THE FORT GORDON DINNER THEATRE Presents
Featuring:
THE BUSINESS PROPOSAL & CLEVER LITTLE LIES
February 14, 2017
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. • Show Starts at 8:00 p.m. “[CLEVER LITTLE LIES is] the kind of expertly machined situation comedy offered annually by Neil Simon in the early plays like Come Blow Your Horn and Barefoot in the Park…DiPietro–a jack of all theatrical genres who has Tony Awards for the book and lyrics for MEMPHIS and who wrote the long-running comedy I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE–is a craftsman, and CLEVER LITTLE LIES is nothing if not well-crafted.” – Deadline [The Business Proposal] “Farce is Brian Harris’ métier – it allows the brutality of each relationship to creep up on you, heightening the dramatic tension in a way that Neil LaBute’s handling of similar themes cannot.” – The New York Times
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
MENU
Mixed Garden Salad with Ranch/Italian/Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette • Beet Risotto Tortellini with Vodka Blush Sauce • String Bean Medley • Steamed Seasonal Vegetable Mix Herb Roasted Chicken • Carved Top Round with Red Wine Demi • Dessert
For reservations, please call 706-793-8552
(SEASON TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE)
Table of Contents January 26, 2017 Whine Line 4 Jenny is Wright 6 Kris Fisher 7 Insider 8 Feature 10 Tech Arts What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight
16 18 20 21 25 26 27 28
10 EDIT
CREATIVE
Amy Christian
Joshua Bailey
Joe White
amy@themetrospirit.com
joshua@themetrospirit.com
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
Arts Editor/Production Director
Lead Designer
Stacey Eidson Molly Swift Staff Writer
molly@themetrospirit.com
Contributors Jenny Wright, Austin Rhodes, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
Publisher
Johnny Beckworth
Staff Writer
stacey@themetrospirit.com
BUSINESS
SALES
circulation manager
johnny@themetrospirit.com
Joe White Publisher
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
COVER DESIGN: Kruhu
Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.Š 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.
Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit? Call or email Joe at 706.373.3636 joe@themetrospirit.com
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OPINION
Jenny is Wright: 6 | Kris Fisher: 7
The Whine Line
My wife was upset because I kept texting at the dinner table in the restaurant, and kinda ignored her associates. When it was all over, she told me, these people are Local government officials. No wonder my clean spirit made them uncomfortable. I dont worship people. Besides the guys I was texting were way more important. My plumber, and the kid I needed to cut my grass. The police and the media need to correctly define protests and riot acts. Protests are peaceful, sometimes with signs carried or words shouted or yelled out. Riot acts are those that involve acts of violence and damages and need to involve arrests and charges of the criminal perpetrators. Don’t label the rioters as protestors and confuse the issues. When is the Saturday Market starting back up again? I need some blue cheese with tomato homemade breads! What do Millennials want? Who cares? They are perhaps the most self-absorbed, entitled, lazy, whiny and petulant generation ever. If they are supposedly the secret for success downtown, well then downtown is doomed.
Went to Augusta Mall today. The exit ramp off of BJ Expressway looked awful; trash and signage everywhere. Went further down to the Peach Orchard exit... same appearance. Augusta looks bad!
Trump better stop wasting time with executive orders pledging to keep his promises. How about keeping your promises by doing something and repeal Obamacare NOW. Some things are normal for a 13 year old boy, who is trying to find a personality, and seeking approval from a crowd. But when you are over 70 years old, such behavior is simply a mental illness. The cruiser cam showing Bengals’ Adam Jones wishing a cop to die: Why do the cops have the right to select which video to release or hold for their benefit and to publicly disgrace a man for their gain of image. If the recording is evidence why do they have the right to release this evidence to the public and control the outcome of a trial? The police
are in contempt and charges against Adam jones should be dropped. Is it a crime to tell a cop that you wish him to die? Does Adam Jones have super powers for his wish to be granted? There were foul statements made and he likely has valid charges against him for disorderly conduct but no threat was made and his right to a just trial has been So What! He was drunk, disorderly and was not submissive to police demands. The release of the video is more evidence of police abuse of power. Trump’s administration actually stated that they will provide “alternative facts” on the various issues. Do we really need another name for what everyone else calls lies? Just saw a header on CNN.com: “Trump as a world leader”. If it were not so sad it would be funny. Leader? Can any intelligent person call him that with a straight face?
To the individual concerned about America’s trucking industry. In 10 years the majority of trucks and semi’s will be driven by artificial intelligence that will require no CDL, pay, or benefits. It is estimated by the Department of Transportation the 3.7 million commercial drivers will have to find new careers. Please do not feel singled out, the government also reports that 80 million currently employed Americans will or could ultimately be replaced by artificial intelligence in the next 30 years. I feel a revolution in the wind! Was that a baptism or an inauguration last Friday? It seemed to be a little heavy-handed on the religiosity, don’t cha’ think? Just in case you people or Donald Trump may have forgotten, we live in a secular nation. As is always the case, you can thank me later. The Columbia County water bill newsletter is Smoking Mirrors!! Pulll your head out of the sand Commissioner Cross. Four years of a Trump Administration has people furious. Am I the only one who noticed how old these guys are? While you worry about 4 years, they guys are so old, they may not live past 4 days. Big Yeeehhaaaa to the Saturday marchers! You showed Trump and his millionaires that our numbers are far greater not only in Washington over his low inauguration attendance, but also all over the nation. He can’t escape or deny the visual and aural facts of the many peoples who object to his bigotry and insistence on tamping down the rights of us.
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. 4 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Be safe (and warm) this winter! Sig Cox will check all of your heating system’s connections, the gas pressure, burner combustion and your heat exchanger (A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation). Improperly operating gas (or oil) heating systems are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems.
Call today to schedule your pre-season checkup. 706.722.5304 www.sigcox.com
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FEB
4
AUGUSTA BALLET PRESENTS
The Philadelphia Dance Company
augustaballet.org Saturday, Feb. 4-7:30pm The Bell Auditorium Tickets: James Brown Arena Box Office Online: www.georgialinatix.com Phone: 1-877-4AUGTIX #1002247096 (2col, 3.28in x 7.5in) 01/10/2017 17:35 EST
Science Is Not Fair Jenny is Wright
Editor’s Note: As Jenny and the kids prepare for this year’s science fair, she’d like to remind you of the yearly hell parents go through. Enjoy! IT’S SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT SEASON. Ask just about any parent, and they’ll tell you it’s more like torture season. In theory, science fair projects are a good idea. They provide good training for completing a big project, step by step. Students learn about science. They also learn to pick an experiment that requires minimal effort and outside research. They should probably choose something involving food, and they shouldn’t ever depend on the weather. Plan ahead if your experiment involves growing anything or waiting on results. Growing mold takes weeks. Get ready to be resourceful. I don’t mind that my kids have a project to do. Science fair projects are so much, though. Here’s the real problem. I refuse to do my kids’ schoolwork for them. For a regular night of homework, this isn’t a big deal. Even a book report is manageable. My kids are pros at making posters. I might’ve made a few suggestions along the way, but my neat handwriting obsession doesn’t even take over. But science fair projects. This year might’ve seemed especially bad, because this was the first time we’ve had two going on at once. The Girl’s original plan backfired. She needed sunlight. We started over. The Boy came up with an idea, which was easily doable, but he’s a procrastinator. It runs in the family. It’s not that we’re underachievers. We’re realists. Neither kid seems interested in winning the science fair, or placing for that matter. After asking what they’re interested in doing for their projects, we help them formulate a plan. When The Boy suggested trying to prove something or other about the earth’s rotations around the sun, I promptly redirected him. I want him to shoot for the um, sun, but we don’t exactly have the resources. He said he wanted something to do with music and people and decided to see how music affects a person’s heart rate. She wanted something, anything to do with chocolate. She was willing to repeat The Boy’s project from last year. Now that I’m thinking about it, I should’ve let her. Shortcut unrealized. She settled on testing how long it takes hot chocolate to cool, before she could drink it. Sounds easy enough, right? If you’re the average person, yes. If you’re The Girl, and you drink warm drinks cooler than room temp, it’s a pretty lengthy and detailed data recording process. Her original procedure, which was already written in ink and copied for the poster, read that once the beginning temp and drinkable temps were established, temps were taken at one-minute intervals until the hot chocolate reached said drinkable temp. Hot water, straight out of the Keurig, takes about 15 minutes to cool to Girl’s Drinkable Temp. Multiply that times several rounds of testing (all in the name of science, obv), and the project took much longer than anticipated. Originally, the variable was a Styrofoam cup. We quickly switched to a wide soup bowl instead and rewrote the info for the poster. Sub five minutes for cooling in a wide soup bowl. Noted. On the last night, when we only had a “little to do,” we were keeping our supervisory sanity (barely), and The Girl mentioned how fun it was. I nearly choked on my Styrofoam cup of wine. Their projects aren’t perfect, but they’re finished. The lettering is slightly crooked. Construction paper borders have crappy scissor shredded edges. The handwriting is of varying size and shape. No real research was required, because the results aren’t all that scientific. Prize winnings are unlikely, but they’re done. Complete. Over until next year. As we were packing everything up to turn it in, the part of me that always loved doing posters thought, “Gosh. Does her poster need more? It’s so simple. Is it too blank?” Right when I was about to open my stupid mouth, The Girl started excitedly talking about her project. “I LOVE this poster, Mama. I think I did such a good job, and I can’t WAIT to show my class.” And that, my friends, is exactly why I hover just enough to provide guidance, but I never do their work. Seeing her pride was worth all of the frustration. The wine helped, too. I still believe that all science fair projects come directly from hell. Oh, and to the lady at Publix who thought I was referring to my kids: I was talking about research and experiments and purposes and hypotheses. I wasn’t referring to my kids as the Devil’s work. As a reward for our sacrifices, we had a surprise party today. Sure, the kids were surprised we were having it, but it was more like SURPRSE! EVERYONE IS ALIVE!
