vergeAUGUSTA & THE CSRA

F R E E | F E B RUA R Y 2 9 2 012 | VO L 5 I S S U E 1 | YO U R S O U RC E F O R C O M M U N I T Y D R I V E N N E W S

COMMUNITY MIDTOWN’S IDENTITY + MUSIC ELTON JOHN’S DAVEY JOHNSTONE LOCAL 3/50 IN ACTION + FUN PICk’N AND PRAISE’N + GOOD CAUSE THE EMPTY BOWL

AMANDA THORNTON’S FASHION VISION | PAGE 11

BOOKS BOB YOUNG AND THE TREASURE TRAIN

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 3

4 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

SMATTERINGSSPRING BRINGS REBIRTH AND RENEWAL

Ah, spring! This season brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures and the rebirth of flora and fauna. March 20 is the vernal equinox. Did you know the word “equinox” is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night”? The spring and fall equinoxes are the only dates with equal daylight and dark as the sun crosses the celestial equator. At the equinoxes, the tilt of Earth relative to the sun is zero, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the sun. Equal balance.

We should all take a lesson from Mother Nature as she demonstrates the newness and rebirth of our natural surroundings. Though not perfect, March starts to usher in certain change. Spring offers fresh beginnings and the promise of longer days, shorter nights and cool breezes. It’s time to get out and meet your neighbors, brush off the grill, dust off the porch swing and break out the iced tea in between the weeding, planting and pruning. We start to clean out the house with annual spring cleanings and look for projects outdoors.

In this issue, you will find lots of ways to start spring off with the same energy that our natural surroundings are putting forth to provide us with the reminder of new beginnings. There are more ways to engage in community, find new adventures and, at times, lose yourself.

We are proud to say there is an exclusive one-on-one interview with Davey Johnstone, the lead guitarist for Sir Elton John, on page 13 as the band prepares to wow us at the James Brown Arena. Johnstone’s music career is filled with the who’s who of rock ‘n’ roll. He has performed with Elton John, Noel Murphy, Magna Carta, Alice Cooper, Meat Loaf, John Jorgenson, Stevie Nix, Rod Stewart, Bob Seger, The Pointer Sisters and Leo Sayer, and we are honored to have an few minutes with him

Speaking of new beginnings, Po’ Boys has “re”-opened a sandwich boutique inside of Sundrees Urban Market next door to The White’s Building on Broad Street. Some might remember the great down-home-style Louisiana sandwiches such as the muffaletta the size of Rhode Island, shrimp po’ boys and other traditional Cajun sandwich delicacies. I can’t wait to get a hot ham sandwich.

We also explore the 3/50 Project and visit with Pet Safari, Two Mom’s Cookies and the Sparrow’s Nest. These are three local companies that deserve your attention and are part of our ongoing campaign to promote locally owned and independent business owners.

One of our favorite events of the year is the Empty Bowl held at the Augusta Jewish Community Center off of Fury’s Ferry Road on Sunday, March 11. A great event that helps benefit the Golden Harvest Food Bank, your admission price gets you not only as much soup as you can handle from some of the area’s finest restaurants, it is served up by local celebrities and business owners. You even get your choice of some great local pottery created by area schools. It’s an excellent afternoon to spend with family and friends while supporting an organization that does so much good for our community. We also take a ride on The Treasure Train at Midtown Market during its First Thursday event on March 1 on Central Avenue. Former Augusta mayor Bob Young will be signing his new book and the place is sure to be packed, so get your copy of the book early.

This year, we are also proud to announce that we are the sponsor of the Augusta Photo Festival 2012 to be held later in the year. Learn more about this great event in future issues. Works are currently being accepted for judging and artists can submit their photography up to Aug. 1. There are six categories to enter and up to $2,000 in cash prizes and the competition is open to all nonprofessional photographers.

As you can see, spring is loading up with ways for us to get energized and put on the “new.” There is so much in store for our community in the coming months to help unify and get to know one another. These are just some of the great opportunities to get involved, see some world class events and become a part of our community. Our mission. Equally balanced.

See you out and about!

Matt

WHAT’S INSIDEyou won’t want to miss a page

the main feature

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music | theatre | art | filmArt: Staci SwiderDance: Ballet HispanicoArt: Artists Attic SaleGood Cause: The Empty BowlMusic: Straight Line StitchFilm: The Film ReelMusic: Sound BitesMusic: EphelantMusic: She N She

Heard Around TownBuzz on BizAugusta EatsBeers Locals LikeThe Daily PlannerNightlifeIn Good HealthThe New York Times CrosswordLife Face FirstParting Shot

regular stuff05072115233132333333

vergequoteshere’s what inspires us

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun,

and – snap – the job’s a game!” — MARy POPPINS

“It takes a deep commitment to change

and an even deeper commitment to grow.”— RALPH ELLISON

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heard around townPo’ Boys on the menu at SundreesAugusta Photo Fest launches competitionScience Fair gives students experience

The 3/50 Project ExperimentSaving our local economy $50 dollars at a time

West Coat Flair Comes to AikenAmanda Thornton’s vision for fashion realized at Threads

The Glue That Bonds Elton John’s BandAn intimate interview with guitarist Davey Johnstone

Creating a Venue for SongwritersPam Teston’s monthly Pick’n and Praise’n brings them together

Bob young Adds Author to His ResumeFormer Augusta mayor debuts The Treasure Train on March 1

Midtown Creates Shopping DestinationThe heart of the Summerville neighborhood creates community

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ON THE COVER FORMER AUGUSTA MAyOR BOB yOUNG Read the interview with Young about his journey in writing the book The Treasure Train, which debuts on March 1 at a signing during Midtown’s First Thursday on page 17.

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vergestaffyeah, we made this

publisher Matt Plochaeditor Lara Plocha

events editor Sarah Childerscopy editor Andrea Bennett

contributors Alison Richter, Alison Ryan, Amy Swann, Anne Lovell Swan, Ben Casella, Christopher Selmek, Derek Berry,Dino Lull, Elizabeth Benson, Gabi Hutchison, Holly Birdsong, John Cannon, Jonathan Karow, Karen Farley, Leah Deslandes, Mariah Gardner, Michael Swan, Nora Blithe, Skyler Andrews, Stephen Delaney Hale

vergeconnectwe want to hear from you

call us: 706.951.0579mail us: P.O. Box 38 Augusta GA 30903email us: advertising and general stuff publisher@vergelive.com

story tips, ideas and letters editor@vergelive.com

free event listings events@vergelive.comfind us online: vergelive.com

vergepoliciesthe boring part

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2011 by verge. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial content of verge is the opinion of each contributing writer and is not necessarily the opinion of verge, its staff or its advertisers.

DISTRIBUTION: verge is published twice a month and available free of charge at locations throughout the CSRA, including Publix, Kroger, Bi-Lo and Earth Fare.

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vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 5

[ po’ boys return to downtown at sundrees urban market ] Sundrees Urban Market is now catering to the downtown lunch crowd with Po’ Boys sandwich shop, by the same chef who formerly owned T-Boy’s Po’ Boys on Broad Street.

Chef Tony Privat has been cooking up some new recipes since closing his restaurant, including Cajun Club and New Orleans Sloppy Po’ Boys. Privat is originally from Lafayette, La., and attended culinary school in New Orleans – which he says customers can taste in the ingredients of each sandwich he makes.

“All the bread we use is shipped in from Gambinos Bakery in New Orleans, so you’re getting an authentic taste,” he said. “The Po’ Boy itself was designed during the depression for dock workers who didn’t have any money. The bakeries figured out that they could make cheap sandwiches by stuffing whatever leftovers they had between two slices of French bread, which was originally just French fries and gravy. When one of the dock workers would come around to the back of the store the cooks would yell ‘we got a Po’ Boy’ and that’s how the sandwich got its name.”

Po’ Boys have evolved since then, and Privat can make them using almost any variety of meat and cheese. The Muffalata, which contains ham, genoa salami, Swiss cheese, provolone and olive spread, is one of his customer’s current favorites.

“It’s a good quick lunch if you just want to grab something out of the cooler, or we can take our time and have something specially made for you,” said Stacie Young, who works at Sundrees and is learning how to make Po’ Boys.

Po’ Boys cost about $6 for a six-inch loaf, or about $10 for a whole 12-inch sandwich. Tony says many of his regular customers remember him from the T-Boys restaurant, but word is spreading

throughout the downtown area and he is serving lunch to more and more people every day.

Sundrees Po’ Boy sandwich shop is open Monday through Wednesday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Customers can place orders by calling 706.945.1310 and delivery in the downtown area is available. | by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

[ augusta photo fest opens contest ]The Augusta Photography Festival returns to the CSRA this year for its third edition. The biennial showcase of all things photographic is a welcome addition to the Greater Augusta arts scene. This year, verge is proud to be chosen as the presenting print media sponsor for the 10-day-long event.

The 2012 Festival will be Oct. 27 through Nov. 4, somewhat later in the year than previous Photo Fests, to take advantage of both cooler temperatures and autumn colors. Organizers plan to bring back several popular features from festivals past, including the juried photo competition and exhibition, the downtown gallery stroll and an expanded array of workshops, lectures and photo safaris and an exciting new event, Light Up Augusta.

Festival planners have invited several notable photographers to present exhibitions and talks, including Arizona photographer John Mulhouse, whose photoblog City of Dust features haunting images of the vanishing built environment. Returning to the festival is wildlife and cultural photographer D.K. Bhaskar, an Augusta Photo Festival founder, now based in Kansas City, who travels internationally on assignment for many publications including National Geographic.

The competition is a centerpiece of the Photo Festival. Open to nonprofessional photographers, with cash awards of more than $2,000, the contest’s six categories range from people, places and nature to abstracts, altered images and historic America. Finalists will be featured at an exhibition capped by a winners’ reception and closing ceremony at the North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center.

Rules and entry guidelines will be available online March 1.

For more on the 2012 Augusta Photography Festival and to check out past winners, go to www.augustaphotofestival.org. While there you can also email festival planners your ideas for workshops and events you would like to see included.

Watch for a new feature, LensMasters, in upcoming editions of verge, in which Augusta Photo Festival faculty members will share tips, ideas and techniques to inspire creativity and improve photography skills. | by REBECCA ROGERS

[ art and music scholarships available ] Broad Street Artists Row is now accepting applications for its 2012 Art Scholarship Program. Two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors that are pursuing a degree in art at an accredited institution. Awards are determined on a competitive basis and require the submission of a specific art portfolio, artist’s statement and letter of recommendation. The scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors only in the greater Central Savannah River Area (this includes students from public, private and home schools). The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 30. The scholarship rules and submission information can be found at ARTISTSROWAUGUSTA.COM.

The Augusta Choral Society is also offering a $300 scholarship for students in the CSRA who have contributed their vocal musical talents to the community. Applicants must be a college-bound high school senior involved musically (vocal only) in the community and plan to pursue vocal music in college. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is April 14. The scholarship rules and application can be found online at AUGUSTACHORALSOCIETy.ORG | PRESS

[ buona caffe gives back ] When John and Pat Curry started Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee in 2010, they wanted the company to have a charitable component. They chose to support clean drinking water because good water is essential for good coffee and because clean drinking water is a critical issue in many coffee-producing countries.

The couple selected Children’s Safe Drinking Water (www.csdw.org). CSDW saves lives by providing cost-effective water purification packs to nonprofit organizations in developing countries where waterborne illnesses kill tens of thousands of people every day.

In 2011, Buona Caffe donated $1,065 to CSDW. Each water purification pack costs 10 cents and will purify 10 liters of water. According to CSDW, $7.50 will provide a child with clean drinking water for a year. That means that in 2011, Buona Caffe’s

customers provided an entire year’s worth of safe drinking water for 142 children.

“One of the goals of Children’s Safe Drinking Water has always been to demonstrate that everyone can make a difference. Combined with the donations of thousands of other people, Buona Caffe has helped us deliver over 4 billion liters of clean drinking water,” said Greg Allgood, the director of P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water.

“Our company slogan is ‘Good things happen over good coffee,’” said John Curry. “We can’t imagine anything better than saving the life of even one child. Knowing that we could play even a small part in saving the lives of 142 children is incredible.” BUONACAFFE.COM | PRESS

heard around townWHAT’S HAPPENING IN AUGUSTA AND AIKEN

[ willcox joins food truck revolution ] The latest entry into the growing food truck fleet in the CSRA is The Restaurant at The Willcox in Aiken. Owners Geoff and Shannon Ellis and Executive Chef Regan Browell see the Willcox’s new truck as a way to extend the hotel’s kitchen around the area.

The Willcox truck contains a complete 17-foot-long commercial kitchen and is wrapped in century-old sepia-toned photographs of chefs and kitchens blown up to life size.

