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Table of Contents August 25, 2016
Whine Line 6 Ruffin It 10 Augusta Tek 11 Insider 12 Feature 16 What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight Austin Rhodes
21 24 28 30 32 34 36
PRIVATE DANCER16 EDIT
CREATIVE
Amy Christian
Joshua Bailey
Joe White
amy@themetrospirit.com
joshua@themetrospirit.com
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
Stacey Eidson
COVER DESIGN: KRUHU
Arts Editor/Production Director
Lead Designer
Staff Writer
stacey@themetrospirit.com
Molly Swift Staff Writer
molly@themetrospirit.com
Contributors Jenny Wright, Greg Baker, Austin Rhodes, Josh Ruffin, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
SALES Jim Christian Account Executive
jim@themetrospirit.com 706-414-4059
Paige Wilhelm Account Executive
paige@themetrospirit.com 706-833-1904
BUSINESS Publisher
Johnny Beckworth circulation manager
johnny@themetrospirit.com
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
10 11
OPINION
The Whine Line
These whines have become pitiful and you people are all losers. I am out, I am done with this.
casts an overly corny feel to the event. Maybe think about re-casting?
Lyin’ Austin is at it again. Conservapedia is a selfdescribed conservative fundamentalist Christian website ranking up there with the Breitbart website when it comes to spouting nonsensical and hateful half-truths and outright lies. When I left that site I felt like my computer needed a thorough debugging and myself in dire need of a good scrubdown, my PC and myself having been slimed. For Austin to put forth Conservapedia garbage as anything remotely approaching fact smacks of a total lack of journalistic integrity, as well as desperation.
You have to admit that Trump is a very good business man. He never gave to a charity until he ran for President. Then he accepted other peoples charitable donations and kept them for 4 months collecting interest, exaggerated how much he collected, bragged about the good he did, and then only after the media asked where the money went did he angrily distribute it, some of which went to scam charities. All the while complaining about the Clinton foundation charity which has been helping people for years and received millions from the Clintons. You can be sure he will deduct the donations from his taxes. The only business he knows comes from the back end of a male cow.
Sentinel are good, honest folks. Judge S swears it to be true. The old Trump- “I say what I mean and mean what I say” The new Trump- “I say what they tell me to say and don’t mean what I say”. As for the US swimmers caught in the lies and destruction of private property. I say strip them of any medals and ban them from ever participating in the Olympics again. But of course this will not happen. Their fame will rule the day and most will simply look the other way, and we wonder why the US is so screwed. What does RCBOE member Jimmy Atkins enjoy more: eating OR hearing himself talk?
Ruffin It Augusta Tek
Have you noticed that test scores decline every time Columbia County spends millions on a new school? It ain’t the buildings, stupid.
I know that the people who write to the whine don’t give their names, but the guy that wrote and said that the U.S. has gotten worse under Obama, his name must be Winkle, Rip Van Looking forward to the new Miller Theater opening in October 2017. SOA has told us for 10 years “Coming Soon”. Hopefully they will stay true to this new date.
Just wondered why the band Shinebox is never listed as one of Augusta’s greatest bands? They are Awesome! As soon as the war on the American people ends, the war on the police will end as well. Today’s Americans are not the MLK non-violence generation. It is a war neither group can win.
Do the Augusta commissioners have to submit to mandatory drug testing like the rest of city employees? Trump can’t even run a campaign. Hate to see how he would run a country. Really need to know what is in those tax returns especially after the revelaktion that his pal Chris Christie knocked down casino tax bills from $30 million to $17 million. Both are crooks. Has an alien life form taken control of Mayor Pro Tem Grady Smith’s mind? Twenty years is too long for anyone to serve on a volunteer board; especially the Tax Assessors’ Board. Stop pushing for lifetime appointments Commissioner. Delusions of grandeur, dilapidated logic, and criticism to cover up challenges: that’s all Austin Rhodes has got. Look at his column, it’s formulaic. Use semi intelligent language to set things up, drop a crazy town illogical claim, insist he’s not attacking anyone, then end in a place that is far removed from his original point. He can’t debate without bullying and apparently never analyses his own actions. Stop the insanity and get this ego maniac off the air. Augusta can do better.
I enjoy the enthusiasm of the Southern Soul and Song commercials, but the purple-haired, older lady is not a good touch. She frightens potential patrons away and
WHINELINE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM 6 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Have something you want to get off your chest? Send your whines to whineline@themetrospirit.com. The Metro Spirit reserves the right to edit submitted whines for content, but we will otherwise print them pretty much exactly as you type them… spelling errors and all.
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25AUGUST2016
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 7
LIV E MU SIC | F R ID AY NI G H TS
26 5 1 Pe rimet er Park way Au g us t a | 706.855.8100
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The MacGregor Playbook LAST SATURDAY NIGHT, Connor MacGregor won a narrow but fairly decisive victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 202. The fight was a rematch from several months earlier, wherein Diaz, who took the fight on just two weeks’ notice, choked MacGregor out in the second round to hand the Irishman his first, and thus far only, UFC loss. With this win, MacGregor evens the score and cements himself — not to mention Diaz — as top box office draws. But there’s so much more to it than that. Let’s rewind — okay, rehash — a bit. MacGregor-Diaz 1 happened due to a combination of borderline insane circumstances, underscored by MacGregor’s celebrity and the classic Diaz “anywhere, anytime, anyone” mantra. “Mystic Mac” was coming off of a shocking 13-second KO of long-time featherweight king Jose Aldo, and his drawing power was at a premium. The UFC, deciding that Connor was already off the leash and figuring they might as well let him poop all over the neighbors’ yards, granted his request for an immediate shot at Rafael dos Anjos’ lightweight title, 10 pounds north. When dos Anjos pulled out of the fight due to injury with two weeks to go, the UFC tapped Diaz — thought to be a marketable yet winnable fight for MacGregor — to replace him. But there was another catch. Citing the short notice, Diaz, who normally competes as a lightweight, told the UFC that he didn’t have time to make the rigorous weight cut, so the fight was booked at 170 pounds, the welterweight limit. MacGregor looked and felt great. He didn’t have to go through the weight cutting process — he typically looks like a mass of tangled sinew on weigh-in night — and assumed, logically, that he’d be able to counter Diaz’ size advantage with his speed and technique. And for one round, that played out: he lit Diaz up with combinations, firing off his trademark uppercuts and atom-bomb straight left, landing nearly at will. But, Diaz being Diaz, didn’t go down, and when MacGregor tired in the second, Diaz struck, wobbling his opponent with hard combos, and securing a rear-naked choke. MacGregor, who was and still is technically the 145-pound champion, became obsessed with erasing the loss, insisting on a rematch at the exact same weight. Again, it was granted, and this is how we arrived at Saturday night, where two lighter weight fighters — typically not the UFC’s money divisions — secured two of the three highest disclosed pay days in the company’s history: MacGregor made $3 million, Diaz $2 million. It cannot be stressed enough how much these two fights changed the landscape of the UFC and mixed martial arts in general. I’m referring to the context of stakes here; in the span of two fights and several months, we are seeing a swing from the UFC title hunt as the apex of martial achievement to the advent of big-money “legacy” fights. Keep in mind that MacGregor has not yet defended the featherweight title he lifted from Aldo back in December; he has not even competed at that weight, nor anywhere close to it. There were rumors, which are still mired in the tangle of anonymous substantiation and
10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
official denial, that, had MacGregor initially defeated Diaz in their first fight, he would have been granted a title shot at freaking welterweight against Robbie Lawler. Diaz, unranked at welterweight himself, is talking about title shots against current 170-pound champ Tyrone Woodley, or against 155-pound champ Eddie Alvarez, though he has not competed at that weight in nearly a year. For their parts, Alvarez and Woodley have begun talking a similar game: Woodley, who has not yet proven to be a major draw, is calling out former pound-for-pound great Georges St. Pierre; Alvarez is angling for a fight with Diaz or Donald Cerrone, who has been campaigning at 170 for his last three fights. True fight fans are also students of history, and so they must surely be watching all of this unfold with a mixture of fascination, trepidation and resignation. For years, one of the trump cards of MMA fans was to cite the logical matchmaking system, with champions defending their titles against worthy challengers and, largely, a dearth of line-jumping. And while several champions are still doing just that — heavyweight, flyweight, middleweight and light heavyweight have been fairly rote — we are seeing a shift to the boxing mindset: big fights, big money and a leverage of worth. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Many fighters operating under this new MacGregor playbook have very bluntly said that they don’t intend to stay in the fight game for very long. It’s not a profession that encourages longevity, after all. MacGregor himself has stated that he intends to retire by the time he’s 30; he’s 28 right now. Light-heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson, who is 32, wants out at 35. And with the recent sale of the UFC to a media group, this kind of thing is going to proliferate. In a way, the stakes involved now are more human. The phrase “UFC champion” looks great on a resume, on a career retrospective, or a Wikipedia page, and it brings prestige. But it also provides leverage, and a new generation of fighters are utilizing that leverage to maximize not just their earning power but also their long-term health.
JOSH RUFFIN is a long way from home, having moved from Augusta to Middleton, Wisconsin,
with his wife, Michelle. He is a self-described beer guru, so most of his Twitter posts are about what he’s drinking. While drinking, he enjoys writing poetry and watching MMA fights… or writing poetry about MMA fights.
