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Table of Contents October 20, 2016 Whine Line 10 Insider 12 Feature 14 What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword Austin Rhodes
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The Whine Line The liberal rag that is the Metro Spirit.
A vote for Trump tells me you’ve been waiting all your life to see how it feels to live in a war torn country!
How odd, everyone around here wants the truth.........but few can actually swallow it. Why should the widow of a retired Richmond County sheriff’s lieutenant have to file suit because she has been waiting a year without receiving her survivor’s pension? The Augusta commissioners are clueless; it’s just one lawsuit after another.
Hey Austin! The Monkees are stupid. Kevin Palmer’s stubborn 1800s view of American culture in his comments are my favorite part of reading Metrospirit online. I am married to a very crass, honest man. I’ve for sure heard “locker room banter” but never has he bragged about grabbing a woman unwanted. Get a clue about the argument I would like to thank Judge Jennings for rudely interrupting me when I answered his questions, for dismissing my case, and allowing a thief and a liar to go unpunished. Having recently paid $16,000 in Richmond County taxes, and a $78 court cost fee one would think the Judge could have spared a few minutes of his time for someone who helps pay his salary. I find it amazing how many people in this area continue to defend a group of people who make their money by scamming the elderly, who dress little five year old girls up like prostitutes and then marry them off to cousins at the age of 14.
to the person who had a relative deliver mail. I had to be driven to a local hospital during the ice storm and in the last snow, to take care of others sick family members! I even stayed overnight because there was no way to get home! There are bad in every profession! Just do what you get paid for, or find another profession. No matter how many Hillary signs you remove or destroy it doesn’t take away from the fact that she’s going to stomp your (so called) man INTO THE GROUND on election day! To be whipped by a woman will be the biggest blow to your pompous, racist, male chauvinist candidate’s ego and I can’t wait to see it!! GO Fridge! A local weather man is arrested for sending vulgar pictures over the internet while a presidential candidate who physically assaulted women for decades has millions of supporters, go figure. I find Trump to be a repugnant man completely unfit to hold any public office whatsoever. He has had nearly a year and a half to bone up on public policy and to garner a basic understanding of how government actually works, yet, as we have seen in the debates, any time he actually dares to venture into the realm of governing policy, it degenerates into a nearly schizophrenic garble of word salad that leaves intelligent and informed voters scratching their heads. The sooner Trump supporters realize they are nothing more than the latest marks in the biggest con of his life, the better off they will be. He doesn’t care a whit about his supporters, the Republican party or America for that matter; it’s all about him. Coming soon to television or a website accessible to you, once Trump suffers a trouncing of epic proportions in the general election, will be a Trump/Bannon/Breitbart/Bossie media conglomerate spewing vitriol and lies. You Trump supporters got played in a major fashion.
Trump brags about assaulting women. Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee say it doesn’t matter and Pat Roberson says it was Trump just being macho. What more do you need to prove that the Republican Party has no moral compass. Use the $1 million dollars the DDA is trying to figure out how to spend in their leftover 2009 SPLOST money and remove the parking bays on Broad Street. Replace them with parking spaces like they used to have so people can actually park and shop downtown. Newt Gingrich wants to clean up the White House by electing a filthy mouth, misogynistic bully whose only reason for running is to ‘get the oil’. What do we care that our enemies think we’ve become unglued? Really. To put such a thing in the White House would make the world feel safer? All it takes is one misunderstood comment and they may press the button 1st! I agree that the Augusta area could use a larger modern arena but putting it in downtown would guarantee it to fail. Did we not learn anything from the mistake if the current arena? The best and only option is to put it out off I20 either near The Riverwatch exit or Wheeler Road exit. Better yet put it on the county line and both Richmond and Columbia counties could share the cost of its construction.
When a Trump supporter tells me about their family values, moral convictions, or how their religious beliefs are under attack, I will laugh in their hypocritical face.
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.
10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
20OCTOBER2016
NEWS Do You Want the State Governing Our Schools? ROUGHLY 23 PERCENT of schools throughout Georgia have received either a “D” or an “F,” which constitutes a failing grade, for the past three consecutive years, according to Gov. Nathan Deal’s office. As a result, Deal has proposed an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would allow the state to create an “Opportunity School District” based on similar initiatives in states such as Louisiana and Tennessee. If Deal’s referendum is approved by voters on Nov. 8, these districts would authorize the state to temporarily take control of chronically failing public schools across the state. While the governor’s office likes to describe the initiative as “rescuing children,” the fact is the state is proposing to remove local control from overseeing the educational system in these failing schools. In the governor’s proposal, persistently failing schools are defined as those scoring below 60 on the Georgia Department of Education’s accountability measure, the College and Career Readiness Performance Index, for three consecutive years. The OSD would take in no more than 20 schools per year, meaning it would govern no more than 100 at any given time. Under the governor’s plan, schools would stay in the district for no less than five years but no more than 10 years, and would then return to local control. The General Assembly passed the constitutional amendment resolution and the implementing legislation during the 2015 legislative session. But it now requires a majority approval by Georgia voters in the November general election and Deal seems determined to get the referendum passed. But this past week, there have been a lot of prominent people in Georgia speaking out against the governor’s proposal. Former Atlanta Mayor Andy Young and Atlanta Braves baseball great Hank Aaron held a news conference on Oct. 18 to urge people to vote against Amendment 1. So, when Georgia voters go to the polls in November, they’ll be asked to vote “yes” or “no” on the following referendum: Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance?
Sounds good, right? What that doesn’t give voters is any of the details on how the state will implement the plan. Here’s what the new Paragraph VIII of Section 5 of Article VIII of the Georgia Constitution would say. It’s not on the November ballot, but it does provide a little more information: “Paragraph VIII. Opportunity School District. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph II of this section, the General Assembly may provide by general law for the creation of an Opportunity School District and authorize the state to assume the supervision, management, and operation of public elementary and secondary schools which have been determined to be failing through any governance model allowed by law. Such authorization shall include the power to receive, control, and expend state, federal, and local funds appropriated for schools under the current or prior supervision, management, or operation of the Opportunity School District, all in the manner provided by and in accordance with general law.” Currently, Richmond County has 19 schools in the failing category regarding scores on the state Department of Education’s College and Career Readiness Performance Index. Those are a lot of schools in Richmond County that could potentially be taken over by the state if the Opportunity School District is approved in November. Several of the Richmond County School Board Members have spoken out against Deal’s proposal, but some citizens consider them as part of the problem. Well, the following is a statement from the Georgia PTA by its state president, Lisa-Marie Haygood. 2016 Amendment #1 ballot question to the Georgia Constitution would create a statewide school district and Governor-appointed school superintendent with the power to take over local schools. Once a school is under the control of the state, the Opportunity School District (OSD) superintendent would have the power to make changes to a school’s faculty and staff, transfer the school to a charter company, or even close the school. Parental and community involvement is not increased by or required by the OSD enabling legislation, yet the preamble to the amendment proposes to “fix failing schools through increasing community involvement.”
The Georgia PTA fully supports using increased flexibility, accountability, and community involvement to improve student achievement. However, the Georgia PTA believes the school takeover amendment will neither increase flexibility, accountability, or community involvement, nor will it improve student achievement. Local communities, and the school board they elect, are the most effective place for educational innovation, intervention, and improvement. Georgia PTA fully supports increasing state assistance for struggling schools through the interventions permitted in current law. Forcing local taxpayers to fund local schools in which their local school board (and by extension, the voters) have no voice is not the answer. Rather than endorsing an amendment which diminishes the power of our votes, accountability to taxpayers, increases the size of state government, and has failed in every other state where it has been attempted, the State of Georgia should charge and support our elected State Superintendent of Schools to fully leverage the current statute that permits intervention to turn-around struggling schools. This deceptive language must not be allowed on the November ballot. If the Governor and state legislators believe the best way to fix struggling schools is to put them under state control and either close them or turn them over to charter schools, then let the language on the ballot reflect this initiative. As it stands, the preamble, and indeed, the entire amendment question, is intentionally misleading and disguises the true intentions of the OSD legislation. The Georgia PTA calls upon the Governor and state legislators to rewrite the preamble to reflect the genuine impact the constitutional amendment will have on local communities, including but not limited to: lower accountability to local voters and taxpayers, no requirement for community consensus, potential permanent loss of locally funded facilities, and no proof of increasing student achievement. Anything short of this revision is a dishonest and unethical attempt to deceive the voters of Georgia. So, there it is Georgians. It’s time for voters to decide what is best for our schools.
Metro’s Best Restaurant (Overall) It’s a fine line for a restaurant to walk: diners want a one-of a kind experience, but don’t want their favorite to be so expensive that they can only visit on special occasions. Whiskey Bar (Kitchen) founders and brothers Kenny and Bobby Morrison straddle that line pretty perfectly, so it’s no wonder they’re Metro Spirit readers’ favorite restaurant. The atmosphere is clubby, the burgers and Japanese food combo is unique, the menu is reasonably priced and offers everything from safe bets (a mushroom swiss burger called The Metro) to the far out (an Elvis-inspired burger called the TCB that includes peanut butter, banana, bacon and honey). Then there’s the bar, which offers more than 200 whiskeys and everything else you could possibly want. Yep, it’s a great place to visit no matter the occasion. Metro’s Best Breakfast Sunrise Grill’s two locations are perennially popular, and they almost always win in this Metro’s Best category. That’s no surprise to anyone who’s visited their Martinez or North Augusta restaurants on a weekend, when there’s almost always a wait for a table. Good thing they have first-come firstserved counter seating for those who can’t wait for a hot cup of coffee and an order of Eggs Benedict… or maybe the Patty O’Sullivan omelet… or the Sweet Potato Pancakes. Dang! Why does this always happen? It’s okay if you take a while to pick something out; the very friendly ladies working the dining room are used to indecision and won’t give you much of a hard time at all. Metro’s Best Date Night Destination It looks like any other movie theater from the outside, but Riverwatch Luxury Cinemas is anything but ordinary once you walk through the doors. Come to think of it, you know this place is different even before you visit. You can pick your seats when you buy tickets online and there are kiosks in the lobby (credit cards only) just in case you forget. We’re a little perplexed by them winning best date night destination, only because the incredibly comfortable reclining seats make it so difficult to snuggle. You’re more likely to fall asleep in them than get any action from your date, if you know what we’re saying. There is one big plus for a date night, however. You can do both dinner and movie here, since they have a café that serve menu items as well as beer and wine… for pretty reasonable prices too.
Metro’s Best Dessert If you don’t know about the desserts at downtown’s The Boll Weevil, you’re either new to town or you don’t like sugar. If the latter’s the case, then we really don’t understand you, because, to everyone else in town, there’s nothing better than diving into the mountain that is a slice of cake at this Augusta institution. And make no mistake: while they serve slices of cheesecakes and pies, and even have a sugar-free option, cakes are the most popular items on the Boll Weevil’s dessert menu. From the 7th Heaven to the Canary Lemon, these towering infernos are enough for two or three people and are the best desserts you’re likely to ever have. Still not convinced about the cake? Our other favorite is the apple blossoms, warm apple pie filling in a pastry shell, served with vanilla ice cream and caramel. Yum. Metro’s Best Outdoor Dining We have water coming out of our ears here in the Savannah River Region. From giant lakes to canals to the Savannah River itself, you don’t have to drive far to take a dip or do some fishing. What we don’t have is a beach and everyone knows the best thing about a beach is a beach shack, a place where you can grab a beer in the bottle or a mixed drink in a plastic cup to go with some great yet inexpensive seafood. What we do have is Rhinehart’s Oyster Bar, whose two locations both have outdoor dining areas that will make you swear you’re on Tybee Island. So will the menu, which includes everything from one of the best burgers in town to raw and fried oysters and fried seafood galore. Our best bet? Alaskan snow crab legs, especially when they’re on special on Saturdays, and either the spicy boiled or the buffalo grilled shrimp: both messy, both totally worth it. Metro’s Best Coffee Shop The timing of the Metro’s Best competition couldn’t have been worse for the other competitors in this category. After all, we’re smack dab in the middle of Pumpkin Spice Latte season, so every basic white girl in town is tucking her skinny jeans into her riding boots, putting on her North Face vest — never mind that the temp is still in the 80s — and heading to her local Starbucks (in her brand-new SUV, of course). Apparently, the BWG is also a powerful force in Metro’s Best voting, which means no one else stood a chance.
