Table of Contents December 22, 2016
Whine Line 4 Jenny is Wright 6 Kris Fisher 8 Insider 10 Feature 14
Welcome to Beck’s
Food Stuff Windsor Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight Austin Rhodes
18 22 24 30 32 33 34 36
14
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: 8
The Whine Line
The recent article on prostitution presents the tip of the iceberg, highlighting two local ‘Asian Massage Parlors’ that only recently got busted. One of them is still open for business! It seems our police have better things to do than bother with this issue. A follow-up inquiry on the escort and body rub postings on BackPage and Craigslist is warranted. Interesting that the commenter chooses South Africa of all the African countries to tout. What makes it superior to the others? Did I hear the news correctly that Grovetown did not want to fine that dog owner for the death of those goats? Is that owner going to at least pay for the goats? I listened to Deke during his new morning talk radio program the other day for about ten minutes. It’s more fun to watch paint dry.
Ron Cross is the mean, crotchety, racist grandpa no one wants at the dinner table, but whom they tolerate anyway, because they’re waiting on their inheritance. But he’s also the kind who’ll die and leave everything to his dogs, because they can’t see who he really is.
Frankly, I like Deke. Is it possible he can take over 3pm to 7pm too and class that slot up for the listeners? So Trump believes, as stated several times in his campaign rants while expressing his deep affection for Vlad De Pootin, in relaxing NATO sanctions on Russia, whose leader continues to invade neighboring countries, murder opposition politicians, have radioactive isotopes slipped into the food of a very outspoken journalist (cooking him from the inside out in 2 weeks), encourage the murder of gays and lesbians in Russia, as well as jailing the female band Pussy Riot for their anti-Putin songs. These same NATO sanctions killed a 500 billion deal between Tillerson’s Exxon Mobil with the state-owned Rosneft drilling company in Russia to drill in the Arctic (state-owned simply meaning Putin would be the greatest financial beneficiary). It doesn’t take a genius to see the 500 billion reasons Putin was desperate to keep Hillary out of the White House at all costs, especially when Trump was working so furiously to normalize Russia’s behavior on the world stage. Where are your tax returns Trump? How much of your revenue stream comes from some seriously nasty anti-American governments and/or individuals? Hillary released 30 years of tax returns, so, again, where are your returns?
This is my whine about the employee at the checkout lane of the Wrightsboro road [name redacted]. Honey, if you find yourself refusing to perform your job duties because your finger nails are extending beyond your finger tip and could become damaged or fall off if you have to lift a box, it’s time to find a different job, or lose the fake nails, please. You read the details of the position when you completed the job application (or at least you should have), so as a customer we don’t want to hear you as an employee say “I can’t do that.” Where is Josh Ruffin? Without him, ya’ll are just a weekly Augusta Chronical/Comical. Part of me hopes the extremist GOP gets everything on its Christmas wish list, so people will finally see how toxic the party is. Go ahead. Yank health care. Destroy labor unions. Abolish the EPA, the FDA, and the DOE. Roll back the freedoms guaranteed to women and minorities (because apparently rights are only absolute when referring to gun ownership). The GOPbacked corporate robber-barons and politicians will keep amassing wealth and you will see none of it, you damn fools. I am wondering what will happen if Trump doesn’t follow through with the campaign promises and doesn’t satisfy the hopes of his more militant followers. I believe he is riding a savage tiger and should be afraid to dismount. The election is over (except for the Electoral College decision) but the more dangerous and unhinged Trump followers are still attacking the Democrats with words and, as in the Comet Ping Pong bizarre episode) are willing to bring out the big guns. I’ve never seen an election like this or a president-elect like this one. America has a dangerous four years ahead. I hope this term does not include violence and we should try to remain calm and not encourage any fighting over politics. If provoked, do not respond except with calmness and kindness. Try to unite and reject hatred.
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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THE STOCKINGS were hung by the chimney with care... Ha. No they weren’t. I say “weren’t,” because, hopefully, by the time you read this, they will be. We are always behind this time of year. That’s not new. What’s new is the fact that Christmas is less than one week away, and my tree isn’t decorated. Not a present has been purchased. I do care. I’ve been pretty diligent about making sure our elf, Elife, travels to and from the North Pole each night. He’s missed a few nights. Actually he got a late start, too. In the days following Thanksgiving, we waited for Elfie to show up. We looked for him everywhere. No really, everywhere. I checked all of my regular safe places, where things end up in our house. The crazy thing is, I finally found him on the shelves in the Christmas section at Target. The Boy tried to tell her Elfie looked different, that maybe he should be renamed “Jake,” because clearly he was an imposter. I tried to tell The Boy to get it together and untell his sister every last word about this being a different elf. I love how quickly the clenched teeth of a mother can change the opinion of a very observant little boy. Elfie started traveling with a friend, our dog’s rubber chicken toy. While it seemed like a good idea at the time, it’s proven to be a bit of a problem. The dog can see his toy all the way up there on the mantle, arm in arm with Elfie. The dog barks at Elfie, because Elfie has stolen his friend. Friends keep asking, “Is your tree decorated yet?” No, but we have one! The wreath, complete with lights, is hanging out front. From the street, we look fully decorated. I ordered Christmas cards. I only ordered them a couple of days ago, but I added “Happy New Year,” so when people get them after Christmas, it’ll seem intentional. Sorta. Speaking of Christmas cards, my boy won a contest. His artwork was chosen by Mayor Hardie Davis’ office, to be used on the front of their card. He was their guest of honor at the Christmas parade downtown, riding on the float with Mayor Davis. When they lit the city’s tree that night, Mayor Davis and his staff brought The Boy on stage and unveiled his drawing to the big crowd on The Common. It was a pretty big deal. The Mayor’s office made my son feel like a million bucks. I don’t know who all gets the mayor’s card each year. I’ve never gotten one. If you do, you’re welcome to say you know the artist. He won’t mind a bit. Our tree sits dark at the moment. The stockings are still in a box somewhere. I promise to fix it tonight. The Girl wants to bake. We will do that tomorrow. I’m determined to find another buddy for Elfie, so our damn dog will stop barking. This might be easier with a Christmas cocktail. I saw a cute peppermint one on Pinterest. Wait. Who am I kidding? My Christmas tree is still wrapped in mesh. I’m sticking with boxed wine and making a list. I might check it twice, but I’m not making any promises. Cheers and Merry Christmas, y’all. JENNY WRIGHT’S humorous observations Artwork courtesy Bennett Wright.
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.
22DECEMBER2016
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To Make an End Is To Make a Beginning 2016 HaS bEEn a StRangE yEaR. We’ve all seen what’s been going on. Probably the most glaring thing is that we’ve been losing our legends: Muhammed Ali, David Bowie, Arnold Palmer, Alan Rickman, Alan Thicke, Prince... Friggin’ Prince! The list goes on and on; so many iconic legends in all walks of life that we’re all in agreement that it’s just weird. Add onto that some heightened racial tension, an extremely bizarre election, the Atlanta Braves moving out of downtown Atlanta, the loss of the Haunted Pillar and Chuck Williams is no longer on Augusta radio. 2016 can suck it. Well, it now seems that 2016 is trying to go out with a bang. Just this week, I hear that a coworker’s home burned down to the ground. She very nearly didn’t make it out alive. Big kudos and many thanks to the first responders that saved her life. The next day, my boss’s dryer caught on fire which, had they been asleep, could have turned out just as bad or worse. The next day I wake up to the news of a Martinez 16-year-old shooting and killing his sister in what was meant to be a full-family massacre. Later that day, I hear that a good friend of mine may be losing his father. And, no exaggeration, I literally just got a text from my wife as I’m tying this that a transformer blew at her place of employment and is now on fire just above her department. What. The. Hell. That last little bit completely changes the whole point of this column. My original idea was to write about my moodiness lately. Chalk it up to the holidays or whatever, but I’ve been a little short-tempered about mild inconveniences. No. 2 wants to leave school early after he finishes his exams. We forgot to pick up a meat tray for No. 4’s school Christmas party. No. 3 forgot some shoes at home so I had to drive them to her school. Actually, that last one is legit. She goes to school in Grovetown and driving in Grovetown is enough to make anyone crazy. Can you please widen a road? Please? Maybe around all of the massive neighborhood developments? Perhaps the road that the two ginormous schools are on? Just saying. Anyway, these inconveniences are nothing compared to what the people I mentioned before are going through. My home is intact, I have the means to give my kids a pretty cool Christmas, a job that I can run late to because I’m running around for my kids and I’ll get to see my parents this Christmas. My original point was that I don’t have it that bad and it’s weird that we sometimes need to be reminded of that. However, my wife’s text showed me just how quickly things can change. One moment you’re feverishly typing up a column because you’re late for your deadline — again. The next, you’re staring at your phone anticipating your wife’s safety. Which, by the way, she let me know that she is safe. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It can always be worse. Keep those who have had a tougher than usual year in your thoughts. Maybe call, send a text, a prayer and some good vibes their way. We never know when KRIS FISHER,Kris Fisher is the we’ll be the ones that need midday host and program director for those prayers. HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. However your 2016 has He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well been, I wish you and your as activities most people would have loved ones a very merry outgrown years ago. djkfish.com. Christmas.