25AUGUST2016
Who’s On Your Network? I WANT YOU to do something when you get back to your house or apartment. Take out your phone or laptop and look at the available Wi-Fi connections. Most of you will probably see multiple connections, possibly even five or more. Hopefully, all the connections are locked, i.e., a passcode is required to connect. More importantly, I hope that your Wi-Fi connection is locked with a complex passcode. Why? Your next-door neighbor can also see your network, and they are not nearly as security aware as you. As a matter of fact, they are oblivious. A hacker operating out of Uzbekistan has been using their computer to launch attacks for the past few weeks. And next week, the target will be you. Like it or not, this is the reality of our interconnected world. The internet provides great benefit in terms of bringing people together and making the world a smaller place. However, the internet also facilitates electronic attacks on an unprecedented scale. Attackers flow like water, seeping into every unprotected nook and cranny they can find. Once inside, the attackers lie low and watch for new, high-value targets. For example, a corporate laptop or a mobile device connected to a business network. Attackers search for any device that may be used as a stepping stone to a larger prize. Interestingly, I still see many people that choose to deny the risk. They continue to surf the web in a state of mindless bliss. I guess it’s the same attitude that encourages people to not wear a seatbelt or to go boating without a life jacket. Time and time again, this “it won’t happen to me” attitude comes to an end when, of course, it happens to them. In the case of cyber security, this usually means the loss of all your kid’s pictures and your financial information. In many cases, you might even lose your identity. Security awareness is the first step folks need to take in order to use the internet safely and with confidence. Many folks have participated in security awareness programs at their business. These programs are designed to train a workforce on how to protect the assets of the organization. Successful programs change the culture of the organization so that good security practices become habit. In our connected society, however, security awareness and good security practices needs to extend to everyone. Everyone needs to understand that the potential exists for his or her information to be stolen, damaged or misused, whether deliberately or accidentally. So, back to your home Wi-Fi… In general, you can improve your security using a few simple configuration settings. • Use WPA2 encryption with a long, random, complex (non-human) password. • Never, ever use WEP encryption. • Turn off Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). • Change the default password and SSID. • Turn on any built-in Intrusion Detection System. • If feasible, use MAC address filtering. A quick search of the internet will show that these changes will not completely secure your network. However, most attackers look for targets of opportunity. If the next guy is easier to hack, the attacker will likely hit them instead. Cyber security awareness is an increasingly important component of our online lives. Stay tuned for more… @gregory_a_baker
TOWNSHIP AUDITORIUM
TRUSTUS THEATRE
JILL SCOTT AUGUST 27
ANATOMY OF A HUG AUGUST 19 – 27
CORNER OF MAIN AND HAMPTON
SHAGGIN’ ON MAIN SEPTEMBER 10 SC PRIDE FESTIVAL
COLONIAL LIFE ARENA
JORDIN SPARKS SEPTEMBER 3
MAROON 5 SEPTEMBER 10
1500 BLOCK OF MAIN STREET
COLONIAL LIFE ARENA
SODA CITY MARKET SATURDAYS 9AM - 1PM
CARRIE UNDERWOOD SEPTEMBER 24
GREGORY BAKER PH.D.
is vice president of CMA Technology and, yes, is actually a rocket scientist who used his doctorate in aerospace engineering at Lockheed Martin. In addition to working at CMA, he also serves the community, sitting on several boards in the area.
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Private Dancer
Insider
12 16
NEWS
Sexual Assault Allegations Against a Savannah Politician THINGS ARE GETTING PRETTY UGLY down in Savannah this week for one city councilman with local ties to the area, and the Insider is definitely not referring to Julian Miller, the former president of The Augusta Chronicle. However, the Insider is talking about one of Miller’s colleagues on the Savannah City Council: Alderman Tony Thomas. Earlier this year, the Insider informed local readers that a Savannahbased advertising firm called Renaissance Marketing, LLC has been under contract by the city of Augusta to handle the advertising on the outside of Augusta Public Transit buses for the past eight years. The marketing company also manages the advertisements on buses in Savannah, Columbus and Hinesville, Ga. While that seems uneventful, the president of Renaissance Marketing, LLC, who also happens to be a Savannah city councilman who has served four terms as the city’s District 6 alderman, is facing some serious allegations these days. Even though Savannah voters have continuously elected Thomas to office since 1999, he has earned quite a reputation for bar hopping, heavy drinking and frequently being in the companionship of teen boys, according to an investigative story by WTOC-TV in Savannah. However, those rumors have taken an even uglier turn this past year. A Chatham County grand jury this week has begun hearing evidence of alleged sexual abuse of teenagers by Thomas, according to the Savannah Morning News. According to the Chatham District Attorney Meg Heap, the grand jury called for a “civil investigation” of Thomas that was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The grand jury is now receiving the results of that investigation this week and will determine if Heap will “proceed before another grand jury on criminal charges or determine that there is insufficient evidence to merit her pursing the case,” according to the Savannah Morning News. While Thomas has long denied the allegations against him, there have been some very public claims against him on the internet which were quickly followed by the thorough investigation by WTOC-TV in Savannah. The news station revealed that Thomas allegedly took more than a dozen out-of-town trips, many on official city business, with several young teens. These were taxpayer-financed conferences where other aldermen claim Thomas shared hotel rooms with these boys and young men, WTOC-TV reported earlier this year. “Everyone was looking around saying, what’s he bringing this kid with him for,” former city Alderman Ellis Cook told the Savannah news station. “At the end of the conference the majority of the people on council went to then city manager, Michael Brown, and said, ‘Look, tell him he can’t bring young boys to these functions with him anymore.’” For the past several years, there has been growing allegations against Thomas, including accusations of child sexual assault and providing drugs and alcohol to underage boys. Over the past few months, more alleged victims have come forward claiming Thomas sexually assaulted them as minors. WTOC spoke with several of the alleged victims including Chris Haupt, who told the news station that he met Thomas when he was just 14 years old, as an eighth grader at Savannah County Day School. Haupt was looking for a summer job when he says Thomas approached him at a local movie theater and they began talking. Thomas offered to take the teen to a mall and he bought the boy some new shoes. A few weeks later, Haupt told the news station that Thomas asked him to do some yard work for him. Afterwards, Thomas invited the teen to take a shower to clean up at his house. “I took my shower, I’m drying off, I went in to get my clothes and
put my clothes back on,” Haupt told WTOC. “And then I was forced to the bed and he forced himself on me and started performing oral sex on me.” For months, Haupt said Thomas pursued him to the point that he never knew when the alderman was going to pressure him for “sexual payback” or what Thomas allegedly liked to called “sugar.” “It’s ruined every relationship I’ve ever had,” Haupt told the Savannah news station. “It drives you nuts. At that time, you don’t know how to handle it. Every day, you’re ashamed, all right. You don’t want to tell anybody.” With each alleged victim, WTOC was able to find dozens of pictures of these teens at several different functions with Thomas. What was the source of these photos? Thomas’ own Facebook page. Over the years, Thomas posted hundreds of picture of these young men in bars, hotel rooms and trips, many on official city business. Several of the photos show these teen boys with their shirts off and sometimes in their underwear in hotel rooms. Another alleged victim, Joey Foley, now 23, told WTOC that he met Thomas when he was 16 years old. “He went and took me and bought me a bunch of clothes. Took me to get my hair cut. Took me to get a massage,” Foley said. “That same night, he took me to Ruth’s Chris and I got super wasted. I don’t remember anything. Like I literally got to Ruth’s Chris and woke up in Tony’s bed.” Needless to say, things aren’t looking good for Thomas. But somehow Thomas is still acting as if these allegations against him are all a big joke. On his public Facebook page, Thomas has posted a variety of messages such as, “That moment when they think they won but you know you did, they’re just too stupid to realize.” Thomas also posted a photo of Fred Sanford, the fictional character portrayed by comedian Redd Foxx in the NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son” with the message, “That look you get when karma is about to tear up a dummy.” Thomas may not want to joke too much about karma because, as we all know, karma doesn’t play games. It might be time for Thomas to tone down the rhetoric and face the music. As for Augusta, commissioners need to start looking into bids from other companies to manage the city’s bus advertising program because it looks like Thomas’ bus is about to leave the station. 25AUGUST2016
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UGA’s Gunnar Bentz Faces the Criticism FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, there have been a lot of accusations and name-calling surrounding the highly controversial incident involving four U.S. Olympic swimmers at a Rio de Janeiro gas station. The entire incident seems like it’s some bad scene from the movie, “The Hangover.” Basically, one of swimmers, allegedly 12-time medalist Ryan Lochte, apparently damaged property at a gas station and argued with armed men that were security guards at the business. Then, it seems the swimmers were not allowed to leave the property until they paid for the damages. But the next thing the world knew, Lochte was going on national television later that day claiming the swimmers had been robbed at gunpoint. “We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over,” Lochte told NBC News on Aug. 14. “They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn’t do anything wrong, so — I’m not getting down on the ground. And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down,’ and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever.’ He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials.” However, not long after Lochte’s claim, Brazilian police stated that the swimmer had fabricated the story about being robbed at gunpoint. All of a sudden, these American superstars went from being on top of the world (literally, after their tremendous performance at the Olympics) to being called everything from a “disgrace” to a symbol of “everything the world hates about Americans.” Needless to say, it’s been a tough week for these athletes and the U.S. Olympic Committee. However, here in the Peach State, many residents were at least happy to see the University of Georgia’s Gunnar Bentz face the music. Late last week, 20-year-old Bentz didn’t run to the national media for an exclusive interview like his teammate, 32-yearold Lochte. Instead, he behaved like an adult and sincerely apologized for his actions at the gas station in Brazil. “I want to offer a sincere apology to the United States Olympic Committee, USA Swimming, the extraordinary women and men of Team USA, and the University of Georgia,” Bentz said in a statement issued by UGA on Aug. 19. “Being a member of the Olympic Swimming Team was an honor and a dream come true. The accomplishments of my teammates were awe-inspiring and I’m so pleased I got to see them up close. I regret this situation has drawn attention away from the Olympics, which have been hosted so incredibly well by Brazil and its citizens.” But Bentz didn’t stop there. He went into specifics about what happened during the early morning hours at that gas station in Brazil. “While I am anxious to put this matter behind me and rejoin my Georgia teammates in classes, practices and competitions, I feel compelled to stress several key points,” He wrote. “1. I was never a suspect in the case from the beginning (Brazilian law enforcement officials saw me only as a witness). 2. I never made a false statement to anyone at any time.” Bentz also claimed that he was always honest with authorities in Brazil. “What follows is consistent with the account I gave to the Brazilian authorities when I was interviewed for the first and 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
only time on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro,” he wrote. “After attending an event with several swimmers from different nations, I left in a taxicab along with U.S. swimmers Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte around 6 a.m. On the way back to the Olympic Village, we pulled into a convenience store to use the restroom. There was no restroom inside, so we foolishly relieved ourselves on the backside of the building behind some bushes. There was a locked door out back and I did not witness anyone breaking it open. I am unsure why, but while we were in that area, Ryan pulled to the ground a framed metal advertisement that was loosely anchored to the brick wall. I then suggested to everyone that we needed to leave the area and we returned to the taxi.” At that point, the swimmers were approached by the security guards at the gas station, he said. “Two men, whom I believe to have been security guards, then instructed us to exit the vehicle,” Bentz stated. “No guns were drawn during this exchange, but we did see a gun tucked into one of the guard’s waistband. As Jimmy and Jack were walking away from the vehicle, the first security guard held up a badge to me and drew his handgun. I yelled to them to come back toward us and they complied. Then the second guard drew his weapon and both guards pointed their guns at us and yelled at us to sit on a nearby sidewalk.” That’s when Lochte allegedly confronted the security guards, Bentz said. “Again, I cannot speak to his actions, but Ryan stood up and began to yell at the guards,” Bentz stated. “After Jack and I both tugged at him in an attempt to get him to sit back down, Ryan and the security guards had a heated verbal exchange, but no physical contact was made.” Fortunately, a bilingual customer intervened to assist in the situation. “A man that I believe to be a customer approached us and offered to help as he spoke both English and Portuguese,” Bentz stated. “Understandably, we were frightened and confused during this time. Through the interpreter, one of the guards said that we needed to pay them in order to leave. I gave them what I had in my wallet, which was a $20 bill, and Jimmy gave them 100 Reals, which is about $50 in total. They lowered the guns and I used hand gestures to ask if it was okay to leave and they said yes. We walked about a block down the street and hailed another taxi to return to the Village.”
