Table of Contents January 12, 2017 Whine Line 4
The Millennial Generation
Insider Feature Cuisine Scene Metroweek What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight Movie Review Austin Rhodes
8 10 14 16 17 18 22 24 26 28 29 30
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.
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OPINION
The Whine Line I sure wish our roads could be fixed up as fast as when the Augusta National paid for that Berckman’s Road work to be done. Or as fast as they managed to tear down the buildings on land they just bought. These days, every kind of diversity imaginable is now embraced or even enforced with the one exception of diversity of thought, and isn’t thought what really makes us human? Are you getting freaked out yet? The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement recently released its updated list of CHRONICALLY FAILING SCHOOLS. The 2015-16 listing included twenty-one(21) Richmond County public schools, up from nineteen(19) during the 2014-15 school year. Looks like Pete, Marion and Jimmy are leading the RCBOE, the RCSS and Augusta toward a third-world disaster. Just a little more than one week till trumpcare takes affect. I can’t wait to see my premium and deductibles drop. I have to say, it’s pretty despicable that a fast food place won’t give you a cup of water after buying their food. No I don’t want to buy a $2.00 bottle of water or your crappy overpriced fountain drinks. If this is going to be your stores policy, you should at least have a water fountain, otherwise your basically forcing people to buy something they don’t want. So now another strip club bites the dust. What about that dancer? Where’s she dancing now when the city would not give her a license to dance privately? Were the cows happy that so much milk was bought off so quick for what has been three days of freezing weather? Sad though the St. Luke UMC fire is, your article “THROUGH THE FIRE” is a jewel of journalism--engaging, informative and moving. Writer Amy Christian and photographer Joshua Bailey provide pages that come to life. Thank you! over nine million *GALLONS* of sewage has flowed out around children and animals all over yards and into homes? Hurry up, Augusta, and clean up that mess! Where’s the Environmental Protection Agency? Where’s Animal Control? They need to assess the harm to those children and animals in the area, not to mention the adults. And what about the gators and other animals in Phinizy Swamp? Were they touched by any of that sewage? I sure hope not! One tweet over the line, sweet Jesus, one tweet over the line. Yes, children, Trump is going to solve all our problems when he continues taunting Kim Jong Un. No more sickness, poverty, sadness, politicians or big corporations. Well, maybe some survivors with radiation poisoning.
Over the holidays, I was at Lenox mall at closing; they were actually waiting to lock the doors behind me. Security came up and asked, “Would you like me to escort you out to your car, ma’am?” (Could have skipped that whole Ma’am thing.) Same scenario at Augusta mall several days later. This time the security told me, “Move along, c’mon, move along,” stepped inside, and locked the doors in my face. “That’s Augusta,” I thought. Speaker Ryan said that Trump doesn’t want to believe the U.S. intelligence assessment of Russian involvement in the Presidential election because to do so would allow Democrats to question the legitimacy of his presidency. Is Ryan supporting Trump in denying any fact that makes their party look bad? My guess is that even though it looks like a swamp, smells like a swamp, and is populated with swamp like creatures, for the next four years republicans just plan on denying that it is a swamp. Still waiting to see all of these big time movies on the silver screen that all supposedly being filmed in Augusta. Just opened Ron Cross’s monthly promo-self [a.k.a. CC water bill insert]. Item #3: Building Standards. “During 2016 the County Commission and staff began to be concerned about housing density, setbacks, clear cut grading. // Recent revisions to our ordinances change the way neighborhoods are developed requiring more thoughtful design, more open space with more saved trees, less grading, and more separation between residential and commercial development.” “Began to be concerned”?!! Ron... where have you been? Citizens have been talking about these problems for years. The problem is you closed your ears and looked the other way. Those had to the most demeaning words you have ever sent to the citizens of Columbia County. There are many of us who cared about the county before your ‘2016 vision’. Disgusting! Please step aside before you destroy what is left of Columbia County. Whine on the Buca di Bepo for not informing their workers of the closure before they spent time and monies to arrive and then depart from work. That’s just plain thoughtless and unappreciative of that restaurant. And why am I still getting e-mail to come buy stuff for football games from them? The more I read The Whine Line the dumber I get. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. Now I will be stuck in this dead-end job until they figure out how dumb I have gotten and then I will get fired. After that I will be able to stumble around downtown drunk, sleep under the bridge and hold up a sign that states: “If you read The Whine Line this will also happen to you. Please help! I need liquor to survive, thank you and have a nice day.” All because I read The Whine Line...thanks again, I do appreciate it.
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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NEWS
The Millennial Generation: 10 | Keeping It Fresh: 14
Did the City Really Dump Sewage in South Augusta? MANY RESIDENTS in south Augusta were in total disbelief and disgust last week when an employee of Augusta’s utilities department actually dumped wastewater into the nearby Rocky Creek following flooding throughout a number of local neighborhoods. Several homeowners in south Augusta discovered toilet paper and other sewage particles floating down Rocky Creek during the first few days of 2017. Happy New Year, south Augusta residents! Enjoy some sewage courtesy of the city of Augusta! Such actions are totally unacceptable. But the rest of Richmond County shouldn’t think they avoided the raw sewage because Rocky Creek just happens to dump into both Phinizy Swamp and the Savannah River. Needless to say, it wasn’t a particularly good day for Augusta Utilities Director Tom Wiedmeier. One of his employees had literally dumped a load of sh** in his lap and all over south Augusta. Wiedmeier did the absolute best he could to explain the employee’s actions, but they were really indefensible. “He was trying to get the water out of their yard as soon as possible,” Wiedmeier told WJBF News Channel 6 last week. “What he should have done and started doing after that was haul it to the wastewater plant. It was the heat of the moment and it won’t happen again.” Augusta should hope not. But apparently it didn’t just happen once. South Augusta residents told the news station that the city employee dumped the sewer water into the creek at least three times. Ugh. Such actions could cause the spread of fecal bacteria throughout the nearby neighborhoods in south Augusta. The dump was so extreme that the city agreed to lay down lime in some streets in south Augusta to help mitigate the foul smell. Not long after the employee’s unthinkable action, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division was notified and it began investigating the incident, according to WJBF. As a result of his actions, the city employee was reprimanded. It was not a proud week for Augusta’s utilities department. The sad part of the whole situation is Wiedmeier is actually a very professional and competent department director. He is one of the best in Richmond County. Unfortunately, some of his employees apparently aren’t doing him proud. For Wiedmeier’s sake, let’s hope the utilities department employees begin thinking twice before committing such disastrous actions like dumping sewage into a local creek. After all, this is the same department that caused 8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
quite a controversy last year when the Highland Avenue Water Treatment Plant experienced a “spike in turbidity” that resulted in a totally uncoordinated boil water advisory in major sections of Richmond County. While, in no way, shape or form did last year’s problems at the water treatment plant seriously endanger the health of the public, it still disrupted the operations of schools, hospitals and several businesses in Augusta. The problem occurred because the city of Augusta did not quickly notify the public that there were was a problem with a “spike in turbidity” at the plant. The truth of the matter is, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division was concerned enough about the incident that it called for a boil water advisory for a large portion of the county on that same day. Such an advisory should have immediately meant all hands on deck. Instead, it took more than two hours for the utilities department to begin notifying the public. When the Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency finally did get word of the boil water advisory, it didn’t send out any notifications until after 7 p.m. that day. Most local news stations didn’t have enough information available about the boil advisory for their 6 o’clock news broadcast that evening.
The Augusta Chronicle didn’t post a story about the boil watery advisory until after 7 p.m. on the day that the boil water advisory was issued. And then, finally, there was an official email sent out to the public just after 9:30 p.m. from Dee Griffin, the public information officer for the Augusta Fire Department and Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency. The email was titled, “Augusta Leaders Urge Residents and Businesses to Comply with Boil Water Request.” By that point, what was most people’s reaction to this urgent email? “Zzzzzzzzz,” as they were snoring in bed. Such incidents definitely mean that all of the city’s departments need to be better coordinated and aware of any potential health risks to the public. As soon as an incident occurs, the public needs to be notified. Even if that means that a city employee must quickly acknowledge and admit that he has dumped wastewater into a neighborhood creek. As terrible as it sounds, residents deserve to know the truth about such incidents as soon as possible.