Metro’s Best Brunch Metro’s Best for Vegetarian Metro’s Best Growler Shop Eric and Kristi Kinlaw opened The Bee’s Knees downtown on 10th on a First Friday in August of 2002. Since that time, the restaurant voted as Metro’s Best Brunch and Metro’s Best for Vegetarian has flourished into an established and beloved dining destination that some of us simply cannot imagine living without. Known for its eclectic menu of fresh and culturally diverse tapas and large plates of local, organic ingredients, the Bee’s Knees also delivers the best Sunday brunch in town. Open Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and serving everything from biscuits and gravy to chicken and waffles, the Bee’s Knees has something to satisfy all our mid-morning cravings. The Kinlaws branched out into the world of craft beer with the opening of The Hive last year. Also a great place to grab a bite, The Hive has been chosen by our readers as the Metro’s Best Growler Shop. The Hive is a must for fans of excellent farmto-table pub food, and boasts more than 70 taps, multiple wines, cocktails, sodas, coffee, beers and more. Be sure to swing by when they host the Tap Takeovers, during which customers are able to try out limited releases and special brews. The Takeover is announced on Facebook and usually takes place a couple of Thursdays each month. Winning the Metro’s Best awards means a lot to the Kinlaws and their staff, Eric Kinlaw said. “We are just honored and thankful to be chosen for these awards. Especially the brunch award – we have worked so hard on our brunches. It’s great to get this recognition.” The Bee’s Knees and The Hive are located on 10th Street in downtown Augusta. Find them on Facebook, or online at beeskneestapas.com and hivegrowlerbar.com. Metro’s Best Place for Asian TakoSushi now has five locations in Georgia and South Carolina, which means owner Kevin Goldsmith must be doing something right. Proof of that is in the enduring popularity of the local chain’s original location in Surrey Center. A seat at this small spot is often difficult to come by, and while half of the menu is comprised of Southwest choices, most agree that TakoSushi’s popularity is build on the “Sushi” part of the equation. Each of their rolls is expertly made and their Makimono, especially the Cary’s Roll, are inventive and delicious. Want something a little lighter? Try the Tuna Carpaccio or the Ahi Pokke, both served over their delicious rutabaga and beet salad. Metro’s Best Place for Mediterranean In Arabic, Laziza means “delicious,” and Nader Khatib, owner of Laziza Mediterranean Grill in Evans, makes sure that his restaurant lives up to its name. The hummus here is homemade and available in four flavors (we like the roasted garlic the best). The Spicy Chicken Shawarma is spicy enough that you feel it, but not so spicy that you can’t finish it. And you will finish it all, no matter whether you get it as a platter, in a pita wrap on on top of a salad. There are so many authentic dishes on this menu — from stuffed grape leaves and kebabs to salmon and falafel, that you’ll come back again and again. And you may even buy some items from their small market so you can try your hand at Mediterranean cooking at home. It won’t be as good, we can promise you that. Metro’s Best Place for Southern/Homestyle WifeSaver claims to have served residents of the Savannah River Region the best fried chicken since they opened in 1965. Metro Spirit readers seem to agree, voting the local chain of five restaurants the best place to get southern and homestyle food. The chicken is good, make no mistake, but we’re just as in love with other options like the veggie plate and their old-fashioned desserts. And just a little FYI: The menu varies from restaurant to restaurant, so you can only get their world-famous pimento cheese, up until recently served in sandwiches as a certain local golf tournament, at three locations (North Leg, North Augusta and Grovetown). They also serve Brunswick stew, but only at their Grovetown and Fury’s Ferry location.
Metro’s Best Burrito Any place whose slogan is “We roll ‘em fat” had better win in the Best Burrito category, and Nacho Mama’s was Metro’s Best voters’ clear favorite. The truth of the matter is that you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here, but we admit that any one of the House Burritos is a thing of beauty. We’re partial to the Godfather with pulled pork, guac, black beans, mango habanero salsa, cheese lettuce, regular salsa and sour cream, but they’re all worth ordering at least once. Yes, even the Garden one that contains no meat will win you over, especially if you ask them to add the mango habanero salsa to it… and get a top shelf margarita to go along with it. Metro’s Best Pizza There are plenty of great pies in town, but there’s something about the crust on the pizzas at Mellow Mushroom that keeps us coming back again and again. Sometimes we don’t even order a pizza; we just get the garlic butter and parmesan pretzels with a side of pizza sauce. Hell, sometimes we just get the cinnamon and honey pretzels and make a meal of that. More often than not, however, the sheer number of pizza options make it both impossible to decide and impossible to resist ordering. When we’re feeling adventurous, the Holy Shiitake Pie, with mushrooms, caramelized onions, a ton of cheese, garlic aioli and black truffle oil, is exactly what we’re looking for.
Metro’s Best Wine List Metro’s Best Hamburger Metro’s Best Place for Craft Cocktails Sean Wight’s Frog Hollow Restaurant Group took an astounding three wins and eight runners-up titles in this year’s Metro Best contest. That’s a record and it’s not one that Wight takes for granted. “We feel blessed to have won everything we won,” he said. “It helps the employees because they put a lot of effort into their work and it shows them that hard work pays off.” It’s no surprise that Farmhaus Burgers, the second restaurant that Wight opened downtown, won best hamburger. There’s almost always a line out the door and has been ever since it opened. It’s become so popular that Wight opened a second location on Flowing Wells Road. Wight credits the burgers’ popularity to the high quality of the ingredients that go into them: single-sourced meats, artisan breads and locally made sauces and “goods” like pimento cheese and bacon jam (which are great together on a build your own burger, by the way) are just a few. And while Wight says that the Haus Burger and the Farmstyle are the most popular items on the menu, Farmhaus’ turkey burgers and monthly specials, which often include meats like ground lamb, venison and pork, are just as good. Craft & Vine took top place in two categories: Metro’s Best Wine List and Metro’s Best Place for Craft Cocktails. For wines, Wight says it’s not only the system they use that allows them to offer far more wines by the glass that other places might. It’s that his bartenders know what they’re talking about. “It’s probably the wine classes and the research and studying we put into it. We have a weekly wine class at the restaurant and a couple of my employees are studying sommelier classes,” he said. “Taste testing: That’s the tough part.” As for cocktails, Wight says Craft & Vine prides itself on turning classic cocktails into modern drinks with quality spirits and mixers that are fresh-squeezed and homemade. “We don’t cut corners,” he said. Metro Spirit readers agree. Visit farmhausburgers.com and craftandvine.com.
Metro’s Best Beer Selection Metro’s Best Place for the Cheapest Drinks While The Pizza Joint offers some of the best pizzas, strombolis, calzones and oven baked sandwiches cooked on a traditional brick oven that you’ll find in the Augusta area, you also can’t beat its vast beer selection. Incredible pizza and a cold beer is a classic combination that The Pizza Joint has been successfully serving up for two decades. Not only does The Pizza Joint have the best beer selection in town, it also proudly offers the cheapest drinks in the Augusta area, according to our Metro Spirit readers. Each of The Pizza Joint locations in downtown Augusta, Evans, Aiken and Columbia, S.C. have a full bar with nightly drink specials for its guests. A popular special is “Beer Me Tuesday” night which starts at 5 p.m. at both the downtown Augusta and Aiken locations and begins at 6 p.m. at the Evans location for dine-in customers only. “Beer Me Tuesday” nights offer domestic draft beers at $1.95 per pint and microbrew and imports at $2.95 per pint. The restaurant also provides a number of seasonal beers throughout the year. For example, The Pizza Joint’s downtown location is currently offering three Oktoberfest brews for its patrons. When it comes to The Pizza Joint’s 20-year legacy in the Augusta area, owner Michael Schepis is extremely humble and gives most of the credit to his long-time staff and his loyal customers. “We have a lot of long-term employees, so it is just about creating sort of a family,” Schepis recently said. “Sure, we make pizza, we pour beer, but we have evolved as the years have gone by. And pizzerias are meant to be fun. I sincerely believe, happy employees equal happy guests.” In December 1996, Schepis opened The Pizza Joint’s original location on Broad Street. The restaurant quickly became a popular hangout for Augustans of all ages and a downtown favorite that offered delicious pizza by the slice. These days, The Pizza Joint has locations in Evans, Aiken and even Columbia, S.C. But Schepis said it is hard to believe its been almost 20 years since he first decided to take a chance on bringing The Pizza Joint to Broad Street. “I dropped out of college to open up a pizza joint. That was my goal,” he said. “I felt ambitious. I wanted to provide a place that could grow. I like working with people and building a team and trying to create a team that could help grow restaurants. The Pizza Joint, it’s not about me. It’s about our great team.” Visit thepizzajoint.net.
Metro’s Best Steak TBonz Steakhouse may have been born in Athens, but its two Augusta locations are beloved dining destinations to both locals and Masters Tournament guests. Evans TBonz is the newest of the CSRA locations. Managed by Tyler Wiley, the new location offers everything its parent does, but is certainly more convenient for the Columbia County crowd. As a 15-yearold in high school, Wiley was first hired to work as a busboy at the Augusta location during Master’s week in 1998. From there, he moved on to other positions within the restaurant, including server and cook. Both locations consider themselves neighborhood steakhouses, with clubby atmospheres and food that is reliably good. Regulars say not to forget an order of Tommy Cheese Fries to go with your steak.
Metro’s Best Sandwiches Located on 6th Street downtown, Hildebrandt’s is still operated by the family that bears its name, and it still resides in the same Gothic brick building it has occupied, next to the train tracks, for 137 years. The German-inspired deli is in the back of a grocery store and its sandwiches and sides have become a staple of downtown lunches since they first started serving them in the 1960s. And it’s no wonder: they serve quality sliced sandwich meats, both well-known such as pastrami, salami, buffalo chicken and corned beef, and those not-so-well-known, such as braunschweiger and yachtwurst. The deli menu includes an equally wide variety of deserving cheeses, and they do exceptionally good bread. You need to visit Hildebrandt’s if you haven’t already. Stranger or regular, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Metro’s Best Bar (Overall) It was August of 2012 when Steven Moore, Brandon Mears and Ryan McArdle realized their dream of creating the perfect bar. Four years on, and the Indian Queen is sitting pretty on the corner of Monte Sano and Wrightsboro; its log-cabin exterior enhanced by a large, inviting deck and patio area bordered by flowering plants. The initial concept was simple — a retreat where people could talk and socialize without yelling; a comfortable atmosphere in which people could enjoy good cocktails; a bar that inspired and encouraged community; and a place where the bartenders were capable, using timetested methods instead of trendy substitutes. They’ve stuck to their guns on those, and it’s no wonder people love this place: not only does it have a comfortable, inviting interior (and exterior, for that matter), but the inventive drinks made with high-quality spirits and homemade mixers are incredibly good. Metro’s Best for BBQ When Southbound Smokehouse opened along Central Avenue a little more than a year ago, owners George Claussen and Brian Brittingham wanted to create a casual barbecue joint that was “community driven.” “In every city there is a place in a midtown area that is community driven. Something that is for the community and by the community,” Claussen said. “Something that is not a chain restaurant, but a place that is really part of the community. We like people to think Southbound is as much theirs as it is ours.” After all, Claussen admits opening the barbecue restaurant has been a learning experience for everyone involved. “Originally when we were going to do this we were looking into buying a venue or opening a bar downtown,” Claussen said. “But Brian had it in his mind that we should open a restaurant even though neither one of us had ever been in the restaurant business.” Not long after the two partners briefly talked about the idea of opening a restaurant, Claussen said he received a call from Brittingham asking him to meet at the former location of Crums on Central. “When I got there, Brian had already ripped out the bar,” Claussen said, laughing. “He was determined to do it and I think we were just at the right place at the right time.” While there are several fine dining restaurants in the Hill area such as Finch & Fifth, Sheehan’s Irish Pub and Abel Brown, Claussen said he wanted to create a casual restaurant that was for everyone. “Southbound can be for young, old, black, white, formal and informal,” he said. “It’s for everyone and it has a little bit of everything, which I feel like we needed here in Augusta, especially in the area that we are located in, separating the Summerville/Hill area from the downtown area.” Southbound is the ideal place for guests to enjoy delicious food in a casual neighborhood barbecue joint, he said. And now, with the expansion of Augusta University, Claussen says he sees nothing but positive growth for neighborhood surrounding Southbound. “I know of a couple new restaurants getting ready to pop up near us and we will be announcing a new venture very shortly,” Claussen said. “We are going to have a place that we are opening right next door to Southbound, so I think this whole area is going to continue to grow.” Call 706-733-5464 or visit southboundsmokehouse.com.
