Metro Spirit - 04.27.17

Table of Contents April 27, 2017

Whine Line 4 Kris Fisher 6 Jenny is Wright 7 Insider 8 Feature 10 Metro Week What’s Up Calendar Nightlife NYT Crossword Sightings The Eight

16 17 18 24 26 27 28

Pg. 10 EDIT

CREATIVE

Amy Christian

Joshua Bailey

Joe White

amy@themetrospirit.com

joshua@themetrospirit.com

joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636

Arts Editor/Production Director

Lead Designer

Stacey Eidson Molly Swift Staff Writer

molly@themetrospirit.com

Contributors Jenny Wright, Austin Rhodes, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong

Publisher

Johnny Beckworth

Staff Writer

stacey@themetrospirit.com

BUSINESS

SALES

circulation manager

jdbeckworth@gmail.com

Joe White Publisher

joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636

Rachael Foss Account Executive

rachael@themetrospirit.com 706-910-3461

COVER DESIGN: Kruhu

Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, 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 publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.Š 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White.

Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.

Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit?

Call or email Joe at 706.373.3636 joe@themetrospirit.com

OPINION

Kris Fisher: 6 | Jenny is Wright: 7

The Whine Line

Dear Augusta area Mexican restaurants: Can you please just focus on serving quality food and big strong margaritas and stop with all this karaoke nonsense? All it does is bring in these delusional no-talent divas who take up all the tables and who barely order anything. It drives your paying customers away.

Teddy Roosevelt said to “Speak quietly and carry a big stick.” Donald Trump is speaking loudly and swinging his stick in the wrong direction.

O’Reilly said the accusations against him are unfounded, not untrue. That’s because he knows they are true. He knows the sheer numbers of women who have said he did it to them shows a perfectly clear pattern, and that it is obvious to us all, including his program’s sponsors. “Unfounded” is a slick legal term meaning there are no other witnesses to his acts than the individual women he abused. But what difference does it make? We elected a rich man President who bragged on videotape about his sexual crimes, all unpunished.

Where is the outcry from our pulpits when these things come to light? Our pastors, male and female, remain silent - we have indeed lost our moral compass. All that was needed for evil to triumph in the lead-up to WWII was for good people “to remain silent.” And they mostly did. The worst part is so often these men are paid off, as O’Reilly was. If only half the executives at Fox News and half the lawyers writing the contracts were women, there would be no clause for any one to be paid a penny if s/he were fired for cause. The powers-that-be at Fox approved that clause because both they and O’Reilly knew this mess was coming, didn’t they? They’d covered it up for years and they knew. Andrew Young was right with his quote about the Golden Rule. It operates just the same today: “Them that has the gold makes the rules.”

The Aiken Lobster Races are an important part of the culture and identify Aiken as a place that is fun to visit.

Whomever it is that is at the helm of the event needs to no longer be in charge if there been this long of a break.

There’s no excuse anymore. The strides the lobsters have been made to hide under the watery rocks to hide.

That is no longer acceptable. As the Insider article says, there are several key nonprofits who are hurting by the races not taking place for three years. If organizers are burnt out, then it is time to hand over the races to others who will be able to successfully organize and led this great hometown event. There’s no time to waste.

Why does every “Hollywood celebrity” have to announce to the world their sexual orientation or tell us when they’re pregnant? Having said that, I would like to announce that I’m male, I’m heterosexual, and I’m not pregnant. Thank you.

Laughing at all the whines about Snoop Dogg. That cat was an honor student at a magnet high school in the Los Angeles area, a hugely competitive global center for the performing arts. He went to school with Cameron Diaz. He grew up singing and playing piano in his church choir. He’s not from Compton. He’s from Long Beach. Fact is that marketing a black man as a pimp works better than marketing him as a piano player.

Y’all believe that story because it rings truer for a rapper to talk about guns and drugs than god and love.

Isn’t it ironic the Democratic candidate to replace Tom Price is touted as a former Congressional Assistant, but neglects to mention his Congressman was Hank Johnson who stated on the floor of the US Congress “With all the people moving to one side of the island of Guam it will surely turn over” And the media omitted that fact.

I guess when Donald Trump “drained the swamp,” his tax returns accidently fell into the drainpipe.

Maybe Austin Rhodes will apply to replace Bill O’Reilly since he has been focusing on items of National matters.

For the most part, ignoring the issues of Columbia County. Perhaps he’s upset the Metro Spirit has better sources than he does. Some will not share anything with him. Has he called for Johnson to be placed on leave until the findings are released? Has he called for the proud Veterans to show up at the board of education meeting to let him know that they haven’t forgotten the Ranger issue?

WHINELINE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM Have something you want to get off your chest?

Send your whines to whineline@themetrospirit.com. The Metro Spirit reserves the right to edit submitted whines for content, but we will otherwise print them pretty much exactly as you type them… spelling errors and all.

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Get your Motor runnin’ Kris Fisher Last thursday, I was meeting with an engaged couple at Starbucks. They’re getting married this week and I’m DJing their wedding. We chat for a few minutes about their music, first dances and such. Then I tried to order one of those unicorn drinks, but they were out of the ingredients. Don’t worry; I forfeited my man card long ago.

After we wrapped up the meeting, I head outside to my van: My 1993 Chevy Astro.

Every single person who sees this van says the exact same thing: “Nice creeper van!”

But, hey, it’s paid for and any embarrassment I can cause my kids by dropping them off in the van is worth it. I’ll admit: there are times when my “creeper van” gets to me.

Like, when I get in my van and, as I buckle up, I see my clients pull out of the parking lot in their drop-top Porsche.

I sighed silently to myself as I turned the key in my creeper van, only to discover that it won’t start. This is why you can’t convince me that God doesn’t have a sense of humor. My van, in all its “creepiness,” is always reliable. Sure, the AC doesn’t work, I can only pick up one radio station, only have one working speaker, water leaks out under the dash when it rains (seriously) and my decorative hubcaps are falling off one at a time. But, the damn thing runs.

It runs well, especially for a van that is older than the clients I was just meeting. But the good lord picked today, the day I watch my clients speed off in their 911 Carrera, for my van to leave me stranded like Tom Hanks. I can almost hear him laughing up in heaven. Wocka-wocka-wocka!

I went in to notify the Starbucks manager that I’d be back the next day to get my van.

If you’ve never felt the joy and pride of telling a store manager “please don’t tow my out-of-commission P.O.S. because I’m leaving it overnight,” then you just haven’t lived.

Fast forward to the weekend and me trying to figure out why my van won’t start, then attempting to fix it. I’ll spare you these details, but it involves me and my dad poking around the engine, scratching our heads, several trips to the auto parts store and drinking some beers. There’s some rule somewhere that says when a man is working with tools, beer is to be consumed.

After two days of all this, my cousin Tony (who actually knows what he is doing) came over to diagnose and within 10 minutes told me that it was the first thing that I had originally thought to replace (but didn’t). We replaced it and, voila, the engine roared to life. Well, as much as a 24-year-old minivan can roar, anyway.

A whole weekend shot, when I could have followed my first instinct and been done with it Saturday morning. Well, my first guess, anyway.

For a hot second, I thought that I might get to go car shopping. I had visions of listening to the radio from more than one speaker dancing in my head. A car starting every time I turned the key, not getting a wet foot every time it rains — all ideas that I was starting to get excited about. Alas, the creeper van rides again!

It’ll be a hot summer sweating it out with no AC but, at least I don’t have a car payment! Dave Ramsey would be proud.

KRIS FISHER is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people would have outgrown years ago. djkfish.com.

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how does Your Garden Grow?

Jenny is Wright I have a black thumb. We had a fake, dusty ficus in college. I’ve had few houseplants in my time. Those that did make it home suffered greatly. We had one on the mantle in our first home. It looked so nice up there, all green and earthy and stuff. In the four years we had it, it got watered four times.

That might be an exaggeration. Maybe it was three.

Somehow it lived, until one day, when only one green leaf remained, the soil barren and hard, I threw it away.

Now that I think about it, that’s so sad. I killed it. I literally starved it to death.

The Girl and I were inspired a few years ago. On a whim, we went to Lowe’s and bought plants and fancy organic soil. We bought seeds, too. I told myself that if I can grow something, anything, that we can eat, I’ll consider our first effort a success. I cheated and started with live, already growing plants.

My brother in law knows more about plants than most nursery owners. He gave me some tips about starting a container garden. I tried to follow his directions appropriately. We planted three kinds of tomatoes (beefsteak, roma and classic heirloom), two cucumber seedling thingys, zucchini, strawberries and herbs.

I didn’t expect to have a bountiful crop each weekend, but imagine our surprise when we noticed a bright red strawberry on the vine! The Girl shrieked. The Boy asked if we could eat it. Absolutely, kiddo. Everything else more than doubled in size. It was pretty exciting. Our limited and small success makes me want to try more.

Well, now I’m gonna give it one more go. After all, I’ve now kept alive three bamboo stalks in vases, some weed-ridden herbs, a transplanted shamrock plant from Ireland, a few strawberries and my newest little palm tree plant looking thing from Ikea. I got succulents from Ikea, too, but I don’t think they count as things to keep alive. Aren’t they fool proof? I guess there aren’t

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any guarantees, because someone once told me it’s impossible to kill a cast iron plant, and ours is long gone.

I’ve heard that watering is the key, but I can’t ever seem to remember.

The herbs in the backyard are more than thriving, due in part to the amount of rain we’ve had. Several have grown out of the pots and into the ground. You may not be impressed, but I’m considering that success.

I’ve always wanted to have pretty flowers to clip for vases and trimmed shrubs that impress neighbors. More than that, I love my window boxes, but they need help.

A friend offered to help with them. I’m taking her up on it. I’ve got a few ideas as to how I’d like them to look, and she suggested I visit the spring Pendleton King Park Plant Sale to stock up.