JENNY WRIGHT’S humorous observations on marriage, motherhood and living in Augusta have earned her a devoted following, both in print and on Facebook. When she’s not spying on other parents in the carpool line at school, you’ll probably find her with either a camera, tennis racquet or wine glass in her hand. 26JANUARY2017
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Helicopter Dad Kris Fisher I’ve recently come to the realization that I’m a Helicopter Dad. The first time I considered it was after another parent gave me the title on social media. No, it doesn’t mean I fly around in a helicopter. That’s for young, rich, fictitious billionaires who apparently give their helicopters goofy names like “Charlie Tango.” It also doesn’t mean I’m a superhero, which is what I thought the first time I heard it. I had to Google it: It means that I’m overprotective. Me? Overprotective? I’m appalled! After all, I’ve sworn my entire life that I wouldn’t be that kind of parent. I was going to be the cool dad who let his kids do all the stuff that he couldn’t do. After the first time I was called Helicopter Dad I got really pissy and did what any grown man would do: I responded with a snarky, passive-aggressive Facebook post from behind the safety of my own keyboard. That’ll show ‘em! My parents were the overprotective ones. My mom wouldn’t let me ride in the car with any of my peers until I was well past driving age, a rule that I broke a lot. Sorry, mom! When I did start driving, my dad somehow knew everywhere I went, always. I didn’t get to go to many parties, etc. I remember thinking during my teen years that, “I’ll never be this strict on my kids.” Fast forward 20 years and here I am, grilling No. 3 about who’s going to be at the house where she’s going to sleep over: “Will you be going anywhere? Who’s driving? How long will you be there? You need to text me before you go anywhere and after you get there and… wait, what is on your eye?! Are you wearing makeup!?” She’s a great kid and makes good decisions, which is really all I want. But now she wants a Snapchat. This probably doesn’t seem too bad to most people. I know a lot of kids her age are on it. But this is my daughter, my sweet little girl. Enter — dun-dun-duuuuun — Helicopter Dad! She presented a good argument: “I need it so I can talk to my friends.” Apparently, the phone she has is useless for
communication unless outfitted with Snapchat. Go figure. The problem isn’t with her. It’s the little boys she goes to school with. I know what those little heathens are thinking! Not only was I a prepubescent boy at one point in my life, but I also just went through all this stuff with No. 2. I equate it to sending her into the boys locker room and telling her to cover her eyes. It’s just a bad idea. She’s bound to run into something and it ain’t gonna be good. Maybe I just read too many horror stories online but it seems like kids today are abnormally eager to send their peers pictures of their naughty bits. I don’t get it. I mean, I get it, but I don’t get it. I wasn’t really trying to let people see me naked at that age. As a matter of fact, I don’t really want anyone seeing me naked now, either. But, I digress. It’s not just her that I’m overprotective of. No. 4 wants to have his own YouTube channel. He wants it more than anything. What should I expect? He’s just like his dad. He isn’t happy unless he’s demanding attention in some way shape or form. But, I’m too afraid of online bullies. Then there’s No. 2; I’m always on his case about the music he listens to, just like my parents were on mine. What happened to me? How did I get so uptight? It’s something about having kids, I guess. I’m always afraid that one small incident is going to change the course of their life and lead them to a life of crime and despair or something. It’s quite possible that I’m trying too damn hard. They’ve done pretty good so far, maybe it’s time to ease up a little. Anyone want to buy a helicopter? KRIS FISHER is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people would have outgrown years ago. djkfish.com.
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NEWS
The Magic Inside The Miller: 10 | Start It Up: 16 | New Traditions: 18
The Scene is Already Causing a Stir WHEN LOCALS walked by the former Planned Parenthood building on Broad Street this past week, they saw something peculiar: A notice of a public hearing regarding an alcohol license. That’s not something you see every day at that location. Word on the street is that the former Planned Parenthood building is scheduled to be demolished and the owners of a new nightclub called The Scene are pushing to open by Masters Week. While most insiders say that such a quick turnaround for a nightclub would be virtually impossible, the public hearing regarding the on-premise, consumption liquor, beer, wine and dance license will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. in the Municipal Building. The license request has drawn a lot of attention for a number of reasons. Obviously, trying to tear down a building and construct an entirely new building and get all the proper permitting before Masters Week would take a great deal of money and an enormous amount of political influence. The second concern is the location. There is no doubt about it, people have mixed feelings about having a nightclub in the former location of a Planned Parenthood. Take from that what you will. Finally, some people have wondered about the fact that the former Planned Parenthood building is located not far from Curtis Baptist Church. A few Augustans are wondering if Curtis Baptist will object to a nightclub being established near their front door. Now, you might be asking, “If it meets the city’s distance requirements, what’s the problem?” Well, there is a little history regarding Curtis Baptist Church and requested alcohol licenses. In October 2000, the late local businessman Julian Osbon was forced to battle the highly influential Curtis Baptist Church on Broad Street over a request for an alcohol license involving a restaurant called Off Broadway Dining & Dancing. While Osbon was not directly involved in the restaurant, he owned the property that housed Off Broadway located at 1285 Broad Street. Just to give you a reference point, the former Planned Parenthood building is located at 1289 Broad Street. So it is closer to the church than the proposed restaurant, Off Broadway, was in 2000. During the first public hearing about the requested alcohol license, more than 100 members of Curtis Baptist packed the commission chambers demanding the license be rejected because it was a threat to the congregation’s safety. At the time, the church was led by Pastor Mark Harris, a very spirited and confident speaker who seemed to have a great deal of influence over the members of the Augusta Commission. Osbon attempted to explain to the commission in October 2000 that Off Broadway was not a threat to the church because it was to be an upscale restaurant. “This is basically for an older crowd,” Osbon told commissioners. “And if they are like me, they are going 8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
to be in bed, asleep by 10 o’clock anyway.” But for weeks, Curtis Baptist waged a war against Osbon and Off Broadway. Speaking out against any church’s wishes was an unusual position for Osbon. After all, Osbon was no stranger to religion. His grandfather was the founder of Augusta’s Church of God on Crawford Avenue, as well as two other churches in South Carolina. And his father, who died in 1986 at age 85, “lived” his religion by routinely reading the Bible every morning and every night before he went to bed. “For about 40 years, my father read the entire Bible once a year because that’s what he just liked doing,” Osbon said in 2000. “My father was probably the most religious man I’ve ever known.” That’s why, with such a long family history in religion, Osbon was surprised during the alcohol license debate to discover two messages on his answering machine from an anonymous woman calling him a sinner. “Mr. Osbon, you will do anything for money,” the woman on the answering machine said. “But you know there is a verse in the Bible that condemns this. There is a curse on you for doing this and I’m going to read it to you: ‘Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink. That putteth they bottle to him. And maketh him drunk.’” At the time, Osbon simply shook his head, smiled and said, “I think that is the Southern interpretation of the Bible.” But Osbon refused to back down from the fight because he knew in his heart he was doing what was right, not only for Off Broadway, but for the entire downtown area. “I’ve also received a letter at home from somebody; it’s unsigned, and it starts off ‘Dear sick soul.’ They said they are praying for me,” Osbon said in 2000. “That stuff is kind of funny, but some people walk on the edge of reality and you can push them one way or the other with situations like this. And sometimes those people are just marginally functional, so you don’t know what they are up to and why.” But he insisted that notes on his door and messages on his machine were not going to stop him from supporting Judy Tyler, the restaurant’s owner. “I can totally sympathize with the mission of Curtis Baptist and where they are coming from, but I totally disagree with them,” Osbon said in 2000. “If this restaurant is put into place and the lady doesn’t do what she is supposed to do, or, as the landowner, I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, then we should be held accountable for it. But don’t try to micromanage my life and the community.” During the debate, he had faith that the Augusta Commission would do the honorable thing and approve the alcohol license, which was already supported by the city’s license and inspection department and the Richmond County Sheriff ’s Office. “Hopefully, elected officials don’t respond to mob rule,” Osbon said in 2000. “I don’t want something done down at the commission because you bring enough people and they cave in. That’s a frightening way to run