Proud to be Selected as Metro’s Best Senior Living for 2016!
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A Big Thank You
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Metro’s Best Catering Company Metro’s Best Place for a Wedding Reception
Father and son team Brad and Havird Usry may be best known for their “soul good” lunches at Fat Man’s Mill Café, but their emphasis on catering and hosting events at Enterprise Mill has really paid off. So much so that Metro Spirit readers have voted them tops in these two categories. Havird, a graduate of Helms Culinary Institute and a recent competitor on season 12 of Food Network Star, likes the kitchen and focuses on farm to table food with a definite southern flair. As for wedding receptions, he gives Event Coordinator Heather Bowen a lot of the credit for making that side of the business so successful. “I keep joking that they just need to open up a big wedding one-stop shop,” said Bowen told the Metro Spirit earlier this year. “I can do hair, I can do floral arrangements, I can do wedding cakes, we’ve got the catering, we’ve got the venue. We’re good to go.” It’s the Enterprise Mill’s beautiful surroundings that she thinks make them so popular. “I think it’s just the history behind the building and the brick,” she said. “The whole rustic thing is in right now.
Metro’s Best Bartender Sarah Brown Turnage may know how to keep her boss at Stillwater Taproom happy: all it takes, said Matt Flynn, is the banana nut muffins she occasionally brings him. But in the seven or so years she’s worked at downtown’s hub for live bluegrass music and craft beer on draft, she’s learned a thing or two about what her customers like: a pleasant, smiling server who knows how to pour a pint correctly, even if it’s a black and tan. Don’t get on her bad side, Flynn warns, because she’s also not afraid to tell you what’s what. “In short, she’s a genuine, real person and that shines through,” Flynn said. Sarah will make you feel right at home the next time you stop by Stillwater, and she won’t even laugh at you if you order a Mic Ultra. Metro’s Best Place to Go and Dance The Country Club has the biggest dance floor of any bar in this area, and boy do they put it to good use. They offer free line dancing lessons most Friday and Saturday nights from 7-9 p.m., and when they don’t have an up-and-coming country act on the stage, Fridays are reserved for their All Night Dance Party. Even when there is a band on stage, the dance floor is full. Such will be the case on Saturday, October 29, when hard rockers the Velcro Pygmies host a zombie-themed costume party with a contest at midnight for cash prizes. Dressed to impress? Most people will just be dressed to dance. Metro’s Best Place to Go Antiquing It’s fitting that Mema Had One is located in a charming cottage on Washington Road, because you feel like you’ve just pulled up to Grandma’s house before you even step foot in the door. Once you do cross the threshold, you’ll find a little bit of everything, displayed in the way your Grandma might have… if your Grandma had a little problem with hoarding. Golf gloves from the Augusta National are displayed on a table beside an ashtray in the shape of a bear’s head. An antique typewriter sits on a gorgeous dresser with a lovely mirror. A bunch of doors and windows of varying sizes and conditions are stacked together waiting for you to go through them. And the staff is more than happy to help you find what you need. The thrill of the hunt, and finding what you never knew you needed, is alive and well here. Metro’s Best Men’s Clothing Store If your style is preppy with a side of outdoorsy, then Low Country Clothier is the perfect place to find that outfit for a college football game or an upcoming holiday party. From T-shirts to outerwear and khakis to cologne, they have everything men and women need from brands like Tommy Bahama, Vineyard Vines, Cotton Brothers, Rodd & Gunn and more. And don’t forget to pick up a Low Country T-shirt before you leave, so people will know why you’re so well-dressed.
Brides who get married down here can take pictures by the canal. I think it’s just the room and the architecture.” And while Fat Man’s is known for down-home southern comfort food, Bowen said the Havird and his crew in the kitchen are really quite creative. “I have a 56-page menu that I send out to brides or corporate parties that we have coming up, but I always tell them, ‘We’re not limited to what’s in this menu,’” she said. “Havird, who is one of our owners, has gone through culinary school and we also have four other members of our staff who have gone to culinary school, so sometimes they just put their heads together and come up with something unusual.” Unusual may mean a grilled cheese bar or other build your own stations. Whatever it may be, Enterprise Mill Events & Catering will make it happen. Visit enterprisemillevents.com.
Metro’s Best Women’s Clothing Store With two locations, The Swank Company prides itself on carrying clothing, accessories and gifts that appeal to women of all ages. They have the best selection of Piko Ts of anyone in town, their clothing displays are grouped by color to make it easier to browse for what you need, and their employees are often modeling their inventory, so you can easily see how cute their clothes are. But there’s a lot more to Swank than just clothing. A great selection of affordable jewelry and shoes, plus an array of gifts than anyone would love to receive, make this the perfect place to get something for you, as well as something for someone else.
Metro’s Best Grocery Store What makes Kroger the top grocery store in the area according to Metro Spirit readers? Well, it could be because it’s a one-stop shop. Customers can buy groceries, get their prescriptions filled, find as many beauty or kitchen products as many drug stores or home goods stores offer, grab a flower arrangement and bottle of bubbly for the evening’s dinner party and then grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks on the way out the door. According to Christian Brander, store manager at Kroger’s 2801 Washington Road location, those things play a part in the store’s success, but they’re nothing compared to the company’s best asset: the relationship between its employees and customers. “I’ve got one employee who’s been here 42 years. I’ve got several who have been here 30, 35 years. I’ve been here 27 years. And we all love our customers,” he said. “Our customers make our day. It’s our job to make their day, but they’re so wonderful that they make our day. They just make it easy.” No matter why you stop in Kroger, chances are the employee who checks you out will ask you if you found everything you needed. Brander says that’s not just an empty question, and he encourages customers to tell the staff if they need something they couldn’t find. “If you come in here looking for something specific, we might have it. Most of the time we do, you just might not know where it’s at,” he said. “You might buy 100 items but there might be one item that you need and, just to keep you from coming back, I want a shot at grabbing it for you, whether it’s in the back or whether it’s in another location. I think it’s such an inconvenience when you’re missing that one thing. I want my guys to have the opportunity to find it for you or substitute something. If it was something on sale, we’ll give you something that’s a higher price.” Going out of their way for their customers is just part of Kroger’s mission. “Our whole deal is we want to make it right because we just appreciate everybody shopping here,” he said. “We to make sure you get what you came for. That’s very important to us.” Visit kroger.com.
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Metro’s Best Jewelry Store Metro’s Best Gun Store Founded in 1975, Windsor Fine Jewelers has become one of National Jeweler Magazine’s Top Ten Independent Jewelers in America. “We have always used the phrase that we are kind of 10 jewelry stores in one,” said Shane Thompson of Windsor Jewelers. “We have one of the largest inventories in America. We have a selection of new, interesting and rare pieces of jewelry and we like to think that we have a selection for almost every type of budget. We have thousands of pieces for our customers to choose from.” When Windsor Jewelers first opened, it was a small, four-counter shop in Augusta’s National Hills Shopping Center. But Windsor owner Donnie Thompson, whose father was also a jeweler, worked hard providing excellent customer service and established an outstanding reputation as one of the best in the business. Now customers come from all over the world to Windsor Jewelers to shop in its impressive two-story building just a few hundred feet away from Augusta National Golf Club. These days, Windsor Jewelers’ little green box has come to represent some of the finest jewelry offered across this country. “The green box is not something we invented. We picked the green box, but the people, our customers, made it popular,” Shane Thompson said, adding that the little green box has become of symbol of Windsor’s masterful selection of fine jewelry, gifts and watches. Recently Thompson opened Friedman’s Jewelers a little further down Washington Road and, inside that store is Southeastern Armory, Metro Spirit readers’ pick for Best Gun Store. “I would say that Southeastern Armory is more into home defense, but they also have a huge hunting selection, too,” said Shane Thompson, whose father, Donnie Thompson, is president of Southeastern Armory and Friedman’s Jewelers. “The people who work there are quite passionate about what they do. Those guys are fans of firearms.” The staff at Southeastern Armory are also highly respected throughout the area for their knowledge of firearms. “If you read the reviews online about the folks that work there, a lot of the gun community follows the staff,” Shane Thompson said. “And certain staff they bring a certain clientele, so we have a collection of different staff that have been all around Augusta for a number of years and they have made an impact on the local gun community in a very positive way.” Call 706-738-7777 (Windsor) or 706-733-4090 (Southeastern Armory). Visit windsorfinejewelers.com or southeasternarmory.com/ Metro’s Best Kid’s Clothing Store When you have kids, you tend to spend a ton of money on… stuff. Kid to Kid aims to help keep parents from completely blowing their budgets by offering gently used maternity, baby and kids clothing, as well as toys, accessories and equipment, at prices that are up to 70 percent off what you’d pay for them new. Better yet, if you have stuff you thought you couldn’t live without but ended up barely using, they’ll buy it from you in exchange for cash or store credit. Add to that a store than is as bright and clean as any upscale boutique and there’s really no need to go anywhere else.
Metro’s Best Motorcycle Dealership When someone buys a Harley-Davidson, they’re not just buying a motorcycle. Rather, it’s like when you get married: you’re joining a new family. Timms Harley-Davidson of Augusta treats everyone who walks in the door like a family member, and not just an in-law you have to put up with either. It’s probably because buying a Harley isn’t like any other purchase. It’s a major investment and a lifestyle. Timms clearly takes care of its customers, and it doesn’t matter whether they’re there to buy a bike, get some clothing and accessories or come in for a service. Guess that’s what happens when everyone who works there is clearly doing something they love. Metro’s Best New Car Dealership It’s difficult to miss the behemoth of a dealership that is the Gerald Jones Auto Group in Martinez. It’s enormous, and one of the most popular dealerships on the lot is Gerald Jones Honda. That’s no surprise; after all, Hondas are some of the most popular and reliable cars on the road today. And sure, it’s a lot of fun to walk the lot, browsing the huge collections of cars there, but Gerald Jones makes it even easier to buy a Honda by posting nearly everything a buyer needs to know about their inventory at geraldjoneshonda.com. You can search by model, price, color, fuel economy, engine type and more. Then, once you’ve chosen your car, you can get pre-qualified for a loan, schedule a test drive, value your trade-in and more. So pretty much, all you have to do is drive down to Gerald Jones and pick up your new ride. Not too shabby.
Metro’s Best Music Equipment/Instrument Store Metro’s Best Music Lessons Studio The roots of Portman’s Music date back to Sam Portman, the grandfather of current owner Jerry Portman, who was selling musical instruments in a store on Savannah’s Broughton Street in 1910. But Ben Portman started in his father’s store in 1936, selling guitars and used instruments. He later went on to become one of the first Georgia dealers of Conn and Selmer Band instruments, Gibson and Martin Guitars, and introduced Fender and Gibson electric guitars in the early 1950s. By the 1960s, Ben Portman’s store in Savannah had added teaching studios and his staff was visiting schools all over southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Not long after, Portman’s Music became one of the largest music store in the Southeast and, since that time, has opened stores in Brunswick, Albany and, of course, right here in the Augusta area. Mark Alexander, the district sales manager for Portman’s Music, said he has really been impressed with the growth of the music store over the past several years. “I’ve been here 13 years, back to when we were on Milledgeville Road in Augusta,” Alexander said, adding that Portman’s Music is now located at 4020 Washington Rd. in Martinez. “We are very excited to be voted the best music and instrument store, as well as the best music lessons studio in the Augusta area.” Alexander believes what sets Portman’s Music apart from the competition is the store’s inventory and the employees’ knowledge of the instruments. “I think we just have a wide range of instruments and brands that maybe other stores don’t carry,” he said. “We have a full repair shop for band instrument repairs and we have two certified technicians and that’s their daily job. So we provide great service to our customers.” The addition of Portman’s Music Academy has also played a key role in promoting the area’s love of music, he said. “We have nearly 400 students taking lessons at our academy,” Alexander said. “So that is just extra foot traffic that is coming in the store.” Call 706-738-1651 or visit portmansmusic.com.