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Project Jackson is Moving Forward THERE IS NO DENYING IT. A lot of people across the river from North Augusta seriously doubted that Project Jackson was going to move forward. The main reason for the skepticism was the growing success of downtown Augusta. “Say, what?” some of you might be asking. Well, believe it or not, Augusta has announced some pretty impressive developments over the past year regarding its future economy. In November, the city announced not one, but two new hotels that would be moving into the downtown area that could potentially equate to $60 million in investments. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Even more exciting was the fact that the two new hotels are planned for completely different areas of downtown Augusta. Last fall, developers announced a proposed five-story Hyatt House hotel with a 140-space parking deck was scheduled to be built on the upper end of Broad Street at the current site of the former Capitol City Bank & Trust building by a local investment group headed by John Engler of DTJR, LLC. The Hyatt House hotel, which is expected to offer at least 100 rooms, will be located right next to the Frog Hollow Tavern on the 1200 block of Broad Street. The other new hotel announced late last year will be constructed along Reynolds and Ninth streets, directly across from the city-owned Augusta Convention Center and parking garage. Augusta Riverfront LLC — a company owned by William S. Morris III, the publisher of The Augusta Chronicle — plans to build the new 125-room hotel at the site of the former city jail along Reynolds Street. So, what does that have to do with our friends in North Augusta? The success of a neighboring city and its future amenities can influence a proposed development in another town. Some major players in the Augusta area thought Project Jackson was dead as soon as the two new hotels in downtown Augusta were announced. People thought that Augusta’s success was sucking future revenue from North Augusta Then, when longtime North Augusta Mayor Lark Jones announced late last year that he would not seek reelection after more than 30 years with city of North Augusta, many skeptics saw that as the writing on the wall: Project Jackson was dead. After all, why would an extremely successful and popular mayor who has won re-election a whopping five times since first taking over the mayor’s office in 1997 suddenly decide he was not seeking reelection? This is the same man who served as a city councilman for more than a decade, before he was even elected as mayor in 1997. Lark Jones is North Augusta. Folks absolutely love him there. So some people speculated that Jones was leaving office in May before the true fate of Project Jackson was announced. That was the theory, at least. However, that theory doesn’t really give Jones the credit he deserves considering he has been a political powerhouse in North Augusta for decades while Augusta mayors such as Larry Sconyers, Bob Young and Deke Copenhaver have come and gone. Still many locals thought there was some suspicious timing to Jones’ announcement. Rumors continued to spread when Jones kept making statements to the local media such as, “If North Augusta’s biggest controversy is whether or not we do a $160 million to $180
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million economic development project on the river, then we are doing pretty good.” The “whether or not” part of that statement kept bothering some folks. But if Jones and the city of North Augusta are playing chicken with the public regarding its plans for Project Jackson, they are officially the world champions. Just this past week, The Augusta Chronicle reported that the North Augusta City Council gave unanimous approval for a refinancing of the Medac parking garage to get funding to start preparing the Project Jackson site. The vote allowed a $6 million “line of credit” to be accessed for site work, according to The Chronicle. So, work is continuing on the site. But the question is still, will the entire, completed project ever really materialize? The estimated cost of Project Jackson is reported to be around $140 million, so North Augusta still has a long way to go. However, the city is moving forward, determined that a ballpark is in its future. Augusta residents should wish North Augusta nothing but the best. A stadium across the river in North Augusta could only benefit restaurants and shops in downtown Augusta. Let’s just hope that Lark Jones will be able to start to see real progress on the new stadium before he leaves office in May.
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the millennial Generation Bringing Downtown Augusta into the Future
By Stacey Eidson WhAt Do millenniAls reAlly WAnt? That has been the question on the minds of marketers, employers, college recruiters and, let’s face it, parents for more than a decade. The millennial generation, typically described as the group of people born after 1980 and before 2000, has specific needs unlike the baby boomers of the past. After all, most millennials have been digitally wired since childhood. That’s not a criticism. That’s a simple fact. To say most millennials work, learn, communicate, live and play differently than their parents, and especially their grandparents, is obvious. But millennials should not be underestimated. They are just as ambitious and determined as their predecessors. They just like to do things their own way. “Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of millennials said they would rather make $40,000 a year at a job they love than $100,000 a year at a job they think is boring,” the Brookings Institution reported in a 2014 study called “How Millennials Could Upend Wall Street and Corporate America.” More than one in three American workers today are millennials, according to a recent analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau by the Pew Research Center. Just last year, millennials surpassed Generation X to become the largest share of the 10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
American workforce. In fact, it is estimated that, by 2025, millennials will make up as much as 75 percent of the workforce. Times are changing and Augusta is hoping to strengthen its ability to attract and retain some of those millennials by creating a new downtown development called the Augusta Innovation Zone. Founded by a collection of young “action leaders” and local businesspeople, including former Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, John Cates, Virginia Claussen, Tom Patterson, George Claussen and Tommy Wafford, the Augusta Innovation Zone is not about just developing more office space and new downtown apartments along Eighth and Broad streets. The Augusta Innovation Zone, otherwise known as the AIZ, is about creating a culture and community like none other in the downtown area. It’s about an environment that replaces isolating cubicles with open-office workspaces that are located just seconds from retail shops, high-end lofts and even a rooftop bar and grill, Copenhaver said. “For someone in their 20s, to be able to get up in the morning, grab some coffee down below your loft, walk across the street to work in an incredibly positive atmosphere and, then, at the end of the day, go up on the rooftop and have a drink, that is a pretty cool living environment,” Copenhaver said. “We really believe this is going to become a destination.” 12JANUARY2017
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“The question is: What does downtown Augusta not have?” — George Claussen The project, which includes both the historic Woolworth Department Store and the Johnson Building located on the corners of Eighth and Broad streets, began after Tom Patterson, the vice president of the Global Security for Unisys, started talking about the need for a designated “innovation zone” in Augusta, Copenhaver said. “Tom came to me one day this past summer and said, ‘You need to find me one city block that we can designate as the Augusta Innovation Zone,’” Copenhaver said. “Now, knowing a lot of property owners downtown, I thought, ‘Gosh, getting an agreement within one entire block is not going to be an easy thing to do.’” However, after talking to Dallas Hooks, owner of the Johnson Building, Copenhaver began to envision a new possibility. “It is not a block on Broad Street, but it is a block going back from Broad to Ellis Street, which I knew would work,” Copenhaver said, adding that he then discussed the project with local developer and hotelier T.R. Reddy, who owns the Woolworth building. “T.R. was very agreeable to the idea. It’s exciting because when we talk about the growth of Fort Gordon around Cyber Command, that’s great, but because we are trying to sell Augusta to these new businesses for them to move here, it is good to be able to have a product and say, ‘This is what we are doing to be proactive.’ This innovation zone gives us a chance to bring those people into town and say, ‘We have developed this space into something that is truly innovative for the community.’” Of course, one of the first questions the AIZ team usually gets from local residents is, what exactly is an innovation zone? Tommy Wafford, the CEO of MealViewer and a founding member of the AIZ team, described the innovation zone as a “coworking, operating space that works much like a gym membership.” “For example, let’s say you are an independent contractor or a freelance graphic designer and you just need a desk to sit at from time to time,” he said. “There will be a membership fee and you will be able to come in, sit down and pick up a desk. It’s called hot-desking and it will be 12JANUARY2017