Here goes nothing. See the photo for my newest casualty, a tree of some sort, also from Ikea. It’s trying desperately to start over, what with its green newness amid the dead branches. Replying to the cry for help, I gave it water.

Wish me luck with the window boxes, and if you want to meet up at the PKP Plant Sale, here’s the info: 20th annual master Gardener Plant sale Pendleton King Park’s Franke Pavilion Saturday, May 6 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Selling hard-to-find sun and shade perennials, native plants, shrubs, succulents, bulbs, vines, herbs direct from Master Gardeners, who will be on hand to answer gardening questions. There will also be a sale and signing of “Sid Sez: Grow It in Augusta” by Sid Mullis.

706-738-3991 facebook.com/pendletonkingpark

JENNY WRIGHT’S humorous observations on marriage, motherhood and living in Augusta have earned her a devoted following, both in print and on Facebook. When she’s not spying on other parents in the carpool line at school, you’ll probably find her with either a camera, tennis racquet or wine glass in her hand.

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 7

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neWS

A Mecca of Music: 10

A Job Well Done, Dr. Sullivan When the Paine College Board of Trustees announced this week that it had unanimously selected Dr. Jerry Hardee as the finalist to become the next president at the university, many students at Paine College had mixed emotions.

While Hardee, a retired college president and educator from Valdosta, seems more than qualified for the job, a lot of students and faculty at Paine are extremely fond of the current president, Dr. Samuel Sullivan.

He has been a rock when the college desperately needed one.

But Sullivan, who came out of retirement and accepted the position as president, had a one-year contract that ends this June.

And Sullivan chose not to reapply for the president’s job.

Even though some people at Paine won’t want to see Sullivan go, they are grateful for what’s he done for the university.

Sullivan took the reality of Augusta’s historically AfricanAmerican college possibly losing its accreditation to heart.

He fought back against the decision handed down to Paine by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (or SACS) and he not only kept the university afloat, but he strengthened it.

While the college is still on probation, it’s definitely making progress.

Sullivan worked to remove the dark cloud over the university left by its former president, Dr. George Bradley.

It was under Bradley’s leadership that Paine College was first placed on probation by SACS because the university was found to be in violation of several standards including fiscal stability, control of finances and the handling of federal student financial aid programs.

An anonymous website called The Paine Project claimed Bradley brought “unprecedented mismanagement to the college’s financial and fiscal affairs, and intimidation and threats to faculty, staff and students.”

When Sullivan took over after Bradley resigned, he met the problems head on and was surprisingly honest with not only the students and faculty at Paine College, but also the community.

Last fall, Sullivan held a two-hour public meeting at the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel on Paine College’s campus

8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

to talk about the accreditation of the 135-year-old university.

“I’m here to answer any questions you have,” Sullivan told the audience filled with former and current students, as well as concerned citizens. “No question is out of bounds. I will let you know what I know. I won’t try to sugarcoat anything. I just want you to know that we are here to continue to be as open as we can, be as transparent as we can and to be as honest as we can about our fight.”

He told the audience that when he took over as president, he discovered the college had accounts receivable of $2.3 million, meaning students owed the university $2.3 million in tuition money from previous years.

Sullivan said he also found that school borrowed a lot of money from a line of credit to assist with its operational needs.

“We owe a lot of people a lot of money,” Sullivan told the audience last year. “We find ourselves in a lot of debt.”

Specifically, Sullivan said the university had purchased several apartment buildings a few years ago that the college had to sell to help pay off some of the money it owed.

The university also began a football program a few years ago under Bradley’s leadership, but the college abandoned the team in 2015 because it was costing the college approximately $1 million a year.

Despite these financial setbacks, Sullivan still managed to raise more than $4.1 million over the past year to increase the college’s financial stability.

He simply never gave up.

“We get knocked down many times in our lifetime, but we always get up and we always stand up and stand for something,” Sullivan told the students at Paine College.

“And that is what we are about here at Paine: Standing for something.”

And the amazing thing about Sullivan during that two-hour meeting was he promised the students, “I will stay here until every question is addressed. If I don’t have the answer, I will get you the answer.”

Sullivan truly cared about Paine College and, let’s be honest, he didn’t have to.

With more than 50 years of experience in higher education, Sullivan was thoroughly enjoying his retirement prior to coming to Paine.

“For three years, I was retired, doing whatever I wanted to do. I was also playing golf three times a week,” Sullivan recently told the Metro Spirit. “I played in a group. We had a tour through Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Myrtle Beach and Tampa.”

But when he got the call from Paine, Sullivan said he thought he could help.

“I believe in my heart that this was a calling,” Sullivan said.

“I believe in my heart that over the now 50-plus years that I’ve been in higher education that the Lord has prepared me for this particular challenge.”

Thank you for all of your hard work, Dr. Sullivan.

And best wishes to Dr. Hardee as he completes his contract negotiations with the board to become the new president at Paine.

You have some big shoes to fill.

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Will the Sheriff’s Investigation Resolve Anything?

A lot of people in Columbia County have their eyes on the Internal Affairs Division of the sheriff’s office this week.

Rumor is that the internal investigation regarding former EMA Director Pam Tucker’s claim that County Administrator Scott Johnson created a “hostile work environment” will be concluded at the end of the week.

Of course, the investigation is also looking into allegations by former EMA Deputy Director Rusty Welsh that Tucker was “controlling, manipulative, condescending, arrogant, disrespectful, hypocritical and juvenile” while serving as his boss.

For the past several months, everyone has been quietly pointing fingers at everyone else, while the leadership in Columbia County has remained silent.

Finally, Tucker spoke to the Metro Spirit last week and told her side of the story.

She described being frequently chewed out by Johnson and discussed, what she called, his “beratement room” which was the small conference room on the second floor where the doors always remained closed during her meetings with him.

So, what really happened behind those closed doors?

Was Johnson being hostile and verbally abusive of Tucker?

Did Tucker really feel threatened by Johnson?

No one really knows except Tucker and Johnson and possibly Deputy County Administrator Glenn Kennedy, who was allegedly present during some of the meetings.

But Tucker is publicly saying Johnson’s behavior was extreme.

“His hands were shaking so badly that I took it to mean that he was more than just furious. That if he could have had his hands around my throat, I probably would have been dead,” Tucker said of Johnson. “It was terrifying.

People have no idea.”

According to Tucker, Johnson was enraged over the fact that he didn’t like the person she had chosen to hire for one of the positions in the EMA department.

Needless to say, many of Johnson’s friends and family weren’t too happy with Tucker’s comments and quickly began calling her names like “drama queen” and claiming that she was running in next year’s election for commission chair “solely on revenge.”

It’s ironic because just a few weeks prior to the Metro Spirit’s interview with Tucker, a reporter also sat down with Barry Smith, the former director of the Community and Leisure Services Division in Columbia County, and talked about his reasons for resigning from his position.

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Smith described similar encounters with Johnson. Smith never said he felt threatened by Johnson, but Smith did say that Johnson was heavy-handed when it came to the hiring of new employees in the Community Events Department.

In fact, Johnson became angry with Smith after he filled some positions within the department.

Smith claims he was fully authorized and approved to do so, but Johnson continued to argue that he told Smith not to fill the positions after Commission Chairman Ron Cross was upset that the employees had been hired.

After being on vacation for a few days, Smith was called into Johnson’s office to discuss the new hires.

“I went into Scott’s office and he said, ‘Barry, I told you not to fill those jobs,’” Smith said. “I said, ‘No. You didn’t. You told me to hire who I wanted to and that you don’t micromanage.’”

According to Smith, Johnson again insisted that he told Smith not to hire the three events specialist positions.

“By this time, I had a belly full of it,” Smith told the Metro Spirit. “I said, ‘Scott, I am not going to argue with you. You did not ever tell me not to fill those positions. You approved it.

This has been going on for weeks and weeks and weeks. You were cognizant of it.’”

But Smith said Johnson continued to argue the point.

“Scott said, ‘I told you not to hire those people.’ And I said, ‘Scott, I’m not going to argue with you. I quit,’” Smith said.

Smith said he had reached the point of no return with Johnson.

“At that moment, I knew that I could not have an effective working relationship with Scott Johnson anymore,” Smith told the Metro Spirit. “I couldn’t even look him in the face anymore.

If you don’t tell me the truth, it’s over. I tell the truth.”

So, does this show a pattern of Johnson’s hostile behavior toward his employees?

Most would say, “No. Those are only two employees. There are similarities in their encounters with Scott Johnson, but differences, too.”

But the word on the street is that about 150 people have been interviewed over the past two months regarding the internal investigation being conducted by the sheriff’s office.

One hundred and fifty different experiences of people’s interaction with Columbia County’s government.

To be a fly on that wall, eh?

There are also allegedly taped conversations of both Tucker and Johnson that investigators are reviewing.

With so much time invested in interviewing people, the public can only hope that there is a solid and valid conclusion to this investigation.

A conclusion that will make the county stronger and better in the end.

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 9

By Metro Spirit Staff

The augusta area is attracting more live music to the region than ever before The GodfaTher of Soul James Brown once said, “When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy.”

Over the next several months, Augustans will have a lot to smile about when it comes to music festivals and live entertainment coming to town.

Whether you are looking to celebrate bluesman Blind Willie McTell this spring in his hometown of Thomson, Ga., or treating the entire family to Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival for fabulous bluegrass music and down-home barbecue, your options are endless.

Make sure not to miss out on all of the live music and festivals coming to the Augusta area over the spring and summer months.

ParTee on the Green Friday, April 28 5-9 p.m.

The Augusta Common Due to severe weather during Masters Week, this year’s ParTee On the Green had to be rescheduled from April 3 to this Friday, April 28. This block party captures the spirit of the late Godfather of Soul James Brown by having JAMP (James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils) headlining the event. Other scheduled performers include Drum Circle Augusta, Dancing Through the Skirt, The ZFIT Crew, Grindhouse Training Studios, The Soul Sliders of Augusta and the Eastern Star Dance Theatre.