Metro’s Best Bicycle Shop There’s no doubt about it: When Andy Jordan died October 21, 2015, it left a void in the cycling community that could not be filled. But there was another thing that was never in doubt: Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse would continue. Sure, it wouldn’t be quite the same, but Andy’s son Drew and his “adopted” son Nate Zukas are still there to see his legacy continue. And if coming out on top in the Metro’s Best Bicycle Shop category is any indication, Andy’s legacy is still going strong. Both Drew and Nate have pretty much grown up at Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse, so very little has changed as far as the business goes. The store still offers great deals on road, mountain, cyclocross, kids and almost every other kind of bike you can imagine in a price to fit every budget. They still offer fitting services and weekly and monthly rides. And, most important to those who ride, there’s still a sense of community that transcends it being just a bike shop. “Cycling and running are those things that you find a place within yourself that isn’t always something you can explain to others unless they experience it,” local cyclist Laddie Williams explained to the Metro Spirit shortly after Andy died. “So you find a kinship in people who understand that. It’s something you can’t explain to those people who don’t enjoy it or haven’t experienced it and so when you’re around people
like that there’s definitely a kinship. His was always a place where those people could come together and get together and go out and experience those things together. It’s like a magnet.” Call 706-724-2453 or visit andyjordans.com.
Metro’s Best Used Car Dealership Consumer expert Clark Howard recommends buying used, and when those in the Augusta area heed his advice, they most often head to the Milton Ruben Superstore, where they have a vast selection of cars to choose from. Their certified pre-owned vehicles often include Toyotas, Scions, Dodge, Chevrolet, Chrysler and Jeep, and, unlike the stereotypical car salesmen, the folks at Milton Ruben Superstore won’t pressure you to buy. They just want you to be happy with your purchase, which is why most of the cars they offer are online so you can check them out before visiting. Even better? You can ask a salesperson a question online. Now that’s customer service.
Metro’s Best Public Golf Course Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III played college events at Forest Hills Golf Club before they became world-renowned pro golfers. Augusta University’s men’s and women’s Jaguar Golf Teams call Forest Hills home. The Arnold Palmer Company renovated the 18-hole course in 2004. And, best of all, anyone can play there since it’s a public course. Players can book a tee time online, rent clubs once they get to the course or simply hit a bucket of balls on the driving range. And, of course, no visit to Forest Hills is complete without a trip to the bar & grill after a round. For many casual golfers, that’s the best part of a day on the course.
Metro’s Best Gym There’s something for everyone of every age at The Family Y’s 13 locations in the greater Augusta area and their mission, to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, appeals to a lot of people. It doesn’t hurt that their facilities are immaculate and their programs for children — whether it be soccer leagues or summer camps — can’t be beat. Adults appreciate the laid-back atmosphere of their gym facilities and the fact that they don’t feel like they have to be hardcore athletes to work out there. The Family Y is just a nice place to go, which explains why people keep coming back.
Metro’s Best Prompt Care Illnesses and injuries often don’t keep regular office hours, but most people’s primary care physicians sure do. So what happens when you start throwing up like crazy or break a bone at night or on the weekend? Our readers head to MedNow Urgent Care, which has locations in Augusta, South Augusta and Evans. A visit to any one of these centers is fast, (relatively) inexpensive and doesn’t require an appointment. Best of all, they’re staffed by specialists, headed up by a board-certified emergency medical doctor and have an on-site lab and digital equipment, so you don’t have to wait to find out what’s wrong with you.
Metro’s Best Cigar Shop There is one very important question that Russell Wilder, owner of Top Shelf Cigar & Tobacco Shoppe on Columbia Road in Martinez, always asks any future employee of his store. “We are the only cigar shop that is owned and operated by cigar smokers,” Wilder said. “That is one of the first things that I ask you if you are looking to work here, ‘Do you smoke cigars?‘ That’s important because we have people with a passion for cigars that work here and they are excited to come to work and they are happy to see customers who want to talk to you about cigars.” After all, only a cigar smoker can properly describe to a customer the taste and draw of different cigars, he said. “Our customers are really impressed by our staff ’s knowledge, almost to the point that they can become bleary-eyed at times,” Wilder jokingly said. “Especially if they are talking to me because I know the whole process from the seed to the finished product. I
can get a little carried away sometimes and I’ll ask, ‘Oh, is that too much detail?’” But Top Shelf Cigar & Tobacco Shoppe offers customers a very comfortable, laid-back atmosphere with a huge selection as well as a 248-square-foot walk-in humidor and spacious smoking lounge. With more than 400 cigars to choose from, every cigar smoker can find something new to try, Wilder said. “What is on my shelves is based on me and the people who work here trying new products to decide if it is a good fit for us at the price that it’s at,” he said. “So we try to keep it current and we try to keep typically the best stuff in here.” However, that doesn’t mean that Wilder and his staff will automatically jump at what’s new in the market, he said. “We are not at the mercy of these sales representatives from these companies that come in here and tells us, ‘Hey man, the last three places I’ve put these new cigars in , they’ve reordered them three times in six weeks,’” Wilder said. “I’ll tell those sales reps, ‘Well, that’s all well and good, but I know my guys now after 12 years and I know what sells here, so let me try one and let me see if my guys will like it.’” With such a wide selection, customers can choose from all different shapes and types of cigars. Parejos are most common, and figurados or irregular shaped cigars include torpedo, pyramid, perfecto, and presidente. “We absolutely have the best selection,” Wilder said. “We also have the best new stuff. Not just anything that’s new. But what’s new and worth having.” Call 706-860-8628 or visit topshelfcigarshoppe.com.
Metro’s Best Place to Get a Massage Metro’s Best Spa Not only was Tuscany, A Classic Italian Spa off Belair Road in Evans, recognized as Metro’s Best Spa, but it was also awarded Metro’s Best Place to Get a Massage. Matt Keels, the coowner of Tuscany, said he and the staff are honored to have such supportive customers that truly appreciate what Tuscany has to offer. “We are just glad that what we do is appreciated and we are providing a good service for everybody,” Keels said. “We welcome everyone to come see what we have to offer here at Tuscany.” Whether clients are looking for a romantic couples massage, an invigorating scalp massage, a myofascial massage or a Swedish and deep tissue massage, Tuscany offers it all and even more. If you are training for a marathon, Tuscany offers an orthopedic and sports massage that concentrates on restoring pain-free joint range of motion throughout the body. For customers suffering from stress and tension, Tuscany provides the option of a hot stone massage using basalt stones that promote a sedative and re-energizing response. And for expectant mothers, the spa has a “Mother-To-Be Massage” that increases the flow of oxygen and blood to the mother’s tissues, thereby accelerating the flow of nutrients to both the mother and her baby. It will also relieve backaches and other pains often experienced during pregnancy. Also, if clients are suffering from frequent headaches, Tuscany offers a neuromuscular massage with a staff that truly understands that trigger points are major sources of pain and dysfunction within the body. With that clear understanding of the muscular components of headaches, the staff has the ability to treat those who suffer with headaches with consistent results, Keels said. “Here at Tuscany, I think it is the overall environment,” Keels said. “We built this building to be a luxury spa for this area. It is about relaxation and massages, as well as facials and nails. All of it. It is the full spa experience.” Call 706-210-5335 or visit tuscanyclassicspa.com.
Metro’s Best IT Company There’s almost nothing that the “nerds with personality” at Computer One (their words, not ours) can’t do when it comes to computers. If a virus has taken over your computer, they can fix it. If your business network isn’t working like it should, they can recommend a solution. Computer running slow? They can help you upgrade. Hell, they can even help you design your own system which they will then build for you. They’ll come out to your car for drop-off service and will even come to you to figure out what’s going on, so you know these are some nerds you can count on. Metro’s Best Auto Repair Shop Kendrick Paint & Body opened in 1952 with one location. Today, they have eight all over the area. That can only mean one thing: They know what they’re doing. It also helps that owner Stephen Kendrick Jr. grew up in the business. Both he and COO Tracy Bryant are active in the community, so customers know they can trust the people in charge. And that goes a long way in the auto repair business, when customers assume they’re going to be taken advantage of. Not at Kendrick.
Metro’s Best Senior Living Center If you didn’t know Brandon Wilde was a community for senior citizens, you’d think it was a resort. The community’s apartments and cottages look as if they could easily be transplanted to Hilton Head and be right at home. And right at home is how Brandon Wilde’s residents feel. Granted it’s a very upscale home, since residents have access to things like indoor pools, a salon and spa, walking trails and green spaces galore, and food so good it makes fine restaurants jealous. All this, and healthcare is available whenever it’s needed. Only one question: Do you have to be a senior to live there? Asking for a friend. Metro’s Best Veterinary Clinic Located near Wheeler Road, St. Francis doesn’t look like an animal hospital. It looks like the fanciest dog and cat spa that ever existed. Or a church, which is apt, given it’s named after the patron saint of animals. And the folks who work there care for animals almost as much as Saint Francis did, although we doubt they preach sermons to them. Instead, they offer care, preventative, medical and emergency. They even offer nutritional counseling. Not surprising, since they consider pets family members. We have a feeling Saint Francis would approve. Metro’s Best Dance Studio Augusta West Dance Studio has been a household name in the area for 30 years. Then it became a household name all over the country when Kathryn McCormick competed and took third place in the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance. McCormick continues to mentor dancers on the show, and has had roles in films like “Fame” and “Step Up Revolution.” Her career has certainly raised the profile of this studio, which offers dances classes of all kinds, as well as camps and daycare.
Metro’s Best Hospital Metro’s Best ER Metro’s Best Place to Have a Baby University Hospital is a parent’s dream if the unthinkable happens and their child needs an emergency room. The ER there may look like a scary place, especially to a child, but tiny patients are soon whisked out of the adult ER and into a much quieter, much more serene environment that is sure to put both parent and child at ease. That is their Pediatric Emergency Department, where Jack, a toy Jack Russell Terrier that’s serves as the ER’s mascot, presides. “Jack can be seen peeping through fences or diving into ponds in the beautifully painted full-wall murals in each treatment room,” their website says. “Patients are taken to these rooms, which represent every season of the year, from the pediatric waiting room in the likeness of a tree house.” Children and parents may not want to visit the ER at University Hospital, but the W.G. Watson, M.D., Women’s Center is where every new family wants to start their lives together. The largest center in the area, it handles about 3,000 births a year. It’s not surprising since they have a level III nursery equipped to care for high-risk infants and preemies, all in one labor and delivery suites, a sunny newborn nursery and an onsite lactation center. University’s devotion to patient care isn’t limited to children and families, however. With more than 600 doctors and staff, they have a specialist for every condition a patient might suffer from, and you can be sure that specialist will do everything in her power to get you the help you need. Visit universityhealth.org.
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Metro’s Best Law Firm Jacque Hawk, the founder of The Hawk Firm, does not take his role as a local attorney lightly. In fact, he fully understands the importance of having a lawyer in your corner when tragedy strikes. “My dad was a salesman. He was brilliant. He graduated second in his class at Richmond Academy, but he got married young and started a family,” Jacque Hawk said. “He taught us the importance of an education, about how to treat people and how to work hard.” But when Hawk was a child his father, Marion, was nearly killed in two separate accidents. While at the lake one summer, Marion Hawk was hit by a boat whose propeller gashed his head rendering him unconscious and bleeding. The wound required hundreds of stitches and numerous surgical operations. In another accident years later, Marion Hawk was trying to help a fellow race car driver repair his vehicle in the middle of a race and was unaware that gasoline had spilled onto the track. Suddenly, the entire car burst into flames with Marion Hawk trapped underneath it. As a result, Marion Hawk suffered second and third degree burns over 70 percent of his body. Jacque Hawk clearly remembers his father’s long road to recovery. It was a process that kept his father out of work for several months while the bills began to pile up. To this day, Jacque Hawk vividly recalls the stress and fear the family experienced during that difficult time. “My dad was injured severely. He almost died two times,” Jacque Hawk said. “A lot of that has to do with why I am so passionate about personal injury litigation because of the impact it has on families. I understand. I truly do.” As a result of those childhood experiences, Jacque Hawk attended Cumberland School of Law, one of the top five law schools in the nation for trial advocacy programs, in Birmingham, Ala. It took him three years to graduate law school and, immediately after, he passed the Georgia Bar Exam and started his practice in 1984. “This law firm started in 1994,” Jacque Hawk said of The Hawk Firm. “We do trial work, primarily criminal defense and personal injury, but we also do probate law and domestic cases. I’ve also been death penalty certified since I started in 1984.” Jacque Hawk has also has been recognized as the Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. “To be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, those members include attorneys who have obtained awards or settlements of $1 million for their injured clients,” Jacque Hawk said. “I was also named as one of the 10 Best DWI lawyers in terms of client satisfaction for the northern half of Georgia by the American Institute of Legal Counsel.” Call 706-724-8537 or visit facebook.com/thehawkfirm.