an area that is dedicated to all those people who just need a desk from time to time.” However, the innovation zone also offers more permanent workplaces for its members, he said. “There will be another area for dedicated desks,” Wafford explained. “So maybe I’m a graphic designer or a videographer and I want to set up my own monitor and not have to tear that down every day. I want a dedicated desk where I can come in and work. We offer that, too.” The next step was to provide an option for those ever-growing companies that are constantly adjusting the size of their staff, he said. “They will say, ‘I have a three-man team now and I need an office,’” Wafford said. “Instead of going in and building walls, we want to maintain the kind of cool, community vibe, so we are going to refurbish shipping containers into offices and put glass walls in them.” Each new company will be able to put their logos on the outside of their containers, he said. All of the companies will also still be able to stay connected to the entire culture of the innovation zone by simply heading to the roof of their offices, he said. “Each container is going to have rooftop of its own,” Wafford said. “They will be railed and, in the middle of the day, if the staff wants to be part of the community, they can go work on top of their office space. There is enough ceiling height to facilitate that. So they will be able to look out and see everything going on from up there.” The designation of each company and assigned desk will also have a creative twist that many Augustans will find very familiar, Wafford said. “In the Woolworth building, we are going to concept the entire interior around our city because we want it to feel like home the moment people walk in,” Wafford said. “So, there is going to be a central corridor to the building. It is going to be all open concept, but the central corridor is going to be identified as Broad Street. It is going to have cross streets coming to different parts of the building, so you are actually going to be able to give your location in the building using street names.” So guests can quickly and easily locate the company or individual they are scheduled to meet with by using street directions, he said. “You will be able to come to reception and check in and then they will be able to say, ‘You are going to go down to the corner of Broad and James Brown and their office is on the right,’” Wafford said. “It
will be so cool. The building will also have a 150- to 200-seat small auditorium on the back wall, so you will also have presentation space.” With these kinds of accommodations, along with the area’s low cost of living, Wafford believes that Augusta will be able to attract exciting new tech startups from all over the country. “We are going to sincerely be able to tell young entrepreneurs, ‘You know, Wi-Fi is just as good in Augusta as it is in San Francisco and you can cut your living expenses in half,” he said. “We will be able to recruit some incredible technical talent into Augusta for that one reason.” In addition to the various street names inside the open office, Wafford said the AIZ team is planning an “elevated pitching area” in the building that will be called “The Hill.” “We are all familiar with The Hill here in Augusta, so it seemed like a good fit,” he said. “Then we are going to have a podcast studio in the front of the building that will be against the glass wall. So people are going to be able to sit out front and watch the studio as it is being recorded.” And since many of the employees of these startup companies work sometimes more than 12 hours a day, Wafford said it is important for the AIZ to provide an environment that is fun and yet conducive for productivity. “There are some things that we need to provide from a facility standpoint that isn’t typical,” Wafford said, adding that having beer on location is one of those amenities. “There has got to be some recreation, too, because your brain can only focus so many hours a day, so it also has to be a lot of fun.” Meybohm Realtors’ General Counsel John Cates, who is also a founding member of the AIZ team, said it is amazing to see how quickly some of these startup companies expand and develop. “Most of them are young and hungry and ready to go,” Cates said. “We need to be able to offer them what they want and need.” After all, huge projects such as the Atlanta Tech Village, which is home to more than 200 companies, didn’t happen overnight. “People always talk about all this cybersecurity stuff that is coming and the fact that Augusta has the opportunity to be the hub of cybersecurity and technology, but that is not just going to happen,” Cates said. “I think that is the misconception a lot of people around here have. You have to be proactive to have an actual product so that you can say, not only, ‘Hey, we think you should come to Augusta. End of story,’ but instead, ‘We think you should come to downtown Augusta and check out the innovation zone.’” AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989 METROSPIRIT 11
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“We are going to sincerely be able to tell young entrepreneurs, ‘You know, Wi-Fi is just as good in Augusta as it is in San Francisco and you can cut your living expenses in half.’” — Tommy Wafford But the key is, Augusta needs to have a starting point, Cates said. “It is not going to happen on its own, you have to have a start,” he said. “So we view this as a starting point. We really don’t want this just to be about our project. But we call it, ‘The Soul of the Cyber District,’ because we wanted it to be that heartbeat, where once you light a spark here through innovation, an incubator and coworking space, there is no telling what other offshoots that will come out of what we are trying to start here.” AIZ is not only providing eager young professionals involved in businesses such as tech firms and startups with an energized new atmosphere to work, but it is also a great place to call home, said Virginia Claussen, a founding member of the AIZ team. “We are having more and more urban dwellers moving back to Augusta and I think downtown would be the perfect place that they would want to work, live and play,” she said. “To have an entire city block from Broad all the way to Ellis Street for the innovation zone, I think will really serve as the anchor that downtown Augusta has been missing.” The fact that the innovation zone is within walking distance of the Augusta Common and is facing the opening in the levy on Eighth Street are all extremely appealing aspects for new residents, Wafford said. “Eighth Street is where the Augusta Market at the River is located,” Wafford said. “If you want to do outdoor activities, Eighth Street is the place. There is also great parking. It is one of the rare areas on Broad Street that has several parking lots around it. And then with what is going on with The Miller Theatre, I think it could change this entire area. Places like The City Club can come back online and you are going to have more opportunities for restaurateurs to come down and service this new foot traffic that has been created.” George Claussen IV, co-owner of Southbound Smokehouse on Central Avenue and a founding member of the AIZ team, is heading the concept for the rooftop bar and grill to be located at the former Woolworth building. “It is such a big space with about 12,000 square feet, so I think we are maybe looking at a multi-restaurant concept on the roof,” George Claussen said, explaining that there will likely be a main restaurant in the middle of the roof with a 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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From left to right, Tommy Wafford, George Clausen, Virginia Clausen, John Cates and Deke Copenhaver. coffee/breakfast area on the left side of the building and a lunch/deli concept on the righthand side. “I don’t think it’s something that I could handle doing all three places, but maybe I will focus on the main restaurant and then I’ll sub out the left and right-hand side.” At the end of the month, George Claussen said he is meeting with a friend from Denver who owns about 10 different restaurants to discuss some of his ideas for the rooftop bar and grill. “It is all about just trying to get the right idea,” George Claussen said. “The question is: What does downtown Augusta not have? Well, pizza, I think we have that covered pretty well. Even Mexican with what Sean Wight is doing downtown and with Nacho Mama’s. So it is all about trying to figure out what makes sense and not take away from anybody else. Because the rooftop bar on its own is going to be popular no matter what is up there.” Also, as the founder of Friends With Benefits — the production and promotion company that brings shows such as The Major Rager to downtown Augusta — George Claussen said he expects the new rooftop bar to include some live music. “There will definitely be music associated with it, but it’s not going to be a full-on 1,000-person concert on the roof,” Claussen said, laughing. “Again, I don’t want to take away from places like Sky City or The Miller. I mean, the last thing you want to do is open up something new and close two other places on Broad Street. That’s not what I want. So it has been tricky to kind of figure out what it is going to be, but I think it will be something that is definitely going to step Augusta in a direction it’s never seen before.” Copenhaver said he is extremely excited about the idea of offering a rooftop bar in downtown Augusta. “There are a lot of buildings on that block and when you are on that rooftop, especially if you look up at night, you just have big buildings all the way around you,” Copenhaver said. “With that view, you really feel like you are in a big city.” After walking around the roof of the Woolworth building, Copenhaver said all of the AIZ team members were impressed by the huge potential of the rooftop bar.