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NEWS
Welcome to Beck’s: 14
The Curse of the Haunted Pillar Continues SOMETIMES it is truly amazing what Augusta residents hold near and dear to their hearts. But shortly after Augusta’s famous Haunted Pillar was hit by a car and knocked over this weekend, photos of the demolished pillar immediately hit social media and people were upset. Very upset. “History demolished!” one woman posted. “One of my favorite stories about Augusta, Ga. is now gone.” “Wasn’t it haunted?” another woman wrote. “Someone is going to have really bad luck.” “Rest In Peace Haunted Pillar!” one local wrote. “Can’t say goodbye to 2016 fast enough.” Not only had the beloved pillar been reduced to a pile of rubble late Saturday night, no one had claimed responsibility for the accident and the city didn’t even bother to haul away the pieces until midday Monday, more than 24 hours after the historic pillar was destroyed. By then, people had already further dismantled the pillar and were stealing its pieces. Many locals called the events “heartbreaking” and “tragic,” insisting that those stealing pieces of the rubble would be cursed. So, for the handful of people left in Augusta who are not familiar with the tale of the Haunted Pillar of the Lower Market, the story goes that a fire destroyed an early structure in the lower market in 1829. Following the fire, the city rebuilt the market, which was the center of agricultural and livestock trade. Then, a “freakish cyclone blasted the structure” in 1878 and local citizens moved the only column left standing to the location at Fifth and Broad streets. According to local tradition, “a wandering ‘exhorter’ predicted that anyone who pulled down the pillar would be struck dead by lightning.” Since then, it has been known as Augusta’s “Haunted Pillar.” Now, there are several different versions of this tale, including some references to slave trading that may have occurred in the lower market, which could have also caused the area to be cursed. Whatever version of the story Augustans want to believe, the fact remains that the column is historic and dates back to the 1800s.
10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
So, now the question is: Should it be restored? Or, more importantly, can it even be properly restored at this point? Well, following the accident, the city appeared confused on how to proceed. Many citizens were left speechless after Jim Beasley, spokesman for the city administrator’s office, told The Augusta Chronicle that the city would require “a structural engineer to do a restoration plan, with approximate costs and a timeline.” Now, this isn’t the first time the pillar has been hit and damaged. Apparently, it has been restored at least two other times. Does the city really need a structural engineer to come in with a restoration plan? And, if so, how much is that going to cost the city? Well, never fear, the Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau has decided to step up with a plan. This week, it launched a Go Fund Me page to save the Haunted Pillar. “One of Augusta’s most unique and historical attractions, the Haunted Pillar, was destroyed this weekend in a car crash. The Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has heard from many in the community of their concern for the pillar and has started a Go Fund Me page to allow people passionate about the pillar to contribute to its restoration,” the CVB announced in a press release this week. “In addition to the Go Fund Me account, pillar supporters can buy a Haunted Pillar T-shirt at the Augusta Visitor Center. For every T-shirt purchased, the Augusta CVB will donate $2 toward the rebuilding of the Haunted Pillar.” But that’s not all. “You can also purchase a Killer Pillar T-shirt and Land of Thee will donate $2 for every T-shirt sold to the Haunted Pillar rebuilding fund,” the CVB’s press release stated. “Additionally, you can buy a tour ticket from the Augusta Ghost Trolley and a portion of ticket sales will be donated toward the repairs of the pillar.” It is ironic that such efforts are being made to save the Haunted Pillar while other extremely important historical structures have been mainly ignored throughout the city in recent months. Just last week, The Insider wrote about how the historic Trinity CME Church in downtown Augusta could be facing a wrecking ball.
Earlier this year, the Goodale House, which was built in 1799, was demolished. Months before that, the Richmond County Board of Education tore down the historic Cauley-Wheeler Memorial Building on the Lucy C. Laney High School campus. It’s been a rough couple of years for historic structures in Augusta. But it appears the Haunted Pillar might just be saved. “The Haunted Pillar is part of urban legend and has been a valued tourism asset for many years,” Barry White, president/ CEO of the Augusta CVB, stated in the press release. “It is very unique to Augusta.” And we all know that Augusta is very unique, as well. Whatever, folks. Long live Augusta’s Haunted Pillar. For more information about the Go Fund Me account, visit gofundme.com/rebuild-the-haunted-pillar.
22DECEMBER2016
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A Decade Without James Brown FOR MANY IN AUGUSTA, it’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the death of the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown. Brown, who was easily one of the most influential musicians of the past 50 years, died on Christmas day 2006 in a hospital in Atlanta after suffering from pneumonia. At 73, he had truly lived a lifetime. His music changed the world and influenced generations of musicians from rock to rap with classic singles including “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud.” “He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator,” singer and Georgia native Little Richard reportedly said following Brown’s death. “Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown.” The Godfather of Soul also helped change the country’s attitude about African Americans. “I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song (‘Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud’), we were calling ourselves black,” Brown told The Associated Press in 2003. “The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society.” Brown won a Grammy for lifetime achievement in 1992 and he was one of the initial musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. “I went in with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard,” Brown wrote in his 1986 autobiography, “James Brown: The Godfather of Soul,” that he co-wrote with Bruce Tucker. “I’ve never been a rock ‘n’ roll singer, but I was glad to be honored with all those other great people.” The honor meant the world to Brown because it felt like a new door had opened for him and he was truly accepted throughout the music industry, he wrote. “That night, while I was being inducted, I think I felt for the first time that the struggle was over,” Brown wrote. “I was being enshrined for posterity, and I had a record going into the top of the chart on the same night.” As most Augustans know, Brown’s life wasn’t easy. 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
He was born on May 3, 1933, in a one-room shack in Barnwell, S.C. As he would later tell it, midwives thought he was stillborn, but his body stayed warm and he was miraculously revived, The New York Times reported. A few years later, he was left in the care of his aunt, Honey, who ran a brothel in Augusta and, as a small child, Brown earned pennies buck-dancing for soldiers and shining shoes. But not long after he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Brown recalled sitting in a restaurant with a white friend one day and another white man came up to him and said, “Elvis was the greatest, and you’re next.” “Then a black girl came up and said to my white friend, ‘The black people love him — y’all like him — but he’s still ours,’” Brown wrote in his 1986 autobiography. “Between those two people, I bridged the gap. Elvis was American as apple pie. Years ago, I couldn’t be American as apple pie. It took me four generations to be apple pie.” Even though the Godfather of Soul had some major ups and downs over the years, including being incarcerated in 1988, he was extremely proud of his accomplishments and the impact his music had on society. “People realize now they got to go the whole trip — all cultures — to enjoy life,” Brown wrote in 1986. “When I play a show and there are ten thousand people, seven thousand of ‘em are white. The reason is education. Unless they were well educated, Afro-Americans never knew what they really had right in their own community. Now I think they’re going to know.”
Looking back over his life, Brown recognized his struggles, but felt blessed for what he had achieved during his time on earth. “I don’t consider myself better than anyone. I consider myself luckier than most,” Brown wrote in 1986. “People say I have a big ego, but I had to have an ego to make anything of myself in the first place. I had to have an ego to stay out there and continue to work no matter what, and I have to have one now to say, ‘Yes, I’m James Brown, and it’s still happening for me.’ Because it doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen.” However, even with all the success that Brown’s life brought him, the Godfather of Soul knew the hardships of living in America. But through his powerful music, Brown was able to change the world for the better. “Honors and gold records and all aren’t what I’m proudest of,” Brown wrote in his 1986 autobiography. “I’m proudest of what I have become, as opposed to what I could have become, and I’d like to be remembered as someone who brought people together.” God bless you, Mr. Brown. Augusta will always love you.