Bentz wasn’t trying to excuse the swimmers’ behavior in the statement. He was simply trying to give his account of what happened. “Videos of this situation have been emerging the last several days. However, I am confident that some video angles have not been shown that would further substantiate my account. I also believe some scenes have been skipped over,” Bentz stated. “Additionally, I would like to stress that our original taxi was not pulled over; the only occupants of the taxi were the four of us and the driver; and to my knowledge, there was no damage done to the door or the inside of the restroom.” With that, Bentz again thanked his teammates for the opportunity to represent the United States at the Olympics. “I am so thankful for the love and support of my family, my friends and my teammates during this time,” he wrote. “Without question, I am taking away a valuable life lesson from this situation. In everything I do, I am representing my family, my country and my school. I will not take that responsibility lightly.” Now, this statement hasn’t let Bentz off the hook. Far from it. His public Facebook page is filled with major criticism from all around the world. “Great job tarnishing America and everything you have worked so hard for...it is time for you to grow up,” one person wrote following the release of his statement. “The world now knows everything and it is going take a long time for Brazil to forgive you.” Another wrote, “You’re not fit for the Olympics. You belong stocking a warehouse.” Regardless about how the rest of the world feels about the swimmers’ actions, many people in Georgia are willing to give Bentz the benefit of the doubt because he is not looking for the spotlight, he’s not playing the victim and he’s not trying to save his image. He’s apologizing and taking responsibility for his actions. But more importantly, Bentz seems sincerely sorry for everything that occurred during that morning at that gas station in Brazil. So, what more can you ask of a 20-year-old college student? However, the same can’t be said for his 32-year-old teammate. 25AUGUST2016
A local exotic dancer, who was denied an adult entertainment license by the city, is requesting that the Augusta Commission allow her to perform as an independent contractor WHEN Augusta’s Deputy Planning Director Rob Sherman recently received an application from local resident, Sharon Bush Ellison, for a license to become an exotic dancer, he immediately noticed an essential item was missing from her paperwork. Ellison had failed to list a place of employment for what is called her “bar card” application, Sherman said. “If you are going to be a dancer or stripper down at one of the adult entertainment establishments, and there are three on Broad Street, you are supposed to get a bar card,” Sherman explained. “When she first came in, what she wanted to do was just get a bar card so that she could work private parties, basically, go to people’s houses and be a stripper. And I told her, ‘Well, you can’t do that.’” In order to legally work as an exotic dancer in Augusta, applicants are required to be licensed to dance at one of the permitted adult entertainment establishments in downtown, such as the Discotheque Lounge, Fantasy’s Showgirls or Vegas Show Girls. Those three downtown strip clubs are the only such establishments in Augusta primarily because of an alcohol ordinance that was adopted almost two decades ago. In 1997, the Augusta Commission adopted an ordinance that resembled other regulations approved across Georgia that allowed such adult establishments to have either nude dancing or serve alcohol, but would not allow both under the same roof. 16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
By Stacey Eidson
If exotic dancers were allowed to receive independent licenses and perform in private residences, the city would be unable to properly monitor their activities, Rob Sherman explained. 25AUGUST2016
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Sharon Bush Ellison’s request for an appeal implies she may have already decided to begin working as an “adult entertainment independent contractor” until the issue is resolved. The only problem is, if she is currently working as an “independent contractor” at a private residence, she is clearly not following the city code. However, clubs such as the Discotheque Lounge were grandfathered in by the Augusta Commission and, therefore, they are allowed to continue to hold their liquor licenses under the current ownership. The liquor licenses can be renewed every year; however, once the owner either sells the business or passes away, the existing strip club will no longer be grandfathered in under the original ordinance. The approval of the 1997 ordinance has helped prevent such adult entertainment establishments from popping up all over the country. But if exotic dancers were allowed to receive independent licenses and perform in private residences, the city would be unable to properly monitor their activities, Sherman explained. “It would lead to a lot of problems if you think it through,” Sherman said. “Let’s say you are sitting at home and you call a stripper to come to your house. Well, who is going to protect you? Who is going to protect the stripper? When the stripper is done, is she just going to walk out? Anything could happen, so it just doesn’t work.” While Sherman insists Ellison may simply want to dance at private parties, he believes loosening the restrictions for exotic dancers across Richmond County could cause serious consequences down the road. “It’s kind of like saying prostitution is legal, come get a business license and you can go work,” Sherman said. “It’s a slippery slope.” In response to the city’s decision to deny her application, Ellison has filed an appeal with the Augusta Commission regarding her request for, what she is calling, an “adult entertainment independent contractor license.” However, Ellison’s appeal was scheduled to be discussed by the mayor and the commission on Aug. 16, but she was not present at the meeting. Instead, she submitted a request for a delay of her appeal. As a result, commissioners agreed to
“She is not reading the entire ordinance. She only reads what she wants it to say.” — Rob Sherman 25AUGUST2016
“You might as well be the Las Vegas cowboy ranch.” — Grady Smith delay the appeal until their meeting on Sept. 6. But a review of the paperwork that Ellison filed for an appeal has also raised a few questions. Her request for an appeal implies she may have already decided to begin working as an “adult entertainment independent contractor” until the issue is resolved. Her appeal states, “Sharon Bush Ellison will begin working as of this 7th day of August 2016, as an Adult Entertainment Contractor and comply with all requirements of Augusta Code Title 6-l-10 (c) as may be applicable to Independent Contractors.” The only problem is, if she is currently working as an “independent contractor” at a private residence, she is clearly not following the city code, Sherman stated. “She is appealing to be an independent contractor is what she says,” Sherman said. “Now, there is a section in the adult entertainment ordinance that says you can only have a bar card issued at a permitted establishment, which are the three bars downtown. But it also says you will be treated as an employee, even if you are an independent contractor.” However, that doesn’t mean that a person can apply to be an “independent contractor” and work outside one of the permitted adult entertainment establishments, Sherman explained. “What the means is, you are either a W-2 employee or an independent contractor,” he said. “By saying that, the ordinance is stating that the business is responsible for your actions.” But Sherman said Ellison is trying to twist that language to mean she can dance independently from one of the licensed downtown strip clubs. “She only reads bits and pieces of the ordinance,” he said. “She wants to say that AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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“I can’t really form an opinion or know how to vote unless I have a demonstration of what she is going to do. Seeing it is worth 1,000 words,” Augusta Commissioner Grady Smith jokingly said. “I have to see what I’m voting on.” that means that she can apply to be an independent contractor and have a bar card and work wherever she wants. No, it doesn’t really say that. So that’s where we are it. She is not reading the entire ordinance. She only reads what she wants it to say.” When contacted by the Metro Spirit, Ellison said she is anxious to tell her side of the story, but needs a little more time. “I would want to speak to you about this,” Ellison said by phone. “I am looking forward to presenting the answers to your questions.” While Ellison may not be prepared to discuss her appeal, many Augusta commissioners have a lot to say about her request to become a licensed “freelance” exotic dancer. “I can’t really form an opinion or know how to vote unless I have a demonstration of what she is going to do. Seeing it is worth 1,000 words,” Augusta Commissioner Grady Smith jokingly said. “I have to see what I’m voting on.” But in all seriousness, Smith said Ellison hasn’t given the city enough details to adequately consider what she is requesting. “I will listen to anything, but we have to think about what’s best for our community, the city’s image, the youth and senior citizens,” Smith said. “How is this going to affect us in the future? How many more people are going to come forward and want to be an independent contractor where they can go to people’s houses, offices or whatever and strip? The next thing you know, guess what you got? You might as well be the Las Vegas cowboy ranch.” At this point, Smith said there are too many questions and not enough answers regarding Ellison’s appeal. 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