Along with high energy music, ParTee On the Green has been described as a dance party that resembles “American Bandstand meets Soul Train meets Shag City meets Teen Town.” This block party combines a variety of music genres including soul, pop, jazz, house, reggae and funk.

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Benderdinker Saturday, April 29 10 a.m.

Betty’s Branch at 4431 Hardy McManus Road benderdinker.com While Benderdinker might be an unusual name for a festival involving live music, hundreds of kayaks and a relaxing paddle down the Savannah River, once you attend, you’ll be hooked. Benderdinker involves paddling down six miles of the river (at each participant’s own pace) with several stops along the way for live music and food. Check in begins on Friday, April 28, from 5:30-7 p.m. and Saturday, April 29, from 8-10 a.m. Participants can bring their own boats and select a launch zone. Onsite security will be available overnight. Some of the musicians that will be featured this year will be Me & Molly, McKenna Hydrick and local artist Nick Brown. The average person is able to complete the paddling event in 2.5 hours. The paddle portion of the event is over at 3 p.m.

The 24th annual Blind Willie McTell Blues festival Saturday, May 6 Noon Festival Site, Thomson (one mile north of Interstate 20, Exit 172) blindwillie.com Thomson native Blind Willie McTell has become known as one of the country’s most influential bluesmen, inspiring famous musicians across the globe including Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers. With a style called Piedmont Blues, McTell stood out from other blues artists by the fact that he played a 12-string guitar and was known for writing well-crafted songs with a touch of humor.

For more than two decades, this blues festival in Thomson has celebrated McTell’s life, his music and his impact on the blues.

The 24th edition of this festival features musicians from all over North America, including the Nashvillebased Americana band The Wood Brothers; the soulful music of Mingo Fishtrap from Austin, Texas; the electric blues of Sugar Ray and The Bluetones from Boston; country blues artist Alvin Youngblood Hart of Oakland, Calif.; and Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist Joey Landreth and his Trio.

The entire festival will be kicked off by the Marcus King Band from Greenville, S.C., whose new album was produced by legendary guitarist Warren Haynes.

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The Riverwalk Revival featuring Lil Uzi Vert Tuesday, May 9 Doors open at 7 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m.

Jessye Norman Amphitheater fwbpro.com Friends With Benefits, the same production company that recently brought the dynamic Flaming Lips to the Major Rager in downtown Augusta during Masters Week, is once again offering music lovers an enormous treat with its next show in the Riverwalk Revival Series at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater.

This show will feature rapper and hip-hop recording artist Lil Uzi Vert, who is being recognized as one of the biggest faces in the new age of rap music. Known for his rapidfire delivery in his songs, this Philadelphia native is only 22 years old, but he is getting a lot of attention as being a charismatic entertainer who has been influenced by a wide range of artists including Marilyn Manson, Kanye West and Lil Wayne.

Lil Uzi Vert is guaranteed to wake up that lazy Savannah River and get it grooving and moving.

filled day of events and a tribute to those who serve.

And perhaps the most impressive fact about the day’s entertainment on Saturday, May 20, is that all of the shows are free to the public.

During last year’s celebration, the audience was dazzled by Thunder Over Evans’ extreme fireworks display choreographed by local pyrotechnician Craig Butler.

It’s easily the state’s largest fireworks show.

“Due to the closeness of this show to the audience, we can’t shoot large caliber shells, but we shoot just hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of caliber shells,” Butler explained. “There are probably more shells shot in this show than in any show in Georgia or South Carolina. Period.”

The 2016 firework finale included 8,000 shells in one minute, Butler said.

“This year’s Thunder Over Evans is on Saturday, May 20, and we’ve already gotten the talent lined up,” said Shane Thompson of Windsor Jewelers, who helps organize the event. “It is a great cover band called The Salamanders from Salt Lake City, Utah. They are all about knocking it out of the park. We are excited about them. We like to choose bands that everybody can enjoy. And they are going to be really good this year.”

Described as a “high-energy, party band,” The Salamanders are known for their worldclass musicians that smoothly jump from one music genre to another.

“The Salamanders create an exciting and unforgettable experience,” Thompson said.

“And this year, we are also doing a high-energy circus that is going to be there. That should be a lot of fun.”

Aiken Bluegrass Festival Friday and Saturday, May 12-13 Gates open at noon on both days Aiken Fairgrounds aikenbluegrassfestival.org For the 13th annual Aiken Bluegrass Festival, there will be a great lineup of bluegrass musicians featured in the two-day festival, including artists such as The Infamous Stringdusters, Billy Strings, Larry Keel and Vince Herman, as well as the hugely popular Portland, Oregon-based band Fruition.

This year’s festival is also encouraging several bluegrass artists to collaborate on stage for unique performances. Some of the musicians involved will include Allie Kral of Yonder Mountain, Andy Thorn of Leftover Salmon, Jay Starling of Love Canon and Lindsay Lou. Along with the incredible bluegrass music, the festival also offers unique craft and food vendors, on-site camping, kid’s activities and concessions featuring products from New Belgium Brewing and Carolina Moon Distillery.

The O’Jays with The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards Friday, May 12 Gates open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 8 p.m.

Evans Towne Center Park evanstownecenterpark.com Promoted as the “ultimate Mother’s Day weekend,” this outdoor concert will feature the soulful sounds and electrifying energy of the 1960s band The O’Jays, which still has its original lead singers Eddie Levert and Walter Williams. Throughout the band’s career, The O’Jays have earned 10 gold albums, nine platinum albums and had 10 No.1 hits such as “Love Train” and “Backstabbers.”

The O’Jays will be joined by The Temptations Review, featuring Dennis Edwards singing the Motown group’s popular hits such as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination” and “Stay.”

Thunder Over Evans Saturday, May 20 11 a.m.

Evans Towne Center Park thunderoveraugusta.com Each year, Thunder Over Evans continues to leave local audiences completely speechless over the enormous talent and incredible entertainment showcased at the Evans Towne Center Park in just one day.

And this year will be no different.

As the largest privately funded Armed Forces Day celebration in the country, Thunder Over Evans is the brainchild of three local businessmen — Donnie Thompson, Andy Jones and the late Dale Phelon — who wanted to give something back to the men and women who serve our country.

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Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival Friday and Saturday, May 26-27 Evans Town Center Park banjobque.com Ever since Cathy Varnadore came up with the idea of Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival eight years ago to honor the legacy of her late father, Joe Pond, it has been huge success each and every year.

Varnadore and her dedicated team at A.B. Beverage Company have created a festival that not only showcases her dad’s love of live bluegrass music and down-home barbecue cooking, but, most importantly, the love of family.

This year, Banjo-B-Que is proud to welcome back as the festival’s headliner The Avett Brothers.

While the Avett Brothers may be from Concord, N.C., the band has long been a local favorite ever since their earliest days playing at Stillwater Taproom in downtown Augusta.

The Avett Brothers are known for high-energy shows and playing intense gigs featuring sibling musicians Scott and Seth Avett.

Other bands featured in this year’s festival include Greensky Bluegrass, Banditos, The Defibulators, Natchez Tracers, Cicada Rhythm, Hog Slop String Band, Harvest Thieves, Niles Foley, Kyshona Armstrong, Little Roy & Lizzie, Sailing to Denver, The Mason Jars, The Ramblin’ Fevers, Delta Cane, Royal Johnson, The High Divers, Laney Jones & the Spirits, Villain Family, Porter Oaks and West King String Band.

With such an incredible line-up, this festival is worth every penny.

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Umphrey’s McGee with special guest The Marcus King Band Thursday, June 1 6:30-11 p.m.

The Augusta Common fwbpro.com After about two decades of performing more than 100 concerts each year, there is no question that Umphrey’s McGee knows how to put on a fabulous show. Ever since forming on the Notre Dame campus back in 1997, this group has continued to push the envelope and surprise its audiences every year.

But Umphrey’s McGee really began earning devoted followers not long after its appearance at the first-ever Bonnaroo in Tennessee in 2002. Shortly after, the band’s 2007 double album, “Live at the Murat,” earned a four-star review in Rolling Stone and a Jammy for Best Live Album, according to the band’s website.

Many fans believe the popularity of Umphrey’s McGee comes from the band’s ability to include its audience in every show and make them feel as if they are part of something larger than life.

Following Umphrey’s McGee’s concert at The Augusta Common, there will be an after party at Sky City on Broad Street with the band Human Beans, featuring members of Funk You, Dank and Butter. Doors at Sky City open at 10 p.m. and the show will begin at 11 p.m.

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers Thursday, June 15 6 p.m.

Columbia County Amphitheater, Evans fwbpro.com Singer and keyboardist Bruce Hornsby, who won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best New Artist and is known for such 1980s hits as “Mandolin Rain” and “The Way It Is,” will be performing in June at the Columbia County Amphitheatre with his touring band The Noisemakers.

But Hornsby isn’t just a popular singer from the 1980s. He is talented musician who performed more than 100 shows with the Grateful Dead prior to Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995. He has also collaborated with several other legendary artists, including Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, Ricky Skaggs, Phil Collins, Branford Marsalis and Bob Dylan.

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Hornsby is an extremely diverse musician who also won the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album and the 1994 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

The Riverwalk Revival featuring Gov’t Mule with Galactic Tuesday, Aug. 1 Doors open at 6 p.m., the show starts at 7 p.m.

Jessye Norman Amphitheater fwbpro.com Back in 2015, Warren Haynes, the legendary guitarist and founding member of the Southern rock jam band Gov’t Mule, captivated the crowd in Augusta at the Major Rager during Masters Week.

Rolling Stone Senior Editor David Fricke once named Haynes one of the top 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

“Haynes is possibly the hardest-working guitarist on the planet,” Fricke wrote.