a community.” He expected the commission to do what was “right for the entire community.” “My philosophy in life is that you try to focus on the things that you can do something about,” Osbon said in 2000. “So I’m not going to let the church dictate the way I run this property.” Unfortunately, Osbon had too much faith in the thensitting Augusta Commission. Despite the fact that the restaurant was more than 840 feet from the church, which was well beyond the city’s distance requirements for an approved alcohol license from a place of worship, the Augusta Commission voted 6-4 in 2000 to deny the restaurant’s application for a liquor license, as well as a dance hall license. “I’ve been approached by many other businesspeople in the community very concerned that what happens here may affect the long-term use of all the properties downtown,” Osbon said in 2000. “One told me if you eliminate all the liquor licenses in downtown Augusta, you might as well put a fire to it, because downtown would be gone.” In the end, the commission would only allow the restaurant to have a beer and wine license, but no liquor license or Sunday sales. Osbon was outraged, to say the least. “Today, Augusta moved a little closer toward insignificance,” he said in 2000. “It was agonizing to watch in disbelief as six commissioners — Jerry Brigham, Ulmer Bridges, Andy Cheek, Richard Colclough, Willie Mays and Marion Williams — drove a stake into the heart of revitalization for downtown Augusta and the city in general.” 26JANUARY2017
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In a letter to the editor published in the Metro Spirit in October 2000, Osbon did not hold his tongue. “The six (commissioners) parked their municipal responsibility along with their spines outside the commission chamber door as they caved in to the onslaught of religious prejudice,” Osbon wrote. “In denying a business license to a new upscale restaurant in downtown Augusta that wanted to serve beverage choices other than sweet or unsweet tea, they demonstrated once again that Augusta needs elected leaders who don’t think that the ultimate in fine dining is found at the Waffle House.” The entire commission hearing was like watching sheep being herded into the “slaughterhouse of ignorance,” Osbon wrote. “It’s becoming an embarrassment to be from Augusta. I thought this kind of intolerance went out with the Middle Ages,” Osbon stated. “For every great opportunity
there is a window. Augusta’s opportunity to be a significant player in our region during the next 50 years is being squandered by an incompetent government and religious zealots.” “With the political leadership we have today our descension into the annals of mediocrity is all but a certainty,” he added. It was a sad day for Augusta. Now, almost 20 years later, we’ll see what this new request for an alcohol license will bring. Has Augusta grown up? Will a nightclub at the former Planned Parenthood location be approved? Stay tuned, folks.
The Stone Family Stands Proud GEORGIA SEN. JESSE STONE, a Republican from Waynesboro, has a lot to be proud of this month. He was recently appointed to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 2017 Legislative Session by the Senate Committee on Assignments. That’s nothing to sneeze at, for sure. “I am privileged to have the opportunity to serve as Chairman for the Judiciary Committee,” Stone recently stated in a press release. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to further improve and refine Georgia’s legal framework.” Fellow Republicans were thrilled with the appointment. “Sen. Stone has distinguished himself as a leader in
the Senate, someone who is committed to advancing the interests of every Georgia citizen,” Lt. Governor Casey Cagle also stated. “I look forward to his work as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and am confident Sen. Stone will bring a great deal of insight to the legislation that comes before his committee.” The compliments didn’t end there. “The Georgia Senate is composed of individuals with a breadth of talent and experience,” President Pro Tem David Shafer (R-Duluth) also stated in the press release. “I believe our new committee chairs and members have the right expertise to address critical issues. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that Georgia’s priorities are the Senate’s priorities.” Stone was soaring this past week until someone decided to unfairly attack his wife, Amanda Stone. A Tea Party supporter and grassroots activist Debbie Dooley decided to admonish Jesse Stone because his wife, Amanda, and his daughter participated in the Augusta Solidarity March this past Saturday. “As a grassroots leader that worked hard to elect Donald Trump and supported him from the beginning, it is disappointing to see the family (wife, daughter) of Republican state senator and Judiciary Chairman Jesse Stone being such a big part of today’s march against President Trump,” Dooley wrote. “The march contained such vile displays of anti-Americanism and even terrorist language from people like Madonna. Stone is supposed to be the leader of a Committee that oversees legislation dealing with criminal activity, something contained in the marchers’ verbal attacks and the violence against Inauguration goers. Shame on them, and shame on any Republican leader that does not strongly condemn this.
He needs to step down from his Judiciary Committee chairmanship.” Well, let’s just say, Amanda Stone didn’t take that political threat against her husband lying down. Amanda Stone quickly went to Facebook to set the record straight. “I understand that many women did not feel that the Women’s March represented them but I encourage you to read the Mission and Vision Statement of the Women’s March so that you will at least understand why so many women worldwide marched yesterday,” she posted. “There were so many various reasons why people marched yesterday, I am almost certain that you could have found some common ground with the marchers. And, let me say again….Love Thy Neighbor.” While some people continued to attack her decision to march in Augusta with her daughter, Amanda Stone took the high ground. “It never occurred to me not to march...I have always been a person who stands up for the voiceless,” Amanda Stone wrote over the weekend. “I am not going to apologize to anyone for doing what my heart and soul feels is right! #LoveThyNeighbor.” She went on to post another positive message this week. “I am so THANKFUL that I live in a country where I am FREE to march, protest, or not!” Amanda Stone posted. “So grateful to those who made that possible! I really think that if nothing else, we, in the USA, should all be able to agree with this! #LOVETHYNEIGHBOR.” Stand proud, Amanda Stone. Love thy neighbor, folks.
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The Magic inside The Miller The restoration of the historic theater on Broad Street is scheduled to be completed by January 2018
By Stacey Eidson | Photos by Joshua Bailey AS Anne CATherine MurrAy, executive director of Symphony Orchestra Augusta, walked through the historic front doors of The Miller Theater sporting a hard hat, she couldn’t help but get excited over the symphony’s future home. After all, it’s been a long time coming. “The symphony has never had its own, official home,” Murray said, as construction crews were busy at work in the historic building. “So while we’ve been very fortunate to play in some fabulous places, including our home of the past several years, First Baptist Church, we will now have our own home with amazing, state-of-the-art acoustics. For us, it’s simply incredible.” There has always been a deep, local love for The Miller Theater in downtown Augusta. When The Miller first opened its doors on Broad Street in 1940, it was described as a gala premiere that rivaled any Hollywood affair. More than 2,200 people turned out for the theater’s opening night movie, “A Night at the Moulin Rouge,” and congratulatory telegrams from some of the days’ top celebrities such as Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy were reportedly read to the audience by the master of ceremonies, former Augusta Mayor Richard Allen Jr. Augustans were dazzled by the Art Moderne theater with its Italian marble terrazzofloored entrance, colorful murals of dancing figures flanking the stage and brushed aluminum handrails leading up to the balcony. The Miller, which cost $500,000 to construct in 1939 and was both a movie theater and vaudeville house, was the pride of Augusta. The theater helped make Broad Street a highly successful entertainment district. But about 40 years later, the crowds disappeared and the public was no longer coming 10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
downtown to eat, shop and take in a show. As a result, The Miller was forced to close its doors in 1984 due to poor attendance. The theater went dark for more than three decades and it began to slowly fall into serious disrepair. By 2005, the abandoned theater’s roof was literally about to cave in and the owner at the time, Homer Boyd, owed delinquent taxes on the building he had purchased in 1989. The much-beloved theater was about to be sold on the courthouse steps. That’s when businessman and philanthropist Peter Knox IV stepped into the picture. Knox spent more than $500,000 to buy the building, repair the roof, remove the moldy carpet and seats and install a ventilation system. He then generously offered the historic theater to the symphony. However, it wasn’t until the fall of 2011 that the Board of Directors for Symphony Orchestra Augusta unanimously voted to accept the gifted building. The board realized that a restoration project like The Miller was a massive undertaking. The symphony eventually determined it would cost more than $20 million to properly restore the historic structure, as well as purchase and renovate the former Cullum’s department store next door to the theater at 710 Broad Street. “We had agreed that we would not move forward with construction until we really knew we had the funding in place,” Murray said. “So, we’ve been working on a capital campaign for many years and we are now in really great shape. The community has been incredible and so very generous.” Those private donations, along with grants from several different foundations and about 26JANUARY2017