“All I’ve heard is she was scheduled to come down to the commission meetings a couple of times, but hasn’t shown up,” Smith said. “I am not forming any opinion yet, but, right now, I want to do what is best for this community and I have a lot of questions. Like, what hours is she going to be dancing and prancing around? I mean, we have got to know a lot more about it because, if we approve her, what kinds of doors does that open for the future?” Not only does Smith want to hear from the city’s license and inspection department, but he also wants an opinion from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. Sherman said the sheriff’s office also denied Ellison’s request. “When we got her to fill out the bar card application, she didn’t put the business location, so the sheriff’s department denied it and then we also denied it for that reason,” Sherman said, adding that the application is sent to the sheriff’s office to conduct a background check in order to be approved for such a license. Smith believes the city must be extremely careful when considering such a request. “What if she hires other girls to sub under her license? What dangers are there if they go to a residence or a private building or something like that to do a little dancing?” Smith asked. “So you have a safety issue there. Then, you have got to find out what kind of insurance is she going to be forced to carry. And most businesses now have to carry some kind of bond. So, this isn’t just about this one individual and one application. It’s a lot more complicated than this one request.” But Augusta Commissioner Ben Hasan
doesn’t want to automatically shut the door on Ellison’s request to become an independent contractor in her chosen profession. Hasan said her request has started a conversation about a topic he knew very little about prior to her application. “I didn’t know a person needed an adult entertainment license that specifically lists a dancing adult establishment,” Hasan said. “So, the first thing is, I never knew they would have their own personal licenses in order to practice their profession and that it had to be tied to a business. So this is the first time it was brought to my attention.” Hasan said he has been following the commission meetings since 2006, even prior to becoming a commissioner, and he has never seen this topic publicly addressed. “This is the first time that I know of that a person is attempting to get their own individual license,” Hasan said. “So, it’s a first for me. I have never had or seen that type of request before.” Therefore, Hasan said Ellison’s request should not be immediately dismissed. “On the face of it, right now, I haven’t seen any details surrounding it,” Hasan said. “But it could make sense, if you kind of flush out her rational for why she thinks this is a legitimate business, in the sense that she doesn’t have to be tied to an establishment.” If it is a legitimate business, Hasan said she may have some very valid reasons why she wants to work independently from the downtown strip clubs. “Sometimes, the way the system is set up, it does kind of shut people out,” he said. “If that is the case, we have to kind of look at it and make a judgment call. Historically, maybe it has been tied to an establishment, but the question becomes, does it have to be, especially based on the nature of what she is asking? And right now, I don’t know what she is asking.” However, Hasan said he does appreciate the fact that Ellison is requesting a legitimate license instead of trying to go around the system. “We see bachelors having their bachelor parties and we see women jumping out of the cake. We see all of these kinds of events doing that sort of stuff, so what is the difference at the end of the day?” Hasan said. “When I think about it, when people are getting married, whether it is male or female, their friends take them out and sometimes dancers are involved, either at a private venue where people come to them or they go to an establishment. So the thing about it is, how do we regulate it? There needs to be a way we can make sure that she stays in compliance and does what she says she is going to do.”
“We see bachelors having their bachelor parties and we see women jumping out of the cake. … So what is the difference at the end of the day?” — Ben Hasan While Augusta Commissioner Marion Williams wants independent businesses to thrive across the city, he believes there needs to be restrictions when it comes to professions such as exotic dancers and businesses like strip clubs. “The ordinance says it has to be tied to an establishment for a reason,” Williams said. “You just can’t give people that kind of license because you don’t know what they are doing. There is no way to control or monitor an independent dancer. If everybody had a license to go into a private home or a business and do this, that and the other, you just don’t know what is going to happen. We really can’t approve this request.” Williams said Augusta already has businesses featuring exotic dancers on Broad Street and that’s exactly where that kind of activity needs to remain. “Now, there are certain establishments that have that kind of dance and stuff inside of them and, just as long as they meet the guidelines, I’m going to support it,” Williams said. “But I can’t support a private, independent license like what she 25AUGUST2016
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“It’s a first for me. I have never had or seen that type of request before.” — Ben Hasan is suggesting that we have no way of controlling. I just can’t see it.” If an exotic dancer is allowed to enter a private residence and conduct business, Williams said the local government would have its hands tied. “The government can’t go into a private home and say, ‘Hey, are you performing certain acts on people and charging them money?’” Williams said. “That is a private person’s home. We can’t do that, but she wants a license to dance inside private residences. She might be already doing it on her own anyway. But if she gets caught, she would suffer some severe consequences, I would think.” The city could create a dangerous situation for both the dancers and the people hiring them if commissioners approved Ellison’s request, Williams said. “You don’t know who you are letting in your home and, as a dancer, you don’t know who’s home you are going in,” he said. “You might be going in a rapist’s home or a mass murderer’s house. Or a person coming in there may say they are a dancer, but they may not be. They might be trying to come inside for other reasons. So, I believe a license tied to a business is one thing, but giving out these licenses individually is a different story. And, in my opinion, I say, ‘No way.’” In the almost 40 years he has worked for the city, Sherman said this is the first time he can remember that any exotic dancer has applied to be an independent contractor. “People apply for the bar cards all the time, but we’ve never had anyone who wanted an independent license,” Sherman said. “Now, during our meeting, I think she did have a valid question. She asked, ‘What about the dancers who work the bachelor parties?’ And
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I didn’t have a good answer for that. If someone has a private party, what friends do with friends in a private residence, we don’t regulate that. Surely somebody is being paid, but, then again, prostitutes don’t come to us and ask for a business license either.” While Smith says he is open to hearing what Ellison has to say during the Sept. 6 meeting, he believes the commission needs to be extremely cautious before even considering changing the city’s ordinance regarding exotic dancers. “We’ve got all kind of weirdos in town who would be asking to do things similar to this, so you just can’t open the gates. If we did, what kind of community would we have?” Smith asked. “The next thing you know, the underworld and sleazeballs come in and take over because a lot of things are hinged on money and there is the potential there for somebody to make a whole lot of money.” While a business promoting private exotic dancers might thrive in Augusta, Smith said he is fairly certain it wouldn’t enhance the community. “I’m born and raised in this county and I want to protect it,” Smith said. “I am not saying no, but I dadgum sure am not saying yes, either. I want to hear what’s going on, but right now, the way I’m leaning, I’m not in favor of it. I mean, what is this really going to be? Girls on wheels? Let’s be honest, something doesn’t sound right.”
“Then again, prostitutes don’t come to us and ask for a business license either.” — Rob Sherman
“I can’t support a private, independent license like what she is suggesting that we have no way of controlling. I just can’t see it.” — Marion Williams
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What’s Up
Don’t let the old sign from a former restaurant fool you: 1454 Walton Way is now occupied by Kim’s Donuts. And a visit to Kim’s Donuts is a must for anyone whose fantasies involve sugar, dough, a fryer and toppings too numerous to count Now open all day long, seven days a week, Kim’s is an oasis in the middle of the medical district, a place where you can find an unusual selection of pastries and a good selection of them no matter what time you visit. You’ll also find great deals. Kim’s offers two donuts and a cup of coffee (from Buona Caffe, no less) for $3.95, and when you get a dozen you get 13 (a baker’s dozen) instead of 12. Kim’s has everything from plain old glazed donuts to those topped with sugary cereals like Fruit Loops and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Our favorites, however, are the gigantic apple fritters and cinnamon rolls, as well as the sweet and salty maple bacon and the fantastically tart lemon filled. Don’t expect perfection: These are homemade donuts so they’re not all going to look exactly the same, like the products of chain places do. But at Kim’s the blueberry cake donuts have actual blueberries in them (and, as a result, smell incredible) and when you order a Boston cream long john, they pipe the cream in after you order it so it doesn’t turn to mush while it’s sitting in the case. And that type of attention to detail makes Kim’s Donuts good enough for us.
Calendar Music Listings
kim’s DonUts 1454 Walton Way 5:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily 706-364-0466 facebook.com/kimsdonuts/
this Week
thUrsDay If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
Craft & Vine may be a Friday and Saturday night hotspot, but they’re worth a visit on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well. And you really ought to go while it’s still August and they’re celebrating National Peach Month. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Titan pizza and the Spicy Broad cocktail. Both feature Titan Farms peaches and both are addictive.