“Displaying controlled intensity, he’s a meaty and masterful slide player, as well as a soulful singer and songwriter. Steeped in the uncut blues of Muddy Waters and Elmore James, and especially bitten by the heavy rock-trio sound of Cream and Mountain, Haynes has kept the blues-rock burning brightly since falling in with the Allman Brothers’ camp in the 80s.”

Back in 1989, he joined the Allman Brothers Band after being recruited by former guitarist Dickey Betts to join the band for a reunion tour.

For almost 25 years, Haynes remained an active member with the Allman Brothers Band until a few years ago when he announced he was leaving the band to 27APRIL2017

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pursue other projects.

Along with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule (the band he started more than 20 years ago), Haynes has also performed with the Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends, Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews and the King of Blues himself, B.B. King.

“In a band like the Allman Brothers or Gov’t Mule or even the Grateful Dead, which is very experimental, there is a balance that you strive for between the songs and the exploration,” Haynes told the Metro Spirit in 2015. “One without the other, I don’t think is nearly as exciting and enriching.”

Being able to incorporate both of those aspects of the music together in a 2 1/2 hour show creates a “roller coaster ride” for audiences, he said.

“When I go to a show, if I feel like I am hearing something or I’m experiencing something that is never going to happen that way exactly ever again, then I feel like I was a part of a special thing,” Haynes said. “A true experience. That’s part of what we are trying to give people as well when we take the stage.”

The following is a list of more live music coming to the Augusta area. While these aren’t outdoor concerts or festivals, they are shows that shouldn’t be missed this year: Pops! Presents Steep Canyon Rangers Thursday, April 27 Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 7:30 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium augustaentertainmentcomplex.com Dega, featuring Kalen Nash from Ponderosa with special guest Mechanical River Thursday, April 27 Doors open at 8 p.m., show begins at 10 p.m.

Sky City skycityaugusta.com Freddy Rosario Saturday, April 29 7 p.m.

The Imperial Theatre imperialtheatre.com Simo with special guest The Phillip Lee Band Saturday, April 29 Doors open at 8 p.m., show begins at 10 p.m.

Sky City skycityaugusta.com

Alice Cooper Sunday, April 30 8 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium georgialinatix.com Billy Currington Friday, May 5 7:30 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium georgialinatix.com Mann’s World Family Tour featuring Tamela Mann & David Mann Saturday, May 6 7 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium georgialinatix.com Lucero with special guest The Phillip Lee Band Tuesday, May 9 Doors open at 8 p.m., show begins at 8:30 p.m.

Sky City skycityaugusta.com Just Neighbors wit special guests SubuTech and Sunwell Thursday, May 11 8 p.m.

Sky City skycityaugusta.com

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Charlie Wilson Saturday, May 13 8 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium georgialinatix.com

Tedeschi Trucks Band Tuesday, June 13 Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium georgialinatix.com

Aaron Lewis Thursday, May 18 Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m.

The Country Club augustacountry.com

Hank Williams Jr. Friday, June 16 8 p.m.

James Brown Arena georgialinatix.com

Little Tybee Friday, May 19 8 p.m.

Sky City skycityaugusta.com

JT Hodges Friday, June 23 Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m.

The Country Club augustacountry.com

An Intimate Evening with Scotty McCreery Saturday, May 20 8 p.m.

The Imperial Theatre imperialtheatre.com

Corey Smith Saturday, Aug. 12 Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.

The Bell Auditorium georgialinatix.com

Aaron Watson Friday, June 9 Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m.

The Country Club augustacountry.com

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THE WORLD’S LARGEST global hackathon is NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge, an event started in 2012 that, last year, had 15,000 participants in 161 cities in 61 countries around the world.

This year’s challenge promises to be bigger and better than ever, and anyone who considers themselves a maker, a hacker or even an earth or space enthusiast is invited to spend the weekend at theClubhou.se.

There, participants will form teams and work on challenges NASA sees as vital to our future: managing how we interact with our climate, weather and natural resources; managing water quality and quantity; monitoring natural disasters and their impacts; creating a better understanding of life on earth; and creatively interpreting NASA earth science data.

Those are the challenges; how the teams interpret those challenges is completely up to them.

The fun starts Friday night at 6 p.m. with a meet and greet, where participants will form a team, select a challenge and get to work.

Saturday, theClubhou.se will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. so teams can work. Sunday, theClubhou.se opens at noon, and presentations will begin at 3 p.m. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m.

In between there will be free food and prizes. And who knows?

NASA may just be interested in an innovation you come up with. So, as Buzz Lightyear would say, “To infinity… and beyond!”

NASA’S INTERNATIONAL SPACE APPS CHALLENGE theClubhou.se April 28-30 Pre-registration required spaceappsaugusta.com

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What’S up

Calendar: 18 | Music Listings: 24 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.

the More thingS Change… the old Saying goeS, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

The story included in the movie showing “The Sultan and the Saint,” held this Sunday on the Augusta University Summerville campus, proves the old adage true.

This docu-drama, which includes reenactments and interviews with historians, scientists, religious thinkers and art experts, revolves around a meeting in 1219 between Saint Francis of Assisi, then a traveling Christian preacher, and Sultan Malik Al-Kamil, ruler of a Muslim empire.

That the two should meet may not sound like a big deal, but this was during the Fifth Crusades when Christians and Muslims had been waging war against each other for decades. Francis, in fact, had crossed battle lines to speak with the sultan.

“When Francis departed, he left with a deeper understanding of Islamic spirituality that was reflected in later writings that urged Catholics to treat Muslims with greater respect,” the movie’s website explains. “Al-Kamil continued to welcome all opportunities to engage and discuss with the Christians, and a few years later, he succeeded in concluding a treaty with the Holy Roman Emperor that finally ended the suffering of the bloody Fifth Crusade.”

The Augusta premiere of this movie is sponsored by Aiken Interfaith Group, Carolina Peace Resource Center, Interfaith Fellowship of Augusta, Islamic Society of Augusta and the Southeastern Buddhist Community.

Their aim in showing this movie in 2017 is probably not too far off from the aim of the two men who met in 1219. “the Sultan & the Saint” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre Sunday, April 30 3 p.m.

Free, but pre-registration required sultansaintaugusta.eventbrite.com

Friday

April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize the sacrifices military families make every day for the good of our country. And what better way to cap off the month than to have a festival. Springfest, held from 4:30-7 p.m. at Fort Gordon’s Barton Field, is an event for active-duty, retirees, reserves, family members and DoD employees that includes games, food, music and a whole lot more. Don’t miss it!

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Saturday

Benderdinker. Yeah, it’s a funny word. But the event is just pure fun. A non-competitive river paddle featuring food and music along the way, it ends with a festival on land that also features food and beer, lawn games, volleyball from noon-5 p.m., demos, craft beer and lots of fun for everyone in the family. Yep. Even the dogs. It’s $40 to paddle and well worth it. Visit benderdinker.com.

Sunday

If you didn’t read our interview with Alice Cooper (“Mr. Nice Guy,” Metro Spirit’s April 20, 2017, issue) you should visit metrospirit.com and do that right now. It sounds as if the hard rock icon has mellowed a bit — he doesn’t drink and he plays golf every day, even while touring.

Except when it comes to his live shows. Those still have the pageantry and excess of his early days and, therefore, shouldn’t be missed. Good thing tickets are still available.

tueSday

Come for the free yoga class at 7 p.m. at Half-Moon Outfitters on Washington Road.

Stay for the refreshments and prizes from PrAna, a company specializing in yoga, travel and outdoor clothing. Either way, don’t forget your mat and do remember to pre-register for this event. Call 706-738-1778 or email augusta@halfmoonoutfitters.com.

For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 18.

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Family Earth and Sky Night Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, USC Aiken Saturday, April 29 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Includes hands-on activities, planetarium shows, outdoor observing and more. Planetarium shows are $1-$5; other events are free.

803-641-3313 rpsec.usca.edu

ARTS Sat April 29

10am - 1pm Alcohol Ink on Yupo

be presented at the council’s membership meeting on June 22. For more information, visit augustaarts.com/annual-arts-awards.

Aiken Center for the Arts $50; pre-registration required. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.

EDUCATION

10am - 1pm Painting with Acrylics: Summer Landscapes

Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Money Smart Week of events being held through April 29 at local libraries, this seminar will be held at 9:15-11:15 a.m., noon-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is led

by Balance My Checkbook LLC, a financial coaching and planning company. Participants will need to bring income information and copies of their monthly bills. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-1830 or email info. balancemycheckbook@yahoo.com.

Kroc Center A class for those ages 15 and up in which no previous experience is needed and all supplies are provided. $35, members; $40, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.

Wed May 3

10:30am - 12:30pm Pottery 175 N. Louisville St., Harlem A four-session Harlem Arts Council class that continues Wednesdays through May 24. $80; pre-registration required. Visit harlemartscouncil.org.

Ongoing

2017 Arts Awards Nominations Greater Augusta Arts Council The council is seeking nominations for its 2017 Arts Awards in the following categories: Volunteer, Arts Professional, Individual Artist, Media and Sponsor. The deadline for nominations is May 12 and the awards will 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Thu April 27

Hands-On Budgeting Tips

9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.

5:30pm Buying Your First Home Headquarters Branch Library Part of the Money Smart Week of events being held through April 29 at local libraries, this seminar will be led by Joey Cummings of Synovus Mortgage. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.

Mon May 1

Spanish speakers. Call 317-695-4748.

Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.

Thu May 4

3:30pm Intermediate Spanish

5:30pm Beginner Spanish Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.

Tue May 2

10:30am Tech Tuesday Computer Class Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.

Wed May 3

10am Hands-On Budgeting Tips Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-1830.

10:30am The ARCPLS Website: A Helpful Guide Diamond Lakes Branch Library Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.