“We are so excited to have our food truck ready for the road,” said Shannon Ellis. “It will be so versatile. We can take it to your dinner party or outdoor block party and serve whatever kind of food you desire; it can be fine steaks or hamburgers for a birthday party.”

They also plan to send it to factory gates at lunch time several times a week.

“This is an innovation catching on all over the country and we are very excited about the possibilities it brings to us and our guests,” she said | by STEPHEN DELANEy HALE

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THEM IS SOME EXPENSIVE “CLOUDS” IN AUGUSTA The Cloud Council of 7 Summit will be held at the Augusta National Golf Club in a private hospitality area during this year’s Masters Tournament. The new nonprofit organization was formed to help Information Technology providers, users, policy makers and educators understand how cloud computing can make a difference in business.

In a simplistic sense, cloud computing allows coworkers and clients to have access to the same files from remote locations.

The corporate membership is $5,000 and there is a $2,500 premium for two-day attendance on the course in April. Members include John Hancock, RBS Bank and other large corporations.

GO WEST yOUNG MAN, GO WEST Chef Jeff Freehof of The Garlic Clove is packing up his lasagna, restaurant equipment, art and furniture. He’s heading west about a half-mile to expand into the old Mi Rancho’s location on Washington Road in the Eagle Pointe Shopping Center in Evans. Mi Rancho’s is getting ready to open a larger restaurant at the entrance to the Riverwood subdivision.

The Garlic Clove will have a larger lobby area and a bar to keep customers happy before they sit down and enjoy the benefits of the “Best Italian Restaurant,” as voted on for two years by readers of the Columbia County Magazine.

There will be room for 50 more seats and private banquet rooms. The buzz is the move will take place around April.

FURNITURE FUDGING? The economy has claimed two more furniture stores in 2012 – yet both will be generating large amounts of revenue thanks to fairly “loose” Going Out of Business regulations.

Mike’s Furniture has hired a liquidator to sell existing inventory and bring in new product to sell. The buzz is whatever is left over can simply transfer to another affiliate store of Mike’s.

Treasures For Your Home also announced plans to liquidate its $2 million of inventory from its Wylds Road location.

In past years, furniture stores such as Renaissance Fine Furnishings and Bassett hired liquidators and changed the name of their sales from “retirement” to “store closing” to “Going Out of Business.” According to the State of Georgia, stores are allowed just 90 days to hold a “Going Out of Business” sale.

Buyer beware – deals might be good, but there might be little recourse if there are problems with the furniture when you get it in your home.

RACEWAy HELPS MILITARy RACE OFF TO A GREAT START EACH DAySeven participating Raceway gas stations in the CSRA are working together to say thanks to 250 members of our military stationed at Fort Gordon. They produced “bottomless camo cups” and gave them to the soldiers. Anytime, day or night, these military members can get a cup of joe for no dough.

NEIL GORDON owns Buzz on Biz LLC, a company dedicated to highlighting business growth through newspaper, television, radio, and Web content.

Story idea? Email neil.gordon@buzzon.biz

the buzz on bizWHAT’S MOvING AND SHAKING IN LOCAL BUSINESS

The CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be hosted by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions at the University of South Carolina in Aiken, March 10, giving students throughout the area the opportunity to receive awards and move on to the international competition.

More than 300 students are expected from schools in 20 counties throughout Georgia and South Carolina which have already hosted their science fairs. Only the top four percent of projects in each grade level from each school receive the opportunity to compete at the regional level and only one high school student will receive the grand prize at this competition: a $1000 scholarship from USC-Aiken and an all-expense paid trip to Pittsburg, Pa. for the International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

“Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has a very extensive educational outreach program that is not typical of other organizations,” said Kim Mitchell, the education outreach specialist for SRNS. “I enjoy coordinating the fair as well as working with the teachers and being part of the process that encourages students to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math.”

Projects are judged for scientific reasoning, creative ability, thoroughness, technical skill and clarity. Dr. Ken McLeod of the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab will lead a panel of 40 judges in evaluating the projects and conducting interviews with the high school level participants.

“We’re not looking for whether or not their hypothesis was correct, but for how much they learned in the process,” said Mitchell. “The scientific method is what their science teachers have been teaching them, so it’s important that the students have a clearly stated hypothesis and an experiment that reaches a conclusion. Scientific reasoning is 30 percent of what we’re looking for.”

“From a judging standpoint, the projects that are unique are the ones that will make the judges take notice,” she continued. “A lot of projects get done over and over again, like measuring the absorbency of paper towel rolls, but it’s when the student clearly puts in a lot of effort and generates a lot of data that we tend to give them a higher grade, or if they think of a project that we really haven’t seen before and are interested in.”

Mitchell says that the majority of projects typically come from elementary school students, but that only high school students are eligible for the grand prize. Projects are not judged by grade level, however, but by scientific category, which frequently includes biology, earth science, chemistry and physics. Judges have no way of knowing how many categories there will be or how many projects in each category until the day of the judging.

SRNS, which spends considerable time coordinating volunteers and planning the fair, receives no money from any of the students registering their projects, or from any person who wants to come see the projects.

“We’re doing this because we care about the students in our local communities and because we want to stress the importance of learning about science, technology, engineering and math,” said Mitchell. “Especially because we are a site that employs a lot of technology and engineering specialists, we see this as a way to provide for the next generation of professionals who may be working at our plant.”

Winners will be posted at 4 p.m. on March 10 in the Student Activities Center Lobby at USC Aiken, and projects will be open to viewing by the public at the Student Activities Center Gymnasium from 3:30 to 5 p.m. | by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

WHAT CSRA Regional Science and Engineering FairWHERE Student Activities Center Gymnasium at USC-Aiken

471 University Parkway, AikenWHEN Saturday, March 10 | 3:30 to 5 p.m.

COST FreeMORE | SRS.GOV/SRRSEF.HTM

she blinded me with scienceSTUDENTS LEARN THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN ANNUAL COMPETITION

8 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

art staci swiderSWIMMING WITH ICARUS: THE WHOLE PICTURE

In the Feb. 2 issue of verge, we featured artist Staci Swider and her recent Gertrude Herbert institute of Art exhibit, Dancing Along the Red Road. The image of Swider’s painting, Swimming with Icarus, was cropped incorrectly and misrepresnted Swider’s artistic vision. So, we want to give our readers the opportunity to see the piece in its entirety (above).

Swider’s art can be seen at the Acworth Arts Festival in Acworth, Ga., April 14 and 15. For a schedule and directions, visit SPLASHFESTIVALS.COM. For more information about Swider and her art, visti STACISWIDER.COM or email her at staci.swider@gmail.com.

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 9

THE SPARROWS NESTThe Summerville area is becoming a quaint spot for different shops and restaurants.

The Sparrow’s Nest is such a one where you can go to find home décor.

“It’s great being in the Summerville area,” said owner Angela McNair. “I have been very welcomed by the local people in the area.”

Inside McNair’s store, you can find retro and vintage furniture that is painted with faux finish to give the pieces a new look with charm and personality. You can also bring in your own pieces to have them custom painted and refinished.

The shop opened on Dec. 1. Future plans include increasing its floor space, opening a garden courtyard area for garden accessories and adding coffee and pastries.

McNair says that she opened the store because she enjoys meeting and working with people and working on the different pieces that are displayed in her shop.

On First Thursdays, The Sparrow’s Nest participates by taking donations for the featured charitable organization, serving wine and appetizers and offering live music.

The Sparrow’s nest is definitely not a typical antique shop – the pieces are more fun and the bright colors will make the furniture stand out in a room.

WHAT I FOUND Matching apple tree topiaries | $15 eachWHERE yOU CAN FIND IT The Sparrow’s Nest2122 Central Ave. | 706. 738.1466

putting our money where our mouth is with the 3/50 projectTHREE STORES WITH $50 TO SPEND EACH MONTH: JOIN THE CRUSADE

LEAH DESLANDES is our 3/50 Crusader. She will be visiting locally owned and operated businesses in the CSRA, putting into practice the

3/50 Project concept: Save the local economy one person at a time. Her mission? Choose three stores and spend $50 each month between

them. Her goal? That you will join the project and tell us where you’ve been and what you’ve bought!

Send your experience to: editor@vergelive.com. For more information on the 3/50 Project, visit: THE350PROJECT.NET

What independently owned business would you miss if it disappeared? Would you miss grabbing a cup of joe at one of the local coffee shops in town? Would you miss getting personal service at one of the art galleries? Would you miss the hairdresser who knows just how you like your hair cut? Would you miss the free local papers that help you know what’s going on?

Almost everyone would agree that one of the things that gives Augusta character is its collection of local, independently owned shops, restaurants and service providers.

For most of us, though, buying exclusively from local, independently owned businesses is like eating exclusively organic. It might be a nice ideal to strive for, but is not something we can easily do in our real lives.

But it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing when it comes to shopping locally. Small steps can have a big impact. This is the idea behind the 3/50 Project created by Cynda Baxter, a retail store owner turned consultant.

Baxter suggests that each person visit three locally owned businesses and support them by spending $50 each month. Not $50 in each place, but $50 each month. The idea is not to increase overall spending, but to target it towards independent businesses. So when you want a cup of coffee, head for the neighborhood coffee shop instead of the nearest corporate one.

To demonstrate how 3/50 Project can work, verge photographer Leah Deslandes has taken the crusade. Each month, she will write about where she shops and what she’s bought with her $50. In the meantime, think about it: Where could you spend $50 this month to support a local, independent business?

PET SAFARI “If it wasn’t for small businesses, no one would know how to take care of their

animals” said Richard Bailey, the owner of Pet Safari.

Pet Safari isn’t just a pet store – it is a place that contains personal service and great stories. The store has been family owned for 18 years. With a degree in marketing and a love for working in the pet industry, Bailey and his wife, Cheryl, decided to open their own pet store.

“We thought it would be great to have something you enjoy doing,” he said.

The store is filled with an abundance of pets for sale and pet products to accompany them. The Baileys also have in in-store pets, such a pair of Turtle Doves that have been there since the store opened and the cockatoo, Nina.

During the holidays, the store holds a food drive for homeless animals and has worked with the CSRA Humane Society. They also offer cat adoptions and, in the past 18 years, have adopted out more than 2,000 cats.

As the last independent pet store in the market, the Baileys hope to be able to service the area as long as they can.

“They come to us and we give them good information,” Bailey said, promising the best service possible to their customers.

WHAT I FOUND Dog toy | $4.99WHERE yOU CAN FIND IT Pet Safari2803 Washington Road, #20D, in Daniel Village | 706.738.6905

TWO 2 MOMS COOKIESI am sitting at a red light on Central Avenue and spot a little cookie shop

just across the way. That is one thing I love about Augusta: There are always new places popping up.

Lou Boone and Maggie Douglas opened Two Moms Cookies in October. With bright colors on the walls and mouth-watering smells wafting through the air, you will definitely leave with a smile on your face.

“When we opened, our idea was to have a hometown feel,” Boone said, “but our cookies are what make us special.”

The idea for 2 Moms started in Savannah, Ga., where one of Douglas’ relatives owns Two Smart Cookies and sent cookies to family members. Boone and Douglas bought the recipe and brought the idea to Augusta.

The bakery specializes in iced cut-out cookies that can be decorated for any occasion, such as birthdays, weddings, baby showers and sporting events. The owners encourage patrons to bring in ideas for special orders – and their own cut-outs, if desired – to personalize each order. Of course, you can also walk in, smell the goodness for yourself and walk out with a box of their fantastic treats. Everything is made from scratch with fresh ingredients.

“We are a family oriented business that caters to all families,” said Douglas. “We want to reach out to everyone.”

WHAT I FOUND A dozen cookies | $12.50WHERE yOU CAN FIND IT Two Moms Cookies2569 ½ Central Ave. | 706.755.2664

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“My husband is an artist,” Amanda said. “He has this very aesthetic importance. We want to display things in an easy, accessible type of way.”

Shoppers, when entering the store for the first time, often think Threads is part of a national chain, Hollis said. Amanda and Hollis are quick to correct the misperception.

“That’s a compliment that people come in here and think it is a franchise. The store has a visual identity to it,” Hollis said.

The store’s identity reflects what Amanda wants her clothes to represent for the shopper: unique. Most of the clothing comes from brands not often found at other stores in the area such as Jack, B.B. Dakota, Peppermint, Flying Tomatoes and Just USA. The designs, she said, are simply cut with fun and fashionable prints. Amanda says she also believes in offering clothing made in the United States.

“One of our specialties is that we try to order as many U.S.A. goods as possible,” said Amanda.