satUrDay
sUnDay
If you love dance, then you’ll Star Wars Reads Day is want to be at Le Chat Noir at 8 scheduled for Saturday, October p.m. tonight for AbunDANCE, a 15. So why are we talking concert featuring every style of about it now? Because the dance known to man. Seriously. Headquarters Branch Library From ballet to clogging to hoop downtown is already getting and pole… all will get their time ready for it by showing each in the spotlight to help the and every Star Wars movie on theater fund a new floor for their Sundays at 2 p.m. You’ll have to studio space. catch up on Episode I at home before heading to the library today for Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
monDay It seems like only yesterday that we were announcing the beginning of the Hopelands Summer Concert Series. Alas, time has flown and this Monday at 7 p.m. is the last in the series. Featuring the Aiken Concert Band, expect an especially celebratory evening filled with picnickers and their pets as everyone officially rings in the fall season.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 24. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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the IndIan Queen ContInues to ReIgn It was august of 2012 when Steven Moore, Brandon Mears and Ryan McArdle realized their dream of creating the perfect bar. Four years on, and the Indian Queen is sitting pretty on the corner of Monte Sano and Wrightsboro; its log-cabin exterior enhanced by a large, inviting deck and patio area bordered by flowering plants. The bar’s name came from the legend of Peter Carnes, an 18th-century lawyer and hot-air balloon enthusiast, who, before relocating to Augusta, ran a bar called the Indian Queen Tavern in Bladenburg, Maryland. The initial concept behind the Indian Queen was quite simple — a retreat where people could talk and socialize without yelling; a comfortable atmosphere in which people could enjoy good cocktails; a bar that inspired and encouraged community; and a place where the bartenders were capable, using time-tested methods instead of trendy substitutes. It was certainly a risk. As with all new businesses, a lot of money was pumped into the Indian Queen, and funds were almost depleted when opening day arrived. Moore said, “I had $12 in the account. We needed to do well the weekend we opened. We had to make money.” The unique building, neighborhood location and alluring name attracted a sizable crowd during opening weekend – in fact, right from the start, the Augusta community supported their newest “local,” a phenomenon that has only continued to grow throughout the years. It is a fact borne out across social media, where customers rave about their experience and nights out, and their many tagged photos are collected and shared by the staff. Indeed, there is plenty to admire about the Indian Queen. Its quiet interior, rustic furnishings and large, open fireplaces are certainly enticing, but Moore believes it is the people behind the bar who make the bar a favored destination. “Our whole team is strong. Our whole team plays the part,” Moore said. “I’ve been fortunate to have had a steady staff since we opened; the turnover that we’ve had has been very low. So the reason we’ve been able to be so successful is that staff.” Making sure patrons have a good time, Moore explained, is both possible and essential to the business. “When people walk through the door, we treat them well,” Moore said. “We know the better we treat them, the better environment we create, and the happier they are, and the better off we all are in the end.” In addition to its excellent staff and operating without the bells and whistles of other bars — the Indian Queen doesn’t do nightly specials, karaoke or trivia — the bar’s comfy atmosphere is also hugely appealing. Groups of friends can certainly raise the volume of the place, but never to the point of deafening. Conjuring up images of a long-gone lifestyle, the bar’s heavily wooded interior hasn’t changed much over the past four years. The furniture is slightly different and things have been moved around a little, but otherwise nothing has changed. It doesn’t have to — the Queen 22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
is a hit. The Indian Queen has also stuck to its original menu of beer, wines and high-quality liquors. Those wanting something a little fancier, though, can enjoy one of its craft cocktails, created in-house and often using ingredients grown on-site. Reflecting on the past four years, Moore said the Indian Queen has become a part of Augusta — not only a Summerville location — in the same way many Hill businesses have attracted people from throughout Augusta. “The more diversity that you have, the more people you have from all over,” he explained. “It has become a group of people working together to allow good business to flourish.” “Our main goal when we started was to be open to all — to be inclusive and to bring people from all over to this area of town. We want everybody to feel comfortable coming in and sitting at the bar. If you’re over the age of 21 and you can come in here and act accordingly, then we want you to be here.” What the Indian Queen owners weren’t anticipating was the consistently high level of support they’ve received since opening their doors. “Not to sound too sentimental, but the amount of love that we’ve received from people has surprised us,” Moore said. “It’s helped us avoid the roller coaster
By Molly Swift
of uncertainty that can come from opening a new business. It’s allowed us to have a lasting, meaningful relationship with this neighborhood.” Looking ahead to the future, Moore said the Indian Queen isn’t going anywhere. Nor is it looking to change. “I think the Indian Queen is best off just staying as the Indian Queen, and doing what it does here until a time people don’t like it anymore,” Moore said. “And I don’t know that that time will ever come.” the IndIan Queen 2502 Wrightsboro Road Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, noon-2 a.m. 706-207-9265 theindianqueen.com
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lasting approximately two hours, this bus tour includes Brown’s elementary school, his childhood home, his statue and more. $15 fee, includes admission to the museum, which houses the largest collection of James Brown memorabilia. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-640-2090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
Guided Tours 1797 Ezekiel Harris House Offered by appointment only MondayFriday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Tours
Consignment Sale Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church Friday, August 26, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, August 27, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sale includes clothes, accessories, toys, equipment and more. 706-738-8822 trinityonthehill.net
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 706724-0436 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.
ARTS
3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
EXHIBITIONS
Fri Aug 26
EDUCATION
Ongoing
Thu Aug 25
Augusta Museum of History Admission during the month of August is $1 per person. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
6:30pm - 9pm Acrylic Painting: Hummingbird Mid-Flight Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $30. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
10am - noon Computer Help Lab Thursdays Wallace Branch Library Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Civil Rights and the Arts
Sat Aug 27
Sat Aug 27
10am - noon Gourd Painting
10am - noon Open House
Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $20. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Helms College Call 844-464-3567 or visit helms.edu.
Mon Aug 29
3:30pm - 5pm Intermediate Spanish
Wed Aug 31
7pm - 9pm 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.
DANCE Sat Aug 27
8pm AbunDANCE! Le Chat Noir A dance concert featuring a unique mix of genres, from ballet to Tahitian dance, from Augusta’s top performers. $20. Call 706-72224 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Dollar Dog Days
Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History An exhibit that features paintings, books, film, music, photos, historic document and more, both of the civil rights era and those that were affected by it. The exhibit shows through the end of September. Call 706-7243576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
Miru: Hope Full Soul
Necco Augusta A free weekly session. Pre-registration suggested. Call 706-210-3435 or visit necco.org.
Westobou Gallery A collection of new artwork by Staci Swider. A book signing will take place September 2 for Swider’s new book “Acrylic Expressions: Painting Authentic Themes and Creating Your Visual Vocabulary.” The exhibition will show Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 1-September 2. Call 706-755-2878 or visit westoboufestival.com.
Ongoing
FLIX
Augusta Museum of History Available each Saturday at 11 a.m. and
3pm “The Angry Birds Movie”
Tue Aug 30
10am - noon Foster Parent Orientation
James Brown Family Historical Tour
Sat Aug 27
Aiken Public Library
Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sun Aug 28
2pm Star Wars Reads Day Movie Series Headquarters Branch Library Featuring “Episode II: Attack of the Clones.” Call 706-821-2604 or visit arcpls.org.
HEALTH Thu Aug 25
7pm - 8:30pm Infant CPR University Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Sat Aug 27
12:30pm CSRA Veg Monthly Meet Up Earth Fare Visit meetup.com/csravs/.
Mon Aug 29 6:30pm Refit
Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
HOBBIES Tue Aug 30
10am Genealogy 101 Headquarters Branch Library’s Georgia Heritage Room Participants will learn how to start a family history project, as well as discuss resources and strategies. Call 706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
7pm Scrabble Night North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Wed Aug 31
Noon Georgia-Carolina Toastmasters Fat Man’s Mill Cafe Those interested are invited to learn speech and leadership skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Call 706-627-2134.
KIDS-TEENS Thu Aug 25
6pm - 7:30pm Big Brother/Big Sister Doctors Hospital An educational and interactive class for children who will soon be welcoming a new baby into the home. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Fri Aug 26
4:30pm Lego Club North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library For those in grades K-5. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
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Refreshments available for $1. Free and open to the community, although members can reserve space up to a week beforehand. Call 706-3645762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
accepted until September 9 and applications can be found online. Call 706-595-7777 or visit hickory-hill.org.
Loud Crowd
Sat Aug 27
2pm Raptors: Incredible Birds of Prey Reed Creek Park Falconer and wildlife educator Wade Carruth will give participants ages 5 and up a chance to see them up close. $7 per person. Call 706-210-4027 or visit phobbs@ columbiacountyga.gov.
Mon Aug 29
10:30am Music & Me Headquarters Branch Library A class for children ages 0-4 in which participants will learn how to chant, sing, play instruments and move to the music. Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed Aug 31
10am Story Time Maxwell Branch Library For those ages 3-5. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
A supervised after-school program for those ages 4-12, is Monday Friday from 3-6 p.m. at the following community centers: Warren Road, Blythe, Garrett, Diamond Lakes and McBean. The program follows the Richmond County school calendar. $85, monthly; $25, weekly; $10, drop-in. Visit augustaga.gov.
Moms Club of Augusta A nonprofit group that has weekly playgroups and other activities for stayat-home moms. For more information, visit momsclubaugusta.org.
Moms Club of Grovetown A group that accepts any mom who stays at home with her children regardless of parenting style, religion or ethnicity. The group meets for a variety of activities and dues are $20 a year. Visit momsclubofgrovetown.weebly.com.
Mothers of Advanced Maternal Age
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time
A group for women with children who are age 35 years or older. Call 706-394-1293 or email hoopnhollar2@yahoo.com.
Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
LITERARY
10:30am Preschool Craft Time Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3 and older. Preregistration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am - noon Super Awesome Story Time with Karen Gordon The Book Tavern Featuring a story and crafts. Cookies and juice provided. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
4:30pm - 6pm Alley Cats Strikehouse Bowl, Aiken Part of the Aiken Recreation Department’s Buddy Sports program for those with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, this class is for those of all bowling abilities. $12 a month; pre-registration required. Call 803426-1284 or visit therecingcrew.com.
Ongoing
Junior Board Members Needed The Watson-Brown Foundations is looking for high school students interested in preserving history and helping the communities of the CSRA. Participants will spend one evening a month learning about historic preservation, grants and philanthropy and, in the spring, will award funds to organizations in the area involved in preservation. Applications will be 25AUGUST2016
Thu Aug 25
10am - noon Morning Book Club Maxwell Branch Library Discussion will be on “Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postman. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
7pm - 9pm Graphic Novel Discussion The Book Tavern The group meets the fourth Thursday of each month and discusses a book picked at the previous meeting. Call 706-826-1940 or email david@booktavern.com.