22DECEMBER2016
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Welcome to Beck’s
John Beck, owner of Sheehan’s Irish Pub on Central Avenue, proudly opens his new restaurant called Beck’s this week By Stacey Eidson When John BeCk, owner of Sheehan’s Irish Pub on Central Avenue, opened the doors to his new restaurant called Beck’s at 2111 Kings Way this week, he was overwhelmed by the neighborhood’s immediate support for this new hot spot on the Hill. “As soon as people began hearing that we were starting a new place, they’ve been watching to see when we would open,” Beck said. “It has taken a little bit longer than we thought it would, but we’ve had a lot of really, really good response so far. People have been interested in that space because it is nice to have another locally owned place to go to in the neighborhood where people don’t have to drive downtown or out to Washington Road. It is within walking distance for a lot of people in the neighborhood.” Not long after 5 O’Clock Bistro closed its doors last year, Beck said he began eyeing the Kings Way location and quickly realized that it had great potential. “Somebody called me early the first morning that it was obvious that 5 O’clock Bistro was going to close and I immediately liked the place. When I saw it, I thought that it would be a good spot for an oyster bar,” Beck said. “Right now, if we want oysters, we go to Abel Brown (Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar), but other than that, in my opinion, there is really nowhere else to go to get oysters that I would feel safe eating. So that’s how it all started.” Beck said he was simply looking to create an oyster bar with a “fun, lively atmosphere” that offered quality food and good beverages. “I like that kind of a place. I like to go in and it not be stuffy. I like to have a little bit more 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
activity and lively atmosphere,” Beck said. “So initially we were going to do a little more of a casual place, but a local guy named Duane Wilson of Wilco Woodwork, Inc. did all the woodwork for us. He is really talented and just completely transformed the place. It just kind of took on a life of its own and it turned out to be a little bit more upscale than what I was initially planning, but it is just beautiful inside.” For now, Beck’s restaurant will be open for lunch and will offer guests a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as a few entrees such as shrimp and grits and jambalaya. “We are just going to open for lunch, initially, so we can kind of work it out and get comfortable
“The dinner menu will be totally different. It will be oystercentric. Lots of different kinds of oysters.” — John Beck 22DECEMBER2016
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“If you go to Atlanta, there is just such a wide variety of pretty darn good places to go eat. And people get used to that and, yeah, I think they want it in their neighborhood, too.” — John Beck with lunch and then we will open for dinner,” Beck said. “I don’t know exactly what day we’ll open for dinner. It is whenever I feel like we are ready. But, for right now, the lunch menu is soups, salads and sandwiches with a few hot entrees.” But this isn’t your typical lunch fare in Augusta. Beck’s offers dishes such as the blackened shrimp po’boy with spicy slaw, a fried green tomato, red remoulade and goat cheese or the shrimp salad roll that is served with your choice of kale slaw, french fries, broccoli salad, baked garlic potato wedges or Zapp’s chips. As for soups, Beck’s offers a cup or bowl of venison chili, loaded baked potato soup, shrimp bisque or oyster andouille soup. Also on the lunch menu is Beck’s Honeycrisp Apple Salad with mixed greens, Vidalia onions, raspberries, smoked turkey and goat cheese with poppyseed vinaigrette, as well as the roasted beet salad featuring fresh grapefruit, blood oranges, mixed bitter greens, roasted beets, bleu cheese with bacon-walnut vinaigrette. That is just a sample of Beck’s new lunch menu. “Once we open for dinner, the dinner menu will be totally different,” Beck said. “It will be oystercentric. Lots of different kinds of oysters. We also have a wood-fired grill so we will do a couple of ribeyes every night, as well as a couple of good burgers every night. And 22DECEMBER2016
I’m going to try to do one good Southern dish every night, whether it is something like fried chicken or whole fried catfish or something like that. I am going to try to have it designated each night so people can say, ‘Hey, it’s fried chicken night at Beck’s. Let’s go.’ And, of course, we are also going to do a lot of fresh seafood. The dinner menu is in my head, but I haven’t put it on paper yet.” While the restaurant is currently concentrating on perfecting its lunch service, Beck’s will be open Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. “We will probably eventually do something on Saturday. It may not even be lunch. I’m not sure yet,” Beck said. “Then, when we open for dinner, it is going to be Wednesday through Sunday, because there’s not a lot of locally owned places to go to on Sunday night.” Beck’s will also offer a full bar with a handful of different craft cocktails, he said. “I’m a big-time bourbon drinker, so we will have a pretty good bourbon selection,” Beck said. “We are going to have probably six to eight to 10 different craft cocktails of our own every night. It won’t change every night and we are not going to do 50 different cocktails or anything because it just makes the bar too slow. At a place like Craft & Vine, they do a great job and have great offerings, but I don’t want to have 15 bartenders and I don’t want to have to wait 10 minutes to get a drink.” Beck said his goal is to offer guests “really good drinks and do it consistently,” “With my personality, we are not going to get crazy and try to invent drinks that you have never heard of. That’s not me. But we will use all fresh juices and we will make a lot of our own stuff in-house, but we will never do like bacon-flavored bourbon or anything like that,” Beck said, laughing. “It’s a waste of bacon and bourbon. I love bacon and I love bourbon, but I don’t want them together unless I am making some bourbon syrup over my bacon pancakes or something.” While Beck said he will need to concentrate much of his attention on the new restaurant over the next several months, he assured loyal customers of Sheehan’s that the Irish pub will continue to offer the same quality food and drinks and outstanding service as always. “It’s a lot of hard work having two restaurants, but I’m prepared for it,” Beck said. “I have done it before. It’s not fun because I have a hard time delegating, but the two restaurants are close and I have a really
good group at Sheehan’s. So, I will be spending a lot more time at the new place. Unfortunately, that’s just how it works, but that staff at Sheehan’s, most of them have been here at least five years, so it is really the best crew that I’ve ever had. And, as long as I know that I am just down the street and can walk in the back door of Sheehan’s any minute, I feel pretty comfortable with it.” As for the new restaurant, Beck said he expects it will help promote and attract new guests and visitors to the Summerville area.
“It’s a lot of hard work having two restaurants, but I’m prepared for it.” — John Beck “I think anytime there is a successful restaurant it definitely promotes the area. And I don’t have any doubt that we’ll be successful. I don’t mean that to sound boastful or anything, but I think if I put my heart into something, it is going to work,” Beck said. “So, anytime there is a successful restaurant, I think it makes people look at an area differently. In fact, I know Todd Schafer of Abel Brown had been in talks with the people next door to us about that space and possibly a new restaurant. I don’t know that he’ll do it because it is a lot of money to put into that space that is not really big enough, but that would be great for the area.” Beck’s has already started a new buzz and excitement throughout the neighborhood, he said. “We’ll bring people who have never even driven through the area to come here for dinner,” he said. “I mean, a lot of people went to the 5 O’clock Bistro, but a lot of people didn’t. So, we’ll definitely bring new faces to that entire little block, all the way to Walton Way which runs right down there by The Partridge Inn. So, it is a good neighborhood and a good spot.” And because Beck has already proven he can provide the AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Summerville area with a cozy, neighborhood atmosphere like Sheehan’s, he is encouraged by local residents’ early enthusiasm for his new restaurant. “A lot of the local people from the neighborhood will drive their golf carts over or walk up to see us at Sheehan’s,” Beck said. “I think the same will definitely be true at Beck’s. We’re already seeing that support.” With the addition of several new restaurants in recent years such as Abel Brown, Craft & Vine and Finch & Fifth to the Augusta area, Beck believes local residents’ palates have really matured over the past few decades.