6pm Tertulia: Spanish Conversation Group

9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.

11:30am - 1:30pm Open Job Lab Diamond Lakes Branch Library Participants can complete job applications, resumes or conduct job searches with staff available for one-on-one help if needed. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.

5:45pm Basic Conversational Spanish Weeks Center, Aiken A class for those ages 18 and up. May’s classes meet each Thursday and the topic will be traveling II. $30, residents; $38, non-residents. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.

Ongoing

Professional Development Courses Jessye Norman School of the Arts The school offers classes in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and other software programs. Call or visit the website to see a schedule of spring and summer classes. Call 706-828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.

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James Brown Family Historical Tour Augusta Museum of History Available each Saturday at 11 a.m. and lasting approximately two hours, this bus tour includes Brown’s elementary school, his childhood home, his statue and more. $15 fee, includes admission to the museum, which houses the largest collection of James Brown memorabilia. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-6402090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.

Guided Tours 1797 Ezekiel Harris House Offered by appointment only MondayFriday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

North Augusta Driving Tour Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Offered by appointment and includes a 30-45-minute guided tour and admission to the center. Self-guided tours are also available through an iPhone downloadable audio tour or a Google Maps-based tour. Guided tours: $5, adults; $3, students K-12. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.

Tours Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson Guided tours, approximately 45 minutes long, are offered Thursday-Saturday on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are available by advanced reservation.

Adults, $5; seniors, $4; kids K-12, $3; under 5 years, free. Call 706-724-0436 or visit wilsonboyhoodhome.org.

Historic Trolley Tours of Augusta Augusta Visitors Center Tours aboard the Lady Libby available at the Augusta Visitors Center with 24-hour advanced reservations. Tickets include admission to the Augusta Museum of History.

Call 706-724-4067 or visit visitaugusta.org.

ELSEWHERE Sun April 30

7pm International Jazz Day Concert Chastain Park, Atlanta An Atlanta Jazz Festival event featuring performances from artists representing South America, Japan and South Africa. $40. Visit atlantafestivals.com.

Tue May 2

7pm Chamber Music on Main Columbia Museum of Art A chamber concert in the museum’s reception hall that begins with happy hour at 6 p.m. $28, members; $35, non-members; $5, students. Call 803-799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.

EXHIBITIONS Tue May 2

5:30pm - 7pm Student Art Show Opening Reception Arts and Heritage Center, North Augusta Artwork shows from May 2-19. Call 803-4414380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.

FLIX Thu April 27

3:45pm and 7pm DFA Film Festival Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School This festival will include documentaries, short films and commercials made throughout the school year. $5. Visit davidson.boe.org.

Fri April 28

6:45pm Family Movie Night Kroc Center A free movie showing. Concessions will be available for purchase. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/.

Sat April 29

3pm “Hidden Figures” Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Sun April 30

3pm “The Sultan & the Saint” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre An Augusta premiere of the film about the meeting between Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt during the Crusades.

Sponsored by Aiken Interfaith Group, Carolina Peace Resource Center, Interfaith Fellowship of Augusta, Islamic Society of Augusta and the Southeastern Buddhist Community.

Free, but pre-registration required. Visit sultansaintaugusta.eventbrite.com.

Tue May 2

5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections.

Visit arcpls.org.

7:30pm Augusta Jewish Film Festival Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center Featuring “Fanny’s Journey.” For more information, visit augustajcc.org.

Thu May 4

7pm “Sing Street” North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Mon May 1 6:30pm Refit

Thu May 4

6:30pm - 9pm Your Amazing Baby Augusta University Medical Center Pre-registration is required for this baby care class. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augusta.edu.

7:30pm Beginner’s Yoga

7pm Center for Women Tour

That Place Coffee Call 706-339-7011 or visit thatplacecoffee.com.

Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Tue May 2

5:30pm Melanoma Screening Augusta West Dermatology Free, but appointments required. Call 706-774-8094.

6pm Weight Loss Surgery and You University Hospital Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-8931 or visit universityhealth.org.

7pm - 9:30pm Ready and Able

Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center Featuring “There Are Jews Here.” For more information, visit augustajcc.org.

HEALTH

Wed May 3

7pm - 8:30pm Infant CPR

Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.

Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-8212600 or visit arcpls.org.

Doctors Hospital A five-session Lamaze class that continues Tuesdays through May 30. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

7:30pm Augusta Jewish Film Festival

Thu April 27 27APRIL2017

University Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.

5pm Breastfeeding University Hospital

Ongoing

Meditation Sessions The Yoga Center, North Augusta Led by members of the Southeastern Buddhist Community the first and second Wednesday of each month. Sessions are free and open to the public. Visit sebuddhist.org.

HOBBIES Thu April 27

6pm - 8pm Cuban Food Plum Pudding, Aiken Part of the kitchen store’s schedule of spring cooking classes, participants will enjoy a full meal from the recipes. $65; preregistration required. Call 803-644-4600.

6:30pm - 9:30pm Augusta Archaeological Society Meeting AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

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Wed May 3

Yappy Hour SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, Aiken Wednesday, May 3 6-8 p.m.

An event that includes live music, a cash bar, open dog park and food. letlovelive.org

10am Children’s Story Time Friedman Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.

10am Story Time Maxwell Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.

10am Story Time Wallace Branch Library Pre-registration required for groups. Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.

10am Story Time for Tots Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 0-3. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.

10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

10:05am Toddler Story Time Appleby Branch Library This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.

Big Daddy’s Bar & Grill The meeting’s speaker will be Tammy Herron, Savannah Rive Archaeological Research Program archaeologist, who will talk about Silver Bluff Plantation. Dinner, 6:30 p.m.; program, 8 p.m. Call 706-829-1615.

Sat April 29

706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.

KIDS-TEENS Thu April 27

7pm Teen Poetry Open Mic Night North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.

10am - 12:30pm International Cuisine: Indian/Asian

Fri April 28

Helms College Part of the Saturday Chef series. $75; preregistration required. Call 706-651-9707 or visit helmscontinuingeducation.com.

North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library For those in grades K-5. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Thu May 4

6pm - 8pm Garden & Gun’s The Southerner’s Cookbook Plum Pudding, Aiken Part of the kitchen store’s schedule of spring cooking classes, participants will enjoy a full meal from the recipes. $65; preregistration required. Call 803-644-4600.

6:30pm - 8:30pm PWN AUG Chess Club The Book Tavern A club open to all ages and skill levels.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own chess sets. Call 706-826-1940 or visit booktavern.com.

Ongoing

Basic Genealogy Tutorials Headquarters Branch Library’s Georgia Heritage Room Free sessions offered by appointment. Call 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

4:30pm Lego Club

4:30pm - 7pm Month of the Military Child Springfest Fort Gordon’s Barton Field An event that includes games, food, music and prizes. Call 706-791-1305 or visit fortgordon.com.

Sat April 29

10am Snake Identification Reed Creek Park An indoor-outdoor program for those ages 8 and older accompanied by an adult. Free, members; $2 per child, non-members. Call 706-210-4027 or visit reedcreekpark.com.

11am The Wonderful Things You Will Be Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

3pm Tea on the Avenue North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library

Tickets are $15 for this event, which will feature 10 princesses. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Mon May 1

10:30am Jr. Lego Club

10:30am Preschool Story Time Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3-5. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.

10:30am Super Awesome Story Time

Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.

The Book Tavern Story time will be followed by a craft, and juice and cookies will be provided by New Moon Cafe. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.

Tue May 2

3:30pm Yoga for Little Ones

10am Big Kids Story Time Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 3-6. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.

10am Preschool Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 3-5 that includes stories, songs, games, short movies and crafts.

Pre-registration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.

10:30am Young Children’s Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 0-3 that includes songs, finger plays and readings. Preregistration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.

4pm - 5pm Storytime in the Gardens Hopelands Gardens Each family in attendance will receive a free book. Blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks are welcome. Call 803-642-7631.

Imagination Station Children’s Museum Free, members; $10, visiting families with up to three children and $2 for each additional child. Visit imagineaugusta.org.

Thu May 4

10am I Have the Rhythm Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents in which participants will view the exhibit Rhythm and Movement: Paintings by James Michalopoulos and then create their own rhythmic painting.

Free, members; $4 per participants, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.

10am Star Wars Story Time and Craft Headquarters Branch Library Pre-registration recommended. Call 706821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.

Ongoing

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Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer A teen hangout and safespace for LGBTQ+ teens, ages 14-17, and allies that meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 5-8 p.m. The group is also looking for chaperones ages 25 and older and youth mentors 18-24 years old, who must pass a background check. Call 803-617-8352 or email shepardprojectaugusta@gmail.com.

LITERARY Thu April 27

10am - noon Morning Book Club Maxwell Branch Library This month’s selection is “Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces” by Radley Balko. Call 706793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.

7pm - 9pm Graphic Novel Discussion The Book Tavern This meeting the group, open to older teens and up, will discuss “Astro City: Confession”

by Kurt Busiek and Brent Eric Anderson.

Call 706-826-1940 or email david@ booktavern.com.

Sat April 29

1pm - 4pm South Carolina Poetry Society’s Starkey Flythe Jr. Memorial Poetry Seminar Morris Museum of Art Co-sponsored by the Authors Club of Augusta, the Augusta Poetry Group, the Morris Museum of Art and the Book Tavern, this year’s seminar features The Cowboy and the City Girl Southern Poetry Tour: From the Outback to Manhattan. Alice Friman, winner of the Georgia Author of the Year Award for Poetry; and Sean Sexton, the poet laureate of Indian River County, Florida.

Refreshments will be served. Free. Call 706724-7501 or visit themorris.org.

Wed May 3

6pm Page Turners Book Club Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

MUSIC Thu April 27

7pm Deconstructing The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” Imperial Theatre $10. Call 706-722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.

706-826-4705 or visit soaugusta.org.