“Tom (Patterson) came to me one day this past summer and said, ‘You need to find me one city block that we can designate as the Augusta Innovation Zone.’ Now, knowing a lot of property owners downtown, I thought, ‘Gosh, getting an agreement within one entire block is not going to be an easy thing to do.’” — Deke Copenhaver
“We call it, ‘The Soul of the Cyber District,’ because we wanted it to be that heartbeat.” — John Cates “You really do get that metropolitan experience up there,” Cates said. “Yeah, you can see all five tall buildings in Augusta right there in that one spot,” Wafford said, chuckling. “It really is cool.” While the AIZ team members are thrilled about the future of the Woolworth and Johnson buildings, they also sincerely appreciate the historic significance of these downtown structures. “What is cool is, back in the 1940s and 50s, when downtown Augusta was the place to go to shop and eat, the Woolworth building was kind of that core,” Cates said. “Back then there was no Walmart or no Target, so Woolworth was the store that you could sit down at the counter and eat lunch and then get your shopping done. So, we have all of these old pictures
of downtown where you would see tons of cars on Broad Street and the most people were gathered all around that glass storefront with that Woolworth’s sign lit up. It’s incredible.” Now that the store has sat vacant since 1991, Cates said he can’t wait to see the Woolworth building alive and thriving again. “It makes us sort of want to hark back to the days when that was the hopping place to be,” Cates said. “That is our goal with this project. And it just makes it very cool that we are taking the same spot to make these great things happen again in downtown Augusta.” After months of planning, Copehaver said he is extremely impressed by the AIZ team that has been formed and he can’t wait for the project to get underway later this year. “I have sat in strategic planning sessions for so long and people will ask, ‘How do we engage millennials?’” Copenhaver said. “It doesn’t take long to answer that question. I’m like, ‘Well, there is nobody under 45 years old sitting in this room.’ But that’s not the case here. “The majority of the people on our team are millennials. And I believe, if you want to develop a city to recruit and retain that generation, they need to be part of the decision-making process. They need to be part of the team that gets you there.” AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Keeping It Fresh
Fat Man’s enters 2017 with new ideas, same great food
When you’ve been In busIness as long as Fat Man’s Mill Café has, it can sometimes be difficult to keep things fresh. Havird and Brad Usry, however, are starting the New Year with plans they hope will do exactly that. Long-time fans of the family owned restaurant shouldn’t worry, however; none of those plans involving changing the time-tested formula that have made them a staple for good, Southern food. The Usrys are simply focused on making that food more widely available in 2017. How? Well, for one, by expanding their catering operations to the Kroc Center. “We just took over the 2017 contract at the Kroc Center,” said Havird Usry, vice president of operations and development at Fat Man’s. “They’ll manage the café, but all their events and catering aspects, anything that’s over 20 people that’s held at the Kroc Center, we’ll handle. And they have a capacity to seat about 300 people. It’s one of the only facilities besides the Legends Club that can seat that many folks.” Unlike some other catering facilities in the area, though, the Kroc Center does not allow alcohol on their campus. While some might see that as a limitation, Havird just sees potential. Fat Man’s and Enterprise Mill Events, which the Usrys also run, has handled many events in the past that don’t involve alcohol. They’ve set up a smoothie stations and coffee stations that line up with the fun aspects 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
of catering events for which they’ve become known, so Havird has a vision for future events that doesn’t revolve around having a bar. “The Kroc Center has a state-of-the-art IT system, they have a chapel there and they have a lot of classrooms and smaller rooms, so I think there’s a lot of opportunities for, say, Augusta University or corporate events around town that don’t need alcohol at their events,” he explained. “I think there’s a lot of untapped potential there. They’re already doing 5-8 events a week and weddings. I think it’s a good opportunity for us and I think it’s going to be a good partnership.” Back at Fat Man’s, the focus is on streamlining operations. Several years ago, Havird and Brad invested in a catering software that allows them to stay more organized and do much of their work paperless. In 2017, they’re also focused on expanding their online ordering system. “It’s super cool,” Havird said. “Like, yesterday, I bet we had eight or 10 people who ordered on it and walked in to pick up their food and didn’t have to wait in a line of 30 teenagers who were down here at noon visiting the canal. There are a lot of benefits to it with delivery and getting food out much quicker.” To take advantage of this new system, customers simply have to visit the Fat Man’s website or their Facebook page and click on the “order online” button. They can also download the app on their phone by
By Amy Christian
searching for “Fat Man’s Mill Café.” The online ordering system also works with delivery, of which Fat Man’s does quite a lot. Havird estimates that they do between five and 15 office deliveries a day and they make it as quick and painless as possible for their customers to take advantage of this service. There’s a minimum of $25 for a delivery order and they have a generous delivery area that not only includes downtown and the medical district, but also a good portion of west and south Augusta. They can also manage last-minute catering projects — those in 24 hours or less — that most other caterers can’t handle. These larger delivery orders, Havird said, also allow Fat Man’s to be a little more creative with their menus. He talked about a recent order that was in honor of a woman from Brazil, so they tailored their menu to include items she might enjoy such as Peri-Peri pulled chicken, Brazilian potato salad, fresh baked honey bread, and black beans and rice. “That’s definitely not on our menu, but if folks request something like that, it keeps it fresh,” he said. “We get to make up recipes and have fun doing something a little more cultural.” Fat Man’s prides itself on creativity, and not just with delivery orders. Wedding planning season, which is in full swing right now, is an aspect of the Usrys’ business that allows them to really have fun. They, of course, have a menu of tried and true favorites, but don’t hesitate at 12JANUARY2017
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all to create something new for those who want that. “I think there are a lot of more of those quote unquote foodie types out there now who want a cool menu that’s a little more forward than a southern buffet, and we try to stay up on that,” he said. “We like to be creative. I think it keeps me and my sous chef moving and keeps that creative mindset. We don’t like to get stuck in a rut and we try to be as inventive as possible. Whether it’s modern or rustic they want, we kind of try and match style with food. That’s something we take pride in.” It’s not just food that Fat Man’s and Enterprise Mill Events can handle for their bridal and special event customers, however. While they offer off-site catering, Fat Man’s has a prime location along the Augusta Canal at Enterprise Mill that includes a gazebo popular for wedding ceremonies and lots of green space perfect for pictures. And while they can handle a 350-person cocktail and heavy hors d’oeuvres wedding or a 200-person seated dinner, they aren’t limited to just food, drinks and venue. “I hate the term one stop shop, but it is really,” Havird said. “You can come in here, meet with our coordinator and walk out and have almost your entire wedding planned except for the cake, DJ, flowers and a photographer, and we have preferred vendors that we kind of pass folks along to to make things run smoothly. It’s nice to be able to sit down in the office with a coordinator for two hours and get your ceremony, your reception, a timeline, food, alcohol and room setups done. We can knock it out pretty quick.” Just because Fat Man’s can expedite the process, though, doesn’t mean they don’t take care with each and every event. “It’s one of those things that gets to be routine for us, because you have so many inquiries and so many quotes, but at the same time you have to remember that this is, God willing, the only time that they get married and you want to make it absolutely perfect for them and don’t give them any kind of bad experience,” he said. “It’s always a reminder that you’re trying to write on your hand: don’t forget that this is a really special event for them.” Havird estimates that Fat Man’s is now seeing 5-6 brides a day who come in to look at the facilities and talk to him and their wedding coordinator, so having the café open during the week really helps. “We’ve been pretty fortunate, because we’re in a difficult position,” he explained. “We’re not in plain sight, we’re not sitting on a corner, but somehow we seem to draw that business crowd over for lunch Monday through Friday and I really feel kind of blessed to get them here. And it’s huge for the events side, because we’re available all the time and accessible when I feel like a lot of venues and caterers meet with people only by appointment. We have a lot of folks who come through here daily, eat lunch and stop in, and it gives us a sales opportunity that others don’t have.” Brad and Havird Usry have a couple of other things up their sleeves for 2017 in Augusta that they aren’t quite ready to talk about yet. And while Havird’s contract with the Food Network, on which he was a contestant on the reality show Food Network Star in 2016, ended January 1, he is speaking with some production companies about other possible show ideas. He admits being on the show brought about a great deal of opportunities, but also says that anything that happens in the future would not be his main focus. “That’s something I see as an opportunity on the side,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something I want to pursue full time, but if the opportunity is there, and the idea is there, the exposure for us as a business is great. If the opportunity presents itself, I think I would pursue it, but at the same time, it’s not going to be something I spend my life trying to chase because I think our bread and butter is here, serving good food to the people of Augusta.” And that’s one thing that won’t change any time soon. Fat Man’s Mill CaFé 1450 Greene Street 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday 706-733-1740 fatmans.com enterprisemillevents.com
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A locally produced documentary on the Tuskegee Airmen will get national airtime beginning this week. Augusta-based Bryton Entertainment and syndicator Sewee Entertainment will air “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen” beginning January 14. The special airs Sunday, January 15, at 1 p.m. on WJBF in Augusta, and will be shown on affiliate channels throughout the country until February 26. Sixteen of the Tuskegee Airmen — the first African-American military aviators who flew throughout Europe during World War II — are featured in this one-hour television special. African Americans were rejected in their attempts to enlist in World War I, so the recruitment, training and combat of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II was a monumental moment in American military history and in American history overall. “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen” explores how their achievements advanced the civil rights movement. The special discusses the impact the airmen had on equality within the military as well as society at large, and how their achievements continue to resonate today. The program features emotional interviews, rare photographs, archival footage and computer-generated re-creations. The special has received accolades from a variety of people, including singer/songwriter Lionel Richie. Richie thanked the airmen for their actions, saying, “‘In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen’ takes me back to my childhood. These airmen broke through adversity and made a new country for us all. They were passionate, driven and unwavering in their quest to do the best they knew how and this story covers it all.” Co-owner of Bryton Entertainment Bryan Williams says the response to this news has been overwhelming. “The enthusiasm in which the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen reacted to this news has been nothing short of fulfilling,” said Williams. “These brave men made one request of us upon lending their story: ‘Never let our story die!’ We are thrilled to honor that request, beginning January 14 and through February 26, on TV around our great country.” For a complete list of program times, visit the “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen” Facebook page: facebook.com/InTheir-Own-Words-The-Tuskegee-Airmen. For more information on Bryton Entertainment, visit brytonentertainment.com.