“Augusta has really just been a hard nut to crack, as far as the culinary scene.” — John Beck “But I think that’s everywhere, really. People’s palates have changed as far as going out to dinner,” Beck said. “But, around here, Augusta has really just been a hard nut to crack, as far as the culinary scene. There have been a few restaurants back in the day, like Le Cafe DuTeau, that were a huge hit. And, to me, Cadwallader’s is still a very good restaurant. They’ve been there a long time. But Augusta is odd, from a culinary standpoint, because it has always been kind of a risk.” However, Augustans are really beginning to expect more out of local restaurants, Beck said. “The one thing about Augusta is it seems like all the kids go 16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
off to college and they all come back and raise their families here,” said Beck, who is an Augusta native. The same scenario is true for other local restaurant owners such as Todd Schafer of Abel Brown, Faulkner Warlick of Finch & Fifth and Brian Brittingham and George Claussen IV of Southbound Smokehouse, he said. “I was in Atlanta in the 1980s, and the culinary scene there wasn’t really much to talk about, but it is now,” Beck said. “If you go to Atlanta, there is just such a wide variety of pretty darn good places to go eat. And people get used to that and, yeah, I think they want it in their neighborhood, too.” Customers want restaurants in the Augusta area that can provide quality cuisines that are found in major cities throughout the country, Beck said. “And, certainly, many of those new restaurants seem to be kind of concentrated on the Hill, but they can also be found downtown with Sean Wight’s restaurants,” Beck said, referring to Craft & Vine, Farmhaus and Frog Hollow Tavern. “That is what’s great about Augusta. You think about Evans and, really, Cadwallader’s is the only place I can think of to get a really good dinner. I am sure that there are a few small, hole-in-the wall places that I haven’t been to, but that’s about it. I mean, my brother’s place is out in Martinez, French Market Grille West, but it is more of Creole/Cajun restaurant, so you have to be in the mood for that. But he does a very good job. However, between places like Abel Brown, Bodega Ultima and Frog Hollow, I mean, there are some really good places to eat in Augusta.” Beck said he takes great pride in being able to provide that same high standard to his guests at both Sheehan’s and now at Beck’s. “I think for people that really like to eat good food, that is starting at a much earlier age now. People’s palates are maturing so much earlier,” Beck said. “Now, people in their 20s expect good meals. Even my daughter, who is 11, she can tell you quick if she has had a good meal or not.”
“The truth is, people expect better food when they go out. So I think the people putting out quality food, they are the ones who are really successful.” — John Beck Such high expectations can only improve Augusta’s overall dining scene, Beck said. “The truth is, people expect better food when they go out,” he said. “So I think the people putting out quality food, they are the ones who are really successful. Here in Augusta and everywhere else.”
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Treat Yo Self Two Mom’s Cookies are almost too good to share
By Molly Swift
The AuguSTA AreA has seen its fair share of bakeries and specialty cake shops. Cake shops haven’t lasted too long, and let’s face it; many of the best cakes we get are from local restaurants. Cupcakes have also had their moments, and pie is ubiquitously omnipresent thanks to Publix, Huddle House and virtually all other places you can acquire food. Even chocolate has its own fabulous local mecca in La Bonbonniere. It is rare, however, to see a single business dedicated entirely to cookies. Two Moms Cookies is an exception to this rule. Since 2011, the bakery has forged ahead and created a stable niche for itself without much by way of any real competition. Self-described as a “quaint boutique,” Two Moms Cookies offers old-fashioned, handmade cookies with bonus features, such as chocolate chips, ginger, oatmeal raisin, butterscotch chips, peanut butter, pecans and many combinations of these staples. The store relocated not so long ago. It’s now inside the old fire station on Central Avenue behind Daniel Village. The light streams through the large windows, custom designed to fit the front fire station doors. The brick façade and white trim is a wonderful staple of Augusta architecture, and along with the Two Moms Cookies blue branding, brings to mind an America of years past. Wholesome, and full of home-baked goodness, and it does smell divine on the inside. The people behind the counter are super friendly, know their baked treats, and have mastered friendly customer service so much I actually wanted to talk with the lady who served me. That doesn’t happen all the time. They are also an affordable indulgence — you can get a half dozen of their massive cookies for under $10, while a dozen is $18. On display and clearly labeled, the first thing you notice about the cookies (aside from the aroma) is their size. Incredibly huge, the cookies at Two Moms Cookies are almost as big as my face — that’s not an exaggeration. On average they measure at 6 inches in diameter and more than an inch in thickness — put two together and they look like a meal. Buy six and try to stack them without toppling any and you could come up with some kind of bizarre and delicious cookie-based drinking game. Owned by Maggie Douglas, the bakery provides cookies baked from scratch with no preservatives. Using some of the most popular ingredients — peanuts, chocolate and more — each cookie is a simple blend of all your childhood cookie memories, desires and ambitions. The recipes are a family thing, originating from the Savannah cookie shop Two Smart Cookies, owned by a cousin of Maggie’s husband, who shared her recipes and approved of the Augusta store. (Thank you Maggie’s husband’s cousin!) Since opening, the shop has become a popular place for individual and group customers, especially during the holidays. Two Moms Cookies can handle everything from small orders to large events and occasions, such 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
as office parties, weddings and birthdays. Very flexible, the shop will work with their customers on design and type of cookie and offer the traditional cookies and iced sugar cookies. The only time this may not be the case is in the later weeks of the holiday season, such as now when we’re only days from Christmas weekend. That said, you can still walk into the shop for your ready to buy cookies and cookie bars. Being the holidays, Two Moms rolls out some seasonal faves, such as a chocolate chip and craisin oatmeal, Snickerdoodles and a gingerbread cookie. The traditional chocolate chip also meets praline in one of the many sublime combos, and I had to also devour a peanut butter, a Monster Cookie (which contains M&Ms and is giant), and a plain chocolate chip. The ginger was a revelation. I don’t usually enjoy gingerbread, if only because the actually spice itself is often washed out by too much added sugar. That is not the case here. The cookie was chewy, moist and strongly flavored by the ginger, but sweetened by the sugar. If my gingerbread houses tasted like this, I wouldn’t end up throwing half of them in the trash each December 26. Each cookie has its own appeal, and I really cannot single out one that was better than any of the others. The Snickerdoodle — which replaces sugar cookies for December only — is a guilty pleasure, and would likely be a big hit with those of us who’ve spent quality time with raw cookie dough and a bottle or two of wine. The pecan and praline double chocolate chocolate chip 22DECEMBER2016
sounded like it would leave a cloying film of sugar behind, but I was totally wrong. Perhaps now my favorite, the nuts and chocolate didn’t vie for attention, instead complementing one another without leaving any saccharine coating behind. Beautiful. Each bite of every cookie was mouthwateringly satisfying, and after I finished one, from somewhere deep within a warm glow of a chocolate/vanilla/nut embrace, my brain whispered, “it’s okay if you eat just one more…” So it went, until I found myself, tummy distended, staring at the large white empty box. Perhaps, as someone who also appreciates less sugary European style cookies, my only complaint is that I did need a glass of milk when I ate one. (Or more. I mean, I ate like eight cookies.) And seriously, that’s really not even a complaint, is it? More like a head’s up. Hey, hope these are the cookies you’re leaving out for Saint Nick, but just so you know, he’s gonna need some milk, too. Two Moms Cookies is located at 2830 Central Avenue. Open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5.30 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. To place an order, or just chat about cookies, call them on 706-755-2664 or find them online at twomomscookies.com.