833-6046 or 706-798-2725.

9am - 1pm Volunteer Work Day

7:30pm The 3 Redneck Tenors

Fri April 28

Icebox Urban Farm, 1736 Fenwick Street Lunch provided to volunteers, who should pre-register by calling 706-288-7895 or visiting augustalocallygrown.org.

Etherredge Center, Aiken An Aiken Performing Arts Group event. $50.

Visit apagonline.org.

Fri April 28

6:30pm Moonlight Music Cruise Augusta Canal Discovery Center Featuring Fred Williams, this event features live music aboard a 1 1/2-hour Petersburg boat tour. Participants are invited to bring aboard snacks and beverages. $25; $23, seniors, military and students. Preregistration required. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.

7:30pm The Akropolis Reed Quintet AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre A Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society presentation. $25, general; $5, students; free, AU students, faculty and staff. Call 706-667-4100 or visit hjcms.org.

Sat April 29

8am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit theaugustamarket.com.

Mon May 1

7pm Hopelands Summer Concert Series Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Featuring Karen Gordon and Garden City Jazz. Attendees can bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and well-behaved pets on leashes, but no alcohol. Free. Call 803-6427631 or visit facebook.com/experienceaiken.

The rain-out hotline is 803-643-4661.

Thu May 4

7pm Deconstructing The Beatles’ “White Album” Imperial Theatre $10. Call 706-722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.

SENIORS Thu April 27

11am Classic Movie for Seniors Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.

7:30pm Concerto Competition Winners’ Concert

SPECIAL EVENTS

AU’s Maxwell Theatre $5, general; free, AU students, faculty and staff. Call 706-667-4100 or visit augusta.edu.

6:30pm Banquet in Honor of Coach Arthur Williams

7:30pm Steep Canyon Rangers Bell Auditorium Part of Symphony Orchestra Augusta’s Pops! at the Bell series. $10.19-$40.74. Call 27APRIL2017

Thu April 27

TW Josey’s Roundtree Gym Josey’s original football, basketball and track and field coach will be honored. $25 admission will be donated to the school’s athletic department. Call 706-414-7114, 706-

NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge theClubhou.se Teams of five will work on solutions to five challenges: The Earth and Us, Planetary Blues, Warning! Danger Ahead!, Our Ecological Neighborhood and Ideate and Create! On Friday at 6 p.m., participants will meet, select a challenge, form teams and begin work. On Saturday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., teams will work on challenges. On Sunday, teams will work on challenges from noon3 p.m., make presentations at 3 p.m., and winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Open to makers, hackers and earth and space enthusiasts. Pre-registration required. Visit spaceappsaugusta.com.

10am - noon April Showers Bring May Flowers Richmond County Department of Public Health Teaching Gardens An event on the last Friday of each month in which participants, adults and children, plant and taste. Volunteers need to pre-register. Call 706-228-7895 or visit augustalocallygrown.org.

5pm - 9pm Partee on the Green Augusta Common A community dance party with vendors. $3, general; $30, VIP. Call 762-233-5299.

7pm - 10pm Spring Gala Davidson Fine Arts A music department event that includes live music from student musicians and ensembles and more. $5. Visit davidson.rcboe.org.

7pm Wines of Chile and Argentina Wine World A seminar and tasting featuring 10 wines. $25; pre-registration required. Call 803-2799522 or visit wineworldsc.com.

Sat April 29

NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge theClubhou.se Pre-registration required. Visit spaceappsaugusta.com.

8am - 2pm Augusta Market at the River 8th Street Plaza, Reynolds Street The event features vendors of all kinds, activities, live entertainment and more. Visit theaugustamarket.com.

9am - 2pm Earth Faire and Spring Flea Market Fort Gordon’s Barton Field An Earth Day event that includes displays, contests, vendors and exhibitions, as well as a storybook walk and pet adoptions. Call 706-791-8878 or visit fortgordon.com.

10am - 5pm 11th Annual Historic Beech Island Tour Beech Island Historical Society A self-guided tour of historic homes, churches, cemeteries and historic sites. A barbecue lunch at the History & Visitors Center will be available. Call 803-827-0184 or visit beech-islandhistory.org.

10am - 3pm Bloomin’ Art Glen Phillips Park, Harlem A festival sponsored by the Harlem Arts Council that includes more than 30 vendors, local musicians, a children’s choir, a student art show and food from the Harlem Boosters. Visit harlemartscouncil.org.

10am - 4pm Last Saturday in the Park North Augusta’s Living History Park Featuring living history demonstrations. Call 803-279-7560 or visit colonialtimes.us.

10am - 2pm Spring and Cultural Enrichment Festival Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History An event that includes movie screenings, arts and crafts, museum tours, neighborhood tours, refreshments, an entrepreneur workshop for high school and college students and more. Free and open to the public. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.

6:30pm - 10:30pm Family Earth and Sky Night Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, USC Aiken A celebration of National Astronomy Day and Earth Day that includes hands-on activities, planetarium shows, outdoor observing and more. Planetarium shows are $1-$5; other events are free. Call 803-6413313 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.

7pm Italian Riviera Casino Night Fundraiser Congregation Children of Israel $62.50, single; $125, couple. Call 706-7363140 or email office@cciaugusta.org.

Sun April 30

NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge theClubhou.se Pre-registration required. Visit spaceappsaugusta.com.

Noon - 3pm Monthly Artisan Market That Place Coffee Call 706-339-7011 or visit thatplacecoffee.com.

Tue May 2

4:30pm - 7pm Veggie Park Farmers Market AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 21

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visit andyjordans.com.

7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs.

Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.

Sat April 29 Benderdinker

A kayak event with music and food along the route followed by a festival with games, food and drink, live music and more. $40 to paddle. Visit benderdinker.com.

7:30am - 2pm AEC Touchstone Energy Run United Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

American Hero Pro Rodeo Columbia County Fairgrounds Friday-Saturday, April 28-29 5:30-11 p.m.

Live music, food vendors, a beer tent, a kids fun zone, best dressed contests, bronc riding, barrel racing, pony and camel rides and more. Advanced tickets: $10, adults, and $6, children.

At the gate: $12, adults; $8, children. Free admission for military and public safety professionals with ID. iprarodeo.com Mill Village Trailhead, 109 Eve Street This weekly event in the park behind the Kroc Center features all local farmers and doubles EBT/SNAP benefits. Visit http:// augustalocallygrown.org/veggie-parkfarmers-market/.

Wed May 3

6pm - 8pm Yappy Hour SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare An event that includes live music, a cash bar, open dog park and food. Visit letlovelive.org.

Thu May 4

5pm - 8pm First Thursday Shops of Midtown, Kings Way at Central Ave. This event features discounts in the shops, hors d’oeuvres and more. Call 706-733-1788.

7pm - 10pm A Night in Cabo: 11th Annual Undercover Artists Show The Legends Club A benefit for the Walton Foundation’s Camp to be Independent that includes a silent auction of local artwork, a raffle, food, live music and more. $50. Call 706-826-5809 or email haleyh@waltonfoundation.net.

Ongoing

Yard Sale Vendors Needed Booths start at $25 for the 7th Annual Giant Community Yard Sale, a Rotary Club of Columbia County event that will be held Saturday, May 13, from 7 a.m.-noon at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit giantcommunityyardsale.com.

22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

SPIRITUAL Fri April 28

7pm Inspire Conference In Focus Church The conference begins with a general session Friday night and continues Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. $85, adults; $50, students. Visit inspireladiesconference.com.

Sat April 29

10am - 9pm Inspire Conference In Focus Church This two-day conference concludes with speakers during the day and more. $85, adults; $50, students. Visit inspireladiesconference.com.

10am - 4pm SpringFest Windsor Spring Baptist Church, Hephzibah A community event that will feature entertainment, games, and health and wellness displays and screenings, as well as arts and crafts and food vendors. Visit windsorspring.org.

Thu May 4

7:30am National Day of Prayer Community Breakfast First Baptist Church of Augusta Held in the fellowship hall, the keynote speaker for this event will be Duncan Johnson Jr. of Johnson Motor Company. $25 per seat; $250, table of 8. Preregistration required. Visit mirmakmin.com.

7pm Lifting the Veil on Islam Islamic Society of Augusta Part of a monthly program to enlighten

Newberry Street, Aiken Half marathon begins at 7:30 a.m., 5K at 8 a.m. and the fun run at 9 a.m. Check-in and same-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. $70, half marathon; $35, 5K. Visit aikencoop.org/rununited/.

8am Golf Tournament Fundraiser

newcomers about Islam, this one on the subject of motherhood. This series, held the first Thursday of each month, is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Visit openhouse.isaugusta.com.

Bartram Trail Golf Club A Columbia County Choral Society Event. $75 entry fee includes greens fee, cart, range balls and lunch. Visit columbiacountychoralsociety.org.

8am - 1pm Harrisburg Clean & Green

Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta Held each Sunday at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary, all are invited to help send peace into the world.

Call 706-733-7939 or visit uuaugusta.org.

The Kroc Center Following orientation, teams will be deployed along various streets to pick up litter along assigned routes, and will also assist with other beautification and maintenance projects in the neighborhood.

Once finished, teams will gather back at the Kroc Center for lunch and kids’ activities.

Sign up at bit.ly/clean-green-2017.

SPORTS-OUTDOORS

9am - 1pm Clean Up Augusta

Ongoing

Qigong for Peace

Thu April 27

7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs.

Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.

Fri April 28

5:30pm American Hero Pro Rodeo Columbia County Fairgrounds An event that includes live music, food vendors, a beer tent, a kids fun zone, best dressed contests, bronc riding, barrel racing, pony and camel rides and more. Advanced tickets: $10, adults, and $6, children. At the gate: $12, adults; $8, children. Free admission for military and public safety professionals with ID. Visit iprarodeo.com.