Sat Aug 27
Tue Aug 30
4pm Reading and Book Signing AU’s Jaguar Student Activities Center Featuring Rob Spillman, editor of Tin House magazine and author of “All Tomorrow’s Parties: A Memoir.” Call 706729-2508 or visit augusta.edu.
Ongoing Book Sale
Appleby Branch Library A month-long book sale in the library’s story hour room. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
MUSIC
C&C Engineering and Technology Initiatives Book Fair
Fri Aug 26
Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A four-concert series, this one featuring Ed Fuqua accompanied by Jay Ware and Johnathan Lovett. The opening act will be Kiara Iman. $20, general; $15, senior; $10, students and military. Call 706-733-7939 or visit uuaugusta.org.
2pm Author Signing Barnes & Noble Featuring Charmisse Owens, author of “Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started College.” Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Sun Aug 28
C&C Engineering and Technology Initiatives Book Fair Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
7:30pm 4 Seasons Chamber Jazz
Sat Aug 27
2:30pm Guitar Lessons Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop A Harlem Arts Council class for those with beginner to intermediate guitar experience. $35. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
7pm Civil Rights and the Arts Musical Presentation Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Civil rights music presented by Karen Gordon of Garden City Jazz. $10. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
7:30pm Soiree: Jazz + Wine Jessye Norman School of the Arts Featuring classic live jazz and wines selected by the host. $7. Call 762-233-5299 or visit jazzsoiree.com.
Sun Aug 28
7:30pm Candlelight Jazz Augusta Common Attendees are invited to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets and picnics for this live jazz concert. $6. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.
11am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit theaugustamarket.com.
Mon Aug 29
7pm Hopelands Summer Concert Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Featuring the Aiken Concert Band. Attendees can bring blankets, lawn chairs, AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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picnics and well-behaved pets on leashes, but no alcohol. Free. Call 803-642-7631 or visit facebook.com/experienceaiken. The rain-out hotline is 803-643-4661.
7pm Meet and Greet with the Augusta Chorale Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History The public is invited to this event which will feature music, talks about the organization’s history and light refreshments. $2, children; $5, adults; $3, seniors. Visit augustachorale.org.
SENIORS Tue Aug 30
10:30am Senior Technology: Typing Skills Appleby Branch Library A beginner class. Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu Aug 25
11am Thursday Game Mania Diamond Lakes Branch Library An event that includes classic games like Bingo, Checkers, Chess and more. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
5pm - 7:30pm Farmers Market The Alley, Downtown Aiken This weekly event includes fresh goods, food vendors, artisans, flowers and live music. Call 803-293-2214.
Fri Aug 26
9am - 7pm Consignment Sale Trinity on the Hill UMC Sale includes clothes, accessories, toys, equipment and more. Call 706-738-8822 or visit trinityonthehill.net.
7pm Bordeaux Wine Tasting Seminar Wine World A tasting of 11 wines, with bread, cheese and snacks, led by Jean-Pierre Chambas, CEO, Aleph Wines. Participants will be offered special prices on featured wines. $25; preregistration required. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
Sat Aug 27
8am - 2pm Augusta Market at the River 8th Street Plaza, Reynolds Street The event features vendors of all kinds, activities, live entertainment and more. Visit theaugustamarket.com.
8am - 1pm Consignment Sale Trinity on the Hill UMC Sale includes clothes, accessories, toys, equipment and more. Call 706-738-8822 or visit trinityonthehill.net.
9am - noon Fall Fling Aiken Center for the Arts A morning of free mini-classes for adults and older teens. Classes begin at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., are taught by members of the ACA faculty and will be on four different media. All supplies and light refreshments provided. Pre-registration required. Call 803641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
10am - 1pm Last Saturday in the Park North Augusta’s Living History Park Featuring living history demonstrations. Call 803-279-7560 or visit colonialtimes.us.
Noon - 3pm Low Cost Rabies and Microchip Clinic May Park An Augusta Animal Services event in which rabies vaccinations will be $5, parvo/ distemper vaccinations will be $10 and microchipping will be $15. Call 706-790-6836 or visit augustaga.gov.
8pm “Two Small Pieces of Glass” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
9pm “Digistar Virtual Journey” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Sun Aug 28
Noon - 6pm Children’s Miracle Network Celebration Telethon Children’s Hospital of Georgia Call 706-721-4004 or visit augusta.edu.
Tue Aug 30
4:30pm - 7pm Veggie Truck Farmers Market AL Williams Park This weekly event, held through the end of October in the park across from the Kroc Center, features all local farmers and doubles EBT. Visit growharrisburg.org.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Thu Aug 25
7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Sat Aug 27
8am Island Run 3.1 Champions Retreat Golf Club A benefit run for SafeHomes of Augusta in 25AUGUST2016
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which participants are invited to wear grass skirts and Hawaiian shirts. Afterwards, a party with live music, tropical refreshments, prizes and more will be held. $42. To register, visit active.com.
The Big Float North Augusta Boat Ramp Saturday, August 27 9 a.m. A Savannah Riverkeeper event that will include a paddle, float and tube down the river, as well as a homemade raft competition. Afterwards, there will be a party with local barbecue, live music, beer and more. 706-826-8991 savannahriverkeeper.org
9am - 3pm The Big Float North Augusta Boat Ramp A Savannah Riverkeeper event that will include a leisurely and family friendly paddle, float and tub down the river, as well as a homemade raft competition. Afterwards, there will be a party with local barbecue, live music, beer and more. Call 706-826-8991 or visit savannahriverkeeper.org.
10am 2016 WNBF Bikini Extravaganza and INBF North Georgia Bodybuilding Championships Imperial Theatre The pre-judged show is $20. The fully judged show is at 6 p.m. Call 706-722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.
6pm 2016 WNBF Bikini Extravaganza and INBF North Georgia Bodybuilding Championships Imperial Theatre $25-$50. Call 706-722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.
7pm Conflict MMA: Conflict 40 Bell Auditorium $30-$100. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit georgialinatix.com.
University Hospital For those with any type of cancer. Call 706774-5946 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue Aug 30
10:20am Moms Connection
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.
THEATER Fri Aug 26
Ronald McDonald House An open support group for those in crisis or experiencing loss. Call 706-721-2929 or visit augusta.edu.
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.
Mon Aug 29
Wed Aug 31
Jessye Norman School of the Arts Auditions for those ages 8-12 are available
SUPPORT Sun Aug 28
11am Meditation Moments
6pm Cancer Share
25AUGUST2016
6pm Mental Health Support Group
7pm - 10pm “Camelot” Auditions AU Fine Arts Center An Augusta University Opera Institute production. Call 706-667-4876 or visit augusta.edu.
Sat Aug 27
10am - 1pm “James and the Giant Peach” Auditions
for the Augusta Jr. Players production, which shows October 28-29. Call 706-826-4707 or visit augustaplayers.org.
1pm - 4pm “Camelot” Auditions AU Fine Arts Center An Augusta University Opera Institute production. Call 706-667-4876 or visit augusta.edu.
Sun Aug 28
2pm - 5pm “James and the Giant Peach” Auditions Jessye Norman School of the Arts Auditions for those ages 13-18 are available for the Augusta Jr. Players production, which shows October 28-29. Call 706-826-4707 or visit augustaplayers.org.
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Eighth Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River Fox’s Lair - Chris Hardy The Iron Heights - Occido, Vices & Vessels, Transcender, Sleeping Bear Jessye Norman School of the Arts - Soiree Jazz + Wine Shannon’s - Shinebox Sky City - Peelander-Z, Lost Boy, Shehehe Somewhere in Augusta - Jason White Wild Wing - Cash Money Band The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - DJ Fugi Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.3 p.m.); Trivia, nights The Highlander - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Ladies Night, Singles Night Soul Bar - Saturday Night Dance Party Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Sunday, August 28 Live Music
Aiken Speakeasy and Eats (Aiken) - Live Jazz Augusta Common - Candlelight Jazz Concert Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - Ruskin The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
The Whigs visit Sky City Thursday, August 25, with Bullmoose opening. Doors open at 8 p.m., with music starting around 10 p.m. $10. Visit skycityaugusta.com. Thursday, August 25 Live Music
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Sky City - The Whigs, Bullmoose Stillwater Taproom - Jaycie and the Beards Wild Wing - Brandon Reeves The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Andrew’s - Karaoke w/ April Bar West - Open Mic Night w/ Jonathon Flowers Carolina Ale House - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (9 p.m.) Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia Knight’s Lounge - Karaoke w/ Cheryl Bryant 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 Soul Bar - DJ Phobik, DJ Kinetiks
Friday, August 26 Live Music
Andrew’s - JAR Back Yard Tavern - TDC
28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Monday, August 29 Live Music
Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) - Hopelands Summer
Concert Series w/ the Aiken Concert Band Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
What’s Tonight?