Metro’s Best Local News Station Most of our readers say they turn to WJBF News Channel 6 to stay informed on local news topics. And we can’t blame them. After all, it’s where former NBC reporters Barclay Bishop and Ashley Campbell ended up, joining a team led by Brad Means and Jennie Montgomery. But it’s not just news that viewers tune into WJBF for; this is the station that’s home to Mom 2 Mom and The Very Vera Show, so they’ve got the lifestyle beat covered like no one else in town.
Metro’s Best Hair Salon Salon at Surrey has been open for five years, and owner Kate White recently decided it was time for a change. “We’ve gone through a pretty extensive renovation this year, and we’re so happy to be done,” she said. “It’s been five years, so we decided to freshen our look and update our logo to more reflect our salon today.” One thing that hasn’t changed is Kate and her team’s commitment to their clients. Whether those clients want a cut or color, waxing or lash extensions, the team of stylists at Salon at Surrey will take great care to make sure they get exactly what they want. And while they’re getting exactly what they want, clients will also get the VIP treatment with free consultations, complimentary beverages and a selection of the finest haircare products to choose from, including Oribe and Moroccan Oil. “We are an all-inclusive salon that stresses education and teamwork,” White said. “It’s an encouraging place to be. We encourage each other and our clients.” Call 706-364-1969 or visit salonatsurrey.com.
Metro’s Best Tattoo Studio Phillip Jacobs and crew have become known as a powerhouse team of talented tattoo artists. In its fifth year of business, Allegiance Ink’s clean studio, friendly atmosphere, and knowledgeable artists offer some of the best piercings and ink in town. Located in Martinez, Allegiance Ink is keen on creating the best customer experience. Whether they are going for a tattoo or a piercing, customers know they will walk into a welcoming environment – something that is very important for first-time clients, in particular. Jacobs and his team strive to reassure and educate their clients, informing them of what to expect from their tattoo or piercing, as well as how to care for it. “It’s all about the client,” Jacobs said. “We thank them for choosing us.” Customers are also able to get more information from their website, which is always updated with photos of the studio’s most recent work. Check out the studio artist’s creations and other current info on the website, allegianceinktattoo.com.
Metro’s Best Morning Radio Show
Metro’s Best Radio Station
The success of Kicks 99 isn’t really about the incredible country music by artists like Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood or Kenny Chesney that is played over the airwaves, but more about the local, on air talent that listeners have come to love. “I think the main reason why listeners in Augusta love Kicks 99 is because the folks on Kicks 99 are live and local,” said Chris O’Kelley, the program director and operations manager for Kicks 99. “We’ve been here a long time.” Whether listeners are tuning in to hear the Kicks Wake up Krew with Mike, Jenny and Dub or driving home tuned into Jeff Reynolds’ show, O’Kelley said that fans of Kicks 99 enjoy hearing those familiar voices in the Augusta area. “Our morning show has been here 18 years, I’ve been here for 12 years now and Zac has been here for 16 years,” O’Kelley said. “Over the years, we’ve been able to become a part of this community and I think that is one of the biggest reasons for the station’s success.” So, when listeners hear Jenny joking with Mike in the morning, it’s because the on air personalities truly treat one another as family, he said. “It is a genuine relationship that we have,” O’Kelley said. “This is a group of people that not only work together, but we spend time together on the weekends and after work together. So it is actually more fun than it even sounds on the air.” In fact, when Jenny from the morning show came to the Augusta market, O’Kelley warned her that Augusta would quickly become a huge part of her life. And he was absolutely right. “The day I came to sign my contract in February 2014, Chris O’Kelley told me that Augusta would be unlike any other place I had ever lived or worked, and that it would change my life – and boy, was he right,” Jenny wrote on the Kicks 99 website. “Not only did I land my dream job on the Kicks Wake Up Krew, but in September of 2014, I also met my dream man, Chris Bender, and we were married in May of 2016.” For the entire staff at Kicks 99, winning Metro’s Best Radio Station is a real honor, O’Kelley said. “It is always exciting to get a win like that,” O’Kelley said. “We never take anything like that for granted. We couldn’t do it without our listeners.” Call 706-396-7000 or visit kicks99.com.
The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show is a syndicated morning radio show that features presenters J-Si, Kelly Raspberry, Jenna and Big Al. The Morning Show has been a popular vehicle for the latest in entertainment news and pop music on HD 98.3 since 2006. The crew seem like old friends – in fact, the four have worked together for many years – and it is the camaraderie and easy-going banter that makes the show so appealing. From the popular Love Letters to Kelly, to the show’s annual Kidd’s Kids charity, the team delivers great entertainment while focusing on helping others. On air during one of the busiest times of the day – the show is on HD 98.3 every morning Monday through Friday– the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show helps many of us wake up and face the day ahead. Recently the Morning Show visited Augusta to celebrate HD 98.3’s tenth year on air, and had a great time getting to know the area, which makes this award all the sweeter. In addition to the thank you video posted on the Metro Spirit’s Facebook page, the team said, “Thanks, Augusta, for waking up with us every morning for the past 10 years on HD983 and for voting us Metro’s Best Morning Radio Show!” Catch The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show on HD 98.3 FM Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or go to kiddnation.com.
Metro’s Best On Air Personality Austin Rhodes, aka The Most Dangerous Man in Augusta, is fast approaching 25 years on air. Longer than most Augustans probably realize, and certainly long enough to become an afternoon tradition, WGAC’s popular talk show host has not-so-quietly eclipsed the records of virtually every “radio legend” in Augusta broadcasting. From Buddy Carr, George Fisher and Mark Summers, to Minnesota Fattz and Cher Best, and even beloved Harley Drew; Austin now holds the title for uninterrupted, successful radio show on the same station, during peak “drive time” hours. Rhodes, a columnist for the Metro Spirit, hosts an issues oriented weekday show that focuses on local news while also exploring national and international items of interest. Known for his sometimes controversial opinions, Rhodes enjoys getting people talking. While he has dozens of local awards, many of which we’re told adorn his bathroom wall, perhaps the most noteworthy are his four Georgia Association of Broadcasters Awards for Best Radio Personality in the state of Georgia. Rhodes said, “I really appreciate this honor from the readers of the Metro Spirit! What I always strive to do is provide insight and information on local news that you simply cannot get elsewhere. The astute listeners understand good talk radio is not about agreeing with the host, it is about interesting news and information presented in a way that makes us “destination listening” on the drive home. Again, many thanks; none of us at WGAC could do what we do without your support!” Find Austin on WGAC, 580 AM, 95.1 FM from 3.05 p.m. until 6 p.m.
More Metro’s Best Winners! Metro’s Best Trivia Night
Metro’s Best Orthodontics Practice
Metro’s Best Exterminator
Metro’s Best Place to Go for Karaoke
Metro’s Best Family or General Medical Practice
Metro’s Best Insurance Agency
1. Somewhere in Augusta 2. The Pizza Joint 3. Southbound Smokehouse
1. Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant 2. The Loft 3. Veracruz Mexican Restaurant
Metro’s Best Happy Hour 1. Finch and Fifth 2. The Pizza Joint 3. Stillwater Taproom
Metro’s Best Draft Beer Selection 1. World of Beer 2. The Pizza Joint 3. The Hive
Metro’s Best Shoe Store 1. DSW 2. Goody Two Shoes 3. Shoes at Surrey
Metro’s Best Florist
1. Martina’s Flowers & Gifts 2. Flowers on Broad 3. Charleston Street
Metro’s Best Furniture Store 1. Weinberger’s Furniture 2. Merry’s Trash & Treasures 3. Final Cut
Metro’s Best Hunting Supplies Store 1. Cabela’s 2. Academy Sports & Outdoors 3. Culpepper Outdoors
Metro’s Best Outdoor Recreation Supplies Store 1. Academy Sports & Outdoors 2. Cabela’s 3. Escape Outdoors
Metro’s Best Liquor Store
1. Toast Wine & Beverage 2. Beverage Outlet 3. North Augusta Wine & Beverage
Metro’s Best Martial Arts School 1. Greubel’s MMA 2. Seigler’s Karate Center 3. Kroc Center Taekwondo
Metro’s Best Gymnastics Center
1. Hayden’s International Gymnastics Academy 2. The Family Y 3. Gymnastics Gold
Metro’s Best Dental Practice 1. Evans Dental Group 2. Anderson Family Dentistry 3. Michele Claeys
1. Carter Orthodontics 2. Rogers and Andrews Orthodontics 3. Trotter Orthodontics
1. Center for Primary Care 2. Augusta University Health/Medical Center 3. Evans Medical Group
Metro’s Best Pediatrics Practice 1. Pediatric Partners of Augusta 2. Augusta Pediatric Associates 3. Covenant Pediatrics
Metro’s Best Vision Care 1. The Eye Guys 2. Broome Family Eye Care 3. 1 Hour Optical
Metro’s Best Chiropractic Practice
1. Boutwell Chiropractic 2. The Joint Chiropractic 3. Advanced Chiropractic and Wellness Center
Metro’s Best Women’s Healthcare Practice
1. Augusta Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists 2. Women’s Health of Augusta 3. Summerville Women’s Medical Group
Metro’s Best Plastic Surgery Center 1. Augusta Plastic Surgery 2. Savannah River Plastic Surgery 3. Georgia Center for Facial Plastic Surgery
Metro’s Best Real Estate Company 1. Meybohm Realtors 2. Blanchard and Calhoun 3. Keller Williams Realty
Metro’s Best Closing Attorney 1. David L. Huguenin 2. Wright McLeod 3. Sue Reimer
Metro’s Best Lawn Care Company 1. Southern Landscaping & Lawncare 2. Pebble Creek Landscaping 3. Turf Pride Lawncare
Metro’s Best Towing Company 1. Chancey’s Wrecker Service 2. Kendrick Paint & Body 3. Cushman Paint and Body
Metro’s Best Carpet Cleaning 1. Stanley Steemer 2. Duraclean 3. Chem-Dry of CSRA
1. Advanced Services 2. Horne’s Pest Control 3. Terminix
1. Frank Spears, State Farm 2. Kelley Lawrence, State Farm 3. Matt Willis, State Farm
Metro’s Best Local Band 1. Ed Turner and Number 9 2. Funk You 3. Shinebox
Metro’s Best Local Solo Artist 1. Ray Fulcher 2. Phillip Lee 3. Karen Gordon
Metro’s Best Local Visual Artist 1. Leonard Zimmerman 2. April Henry 3. Jay Jacobs
Metro’s Best Arts Organization 1. Arts in the Heart 2. Westobou 3. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
Metro’s Best Festival
1. Art in the Heart 2. Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que and Music Festival 3. Augusta Greek Festival
Metro’s Best TV News Personality 1. Jay Jefferies 2. Barclay Bishop 3. Brad Means
Metro’s Best Traditional Service 1. Warren Baptist Church 2. Church of the Most Holy Trinity 3. Wesley United Methodist Church
Metro’s Best Politician 1. Donald Trump 2. Deke Copenhaver 3. Bernie Sanders
Metro’s Best Augusta Cheerleader 1. The Metro Spirit 2. Austin Rhodes 3. Deke Copenhaver
Calendar: 34 | Music Listings: 42
whaT’s uP
If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
PaTrick Davis is quite the songwriter: the tunes he’s penned have been recorded by everyone from Jewel to Lady Antebellum. The South Carolina native and diehard Gamecocks fan is no slouch on the stage, however. Every time the Nashville transplant brings His Midnight Choir to the Augusta area, he packs the house. In fact, there were so many people at his last show that he had to find a bigger venue. The Legends Club will host this high energy show and tickets are going fast. Snap one up soon. PaTrick Davis & his MiDnighT choir The Legends Club Saturday, October 22 7 p.m., doors; 8:30 p.m., show $25, advance; $35, door patrickdavismusic.com
This week
FriDay
The Augusta Museum of History provided the historic recipe; Riverwatch Brewery took that recipe and created an actual beer. The best part of this collaboration is that you can taste this persimmonflavored brew at Southern Suds tonight from 6:30-9 p.m. Bonus: you’ll also learn a lot about the history and future of Augusta beer making. $20-$45.
sunDay
Who is Peppa Pig? If you don’t know the answer to that question already, then you’re probably not the target audience for Peppa Pig’s Big Splash, a live action show based on the animated TV series from England. There are plenty of families whose toddlers are just begging to go see Peppa and her friends live today at 5 p.m., though, so parents, save yourself the drama and get down to the Bell Auditorium pronto! $29.50-$59.50.