She also emphasizes carrying locally made products, such as the Nana handbags, which are created in Columbia, S.C., from scrap pieces of cloth; no two bags are alike. While Amanda wants her products to be unique, she says she doesn’t want to sell anything too expensive or high-end.

“The clothes should be comfortable to wear. I’m not carrying such high fashion you’d have to be a model to wear it,” Amanda said. “The most important thing to me is have good clothes at decent prices. I don’t want people to have to sell their first born to shop here.”

“We also sell finger monsters. That basically runs our company,” Hollis added, holding up a tiny rubber finger cap shaped like a goofy Godzilla.

Threads also stocks unique accessories such as bacon-décor wallets, outlandish sunglasses, bandages made to look like toast and stick-

on mustaches, further carrying out Amanda’s mission for artistic flair

Amanda moved from San Luis Obispo, Calif., with a background in retail. She says that she wanted to run her own store, and Aiken seemed the perfect place to do it.

Though the Thorntons did not plan to open a store so soon, they found the perfect building for sale and Threads opened on April 1. Within a month, they had repainted the interior and built shelves, dressing rooms and clothes racks. The first week Threads was open coincided with the Masters Golf Tournament, which kept Amanda busy.

“It was chaos. We were slammed. But it was a very, very positive opening. People just loved it,” she said.

One of Threads’ important aspects, which adds to its unique atmosphere, is Hollis’ artwork. At the entrance hangs a portrait of Hans Solo, his face created by pixilated representations of VHS tapes. A theme of nostalgia runs through Hollis’ work, a longing for what is dead and of the past. Painted on the canvases are recognizable pop culture icons of years past, such as the abominable snow monster Bumble from the Rudolph Christmas special and space invaders – things that Hollis refers to as “modern mythologies.”

“The artwork gives essence to what inspires other people,” Amanda said. While Hollis’ paintings hang to give an extra stylistic flair to the store, his work also is available for sale.. Hollis grew up in Aiken, but he says that he generally veers away from typical themes that in run in the town’s art: equestrian life, rustic living and broad landscapes. In that way, his work is much like Threads: one does not expect to find either in downtown Aiken.

The shop owner and artist have found a good fit, however. Amanda imagines opening a

In the center of Aiken’s historic downtown – where some of the buildings have been around since the late 1800s – sits a splash of California culture. Threads, a boutique on Laurens Street, is designed with artistic flair and stocked with West Coast-inspired fashions. Owner Amanda Thornton imbues a bit of Southern comfort into the store, stepping outside with a friendly greeting and personally introducing customers to the new designs that have just arrived.

Style is important to Amanda. The store interior is decorated with homemade paper-decorated lights and pop culture-inspired artwork by her husband, Hollis Brown Thornton, that mirrors the artistic taste that went into designing the boutique.

husband and wife marry art and fashionTHREADS OFFERS WEST COAST INSPIRED FASHIONS AND A SPLASH OF POP CULTURE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

second store somewhere regionally in a few years or beginning an online store. For now, she says wants customers to experience Threads’ unique styles, friendly staff and fusion of local and West Coast fashion.

“I hope they feel welcomed and intrigued with the customer service, more like a friend than a customer. I’d rather be someone’s personal shopper than a salesperson,” Amanda said.

“The bottom line is: A shirt is a shirt. You can buy it anywhere. But I like that people feel impacted when they come in here. Because of the way it looks. Because of the way it feels.”

Threads, 122 Laurens St., Aiken, is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 803.335.1452 or visit ILOVETHREADS.COM.

by DEREK BERRy photos courtesy of THREADLESS

12 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 13

VERGE: Forty years – can you really fathom the scope of that?

JOHNSTONE: I didn’t realize the actual length of time until a fan sent something via the office and I looked at it and said, “This is kind of deep.” I was aware of it and always felt great about it. Elton and I would occasionally chat and say, “Wow, we’ve known each other for this long,” and it was kind of freaky. We were in Caracas or something and someone said, “It’s 40 years today.” Elton actually announced it onstage. It was a nice moment. These numbers keep coming up. A couple of years ago I reached my 2,000th gig and that was kind of weird too. Somebody’s counting, so that’s great. I’m glad that someone keeps track. I tend not to do that because I still look at it like we’re in the middle of doing a lot of stuff, so I’m not writing my memoirs yet, as it were. I know we’re kind of in the twilight of what we’re doing, but I still appreciate what we’re doing now.

VERGE: At the time you joined Elton, you played guitar, mandolin, sitar, banjo and slide. To be that young and already that accomplished, that level of talent is a gift. When did you know you had it?

JOHNSTONE: It is a gift, but I was really driven and I was so passionate about various forms of music that I was into. Like every other kid growing up, I was totally into the Beatles and Stones. You couldn’t avoid it, especially growing up in Britain, so from the age of 10 the Beatles blew my mind, and before that it was a group called the Shadows. I was totally passionate about music from a very early age and wanted to play all that stuff, and just like any other normal kid — well, maybe not normal kid, sorry! — but growing up with that kind of love for it, you spend a lot of time shedding and practicing. So between my love of music, art and sports, especially soccer, that was my thing. I developed on a lot of instruments, but that must have been part of God’s plan, because I became proficient. When I moved to London, people were calling me up, and saying, “This kid plays all of this other stuff, not just guitar.” If I got booked to play a session, I would be able to say, “Maybe this would be cool on a track,” or “Maybe this would be fun.” That’s why I think Gus Dudgeon, Elton’s producer, who I knew already, was a real champion of what I did. He would book me on all these bizarre things because he knew I could come up with something different. That’s really the key: If you have something original to offer, people are going to be interested. They’re going to say, “Oh, we haven’t heard that before or thought about that aspect before.” So I was very fortunate that I did do all that stuff, because it was leading me to this great palette I had to be able to start painting across everybody’s work, and it was something that I’ve always enjoyed doing.

VERGE: What does the role of musical director encompass?

JOHNSTONE: It’s a big job because there’s a lot of music. We have a very deep catalog spanning 40-plus years! I’m also blessed with a very good memory. I can literally remember almost every song. Elton called me a couple of weeks ago and there were a couple of old songs that he wanted to try out. One of them is “Teenage Idol,” and he said, “I can’t remember how it goes,” so I said, “Oh yeah, I know it.” We played it through the other day at rehearsal and it sounded great. That song is also 40 years old, but I remember how to put it all together, so I have to show the rest of the band what it is. It’s not just showing somebody the chords. It’s the whole deal, the whole atmosphere of the song. In the last couple of years, he’s been recording with T-Bone Burnett. I told him right at the offset, “You go ahead and do whatever it is you want to do,” because I know T-Bone uses his own people. He has maybe a dozen musicians that he likes to use and that’s the way he works. As far as I’m concerned, it’s like, “Hey, whatever. You’re the artist, Elton, and he’s the producer; you better do what you want to do,” and that’s what he’s been doing the last couple of years. My role has been more restricted to live stuff, and it’s pretty busy when you’ve got four extra background singers and two cello players,

because instead of five phone calls or texts, now I’ve got to make 11 to get people on the same page and get them over to my home for a vocal rehearsal and then rehearse onstage. It’s a lot of stuff. So there’s been no recording for me, and I say, “God bless you, go for it, and I hope you get what you want out of that part of your career.” He’s still a creative artist, and I think that all artists should be allowed to pursue things in their own way. Too many people split up and get disillusioned with themselves from jealousy or “Why am I not involved with that?” I came to terms with that kind of stuff a long time ago. If you have those kinds of feelings, I don’t think you should be in this business.

VERGE: How does your role as guitarist in the Elton John Band – and for some of us, it’s always been a band, from the beginning – change from one tour to the next, sometimes with just the band, sometimes with orchestras and so forth?

JOHNSTONE: Well, it’s been exhausting and unbelievably fulfilling and incredibly creative for me all the way around. I’ve played with just about everybody on the planet that you can imagine. I’m glad to hear you say about the way people feel about the band, and I know that to be true because it’s a very special band and always has been, so thanks for that; I appreciate you saying. That’s the way Nigel and I feel about that magic that we had and we still have when we play. We miss Dee [Murray, original bassist] so much as a presence because that was the original band that did most of those great records. I think there’s always a feeling that whatever Elton may do, that was the band that created all the great stuff. It’s as simple as that. many people say, “Oh, I grew up with you guys,” and that’s what I get if I see somebody when I’m coming out of a venue or meet somebody in a hotel: “I grew up with your music.” I love that. That is the highest compliment someone can pay me. It really meant a lot to me. “Thanks for the music” – that’s everything, that means that I’ve done my job. It’s changed a lot, the whole thing we do has changed over the years, but you can’t ever take away what we did back then. That’s the great thing. That’s the beauty of it. We’re still doing it and bringing the music to people, and we try to do that as genuinely as possible so that people can still have that experience when they come and see us.

by ALISON RICHTER photos PRESS

Music, in its many forms, touches lives in various ways. For some, music is background – something to be listened to recreationally, socially, enjoyed now and then. For others, it’s an obsession – the soundtrack of our lives, each defining moment connected to a song, an album, an artist, with specific memories of where we were “the first time we heard …”

Elton John. Five decades. The Elton John Band. Forty years. Music that has inspired countless people to pick up an instrument or become a part of the music industry. Music that has, in some way, touched countless hearts – literally saved the lives of youngsters who lost themselves in the songs to escape the pain of adolescence –and created longtime fans who have remained true to the man who is easily the greatest artist of all time and the musicians who have been there to create and translate his message.

At the very core of that sound is guitarist Davey Johnstone, the multi-talented musical director and highly underrated guitar hero whose immense contributions to John’s recordings and live performances simply cannot be stressed enough. Johnson was 19 when he first recorded with John; their friendship and professional relationship have seen them through overwhelming success and equally overwhelming personal tragedies. Through it all, the love and respect remain unbreakable – between the musicians and with their fans.

Johnstone, ever gracious and humble, spoke to verge about his phenomenal career.

don’t let the sun go down on meELTON JOHN AND GUITARIST DAvEY JOHNSTONE HAvE MADE MUSIC TOGETHER FOR 40 YEARS AND THEY ARE BRINGING THE MAGIC TO AUGUSTA

SEE THE SHOWWHAT Elton John and His Band

WHERE James Brown Arena | 601 Seventh St. WHEN Tuesday, March 6 | 8 p.m.

TICKETS $49 to $139BUy | 877-428-4849 or GEORGIALINATIX.COM

MORE | DAVEyJOHNSTONE.COM or ELTONJOHN.COM

“ ‘Thanks for the music’ – that’s everything, that means that I’ve done my job.”

14 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 15

Pam and Wade Teston were neighbors growing up in Augusta and married shortly after high school. Wade left for South Korea to serve in the Air Force and Pam stayed home. When he returned, he spent a short time working on the railroad, but later chose to make truck driving his career. The couple raised four children.

The Testons are late bloomers in music industry. Music was not a part of their lives, but when Pam encouraged Wade to record his songs, she became unstoppable in showcasing local and regional talent.

“Music didn’t come into our lives until Christmas of 2002,” Pam explains. “Wade had been telling me that he was writing songs. So, I gave him a recording session with Johnny Carr, a local music teacher who has a Christian recording studio. Carr wrote the music and Wade wrote the lyrics. It was so amazing to hear the music with his song. We all cried.”

Wade has written more than 70 songs. About 20 of these have been recorded by award-winning artists such as Archie Jordan, whose popular songs include “What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life,” and Paul Hornsby, who has worked with The Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels, Wet Willie and Duane and Greg Allman in Hourglass Band.

Whenever Wade was on the road, he stopped and played his guitar every chance he got. The self-taught musician says he can only remember one time when music was a part of his childhood.

“When I was in sixth grade, I tried to take piano lessons,” he laughs. “I grew up in southern Georgia and my parents told me quick that little boys don’t play piano. But it was a little confusing because my mother had Fats Domino, Floyd Cramer and Jerry Lee Lewis LPs, and they sounded like piano to me.”

Over the years, friends have kidded Wade about being a truck driving songwriter. His response always gets a smile.

He says, “Elvis Presley was a truck driver.”

Though Pam was thrilled with her husband’s new journey, she also wanted a venue for songwriters in the Augusta area.

“I knew he would never get a chance to have people hear his songs,” she says. “I wanted a place for songwriters to share their music.”

In 2008, she contacted local musicians to provide live entertainment including gospel, bluegrass, folk, Americana and contemporary music. That was the start of Pick’n and Praise’n.

The monthly showcase is an all-live music venue and ends each night with a jam session of “I’ll Fly Away” and “Amazing Grace.” It is free and open to the public. They meet on the third Saturday of each month. Pam prepares and serves a meal, including soft drinks and homemade desserts that are available for a donation. All donations go to the church for the use of the facility.