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“This won’t just be our home. We have to keep the lights on as much as we can here.” — Anne Catherine Murray $5.2 million from the special purpose local option sales tax funds, have made this project possibly, Murray said. “We have also been approved at the state and federal levels for historic preservation tax credits, which will really help us as well,” she said. “And once we signed that construction contract with Christman Company, a lot of people who had made pledges, but were just going to make payments on them, those folks said, ‘You know what? I am ready to just pay it all.’ So that was great for us to get some of that money early. I think people feel the excitement and are really anxious to see the theater open again.” But none of the renovations could have been possible without the dedication of the Boards of Directors for The Miller and the project chair, Levi Hill IV, she said. “If it weren’t for Levi, this probably wouldn’t have happened,” Murray said. “There have been lots of roadblocks since this project first came to our attention, but Levi just never gave up. It has taken his passion and leadership to get where we are today.” As residents drive by The Miller on a daily basis, they can see a lot of activity by construction crews coming and going from both buildings, Murray said. “We are in full-blown construction right now,” Murray said. “We officially started back in late June. We are just developing the first floor and a little bit of the second floor in the 710 building for now. The first floor here will be our box office, our dressing rooms, our green room, our founders room and lots of bathrooms and an elevator. Then, on the second floor we’ll have some more bathrooms and eventually the rest of this will be flushed out as The Knox Music Institute, where we will provide educational programming for people in the community.” However, the most visible change in the historic theater which can easily be seen from the street was the removal of The Miller’s marquee in late November, Murray said. Under the direction of the Christman Company, Murray said the Wagner Electric Sign Company of Ohio was chosen to fully restore the historic marquee, which will be returned to Augusta in a few months. “There is still a lot of structural work being done inside both buildings,” Murray said, pointing to the 165-foot-long and 40-foot-wide arcade leading to the auditorium. “The ceilings had to be removed in many of the areas and we were dealing with asbestos. We are also knocking out the back wall of the theater to give us more space and we are widening the stage. So, there is
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“We had agreed that we would not move forward with construction until we really knew we had the funding in place.” — Anne Catherine Murray
“There have been a lot of people talking about a theater district in downtown Augusta for a long time and it just seems like in the past several months, things are really happening.” — Anne Catherine Murray a lot going on. We are working on both buildings simultaneously and going as fast as we can because we are set to open in a year.” The theater has a traditional proscenium stage, which will be enlarged — making it wider and deeper in order to accommodate a variety of shows, she said. Most of the interior furnishings and fixtures will be new, but the unique artistic features that were original to the building will be restored wherever possible, including wall murals, inlays and fountains, she said. “We are picking up on the Art Moderne look and making it contemporary,” Murray said. “We are also using the historic colors, which are kind of different. They are like a salmon and a coral color.” At the front of the lobby, The Miller still has its historic ticket booth 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
that has remained in tact. “It’s pretty cool looking, but it is not really functional for our needs because we’ll have our box office next door, so we may move it,” she said. “Or we may use it to sell tickets if we need to. There are some aspects that we are still trying to work out.” But the entrance to The Miller will be as breathtaking as it was in the 1940s, she said. “Notice how these doors sort of have this cruise ship look,” Murray said, smiling. “And these marble floors will all be polished up and be brought back to life. It’s going to be gorgeous.” The symphony also found some cool playbills, old popcorn machines, some phone booths from the 1970s and, up in the projection room, there were several pieces of old equipment, Murray said. “There are a lot of really cool details throughout the building,” she said, walking into the women’s powder room on the second floor. “There are mirrors in each corner, and the story is that you could be putting on your lipstick at any of these corners and you would always be able to see someone walking in, just in case you were gossiping about them. At least that’s the story.” The Miller property was designed by famed theater architect Roy Benjamin in 1938 in conjunction with the best sound engineers in the country, Murray said. “The acoustics are incredible in here,” she said, walking into the theater. “And we have one of the finest acousticians in the country. They have studied every inch of this building, down to the breathability of the seat fabric to make sure it is appropriate for the sound. We’ve looked at the finishes on the wall and how we need to protect those or enhance those to make sure that one, we are protecting the historic integrity of the building, but also that it is not negatively impacting the sound.” “We even look at things like, they are putting HVAC units up on the roof now, how are those things being padded to make sure that they won’t impact the sound,” she added. “We even look at the thickness of the exterior doors to make sure it doesn’t affect the sound. We look at everything.” The Miller is also structurally sound despite being neglected for
decades, Murray said. The structure consists primarily of concrete and heavy gauge steel reinforcements and some of the supporting beams in the theater were the largest ever shipped by rail in the state of Georgia, she said. “When we are done restoring The Miller, it will offer 1,300 seats in the theater,” Murray said. “So we will fit really nicely between The Imperial, which seats 700 to 800 people, and the Bell Auditorium, where we also perform for our Pops, which seats 2,800. The Miller will be great because I think sometimes various acts have passed up coming through Augusta because they didn’t have the right seating. So hopefully we will be able to capitalize on that.” The Miller will not only be the new home to the symphony, but it will also serve as a venue for multiple performing arts and education activities, Murray said. The theater plans to welcome local performing arts groups as well as top-ranked national and regional performers looking for a smaller venue than The Bell, she said. “This won’t just be our home. We have to keep the lights on as much as we can here,” Murray said. “We are a nonprofit, but we have to operate like a business so we hired a third-party management company who will be bringing in acts of all kinds trying to keep the theater lit up day and night. So you’ll see things like comedy acts, you might see opera, you might see rock, blues, country, theater and ballet.” There are enough dates available for a variety of acts, Murray said. “As a symphony, we have a very strong staff, but we put on about 10 to 13 shows a year,” she said. “For now, we can’t do anymore than that really, so we welcome other quality acts and shows to The Miller.” Murray believes the addition of The Miller 26JANUARY2017
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“We are picking up on the Art Moderne look and making it contemporary.” — Anne Catherine Murray will really boost the idea of a theater district at the lower end of Broad Street. “There have been a lot of people talking about a theater district in downtown Augusta for a long time and it just seems like in the past several months, things are really happening,” she said. “New businesses and developments are being announced and people are really putting their money where their mouth is. So, we are really excited to be part of that, especially since this end of downtown needs a little bit more TLC.” Murray also believe the addition of The Miller will make Augusta even more attractive to new residents and businesses considering relocating to this area. “The economic impact of an active arts and cultural district has proven to be substantial,” she said, adding that it improves property values and creates more patrons for local merchants and restaurants. “Hopefully, the opening of The Miller will spur some more business developments, restaurants, retail and residential. We know we need more residential units downtown. And I think that this helps the community and businesses attract employees when they can say, ‘We have a symphony and they are actually located in the heart of downtown.’” In fact, the restoration of The Miller is helping the symphony itself with its search for a new music director. 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Since beginning its search in September 2016, the symphony has received more than 200 applications from candidates for the music director position, Murray said. “We are actually down to three finalists who will be auditioning over the next few months, but The Miller is a major attraction for them,” she said. Each of the three finalists — Peter Rubardt, the music director of the Pensacola Symphony, Steven Jarvi, the resident conductor of the St. Louis Symphony, and Dirk Meyer, the music director of the Duluth Superior Symphony — has accepted the invitation to conduct the orchestra at one of the Spring Symphony Series concerts in the 2016-2017 Season. “To be able to conduct in a newly restored historic theater with great acoustics is a real feather in their cap,” Murray said. “They have all listed that as a reason that they want the job. So they will be conducting the last three of our symphony series: one in February, one in March and one in April. And, hopefully, based on those auditions, our music director search committee will be able to select our new music director.” If that happens, not only will the symphony be moving into their new home, but it will go hand in hand with the hiring of its new music director. “In a perfect world, that person will be coming in and conducting our next season which starts in the fall of 2017 just as we are preparing to move into The Miller,” Murray said. “It will be very exciting.” Walking up to the balcony and looking down into the theater, Murray can’t help but pause and take it all in. “These are probably the best seats in the house,” Murray said, smiling. “It’s so wonderful to see. This has been coming for so long. There are still people who walk in here and say, ‘Oh my gosh, you really are doing it. It’s happening.’ And it’s nice to be able to tell them, ‘Yes. It is really happening.’”