MonDay
It’s time for another season of the SRDA Dart League, so whether you’re a novice or a pro, head to The Highlander tonight at 7 p.m. to sign up for the 10-week season. The league meets Monday nights at different bars around town for a little competition, plus a lot of camaraderie and beer drinking. And don’t worry: you don’t even need a team; Matt Flynn and friends will be able to find one for you to join.
TuesDay
It’s a random school night, so you know what that means: Amber Valentine and Edgar Livengood will set up their wall of amps at Sky City and begin a show at, oh, about midnight. Then Jucifer will proceed to murder your eardrums for an hour or so, which means you can head into work the next day hungover and deaf. Hey, at least you won’t be able to hear your boss yell at you for being late!
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 34.
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Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Fri Oct 21
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education Class University Hospital Class continues Saturday, October 22, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Wed Oct 26
7:45am Childbirth Tour AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augustahealth.org.
9:45am - noon Car Seat Class Safe Kids Office Pre-registration required. $10; car or booster seat provided to families who meet financial guidelines. Call 706-721-7606 or visit augustahealth.org.
Augusta Photography Festival Various locations October 21-30 The 10-day celebration includes workshops for photographers of all levels and abilities, photo walks and shoots, exhibitions and more. 706-834-9742 augustaphotofestival.org
ARTS Fri Oct 21
Noon Art at Lunch: The Raven: Etchings by Larry Vienneau Morris Museum of Art $10, members; $15, non-members. Catered lunch included. Pre-registration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Sat Oct 22
10am - 4pm Artist Workshop: Creative Printmaking Morris Museum of Art Led by exhibiting artist Larry Vienneau. $25, members; $35, nonmembers. Preregistration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
10am - 1pm Thanksgiving Wreath Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $28. Call 706556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@ hotmail.com.
10am - 3pm Twig Weaving Workshop Aiken Center for the Arts Participants will weave a decorative wall hanging, and should bring lunch to this class for all skill levels. $45; pre-registration required. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
6pm A Conversation: Kara and Larry Walker 34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Morris Museum of Art This father-daughter team of artists will talk about their work. Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Mon Oct 24
10am - noon Oil Painting Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A three-session Harlem Arts Council class. $20 per class. Call 706-556-6656, 706-5132634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Wed Oct 26
7pm Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Le Chat Noir A burlesque live drawing event featuring contests, performances, prizes and more. $10, advance; $12 at the door. Call 706-7223322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Ongoing
Augusta Photography Festival The 10-day celebration, October 21-30, includes workshops for photographers of all levels and abilities, photo walks and shoots, exhibitions and more. Call 706-834-9742 or visit augustaphotofestival.org.
EDUCATION Tue Oct 25
3:30pm - 5pm Being Both: Embodying a Queer Muslim Identity Before and After Orlando AU’s Maxwell Theatre
6:30pm - 8pm Infant CPR: AHA Friends and Family AUHealth Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2273 or visit augustahealth.org.
HOBBIES An event hosted by Augusta University’s Lambda Alliance and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in which Amina Abdul-Jalil discusses her personal experiences as a queer Muslim woman before and after the Orlando shooting, and the history of Islamophobia in the LGBTQ+ community. Free and open to the public. Call 706-721-6890 or visit augusta.edu.
Tue Oct 25
Wed Oct 26
Wed Oct 26
5pm Success Starts With You Workshop Series Medical Associates Plus A series for young and mature adults led by Prescilla Gary. This month’s topic is The Importance of Interview Impressions. Preregistration required. Call 706-922-1862 or email info@mapbt.com.
Ongoing
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. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-640-2090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
HEALTH Thu Oct 20
6pm Breastfeeding Class Babies R Us
10am Genealogy 101 Headquarters Branch Library’s Georgia Heritage Room Participants will learn how to start a family history project, as well as discuss resources and strategies. Call 706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
Noon Georgia-Carolina Toastmasters Fat Man’s Mill Cafe Those interested are invited to learn speech and leadership skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Call 706-627-2134.
KIDS-TEENS Sat Oct 22
11am Halloween Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
3pm - 5pm Pokemon Go Day Aiken Public Library An event that includes a picture scavenger hunt for kids, crafts, a recharging station, light snacks, a library led Pokewalk and more. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
7pm Amazing Science AU’s Maxwell Theatre A fun with science event for kids and families hosted by the faculty and students of the Department of Chemistry and Physics. Free and open to the public. Call 20OCTOBER2016
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706-667-4100 or visit augusta.edu.
Sun Oct 23
5pm Peppa Pig’s Big Splash Bell Auditorium $29.50-$59.50. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit georgialinatix.com.
Mon Oct 24
6:30pm - 9pm The Birds, the Bees and Me Trinity Hospital of Augusta A class for girls ages 12-15, accompanied by their mothers, female relative or friend, that includes a frank discussion on sexuality, peer pressure and responsible decision- making. Call 706-481-7604 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.
Tue Oct 25
from a United Nations Member State and representing their position can register for the day-long simulation at Augusta University. Early registration ends October 15; January 16 is registration deadline; February 15 is the late registration deadline. Email Dr. Craig Albert at calbert@augusta.edu or visit augusta.edu/ pamplin/pols/juniormodelun.php.
LITERARY Thu Oct 20
7pm Author Talk-Autograph Signing Columbia County Library Part of the All About Author Series, this one featuring Garth Stein, best-selling author of “Raven Stole the Moon.” Reservations can be made at garthstein.eventbrite.com. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
MUSIC
4pm Storytime in the Gardens
Thu Oct 20
Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Local senior adults will read to participants and each family in attendance will receive a free book. Blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks are welcome. Call 803-642-7631.
7:30pm Live From Nashville Etherredge Center, Aiken Featuring 12 Nashville musicians, singers and dancers. $40. Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Wed Oct 26
7:30pm Mozart, Murder, Mikado
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Featuring Sweet Sticks Skateboard Gallery. Participants are invited to come dressed in Halloween costumes for a spooky story followed by a screen printing craft. Cookies and juice provided. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
4:30pm - 6pm Alley Cats Strikehouse Bowl, Aiken Part of the Aiken Recreation Department’s Buddy Sports program for those with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, this class is for those of all bowling abilities. $12 a month; pre-registration required. Call 803426-1284 or visit therecingcrew.com.
Ongoing
14th Annual Teen Ghost Story Contest
AU’s Maxwell Theatre A presentation of the Augusta University Opera Institute and Ensemble. $10, general; $8, AU alum, seniors, military; $5, children, AU faculty and staff; free, AU students. Call 706-667-4100 or visit augusta.edu.
Fri Oct 21
6pm Moonlight Music Cruise Augusta Canal Discovery Center Featuring Daniel Johnson, this event features live music aboard a 1 1/2-hour Petersburg boat tour. Participants are invited to bring aboard snacks and beverages. $25; pre- registration required. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.
7pm Face 2 Face: The Ultimate Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center An Augusta Amusements event. $39.50. Call 706-726-0366 or visit augustaamusements.com.
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Those in grades 6-12 are invited to submit ghost stories of 1,000 words or less to the library. Winners in middle and high school will will Amazon gift cards and be invited to read their submissions in an event on Thursday, October 27, at 7 p.m. Call 803-279-5767, ext. 1541, or email nancycarsonlibrary@gmail.com.
7:30pm 4 Seasons Chamber Jazz
Junior Model UN Registration
Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit
Augusta University Middle school students who are interested in assuming the perspective of a diplomat 20OCTOBER2016
Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A four-concert series, with each concert featuring two performances. Call 706-7337939 or visit uuaugusta.org.
Sat Oct 22
11am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing
theaugustamarket.com.
2:30pm Guitar Lessons Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop A Harlem Arts Council class for those with beginner to intermediate guitar experience. $30. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
7:30pm A Crowning Achievement Sacred Heart Cultural Center An Augusta Choral Society concert featuring Handel’s Coronation Anthems and other selections for royal occasions. $10-$30. Call 706-826-4713 or visit augustachoralsociety.org.
7:30pm Soiree: Jazz + Wine Jessye Norman School of the Arts Featuring classic live jazz and wines selected by the host. $7. Call 762-233-5299 or visit jazzsoiree.com.
Sun Oct 23
4pm - 10pm Ann N. Johnson UNCF Jazz Festival Jessye Norman Amphitheatre Call 706-821-8233 or visit paine.edu.
Tue Oct 25
Noon Tuesday’s Music Live Saint Paul’s Church Features a free concert at noon by the
D’Amore Duo. Lunch afterwards is $12 a person and requires reservation. Call 706722-3463 or visit tuesdaysmusiclive.com.
SENIORS Thu Oct 20
9am - 1pm AARP Driver Safety Summerville Professional Office Building Graduates of this program, for those ages 50 and older, can apply for a discount on insurance. $14. Call 800-414-7441 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.
10:30am Seniors Golden Games Appleby Branch Library Call 706-736-6244 or visit ecgrl.org.
Fri Oct 21
9am - 1pm AARP Driver Safety Summerville Professional Office Building Graduates of this program, for those ages 50 and older, can apply for a discount on insurance. $14. Call 800-414-7441 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.
Wed Oct 26
11:30am - 2pm Pottery Making Class Harlem Senior Center A four-session Harlem Arts Council class for adults ages 55 and older of all skill levels. No experience necessary. $80. Call 706-3944682 or email harlemartscouncil@gmail.com. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 35
Come see why we were voted
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FALL INTO FUN AT THE FAMILY YMCA UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER Wilson Family YMCA Adaptive Playground October 27 Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 pm Truck-or-Treat 5-7 pm FAMILY Y OF GREATER AUGUSTA
Join us as we kick off our Community Campaign! STRUCTURE
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Pre-game pep rally with free food, inflatables, cheerleaders, music and giveaways. October 28th at 5 pm Across from the Brickyard in Thomson, GA
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Tabernacle Baptist Church A Creative Impressions event that will include live performances and a silent dessert auctions. $8, advance; $10, door. Call 706664-9022 or visit creative-impressions.org.
and beverage booths, a costume contest for people and pets, live music and more. $25, advance; $30, door for non-walk participants. Call 803-648-6863 or visit letlovelive.org.
Sat Oct 22
7pm “Mission to Mars”
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.
8am - 2pm MarvinGanza Marvin United Methodist Church An indoor yard sale for crafters and other vendors. Those interested in selling can rent a 10’ square space for $25. Call 706-863-0510.
8:30am - noon Fall Farm Fest Aiken County Farmer’s Market A celebration of the fall harvest that will feature children’s crafts, the Aiken Master Gardeners, touch a tractor and more. Southern Living food writer Rebecca Lang will be the special guest, and the Willcox food truck will serve some of her recipes. Call 803-293-2214.
9am - 11am James Brown Turkey Giveaway Registration
An Evening of Traditional Irish Music Fat Man’s Mill Cafe Thursday, October 27 7:30 p.m. Featuring Steph Geremia, flute and vocals, and Alan Kelly, piano and accordion. $20; reservations required. 706-267-5416
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu Oct 20
5pm - 8pm Third Thursday Tasting Wine World A drop-in event that features a wine or beer tasting. $5; $3 rebate upon purchase of a featured bottle. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
5pm - 8pm Wine Not It’s Friday Whole Foods A $5 wine tasting in which participants get five 3-ounce samples of featured wines. Call 762-333-0259 or visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
6:30pm - 9pm Southern Suds
Aiken Center for the Arts A fundraiser featuring local cuisine, wine tastings, silent auctions and more. $50, members; $55, non-members. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Augusta Museum of History An educational program about the history and future of brewing in Augusta that also includes a beer tasting. Local brewery River Watch Brewery is making a historic brew for the event from a recipe provided by the museum. $20-$45; $10, designated driver; $15, VIP designated driver. Call 706-7228454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Fri Oct 21
7pm Concert & Confections
7pm A Taste of Wine and Art
38 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Dyess Park Those interested should bring a stateissued ID and a current utility bill or a current signed lease for proof of residence. The giveaway will take place Monday, November 21, at Dyess Park at 8 a.m. Call 803-640-2090 or email info@ gamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
Noon - 5pm Summerville Tour of Homes Appleby Branch Library Tour of homes hours are noon-5 p.m. each day and the Georgia Grown Village hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. $30, advance; $35, tour days. Visit summervilletourofhomes.com.