6:30pm Off the Beaten Path Ride Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse A monthly mixed-surface ride in which cross/gravel bikes are recommended. Preregistration required. Call 706-724-2453 or

Trash and tire cleanups will be held across the community, including at the following: Lock and Dam Park, Pendleton King Park, Brigham Center, Jamestown Community Center, Butler Creek, Eisenhower Park and Diamond Lakes Community Center.

Trash bags, gloves and lunch are provided.

To sign up, call 706-826-8991 or visit savannahriverkeeper.org/cleanups.

5:30pm American Hero Pro Rodeo Columbia County Fairgrounds An event that includes live music, food vendors, a beer tent, a kids fun zone, best dressed contests, bronc riding, barrel racing, pony and camel rides and more. Advanced tickets: $10, adults, and $6, children. At the gate: $12, adults; $8, children. Free admission for military and public safety professionals with ID. Visit iprarodeo.com.

6:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs.

Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit 27APRIL2017

V28|NO17

greenjacketsbaseball.com.

Sun April 30

2:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.

Mon May 1

9am Jernigan Memorial Golf Tournament Woodside Plantation, Aiken Registration includes lunch, tournament, cocktails and dinner. Call 706-667-0030 or visit universityhealth.org.

Tue May 2

7pm PrAna Yoga Night Half-Moon Outfitters Participants should bring their mats for this event, which starts with a free yoga class and also includes refreshments and prizes from PrAna. Call 706-738-1778 or email augusta@ halfmoonoutfitters.com.

Wed May 3

3pm Under the Stars Jumper Night Stable View Farm Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.

Ongoing

Fencing Classes Augusta Fencers Club Classes for children as young as six, as well as teens and adults, meet five nights a week. Pre-registration required.

Call 706-722-8878 or visit augustafencersclub.com.

Daily Canal Tours Augusta Canal Spring Tours include a History and Nature Tour at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays; An Augusta & the Civil War: Food, Fabric and Firepower Tour daily at 1:30 p.m.; and Saturday Sunset Cruises the third Saturday of each month (5:30 p.m. on April 15, 7 p.m. on May 20 and June 17). Contact the canal for more information on pricing. All tours include free admission to the Canal Discovery Center. Pre-registration encouraged.

Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.

SUPPORT Mon May 1

6:30pm Cancer Share University Hospital For those with any type of cancer. Call 706-774-5946 or visit universityhealth.org.

6:30pm Pink Pistols Meeting A group for women in their 20s and 30s dealing with breast cancer. Call for location. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.

7pm Parents Healing Together University Hospital A support group for parents, families and friends who have lost infants through miscarriage, death, ectopic pregnancy or stillbirth. Call 706-774-5811.

Tue May 2

10:20am Moms Connection Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets 27APRIL2017

in the Terrace Dining Dogwood Room on the second floor. All new moms and their babies are welcome and an international board certified lactation consultant/educator/ perinatal nurse will answer questions and offer resources.

Call 706-721-8283 or visit augustahealth.org.

Narcotics Anonymous

5:30pm Weight Loss Support Group

Thu April 27

AU Professional Building 1 Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2609 or visit augustahealth.org/weightloss.

Wed May 3

1pm The Lactation Club University Hospital A breastfeeding support group for mothers of NICU babies.

Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.

5:30pm Girl Talk Support Group

Trinity Hospital of Augusta Meets Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Visit na.org.

THEATER 5:30pm “High School Musical Junior” Jessye Norman School of the Arts $10, adults; $5, students 12 and under. Pre-registration is recommended. Visit jessyenormanschool.org.

Fri April 28

5:30pm “High School Musical Junior” Jessye Norman School of the Arts $10, adults; $5, students 12 and under. Pre-registration is recommended. Visit jessyenormanschool.org.

Doctors Hospital A support group for those who have pelvic health issues.

Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

7pm “Disney’s Cinderella Kids”

Thu May 4

7pm “The Life and Times of Petunia Butterby”

Kroc Center For those dealing with Alzheimer’s and/or caregivers. Preregistration required. Call 706-860-5233.

Kroc Center Theatre Tickets go on sale April 3 for this Enopion Theatre Company production. $16, adults; $12, seniors, children and groups.

Call 706-771-7777 or visit enopion.com.

Noon Active-Duty Parent Support Group

7:30pm “Noises Off”

10am Alzheimer’s Association Support Group

Fort Gordon’s Family Outreach Center Call 706-792-5220 or visit fortgordon.com.

Ongoing

Recovery International Mental Health Support Group Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A weekly group that meets Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. Based on the work of Abraham Low, MD, RI offers its members a low cost method to regain and maintain their mental health by using mental health through will training. People who stick with the RI Method are able to live healthy, productive lives with lower levels of tension, anger, fear, anxiety, stress, compulsions, and other symptoms. Email marykahb@yahoo.com.

La Leche League A breastfeeding support group. For more information on meeting dates, times and locations, visit them on Facebook under La Leche League of Augusta or at lllaugusta.wordpress.com.

Celebrate Recovery Journey Community Church This Christ-centered recovery program meets every Monday night at 7 p.m. The meetings last two hours and childcare is provided. Pre-registration suggested. Visit cr@ journeycommunity.net.

Diabetes Youth Support Group Meets quarterly. Call for more information. Call 706-868-3241.

Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support Group Provides group counseling at University Hospital for those who have experienced sexual assault, incest, rape or childhood sexual abuse. Call 706-724-5200 or visit universityhealth.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous Holds several meetings locally. For a current schedule, visit augustaaa.org/meetings.pdf.

Crossbridge Baptist Church An Augusta Jr. Players production. For tickets, call 706-8264707 or visit augustaplayers.org.

Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.

Sat April 29

3pm “The Life and Times of Petunia Butterby” Kroc Center Theatre Tickets go on sale April 3 for this Enopion Theatre Company production. $16, adults; $12, seniors, children and groups.

Call 706-771-7777 or visit enopion.com.

7pm “Disney’s Cinderella Kids” Crossbridge Baptist Church An Augusta Jr. Players production. For tickets, call 706-8264707 or visit augustaplayers.org.

7:30pm “Noises Off” Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.

Sun April 30

3pm “Noises Off” Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.

Tue May 2

8pm Wham Bam Glitter Glam Burlesque Show Le Chat Noir An 18 and oder show featuring performers Porcelain, Evelyn DeVere, Tiger Bay and Fancy Feast. $20. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 23

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Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Karaoke Soul Bar - Dance Party That Place Coffee - Cushions & Caffeine Afternoon Open Mic

Sunday, April 30 Live Music

Bell Auditorium - Alice Cooper Capri Lounge - Vivian Valium & the Lounge Lizard Divas Iron Heights - Holy+Gold, Naomi, Cherry Blossom, Call Me Ishmael, DEA, Desecrated Wild Wing - Robbie & Rushton The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn

What’s Tonight?

Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson

Monday, May 1 Live Music

Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) - Hopelands Summer Concert Series w/ Karen Gordon and Garden City Jazz Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words

Steep Canyon Rangers Bell Auditorium Thursday, April 27 7:30 p.m.

Part of Symphony Orchestra Augusta’s Pops! at the Bell series. $10.19-$40.74.

706-826-4705 soaugusta.org

What’s Tonight?

Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Wild Wing - Trivia

Tuesday, May 2 Live Music Bird Dog Grille - Donna Joe Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club - Sammy Arriaga Coyotes - OutShyne Fox’s Lair - Bethany Davis and the Southside Boys The Highlander - Hilary and Jaycie Playoffs (Aiken) - Prettier Than Matt, Sweet Sweet Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Jimmy Easton Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Stillwater Taproom - Will Erickson Surrey Tavern - Crane Wild Wing - Matt Brantley Band The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn

Amp the Alley w/ the Kenny George Band The Alley, Aiken Friday, April 28 7 p.m.

Free facebook.com/ampthealley/ Thursday, April 27 Live Music

Bell Auditorium - Steep Canyon Rangers Etherredge Center (Aiken) - 3 Redneck Tenors Fox’s Lair - Open Mic Jam Mellow Mushroom (Augusta) - Will McCranie Sky City - DEGA, Kalen Nash (from Ponderosa) Soul Bar - Gloom Cocoon CD Release Party w/ Possum Rot, DEA Wild Wing - Bucket List Band The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House

What’s Tonight?

Chevy’s - Karaoke w/ Ellie

24 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia The Loft - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane That Place Coffee - MAD Open Mic

Friday, April 28 Live Music

The Alley (Aiken) - Amp the Alley w/ the Kenny George Band Augusta Canal - Moonlight Music Cruise w/ Fred Williams

What’s Tonight?

Augusta Common - ParTee on the Green The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Sky City - Ms. Augusta Pride 2017 Soul Bar - Disco Hell

Saturday, April 29 Live Music

8th Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River Country Club - Larry Frick Fox’s Lair - Craig Snow Imperial Theatre - Freddy Rosario Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Southern Meltdown Shannon’s - Shinebox Sky City - Simo, the Phillip Lee Band Stillwater Taproom - Adam Harris Thompson Wild Wing - Cam Band The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn

What’s Tonight?

The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Swing into Spring Gatsby-Themed Party

Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. John Fisher and the Undefeated Army Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck

What’s Tonight?

Bar West - Trivia Capri Lounge - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Augusta) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane

Wednesday, May 3 Live Music

The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter

What’s Tonight?

The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Capri Lounge - Game Night Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz

Upcoming Billy Currington

- Bell Auditorium May 5 The Breakfast Club Tribute w/ the Misfit Theatre Group and Chainsaw Masscara

- Sky City May 6 Riverwalk Revival w/ Lil Uzi Vert, Bibi Bourelly

- Jessye Norman Amphitheater May 9 27APRIL2017

Lucero, the Phillip Lee Band

- Sky City May 9 The Temptations Revue w/ Dennis Edwards and the O’Jays

- Evans Towne Center Park May 12 Little Tybee

- Sky City May 19 Scotty McCreery

- Imperial Theatre May 20 The Avett Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass

- Evans Towne Center Park May 27-28 Evenings in the Appleby Garden Opening Concert w/ the American Jazz Combo

- Appleby Branch Library Lawn May 30 Umphrey’s McGee, The Marcus King Band

- Augusta Common June 1 Umphrey’s McGee After Party w/ Human Beans (Members of Funk You, Dank, Butter)

- Sky City June 1

REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.

