 (938/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS, white, 2dr, 5spd, 72K, $7200, 803-642-8323 (1035/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999 FORD MUSTANG, red, 36K, #536, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (999) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1999 LINCOLN TOWN Car, executive series, call for details, won’t last long, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (996) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE, silver, tint windows, new motor, CD, AC, PW, PL, PS, $5500, 706-231-6901 or 706-7290104 (945/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999-01 MAZDA MILLENIA’S, starting $10,988, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-2020002 (998) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999-02 MAZDA 626’S, starting $9800, must see, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-2020002 (1003) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 HONDA ACCORD EX, green/tan leather, auto, fully loaded, rear spoiler, 44/5K, one owner (lady), $14,500, 706-650-8644 (1020/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA, like new, $15,900, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (1002) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GT, white, auto, 32K, loaded, w/extras, excellent condition, 37 mpg, $14,800, 803-6131559 (1024/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 CHRYSLER PT Cruiser Limited, beautiful parrot blue, auto, CD, air, all power and options, 30K, $14,995, 803279-3385 (1037/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HONDA EX, low miles, warranty, auto, 6-CD changer & tape, $18,500 negotiable, 803-278-0645 (1027/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 CHEVY CAMARO Z-28, black on black, only 11 miles on car, 6spd, Monsoon stereo/CD, AC, PS, PB, Goodyear GS-C tires $23,300, 706-560-9971 (944/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 HYUNDIA ELANTRA, power windows, great interior/exterior, runs great, asking

only $12,000 706-650-2766 (1006/0403)

Motorcycles 1998 HARLEY DYNA Super glide, laser red, 5400 miles, sissy bar, highway pegs, excellent condition, $11,000 OBO after 6 pm, 803-2799494(981/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON Sportster 1200 Custom, chrome everything, back rest, drag pipes, excellent condition, $9000 OBO, call 803278-2669 (935/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 HONDA XR650R, enduro, off road only, XC, many power enhancing extras, priced to sell or will consider trade, 706-309-9526 after 6 pm (458/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 BUELL BLAST, 246 miles, garage kept, $3500, 481-9336 ask for Sandy (991/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON Road King Classic, teal blue w/white, great condition, many extras, $17,300, 706854-7941 (1021/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2002 HONDA SHADOW 1100, low miles, black with extra chrome, new condition, $6800, 706-560-2025 or 706627-3070 (1036/0417)

Other 1987 EAGLE SPEED Boat, 60 mph, closed bow, Johnson 140HP outboard, $2500 OBO or trade for 4 wheeler, 803279-2669 (934/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1989 RENKEN CABIN Cruiser, 26ft, sleeps six if you’re friendly, four otherwise, full galley, head and shower, 75 hours on 460 Cobra/outdrive, outstanding condition, $22,500, 706-733-8971

(984/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998 COLEMAN POPUP, king beds, refrig, AC, awning, dinette, toilet, hot water, outside shower, brakes, 16’7” closed, 27’ open, $3500 firm, 706-790-3425 (989/0403)

SUVs 1986 FORD BRONCO Eddie Bauer Edition, call details & price, 706-306-3443 (1022/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 CHEVY SUBURBAN, Silverado, white/blue, auto, 4X4, 8 seats, 186K, remanufactured engine, rebuilt transmission, good condition, $5500 OBO, 803-641-1664 (1018/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, extended cab, step side, 4X4, loaded, excellent condition, $8500, 803-279-1651 (953/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 ISUZU TROOPER, Limited edition, loaded, leather, sunroof, CD, full towing package, high mileage, highway miles, $3950, 803510-3116 (1033/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE, air, PL, PW, CD & tape deck, 50K, very good condition, $13,500, 706-860-6471 (1028/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, sport package, 4X4, auto, air, low miles, $250/mo, WAC, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-2020002 (997) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1999 ISUZU TROOPER, 4X4, loaded to the hilt, $13,988, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-2020002 (994) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE Limited, 6 cyl, 4X4, leather, all power, 69K road miles, perfect condition, $13,500, 706733-8971 (983/0327)

CHECK US OUT ONLINE WWW.METSPIRIT.COM

1987 TOYOTA PICKUP, 4 cyl, runs well, needs body work, $400 or make offer, 706-798-8141 (1030/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1990 FORD F-250 XLT, 351, V8, 51K, power windows, steering & locks, extended cab, towing package, $6000 firm, call 706-595-7295 (939/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 CHEVROLET PICK Up 1500, step side, 5spd, $5500, 706-798-3553 (954/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY Max, blue, great hunting truck, AC, CD, $2500, 706495-4243 (986/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 CHEVROLET S-10, red, 4.3liter vortez engine, auto, air, extended cab, new tires, mags, great condition, $3400, 706-556-9704 (1032/0417)