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Start It Up
Health Tech Expo Supports Entrepreneurial Opportunities in CSRA THE FIRST HEALTH TECH EXPO takes place at Augusta University on Friday, January 27. The expo — a free event — is a result of collaborations between theClubhou.se, Augusta University College of Allied Health, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), TAG Health Society and The Advanced Technology Development Center of UGA. The partnering organizations will host students, faculty and members of the public for a day of discussion and presentations designed to bolster new startups in the area. Panelists and startup companies will discuss their experiences and review ideas presented by those in attendance. Co-founder of theClubhou.se, Eric Parker, says the local startup innovation community has already made significant strides. “We have been building Augusta’s startup innovation community for the last five years and helped grow 60 ideas from people in the CSRA into 32 businesses that have created 87 local jobs,” Parker said. “Our goal with the event is to show the CSRA the absolute success and progress that has occurred, and to help introduce our regional partners to each other and the broader community so that more people can access resources for mentoring, research assistance and funding support.” Parker says the expo will help demonstrate just how theClubhou.se can play a key role in developing the support and expertise required for business growth within the vast field of healthcare. While the potential for development within the field of healthcare is huge, Parker also points out that health tech itself is not confined to one particular area, such as a new drug or a piece of hospital equipment. “Our health is impacted in a tremendous number of ways,” Parker said. “Solutions can range from seemingly mundane things like database integration in legacy systems up to 3D printed prosthetics, telemedicine tools for rural hospitals, wearable health monitors, virtual and augmented reality systems.” The expo exists at the intersection of business, technology and healthcare. Dr. Gianluca De Leo and Dr. Vahe Heboyan of Augusta University’s Clinical and Digital Health Sciences department are looking forward to working with theClubhou.se and other partnering
By Molly Swift
organizations. They see firsthand the need for accessible healthcare, and believe technological applications and solutions are the way ahead. “We see the benefits of working with others — it is a concert of technology, health and business, and we believe that is the way we can progress,” De Leo said. “The expo gives us the chance to reach out to faculty and students who may not even realize that they have a good idea. We tend to keep students tied down to exams, or busy with their syllabus. This helps us do a better job of allowing them to express their ideas and explore their potential. They can see there are people in the area with successful startups.” Augusta University, De Leo explained, can also help members of the community who may have a good idea that will work in healthcare, but are having a hard time framing the idea and figuring out how to go forward. Heboyan, director of Health and Behavioral Economics Research Lab, says the expo also offers members of the public the chance to get involved in answering one of the most pressing questions facing healthcare providers these days. “The demands for healthcare are going up, and we hear how the costs of healthcare are going up and up,” Dr. Heboyan said. “So there is a need to answer the question ‘How do you deliver quality healthcare that doesn’t cost a lot?’ And of course, technology is one of the tools that can potentially help to bridge the gap.” Parker says that seeing this kind of collaborative effort, in addition to the development of a homegrown cyber talent pool and the establishment of local investors such as CSR Angels of Aiken, should also be seen as evidence the local market is maturing. And, that there is a real need for upcoming generations to see the opportunities before them. A sentiment also expressed by Heboyan. “This is going to be beneficial for the community. It is crucial to get students involved, as well as those who may have had a good idea but hesitate to express it, or they don’t know which way to go. But coming here, learning, listening to other people and how they’ve started, and sharing their ideas is a good opportunity. You might think your idea is crazy, but, sometimes, those crazy ideas are the ones that become effective innovations.” HEALTH TECH EXPO Augusta University Friday, January 27 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free tagonline.org/health-tech-startup-expo/
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New Traditions
The Augusta Ballet Seeks to Widen Dance’s Reach Through Second Annual Festival
By Amy Christian
WheN The AuguSTA BAlleT brought the Dance Theatre of Harlem to town last January for its inaugural New Traditions Festival, organizers were hoping to expose dance to an audience that may not have previously had the opportunity to experience it. “We had about 400 kids coming in with complimentary tickets from different agencies up in the balconies and they loved it and had great response from them,” said Jim Smith, president of the Augusta Ballet Board of Trustees. “We sold a lot of tickets and filled the Bell, which was the largest audience for ballet in Augusta’s history. The thing we really wanted to do with this company and this festival was expand the audience for ballet in Augusta and we did that.” This year, festival organizers are again aiming high, booking Philadanco, founded by African American dance icon and 2012 National Medal of the Arts recipient Joan Myers Brown, for a weekend filled with activities. Festival events begin with a reception for the storied ballet troupe, formed in 1970, Thursday evening, February 2. Then, on Friday, February 3, dancers will spend the day in outreach and education, which is one of the missions of the company as well as the Augusta Ballet. As the Dance Theatre of Harlem did last year, dancers from Philadanco will lead two demonstrations at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet school, one for younger children from other schools in the area and another for Davidson students. “The questions from the kids last year were very interesting,” Smith laughed. “They had a Q&A session at the end of the Davidson performance and one girl stood up and said, ‘How can you not be so scared? How can you take these leaps?’ So it’s very interesting.” From there the dancers will head to Paine College, where they’ll hold an athletic workshop for basketball players there, teaching them techniques to improve flexibility. “There are some NBA stars who are trained in this way, and the coach last year was very pleased with the results and said he had never experienced that, so it was quite a fun experience,” Smith said. After the Paine Workshop, Philadanco dancers will then go to Colton Ballet, where they’ll lead two master dance classes, one for intermediate dancers and one for advanced. “People have to have a certain amount of dance training and experience before they can go to these classes, and we get a lot of aspiring dancers from around the Augusta area,” he said. “We haven’t limited it to youth, but most of the people who attend are young. There are some adult students at Colton and other ballet companies and they are welcome to attend if they wish.” The festival will culminate, of course, with the Philadanco performance Saturday night, February 4, at the Bell Auditorium. And, in keeping with the festival’s mission, organizers are bringing in help to get tickets to those who might not otherwise attend a ballet performance. Community partners like The Links, an African American women’s organization with an active local chapter, will sell tickets, while 17 different community organizations (up from 13 last year) will get tickets to children. “This year, we’ve given out over 600 tickets to 17 different agencies, and every agency that sent people last year will send more this year,” Smith said. “We have the back balconies filled with kids and their chaperones, parents and teachers.” The New Traditions Festival began almost accidentally after the group found the Dance Theatre of Harlem was available in 2016 and realized they needed a bigger venue and that dancers would be available for educational programs as well. Response has been so overwhelmingly positive, that Smith said the Augusta Ballet is already planning for future festivals. “We had such a great response, particularly from the African American community, we went out looking for another company that had a similar profile and we had a lot of our traditional audience at the show last year and they were very happy with it and they told us they really enjoyed it, so we thought we’d try one more time with Philadanco,” he said. “I think in the future, we’ll probably blend in some classical companies, some other companies. We’re talking to several right now about next year, so we do intend to continue the festival.” 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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New TradiTioNs FesTival MasTer daNce classes Colton Ballet Friday, February 3 4:30-6 p.m.: Intermediate 6:30-8 p.m.: Advanced $25 PhiladaNco Bell Auditorium Saturday, February 4 7:30 p.m. $32-$57 augusTa BalleT suPerheroes $37.50-$150 Visit augustaballet.com for more information on these events.
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WHAT’S UP
Calendar: 21 | Music Listings: 25 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
DON’T MISS THIS ONE! OTHER THAN THE MAIN ATTRACTION, Masters Week in Augusta has come to be known as Major Rager week. And this year’s concert will be one for the record books. The Flaming Lips will headline the Friends With Benefits show this year on April 6, bringing with them the trippy and elaborate stage shows the band has become known for. Think costumes, crazy lighting, balloons, puppets, video projections and, above all, singer Wayne Coyne’s man-sized plastic bubble which allows him to get right there in the audience. It’s a show you shouldn’t miss, especially since it also features People of the Sun (by Moon Taxi), the Eric Krasno Band and Stop Light Observations. Tickets go on sale this Friday morning, January 27, at 10 a.m. at themajorrager.com. Don’t wait too long; they’re bound to go fast. THE MAJOR RAGER W/ THE FLAMING LIPS The Augusta Common Thursday, April 6 themajorrager.com
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Scott Hardigree, founder of Email Industries, has long wanted to help local artists promote their work. Now, with the grand opening of Wolf and Finch at 859 Broad Street, he can. Tonight from 6-8 p.m., Hardigree and abstract artist Chase Lanier’s Wolf and Finch will show off works from Augusta University printmaking professor Chadwick Tolley, including “Broke Mountain” above, and Jay Jacobs will discuss his work. The grand opening is open to the public.
SATURDAY
If you’re a runner who’s plagued by injury or just plain frustrated with your speed (or lack thereof), maybe you should visit Fort Gordon today for their Pose Running Clinic from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Pose Method promises to make you a better runner, one who’s able to go longer and faster, through improved technique, drills and video analysis. Better hurry, though; this clinic requires pre-registration. Call 706-791-2947 or email john.a.graham68.nat@mail.mil.
SUNDAY
We don’t know how they do it, but the Augusta Players always seems to be on top of the trends. The live action version of “Beauty and the Beast” comes to movie theaters in March, and the Players will follow it in May with their stage version. To be a part of what is one of Disney’s most popular stories, audition at Crossbridge Baptist Church on Sunday, January 29. Children’s auditions will be held at a later date, and everything you need to know to be prepared is on their website.
WEDNESDAY
It’s that time of year again, when the Salvation Army puts its money where its mouth is and uses the auto auction to support its free substance abuse program. Some have already donated in the form of vehicles for the auction; others (like you maybe?) can help by buying said vehicles on Saturday, February 4. To see what they have, visit their Greene Street site today through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. They have everything from a 2002 Beetle to a ’69 Chevy truck up for grabs.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 21.