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Glad TidinGs, Good Cheer
Windsor, Friedman’s and southeastern armory make last-minute shopping easy and fun iT is a TruTh universally acknowledged by those in the retail business that there is battle for business between buying local and shopping online. And while some buyers may lean toward purchasing online, that may work out when it’s early in early December, but not now that it’s now crunch time. “Nobody likes the situation where you order something online and it ends up being the wrong size, or they got a timepiece and it wasn’t sized correctly, so now they have to find a jeweler who will remove the links on a piece that was purchased someplace else,” said Windsor Jewelers’ Shane Thompson. “Or maybe it didn’t arrive, so you’re at that dreaded point where you’ve got to go to the computer, find the best photo you can, print it out and put it in a card. Everybody’s done that at least once.” Shoppers don’t have to resort to such measures, however, especially when choices at Windsor Fine Jewelers, Friedman’s Jewelers and Southeastern Armory abound. Windsor, of course, carries a wide array of designer jewelry for both men and women, as well as Pandora items, fashion jewelry lines in a variety of materials, men’s gift items like pens and money clips, estate jewelry, Arthur Court tableware, porcelain figurines and more. “To our benefit, and our detriment, we have a lot of inventory. I believe my dad (Windsor owner Donnie Thompson) would say that you could take everything out of the store and refill the showcases with what we have underneath. So as soon as we pull some pieces out we can refill them,” Shane explained. “Even on Christmas Eve. If you’ve been card hunting on Valentine’s Day, you know that you get there are there are only three
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different cards left. It’s not like that here. There’s no limited inventory, and we still have a bundle of choices. And it’s not just jewelry.” “That’s the difference between us and any other jewelry store,” Donnie Thompson told the Metro Spirit in November. “You can go in all the jewelry stores in the CSRA, and all of them combined won’t even get close to
the kind of inventory we have here. And I mean, in the state of Georgia, there’s no place. South Carolina, North Carolina — there’s no place that’s got the selection we’ve got.” Just down the street from Windsor is Friedman’s Jewelers, and the Thompsons’ sister store specializing in estate jewelry and other hard to find items boasts an
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inventory that rivals the original. Vintage bridal sets, fashion pieces with diamonds, precious and semi-precious gemstones, pre-owned Rolexes and Tag Heuers fill the cases of two big showrooms, and many pieces are arranged in cases by price. So while Windsor specializes in well-known designer names, Friedman’s has cornered the market on the unique. “Typically what you’ll find, along with being unique, is a price drop,” explained Friedman Jewelry Division Manager Rick Wortley. “So you can come in and find a beautiful estate piece at a much better price than you can buy new anywhere else. What you’ll find is something unique, priced right, high quality, with a warranty.” Wortley estimates that Friedman’s carries thousands of pieces priced at $100 and under, so it may be the perfect place to get a special first piece of jewelry for a pre-teen or teenaged
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family member. Friedman’s also has a large selection of men’s timepieces, with Luminox being an especially popular brand, as well as oneof-a-kind pieces like model ships and airplanes and more. A step through the doorway to Southeastern Armory, however, is all it will take to find a gift for the man in your life. An outdoorsman’s paradise located inside Friedman’s Jewelers, Southeastern Armory has a vast selection of firearms and accessories, ammunition, gun safes, specialty knives, emergency food, sunglasses, Yeti products, Nexbelts and more. Those who may have no interest in these kinds of activities, but still need to find a gift for someone in their family who does, can rest easy knowing that Southeastern Armory’s knowledgeable salespeople are available to help you figure things out no matter how busy they are. “It can be intimidating,” admitted Southeastern Armory
General Manager Jason Hawes, “but we’re all professional, friendly, down-toearth people who just try to help people figure it out. We just talk to them.” And if all else fails, Yeti products, an especially handy Wise Car Prep Kit including jumper cables, blankets, food and more for $80, or a gift certificate will always be a welcome addition under the tree. In fact, since half the fun of visiting Windsor and Friedman’s is trying on different pieces and picking out what works best, they offer gift certificates as well. After all, someone may ask for a particular piece of jewelry, but find after trying pieces on that something else looks much better. “Yes, it can be overwhelming,” Shane said, “but it’s supposed to be fun and it’s supposed to be something you get excited about.” For those who just have to present their significant other with that green box with a special piece inside, Windsor is happy to help and will making shopping fun for those who bring kids with them. Santa and Mrs. Claus have been making appearances in the store, as have Olaf and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen.” And even though it too late to order online from other places, Windsor even has those customers covered. “We have a lot of local people who purchase online with us, in some cases we’ve gone and delivered pieces to somebody’s house,” Shane said. That will make for a very Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah, all wrapped up in a little green box.
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Offered by appointment and includes a 30-45-minute guided tour and admission to the center. Self-guided tours are also available through an iPhone downloadable audio tour or a Google Maps-based tour. Guided tours: $5, adults; $3, students K-12. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Tours Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson Guided tours, approximately 45 minutes long, are offered Thursday-Saturday on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are available by advanced reservation. Adults, $5; seniors, $4; kids K-12, $3; under 5 years, free. Call 706-724-0436 or visit wilsonboyhoodhome.org.
Historic Trolley Tours of Augusta Augusta Visitors Center Tours aboard the Lady Libby available at the Augusta Visitors Center with 24-hour advanced reservations. Tickets include admission to the Augusta Museum of History. Call 706-724-4067 or visit visitaugusta.org.
Christmas Eve Concert with Lessons and Carols Sacred Heart Cultural Center Saturday, December 24 10:30 p.m. 706-724-9641 stjohnaugusta.org
ARTS Wed Dec 28
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 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
EDUCATION Thu Dec 22
10am - noon Computer Help Lab Wallace Branch Library Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon Dec 26
3:30pm - 5pm Intermediate Spanish Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Dec 27
10am - noon Foster Parent Orientation Necco Augusta A free weekly session. Pre-registration suggested. Call 706-2103435 or visit necco.org.
Wed Dec 28
5pm Success Starts With You Medical Associates Plus A workshop series for young and mature adults led by Prescilla Gary. This month’s topic is Mindset Makeover. Pre-registration required. Call 706922-1862 or email info@mapbt.com.
ELSEWHERE Ongoing
“Psychedelic Design: Rock Posters from the Mel Byars Collection, 1966-1971”
Wallace Branch Library Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Columbia Museum of Art An exhibition of posters from the 1960s San Francisco Bay area. On display through March 12. Call 803-799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
Ongoing
EXHIBITIONS
10am - noon Computer Help Lab
Applications for Enrollment SAIL: School for Arts Infused Learning, the recently approved statewide-enrollment charter school based in Augusta will hold its first school year beginning in August 2017 and is accepting applications for enrollment until January 15. The school is also accepting educator and operational personnel applications. For more information, visit sailga.org.
Magnet School/Program Applications Applications for Richmond County magnet schools and programs are now available. The deadline for turning in an application is January 6, 2017, and there will be open houses held through December 15. For more information, visit rcboe.org/magnet.
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 803640-2090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
Guided Tours 1797 Ezekiel Harris House Offered by appointment only Monday-Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
North Augusta Driving Tour
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Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta
Ongoing
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 706755-2878 or visit westoboufestival.com.
Rhythms Jessye Norman School of the Arts An exhibit by artist Troy Campbell whose work is inspired by music. It will be on display each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon-3 p.m. through December 31 in the Ann & Ellis Gallery. Visit jessyenormanschool.org/ann-and-ellisjohnson-gallery-of-art/.
Exhibits Augusta Museum of History Includes the following: “The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown; “Celebrating a Grand Tradition, the Sport of Golf”; “Augusta’s Story”; “A Community That Heals”; “Into 22DECEMBER2016
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the Interior: A History of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company”; “Local Legends”; “One Man, Two Ships: Lessons in History and Courage”; “A Quilt Journey”; and “Canteens to Combat Boots”. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
FLIX Thu Dec 22
2pm Teen Holiday Movie Appleby Branch Library Participants can bring their own snacks. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Dec 27
5:30pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2615 for weekly selections.
HEALTH Wed Dec 28
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 augusta.edu.
6:30pm - 8pm Infant CPR: AHA Friends and Family AugustaHealth Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Ongoing
Insure GA Open Enrollment The nonprofit Insure GA has 41 licensed health care navigators staffed in a call center with both English and Spanish speaking employees to help Georgians understand their options for insurance under the Affordable Care Act. In addition, navigators can help with hardship exemptions, re-enrollments and referrals to other programs like Medicaid and Medicare. They will also host in-person enrollment events in all 159 Georgia counties, and will host a Get Covered GA Tour with stops in major cities. The call center is staffed from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information about this free service, call 866-988-8246 or visit insurega.org.
Meditation Sessions The Yoga Center, North Augusta Led by members of the Southeastern Buddhist Community the first and second Wednesday of each month. Sessions are free and open to the public. Visit sebuddhist.org.
HOBBIES Ongoing
Master Gardener Class The Georgia Master Gardener Association is holding a new Master Gardener Class beginning in January. Master Gardeners are volunteers who provide educational and gardening services throughout the community. For more information, call 706-821-2350, email uge3245@uga.edu or visit ugaextension.org/county-offices/richmond.html.