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WHAT’S UP
Calendar: 18 | Music Listings: 22 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
A LIFE IN SKETCHES MOST PEOPLE in Augusta know Leonard Zimmerman as Porkchop and his art as whimsical yet poignant paintings of bears and robots. An upcoming exhibition at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, however, will reveal a different side of the local artist and “Happy” documentary subject. “Don’t Erase Your Crooked Lines” is a display of a series of sketches from books that date back years. If you’ve seen him downtown, you’ve probably noticed Zimmerman carrying the bound black books around with him. They’re never far from his side. These drawings are not perfect (hence the title of the exhibition) and some may not even be finished, but all are deeply personal explorations of the love and loss, joy and pain, that make up living. The exhibition, curated by his friend and former co-worker Steven Uhles, opens Friday, January 13, and will be on display through February 11 on Wednesdays-Fridays from noon-3 p.m. and on Saturdays by appointment. DON’T ERASE YOUR CROOKED LINES OPENING RECEPTION Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Ann & Ellis Gallery Friday, January 13 6:30-8 p.m. 706-877-0411 jessyenormanschool.org
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
What happens when your parents are less mature than you are, your boyfriend hasn’t been treating you right, and some guy named Dominic leaves you alone in his studio? Find out tonight (and tomorrow night) at 8 p.m. at Le Chat Noir when the cast of “Buttercup Golden” takes the stage. The play is described as an awkward family comedy and was written by Marty Matfess. $20; $10, students.
SATURDAY
The CSRA Vegetarian Society wants to know where to find the best veggie burger in Augusta and have narrowed it down to two places. One of theme is Carolina Ale House, which you can visit today at 12:45 p.m. to try their version and let the group know what you think. Every vote counts!
MONDAY
You may think kids ages 2-6 wouldn’t be interested in photography but, with everyone now having phones, chances are most of them are already better at taking pictures than you are. At Say Cheese, part of the Mondays at the Museum series at the Augusta Museum of History, kids can learn the history of photography through a scavenger hunt and then create photo frames. It starts at 10 a.m. this morning and is $2, members; $4, non-members.
WEDNESDAY
Hay Bales and Cocktails, a casual and laidback event that benefits Golden Harvest Food Bank’s Food Forever Fund, will feature wine and craft beer, barbecue, mechanical bull riding, live music, line dancing, silent auctions and more. Beginning at 6 p.m. at Julian Smith Casino, it’s a steal at $25 per person (in advance) or $40 per couple.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 18. 12JANUARY2017
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6:30pm - 8pm Don’t Erase Your Crooked Lines Opening Reception Jessye Norman School of the Arts The opening reception for this collection of sketches from Leonard Zimmerman will be held in the Ann & Ellis Gallery of the school. The event will also include a discussion on the importance of being happy. The exhibit will be on display 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.
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.
Mountain Dulcimer Jam Mistletoe State Park Saturday, January 14 10 a.m. Musicians from around the state will participate. Visitors are invited to bring and instrument and play or just listen. Musicians will be teaching beginners on the instruments. $5, parking. 706-541-0321 gastateparks.org/mistletoe
ARTS Fri Jan 13
Noon Art at Lunch: Historic Rural Church of Georgia Morris Museum of Art Led by Sonny Seals and George Hart. $10, members; $15, non-members. Catered lunch included. Pre-registration required. Call 706724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
6pm - 9pm Acrylic Painting 175 N. Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $30. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
EDUCATION Thu Jan 12
9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners
1pm My Life in Runes Maxwell Branch Library Wiccan High Priest Joseph Zuchowski discusses ancient runes, their origins and development within Teutonic culture, and their uses today. Pre-registration required. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon Jan 16
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.
5:30pm - 6:30pm Beginner Spanish Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Jan 17
10am - 11am Tax Tips
Appleby Branch Library Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
Friedman Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Sat Jan 14
11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm The Other Tubmans Augusta Museum of History Part of the Voices of the Past series of character monologues. Free with museum admission. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
10:30am eBooks and Georgia Download Destination
11:30am Women in Business Luncheon Legends Club An Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce event that will begin with networking at 11:30 a.m. and continue with a luncheon and guest speaker. $30, members; $40, non-members. Call 706-821-1300 or visit augustametrochamber.com.
2pm - 4pm Computing for Beginners Diamond Lakes Branch Library
A three-session class that continues Tuesdays, January 24 and 31. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Ongoing
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.
ELSEWHERE Wed Jan 18
10am Gladys’ Gang: Smooth and Shiny Columbia Museum of Art A free early childhood arts and literacy program for those ages 2-5 that includes story time in the galleries and hands-on art projects. Pre-registration required. Call 803799- 2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
EXHIBITIONS Thu Jan 12
5pm - 7pm Exhibit Opening Reception Sacred Heart Cultural Center Featuring the work of Mary Ann Baggs, Cissy Boyd, Jennifer Joseph and Katherine McCall. The exhibit will be on display through February 24. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org.
Fri Jan 13
FLIX Thu Jan 12
11am Movie for Special Needs Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
6pm “The Angry Eye” Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom Part of the annual Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, participants will watch the documentary and then participate in a Q&A with Jane Elliott, an educator and activist. Call 706-721-6890 or visit augusta.edu.
Tue Jan 17
5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections. Visit arcpls.org.
HEALTH Fri Jan 13
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education Class University Hospital Class continues Saturday, January 14, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Sat Jan 14
10:30am Childbirth Tour AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Mon Jan 16
1pm - 3pm Look Good Feel Better
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University’s Breast Health Center An American Cancer Society program that aims to help female cancer patients combat the appearance-related side-effects of chemo and radiation. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
6:30pm Refit Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-8212600 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Jan 17 Paleo 101
Whole Foods Call 762-333-0259 or visit wholefoodsmarket. com for more information.
the 6920 Rotary Speech Contest. To register for the contest, call 706-724- 5544 or email lgold@uwcsra.org. To register for this program, call 706-434-2036 or visit arcpls.org.
4pm Lego Club Aiken Public Library For those ages 5-11. Legos provided. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
6pm - 7:30pm Big Brother/Big Sister Doctors Hospital An educational and interactive class for children ages 3-8 who will soon be welcoming a new baby into the home. Preregistration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Sat Jan 14
Wed Jan 18
9:30am - 11am Children’s Hike with Story Time
AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Pre-registration required. Call 706-396-1424 or visit phinizycenter.org.
6:30pm - 8pm Infant CPR: AHA Friends and Family
10am Anime and the Graphic Novel
7:45am Childbirth Tour
AugustaHealth Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
HOBBIES Sat Jan 14
Noon - 2pm Knitting 175 North Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council Class. $35, including yarn. Knitting needles are $5 or bring size 8, 5mm needles. Call 706-556-6656, 706-5132634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Mon Jan 16
6pm Civil War Roundtable Meeting Goodwill’s The Snelling Center Robert E. Bonner from Dartmouth College will present a program on his current project, a biographical study of Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens. Meetings are $15, including dinner. Membership is $25 per year, individual; $40, couple. Call 706-736-2909 or visit civilwarroundtableaugustaga.com.
KIDS-TEENS Thu Jan 12
10am Creative Collage Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents in which participants will learn how artist Benny Andrews creates collages and then will create their own. Free, members; $4 per participants, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.
4pm Basic Guidelines for an Impactful Speech Headquarters Branch Library A teen public speaking program to prepare for 12JANUARY2017
Kroc Center A class for those ages 8-15. No previous experience necessary and all supplies are included. $35, members; $40, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
10am TAG Meeting Headquarters Branch Library A teen event in which participants will help plan upcoming programs. Call 706-4342036 or visit arcpls.org.
11am 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Kick-Off Aiken Public Library A Pete the Cat themed party for babies, toddlers and preschoolers that will include activities, snacks and information about this free program. Call 803-642-2020, ext. 1141, or visit abbe-lib.org.