“I never know how many will show up,” she says. “But I tell people that I get to have my own party once a month.”

Since it began, attendance has increased and the couple enjoys the fellowship with other songwriters and musicians.

“A good songwriter has a way of touching people with their

lyrics and music,” Pam says. “The song can make them laugh, cry or just give them something to think about. A good song moves people. I think Wade’s music and songs have these characteristics. It’s the reason I started on my adventure four years ago: to have a venue so he and other songwriter friends could have a place to share their songs and music.”

As organizer and presenter of Pick’n and Praise’n, Pam keeps busy with arranging the entertainment for the evening. She has also started pickin’ herself.

“I have only just begun with my mandolin,” she says. “I have had it about a month. I took two years of Suzuki Strings a few years back, trying to learn to play fiddle with Wade, but it was too hard.”

“I want people in Augusta to take me and my venue seriously,” she adds. “I want to be a music force to be reckoned with around here.”

Pick’n and Praise’n is open to bands and solo artists. For those interested in participating in the open mic session, contact Pam at least 24 hours before the event date to ensure your slot in the lineup. Most music genres are welcome, but they prefer nothing heavy metal or too hard rock.

article and photos by KAREN E. FARLEy

On the third Saturday of every month, Martinez resident Pam Teston is busy in her kitchen preparing a meal for up to 70 people. But her real focus is getting the line-up for Pick’n and Praise’n, which she and her husband, Wade, host at Glenn Hills Baptist Church.

pick’n and praise’n a songwriter’s meccaPAM TESTON COOKS THE MEALS, BOOKS THE MUSICIANS AND PROMOTES HER MONTHLY CONCERT SERIES FOR ONE LOvE: HER HUSBAND

SEE THE SHOWWHAT Pick’n and Praise’n

WHERE Glenn Hills Baptist Church2877 Lumpkin Road

WHEN Saturday, March 17, 6 to 9 p.m. TICKETS Free with a donation to cover meals

MORE | Contact Pam Teston at 706.373.7855 or granpam55@comcast.net . Also, look for

Pick’n and Praise’n on Facebook

“A good songwriter has a way of touching people with their lyrics and music. The song can make them laugh, cry

or just give them something to think about. A good song moves people.”

— PAM TESTON

16 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 17

VERGE: You have a long history as a writer and producer and, of course, broadcasting and political experience. When did you begin contemplating writing a novel?

yOUNG: I have thought about writing a book for a number of years. When I returned from Washington D.C., after the change in administration in 2009, I had no reason not to get started.

VERGE: Many people have a book “inside of them.” What enabled you to cross over from dream to actual project?

yOUNG: I had the time to work on the book. I enjoyed doing the research. The hunt for facts and detail was quite stimulating. I also chose to write a historical novel, as opposed to a pure history book. I wanted to challenge the reader to separate fact from fiction. It won’t be that easy; I’m still amazed at some of the things I learned about Augusta.

VERGE: Why the Civil War setting? Has this always been a topic of interest?

yOUNG: Growing up in the South, you can’t get away from the Civil War; it’s part of the culture. Throughout my life I’ve read books, visited battlefields and historic sites, and collected period items. Most fascinating, though, are the personalities of the period — really remarkable people for their time. And the mystery of the missing Confederate gold is a natural hook.

VERGE: The book is set in Augusta. Did you need to do much research or did you already have the resources from your life here, your experience as a broadcaster, your documentary The Great March, and your experience as mayor?

yOUNG: The first six months of this project were consumed by fulltime research. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the people, places and events that defined Augusta at the end of the war. I had learned a lot about mining information from my documentary work in television. And, since a mayor’s election was held during the time period represented in my book, my experience in city hall provided great insight.

VERGE: How long did it take, from start to finish, from conception to final draft, to complete the project?

yOUNG: The Treasure Train represents three years of work from start to finish. Although I had a draft completed within about nine months, it took another two years of on-again, off-again work to get the final product where I wanted it and ready for publication.

VERGE: Did you self-publish?

yOUNG: The book is published through

my company, Eagle Veterans Services LLC. Word gets out when you are looking for a publishing partner, and my email box was bombarded with offers. In the end, we settled on CreateSpace, an Amazon company. They made the entire process painless. Because of technology, publishing is easy, assessable and affordable for everyone. Also, publish-on-demand is the way to go, unless you want your garage filled with boxes of unsold books!

VERGE: You are releasing a physical book, not just an e-book. You obviously still believe in the power of print. What are your thoughts about the future of print and the changing paradigm into digital readers?

yOUNG: I read that more than half the books sold by Amazon last year were e-books. Clearly, that’s where the future lies. E-books are convenient and affordable. However, there is a lot to be said for holding a book in your hand, writing in the margins and dog-earing the pages. Besides, you can’t autograph an e-book. Printed books will always have a place.

VERGE: Do you have other books in the works, and if so, do you plan to continue writing historical novels set within the context of the Civil War?

yOUNG: I’ve thought about another book, but frankly, I’m focused on getting The Treasure Train to market right now. I believe the characters I’ve created can carry the story for a sequel. It just remains to be seen what kind of local history I can dig up to make it interesting enough. Plus, a number of contemporary characters are worth a book.

VERGE: In addition to your work as an author, you are also the president of Eagle Veterans

Services LLC and R.W. Young and Associates. What can you tell us about the companies? How long have they been in business and which services do they provide?

yOUNG: EVS LLC is an industrial supply company that’s been in business for three years. We’re branching out into publishing with The Treasure Train, and I’m looking at some additional business opportunities to expand the brand. R.W. Young and Associates is my consulting company. Every former government executive needs a consulting arm!

VERGE: You grew up in Thomson, went to school here, served in local government and local media. What is it about Augusta that appeals to you and has made you stay here?

yOUNG: My working career started in broadcasting. It’s a business where people try hard to work their way back home. I was blessed to have worked my entire career in the place I call home. Augusta is the center of a great region with outstanding people and

tremendous resources. There’s no place else like it. Gwen and I love it here.

VERGE: What do you foresee, and what would you like to see, in the city’s future?

yOUNG: I believe everyone in Augusta would appreciate living in a city where people are given an opportunity to succeed in a climate that is inviting, engaging and based on mutual trust. Certainly, that’s been the lesson from our city’s history, if we’ll just pay attention to it.

by ALISON RICHTER photos PRESS

Former mayor Bob Young and his wife, Gwen Fulcher Young, are so integrally woven into the fabric of Augusta’s society and culture that it is difficult to imagine talking about the city without mentioning their names. Gwen is known for her success in real estate, amongst many other accomplishments. Young himself is, of course, known for his political career and the 26 years he spent as one of the CSRA’s most beloved broadcast journalists.

Since leaving local office, Young served in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and become a regional director and assistant deputy secretary in Atlanta. His career has taken him to diversified roles in production, consultation and now he is business owner. Recently, he also added author to his resume with the publication of his first novel, The Treasure Train, a Civil War-era story that takes place in Augusta.

Young spoke to verge about his new book, his business ventures and his affinity for the city that he will always call home.

former mayor bob young adds author to his resumeHIS FIRST BOOK, THE HISTORIC FICTIONAL The Treasure Train, DEBUTS MARCH 1

MEET THE AUTHORWHAT First Thursday features

Bob Young signing The Treasure TrainWHERE Midtown Market

2113 Kings WayWHEN Thursday, March 1 | 5 to 8 p.m.

COST Free | Book is $20MORE |706.364.8479 or

THETREASURETRAINBOOK.COM

“I believe everyone in Augusta would appreciate living in a city where people are

given an opportunity to succeed in a climate that is inviting, engaging

and based on mutual trust.”

18 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

“Summerville is a neighborhood that encompasses more than 2,200 homes and businesses, but Midtown is the retail district and we see it growing every day,” said Stefanie Reed, the owner of Midtown Market on Kings Way. “It’s family oriented, and we have four outstanding restaurants right nearby. In the last couple months there have been three new businesses open up.”

“I think since Midtown has started developing it has brought a lot of attention to all of us, and it’s been very good for the café as well,” said David Ross, the owner of 5 O’Clock Bistro, which has recently started opening for lunch at 11 a.m. as more customers filter in. “Two furniture stores just opened up down the block, and an electronic store has recently popped up nearby. It went from being five empty buildings to being a thriving retail area we can all be proud of.”

Midtown also boasts a strong relationship with the surrounding community of Summerville, where many of the local merchants live. The Midtown Market includes 39 separate stores and Reed says that more than half of the owners come from the immediate community. Reed has lived in Summerville for the past 14 years, has served as chairwoman of the Summerville Neighborhood Association Board and owns a house that has been on the Summerville Tour of Homes.

“Unlike other retail areas, we’re surrounded by all these residences and there are lots of people walking by,” she said. “People jogging will stop in and buy something and then come back to pick it up later. We’re also dog-friendly in the Midtown Market, and inviting to anyone who stops in.”

“I hope to be moving back into the neighborhood soon, and I wanted to have my business in the same area as my work,” said Angela McNair, the owner of one of Midtown’s newest businesses, The Sparrow’s Nest. “The area is very welcoming. I had a business a few years ago on Walton Way, but I chose Midtown as the site of my new business because I like the people and the sense of community among the shopkeepers in this place.”

In many ways, the flourishing local economy is itself a spur to progress, as more and more business owners seek to locate their shops next to other businesses that are doing well. McNair and Billy Harrison, who each opened their adjacent furniture restoration stores in December, hope to soon open a courtyard in the rear where both The Sparrow’s Nest and The Gallery can jointly sell garden accessory pieces.

“Midtown is becoming known as an antique district,” said Harrison. “Aside from myself and Angela, there is the Midtown Market and The Cottage, as well as a lot of other like-minded people in the area. There are more people now who realize that they don’t have to go downtown to find antiques but that there’s a pretty good market for them right here.”

“The customer base and the clientele are the kind who would be encouraged to visit the kind of store I’m running,” said McNair. “We also get a lot of customers in on First Thursday, who are attracted by our playing live music, offering complimentary wine and finger food, and collecting money for charity.”

This July will mark the fifth anniversary of Midtown’s First Thursday celebration, which Reed says keeps the merchants of Midtown feeling like a close family. Most of the merchants who participate offer special deals on the first Thursday of every month and encourage patrons to donate to a specific local charity decided on in advance by all the merchants.

“If you walk into this store on a First Thursday almost everyone knows your name, because this is the place where everyone meets, and we’ve never canceled one for any reason,” said Reed. “It has become a success for all the businesses in the area, it’s the ultimate community event where we support art and charity. I think it’s more like going back to the roots of First Friday, when it was more about the galleries and supporting local art.”

At this time, the informal organization of the First Thursday event is all that unites the business owners of Midtown, but several merchants are in the process of forming a Midtown Market Association to promote the area and the First Thursday event, and to ensure Midtown finds its own identity as a retail district.

“Everyone knows about downtown, everyone knows about the mall and everyone knows about Surrey Center, but we as Midtown merchants have never got together before now to let people know about us,” said Reed. “We first started discussing it in December and we thought we’d be able to start organizing after the holidays, but January has been really busy for all of us, and now February has taken off with a bang. We’re thrilled about all the business we’ve been getting, but for sure by this summer we’ll have something figured out.”

When the Midtown Market Association forms, one of their first projects might be stringing a banner across the street. Reed said she and several other business owners petitioned the Augusta commission to help them market the neighborhood in 2011, but are now set on taking on the project themselves.

Another concern involves the lack of parking space on Central Avenue,

Most people in Augusta know about the great things downtown has to offer, including the restaurants, art galleries and specialty stores along Broad Street, the spirited First Friday celebrations and the municipal building where most of the city’s business gets done. Most Augustans also know how to get their shopping needs met at the Augusta Mall and Surrey Center. Now, people are learning about a thriving retail district that falls right in the middle.

Midtown encompasses all the shops along Central Avenue in the neighborhood of Summerville, and has the unique feel of a community just beginning to find itself.

a community of neighborssummerville’s midtown establishes identity as a place to live and shop

“I chose Midtown as the site of my new business because I like the people and the

sense of community among the shopkeepers in this place.”

— ANGELA MCNAIR, THE SPARROW’S NEST

ANGELA MCNAIR AND BILLy HARRISON

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 19

In many ways, the flourishing local economy is itself a spur to progress, as more and more business owners seek to locate their shops next to other businesses that are doing well. McNair and Billy Harrison, who each opened their adjacent furniture restoration stores in December, hope to soon open a courtyard in the rear where both The Sparrow’s Nest and The Gallery can jointly sell garden accessory pieces.

“Midtown is becoming known as an antique district,” said Harrison. “Aside from myself and Angela, there is the Midtown Market and The Cottage, as well as a lot of other like-minded people in the area. There are more people now who realize that they don’t have to go downtown to find antiques but that there’s a pretty good market for them right here.”