Basic Genealogy Tutorials Headquarters Branch Library’s Georgia Heritage Room Free sessions offered by appointment. Call 706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
KIDS-TEENS Thu Dec 22
9am - noon Art at the Kroc: Be Sew Creative Kroc Center A three-session class for those ages 10-15 in which participants will learn how to make a dress and scarf. Pre-registration required. Visit krocsales.sauss.net.
6:30pm Merry Grinchmas
Kroc Center A three-session class for those ages 10-15 in which participants will learn how to make a dress and scarf. Pre-registration required. Visit krocsales.sauss.net.
10:30am Story Time for Tots
Sun Dec 25
Augusta Jewish Community Center free, member children; $5 per child, guests. Call 706-228-3636 or visit augustajcc.org.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time
4:30pm Menorah and Dreidel Decorating
Mon Dec 26
10:30am Jr. Lego Club Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Preregistration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Dec 27
7pm Character Life Skills Faith Outreach Church West A monthly course for teens who are transitioning from high school to college and work. December’s topic is funding your education. Classes are held the fourth Tuesday of each month. Free, but preregistration required. Visit eventbrite.com.
Wed Dec 28
Fri Dec 23
Maxwell Branch Library For those ages 3-5. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
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Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com. Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 0-3. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library An event featuring refreshments, stories, carols and more. Pre-registration required. Call 803-279-5767, ext. 1541, or visit abbe-lib.org.
9am - noon Art at the Kroc: Be Sew Creative
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time
10am Story Time
The Book Tavern Featuring “The Ninjabread Man” and a food craft at New Moon Cafe. Call 706-8261940 or email superawesomestorytime@ booktavern.com.
4:30pm 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
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. January 16 is registration deadline; February 15 is the late registration AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Sacred Heart Cultural Center Part of the Concerts with a Cause series, this one benefiting the United Methodist Children’s Home and featuring the Saint John Choirs and orchestras. Call 706-724-9641 or visit stjohnaugusta.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu Dec 22
6pm, 7pm and 8pm “Season of Light” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803-641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Fri Dec 23
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.
Sun Dec 25
6:30pm Community Chanukah Latke Dinner Augusta Jewish Community Center Members: $10, adults; $5, children 3-12; free, children 2 and under; $25, family max. Nonmembers: $13, adults; $7, children 3-12; free, children 2 and under; $35, family max. Preregistration by December 19 required. Call 706-228-3636 or email augustajcc2@hotmail.com.
Tue Dec 27
6pm Top 10 Wines and Cheese Pairings Whole Foods $5. Call 762-333-0260 or visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Wednesday, December 28 10:30 a.m. Featuring “The Ninjabread Man” and a food craft at New Moon Cafe. 706-826-1940 superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com deadline. Email Dr. Craig Albert at calbert@augusta.edu or visit augusta.edu/pamplin/pols/ juniormodelun.php.
LITERARY Wed Dec 28
6:30pm Book Club Kroc Center Open to anyone ages 25 and older interested in a fun, dynamic discussion. Books are selected by members and cover a variety of topics. Free. Call 706-922-0171 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
Thu Dec 29
10am Morning Book Club Maxwell Branch Library This month’s selection is “Homage to Catalonia” by George Orwell. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
MUSIC Thu Dec 22
10am - 4pm Holiday Concert Georgia Cancer Center Lobby Free and open to the public. Call 706-446-4400 or visit augusta.edu.
Sat Dec 24
Thu Dec 29
6pm, 7pm and 8pm “Season of Light” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803-641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Ongoing
Christmas in Hopelands Hopelands Gardens, Aiken A walk-through exhibit featuring more than two miles of lighted pathways and holiday displays with more than 100,000 lights. The exhibit is open 6-9:30 p.m. December 10, 11, 15-23, and 26, and the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, the Doll House and the Carriage Museum will also be open and decorated. Complimentary refreshments will be served in the Hall of Fame courtyard and at the Guest Cottage. Holiday entertainment will be provided most nights and, on select nights, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be inside the Rye Patch for photos. S’mores kits will be available at Citizens Park for $5 for use at the Rye Patch. A shuttle will run continuously from 5:45-9 p.m. from Citizens Park (there is no parking at Hopelands Gardens). Free. Call 803-642-7631.
Shoe Collection Drive Augusta area podiatrists are conducting a shoe collection drive of new and used shoes, which will be distributed to those in need in the local community. Donations may be brought to your local Augusta podiatrist’s office through January 2. All types of shoes are needed regardless of size, condition or type. Contact Dr. Kent Kronowski at 706-724-0586 or your local Podiatrist for more information.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS ONGOING
Fencing Classes Augusta Fencers Club Classes for children as young as six, as well as teens and adults, meet five nights a week. The next round of introductory classes will start Monday, January 23, and meet weekly. The 10-week course is $180, with all competitive equipment and text provided. The class meets as follows: teens ages 10-13 meet Mondays at 5 p.m.; youth ages 6-9 meet at 6 p.m.; and those 14 and up meet at 7 p.m. Call 706-722-8878, email rvolk1@comcast.net or visit augustafencersclub.com.
10:30pm Christmas Eve Concert with Lessons and Carols 26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
22DECEMBER2016
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SUPPORT Mon Dec 26
Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support Group
University Hospital For those with any type of cancer. Call 706774-5946 or visit universityhealth.org.
Provides group counseling at University Hospital for those who have experienced sexual assault, incest, rape or childhood sexual abuse. Call 706-724-5200 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue Dec 27
Alcoholics Anonymous
6pm Cancer Share
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 Dec 28
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.
Ongoing
Celebrate Recovery Journey Community Church This Christ-centered recovery program meets every Monday night at 7 p.m. The meetings last two hours and childcare is provided. Pre-registration suggested. Visit cr@journeycommunity.net.
Overeaters Anonymous Meets at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Unity Church, and at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 706-863-9534 or email oa.augusta.recovery@gmail.com.
Holds several meetings locally. For a current schedule, visit augustaaa.org/meetings.pdf.
Narcotics Anonymous Trinity Hospital of Augusta Meets Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Visit na.org.
THEATER
the gift of good food
Last-minute shopping can be a nightmare, particularly when you truly don’t have a clue what to buy. For many folks, an ideal gift begins and ends with good food, so a gift card or a gift certificate is perfect. We’ve saved you the hassle of trawling Facebook for what’s available in the Augusta area by calling around and asking our F&B friends what they have on offer. All of the following restaurants offer gift cards or certificates and some, as noted below, are offering specials on them until Christmas. Abel Brown Becks The Bee’s Knees
Nacho Mama’s oliviana Bar italiano & pizzeria Receive a 10 percent discount on gift cards of $100 or more
Craft & Vine
partridge inn and the p.i. grill
8pm Tales from the Box
Diablo’s
Pizza Joint
Le Chat Noir Comedy and improv by Schodinger’s Cat. $10, advance; $12, door. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Eli’s American Grille
Mon Dec 26
VOLUNTEER Ongoing
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 706868-0120.
farmhaus fat man’s mill Cafe
sheehan’s irish pub Buy a gift certificate for $100, and get a $25 one free Southbound Smokehouse Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 gift card
finch & fifth frog hollow tavern
T-Bonz Get a $20 gift card for every $100 gift card purchase
Hildebrandt’s Twisted Burrito The Hive Whiskey Bar (Kitchen) Laziza Mediterranean Grill Mellow Mushroom Buy a $25 gift card at any of their restaurants and get a $5 gift card as a gift
Wild Wing Café Buy a $50 gift card and get an additional $10 gift card Wife Saver
V27|NO51
Bar West - DJ Fugi Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Club Argos - Ugly Sweater Christmas Party Fox’s Lair - Christmas Eve Movies, Music and More Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.-3 p.m.); Trivia, nights The Highlander - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Ladies Night, Singles Night Somewhere in Augusta - NCAA Football Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Upcoming
Sunday, December 25 Live Music
- Bell Auditorium January 14
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Southbound Smokehouse - Second Annual Banks Tate Christmas Jam Wild Wing - Annual Christmas Jam The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
Circus #9
- Stillwater Taproom December 30 Perfect Picture
- Shannon’s December 31 The Phillip Lee Band
- Stillwater Taproom December 31 Sierra Hull
- Imperial Theatre January 13 Monica and Friends Hot Rize
- Imperial Theatre February 10 Vince Gill
- Bell Auditorium February 17 Dwight Yoakam
- Bell Auditorium March 3 Garrison Keillor
- Bell Auditorium March 8
Monday, December 26 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
Steep Canyon Rangers
- Bell Auditorium April 27
Elsewhere B.O.B.