Andrew’s - Cornhole Tournament Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - World Tavern Poker Wild Wing - Trivia Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia
Tuesday, August 30 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music Night w/ Dr. John Fisher Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Bar West - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Big Prize Trivia Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper
Wednesday, August 31 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Open Mic Hosted by Happy Bones The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Shameless Dave Wild Wing - Adam Harris Thompson
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke
Bar West - Live Music Bird Dog Grille - Donna Jo Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Cale Dodds Eli’s American - Friday Night Live w/ Old Man Crazy Fox’s Lair - Happy Bones The Highlander - Angwish, Fuzzheimer The Iron Heights - Gutta Child Joe’s Underground - Chainsaw Masscara’s Femme Fatale Supervillain Party w/ Occido Playoffs (Aiken) - Anybody’s Guess Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Sky City - Jahson & the Natty Vibez Somewhere in Augusta - The Unmentionables Stables Restaurant at Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Jimmy Easton Stillwater Taproom - Donald Merckle and the Blacksmiths Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta - 4 Seasons Chamber Jazz Concert Whole Foods - Music @ the Turn Wild Wing - Spider Spoke Hillbillies The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Soul Bar - Disco Hell Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Saturday, August 27 Live Music
Andrew’s - Salazar Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Brendan Roberts
Chainsaw Masscara welcomes Occido to the Joe’s Underground stage Friday, August 26, for a Femme Fatale Supervillain Party. Comic book villain attire is encouraged. Music begins at 10 p.m. and cover is $5. Call 706-724-9457. 25AUGUST2016
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Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes Knight’s Lounge - Game Night The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper The Playground - Krazy Karaoke w/ Big Troy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Wednesday Night Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
Yonder Mountain String Band, Fruition
Rick Springfield
- Jessye Norman Amphitheatre October 6
- Chastain Park, Atlanta August 28
Blues Traveler, the Marcus King Band, Cranford Hollow
Steven Tyler
- Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, North Augusta October 28
- Chastain Park, Atlanta September 4
Upcoming
Gin Blossoms, Tonic
- 40 Watt Club, Athens September 5
Kings & Queens of Hip Hop w/ DMX, Bone ThugsN-Harmony
- James Brown Arena September 2
- Evans Towne Center Park October 14 Mountain Faith
- Imperial Theatre October 14 Jucifer
- Sky City October 25 ZZ Top
- Bell Auditorium October 26 Moon Taxi, Big Something
- Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, North Augusta October 29
Elsewhere
- Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta September 1 AC/DC
- Philips Arena, Atlanta September 1 Of Montreal, Ruby the Rabbitfoot
- 40 Watt Club, Athens September 2 Terry Bozzio
- City Winery, Atlanta September 3 The Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, Tribe Society The Melvins Kraftwerk
- Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta September 6
Jill Scott
Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, Mase, 112, Total, Carl Thomas, The Lox, French Montana
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
- Chastain Park, Atlanta August 25
- Philips Arena, Atlanta September 8
- Imperial Theatre September 9
Drake, Future
Brandi Carlile
Praising Arizona
- Philips Arena, Atlanta August 25-26
- Georgia Theatre, Athens September 8
- Stillwater Taproom September 9
Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Colt Ford
Ja Rule, Ashanti
Riff Raff Kings Reunion Show
- Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta August 26
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta September 9
- Sky City September 17
Air Supply
Brian Wilson
TI, Mario, Red Cafe
- Symphony Hall, Atlanta August 26
- Fox Theatre, Atlanta September 9
Maradeen
- Southbound Smokehouse September 8
- Bell Auditorium September 24
DMX, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Television
Esperanza Spalding, Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Centreplex, Macon August 26
- Georgia Theatre, Athens September 10
- Bell Auditorium September 29
Lewis Black
Joanna Newsom
Drivin’ N Cryin’
- RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus August 27
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta September 11
- Sky City September 30 I Love the ‘90s Tour w/ Salt N Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Kid N Play, Rob Base, Tone Loc, Color Me Badd
- Bell Auditorium October 6
The Whigs
- Georgia Theatre, Athens August 27
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
Kanye West
- Philips Arena, Atlanta September 12 Bebel Gilberto
- City Winery, Atlanta September 13
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
V27|NO34
SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Kim Chastain, Pam Grove, Pam Key and Mary Edwards at Andrew’s Place.
Angela McNair, Brian Ford and Stacy Hall at Andrew’s Place.
Matt Griffin, Ami Bennett, Caristy Bennett and Chrissy Moe at Andrew’s Place.
Kelly Foster, Carson Farley and Bill Merchant at the Country Club.
Rebecca Duncan, singer/songwriter Rick Monroe and Kelly Grant at the Country Club.
Nick Deweese, Beth Rogers, Emily Husted and Drake Pattee at the Country Club.
Anna Wannamaker, Myra Norman, Arleen Harms and Kathy Cotleur at Shannon’s.
Ann Helms, Wayne Linguiti and Jackie Smith at Shannon’s.
Cliff and Debbie Forester with Caroline and Walter Scarborough at Shannon’s.
30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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MORAL THINKING By Ian Livengood/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Southwestern cliff dwellers 5 Means of going down a 36-Down 9 Have a hole in one’s heart 13 Meatheads 18 A Swiss army knife has a lot of them 19 Cream of the crop 21 Heads for Britain? 22 Thick-skinned grazer 23 Actress Streep playing a centenarian? 26 News-show group 27 Soup accompaniers, often 28 Like the settings of typical Grant Wood paintings 29 Unruffled 30 ____ the top 31 Risky business for a compiler of quotations? 33 Good shot? 36 Counterparts of files 37 Smart 38 Not obvious to most 39 Evident worrywart 40 Done quickly 41 Protested from the stands 44 ____ Kitchen (frozen- food brand) 45 Not wandering, say 46 Attorney general’s investigation target 47 Like funk, now 51 Low-____ 52 Alaskan beer container? 56 Beat the tar out of 57 Honorific for a colleague 59 Vetoes 60 Lies ahead 62 Co. captains? 63 Typographical no-no 64 SiriusXM star 65 Some fine wool 67 Charming group? 68 Some True Value purchases 71 Bad way to go? 72 Promote singer Crow’s music? 75 P pronounced like an R 76 Pequod’s co-owner 78 Meets with 79 James who sang “Good Rockin’ Daddy” 80 Throat part
81 Shade in 83 Layers 85 Wilderness Road trailblazer 86 Fitness grp. 89 Nat ____ (channel) 90 Self-righteous types 91 Hung out 92 Debt for comedian Will? 96 Poet 97 Celsius of the Celsius scale 98 Safe place 99 “Hamilton” and “1776” 103 Beat 104 “I can’t help you, but the Brady Bunch mom will be happy to assist”? 106 ____Durkheim, so-called “father of sociology” 107 Nervous people are on it 108 Who wrote, “A great flame follows a little spark” 109 Part of some small buildings 110 Gulf cash 111 Charges 112 Monopoly holding 113 Like a headlining act, typically DOWN 1 Preceder of snaps 2 Dept. of Labor branch 3 Lose a tan, say 4 Uranium 238 and strontium 90 5 Original “S.N.L.” cast member 6 Rags-to-riches writer 7 January detritus 8 Body-image grp. 9 Sirens, e.g. 10 Pinkish orange 11 According to ____ (by the rules) 12 Subj. for an au pair, maybe 13 Product possibly named after a real physician 14 One stop on Chicago’s Blue Line 15 Greasy spoons 16 Common soccer score 17 100% 20 Caligula, e.g. 24 Gallbladder neighbor 25 Like dirty water 29 Ruckus 31 “Enough!” to a Roman
1
32 ____ park 33 “____ me!” 34 Focus of onomastics 35 Frost-covered biochemical solid? 36 See 5-Across 40 Hell of a location? 41 Banana Republic competitor 42 Good listeners 43 Big name in Scotch 45 “Love Actually,” e.g. 46 Battle of Hastings participants 48 Like actor Flynn post-dieting? 49 A good thing to get out of 50 Black ____ 52 Gung-ho 53 Cutting costs? 54 Bathroom fixture 55 One of the Jacksons 58 Banished 61 “I’m still waiting …?” 63 Roused 64 Gets ready to do a load, say 65 Driving aid 66 65-Across producer, maybe 67 Plains dwellers 68 Arrondissement heads? 69 Macduff, for one 70 Disseminated 73 Request from 74 Katherine who co-starred in “27 Dresses” 77 It stops talking 80 Telemarketer’s action 82 Notable whistle blowers 83 Green shampoo 84 Sang gracefully 85 ____ acid 86 Died down 87 Little fingers or toes 88 Buzz in space 90 Tut-tutters 91 Attacked, with “out” 93 One-eyed female on “Futurama” 94 Shake 95 The Cascades, e.g. 96 Monument Valley sighting 99 “Gimme!” 100 Common calculus calculation 101 Signs (on) 102 Booking time 104 Bunny boss 105 Small lump of tobacco
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U N S T E S B S A G R E A N R N E T H E S L O F I A B U E V R E G A E S
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E A M L E A N G N D R I A S H Y E I A D N R O T K T O E S N L P E E A T S N O T I N A N D I N O A S G
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V27|NO34
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS The top 3 at the box office this week is a real sausage party. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
SUICIDE SQUAD
$20,855,401
$262,428,736
2
1
2
SAUSAGE PARTY
$15,485,577
$65,486,596
1
2
3
WAR DOGS
$14,685,305
$14,685,305
1
-
4
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS $12,608,372
$12,608,372
3
-
5
PETE’S DRAGON
$42,911,207
3
3
$11,349,938
In Theaters August 26
ACTION
“Mechanic: Resurrection,” rated R, starring Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh. Gotta admit: the “accident” Statham’s character stages presumably killing a guy swimming in his glass-encased, high-rise pool is pretty impressive, as is the fact that they were able to get Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones to be in the sequel to this 2011 remake of a Charles Bronson movie.
34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
ACTION
“Blood Father,” rated R, starring Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty. Mel Gibson is in ass-kicking mode, playing an ex-con who has to save his estranged daughter from some very bad men. Hmmmm… Mel Gibson vs. Very Bad Men. This poor girl is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Think she’ll be able to tell which is which?
HORROR
“Don’t Breathe,” rated R, starring Stephen Lang, Jane Levy. Now this could be good. Some friends agree to rob a wealthy blind man. Only this blind man happens to be a serial killer. Don’t understand the name? You know how they say if you’re blind your other senses are heightened? Well, apparently this blind serial killer has really good hearing.