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Available Wednesdays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., February 1-April 15. This service is for taxpayers with low- to moderate-income and those 60 and older. Those interested should bring a picture ID, Social Security card, last year’s tax returns and a voided check. No appointment necessary. Call 706821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
Free Tax Assistance Maxwell Branch Branch Library Available Thursdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., February 2-April 15. This service is for taxpayers with low- to moderate-income and those 60 and older. Those interested should bring a picture ID, Social Security card, last year’s tax returns and a voided check. No appointment necessary. Call 706793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
Storytelling Mini-Workshop Aiken County Historical Museum Thursday, January 26 2-4 p.m. Friday, January 27 6-8 p.m. The workshop will include oral exercises, story coaching and keys to active listening. $30; pre-registration required. 803-642-2015 lwalker@aikencountysc.gov
James Brown Family Historical Tour Augusta Museum of History Available each Saturday at 11 a.m. and lasting approximately two hours, this bus tour includes Brown’s elementary school, his childhood home, his statue and more. $15 fee, includes admission to the museum, which houses the largest collection of James Brown memorabilia. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-6402090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
ELSEWHERE ARTS Thu Jan 26
9:30am - 6pm Craft Day Kroc Center Proceeds from the event, in which those attending can participate in scrapbooking, knitting, crochet, journaling, sewing, painting, coloring and more, will go to a children’s home in Mexico. $15. Preregistration required. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
6pm - 8pm High Art and Low Country Morris Museum of Art The unveiling of the museum’s two new paintings by Jonathan Green. The event will also feature shopping a trunk show from the Jonathan Green Collection. $35, members; $50, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-3825 or visit themorris.org.
Sat Jan 28
10am - 1pm Painting with Acrylics: Still Life Kroc Center A class for those ages 15 and up in which no previous experience is needed and all supplies are provided. $35, members; $40, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
EDUCATION Thu Jan 26 26JANUARY2017
9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners
Mon Jan 30
Tue Jan 31
Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Headquarters Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Columbia Museum of Art A chamber concert in the museum’s reception hall that begins with happy hour. $28, members; $35, non-members; $5, students. Call 803-799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
2pm - 4pm Storytelling Mini-Workshop
3:30pm - 5pm Intermediate Spanish
Aiken County Historical Museum The workshop will include oral exercises, story coaching and keys to active listening. $30; pre-registration required. Call 803-6422015 or email lwalker@aikencountysc.gov.
5:30pm Beginner Spanish Class
7pm - 8:30pm A Survivor’s Story: Manuela Mendels Bornstein
Wed Feb 1
AU’s Student Activities Center Ballroom A first-person account of Holocaust survivor Manuela Mendels Bornstein’s story. RSVP required. Visit holocaust.georgia.gov/ jan26.
Fri Jan 27
6pm - 8pm Storytelling Mini-Workshop Aiken County Historical Museum The workshop will include oral exercises, story coaching and keys to active listening. $30; pre-registration required. Call 803-6422015 or email lwalker@aikencountysc.gov.
Headquarters Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Staying Safe Online Headquarters Branch Library Topics will include privacy settings, spotting fake news and websites, and protecting your money while shopping. Pre-registration required. Call 706-821-2615 or visit arcpls.org.
11:30am - 1:30pm Open Job Lab Diamond Lakes Branch Library Participants can complete job applications, resumes or conduct job searches with staff available for one-on-one help if needed. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
1pm - 2:30pm ABBE Digital Branch Help
Sat Jan 28
Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Aiken Public Library A media presentation for children and adults by Bob Hartung. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Ongoing
2pm Animals of Australia & New Zealand
Free Tax Assistance Headquarters Branch Library
6pm Chamber Music on Main
EXHIBITIONS Fri Jan 27
6pm - 8pm Grand Opening Exhibition Wolf and Finch, 859 Broad Street The event will feature the work of AU printmaking professor Chadwick Tolley, and artist Jay Jacobs will also discuss his work. Visit facebook.com/events/227466491044745/ or wolfandfinch.com.
Ongoing
The African-American Professional Nursing Experience Exhibition Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History A Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority exhibition that shows through February 26 at the museum. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
Exhibitions Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art Exhibits include Between Earth and Sky: Sculpture by Molly Sawyer in the main gallery and works from Lillie Hardy Morris in the Creel-Harison Community Gallery. The exhibits will be on display through February AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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AU’s College of Allied Health Sciences An event featuring exhibits, a keynote address from Georgia Tech’s Sherry Farrugia, panel discussions, startup stories from successful entrepreneurs and a “Shark Tank” style startup pitch contest. For more information and to register, visit tagonline. org/health-tech- startup-expo/.
Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education Class
Tue Jan 31
University Hospital Class continues Saturday, January 28, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 3-6. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.
Sat Jan 28
9am - 4:30pm Short and Sweet Doctors Hospital A weekend childbirth education class that continues Sunday, January 29, from 1-5 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
6pm CSRA Veg Monthly Meet Up Earth Fare Membership is not required to attend. Visit meetup.com/csravs/.
Mon Jan 30 6:30pm Refit 24. Call 706-722-5495 or visit ghia.org.
FLIX
Winter Exhibitions
Fri Jan 27
Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta The main gallery exhibition features the work of photographer and painter Luke Andrews and sculptor Wesley L. Stewart. The Balcony Gallery features the work of abstract painter and Augustan Darlene Williams. Both exhibitions will be on display January 19-March 3. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Don’t Erase Your Crooked Lines Jessye Norman School of the Arts This collection of sketches from Leonard Zimmerman will show in the Ann & Ellis Gallery of the school January 13-February 11 each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon-3 p.m. and on Saturdays by appointment. Call 706-877-0411 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
SEEDS Exhibit Westobou Gallery An exhibition of small works by local and regional artists, all available for $300 or less. Featured artists include Andrea Anderegg, Ellie Benson, Anna Bliss, Ethan Brock, Sydney Ewerth, Tom Hubbard, Gabi Hutchison, Jay Jacobs, Chase Lanier, Anna Patrick, Staci Swider, Jacob Vaz, Kelsea S. Windham and Leonard Zimmerman. The exhibit will remain on display until January 27 and the gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 706-755-2878 or visit westoboufestival.com. 22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
6:45pm Family Movie Night Kroc Center A free movie showing. Concessions will be available for purchase. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/.
Tue Jan 31
5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections. Visit arcpls.org.
Wed Feb 1
4pm Early Release Movie North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Featuring “Kubo and the Two Strings.” Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
HEALTH Thu Jan 26
6:30pm - 9pm Your Amazing Baby Augusta University Medical Center Pre-registration is required for this baby care class. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augusta.edu.
Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
10am Big Kids Story Time
10am Preschool Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 3-5 that includes stories, songs, games, short movies and crafts. Pre-registration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed Feb 1
10am Story Time Wallace Branch Library Pre-registration required for groups of 3 or more. Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time for Tots Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 0-3. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed Feb 1
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time
AU Medical Center A four-week class meeting Wednesdays through February 22. Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augusta.edu.
10:05am Toddler Story Time
6:30pm - 9pm Childbirth Education
HOBBIES Wed Feb 1
6pm Board Game Night Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
KIDS-TEENS Fri Jan 27
11am - 12:30pm Story Time with SC Scout Mascot Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
4:30pm Lego Club North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library For those in grades K-5. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
7pm - 8:30pm Infant CPR Class
Sat Jan 28
University Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
11am I’ll Never Let You Go Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Fri Jan 27
Mon Jan 30
11am - 5pm Health Tech Startup Expo
7pm Teen Trivia Night
Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com. Appleby Branch Library This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Preschool Story Time Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3-5. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
Ongoing
Jockey Silks Design Contest Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame This contest, to celebrate the 75th running of the Aiken Trials, is open to high school students in Aiken County. The winner will have their design made into silks that will be worn in one of the races held at this year’s trials. The deadline to enter is February 10 at 4 p.m. and the winning entry will be announced February 14. Entry forms and guidelines can be found at aikenracinghalloffame.com/Special_Events.html.
10:30am Jr. Lego Club 26JANUARY2017
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The Shepard Project Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer A teen hangout and safespace for LGBTQ+ teens, ages 14-17, and allies that meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 5-8 p.m. The group is also looking for chaperones ages 25 and older and youth mentors 18-24 years old, who must pass a background check. Call 803-617-8352 or email shepardprojectaugusta@gmail.com.
MUSIC Thu Jan 26
7pm Winter Nocturne: Damira Feldman Etherredge Center, Aiken Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Sat Jan 28
2pm Aiken Women’s Heart Show Etherredge Center, Aiken Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Junior Model UN Registration Augusta University Middle school students who are interested in assuming the perspective of a diplomat from a United Nations Member State and representing their position can register for the day-long simulation at Augusta University. 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 Jan 26
10am - noon Morning Book Club Maxwell Branch Library This month’s selection is “The Meursault Investigation” by Kamel Daoud. Call 706793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
7pm - 9pm Graphic Novel Discussion The Book Tavern This meeting the group will discuss “Wonder Woman, Vol. 1” by Greg Rucka. Call 706-8261940 or email david@booktavern.com.