2pm - 5pm Puppy Howl-o-ween Fort Gordon Dog Park An event that includes a costume contest, activities, giveaways, prizes and more. Call 706-791-4300 or visit fortgordon.com.
6pm - 9pm All Hallowed Eve Ghost Walk & Illusion Show North Augusta’s Living History Park Guided tours in a Colonial setting, entertainment in the tavern and a grand finale hosted by Faire Wynds are all included. Pre-registration required. Call 803441-8956 or email pam@colonialtimes.us.
6pm - 10pm Barkaritaville SPCA Albrecht Center, Aiken A fundraising event that features food
Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
8pm “Blown Away: Wild World of Weather Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Sun Oct 23
Noon - 5pm Summerville Tour of Homes Appleby Branch Library Tour of homes hours are noon-5 p.m. each day and the Georgia Grown Village hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. $30, advance; $35, tour days. Visit summervilletourofhomes.com.
12:30pm - 2pm Musical Chairs Champagne Brunch Sacred Heart Cultural Center A Symphony Orchestra Augusta event that includes champagne in the garden, brunch in the great hall and a musical chairs auction. $45; $450, VIP table of 8. Reservations required. Call 706-826-4705 or visit soaugusta.org.
Mon Oct 24
6:30pm Network Public Launch Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta An event to celebrate the beginning of the Interfaith Child Advocacy Network of the CSRA. Refreshments will be served. Call 706-733-7939 or visit uuaugusta.org.
Tue Oct 25
4:30pm - 7pm Veggie Truck Farmers Market AL Williams Park This weekly event, held through the end of October in the park across from the Kroc Center, features all local farmers and doubles EBT. Visit growharrisburg.org.
Ongoing
The Maize at Steed’s Dairy Steed’s Dairy, Grovetown A real working dairy farm that has activities that include a corn maize, a petting zoo, a jumping pillow and giant tube slide, rubber duckie races, a preschool play area, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, cow 20OCTOBER2016
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milking demonstrations and more. Open through November 13. Hours are Fridays in October from 5-10 p. m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. 10 p.m. and Sundays from 1-7 p.m. The Haunted Maize is available Fridays and Saturdays in October from dark-10 p.m. $11; $8, seniors, military and groups; $5 for Haunted Maize; free, ages 2 and under. Visit steedsdairy.com.
Marvin Corner Pumpkin Patch Marvin United Methodist Church The church will have pumpkins, gourds, mums and straw for sale to support missions and community outreach. Families are invited to bring their cameras and take pictures. Open through the end of October. Hours are 2-7 p.m. MondaysFridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and noon7 p.m. Sundays. Call 706-863-0510 or visit eddboothe@yahoo.com.
and the Mayor’s Fish’n Hole. Lunch will be provided and the first 50 volunteers to sign up will receive a T-shirt. Call 706-796-7707 or email ruth.mead@phinizycenter.org.
9am Waterside Yoga Augusta Canal’s Lake Olmstead Trailhead A class open to those of all ages and abilities. Participants should bring a mat or towel. Free, but donations to the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area accepted. Call 706823- 0440, ext. 2, or visit augustacanal.com.
9:30am Active 4 Hope 5K, 10K and Family Fun Run Blanchard Woods Park Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Visit active4hope.org.
6:30pm - 8:30pm Loyal Order of the Sword Meetings
Exchange Club Fairgrounds An annual Exchange Club event that includes carnival rides, shows, exhibits, food and more. Open through October 23. Hours are Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. and Saturday Sunday from noon. Advance tickets available. Call 706-722-0202 or visit georgiacarolinastatefair.com.
Augusta Fencers Club The Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) group offers training on Italian rapier and German longsword techniques and is open to all ages, although minors need to be accompanied by a parent to their first meeting. $25, monthly dues, with the first visit free. Call 602-432-7211 or email brad@loyalorderofthesword.com.
Western Carolina State Fair
7:30pm The Running Dead
Aiken Fairgrounds An annual event that includes carnival rides and games, exhibits, shows, food and more. Open October 20-30. Visit westerncarolinastatefair.com.
Augusta University A Halloween-themed 2K race to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. Late registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and check-in at 7 p.m., with the race beginning at 7:30 p.m. $20. Email hosa.au@gmail.com or visit eventbrite.com to register.
Georgia-Carolina State Fair
Spooky to Be Hungry Pet Food Drive Vineyard Community Church and Brass Knuckles Pin Ups Rescue have begun a pet food pantry and are accepting donations of wet and dry pet food at Graced Kennel and Allegiance Ink Tattoo. For more information, visit brassknucklepinupsrescue.com.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Sat Oct 22
Sun Oct 23
3pm Trail Talk: Flour Power Twiggs Street Bridge An ACNHA staff member will guide participants through the remains of Crescent Mill. Free. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 2, or visit augustacanal.com.
8:30am Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K Run/Walk
Mon Oct 24
Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Childcare is provided and there will be a Halloween costume contest with prizes. $25, advance; $30, event day; $10, children 6-13 accompanied by a parent or guardian. Call 803-441-4380 or register online at strictlyrunning.com.
The Highlander All skill levels are welcome to join the league’s 10-week season in singles, doubles and team formats. Matches are held Monday nights and new players can sign up as a team or individuals can join existing teams. For more information, call 706-414-7525.
9am Red Ribbon Run River Levee Trail $15-$120. Visit hopehouseaugusta.org.
9am - noon Rivers Alive Cleanup Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Participants will clear trash from Butler Creek 20OCTOBER2016
7pm SRDA Dart League Sign Up
SUPPORT Thu Oct 20
6pm Bariatric Surgery Support Group University Hospital Call 706-774-8931 or visit universityhealth.org.
2016 Summerville Tour of Homes Appleby Branch Library, Headquarters Saturday-Sunday, October 21-22 Noon-5 p.m. Tour of homes hours are noon-5 p.m. each day and the Georgia Grown Village hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. $30, advance; $35, tour days. summervilletourofhomes.com
Tue Oct 25
10:20am Moms Connection Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets 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.
6pm - 9pm CSRA Parkinson Support Group St. John Towers dining room Don Gay, CEO/president of Aging and Disability Advocacy Group Inc., will speak on the topic of Medicare choices for 2017 and address questions about the “Medicare and You” 2017 handbook. Free and open to the public. Call 706-364-1662.
Wed Oct 26
6pm Mental Health Support Group Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A group for teens and up that follows the methods of Recovery International. Call 630605-6913 or visit recoveryinternational.org.
Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Sat Oct 22
7:30pm “Steel Magnolias” Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Sun Oct 23
3pm “Steel Magnolias” Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Tue Oct 25 - Fri October 28
9:30am, 10:45am and 12:15pm “The Princess and the Pea” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre A Storyland Theatre production. Visit storylandtheatre.org.
THEATER Fri Oct 21
7:30pm “Steel Magnolias” AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 39
for voting Portman’s Music the Best place for
music lessons & musical instruments!
PORTMAN’S MUSIC S U P E R S T O R E
4020 Washington Road, Augusta 866.966.0101 www.portmansmusic.com
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Fox’s Lair - Karaoke Sky City - Once Upon a Nightmare Halloween Bash Somewhere in Augusta - NCAA Football Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
ZZ Top Bell Auditorium Wednesday, October 26 7:30 p.m. $49.50-$79.50 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com
Sunday, October 23 Live Music
Aiken Speakeasy and Eats (Aiken) - Live Jazz Jessye Norman Amphitheatre - Ann N. Johnson UNCF Jazz Festival Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - Prettier Than Matt The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - F&B Industry Day; NFL Football; Paint Nite
Monday, October 24 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - World Tavern Poker; Monday Night Football Wild Wing - Trivia Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia
Thursday, October 20 Live Music
Etherredge Center (Aiken) - Live From Nashville Fox’s Lair - Authentic Blues w/ Billy McKnight Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Sky City - Flow Tribe, The Hip Abduction Stillwater Taproom - Vilai Harrington Wild Wing - Patterson & Nate The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Andrew’s - Karaoke w/ April Bar West - Open Mic Night w/ Jonathon Flowers Carolina Ale House - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (9 p.m.) Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia The Loft - Karaoke MAD Studios - Open Mic, Spoken Word Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (7 p.m.) Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Poker for Fun; Thursday Night Football; Paint Nite Soul Bar - DJ Cozy Shaawn
Friday, October 21 Live Music
Andrew’s - ShineBox Augusta Canal - Moonlight Music Cruise w/ Daniel Johnson Back Yard Tavern - Riley Williams Bar West - Live Music Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues
42 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Coyotes - TX Clergy Eli’s American - Friday Night Live w/ Donna Jo Fox’s Lair - Kim and Alan of Storm Branch Jabez S. Hardin PAC - Face 2 Face: The Ultimate Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John Shannon’s - Atomic Road Sky City - Kenny George Band, Greg Payne & the Piedmont Boys, Nick Clyburn Band Somewhere in Augusta - Old Man Crazy The Stables at Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) Gavin Reily Stillwater Taproom - Michael Martin Band UU Church of Augusta - 4 Seasons Chamber Jazz Whole Foods - Music @ the Turn Wild Wing - Kindlin The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
Wild Wing - Moby Dick The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - DJ Fugi Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.-3 p.m.); Trivia, nights The Highlander - Karaoke James Brown Arena - Martin Lawrence Joe’s Underground - Ladies Night, Singles Night
Tuesday, October 25 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. Fisher and the Undefeated Army Joe’s Underground - Open Mic Sky City - Jucifer The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Bar West - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
What’s Tonight?
Country Club - All Night Dance Party Soul Bar - Pop Life Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Saturday, October 22 Live Music
Andrew’s - Chris Morgan and Friends Brid Dog Grille - Ippie Music Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Sabin Sharpe Eighth Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River Fox’s Lair - Mr. Jukebox Jessye Norman School of the Arts - Soiree: Jazz + Wine The Legends Club - Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir Shannon’s - Chasing Savannah Southbound Smokehouse - Chesapeake Sons Stillwater Taproom - The Mississippi Kites
Chesapeake Sons Southbound Smokehouse Saturday, October 22 7 p.m. 706-733-5464 southboundsmokehouse.com 20OCTOBER2016
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Somewhere in Augusta - Big Prize Trivia Soul Bar - Soul Night w/ DJ Matto Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper
Wednesday, October 26 Live Music
Bell Auditorium - ZZ Top Fox’s Lair - Beats Downunder Open Mic Hosted by Happy Bones The Highlander - Open Mic Night Mod Ink - Hell Garbage, St. Jupiter, Mor Amor, Not Important, Cold Air White Noise Shannon’s - Shameless Dave Soul Bar - Gnostic Gospels, Halcyon Fields Wild Wing - Jason White
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes Knight’s Lounge - Game Night The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper The Playground - Krazy Karaoke w/ Big Troy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Wednesday Night Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone w/ Kurt Green and Todd Riley Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
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V27|NO42
SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Prudence Tuggle, Stephen Croft and Alice Frye at Evans Towne Center Park’s Game Day at the Lady A.
Julia Smith, Lainey Scroggs, Shyon Scott and Deana Groover at Evans Towne Center Park’s Game Day at the Lady A.
Christy Blackwell, Brianna Blackwell and Brienne Smith at Evans Towne Center Park’s Game Day at the Lady A.
Melissa Schumpf, Katie Brown and Bonnie Cox at Evans Towne Center Park’s Game Day at the Lady A.
Johnny and Angela Ryder with Jennifer Merker and Chris Snyder at Knuckle Sandwiches.
Nathan Yawn, Mitchi Walker and Rod Arend at Joe’s Underground.