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
Third Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party Club Argos Saturday, December 24 9 p.m.-2 a.m. facebook.com/ClubArgos/ Thursday, December 22 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Beats Down Under Open Mic hosted by Happy Bones Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Sky City - Festivus of Bands w/ Sibling String, WM3, Eskimojitos, Able + Beltz + Lee Southbound Smokehouse - Matt Acosta Stillwater Taproom - Workingman’s Union Wild Wing - Kenny George Band The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
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
Friday, December 23 30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Live Music
Bar West - Live Music Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club - Michael Stacey Eli’s American - Friday Night Live Fox’s Lair - Mr. Jukebox Gerry Petrin The Highlander - The Least Likelys Shannon’s - Terence Lonon and the Untouchables Sky City - Festivus of Bands w/ Dredneck Family Reunion, Jemani, 420 Outback, Happy Bones, OP4 Somewhere in Augusta - Old Man Crazy Southbound Smokehouse - Scarlet Begonias The Stables at Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Jimmy Easton Stillwater Taproom - Bethany and the Southside Boys Whole Foods - Music @ the Turn Wild Wing - The Unmentionables The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn World of Beer - Nick Bryant
What’s Tonight?
Soul Bar - Xmas (R)evolution Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Saturday, December 24 Live Music
Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
Tuesday, December 27 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. Fisher and the Undefeated Army 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 Somewhere in Augusta - Big Prize Trivia Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper
- Smith’s Olde Bar, Atlanta December 24 R. Kelly
- Fox Theatre, Atlanta December 27 Waka Flocka Flame
- Center Stage, Atlanta December 29 Anthony Hamilton
- Fox Theatre, Atlanta December 30 Drivin’ N’ Cryin’
- Center Stage, Atlanta December 30 Indigo Girls
- City Winery, Atlanta December 31 Yacht Rock Revue
- Georgia Theatre, Athens January 6 Matisyahu
- City Winery, Atlanta Janury 8 Umphrey’s Mcgee
- The Tabernacle, Atlanta January 13-15
Wednesday, December 28 Live Music The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Shameless Dave Wild Wing - Clay Page Duo
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 Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone w/ Tyrone Burston and Rollin Jay Moore Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
V27|NO51
SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Michele McDowell, Kellie Bertrand and Marty Powell at Craft & Vine.
Nicole and Chris Smith with Andrea Beal and Daniel Brittingham at Southbound Smokehouse.
Eric Thomas with Megan and Matthew Rodgers at Southbound Smokehouse.
Mary Bryson Stuckey, Clark Wright and Haley Rohe at Southbound Smokehouse.
Dee and Karen Bruker with Adelle Dennis and Paul King at Craft & Vine.
Natasha Hendrix, Wendy Dygert and Amy Riggs at Bar West.
Chuck Hardin, Melinda Jones and Judy Whitaker at Fox’s Lair.
Shawn Busby, Art Evans and Amanda Wikert at Fox’s Lair.
William C. Watkins, Mary Lou Watkins and Cathy Jennings at the Sports Center. 22DECEMBER2016
RETRONYMS By Tom McCoy/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 “The cauldron of Democracy” 8 Leaving word 13 Figure skater Cohen 18 Opponents of the Protestant Reformation 19 Pickup truck’s capacity, maybe 20 Common word in insurance company names 21 Dialect that was called 22-Across before the age of colonialism 23 Giving heat? 24 Share 25 Dummy symbols in ciphers 26 Fever fit 28 ____ point 29 “Fernando” band 31 Stops 33 System that was called 34-Across before the Internet 35 Concept that was called 36-Across before research into the square root of negatives 37 Airport figs. 38 PBS’s “____ Can Cook” 39 Small newt 40 Coins that pay for passage over the River Styx 41 Believes (in) 43 Gridiron gains: Abbr. 45 Terrier carrier 47 ____ splints (runner’s ailment) 48 Machinelike 51 Cackle from a greedy person 52 Food that was called 53-Across before Twizzlers and the like 54 Skimobile, informally 55 “Tell me how you really feel!” 57 Gross 58 Squeeze (out) 59 Symbol for density 62 Cinnamon candies 65 Personal datum: Abbr. 67 Jackson 5 No. 1 hit 70 Against 72 W.W. II danger 74 Source of the saying “It is more blessed to give than to receive” 78 Fastener that was called 80-Across before a rounded design was implemented 82 Dancer Duncan 85 Belonging to the highest level 86 Part of the names of four state
1
capitals 87 Escapes 88 Whoop 89 Rids of vermin, in a way 91 Peddler’s stock 92 Quaint contraction 93 Nickname of a “Game of Thrones” dwarf, with “the” 95 Realtor’s goal 96 Entertainment category that was called 97-Across before talkies 98 Object that was called 100-Across before electronic documents 101 “Good enough” 102 ____ dixit 103 Part of Dixie: Abbr. 104 Ages and ages 105 Something you might have a gut feeling about? 106 Painter Jean 107 Horror and mystery 109 Activity that was called 111-Across before pesticides 115 Degree 116 Not belonging to anybody 117 Property recipient 118 Aids in filing 119 Main points 120 “Oh, jeez!” DOWN 1 Police broadcast, for short 2 Disfigure 3 Climax of many a fantasy novel 4 Mass, e.g. 5 Doubter’s question 6 Small monetary amts. 7 Light-colored wood 8 Rod user 9 Apple alternatives 10 Reply to 5-Down 11 “Rosy-fingered” Greek goddess 12 Releases, dramatically 13 Without a doubt 14 Something to bank on 15 Look for business? 16 Site of the infamous Hoa Lo Prison 17 ____ bloom (result of fertilizer pollution) 19 Burdens 20 Home of Haleakala National Park 22 Empower 27 Stomach-related 29 South American corn cakes
30 Happened to 31 Mark of success in business? 32 Portrays feelings 33 Was horrible 34 Onetime title for Bernie Sanders 36 “Me neither” 37 Former attorney general Holder 41 “Oof!” 42 They go about two feet 44 Ailing 46 Spock’s rank: Abbr. 47 Declined 49 Target demographic for Hot Wheels 50 Bee follower 52 “Ta-ta!” 53 “The Simpsons” girl 56 Like the planet in “Dune” 60 “lol” 61 Upright 63 Observe 64 Drag away 66 Zilch 67 Opposite of fore 68 Tea Partiers in Congress, e.g. 69 Apparel also called clamdiggers 71 Agrees to fight 73 Like many wedding cakes 75 Purported rural shenanigan 76 Lags 77 Argument-ending reply 79 “Go ahead, I’m listening” 80 Like snakes 81 Ticket 83 Court reporter, e.g. 84 Helper: Abbr. 87 Caesar’s “Commentaries on the ____ War” 90 “The Real Slim Shady,” for one 91 Actor Bruce 94 Primps 96 “Brown Sugar” band, with “the” 97 Not as lax 98 Vibrating device 99 Siri : iPhone :: ____ : Amazon Echo 100 Go for 101 “____ even” 105 I’s 106 “O mio babbino caro,” for one 108 Be an agent (for) 110 Charles, par exemple 111 Ice Bucket Challenge, for one 112 Quaff in Middle-earth 113 Opposite of paleo114 Goal for some dropouts, for short
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3
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18
12
13
30
31 36
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68
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89 93
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81
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74 83
95
76
77
113
114
92
96
97
101
102
105 109
75
84
91
104 108
66
87
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103
65 73
86 88
50
58
64
72 80
44
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79
43
53
56
85
107
34
41
61
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111
115
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PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS P A S S G O
M A N U A L S
C A N N I B A L
P O T T U R S T I B T U L A T A P E W E B O N A M A N A D D N E S
H I P P I N L A T S A N T I E T A N D O T S D E A O B L S O U L B R I T L E N R I N I G D B E T O E E V A M E A P P B R E A Y S L S T U S S I
17
38
52
60
16
28
33
46
59
27
37
54
15
23 26
32
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14
20
25
35
98
11
22 24
67
10
19
21
29
9
E R N D D A S H B R I R E I I D S O O M G E T O P E N
C A N A R D S
S K I N N Y
O K A A C K N N E E N N
C O W M E N E N A B L E D N C I S L A
O N E O F K R O N O S C H A K R A
N G A S R A M P A T E R E X I S T A M A Z L I N E S A N D O S E D M I A A N D S U L D E L O G S O L E I L C S A N D O R N D L O S E A M C O N S
A P O T L O O E B H O I N C E C R U P P C B L R A A B S A F L E E N
L E T A T C E S T M O I
D R O N E B E E
L I F E V E S T
A N T L E R S
A M H E R S T
A N C S T A P I S T E S
V27|NO51
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS In a move that shocks exactly no one, the new Star Wars “story” lands on top of the charts with no problem. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
ROGUE ONE
$155,091,681
$155,091,681
1
-
2
MOANA
$12,726,232
$162,920,977
4
1
3
OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY
$8,587,528
$31,655,795
2
2
4
COLLATERAL BEAUTY
$7,102,085
$7,102,085
1
-
5
FANTASTIC BEASTS...