11:15am Art Exploration Kroc Center A class in which those ages 5-8 will work in a variety of media. $25; pre-registration required. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
11am How Do Dinosaurs Choose Their Pets? Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
11:30am - 3:30pm Youth Wing Workshops Aiken Community Playhouse Those in grades 4-7 meet from 11:30 a.m.1:15 p.m. and those in grades 8-12 meet from 1-3:30 p.m. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikenplayhouse.us.
2pm Lego Club
Headquarters Branch Library Legos provided. Pre-registration recommended. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
3pm Game Day at Maxwell Maxwell Branch Library A teen event in which participants are invited to bring their own games or play the library’s. Call 706793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon Jan 16
9:30am - 2pm Junior Rangers Mistletoe State Park Kids will learn how to attract birds to their backyards in time for the Great Backyard Bird Count in February. Pre-registration required. $20; $5, parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org.
10am “Finding Dory” Friedman Branch Library Free. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Say Cheese: Historic Photography Augusta Museum of History Part of the Mondays at the Museum series for those ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. $2, members; $4, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 706-722-8454 or email aschaffman@augustamuseum.org.
10:30am Jr. Lego Club Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Pre-
registration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
4pm Cartooning for Beginners Friedman Branch Library A young adult program. Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Jan 17
10am Big Kids Story Time Headquarters Branch Library Stories and songs for those ages 3-6. Preregistration recommended. Call 706-8212623 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Preschool Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 3-5 that includes stories, songs, games, movies and crafts. Pre-registration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed Jan 18
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.
10:05am Toddler Story Time Appleby Branch Library AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
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.
5pm Unplug and Play for Teens Diamond Lakes Branch Library No electronic devices allowed. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
762-333-0259 or visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
5pm Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sixth Annual Community Celebration
Sat Jan 14
Hammond Grove Word Power Ministry Featuring keynote speaker Rev. Frederick D. Favors and guest choir The Augusta Chorale. Free and open to the public. Call 706-830-0991 or visit augustachorale.org.
10am - 5pm Snowfest Evans Towne Center Park An event featuring three snow slides, two snowfields, kids karaoke, live music, concessions, arts and crafts, inflatables and carnival rides. Free admission. Unlimited ride tickets: $10, advance; $12, day of event. Call 706-854-8636 or visit columbiacountysnowfest.com.
12:45pm Elimination Round: Best Veggie Burger in Augusta Carolina Ale House A CSRA Vegetarian Society event in which participants can vote for who wins. Visit meetup.com/csravs/.
Wed Jan 18
6pm Hay Bales and Cocktails
Wallace Branch Library “Hellhound on His Trail” by Hampton Sides will be discussed. Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Julian Smith Casino A benefit for the Food Forever Fund, Golden Harvest Food Bank’s permanent endowment, this event features a wine and craft beer tasting, barbecue, mechanical bull riding, live music, line dancing and silent auctions. In advance: $25, single; $40 for two. Door: $30, single; $60, for two. Call 706922-3590 or visit goldenharvest.org.
MUSIC
SPORTS-OUTDOORS
LITERARY Tue Jan 17
2pm Book Discussion
Sat Jan 14
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.
Sun Jan 15
2pm Cricket Ridge Morris Museum of Art Part of the Music at the Morris series. Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu Jan 12
Noon - 3pm The Anatomy of Prejudice Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom Part of the annual Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration featuring Jane Elliot. Call 706-721-6890 or visit augusta.edu.
Fri Jan 13
Noon Annual Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel Featuring educator and activist Jane Elliott as the keynote speaker. Call 706-721-6890 or visit augusta.edu.
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 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Sat Jan 14
10am Canal Bike Ride Savannah Rapids Old Lock & Dam A Sierra Club event in which participants will meet at the lower parking lot and ride via the canal tow path and the new path on the lower level of the canal. Afterward, participants will ride to Broad Street for lunch. Email larrkomp@gmail.com.
10am Mountain Dulcimer Jam Mistletoe State Park Musicians from around the state will play with traditional instruments. Musicians will be teaching beginners on the instruments. All ages are welcome. $5, parking. Call 706541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
8pm USC Aiken Extra Inning Bullriding James Brown Arena More than 40 of the top bull riders and 50 of the top bulls of the American Bull Riding Tour will compete for a prize of more than $15,000. $18-$25. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit georgialinatix.com.
Sat Jan 14-Sun Jan 15 The Aiken Opener
Stable View Farms A USEA/USEF Recognized Horse Trials event in which spectators are welcome. Food trucks and vendors will be on the property. Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
Tue Jan 17
6:30pm Sierra Club Monthly Meeting Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A Savannah River Group Sierra Club event that will include a program from Kara LeClair, a dietitian with the Burke County schools, on the Farm to School program. Free and open to the public. Email msmcb@outlook.com.
Ongoing Thu Jan 19
38th Annual Augusta Futurity James Brown Arena Sunday, January 15, through Saturday, January 21. $14.50-$35. For more information and a schedule of events, visit augustafuturity.com.
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 706-7228878, email rvolk1@comcast.net or visit augustafencersclub.com.
SUPPORT Thu Jan 12
6pm Cancer Survivor Support Group Augusta Oncology Associates Call 706-651-4567.
Fri Jan 13
11am ALS Support Lunch and Learn AU’s ALS Clinic This support group gives individuals an opportunity to share their personal experiences and learn more about strategies for preserving the independence and quality of life for ALS patients and their loved ones. Lunch is provided. Free, but preregistration required. Call 706-721-2681 or visit augusta.edu.
Mon Jan 16
6:15pm GYN Cancer Support Group Daksha Chudgar Lydia House Call 706-721-5557 or visit augusta.edu.
THEATER
Aiken Community Playhouse $20, adults; $17, seniors and active military; $12, students; $7, children. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
7:30pm Ray Charles on My Mind Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center An Augusta Amusements event starring Kenny Brawner. $45. Call 706-726-0366 or visit augustaamusements.com.
8pm “Buttercup Golden” Le Chat Noir An awkward family comedy written by Marty Matfess. $20; $10, students. Visit lcnaugusta.com.
8pm “Before the Storm” Augusta Mini Theatre $15, adults; $10, students, children ages 2-18 and seniors; $8.50, groups of 10 or more. Call 706-722-0598 or visit augustaminitheatre. com.
Sat Jan 14
3pm and 8pm “Before the Storm” Augusta Mini Theatre $15, adults; $10, students, children ages 2-18 and seniors; $8.50, groups of 10 or more. Call 706-722-0598 or visit augustaminitheatre. com.
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.
8pm “Buttercup Golden” Le Chat Noir An awkward family comedy written by Marty Matfess. $20; $10, students. Visit lcnaugusta.com.
Sun Jan 15
3pm and 8pm “Before the Storm” Augusta Mini Theatre $15, adults; $10, students, children ages 2-18 and seniors; $8.50, groups of 10 or more. Call 706-722-0598 or visit augustaminitheatre. com.
Mon Jan 16
3pm “Before the Storm” Augusta Mini Theatre $15, adults; $10, students, children ages 2-18 and seniors; $8.50, groups of 10 or more. Call 706-722-0598 or visit augustaminitheatre. com.
Wed Jan 18
10am “Sticks and Stones” AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre A play on bullying by the Augusta University Literacy Center. Free. To reserve seating, call 706-737-1625 or visit augusta.edu.
Fri Jan 13
7:30pm “A Few Good Men” 12JANUARY2017
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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
Friday, January 13 Live Music
Allegiance Ink - Scowl Brow Backyard Tavern - Vicky Grady Band Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Eli’s American - Friday Night Live Fox’s Lair - Riley Williams Imperial Theatre - Sierra Hull Iron Heights - Boo Hag, Gloom Cocoon, Me Bad Eye, DEA Jabez S. Hardin PAC - Ray Charles on My Mind Shannon’s - Perfect Picture Stillwater Taproom - Kenny George Band Wild Wing - Interstate Exiles The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
Monica, 112 and Shawty Bell Auditorium Saturday, January 14 8 p.m. $37.50-$87.50 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com
What’s Tonight?