Tedeschi Trucks Band

- Bell Auditorium June 13 Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

- Columbia County Amphitheater June 15 Hank Williams Jr.

- James Brown Arena June 16 Riverwalk Revival w/ Gov’t Mule

Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000

- Jessye Norman Amphitheater Augusta 1

Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+

Elsewhere Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joe Walsh

- Philips Arena, Atlanta April 27 Billy Crystal

- Fox Theatre, Atlanta April 27 Billy Joel

- SunTrust Park, Atlanta April 28

Meet sexy new friends

FREE TRIAL

706-434-0112

V28|NO17

SADDLE UP!

By Timothy Polin/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Tripartite commerce pact 6 Nickname for Angel Stadium, with “the” 10 Inspiration 14 They might pop up in the morning 19 “Juno” actress Page 20 Visa alternatives 22 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 23 Most wanted 24 1976 blaxploitation film that was a sequel to “Dolemite” 26 Fascinated 27 Is overcome with emotion, with “up” 28 It has two poles 29 Shelter 31 Tinder, for one 33 Boor 34 “Poppycock!”

35 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 38 Marquis’s subordinate 41 Like flowers’ stamens 42 Made-for-TV western co-starring Travis Tritt 44 ____ king 45 Moriarty, to Holmes 47 Asked a lot of questions, say 48 Vittles 50 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 55 Homes by churches 57 “I’ll pass” 58 Detroit-area stadium that hosted Super Bowl XVI 59 Down in front?

61 Disseminate 63 “Evidently” 64 French greeting 68 Part of a set 70 & 72 “If ever, oh ever a ____ there ____” (classic song lyric) 73 Exam with a readingcomprehension sect.

74 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 77 Hoedown partner 79 Pester 81 Setting off 83 [Right in the kisser!]

85 Lament of the defeated 90 Job-search time, maybe

26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

1

91 Go postal 93 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 94 Dreyer’s ice cream partner 95 Go on a run?

96 Brownie, e.g.

98 Emails discreetly 101 Check 102 Overdo the criticism, say 103 It may be brown or blond 104 Santa Fe summer hrs.

106 Many a Wall St. recruit 108 Like a goner 110 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 114 Many a B.Y.U. attendee 117 “Pick me! Pick me!”

119 Rich breakfast item 121 Played out 122 Fiat 123 Collides hard with 124 48th vice president 125 Modern-day problem solvers 126 Meyers of late-night 127 In a foul mood 128 Interjected DOWN 1 Close 2 Prayer figure 3 Decide somehow by chance 4 Offers at motorcycle dealerships 5 Pharaoh ____ 6 Luxury-hotel amenity 7 “Here’s what I think,” briefly 8 Poindexter 9 Something getting stuck in a trunk?

10 Answer to “Are you …?”

11 Grayish 12 “Hairspray” matriarch 13 Kind of plane 14 Vox co-founder Klein and others 15 Signal for dinner 16 White-bearded sort 17 Hell week, e.g.

18 Assuage 21 Point of transition 25 Meditation syllables 27 South American cash crop 30 Cuts on the back?

32 Wedding rings?

36 Group lampooned in “Django Unchained” 37 Is Greek?

39 Arnold Schwarzenegger’s middle name 40 Needed resupplying 41 Pea nut?

42 Phonograph stat 43 Inits. in some portfolios 45 Woodworking tool 46 Crew crew 49 Evince 51 Aquafina rival 52 Attends 53 Austen matchmaker 54 Breather 56 It may leave you in stitches 60 Drunk 62 Top secret?

64 Creative field 65 It’s passed down 66 “____ Eyes” (Eagles hit) 67 Bacchanalia 69 Mass leader 71 Electrocutes 75 Hymn starter 76 Wind this way and that 78 Repeated part of a five-mile hike?

80 Aggravates 82 Either of a pair of brothers in folklore 84 Act like a baby, maybe 86 Moved, jocularly 87 How you can count things up to five 88 “Rugrats” father 89 Rug rat 92 One looking to grab a bite?

97 Sphinx, in part 98 Probable money loser 99 Composer Debussy 100 Boston athlete 101 Philatelist’s collection 102 Vernacular 104 Satisfies 105 TiVo, for one 107 Amigos 109 Sweetly, on a score 111 Mark indelibly 112 River through ancient Nubia 113 Casino opening 115 365 giorni 116 Native Rwandan 118 Mind 120 Electric-bill unit: Abbr.

121 Place for a bachelorette party

2

3

4

5

6

19

20

23

24

26

7

10

37

38

49

56 59 67

74

60

61 69

62 70

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76

45

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54

87

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89

72 78

83

95

79

92

106 112

113

119

97

107

108

114

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125

126

109

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120 123

86 93

102

105

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80 85

96

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111

73

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91 94

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63

77

90

104

18

41

51

71

82

110

17

58

81

103

16

34

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50

57

68

100

15

33 39

44 48

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14 22

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55

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47

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27 29

42

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121 124 127

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PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS A C H T

B L O O M

P L A Y

R A C E

B O B R O B E R T S

S P E W

M I R A

A N T I

I M A M S

M A D A M

P I A N O

O T T H B I T S W V I E A S E C U T U S S A T H O B E R L L M U P E S L I N E L E A L E N D R I R N Y G

S A H I B S A E R E O E G G S A L A D

C R O N U T S E S A U R W Y G O G O

A C L E F

T H E

F E A U C D N E D A T H U L B A L A F L O O C I A R L E

M O N S T E R S B A L L O O N

C R A Y O L A G A L A P O L O D O A

R E I G N

I N D A

P E E L S L O G E F L I F O W N C A R S S O O H N S E O N O B D L A R I V O M I P I E S T R

R E F S L P E R X E T E E A S A R T G O S O N O S D W A W H Y O I S M P O A L N A T S E H A K O A L A S

O N T O E

O D E O N

S O N N Y

O C H O

O R E O

N U N N

T U R N T O G O L D

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P S A T

27APRIL2017

V28|NO17

SIGHTINGS

Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com

Zach Kelehear, AU President Brooks Keel and Gretchen Caughman at the Augusta University Memorial Ceremony at the Summerville campus.

Sandra Fenstermacher with Susan and Chuck Lanier and Rachel Gregory at the Sacred Heart Garden Festival Preview Party.

Linda Edwards, Beverly Majonovic and Kaye Ward at the Sacred Heart Garden Festival Preview Party.

Charlie and Pat Warren with Sid Mullis at the Sacred Heart Garden Festival Preview Party.

Bill Force, Honorary Chair Crystal Eskola, Shirley Atkins and Pannie Force at the Sacred Heart Garden Festival Preview Party.

Pat and Kathy DeLoach with Michael Siewert at the Sacred Heart Garden Festival Preview Party.

Kenia Salcedo, Alice Newcomer and Cecily Kearse at Corks and Canvas at Los Cabos.

Jennifer Principe, artist Kiesten Rockwell and Madelyn James at Rockwell’s solo exhibition Midnight Snacks at the Gertude Herbert Institute of Art.

John Eckert, artist Troy Campbell and Heather Williams at Campbell’s exhibition Stickbag at the Gertude Herbert Institute of Art.

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AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 27

THE EIGHT

BOX TOPS With the exception of #s 4 and 5 switching places, not much has changed from last week.

RANK TITLES

WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK

1

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS

$38,408,415

$163,304,635

2

1

2

THE BOSS BABY

$12,712,144

$136,954,014

4

2

3

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

$9,662,645

$470,787,029

6

3

4

GOING IN STYLE

$4,910,895

$31,671,738

3

5

5

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE

$4,880,377

$33,418,362

3

4

In Theaters April 28

THRILLER COMEDY DRAMA “The Circle,” rated PG-13, starring Emma Watson, Tom “How to Be a Latin Lover,” rated PG-13, starring Eugenio “Sleight,” rated R, starring Jacob Latimore, Seychelle Hanks, John Boyega, Bill Paxton. Hanks is at his most charming in this one (at least from what we can see in the trailers), playing a Steve Jobs-like character heading up a tech and social media company. Things are not what they seem at The Circle, at least that’s what young employee Mae Holland (Emma Watson) discovers.

What does she find out? Surely it has to do with privacy given the movie’s tagline: Knowing is good. Knowing everything is better.

Derbez, Salma Hayek, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Michael Cera, Rob Corddry, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle. A former gigolo who married one of his marks finds himself on the market again after 25 years of marriage and has to start over, moving in with his sister and her son. Never heard of this one, but a scene in which Maximo uses brown shoe polish on his graying beard and chest hair and then jumps in a pool made us laugh out loud.

Gabriel, Dule Hill. Bo is a street magician and an orphan trying to care for his younger sister Tina. When he gets into trouble with some seriously bad dudes, his sleight of hands skills may be the only thing that can keep Tina alive. One question: who thought it was a good idea to cast Charlie from “The West Wing” as a ruthless drug dealer? Not cool, whoever you are.

Start Here. Go Anywhere.

Free Application that Day Learn How to Enroll Without Military Obligation Dual Enrollment Information Available Free Financial Aid Workshops Activities for the Kids Free Food, Scholarship Drawings, and Giveaways

Spring Fling Open House April 29th from 10 am—1 pm

115 Davis Rd Martinez, GA (706) 993-1123 Admissions Questions? Email musry@gmc.edu Or visit www.gmc.edu Start Here. Go Anywhere.