Fri Jan 27
12:30pm Poetry Out Loud Columbia County Alternative School High school students will perform poems before a panel of judges and fellow students. Free and open to the public. Visit ccboe.org.
Sun Jan 29
2pm Book Signing Barnes & Noble Featuring Dale Wiley, author of “Southern Gothic.” Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Tue Jan 31
Noon Lunch and Learn Author Talk and Book Signing Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Featuring Dr. Tom Mack, author of “Circling the Savannah.” Participants are invited to bring their own lunches and the center will provide beverages and desserts. Free, members; $5, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Wed Feb 1
6pm Page Turners Book Club Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com. 26JANUARY2017
2:30pm Guitar Lessons 175 North Louisville Street, Harlem 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.
Mon Jan 30
10am Victoria Vox: Concert Francais AU’s Maxwell Theatre Free and open to the public. Call 706-6674100 or visit augusta.edu.
SENIORS Thu Jan 26
11am Classic Movie for Seniors Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Jan 31
10:30am Senior Tech Help Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Fri Jan 27
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.
7pm Wines by Charles Smith: A Washington State Story Wine World A seminar and tasting led by Kristin Low that will feature 10 wines and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Those attending will be able to purchase the included wines at a special price. $25; pre-paid reservation required. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
7:30pm Fake It to Make It Lip Sync Challenge Imperial Theatre A benefit for SafeHomes of Augusta. $10-$30. Call 706-722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.
7:30pm Traxxas Monster Truck Destruction Tour James Brown Arena $10-$28. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit
Lunch and Learn Author Talk and Book Signing Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Tuesday, January 31 Noon Featuring Dr. Tom Mack, author of “Circling the Savannah.” Participants are invited to bring their own lunches and the center will provide beverages and desserts. Free, members; $5, non-members. Pre-registration required. 803-441-4380 artsandheritagecenter.com georgialinatix.com.
8am - 6pm Auto Auction Preview Days
Sat Jan 28
Salvation Army of Augusta, Greene Street Auction is Saturday, February 4, and registration to bid is $5. Call 706-826-7933 or visit salvationarmycars.com.
7pm “Dark Shadows” 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.
7:30pm Traxxas Monster Truck Destruction Tour James Brown Arena $10-$28. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit georgialinatix.com.
8pm “To the Moon and Beyond” 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.
Wed Feb 1
SPIRITUAL Thu Feb 2
7pm Lifting the Veil on Islam Islamic Society of Augusta Part of a monthly program to engage the public in dialog about different issues in Islam. This session will address racial equality in Islam. This series, held the first Thursday of each month, is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Email outreach@isaugusta.com or visit facebook.com/ICCAOpenHouse/.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Sat Jan 28
William Fox-Pitt Clinic Stable View Farm, Aiken Open to riders and auditors. Call 484-356AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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3173 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
10am Dog Gone Cold 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Julian Smith BBQ Pit A benefit for Hopeful Hounds in which dogs are welcome. $10-$30. Visit hopefulhounds. org/7th_Annual_DGC_5k.html.
10am - 2pm Pose Running Clinic Fort Gordon A seminar for those who want to run longer, faster and better that includes theory, drills and video analysis. Pre-registration required. Call 706-791-2947 or email john.a.graham68.nat@mail.mil.
10:30am Hike Hitchcock Woods, Aiken A Sierra Club-sponsored 6-mile moderate hike that will include information about this, one of the largest urban forests in the nation. Participants should meet at the 1770 Dibble Road entrance and plan to eat lunch afterwards in Aiken. Pre-registration required. Email sonnyandcathyblack@gmail.com.
Sun Jan 29
William Fox-Pitt Clinic Stable View Farm, Aiken Open to riders and auditors. Call 484-3563173 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
Mon Jan 30
William Fox-Pitt Clinic Stable View Farm, Aiken Open to riders and auditors. Call 484-3563173 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Sat Jan 28
9am - 11am Musical Comedies
Tue Jan 31
Winter Horse Trials and Festival of Britishness Stable View Farm, Aiken Call 484-356-3173 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
SUPPORT Tue Jan 31
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.
Wed Feb 1
1pm - 3pm The Lactation Club University Hospital A breastfeeding support group for mothers of NICU babies. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Aiken Community Playhouse A class for those 18 and older that meets weekly through March 11. $160; preregistration required. Call 803-648-1438 or visit eventbrite.com/o/aiken-communityplayhouse-11117186349.
3pm “Cinderella” Maxwell Theatre This Family Matinee, a production of Storyland Theatre, is $6. Active duty military and their families are admitted free with ID. The box office opens at 2:15 p.m. and those attending are invited to stay afterwards to meet the cast. Visit storylandtheatre.org.
7:30pm “A Few Good Men” Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Sun Jan 29
2pm “Beauty and the Beast” Auditions
Doctors Hospital A support group for those who have pelvic health issues. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Crossbridge Baptist Church A casting call for performers ages 16 and up for the Augusta Players production that will show May 12-14. Children’s auditions will be scheduled at a later date. Call 706-826-4707 or visit augustaplayers.org.
THEATER
VOLUNTEER
5:30pm Girl Talk Support Group
Thu Jan 26
9:30am, 10:45am and 12:15pm “Cinderella” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre School shows of this Storyland Theatre production. $5 per student. Visit storylandtheatre.org.
4:30pm - 6pm Singing for the Stage/ Reading Music Aiken Community Playhouse A class for those 6 and older (through adults) that meets weekly through March 16. $160; pre-registration required. Call 803648-1438 or visit eventbrite.com/o/aikencommunity-playhouse-11117186349.
Fri Jan 27
9:30am, 10:45am and 12:15pm “Cinderella” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre School shows of this Storyland Theatre production. $5 per student. Visit storylandtheatre.org.
Ongoing
Volunteer Drivers Needed Veterans from the CSRA are in need of volunteers to drive them to the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta for their medical appointments in a 10-passenger van that does not require a special license. Volunteers must complete a no-cost health screening, a background fingerprint check, a driver’s license check and provide proof of insurance, but do not have to be a veteran or member of any veterans’ organizations. This is an equal opportunity position. Call Gregory Knight at 706-731-7256 or email gregory. knight@va.gov.
Senior Companions Needed Senior Citizens Council The council is seeking those ages 55 and older who can serve 20 hours a week with a special needs adult. Benefits include stipend, travel reimbursement and annual physical. For more information, call 706-868-0120.
7:30pm “A Few Good Men” Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and 26JANUARY2017
V28|NO4 Vince Gill
- Bell Auditorium February 17 Dwight Yoakam
- Bell Auditorium March 3 Garrison Keillor
- Bell Auditorium March 8 The Major Rager w/ The Flaming Lips, People of the Sun (by Moon Taxi), The Eric Krasno Band, Stop Light Observations
- Augusta Common April 6 The Major Rager AFter Pary w/ Funk You, Schema
- Sky City April 6 Steep Canyon Rangers
- Bell Auditorium April 27 Alice Cooper
- Bell Auditorium April 30 The Avett Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass
- Evans Towne Center Park May 27-28
Soul Mechanic Surrey Tavern Saturday, January 28 10 p.m. 706-736-1221 facebook.com/SoulMechanicmusic/
Elsewhere Pat Metheny
- RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus January 28 Delbert McClinton
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta January 28 Tedeschi Trucks Band
- Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah January 29
Thursday, January 26 Live Music
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Red Pepper (Aiken) - Mike Frost Band Stillwater Taproom - No Sir Soul Bar - Owen Ni Wild Wing - AcostA The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
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 Fox’s Lair - Open Mic 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 That Place Coffeehouse - Broken Mic Poetry and More
Friday, January 27 Live Music
Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club - Cody Webb Eli’s American - Friday Night Live The Highlander - Travis (of Travis & Laura) Joe’s Underground - Will Benthal Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Folk You Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Jimmy “Doc” Easton Shannon’s - The Unmentionables Sky City - The Power Triplets w/ Chris Nix Stillwater Taproom - Flat Out Strangers Wild Wing - The Cam Band The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Backyard Tavern - Karaoke 26JANUARY2017
Saturday, January 28 Live Music
Backyard Tavern - The Bohemian Trio Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Heath DeLoach Coyotes - Atomic Road Le Chat Noir - Hound of Goshen, BullMoose Shannon’s - Shinebox Sky City - Parliament Funkadelic Tribute Surrey Tavern - Soul Mechanic Wild Wing - JagerTron The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.-3 p.m.); Trivia, nights The Highlander - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Game Night with the Soul City Sirens Soul Bar - DJ Dance Party Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Sunday, January 29 Live Music
Iron Heights - Mobius, Night Idea, Gloom Cocoon, SubuTech Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - Sabo and Dave The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson
Monday, January 30 Live Music
Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia
- Georgia Theatre, Athens February 3
Tuesday, January 31 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. John Fisher Joe’s Underground - Open Mic 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 Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper
The Devil Makes Three
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta February 3-4 Rick Astley
- Center Stage, Atlanta February 9 Bon Jovi
- Philips Arena, Atlanta February 10 Perpetual Groove
- Georgia Theatre, Athens February 10
Wednesday, February 1 Live Music The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Wild Wing - Live Music
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes 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 - Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
Upcoming
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
Dave Chappelle
What’s Tonight?