$5,071,323
$207,722,418
5
3
In Theaters December 23
FAMILY “Sing,” rated PG, starring Matthew
SCI-FI “Passengers,” rated PG-13, starring
ACTION COMEDY “Assassin’s Creed,” rated PG-13, starring “Why Him?,” rated R, starring Zoey
McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson. In a world like ours, just inhabited by animals instead of people, a koala named Buster must stage the greatest singing competition of all time to save the theatre he works for. Buster’s dream might not be the only one that comes true, though.
Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Andy Garcia. Two passengers on a spacecraft designed to gets its human cargo to a new planet in 120 years (but in a blink of an eye for them) wake up early… 90 years too early. Now they have figure out how to fix things before they die.
Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling. A time-traveling back and forth tale about a man named Cal whose lineage can be traced back to the assassins of the Spanish Inquisition. Bet he didn’t expect that, did he?
34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Deutch, James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally. Dad meets his daughter’s new boyfriend. Dad hates him on sight. Then dad finds out that said boyfriend, a rich dude who says anything that pops into his brain, plans to pop the question on Christmas. Let the games begin!
22DECEMBER2016
V27|NO51
NBC Did More Damage Than the Russians IT was peRsoNal INfoRMaTIoN that was devastating, and there is no doubt that it was true. It exposed hideous and highly immoral behavior and unspeakable language that was never intended for the public at large to ever read or hear. It was private communication between individuals who never intended their ruminations, observations or pithy comments to become public knowledge, much less public headlines. But they did, and as a result, much poop hit many fans. In two completely different, yet uncannily similar situations, privacy was violated, the law was likely broken and embarrassment was abundant. Many liberals in this country are ready to toss out the results of our national presidential election because they believe the exposure of the personal conversations of Hillary Clinton’s campaign director, John Podesta, and other important figures in the Democratic Party, via a series of compromised emails, handed the election to her opponent. They specifically believe Russian spies executed the hack at the explicit instruction of their President Vladimir Putin, to insure Clinton would lose and her opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump, would win. Many of the stolen emails featured comments between Podesta and other campaign allies that seemed to verify claims by the Bernie Sanders camp that top level Democratic Party officials were in the bag for Clinton, and working illicitly (and unethically) behind the scenes to derail and marginalize the senator’s challenge of Secretary Clinton in the primary. Also, there were emails and comments from Hillary herself which exposed political duplicity and open disdain for a number of party faithful, information that also served to embarrass and expose the veteran politician as the wishy-washy, “politically soulless” hypocrite her detractors always knew her to be. A lot of the specific dirt that was exposed was freshly mined material, several of the stolen emails discussed debates and political business that had occurred just a few weeks before. It was quite a scandal to be sure and, to their credit, none of the implicated individuals, most notably the candidate and Podesta themselves, attempted to deny authorship of the purloined missives. If we are to believe her whiny supporters, Clinton’s campaign ultimately failed because the Russians got their hands on these private communiqués, and by passing them to Julian Assange’s controversial Wikileaks organization, became colossal “tattle-tales.” But I don’t buy that. I am a political conservative and, as such, I would have voted for any candidate that gave us the best chance of defeating Clinton and, yes, ultimately to prove that point, I voted for Donald Trump. It wasn’t a vote I was excited or proud to cast, but I haven’t been in that position in a presidential election since 1988. That said, the email information “revealed” by the Russians, or whomever, didn’t mean a hill of beans to me. It was interesting to be sure, and reinforced my longstanding opinions about the personal integrity of the Democratic Party leadership, but it certainly did not influence my vote. The entire “email hacking” affair did underscore the vital importance that American officials maintain an extraordinary level of diligence and seriousness when it comes to following security protocols involving government computers. Clearly Clinton’s epic breaches regarding “server-gate” were fresh in the minds of some voters considering her fitness to be trusted with sensitive materials. There appears to be a consensus among intelligence officials working in President Barack Obama’s administration that the Russians are in fact responsible for the theft of the emails, and the resulting game of “tattle-tale” that ensued. Putin denies it, but since the Russians are believed to be heavily involved in cyber espionage outside election season, it certainly would not surprise me if they pulled this one. Shame on them if they did, and I hope the president follows through on his threat to punish them. However he can do that. Now, what can President Obama do to NBC? On the same day back in October that the most damaging Podesta emails were released, the Washington Post reported that NBC News was in possession of the now infamous Donald Trump-Billy Bush “pussy-grab” recording. And they were holding the story. It was an 11-year-old recording of a private conversation between 36 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Trump and the Access Hollywood reporter. A recording that, since neither Bush nor Trump knew was being made at the time, was technically illegal. Unless you have been living under a rock, you know the nature of the conversation. Bush was apparently made aware that a tape of that conversation existed soon after that, and according to reports, he communicated that information to NBC News officials at some point in Trump’s primary run. It has also been reported that network officials knew about the tape back in July, because it was a topic of “behind the scenes” discussions during their coverage of the Summer Olympics in Brazil. For the record, NBC News says they were “vetting” the story and “clearing it through legal,” but any first-year journalism student can tell you that information of this magnitude justifies public release without fear of successful litigation, much like the hacked emails did, or for that matter, the same type of stolen/leaked material that was used to build the Washington Post’s Pulitzer Prize winning Watergate stories. The “public’s right to know” outweighs privacy concerns in these matters, and that has pretty much been confirmed since the tape was released without legal consequence. Of course, Trump immediately apologized, but at that point his candidacy was considered “dead in the water” and for days after the revelation, news reports were full of speculation that he would soon be announcing his withdrawal, and the coronation of Hillary Clinton had all but begun. Ironically the Wikileaks releases, which proved Hillary and her team to be lying, cheating, political hypocrites, were never considered by any of the mainstream press to be a “deal breaker.” The subsequent FBI announcements involving new inquiries into her failure to secure top secret government materials was thought to be “troublesome,” but no one, and I mean no one in the mainstream press was pronouncing her candidacy “DOA” the way that they had been for Trump when his scandal broke. Trump’s scandal proved what most of us knew anyway, that he was a loud mouthed, ill-mannered, skirt chaser who loved to talk trash about good-looking women. You know, an honorary Kennedy. Hillary’s scandal proved she and her staff were paranoid to the point of cheating in the primary, and highly disrespectful of several of the key constituencies of her career long political party. Not to mention she was flippant and dismissive of concerns about the security risk she created with “server-gate,” which is astoundingly ironic given that the entire mess she had on her hands came as a result of hacked computers. Most conservatives understand how Trump has lived his life, and it goes without saying that we would not have wanted our daughters around him a few years ago. But we also understand Hillary, and what she represented politically for our future. We choose Trump. Besides, at his most profane, Trump looks like an angel compared to the documented behaviors of Hillary’s husband, and the husband of her number one aide Huma Abedin, the notorious Anthony Weiner. Bottom line, Hillary and her team have no moral high ground from which to condemn Trump’s decade old conversation. If the Russians did intend to get Trump elected, I give them credit. They not only defeated Hillary Clinton, but 95 percent of the Hollywood entertainment industry, NBC News and the rest of the mainstream media. And they did it simply by being a “tattle-tale.”
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. 22DECEMBER2016