Country Club - All Night DJ Dance Party Sky City - DJ Jeff Edwards Soul Bar - ‘80s and ‘90s Night
Saturday, January 14 Live Music
Bell Auditorium - Monica and Friends Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Matt Rogers Fox’s Lair - Gerry Petrin, Mr. Jukebox Iron Heights - Polarity, To Live As Wolves, End the Empire, Bullmoose Shannon’s - TX Clergy Sky City - Carrol Morris Benefit Concert w/ Doug & the Henrys, Robbie Ducey Band, Shadow Pines, Shoestring Budget Band, Six Pack, Split Rail Fence, Vicky Grady Band Wild Wing - King Size The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
Wild Wing - Trivia Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia
Tuesday, January 17 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. John Fisher Iron Heights - Second Death, Favela, Landfill, Naomi, Broadmoor, Born Sick, Olde Worlde Joe’s Underground - Open Mic Soul Bar - Dumb Waiter, Hello Cobra, SubuTech 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
Wednesday, January 18 Live Music The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Shameless Dave Soul Bar - It Is Written, Kill the Host Wild Wing - Dave Love
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
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 - Ladies Night, Singles Night Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Sunday, January 15 Live Music
Sierra Hull Imperial Theatre Friday, January 13 7:30 p.m. $15-$40 706-722-8341 imperialtheatre.com Thursday, January 12 Live Music
The Red Pepper (Aiken) - Mike Frost Band Stillwater Taproom - Josh Brannon Band Tin Lizzy’s - Spencer Rush Wild Wing - Sabo and Dave The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - AcostA The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson
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
Monday, January 16 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words Soul Bar - Wimpy Rutherford (The Queers) w/ the Cryptics
What’s Tonight?
Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000
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706-434-0112
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Amber and Donald Taulson with Lindsey Anderson at Craft & Vine.
Lilli Pendarvis, Julianne Jhant, Lee Ann Pendarvis and Allie Jhant at Craft & Vine.
Beth Ann Connor, Isabella Metz and Nicole Fowler at Craft & Vine.
Martin Bautista, Kelly Cooksey and Marcus Garner at the Firehouse.
Rhonda Hall, Jamie Baker and Pat Kelly at Sole Grill and Sushi Bar.
Julie Kitchens, Libby Sprankle and Jennifer Hobbs at Augusta Athletics Sports Bar.
John Elam, Karen Gordon, Ingrid Tutt and Greg Mackie at the Soul Bar.
Cierra Williams, Donnie Michaud and Krystle Bradley at Bar West.
Chris Star, Katy Neo, Wren Arrington and Becky Hornke at Bar West.
12JANUARY2017
ROLLING IN THE AISLES By Matthew Sewell/Edited by Will Shortz 80 Indra, to Hindus ACROSS 81 Developer’s purchase 1 Sponged 82 Giraffe-like beast 8 Asylum 83 What might cost you an arm and a 14 Takes from page to screen, say 20 Pope with the longest reign between leg? 84 Washroom feature St. Peter and Pius VI (A.D. 67-1799) 87 Totally captivates 21 Left speechless 88 Muzzle 22 On the down-low 89 One who knows all the shortcuts, 23 They may be sealed or broken maybe 24 Marquee locale 92 Fill in for 26 Degree in math 93 Game box specification 27 Gruesome 94 Flaky minerals 29 Companion of Han in “The Force 96 “Mind … blown!” Awakens” 97 Glue trap brand 30 H.O.V. ____ 98 Tolkien meanie 31 Sénégal summers 99 Beverage with a floral bouquet 33 Running figure 101 Hedge-fund pro 34 Players last produced in July 2016 102 Farmers’ market alternative 36 Epic singers 106 Admit 37 Kicks back 108 West Coast city known as the 39 Rural postal abbr. Track and Field Capital of the World 40 Worthiness 109 Mischievous sort 41 Samberg and Serkis 110 Miles away 42 Home of the Triple-A Mud Hens 111 Candy known for its orange 44 Gets bogged down wrapping 45 Vitamin Shoppe competitor 112 Muss up 46 Vegan sandwich filler 113 Things always underfoot 48 Calrissian of “The Empire Strikes Back” 49 One end of Paris’s Champs-Élysées DOWN 1 George Eliot title surname 53 Worked as a stockbroker 2 “Swan Lake” role 54 Capitol group 3 Place for bows and strings 56 Designer Saarinen 4 Corporation’s head tech expert, for 57 Post-op program short 58 Main stem 5 Tort basis 59 Rap group inducted into the Rock 6 Wrap up around and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 7 Tosses 60 Pulled off 8 Not stay on topic 61 Like an unswept hearth 9 University associated with the Carter 62 Brawl Center 63 “That Latin Beat!” bandleader 10 Go-to choice, slangily 65 Advantage 11 Weapon in some Call of Duty games 66 Drone regulator, for short 12 “I didn’t know that!” 67 Mrs., in Montreux 13 John Glenn player in “The Right 68 Magic Johnson, for one Stuff” 69 Apothecary’s container 14 Sore 70 She, in Spanish 15 Fawn’s mother 72 Passenger jet 16 Winter fall? 75 Quinze + quinze 77 Actor with the line “Gentlemen, you 17 Early explosive device 18 Modish can’t fight in here! This is the War 19 & 25 Financial regulator’s Room!” requirement 79 Fits snugly
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28 Meteorological lead-in to stratus 32 Resolutely supported 34 Like some salsa 35 “Antigone” antagonist 36 Judge’s seat 38 Zig or zag 40 Capital of Belarus 43 Fog might push it back, briefly 44 Hawaiian “thanks” 45 “Brilliant!” 46 Attacks from above 47 Exclusive event before public availability 48 Exam with a section known as “Logic Games,” for short 49 Fighting tooth and nail 50 Hitching post? 51 Japanese “thanks” 52 Made peak calls? 54 Unmitigated 55 Sin of those in Dante’s fifth circle 58 Quarters followers 62 Chic 63 “Pretty please?” 64 Instruments played close to the chest, informally 65 “Still, after all this time … ” 68 Imitates Sylvester the Cat 71 Results of treaties 73 Something to tear into, informally? 74 Bounds 75 Nautical sealer 76 Yemeni capital 78 Immense spans 80 It comes in tubes 82 It lays out the lines of authority 83 Show anxiety, in a way 84 Nag to death 85 Build up, as interest 86 Straight man 87 Boy’s name that’s an Indiana city 88 Brazilian supermodel Bündchen 90 Vital lines 91 Slogs away 94 Kind of fiber 95 Attach, as a patch 98 They’re found in veins 99 Elephant pluckers of myth 100 Marching band? 103 Venice-to-Trieste dir. 104 ____ Paulo 105 Volunteer State sch. 107 Card game cry
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PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS
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THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS It was a close race, but “Hidden Figures” is the movie that finally knocked “Rogue One” off the top spot. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
HIDDEN FIGURES
$22,800,057
$25,754,235
3
17
2
ROGUE ONE
$22,063,570
$477,364,924
4
1
3
SING
$20,712,365
$214,512,010
3
2
4
UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS
$13,688,751
$13,688,751
1
-
5
LA LA LAND
$10,132,213
$51,788,800
5
7
In Theaters January 13
FAMILY “Monster Trucks,” rated PG, starring Lucas Till,
HORROR ACTION “The Bye Bye Man,” rated PG-13, starring Faye Dunaway, “Sleepless,” rated R, starring Jamie Foxx, Michelle
Jane Levy, Thomas Lennon, Barry Pepper. This sounds like a combo of “Cars” and any superhero movie where the hero takes on characteristics of whatever it is that bites him or her… except the creature in this movie lives inside a truck. Or something. Listen: this thing was made like three years ago, and nobody’s been able to figure out what to do with it until now. That, plus the fact that it’s coming out in January, should tell you how good it is.
Carrie-Anne Moss, Cressida Bonas. Okay, despite the fact that producers somehow managed to get Faye Dunaway to be in it, this movie looks dumb. It sounds like a three-year-old came up with the name of the Big Bad, and it involves things like college students in an abandoned house. Lame. Faye, what are you doing?
28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, Gabrielle Union. There’s been little press and even less info online about this one, surprising since it involves the very high-profile Jamie Foxx. Maybe it’s because the description — a cop in search of his kidnapped son through the criminal underworld — makes it sound like “Taken” all over again.