Roger Yancey and Nancy Gooding with Lisa and Dan Armstrong at the Imperial Theatre.
Cathy and Vern Jones with James Nix at the Mountain Heart concert at the Imperial Theatre.
Jimmy and Cheryl Melton with Jackie Woodward and Kaye Ward at the Imperial Theatre.
44 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
20OCTOBER2016
Ad FR mi EE ssi on Sunday, Oct. 30th Julian Smith Casino quired
tr y fee re
Small en
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* Handsomest Male * Prettiest Female * Best Trick * Best Costume * Best Kisser * Best Wag * and more!
Bake Sale, Vendor Tables, Refreshments, Microchips
For more information please call
(706)261-PETS
or visit csrahumanesociety.org
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MOVIE DOUBLES By Michael Ashley/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Loud sound in a storm 5 Brand in the freezer aisle 9 “Well, blimey!” 13 Masked hero 18 ____ land 19 Emergency state 22 Indo-____ 23 One working for Supercuts? 25 “Later” 26 Crusader’s foe 27 Longtime “60 Minutes” reporter 28 Beats handily 29 “Always be a poet, even in ____”: Baudelaire 30 Bro 33 See what one is saying? 35 Barista’s big reveal? 38 Fall guy 41 Awful 45 Allow 46 Put-away shot 48 Pacific farewells 49 Lead-in to -drome 51 Who says, “O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!” in Shakespeare 53 Cry after an owie, maybe 54 British terminals? 55 Concord 57 Wakens 59 Winning gesture 62 Biblical kingdom 63 “____ to Psyche” 64 Search for a really funny person? 68 Monthly check-issuing org. 71 Camera setting 74 “____ and the Pussycats” 75 Burdened (with) 78 Nickname for DiMaggio 81 Child in Chile 84 Humpty Dumpty-shaped 85 Post-Neolithic period 86 Astrobiologists’ org. 87 “That’s it for me” 88 Actress Amanda of “She’s the Man” 89 Army E-6s: Abbr. 93 Writer who specializes in sentimental stories 95 Program file suffix 96 Declaration at Ringo’s birth? 98 Chef Boyardee offering
46 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
100 ’Tis the season 43 French bachelor? 101 ____ football 44 “Goodness!” 106 Parthenon feature 46 Spade holder 109 Singer LaBelle 47 It might start “Attn.” 111 Best: Lat. 50 Gets back (to), in a way 113 Send, as payment 52 Katniss’s love in “The Hunger 114 Photographer’s impossible task? Games” 117 “Poor Richard’s Almanack” 54 Morning ____ offering 55 D.O.J. figures 118 Menace in “Twenty Thousand 56 Serengeti roamer Leagues Under the Sea” 58 Slim beachwear 119 Other than that 60 ____ generis 120 “This I Promise You” band, 2000 61 Cara of “Fame” 121 Added details 65 Eye: Sp. 122 Divisions of office bldgs. 66 Part of a boot 123 Whole bunch 67 Prefix with -therm 69 River spanned by the Pont Neuf DOWN 70 Member of the genus Vipera 1 Hug 72 Magazine founder Eric 2 University in Beaumont, Tex. 73 Members of la familia 3 Old Olds 76 Own, so to speak 4 Law-office staffers, informally 77 Redbox offerings 5 “Look!” to Livy 78 Be in harmony 6 Spanish nobleman 79 Serengeti roamer 7 Cry at a card table 80 Country music’s Colter 8 W.W. II org. 82 “Truly” 9 Stuck through 83 Daughter of Tantalus 10 Specious reasoning 86 Cold War land: Abbr. 11 University in Garden City, Long 87 Mediterranean land: Abbr. Island 90 Pays a short visit 12 “____ out!” (ump’s cry) 91 Son of Sir Lancelot 13 Frank who was called the “Electric 92 Large sea snails Don Quixote” 94 Bit of attire for Roy Rogers 14 Mountain nymph 96 Forum greeting 15 Politico Paul 97 Quick signature: Abbr. 16 Billiards need 98 Rule 17 Till compartment 99 San Diego State athlete 20 Smaller picture 102 Coasters, e.g. 21 Canine command 103 Online shoppers’ destination 24 Freezer items 104 Sip 28 Darn, e.g. 105 Slightly off 31 Radii partners 106 Football Hall-of-Famer Tarkenton 32 Saw 107 Cold War side 34 Part of an ignition system 108 “____ as well” 36 Timecard measure: Abbr. 110 Little ’un 37 Philosophical lead-in to -ism 112 Many tenured profs 38 Money in Oregon state coffers? 114 Old Turkish commander 39 A ____ apple 115 Some test results, for short 40 Cool, in old slang 116 Crank 41 Company near the start of the telephone book listings 42 Relatives
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H O E S W A N S O N G G O A L POST
20OCTOBER2016
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Chronicle Finally Boots the “Internet Klan” I don’t Know how long ago I FIrst uttered the phrase, but it has been one of my professional mantras since the first time I stumbled across a computer-based “bulletin board” populated by “know-it-alls” spewing venom and bile, consequencefree, mind you, under all kinds of phony names and monikers: “Internet anonymity is the ‘klan hood’ of the 21st century.” Public declarations made without personal accountability attached or required, go South quicker than gnats in a snow storm. In what I can only describe as a long overdue move, the Augusta Chronicle (and eventually all press websites owned by Morris Communications) is finally doing away with the “anonymous comments” that follow every news story on their website. Comments are still welcome and encouraged, Morris management just wants you to “own what you say.” A system reminiscent of their centuries-old policy requiring all letters to the editor to be signed and verified. Imagine that. In an effort to clean up what has become quite a nasty ritual for many of their readers, which often involves tossing out all types of libelous invectives, they are flushing their old system, and asking that folks who still wish to comment either sign on under their social media accounts (like Facebook). At the very least, they are asking that posters use the name listed on their paid online subscriptions. It is part of a total revamp of the website of The Augusta Chronicle. Hip, hip, frigging hooray! I have no idea how this hideous practice was ever allowed to take hold on the websites of award-winning and widely respected newspapers in the first place, but I have never met a single Morris journalist or editorialist who was anything other than aghast and ashamed that such unvetted and often disrespectful content was ever allowed to be posted next to pieces they took great care to professionally craft for public consumption. Former employees such as Barry Paschal, Suzanne Downing, Phil Kent, Steve Crawford, Greg Rickabaugh and Kirk Weeks were adamantly opposed to the practice, and you better believe virtually all of the current AC employees I know (at least the ones who have discussed it with me) such as Mike Ryan, Rob Pavey, Joe Hotchkiss, Sylvia Cooper and Rick McKee, have also been opposed to the feature. I first wrote on these pages about “internet anonymity” in this regard six years ago. Presented here in encore, just to give you a taste of how nasty this feature is, and always has been. the Internet Klan strIKes agaIn (originally printed March 30, 2010) A few weeks ago I crafted what I thought was a respectful and rather introspective “farewell” column days after the unexpected death of the great retired State Court of Appeals Judge Jack Ruffin. While praising him for his many accomplishments, I did raise a question about the unintended (and unpleasant) consequences of his admirable courtroom battle as an attorney in the fight for true desegregation in local schools. The column did not run the week I wrote it because (former) Spirit editor Stacey Eidson thought that it was too soon after his death to raise such an issue. The column did run the following week, and I did not receive a single complaint about it. If Spirit management got any complaints, they did not share them with me. At the time she pulled the column I didn’t much argue the point with Stacey, because as editor it is her call as to what goes in the paper and what doesn’t. I did raise a minor objection, but ultimately I didn’t mind the call because I admit I am sometimes a bit shortsighted when it comes to “offending the sensibilities of the mourners” in such cases. I decided to yield without prejudice to my soft-hearted colleague. Too bad Stacey Eidson wasn’t running the Augusta Chronicle’s online public comment department this past weekend. They could have used someone with her sensibilities. When word came down Friday evening that former State Senator Nancy Schaefer and her husband Bruce were both dead in what was described as “a likely murder-suicide,” the story rightly generated a good deal of public interest. Senator Schaefer had not only been a dedicated political activist for many conservative causes, but she was also 48 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
a two-time candidate for statewide office. She was indeed a very well known figure all over the southeast, appearing on both my radio and TV shows (and countless others) on numerous occasions, and she was a regular guest columnist for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. She was an unapologetic conservative Christian, vehemently pro-life and one of the most engaging politicians to ever stump in these parts. As we have seen far too often in recent years, as the details of the crime became known, almost immediately there came all types of speculative, outrageous and reckless statements... not from any news reporters, editorialists or even noteworthy political enemies... but from the nameless, faceless twerps who regularly defecate via keyboard with impunity all over any number of public figures, accident victims, murder victims and the like whenever it suits them. It is a feature that seems to be very popular these days at many major newspapers, a “scream back” button that allows people to post comments adjacent to web-posted articles. As I have said on several occasions in these pages, whoever came up with this idea should be taken out back and smacked around for a few hours. Daily. Within minutes after the first article on the death was published in the AJC’s Political Insider column, the garbage started flying. Several anonymous posters, from parts unknown, began celebrating and joking about the death of Senator Schaefer, with most of the comments attributing the shootings to her. In a move that I applaud, and note is all too rare, the AJC’s editors quickly suspended the comment section for the article and soon removed all of the offending bile posted by the hooded critics. Predictably, the same type of commentary followed when the Augusta Chronicle ran wire stories on the deaths. While many of those comments have also been removed, a few still remain, including these gems: Kapa18 Saturday, Mar. 27 8:50 AM I too first want to offer my sympathy to the family. I also want those who are fanatics understand the complexity of death. On one hand she would appose the death of the unborn, yet the complexity of her own emotions allowed her to make the decision to take the life of her’s and her dying husbands life in the privacy of their home. fd1962 Saturday, Mar. 27 10:15 AM Unfortunate circumstances certainly, but what stronger defense for choice can be made than hers? And what penalty can be created to prevent it? Anti-choice agitation only institutionalizes a lust for control. FedupwithAUG Monday, Mar. 29 11:04 PM When you hate as much as this woman did you can only assume she got what she deserved. For the record, the authorities now say Mrs. Schaefer was killed by her husband as she slept, he then turned the gun on himself. As someone who makes a living commenting on breaking news as it happens, I am well aware of the importance and the relevance of uncensored thought and analysis. Just like gunfire, it should be aimed carefully and accurately by those who can be rightly held accountable. The editors of this paper, the AJC and the Augusta Chronicle would no more run an unsigned letter to the editor than they would a signed terroristic threat, so why allow this garbage to be posted in the first place? If idiots want to stand on street corners and shout whatever comes to mind unchallenged, so be it. Our top media outlets should not allow their platforms to be misused in such a way. austIn rhodes
A long-time radio talk show host who can be heard weekdays on WGAC from 3-6 p.m. The views expressed are the opinions of Austin Rhodes and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. 20OCTOBER2016
THE FORT GORDON DINNER THEATRE Presents
by Alan Ball Directed by Richard Justice
“An irreverent and funny look at the intricacies of friendship and the power of similar dressing.”
November 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19 Dinner 7:00 p.m. • Show 8:00 p.m.
During an ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville, Tennessee, estate, five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings below. They are Frances, a painfully sweet but sheltered fundamentalist; Mindy, the cheerful, wise-cracking lesbian sister of the groom; Georgeanne, whose heartbreak over her own failed marriage triggers outrageous behavior; Meredith, the bride’s younger sister whose precocious rebelliousness masks a dark secret; and Trisha, a jaded beauty whose die-hard cynicism about men is called into question when she meets Tripp, a charming bad-boy usher to whom there is more than meets the eye. As the afternoon wears on, these five very different women joyously discover a common bond in this wickedly funny, irreverent and touching celebration of the women’s spirit.
TICKETS
Civilians: $53 Seniors (65 & over), Retirees, DA Civilians, Active-Duty E7 & above: $50 Active-Duty E6 & below, Students with ID: $40 Show only: $30 SEASON TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
MENU
Teriyaki London Broil • Pineapple Glazed Ham Lemon Parmesan Tilapia • Candied Yam Patties • Squash Casserole Green Beans • Rice Pilaf • Salad with Choice of Dressings Dessert • Coffee/Ice Tea/Water • Cash Bar
For reservations, please call 706-793-8552