“The customer base and the clientele are the kind who would be encouraged to visit the kind of store I’m running,” said McNair. “We also get a lot of customers in on First Thursday, who are attracted by our playing live music, offering complimentary wine and finger food, and collecting money for charity.”

This July will mark the fifth anniversary of Midtown’s First Thursday celebration, which Reed says keeps the merchants of Midtown feeling like a close family. Most of the merchants who participate offer special deals on the first Thursday of every month and encourage patrons to donate to a specific local charity decided on in advance by all the merchants.

“If you walk into this store on a First Thursday almost everyone knows your name, because this is the place where everyone meets, and we’ve never canceled one for any reason,” said Reed. “It has become a success for all the businesses in the area, it’s the ultimate community event where we support art and charity. I think it’s more like going back to the roots of First Friday, when it was more about the galleries and supporting local art.”

At this time, the informal organization of the First Thursday event is all that unites the business owners of Midtown, but several merchants are in the process of forming a Midtown Market Association to promote the area and the First Thursday event, and to ensure Midtown finds its own identity as a retail district.

“Everyone knows about downtown, everyone knows about the mall and everyone knows about Surrey Center, but we as Midtown merchants have never got together before now to let people know about us,” said Reed. “We first started discussing it in December and we thought we’d be able to start organizing after the holidays, but January has been really busy for all of us, and now February has taken off with a bang. We’re thrilled about all the business we’ve been getting, but for sure by this summer we’ll have something figured out.”

When the Midtown Market Association forms, one of their first projects might be stringing a banner across the street. Reed said she and several other business owners petitioned the Augusta commission to help them market the neighborhood in 2011, but are now set on taking on the project themselves.

Another concern involves the lack of parking space on Central Avenue,

particularly when Midtown is at its busiest on First Thursday. A large parking lot accessible off Hickman Road allows for rear entrance to both the Midtown Market and 5 O’Clock Bistro, but because it isn’t visible from Central Avenue not many patrons are aware of it. Reed hopes to post signs in the near future, enabling guests to feel comfortable spending the day in Midtown.

In the future, Reed hopes to see the area become more like Virginia Highlands in Atlanta, a popular destination location where people can park their cars and spend all day walking from store to store.

“I look forward to the day when this becomes strictly a destination for people visiting Augusta,” said Reed. “Right now, there are four houses across the street, and I don’t think the area is so crowded that the people who live there feel like they are in a retail district. Maybe in another five or 10 years that will change.”

“I think the opportunities for businesses to thrive will only increase because all the buildings that are currently empty will be rented – I see people looking at them every day,” said McNair. “I hope to be here a while, and I am in a position to buy the building instead of just rent it, so I’m planning on staying invested in this community.”

article and photos by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

THE KINGS WAy STORES IN MIDTOWN

Summerville has two budding business communities: Midtown and the shops on Monte Sano Avenue, which include such specialty shops as Hattie Anne’s Sewing Shop and vignettes Dress Shop.

According to Stewart Flanagin, who has owned and operated the Hill Drug Pharmacy at 1432 Monte Sano Ave. since 1991, the area has a long history of attracting local businesses.

the original district monte sano avenue

“I can tell you why Monte Sano Avenue is so wide,” he said, “it’s because back in the ‘20s there was a trolley that went up Walton Way that turned on Monte Sano to where the trolley station was, and these were all grocery stores. Back then this area was separate from downtown, and people would ride the trolley up here from downtown to do their shopping.”

Flanagin isn’t sure when the trolley stopped running, but remembers the tracks still being in the road up Walton Way when he was growing up. Even today, he says he doesn’t like to use his car very much and is happy to live in a community where he can walk to work.

“We’re a neighborhood pharmacy so we serve just about everybody in the community and we get a lot of regulars,” he said. “Every once in a while we like to walk over to Tea Room with Dutchess to get lunch or visit Two Moms Cookie Shop. The area has always been pretty full of businesses, though individual stores come and go, and we don’t have a lot of retail stores anymore. It’s mostly a lot of specialty shops for designing and decorating.”

Maggie Douglas and Lou Boone, who opened Two Moms Cookie Shop at 2569 Central Ave. in October, appreciate the pleasant character of the neighborhood and its convenient location.

Though the two moms set up a booth in front of 5 O’Clock Bistro for First Thursday in December the Monte Sano merchants as a whole have not engaged in any mass events to unite their businesses. Douglas and Boone aren’t sure when they’ll be back at First Thursday, but are satisfied with the amount of business they have been doing in their storefront.

“It’s a great community and we love it,” said Boone. “We get lots of regulars from areas around here like Augusta State University, Georgia Health Sciences and the hospitals, as well as from our friends and our children. All the shop owners along here are our friends, and we do what we can to help each other.”

by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

“It’s a great community and we love it … All the shop owners along here are our friends, and we

do what we can to help each other.”

— LOU BOONE, TWO MOM’S COOKIES

“Unlike other retail areas, we’re surrounded by all these

residences and there are lots of people walking by.”

— STEFANIE REED, MIDTOWN MARKET

TARA CONWAy OF TIM CONWAy PHOTOGRAPHy

20 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 21

THE yELLOW BRICK ROAD TO GOURMAND When I was young, my food life was filled with what I call the “tasteful mundane.” Mom would cook the same dishes every day: beans, cornbread, fried chicken and chicken gizzards with rice. Then, we had our much-anticipated weekly trip to Pizza Hut. It was the early ‘80s, so dessert was almost always a Little Debbie snack cake – those darn cakes must have been all the rage because everyone was eating them. Little Debbie had a snack cake for every occasion. There was no need to prepare dessert, all mom had to do was pull out a box of Little Debbie’s and pour Daddy and me a glass of cold milk and we were in blind dessert bliss, eating snack cakes one after another until either the box was empty or Star Trek had ended. Why blind, you ask? Well, some years later, my eyes were to be fully opened by the vast world of gourmet foods that would impact the way I perceived food forever! I have a school friend’s pantry, which essentially turned my food world upside-down to thank for my becoming a full-fledged foodie. I live to eat: I read about food, I watch food television programs, I write about food and I adore cooking. Outside of God and family there is – you guessed it – food. Along the way, I have found there are many of you like me – total foodies! During that initial visit to my friend’s home, when I opened his pantry door for the first time, my eyes were opened wide and I heard song. I felt just as Dorothy must have when she opened up the doors to Munchkin Land and realized she was no longer in Kansas. There were artisan breads, gourmet chips and dips, jellies of all sorts, top shelf deli meats and cheeses, cuts of beef and pork that I had never knew existed. After this experience I wondered, “If there is all this, there must be more,” and there was! Today, I have embraced a gourmand lifestyle. If you want to call it a hobby, so be it. Car enthusiasts purchase pricey rims – I buy fantastic coffee, gourmet meats and cheeses. Shoe fanatics fork over hundreds of dollars for the latest footwear – I visit the newest restaurants. Technical geeks rush out to get the newest in games and electronics – I shop gourmet food stores. To a foodie, there is no destination more exciting than their local specialty food store, this is our Oz. The gourmet food store to us is a wonderland, just as a toy store is to a child. Everywhere you turn, there is a new product to try, fantastic foods to taste; it’s really romantic and very euphoric. If you are a foodie, know that there are many just like you. Let there be no shame when treating yourself to the best that’s

offered in food. Pass up the snack cakes at the grocer and place an order at your local bakery for cupcakes. Forgo ground coffee that has been sitting in those packages for weeks or maybe months, go to your specialty stores and try freshly roasted and ground specialty coffees. Skip the pre-packaged pizzas and take your family out for a local Italian meal. Introduce your family to new foods often, so they too can experience Munchkin Land every chance they get. When it comes to great food in our area, the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true!

from the fork of augusta eatsA GENUINE FOODIE TAKES ON AUGUSTA’S FARE ONE BITE AT A TIMEAs I write this month’s column, some good friends

of mine are en route to venice, Italy. Sure, I tried shamelessly to get them to take me with them, but, looking back on things, it’s just as nice in my living room, dovetailing a column with some good old fashioned Travel Channel ... who am I kidding? I want to be in Europe! That being said, fasten your seat belts, put your tray tables in their upright and locked position, and turn off Angry Birds, because we’re going to Europe (more specifically, fiscally responsible Europe, or, as we call it, Belgium).

ORVAL TRAPPIST ALE | You’ve heard me say it before: Those monks know what they’re doing. The monks within the Brasserie d’Orval have been making beer since at least the 1600s and, to them, it is truly a labor of love. It pours a rich amber with an expected hefty head that does little to dissipate. The nose conveys a grassy, almost earthy tone. The taste, however, is significantly more robust. Heavy yeasts dominate in the beginning before being translated

into a bready sourness that is absolutely exceptional. Healthy eating columns aside, you should really try this religious experience of a beer.

LINDEMANS CASSIS LAMBIC BEER | A ruby pour with a cotton candy head to match makes this corked 355ml anything but beer, but it’s the wheat and yeasts that convince you it is not a sparkling currant wine. The sour currants in tandem with a light but significant carbonation really make this beer a refreshing treat cold or neat. I wouldn’t go so far as to serve this brew in a champagne glass, but a snifter or tulip will bring out the unique lasting effervescence

that the brewers intended. The above combined with an easy drinkability make Cassis one of the best Lambics around.

LINDEMANS FARO LAMBIC BEER | A cloudy caramel pour makes this Belgian classic appear a bit more like a brew than Cassis. The nose exudes a tartness that makes you think cider all the way, and the taste isn’t much different. There is, however, a sweet alcohol tinge that complements the tart fruitiness nicely. Like Cassis, there’s a drinkability that’s welcome, especially when you compare this Faro with some of the more “hardcore” Belgian beers. Though the taste is

simple, it’s a nice way to ease into the Lambic style.

These and more can be found at Aficionados downtown on Eighth Street.

A EURPOEAN vACATION – THE BEER GURU WAYbeers locals like

by BEN CASELLAIf Ben Casella was Belgium, he’d

be very angry at Italy (and the rest of southern Europe, for that

matter). Fiscal responsibility and easy drinkability are two things he takes quite seriously … quite

seriously.

by AUGUSTA EATSAugusta Eats is literally eating Augusta, from restaurant to roadside gourmet. Considered by some to be the original Augusta foodie, Augusta Eats has more than 25 culinary years under his (or her?) apron strings and has a deep-seeded love for all things tasty. Follow Augusta Eats on Facebook or visit AUGUSTAEATS.NET

22 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 23

HISTORy BLAST FROM THE PAST opens on Feb. 24 as part of the celebration of the Augusta Museum of History’s 75th anniversary. The exhibit will highlight the variety of materials that were collected in the past, such as rocks, minerals, taxidermy animals and birds, ethnographic clothing, archeological collections, and the different ways artifacts were displayed. Augusta Museum of History; $2 to $4; 560 Reynolds St.; 706.722.8454 AUGUSTAMUSEUM.ORG

FOR KIDS DRAGON SCALES MONTH Take the library reading challenge: For every book that you read, write its name on a scale and help make the dragon stretch around the children’s department. Headquarters Library; through March 1; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

HISTORy THE LIFE OF THE MIND SERIES A panel discussion cosponsored with the Augusta Blue Ribbon Committee on Race Relations examining civil rights activism in Augusta during the ‘70s. Panelists include Professor John Hayes, Dr. Roscoe Williams, Grady Abrams and Hodges Usry. Augusta State University, Washington Hall, Dome Room; 2 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way AUG.EDU

CONCERT FACULTy ARTISTS RECITAL USC Aiken Etherredge Center; 5:30 p.m.; free; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3305

LITERARy CREATIVE WRITING GROUP Weekly group meeting geared toward fiction writers interested in improving their craft. Columbia County Library; 10 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.447.8184

FESTIVAL FIRST THURSDAy ON KINGS WAy Featuring former Augusta mayor Bob Young who will be signing copies of his book, The Treasure Train. Read the article on page 17. Kings Way in Summerville; 5 p.m.; free; 706.364.8479

SPORTS AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs. Fayetteville FireAntz. James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 601 Seventh St.; 706.993.2645 AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM

FILM PUSS IN BOOTS Rated PG. Aiken County Library; 3 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7575

ART ARTISTS ATTIC SALE OPENING Read the article on this page. Zimmerman Gallery; 5 to 9 p.m.; free; 1006 Broad St.; 706.774.1006

FESTIVAL FIRST FRIDAy Downtown Augusta celebrates the first Friday of each month as art galleries display new works and vendors sell their hand-made goods along Broad Street. Family friendly. Downtown Augusta; 5 p.m.; free; Broad Street; 706.826.4702 AUGUSTAARTS.COM