25AUGUST2016
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Kubo and the Two Strings Just Saved Summer IT’S only AuguST, but 2016 has been an underwhelming year at the theater. Yes, there’s still plenty of time for a late flourish to finish out the year strong (I’ll be seeing “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” at midnight and keep an eye out for “The Accountant” in October) but judging from what we’ve seen so far, this year hasn’t been nearly as impressive as the slam dunk that 2015 turned out to be. However, one animated film from a budding studio just gave this year a fighting chance. A friend of mine was taking his two younger siblings to see “Kubo and the Two Strings” and, after this abysmal summer of movie-going, I decided to give this “kids’ movie” a shot in hopes of seeing at least one good movie at the theater this month. I think I liked it way more than the kids. “Kubo” is a beautiful and inventive adventure film that delivers on every level, from the engrossing story to the stellar voice work to the gorgeous stop-motion animation style from the studio behind it. It’s one of those animated films that, while it may be marketed toward kids, there’s so much more than just spectacle that can be gleaned from the messages in the film itself. The story is more melancholy than you’d expect from a summer movie “for kids,” but not so dour that it puts a damper on the experience as a whole, and the lessons learned throughout the film about imagination and perspective are so important for the next generation to be exposed to. Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson, is a young boy living in Japan at a time where monsters and magic are real, and through a particular set of circumstances (that I won’t spoil because you should go see this movie), he sets out on an adventure to obtain three pieces of powerful armor with the help of protective Monkey and forgetful but valiant Beetle, voiced by Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey, respectively. Kubo and his companions are faced with various obstacles and foes along the way and, with the help of his magical shamisen (like a Japanese guitar with fewer strings), Kubo has the power to bring pieces of paper to life that can form miniature samurai, animals, and even a boat. Everything about this movie screams creativity and inventiveness, even down to the way Kubo and his friends handle the situations they find themselves in. During the course of Kubo’s journey, he also learns valuable lessons about forgiveness, perspective and family from Monkey and Beetle. This isn’t a movie stuffed with filler. Every experience that Kubo goes through leads to a valuable
25AUGUST2016
lesson, and they almost always come after a rousing action sequence that keeps everybody in the audience engaged. There are moral aspects that any child can understand and even more so that adults can appreciate. While the story deals with some decidedly heavy aspects, from Kubo’s depressed mother and their struggle to make ends meet to Kubo’s constant hiding from his vengeful grandfather, the film’s colorful backdrop and snappy dialogue from its charismatic trio of main characters keep it from dragging for even a minute of it’s 102-minute runtime or becoming too grim for a filmgoer of any age to sit through comfortably. I would be remiss if I didn’t say a few words about the studio behind this movie, Laika, who flexes its hallmark stop-motion animation muscle in a breathtaking way in this film. This is the same team that created “Coraline,” “Paranorman” and “The Box Trolls,” but “Kubo” has got to be the crown jewel in their repertoire so far. The film sports colorful landscapes and action sequences that put some
By Tyler Strong
recent live-action movies to utter shame, and much of the work is done by hand, a painstaking process that is wholly justified by the result. When you actually see “Kubo” for yourself, you’ll see how this art style just leaps right off the screen in shimmering detail. If Laika keeps producing these offbeat, brave, beautiful films, Disney and Pixar are going to have a real problem on their hands atop the animation throne. Take your kid to see this movie. Take your mom to see this movie. Man, take me to see this movie. It’s worth your time and it’s certainly worth the money. Laika and studios like it don’t make enough money, and we as moviegoers should be championing the teams dedicated to the fresh, creative filmmaking like what’s on display here. Summer may be winding down, but 2016 isn’t dead yet thanks to Kubo and his two strings.
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METROSPIRIT 35
V27|NO34
She Shoots, We Win I Would love to take credIt for inspiring Kovedia Williams to have her pistol with her at work last weekend, but it wasn’t me. It was, in fact, her circumstances and her own common sense working in unison that inspired Ms. Williams to have her weapon at her side while being the only clerk on duty at the new Subway sandwich shop, on Gordon Highway. There is a pretty good chance Williams would not have fired that weapon at armed robber Cornelius Harrison, but when the 22-year-old North Carolina thug decided to “go upside the head” of her 14-yearold son with a crowbar, Kovedia Williams opened fire, righteously and true. I do not make light of what the working mother did, but I do celebrate the success of her decision. She not only defended her son, herself and her place of business, she reminded scumbags all over the twostate that good guys are shooting back these days in numbers that are eye opening and refreshing to report. In my first column of 2016, I offered a reward for the kind of legal action Ms. Williams took, and I intend to pay off on this for her, and then some. Evil came to take from the innocent on Gordon Highway last Sunday, and evil was rebuked, defeated and destroyed. Kovedia Williams is a courageous hero, may God bless her and bring her peace in her decision to act. May all of us behave with such grace and confidence under pressure, if we are so pushed, and in the end may the graveyard take yet another thug off the hands of society. I share again my words from last January, with the added query, who’s next? I have always considered the CSRA to be far more conservative than the folks in metro Atlanta, but the citizens there have lapped us several times over in recent years when it comes to the notion of taking back their neighborhoods in regard to criminal attempts to invade our homes and businesses. Take a look at these tidbits, lifted straight from the pages of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which details several showdowns “victims” had with predators over the years, with pretty cool conclusions: — A clerk at a Cobb County liquor store exchanged gunfire with two would-be robbers, killing one. — A Stone Mountain barber victimized by a string of burglaries shot one of two would-be thieves, holding the robber at gunpoint until police arrived. — The owner of West End Tattoo parlor in Atlanta faced off against three armed intruders, killing one and causing the others to flee. — A DeKalb homeowner shot two burglars, killing one. — Three intruders were confronted by a Decatur homeowner who heard them kicking in his back door. All three young men, one of whom had been shot in the thigh, were captured by police. 36 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
— With his two children asleep in their rooms, an Ellenwood father confronted three armed men, killing one and causing the others to flee on foot. — A 23-year-old Georgia tech student is threatened at knife point by two men in a grocery store parking lot, he kills one assailant with a single shot to the head, the accomplice escaped on foot. Now gang, I understand that not all people have what it takes to carry a firearm, or even think about using one when confronted with a threatening criminal, but if more people made an effort to aggressively challenge the bad guys as they attempt to steal what they won’t bother to earn, maybe the lowlifes would think twice before confronting live humans in their criminal endeavors. While I would never condone burglarizing an empty house, shoplifting or car theft, I can understand a desperate criminal trying to make off with property in such a relatively clean and easy way. but when you make a decision to stick a weapon in someone’s face, or God forbid, forcibly invade their home while the owners are watching TV or asleep in their beds, then you deserve the hail of hot lead that I would hope would be directed at your most vital body parts. My long-time, left-leaning nemesis Augusta Superior Court Judge Carlisle Overstreet made headlines across the country a few years ago when he showed the world how effective “trial by gunfire” can be. The judge dispatched a charging burglar post haste in the hallway of his beautiful Summerville home. As Neal Boortz used to say “DRT” (dead right there). If the notoriously soft sentencing jurist can see the logic and efficiency in such an approach, why does anyone else have to be convinced? In an effort to promote awareness of such effective (and 100 percent legal) defense tactics, I am offering a free $10 gift certificate to any local victim who kills a felon declared by law enforcement officials to be in the act of committing a violent crime. If the response is deemed by law enforcement to be legal, we have a winner! I know that Judge Overstreet’s deed predates this campaign, but in the interest of good will, and in the 2016 spirit, I will send him a certificate anyway. Happy New Year, judge! Prizes and heroics, who in the world could have a problem with that? You would be amazed. Some folks misunderstand this prize program, and I am not sure why. The law clearly states that, in Georgia, you are more than within your rights to protect yourself and your property if you feel threatened by someone committing a criminal act against you. All I want to do is publicize the law. No harm in that. From the Georgia State Code: 16-3-21. (a) A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes that such threat or force is necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person against such other´s
imminent use of unlawful force; however, except as provided in Code Section 16-3-23, a person is justified in using force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or a third person or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony. And in case you are wondering, the Georgia Attorney general’s office defines “forcible felony” as: “...any felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any person and further includes, without limitation, murder; felony murder; burglary; robbery; armed robbery; kidnapping; hijacking of an aircraft or motor vehicle; aggravated stalking; rape; aggravated child molestation; aggravated sexual battery; arson in the first degree; the manufacturing, transporting, distribution, or possession of explosives with intent to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals or destroy a public building; terroristic threats; or acts of treason or insurrection.” By the way, one prize per citizen, and this prize cannot be combined with any other coupon or promotion. The winner must agree to giggle upon receipt of said award. Additional prize consideration may occur if more than one dangerous felon is dispatched in one event. So feel free to overachieve. Kovedia Williams did! 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.
25AUGUST2016
THE FORT GORDON DINNER THEATRE Presents
September 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 Dinner 7:00 p.m. • Show 8:00 p.m. “I can only call it one of the most involving, beautiful, funny, touching and profound plays I have ever seen…” – NY Daily News Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg’s career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate’s career, as a public-school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. Greg brings home a dog he found in the park – or that has found him – bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her name tag. A street-smart mixture of Lab and Poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age. To Kate, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection. And Sylvia thinks Kate just doesn’t understand the relationship between man and dog.
TICKETS
Civilians: $53 Seniors (65 & over), Retirees, DA Civilians, Active-Duty E7 & above: $50 Active-Duty E6 & below, Students with ID: $40 Show only: $30
MENU
Teriyaki London Broil • Pineapple Glazed Ham • Lemon Parmesan Tilapia Candied Yam Patties • Squash Casserole • Green Beans Rice Pilaf • Salad with Choice of Dressings • Deluxe Dessert Table Coffee/Ice Tea/Water • Cash Bar
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