- Imperial Theatre February 10
Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Wild Wing - Trivia
Tinsley Ellis
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
- Bell Auditorium February 7 Hot Rize Valentine Massacre Red Party w/ Chainsaw Masscara
- Sky City February 17
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 25
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Jordan Mock, Missy Brown, Jacqueline Corley and Shannon Acord at Shannon’s.
Anthony and Tammy Taylor with Arleen Harms and Andrew Santa at Shannon’s.
Matt Pattison, Cloud Morris, Kelsey Fosters and Steve Morris at World of Beer.
Sydney Marie, Mike Goings and Margaret Wright at the Soul Bar.
Mollie Story, Aurora M. Britton, Heather Williams and Molly Sawyer at Sawyer’s exhibit opening in the Main Gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
Stephanie Reyes, Bill Gao, Kari Miller and Dan Carroll at the Bee’s Knees.
Jack Cheatham, TomMac Garrett and Dawson Morris at Molly Sawyer’s Between Earth and Sky Exhibit Opening in the Main Gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
Ken and Donna McDowell with Alex Morrissey at Molly Sawyer’s Between Earth and Sky Exhibit Opening in the Main Gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
Karen Auvenshine, Lillie Morris and Claire Stracke at Morris’ Haggie’s Rock Revisited Exhibit Opening in the Greel-Harisonn Gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
26JANUARY2017
GRAMMAR LESSON By Joel Fagliano/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Kind of kick 8 Product of evaporation 15 Apple product 20 Keep in 21 Brunch-menu heading 22 Parts of college courses 23 Sources of stress for many modern workers 24 Utopia? 26 Part of the Dept. of Transportation 27 Channel buildup 29 Packers’ grp.? 30 Old tabloid fodder 31 Piece still under consideration for a magazine? 37 Org. concerned with water quality 40 Balsa or balsam 41 Budgetary excess 42 Signal meaning “no disease on this ship” 44 Hurt sharply 46 Workers in some labs, informally 48 Interminable task 49 “____ Must Die” (Claude McKay poem) 50 “Village” newspaper that’s nambypamby? 53 Bull’s urging 54 Fashion guru Tim 55 Behave 56 ____ of reality 57 Admitted (to) 59 Jacket material 60 Percolate 62 The “kid” in “Here’s looking at you, kid” 64 Kia model 65 Common flower that’s poisonous to eat 66 Santa’s nieces and nephews? 71 Indiana Jones trademark 74 ____ department 75 Uber-owned company that makes self-driving trucks 76 Agreement 80 Result of a year-end review, maybe 81 “That so?” 84 Also-ran for the golden apple, in myth 86 “I don’t reckon” 87 Home to Weber State University 88 Obama’s signature health law, for short
89 Like shoppers worrying about getting the right gift? 92 ____ pad 93 Top 95 Scheduled to arrive 96 Like kitsch 97 Fleet for many a commuter airline 100 Doctor’s orders, for short 101 Japanese soup 102 Specimen, for example: Abbr. 103 Jailhouse? 108 Prohibitionists 110 Craggy peak 111 Several CBS dramas 112 Short, for short 113 The Prada that one really wants? 118 Part of a postal address for a G.M. plant 121 Thomas of the N.B.A. 122 ____ Aquino, Time’s Woman of the Year in 1986 123 With 113-Down, product of flax 124 Miners’ aids 125 Women’s fashion magazine 126 Warning before lunging DOWN 1 Genre for TV’s “Stranger Things” 2 First name in late-night 3 Unseemly 4 W. Coast air hub 5 When tripled, symbol of evil 6 Toddler garment 7 Amber, e.g. 8 Hand-held dish that doesn’t crunch 9 Outback animal 10 Blue Cross competitor 11 Muddy mixture 12 Makes fizzy 13 Network standard for smartphones, for short 14 Recipe abbr. 15 Time to go home 16 Skinny 17 Truck driver? 18 And so on: Abbr. 19 Alphabet string 25 Panegyric 28 Boater’s wear 32 Is off 33 Foul-smelling 34 Set of principles 35 “Will ya look at that!”
1
36 Kind of computing 38 Foe of the Cheyenne 39 Something set in a meeting 43 Insect that spends its larval stage inside a fruit 44 Hot tubs 45 Knight club 46 Car company that owns SolarCity 47 Golfer’s need 51 “There it is!” 52 Grand 58 Source for “Book of the Marvels of the World,” circa 1300 59 Chinese philosopher Mo-____ 61 Part of a club selling clubs 63 Well ventilated 65 After ____ (to some extent) 67 ’Fore 68 HBO political satire 69 Non-prophet group? 70 Sch. in Knoxville 71 Dowdies 72 Cafe 73 Nickname for a Gilded Age businessman with a penchant for jewelry 77 “In Trump We Trust” author, 2016 78 Distillery item 79 Not we 81 “That deep, blue, bottomless soul,” per Melville 82 Lacks 83 Part of un jour 85 Ghost story? 88 Most fit 90 Awkward time at family movie night 91 New York City’s ____ River 94 Almost falls 98 Amps, with “up” 99 Vehicle at a ski resort 101 Light cotton fabric 104 Wild 105 Long arm 106 Covered in frost 107 Pass over 109 Gather 113 See 123-Across 114 Troop grp. 115 Roll call response in une école 116 Wernher ____ Braun 117 Scale note 119 Dutch financial giant 120 Govt. org. that offers a monthly “Puzzle Periodical”
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
20
21
23
24
26
27
31
32
72
92
102
116
117
118 123 126
T A G S
A R E A
107
112
125
C A G E D U P
106
105 111
122
S T A M E N S
79
96
124
C O L A W A R S
78
101
121
B B C R A D I O
77 86
91
100 104
115
85
95
110
114
76 84
90
99
109
39
70
75
94
103 108
38
59
69
83
98
37
65
89
93
97
19
54
58
82
88
18
49 53
64
74 81
36
48
68
73
87
113
63
67
17
43
52 57
80
16
42
56
66
15
30 35
47
62
14
29
46
61
13
22
51
60
12
34
45
55
11
25
41
50
71
10
28
33
40 44
9
119
120
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS C R O C K P O T
U R L H I J A C K I N G
S A V E E R I S N E E A R R R T O W H T I A Z R H A E A E S L
I S I S O P A H C I G A D O R K E P I R R E D Y E R N V I E S M Y A W A S L O G M E E M O S O N M Z H I A S O N R T T O T E S T T H A H O U O T R
P A C E S U N R A R E T T E S A G B E E R O S E P O E P A I N H O R N D E O S N I N K D A Y S C U M H E E T M A L I R E I N T I X C D S C S L U L E R E V E P P E R O I D B E T N K S I N A S E N Y R A G A D
R E T C O N P E R J U R E D O S
H A E R D R T Y H A O U U K D S E I S N M P I O I E E V D I B C R E U S U V A N K I E T O N A R A N T
T R O T
S S N S
A L R O K E R
S A N J O S E
E N T R A C T E
S E A M L E S S
V28|NO4
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS Looks like M. Night Shyamalan’s got his mojo back, with good reviews for “Split” and a top spot. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
SPLIT
$40,010,975
$40,010,975
1
-
2
xXx: XANDER CAGE
$20,130,142
$20,130,142
1
-
3
HIDDEN FIGURES
$15,721,606
$83,710,357
5
1
4
SING
$9,003,780
$249,328,975
5
3
5
LA LA LAND
$8,427,583
$89,758,080
7
2
In Theaters January 27
ACTION “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” rated R,
DRAMA “A Dog’s Purpose,” rated PG, starring Dennis Quaid,
DRAMA “Gold,” rated R, starring Matthew McConaughey, Bryce
starring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter. Yes, it’s another “Resident Evil” movie. Great for those who love the game and movie series. Not even on the radar of those who don’t.
Peggy Lipton, Josh Gad. This isn’t oddball director Lasse Hallstrom’s first foray into dog movies. His “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” in 2009 brought people to tears with the true story of a dog who waits at a train station for his owner, who has died. This one, about dogs’ souls being reincarnated, just looks dumb. And that was before the allegations that filmmakers abused the dogs on set.
Dallas Howard. A prospector and a geologist search for gold in Indonesia. Oh: we thought the title referred to McConaughey’s skin color as of late. Our bad.
28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
26JANUARY2017