ART THE 19TH ANNUAL MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART GALA 2012 Gala cochairs Mrs. Sutton Stracke and Dr. Alan Whitehouse promise an evening of delicious fare, live entertainment, dancing and a raffle. The gala will feature the exhibition Working South: Paintings and Sketches by Mary Whyte. Morris Museum of Art; 7 p.m.; call for info; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

THEATRE CHILDREN OF EDEN A two-act, pop/rock musical tells of parents, children and faith, plus centuries of unresolved family business. Loosely based on Genesis, the play is a frank, heartfelt and humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, 7 p.m.; $40; 32100 Third Ave.; 706.793.8552 FORTGORDON.COM

CONCERT AUGUSTA BLUES FESTIVAL with The Klass Band, Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones, Latimore and Clarence Carter. Bell Auditorium; 8 p.m.; $40 to $47; 712 Telfair St.; 877.4.AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

CONCERT WOMEN OF IRELAND USC Aiken Etherredge Center; 8 p.m.; $40 adults, $20 students; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU

THEATRE yOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH yOU At first the Sycamores seem mad, but if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. Suitable for all ages. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.; $7 to $20; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438

THEATRE SCHRODINGER’S CAT PLAyS EXTREME THEATRE GAMES These extreme theater games are sure to delight any mature audience member. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; $8 advance, $10 door; 304 Eighth St.; 706.722.3322 SCHRODINGERSCATAUG.COM

FESTIVAL JUNIOR LEAGUE ATTIC SALE Augusta Exchange Club Fairground; doors open at 7 a.m.; call for ticket information; 301 Hale St.; 706.736.0033 JLAUGUSTA.ORG

GOOD CAUSE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION MARCH The signature fundraising event for the American Heart Association. Activities begin at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Downtown Aiken on Newberry St.; 8 a.m.; free; 706.589.0063 HEART.ORG

COMMUNITy HISTORIC AUGUSTA’S OLD HOUSE FAIR Homeowners seeking information about rehabilitating and maintaining older homes can connect with experienced, preservation-minded service providers. The fair will include three speaker sessions, a hands-on workshop and a vendor expo. The keynote luncheon lecture, “The Ordinary Iconic Ranch House: Mid-20th-Century Ranch Houses in Georgia,” will be given by Richard Cloues, a deputy state historic preservation officer for Georgia’s Historic Preservation Division. All proceeds benefit the mission of Historic Augusta. Keynote luncheon lecture tickets are an additional $10. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 9 a.m.; $10; 1301 Greene St.; 706.724.0436 HISTORICAUGUSTA.ORG

ONGOING

DAILy

The Daily Planner is our selective guide to what is going on in the city during the next two weeks. IF yOU WANT TO BE LISTED: Submit information by email (events@vergelive.com) or by mail (verge, P.O. Box 38, Augusta, GA 30903). Details of the event - date, time, venue address, telephone number and admission price - should be included. Listings included are accurate at press time, check with specific venues for further details.

FEB. 29 TO MAR. 17

[ A CULTURE LESSON IN DANCE ] Fusing sensual Latin with classical and contemporary dance styles, Ballet

Hispanico displays versatile, enthralling movement combined with a highly emotional performance. Augusta Ballet presents this world-leading

dance representative of Hispanic culture on March 16.

Ballet Hispanico’s mission to build new avenues of cultural dialogue and share the joy of dance with all communities echoes that of Augusta Ballet.

“Ballet Hispanico evokes Augusta Ballet’s vision to inspire and unite the world through dance,” said Jennifer Franks, the executive director of

Augusta Ballet. “The company was chosen based on its high quality by world standards. Ballet Hispanico also captures the growing fashion for

Latin dance sweeping the country.”

Ballet Hispanico is part of Augusta Ballet’s current Dance in the Garden City program celebrating and shaping a healthy CSRA through dance and

science partnership. | PRESS

WHAT Ballet Hispanico WHERE The Imperial Theatre | 745 Broad St.WHEN Friday, March 16 | 8 p.m. TICKETS $15 to $75

MORE 706.721.0555 or AUGUSTABALLET.ORG

the daily plannerWHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

WEDNESDAY

2.29

THURSDAY

3.1

FRIDAY

3.2

[ artists attic sale ]Artists and collectors are cleaning out their attics – and offering the public the opportunity to get a piece of original art during Zimmerman Gallery’s first Artists Attic Sale. Paintings, pottery and prints by artists such as Carol Barnes, Marc Moon, A.W.S., Margaret Petterson, Ramon Kelly, Lala Streett and Patsy Evins will be offered.

During the sale, paintings and sketchbooks by the late James P. Lyle, who was well known for his landscapes and still-life paintings, will be sold to benefit the Art Factory. Lyle studied at the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, Md., and was a resident fellow at Claude Monet’s estate in Giverny, France.

WHAT Artists Attic SaleWHERE Zimmerman Gallery | 1006 Broad St.WHEN Opens on First Friday, March 2, and continues during the gallery’s regular hours until March 31MORE | 706.774.1006 or ZIMMERMANGALLERyAUGUSTA.COM

SATURDAY

3.3

24 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 25

OUTDOORS SWAMP SATURDAy The Academy’s trained volunteers lead free, 2.5-mile, 1.5-hour hikes through wetlands, over picturesque trails and scenic outlooks. Phinizy Swamp; 9:30 a.m.; free; 1858 Lock & Dam Road; 706.828.2109

LITERARy INAUGURAL AUGUSTA LITERARy FESTIVAL A symposium of authors, spoken word poets and artists from the CSRA, crossing literary genres of every type. Fifty authors will set up at the library, with presentations occurring throughout the day. The Blue Bistro Theater Company will also perform skits with a focus on literature. Headquarters Library; 10 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

COMMUNITy GOODWILL JOB FAIR Applicants will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from numerous companies. South Augusta Job Connection; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open to the public; 3120 Peach Orchard Rd.; 706.790.8500 GOODWILLWORKS.ORG

FOR KIDS 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE EARTH Become a young geologist and study solid Earth and how it has shaped and changed over time. Look at minerals and elements that are use in everyday life. For ages 7 and up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; 10 a.m.; $2; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

FILM TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 Rated PG-13. Aiken County Library; 3 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7575

GOOD CAUSE SECOND ANNUAL PREP FEST Musical guests include Jesse Colin Young, John Francis, Planet Walker, Mike Frost Jazz, Adam Cross, John Krueger, Not Gaddy, IDRUM2U and Swingsation of Aiken. Aiken Prep School Soccer Field; 3:30 p.m.; $20 plus a can of food, admission for children 12 and under is one can of food; 619 Barnwell Ave. NW, Aiken; 803.648.3223 PREPFEST.ORG

THEATRE CHILDREN OF EDEN See listing on March 2. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre; 7 p.m. SPORTS AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs. Columbus Cottonmouths. James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 601 Seventh St.; 706.993.2645 AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM

THEATRE yOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH yOU See listing on March 2. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.

FESTIVAL PURIM CARNIVAL Fun, games, face painting and prizes. Augusta Jewish Community Center; 12:30 p.m.; members free, guests are $5; 898 Weinberger Way, Evans; 706.228.3636 AUGUSTAJCC.ORG

ART ARTRAGEOUS! FAMILy SUNDAy: THE SUPER FUN SHOW Enjoy songs, stories and interactive good times. Afterward, make a fun foam sculpture inspired by the performance. Morris Museum of Art; 2 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

SPORTS SUNDAy POLO Bring your own chair. Whitney Field; 3 p.m.; $5 per person to watch the game or $20 per person for the social tent; Mead Avenue, Aiken; 803.643.3611 AIKENPOLOCLUB.ORG

LITERARy BOOK TALK with Michael Ryan, the editorial page editor at The Augusta Chronicle and author of The Last Freedom. Ryan will have copies on hand to sell. Columbia County Library; call for time; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS DR. SEUSS’ BIRTHDAy PARTy Celebrate the beloved children’s author at a family event. Harlem Branch Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 375 N. Louisville St.; 706.556.9795 ECGRL.ORG

CONCERT TUESDAy MUSIC LIVE Featuring the Don Macey Trio. Lunch is provided after concert. Reservations required. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; noon; concert is free, lunch is $10; 605 Reynolds St.; 706.722.3463 TUESDAySMUSICLIVE.COM

EDUCATION ASU PHILOSOPHy LECTURE SERIES Hunt Revell of The New School for Social Research Theory will present Praxis: Hannah Arendt, the Arab Spring, and Occupy Wall Street. N126 Allgood Hall, Augusta State University; 2:30 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1709

COMMUNITy GROW yOUR OWN FAIR This event is for anyone interested in edible gardening. Local farmers will share their expertise and sell berry bushes, fruit trees and vegetable seedings, and services for raised beds, ecological watering, organic manures and backyard poultry. Augusta Jewish Community Center; 2 p.m.; free; 898 Weinberger Way, Evans; 706.288.7895 AUGUSTALOCALLyGROWN.ORG

FOR TEENS BRACELET MAKING Registration required. Columbia County Library; 4 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG

ART STUDENT EXHIBIT RECEPTION North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center; 5:30 p.m.; free; 100 Georgia Ave., North Augusta; 803.441.4380

CONCERT ELTON JOHN AND HIS BAND One of the most successful live bands on the road today, Elton and his band put on the kind of concert you will never forget: the entire audience standing, dancing and singing along with much-loved classic songs such as “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” Read the article on page 13. James Brown Arena; 8 p.m.; $49 to $139; 601 Seventh St.; 877.4.AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

HISTORy WATER, WATER EVERyWHERE: The Anniversary of the 1912 Flood. Part of the Brown Bag History Series, Carol Waggonner-Angleton will talk about the devastation of the flood and the beginnings of targeted efforts to control flooding in the city. Augusta Museum of History; 12:30 p.m.; $3; 560 Reynolds St. 706.722.8454 AUGUSTAMUSEUM.ORG

ART 32ND ANNUAL AGNES MARKWALTER yOUTH ART RECEPTION Annual competition marks its 32nd anniversary with an exhibition of works by students in grades K to 12 from the CSRA. The event seeks to promote the value of quality art education for all children in our community, offering students the opportunity to see and take pride in their work hung in a gallery setting. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 4:30 p.m.; free; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495 GHIA.ORG

ART WHAT’S IN THE BOX? DIP, DRIP, AND ROLL Learn about artists from the exhibition Fore! Images of Golf in Art and create a painting using secret objects from the box. A program designed especially for toddlers and their caretakers. Registration required. Morris Museum of Art; 10 and 11:15 a.m.; $4; 1 10th St.; 706.828.3867 THEMORRIS.ORG

FILM FAMILy MOVIE: SOUL SURFER A teenage surfer girl summons the courage to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack. Harlem Branch Library; 5 p.m.; free; 375 N. Louisville St. 706.556.9795

EDUCATION SPACE FLIGHT: A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE Four-time space shuttle astronaut Kathryn Thornton, who is now a professor of engineering at the Universtiy of Viriginia, will give a lecture on space flight. Maxwell Theatre; 7 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way; 706.737.1541 AUG.EDU

THEATRE CHILDREN OF EDEN See listing on March 2. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre; 7 p.m

COMMUNITy BBQ & JEANS ON GREENE A night of good times: dine on food by Wifesaver, listen to tunes by The Favors and enter to win a Cooler of Cheer, the Ultimate Girls Basket of Delights or the Extreme Guys Bundle of Rewards. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 7:30 p.m.; $35; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4700

FILM FILMS ON FRIDAy: PAT AND MIKE (1952) After viewing the film, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion. Participants are invited to bring a lunch. Morris Museum of Art, noon; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

FOR KIDS DR. SEUSS’ BIRTHDAy PARTy Reservations required. Columbia County Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG

THEATRE CHILDREN OF EDEN See listing on March 2. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre; 7 p.m

SPORTS AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS vs. Knoxville IceBears. James Brown Arena; 7:35 p.m.; $7 to $18; 712 Telfair St.; 706.993.2645

THEATRE yOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH yOU See listing on March 2. Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.

FILM BREAKFAST AND A MOVIE The film Dirt offers a vision of a sustainable relationship between humans and dirt through profiles of the global visionaries who

are determined to repair the damage done to Earth before it is too late. Admission includes a breakfast quesadilla, an 8 oz. Skinny Minny juice and the movie. New Life Natural Foods; 9:30 a.m.; $12; 2825 Washington Road; 706.737.8805 NEWLIFEAUGUSTA.COM

SATURDAY

3.3

[ FILL A BOWL WITH SOUP ]Empty Bowl is a joint fundraiser between the Augusta Jewish Community Center and Golden Harvest Food Bank to remind people about hunger in our community while encouraging them to contribute money and canned goods.