12JANUARY2017
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Rogue One: “Empire” Good? I suRpRIsEd EvEn mysElf with how long it took for the words “Star Wars” to appear in my writing. I’ve been a super fan of the series since my uncle gave me the original trilogy on VHS as a kid. My mom figured I would grow out of it eventually, but here I am, writing a review on a movie that, as a wide-eyed nineyear-old, I never imagined would be made. I thought I’d be rewatching and rewatching until the end of time when Disney changed all that by buying Lucasfilm for a cool four billion a few years ago. Now, they’re going to be cranking out a Star Wars movie at a clip of what appears to be one picture every 11 or 12 months, with the next major picture set to release on December 15, 2017. However, in the words of Dr. Ian Malcolm, just because you could, doesn’t always mean you should… The night before I saw the film (at the midnight release, mind you) I was already hearing the whispers of those who had the good fortune of getting into an early screening of the film: “Empire Strikes Back good.” That’s a high bar. Most Star Wars fans who have their heads on straight will tell you that “The Empire Strikes Back” is the best installment in the series (“A New Hope” is the best film as far as I’m concerned but “Empire” is my favorite to watch), so that leaves absolutely no room for error when evaluating “Rogue One.” This is where I get confused. The aspects of “Empire” that make it the “best” or “most fun” film in the saga can truly be boiled down to one thing: the characters. The characters of Luke, Han and Leia (may she truly rest in peace) and their ever-evolving dynamic since the events of the preceding film make every scene in “Empire” riveting. It takes everything great about “A New Hope” and builds on it. Relationships change and grow, the stakes get higher and the overall tone of the franchise takes a dip into darkness to match the developments in the plot. In “Rogue One,” however, the main cast of characters — all of whom are completely new to the series — are simply too static to complete an arc during the runtime of the movie, which makes it hard to really feel for them as the plot chugs along. Yeah, I get it, they only get one movie as opposed to three and there are more new characters to devote time to than in past movies, but that’s no excuse to leave these personalities as under-developed as they are. Don’t get me wrong, the performances are all solid, especially the ones coaxed out of Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang. Their characters have such an interesting dynamic — up there with the best duos in the series, R2D2 and C3P0 and
12JANUARY2017
Han and Chewbacca — that my only gripe is that I wish I had spent more time with them before the credits rolled. Okay, I’ll tell you why the characters weren’t as developed as they should have been: the first hour or so of the movie is kind of an unnecessary slog. I’m going to remain on the spoiler-free side of history here, but I can tell you that the first “mission” the Rogue One crew embarks on once they’re all assembled and acquainted doesn’t actually have much pull on the overall plot. I understand the film went through extensive reshoots before the curtain finally opened last month, but I can’t help but wonder if some of the scrapped footage contained some further backstory and dialogue amongst our new cast of characters. It only bothers me so much because every technical aspect of the film was excellent. The final battle scene was exciting and well-shot, the sound design was deep and vibrant throughout, and the score, put together by newcomer Michael Giacchino in just four weeks, might have been my favorite part of the whole experience.
By Tyler Strong
Perhaps 12 months between major releases is just too short? Disney would never say so, of course, and they could release “Star Wars: A Jar-Jar Story” and I’d still show up at the midnight release. Many fans of the series, myself included, could stomach a longer wait between Star Wars releases in the hopes of getting a better final product but, unfortunately, it’s not just time that contributed to the magic of the original trilogy. What exactly did create that undeniable magic and how it can be harnessed again? I’m not sure, but I still garner hope for the future of the franchise and, ultimately, the keys to the castle are in the right hands. While “Rogue One” still has some signature Star Wars moments, including a terrifyingly awesome scene of Darth Vader doing some… Darth Vader things (man, was that scene alone worth the price of three tickets), the main characters come off a little on the thin side and keep the first standalone Star Wars film from Disney from becoming one with the Force.
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 29
Hollywood Freedoms Secured by Conservative Soldiers GOD BLESS MERYL STREEP. When I first heard how totally devastated she was because she believed Donald Trump was mocking a disabled man, it was all I could do not to laugh out loud at her “snowflakery.” Then it occurred to me. If such “mocking” has such a devastating effect on her, can you imagine the horror and the pure emotional paralysis that hits her when she hears about the millions of defenseless babies flushed from the bodies of women mainly for issues of convenience? On one hand we have an infamous blowhard supposedly teasing a grown man (who is apparently thankful for the notoriety the spotlight gave him), and on the other, millions of God’s most innocent creations ripped to pieces by knives and needles while still alive... for a moment. Rude and immature behavior versus violent genocide without prosecution or societal notice. If Trump’s silliness made her cry, the abortions should have her setting fire to herself on Hollywood Boulevard like one of those self-immolating Buddhist monks. But somehow I think she is safe. It must be she just doesn’t know. Lord God, no one tell her. And if you do, hide the lighter fluid. Among the millions of social media comments generated by Streep’s now legendary antiTrump tirade that came while she was supposed to be accepting an acting award, this one from someone named Matt Zoller Seitz particularly caught my attention: “Shut up and act” is a sentiment expressed by conservatives who hate the fact that the art they love is overwhelming made by liberals.” I concede the point, Matt. Misogynistic liberals like John Lennon, Jackson Browne and Rick James have made some outrageously beautiful music over the years. Drug addled maniacs like Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and Marvin Gaye have kept me singing along since I was a kid. Sexually insane and predatory filmmakers like Roman Polanski, Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen have Oscars and Golden Globes stacked like cordwood outside their Hollywood mansions. Except Polanski; I mean, he is not allowed in this country if memory serves. Speaking of Polanski, yes, that was in fact Meryl Streep giving him a standing ovation when he won an Oscar in 2003 for directing “The Pianist.” So apparently Streep can cheer on a convicted child rapist who cannot come to America for fear of incarceration, but the guy who teases people makes her cry. Snowflakery. I think I may have to go back to that theory. But back to Matt’s observation, yes, the entertainment industry is overwhelmingly liberal. Ironically, two of the institutions/industries that ensure and defend the First Amendment rights and privileges of those who produce the often outrageous and offensive “entertainment” so many Americans bemoan these days, are overwhelming conservative. That’s right, the “gun toting,” “thug whoopin’,” “felon busting” and “Osama Bin Laden killing” men and women who wear law enforcement badges and military uniforms in America are, by and large, quite a conservative group. Ironic that if and when any of those folks get called to protect and serve any of the aforementioned left-wing entertainers, they will show up without hesitation and without reservation, because protecting and serving is what they do. They don’t sing songs, they don’t throw pies in front of cameras and they don’t give child rapists standing ovations. The cops and soldiers who protect us all run toward fire fights, they charge at homicidal maniacs, and they have been known to sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. That “duty” is to maintain the societal fabric that allows the snowflakes in Hollyweird to create make believe magic, and all too often, to create vile material that is better suited for a toilet bowl than a movie screen.
30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Meryl Streep gave convicted child molester Roman Polanski a standing ovation in 2003. Looks like Jack Nicholson and Nicolas Cage knew better.
The law officers that do this, tend to support conservative causes, and according to a poll conducted by POLICE Magazine, their sample of working police personnel voted for Trump over Hillary Clinton at a rate of 84 percent. Active duty members of the American military were a little less supportive of Trump, even though he was the clear leader of the pack, the headline of the October 2016 polls conducted by The Military Times was the fact that Hillary Clinton was only able to muster 20 percent of the vote. So even with the “Donald Trump issues” in full bloom, these polls showed the “Sweetheart of the Left” and the “Chosen One of the Entertainment Industry,” Hillary Clinton, getting less than one fifth of the vote of the responding police and military professionals. To see these figures in print is shocking even for someone in my position. I knew there were general trends in support, but this overwhelming rejection of Clinton by these rock solid and beloved segments of our population should send a message to Hollywood that they need to hear. Gripe about policy differences all day long, Lord knows conservatives have done that with President Obama and his team, but the personal attacks on Trump’s family and supporters are going to do nothing but reinforce their resolve to reject all that goes with the liberal agenda of his detractors. Trump needs to park his damn Twitter account and leave the movie reviews to whoever replaced Siskel and Ebert, on that we can agree. But the continued assault on the people who supported the defeat of Hillary Clinton is going to eventually blow up in the faces of those who continue it. The entertainment industry has spoken, but then again so have the cops and the soldiers. I know who I want on my side every day of the week, and it ain’t the dude plucking the bass, or the chick who smells like AUSTIN RHODES patchouli, waiting for her close A long-time radio talk show host who can be up. 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.
12JANUARY2017
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