Vans 1969 FORD ECONOLINE 100, straight 6, 3spd, $500 OBO, 706-823-9644 (941/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1977 VW VAN, 34.5K original miles, new am/fm/cd, great

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3233 WASHINGTON ROAD AUGUSTA, GA • 888-694-5555 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM STK#7320A

$10,987 2001 CHEVY LUMINA STK#7315A

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LINCOLN TOWN CAR

Executive Series Call for details, won’t last long!

1999

2001

1999

$10,837 2001 HYUNDAI ACCENT STK#9093B

$6,998 1999 ISUZU RODEO STK#376719

$11,982 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE STK#7319A

$13,428 AIKEN-AUGUSTA HIGHWAY N. AUGUSTA, SC • 888-668-9985 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE AUTO • A/C • STK#P5889

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2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

FORD MUSTANG

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$250/mo.

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1997

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GMC SIERRA 1500 SL

$15,900

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2000

1999

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(803) 202-0002

www.andyjonesmazda.com Open Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-7pm At the top of the rise on the Aiken-Augusta Highway in North Augusta

M E T R O

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ISUZU TROOPER

55

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interior condition, needs a groovy home, $4500, 706863-8118 (1025/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1990 CHEVY ASTRO, 7 seater, all window, 110K, loaded, excellent condition, $3450, 706-541-0656 (888/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1992 TOYOTA PREVIA LE, dual sunroof, AC, PS, Am, Fm stereo, alloy wheels, dealer serviced, $4895, 706-6502196 (955/0320) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1993 FORD AEROSTAR, black, power windows & locks, 111K, hitch, air, tape deck, $2500 OBO, 706-7310033 or 706-731-9689 (1038/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 DODGE GRAND Caravan SE, dark green, power everything, rear & front AC, Quad seating, 175K, $3000, 706-869-1920 (1001/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1997 FORD WINDSTAR GL, dark red, auto, 7 passenger, 3.8 V6, AC, tilt, power windows, 146K, $3700 OBO, 706-860-5001 (774/0410) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE, leather, sunroof, excellent condition, 86K, payoff $15,800, take $13,800, 706796-4097 or 706-860-2629 (1029/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SEL, white, grey leather, loaded, CD, factory warranty, 21K, $15,700, 706-294-1040 (951/0313)

WRX

Trucks

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1994 GMC 1500, pickup, extended cab, excellent condition, it’s a beauty, $6600 OBO, 706-869-8888 (937/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 DODGE DAKOTA Extended cab, 2WD, auto, call for further details after 6 pm, 706-729-1677 (979/0327) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1995 GMC SIERRA, white/burgundy, x-cab, 4X4, 65k, loaded, must sell $11,000, 706-863-1543 (1007/0403) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1996 FORD RANGER XLT, white, extended cab, V6, am/fm/cassette, adult driven, power mirrors, great condition, $4200, 803-278-0654 (943/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 FORD F150, Harley Davidson extended cab, 13K, black with black Harley leather, like new, extended warranty, $23,000, 706-8366703 (1034/0417) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2000 GMC SIERRA, stepside, 1500 SC, 4.3liter, V-6, $15,900, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (995)

OUTBACK

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2001 FORD EXCURSION Limited Ultimate, black, V8, 7.3L turbo diesel, 4X4, tow, leather, fully equipped, excellent condition, $32,000 neg.

803-279-6186 (947/0313) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998-99 FORD EXPEDITION’S, great selection, starting $16,900, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-202-0002 (1000) –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1998-2001 ISUZU RODEO’S, loaded, clean, must see, starting $12,500, Andy Jones Mazda, 803-2020002 (1001)

LIKE NEW • STK#P5936

$13,995

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CERTIFIED • 100K MILE WARRANTY • STK#CP5941

$22,995

2001 TOYOTA CELICA GTS CERTIFIED • 100K MILE WARRANTY • #P5896A

$16,995

2002 CHEVY TAHOE LOADED • STK#2882A

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FEATURING THE MCFLY BAND ... NATIONAL TOURING ‘80S COVER BAND

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Ultra Lounge & cocktails 813 Broad ~ www.modjeskalounge.com ~ 706.303.9700