This year’s silent auction is on March 11 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and features prizes donated by many downtown businesses, including The Imperial Theatre, 1102 Downtown Bar and Grill, Blue Sky Kitchen and Soy Noodle House. Tickets also include an all-you-can-eat soup kitchen style lunch featuring soup, bread and desserts from area restaurants. As in years past, every ticket holder will receive a ceramic bowl made by area students.

“It’s an empty bowl to remind people why we need to keep providing money and canned goods,” said Susan Steinberg, the event’s coordinator. “I still keep mine in a china cabinet, although they are glazed so people would be perfectly fine if they decided to eat with them. They’re all different, some are small and some are large, and they’re all decorated differently, but it’s a good way of getting the whole community involved to include the students.”

Students are also encouraged to get involved through the Kids “Can” Help fundraiser that allows children to receive one raffle ticket for each donated canned good, for a chance at winning a bicycle donated by Chain Reaction.

This is the 11th year for the event, which was originally brought to Augusta by Debbie Katcoff, an art teacher at West Side High School, who learned about the fundraiser from other cities to which she had been. For many years Katcoff instructed her students in crafting ceramic bowls for the event, including Laura Ellington, who is now a teacher at Riverside Middle School and instructs her own students to do the same.

In past years, the silent auction has generated $10,000 for both organizations involved. This year’s organizers anticipate about 500 attendants, though previous years have seen close to 1,000 people bidding. | by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

WHAT Empty Bowl 2012WHERE Augusta Jewish Community Center

898 Weinberger Way, EvansWHEN Sunday, March 11 | 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

TICKETS $15 advance | $20 door BUy AJCC, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Weinberger’s

Furniture or Wife Saver on Martintown Road MORE | EMPTYBOWLCSRA.ORG

the daily planner

MONDAY

3.5

SATURDAY

3.10discover more events and classes

@ vergelive.com

FRIDAY

3.9

SUNDAY

3.4

THURSDAY

3.8

TUESDAY

3.6

WEDNESDAY

3.7

26 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 27

OUTDOORS REPTILES OF AIKEN STATE PARK Spend an hour with the ranger and learn about the reptiles found throughout Aiken State Park. This program is designated for kids and adults. Meet at Shelter 3 in the picnic area. No registration is required. Aiken State Park; 10 a.m.; park admission; 1145 State Park Road, Windsor; 803.649.2857 DNR.SC.GOV

HISTORy A HISTORIC AUGUSTA WALKING TOUR ON GENEOLOGy Learn about the historic buildings near the library. Columbia County Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.863.1946

GOOD CAUSE ZUMBA-FEST ‘FUN’RAISER For The Ryan Clark Scholarship & Community Service Award.Blue Ridge Elementary School’s cafeteria; 2 p.m.; $10 in advance, $15 at the door; 550 Blue Ridge Drive, Martinez

FESTIVAL REED CREEK PARK CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL Sample chocolate treats while walking around the boardwalk lit up by luminaries. See and hear the wetland at night, while learning about where chocolate comes from – both the process of the product and the ecology of the plant. Reed Creek Nature Park; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; call for ticket info; 3820 Park Lane; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

THEATRE CHILDREN OF EDEN See listing on March 2. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre; 7 p.m

CONCERT LITTLE ROy & LIZZy SHOW A live DVD taping, in which all proceeds go to the Wounded Warriors program and foster children. Bell Auditorium; 7 p.m.; $25; 712 Telfair St.; 877.4.AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

GALA JUILLIARD IN AIKEN BLACK TIE GALA Preview Concert and Champagne Reception with featured artists Juilliard415. Joye Cottage; 8 p.m.; 463 Whiskey Road, Aiken JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

CONCERT JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: GOING BAROQUE with Juilliard415: early music instrumentalists. First Baptist Church; 3 p.m.; free; 120 Chesterfield Street NE, Aiken JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

CONCERT CANDLELIGHT JAZZ PREVIEW Young Lions and 3rd Shift. Garden City Jazz presents a series of five concerts in March and April, featuring the best in local jazz. Rain or shine. River Stage; 7 p.m.; $6; Eighth Street and Riverwalk GARDENCITyJAZZ.COM

CONCERT JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: THE SUBLIME INSTRUMENT Featured Artists: Organists David Ball and Gregory C. Zelek. St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church; 6 p.m.; free; 125 Pendleton St. SW, Aiken JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

SPORTS SUNDAy POLO See listing on March 4. Whitney Field; 3 p.m.

THEATRE CHILDREN OF EDEN See listing on March 2. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre;6:30 p.m.

DANCE JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: JUILLIARD DANCE URS Center for the Performing Arts; 7:30 p.m.; $15 to $35, Students $5; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438 JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

DANCE JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: JUILLIARD DANCE URS Center for the Performing Arts; 2 p.m.; $15 to $35, Students $5; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438 JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

LITERARy ASU PHILOSOPHy LECTURE SERIES Aubrey Bryant of the University of South Carolina will present “Reason, Emotion and Moral Action: Bringing Philosophy into Dialogue with Neuroscience.” N126 Allgood Hall, Augusta State University; 2:30 p.m.; free; 2500 Walton Way 706.737.1709 AUG.EDU

COMMUNITy yPA MEETING with Col. Myers. Partridge Inn; 5:30 p.m.; regular menu pricing; 2110 Walton Way yPAUGUSTA.COM

FILM STRAIGHT TALK Rated R, 108 minutes. Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

CONCERT JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: TRIPTyCH PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Second Baptist Church; 7 p.m.; free; 425 Hampton Ave. NW, Aiken; 803.644.3994 JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

CONCERT AIKEN CONCERT BAND presents Music from the Movies. USC Aiken Etherredge Center; 8 p.m.; $10; 471 University Pkwy., Aiken; 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU

FOR KIDS NURTURING NATURE WALKS Through the use of songs, movement and using the senses on an outdoor walk, a child’s curiosity of the natural world is nutured. For children 3 to 5, must be accompanied by an adult. Reed Creek Nature Park; 10 a.m.; $2; 3820 Park Lane; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

FOR KIDS ST. PATTy’S DAy CELEBRATION Wallace Branch Library; 10 a.m.; free; 1237 Laney-Walker Blvd.; 706.722.6275 ECGRL.ORG

CONCERT JUILLIARD IN AIKEN JUILLIARD JAZZ LAWN Concert and tea with the Juilliard Jazz Artist Diploma Ensemble. Green Boundary Club; 2 p.m.; $45; 780 Whiskey Road, Aiken; 803.648.1438 JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

FILM SOUTHERN CIRCUIT FILM SERIES: BILL T. JONES: A GOOD MAN The documentary follows the acclaimed director and choreographer Bill T. Jones as he and his company create their most ambitious work, an original dance-theater piece in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial. A Good Man is a window on the creative process and the creative crisis felt by an artist as he explores what it means to be a good man, a free man and a citizen. After viewing the movie, enjoy a question and answer session with directors Bob Hercules and Gordon Quinn. Morris Museum of Art; 6 p.m.; $3; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

THEATRE JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: CABARET UNDER THE STARS featuring Jennifer Sheehan. Green Boundary Club; 8 p.m.; $70 to $100; 780 Whiskey Road, Aiken; 803.648.1438 JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

LITERARy BROWN BAG BOOK DISCUSSION The Linnet Bird by Linda Holeman. Columbia County Library; 11:30 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.863.1946

CONCERT JUILLIARD IN AIKEN Midday Music and Lunch Concert series featuring the Juilliard Singers; Violin, Viola and Piano Trio. First Presbyterian Church; 11:30 a.m.; free; 224 Barnwell Ave. NW, Aiken JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

SATURDAY

3.10

discover more to do @ vergelive.com

SUNDAY

3.11

WEDNESDAY

3.14

MONDAY

3.12After bringing 2011 to a close with a second set of European dates, this time in Belgium with Lacuna Coil, Straight Line Stitch began the new year with some changes in personnel. The band, which now includes vocalist Alexis Brown, who joined in 2003, bassist Jason White, who joined in 2006, returning drummer Ian Shuirr, and guitarists Kris Hawkins and Nathan Palmer, are back on the road for a series of dates and looking ahead to more writing, recording and the search for a new record label. Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Straight Line Stitch have been together for more than a decade, and in that time recorded several EPs and albums before their label debut, When Skies Wash Ashore, and sophomore album, The Fight Of Our Lives. Thanks to their loud, aggressive sound, they have performed with the heaviest of the heavy bands, including Slayer, and on the Warped tour. Mixed in with the volume, however, is a sense of melody and harmony that crosses them over to fans of hard rock in addition to metal crowds. Jason White, originally from the LaGrange, Ga., area, spoke to verge about the present state of Straight Line Stitch.

VERGE: How do you keep the band’s sound consistent when you deal with personnel changes?

WHITE: When you make it a goal that this is what you want to do, you just continue to move forward and don’t stop. Alexis and I didn’t want to stop, so we talked to our old drummer and he was interested, we picked up two other guitar players, and we’ve been rehearsing a lot. It’s not too difficult keeping our sound. Straight Line Stitch has always had an evolving sound, but the elements that keep it sounding like Straight Line Stitch come naturally, and Alexis has always been a big part of the sound of the band.

VERGE: You joined around 2006-2007. What was going on for you before that?

WHITE: I was gigging in Atlanta and I worked at Yamaha in Newnan, Ga. I built ATVs and rehearsed three times a week with my band and had a lot of fun, but I always wanted something more serious. An opportunity presented itself when I filled in for one of my friends in his band and we played a show with Straight Line Stitch at the Masquerade. A couple of weeks later they needed a bass player and they called me up. I put everything in storage and went with it because I figured I needed to try it and see what happens. VERGE: You went from gigging in Atlanta to touring with Straight Line Stitch. Was this your first real road gig?

WHITE: Pretty much. My other band played a couple hours outside of where we were, but we never really toured. VERGE: Within your six years with Straight Line Stitch, how has your playing changed?

WHITE: Starting out, I approached my bass like a guitar and a bass. I was always trying something different, something melodic, tapping, different melodies and chords I could do with the guitar. With this band, I focus on different styles of playing that are most comfortable for me. I work on songwriting and melodies and I play a lot of stuff on guitar, too, a lot of different chord progressions and different rhythms. | by ALISON RICHTER

WHAT Straight Line Stitch with ChairlegWHERE Sky City | 1157 Broad St.

WHEN Wednesday, March 7 | 9:30 p.m.TICKETS $5 advance, $8 day of show

MORE | SKyCITyAUGUSTA.COM

the daily planner

[ HEAVy STRAIGHT LINE STITCH AT SKy CITy ]

TUESDAY

3.13

THURSDAY

3.15

28 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 29

the daily planner

Spring allergies got you down? Perhaps you would prefer life in Thneedville, an artificial plastic mecca devoid of trees. Or you could take the environmentally-friendly message of a furry, outspoken and admirably mustachioed woodland creature to heart and embrace nature’s beauty along with its primitive side effects. THE LORAX, a March 2 opener, brings audiences another fundamental lesson from the great Dr. Seuss on what would have been his 108th birthday.

Producer Chris Meledandri, writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio and director Chris Renaud – otherwise collectively known as the creators of Despicable Me – teamed up with Seuss’ widow, Audrey Geisel, for this big-screen adaptation. They previously worked together on 2008’s Horton Hears a Who! Seuss’ trademark style of illustration gets a 3D boost with CG animation and a screenplay that expands on the beloved writer’s tale without warping its message. A stroke of casting genius resulted in Danny Devito voicing the Lorax, a short, loud and extremely furry guardian of the forest. Ed Helms (The Office) voices the Once-ler, a man who chops down a gorgeous Truffula tree in an otherwise pristine forest filled with adorable creatures only to be confronted by the Lorax. Over time the greedy Once-ler chops down all the trees in the forest leaving a barren wasteland nearby the entirely synthetic town of Thneedville that would eventually become home to a curious 12-year-old boy named Ted.

Looking to impress his pretty teenage neighbor Audrey, Ted leaves town in search of these fabled “trees.” He happens upon the aging Once-ler who recounts the story of the Lorax. The Once-ler also gives Ted a seedling, which could hold the key to saving his town from harmful industrial pollution. Zac Efron voices Ted while singer Taylor Swift lends her pipes to Audrey. Their characters were named for Seuss (Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel) and his widow. Betty White voices Ted’s grandmother, a sassy matriarch who remembers life with trees, in this lesson about natural resources and man’s tendency to take them for granted.

Leave it to Todd Phillips, writer-producer of Old School and The Hangover to produce a movie about a teen house party that gets wildly out of control. PROJECT X focuses on three high school boys and their attempt to gain popularity as their overflowing party crowd and stunts cause catastrophic property damage. This film has an unknown cast (found through a nationwide talent search) and the trendy found footage style that served recent teen drama Chronicle well at the box office.

The March 9 box office reunites Eddie Murphy with Brian Robbins, who directed the comic actor in Norbit and Meet Dave, for yet another low-concept comedy with A THOUSAND WORDS. Also opening, Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), sister to Mary-Kate and Ashley, stars in SILENT HOUSE. The thriller utilizes a continuous camera shot technique to follow Olsen’s character as she is being terrorized.

SALMON FISHING IN THE yEMEN is a cinematic take Paul Torday’s novel about a Middle Eastern prince’s quest to introduce salmon fishing to his region, adapted by Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Slumdog Millionaire. Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas star as Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat, The Cider House Rules) directs. Ensemble relationship comedy FRIENDS WITH KIDS opens in limited release and features Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), Maya Rudolph, Kristin Wiig, John Hamm, Megan Fox and Edward Burns. Actress Jennifer Westfeldt wrote, directed and co-stars.

TV’s Friday Night Lights alum Taylor Kitsch is making the leap to leading man with Disney-Pixar’s help in JOHN CARTER. The muscular star plays a Civil War veteran who winds up on Mars, where he battles aliens and tries to save a princess. This big-budget endeavor is based on the century-old stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

by MARIAH GARDNER, MOVIE GURU

the film reelNOW PLAYING ON THE BIG SCREEN

THE LORAX

OUT OF CONTROL PROJECT X

SALMON FISHING IN YEMEN

LITERARy IT’S yOUR BOOK CLUB! Discuss the book How African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone by Ralph Richard. Headquarters Library, third floor meeting room; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

CONCERT US ARMy SIGNAL CORPS BAND CONCERT Performing a variety of music from classical to toe-tapping jazz. North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center; 7 p.m.; free; 100 Georgia Ave., North Augusta; 803.441.4380

CONCERT JUILLIARD IN AIKEN: FEATURED PERFORMER SERIES featuring the Juilliard Pre-College Virtuosi Elli Choi on violin and Taeguk Mun on cello. A Meet the Artists cocktail reception precedes the concert at 7 p.m. Aiken County Historical Museum; 8 p.m.; $75; 435 Newberry St., Aiken; 803.648.1438 JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

ART ART AT LUNCH: SHRIMP, COLLARDS AND GRITS Pat Branning, the former food and entertainment commentator on South Carolina ETV and the author of Shrimp, Collards and Grits, discusses how her book, featuring low-country art, recipes and stories, came together. Lunch by Fat Man’s Mill Café. Paid reservations due March 13. Morris Museum of Art; noon; $14; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

FOR KIDS POND EXPLORATION With dip nets in hand, children will explore and learn about what creatures live in the pond. Be prepared to get a little bit wet and muddy. For ages 5 and up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park; 4:30 p.m.; $2; 3820 Park Lane; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

SPORTS HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS The world’s most famous basketball team features rookies Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall and Fatima “TNT” Maddox. James Brown Arena; 7 p.m.; $22 to $80; 601 Seventh St.; 877.4.AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

CONCERT DON WILLIAMS With a warm hickory baritone that balances strength with a gentle concern, Don Williams draws his listener into the intimate world of an old friend. Bell Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; $34.50 to $57.50; 712 Telfair St.; 877.4.AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

THEATRE BALLET HISPANICO Read the article on page 23. Imperial Theatre; 8 p.m.; $10 to $75; 745 Broad Street; 706.722.8341

SPORTS AIKEN TRIALS Six flat races designed for horses that are just beginning their racing careers. Aiken Training Track; gates open at 10 a.m.; $10 to $100; 538 Two Notch Road, Aiken; 803.648.4631

FESTIVAL SAINT PATRICK’S DAy PARADE Downtown Augusta; 2 p.m.; Starts at the James Brown Arena parking lot on Seventh Street to Telfair Street, up to 11th Street, then turning right onto Broad Street and back down to Sixth Street, ending at the JBA parking lot. AUGUSTAIRISH.COM

CONCERT PICKIN’ AND PRAISIN’ CONCERT SERIES Read the article on page 15. Glenn Hills Baptist Church; 6 p.m.; free; 2877 Lumpkin Road; 706.373.7855

CONCERT LIVINGSTON TAyLOR Livingston’s ease in the presence of his audience makes the musical ride an exhilarating journey-showcasing a diverse repertoire that includes country, Broadway, bluegrass and blues. Imperial Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $10 to $60; 745 Broad St. 706.722.8341 IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM

WORKING SOUTH: PAINTINGS & SKETCHES By MARy WHyTE Renowned watercolorist captures in exquisite detail the essence of vanishing blue-collar professions in the American South. Ends March 11. Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

THE ART WORKS OF JOHN DASO Born in Augusta in 1956, John Daso is a self-taught folk art painter. His works depict rural African American living, scenes he saw in his childhood. Opens March 8. Augusta Public Library Headquarters; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

yOUNG MASTERS: WORK By CSRA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Fifth annual juried exhibition. Ends March 15. Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

AGNES MARKWALTER yOUTH ART COMPETITION Ends March 23. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495

BELINDA RUNNELS: OIL PAINTINGS Ends March 24. Artistic Perceptions; 551 Broad St.; 706.724.8739

LINDy CRANDELL EXHIBITION Ends March 31. Aiken Center for the Arts; 122 Laurens St. SW, Aiken; 803.641.9094

EDGEFIELD POTTERy from the Ferrell Collection. Ends April 3. Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

FORE!: IMAGES IN GOLF A society of golfers was organized in Savannah, Ga., in 1796. But it wasn’t until 1888 that the first permanent club, the St. Andrew’s Golf Club, was organized in Yonkers, N.Y. Since then, the game has been celebrated by artists and illustrators, who have sought to capture the unique aesthetics and nature of the game. Ends April 15. Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

AIKEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS EXHIBITIONS by Bill and Ann LeMay, Leo Twiggs, Mel Holston and Nancy Wyman. Ends March 31. Aiken Center for the Arts; 122 Laurens St. SW, Aiken; 803.641.9094

EUDORA WELTy: 20 PHOTOGRAPHS Drawn from the Morris Museum’s permanent collection, these photographs by Eudora Welty, one of the grande dames of American belles lettres, capture with astonishing clarity the rural South. Shot in Mississippi in the late 1930s to early 1940s, these photographs depict the rural poor and convey the want and worry of the Great Depression. More than that, they show the photographer’s wide-ranging curiosity and unstinting empathy—which came to mark her work as a writer, too.Ends May 6. Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

AMELIA GRACE BROOKS: MURMURATIONS Featuring mixed media collage and sculptural works, Murmurations explores patterns of change, its title inspired by the shifting configurations of flocks of starlings and other birds. Ends May 25. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495

THURSDAY

3.15

go to vergelive.com for art exhibits to see, classes to attend and more

ONGOING

ART

FRIDAY

3.16

SATURDAY

3.17

30 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

WILL “WILLIE MAC” MCCRANIE makes his second Augusta Winter Acoustic Tour stop Saturday, March 3, at Stillwater Taproom when he presents Will McCranie & Friends. These shows usually pull out a talented guest list of onstage performers leading to some incredible musical moments at times and, after two weeks on the road with guitarist Michael Baideme, the guys should have some funny stories. Willie Mac asks that all his hometown buds “join us for a night of drinks to celebrate our survival.”

Now, if a couple of guys strumming acoustic and telling road weary tales of drunken debauchery isn’t quite your thing, there are other different show options this weekend including MOTLEy CRUDE (a tribute to Mötley Crüe, in case you’re wondering) with G-CITy ROCKERS at the Playground on March 2 and the next night the Beth Camley Hep C Benefit featuring the stellar lineup of LIVINGROOM LEGENDS, THE HOLLERERS, SIBLING STRING, JESUP DOLLy and SHE N SHE. You can be sure that there is always some kinda rockin’ going on every week in the CSRA.

Speaking of upcoming shows, there is one in particular that I’m pretty hyped about. Many moons ago, when I was just a music lovin’ early-‘80s teenager discovering rock radio in Atlanta for the first time after four years of Armed Forces Top 40 Radio in Germany, I got hooked on the catchy tunes of Atlanta pop band THE PRODUCERS. Now, more than 30 years later, on March 10, they will be playing at Sky City and they will be joined by ‘80s Augusta band THE WOMBATS! I don’t think I have ever got the hits “What She Does to Me,” “She Sheila” and the marvelously infectious “What He’s Got” out of my head. Make sure you get your tickets early at SKyCITyAUGUSTA.COM.

If you are a young budding musician (or even an old rock ‘n’ roll warhorse) and looking for a nice, relaxed way to show of your progressing talents without the work of booking a gig, try Big City Music’s SECOND SATURDAy OPEN MIC. Starting March 10, Big City Music at 2115 Windsor Spring Road, Suite 16 – just below Sconyers – will present an afternoon open mic series the second Saturday of each month. Sign up is at 1:30 p.m. and performances will begin at 2 p.m. The mic is open to acoustic performers and poetry/spoken word artists.

It looks like I am already late getting a start on next issue, so before I totally blow my deadline let me offer you a “c-ya” and get the heck outta dodge. Remember to check out the Daily Planner in print and online at VERGELIVE.COM for great live shows. To get an earful of what is happening in Augusta music, listen to me rant with my good buddy Brian “Stak” Allen on CONfederation of Loudness, which can be found ironically enough at CONFEDERATIONOFLOUDNESS.COM and, of course, as always … Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud.

John “Stoney” Cannon is considered the guru of “lokal” music. Check out his long-running Augusta music website: LOKALLOUDNESS.COM.

Send any music news to lokalloudness@yahoo.com.

stoney’s sound bitesThere’s nothing like waiting until the last minute to get things done. I mean, I’m no Axl Rose, but occasionally (and I do mean occasionally – I’m anal about being on time) I don’t mind being tardy in “typical rock ‘n’ roll fashion” and, for some reason, that tardiness always seems to involve this article. Maybe I just feel the need to put it off until the last minute so I can make sure what you read is as fresh as can be once it is in your hands. After all, what fish do you want? The frozen or the fresh catch of the day? Then again, maybe as I grow older I just feel the need to annoy the heck outta someone.

THE GUY WHO PUT THE “K” IN LOKAL GETS vOCAL ABOUT AUGUSTA’S MUSIC SCENE

WILLIE MAC

THE WOMBATS

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 31

COMEDy ZONE: JASON RUSSELL + MICHAEL BROWN @ Somewhere in Augusta8 p.m., $8

ERIK SMALLWOOD @ Wild Wing Café | 10 p.m.

MUSIC FOR MEMORIES: LEE ANN WOMACK + JOSH THOMPSON @ The Country Club | A benefit for the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care; 8:30 p.m.; $20 in advance and $25 day of show

MIX MASTERSON’S DIMENSIONS 9 CD RELEASE & DANCE PARTy @ Sky City 10 p.m.; free

80S NIGHT + ART SHOW By JASON WALTER and a Fuzz Jackson hip-hop set@ Sky City8 p.m., $5

MOTLEy CRUDE: A TRIBUTE TO MOTLEy CRUE + G-CITy ROCKERS @ The Playground Bar | 9 p.m.; $6

COLE TAyLOR @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.

BETH CAMLEy BENEFIT featuring The Hollerers, Sibling String, Jesup Dolly, She N She @ Sky City | 9 p.m., $5

WILL McCRANIE & FRIENDS @ Stillwater Tap Room | 9 p.m.

BEN WELLS @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.

LITTLE TyBEE + RIVER WHyLESS @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5

RENE RUSSELL @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 5:30 p.m.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH + CHAIRLEG @ Sky City | Read the article on page XX; 9 p.m.; $5 to $8

THE CLAP + ORANGE PAINTER @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $3

SHANE OWENS @ Coyotes8 p.m.

SHOTGUN OPERA @ The Playground Bar | 9 p.m.

LANGHORNE SLIM AND THE LAW @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $12 to $15

GARy RAy @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.

THE MASON JARS @ Metro Pub & Coffeehouse | 10 p.m.

SHANE OWENS @ Coyotes8 p.m.

THE PRODUCERS + THE WOMBATS @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $15 advance; $20 door

OUTSHyNE @ The Country Club

SECOND SATURDAy OPEN MIC @ Big City Music | Sign up at 1:30 p.m.; the mic is open to acoustic and spoken word artists.

ATOM SMASH + PROSPECT HILL + F.O.C.U.S. @ The Playground Bar | 10 p.m.

J. EDWARDS @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 5:30 p.m.

JUCIFER @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5

ERIC LEE BEDDINGFIELD @ Coyotes | 8 p.m.

MOTHER’S FINEST + FUNK yOU @ Sky City | 9:30 p.m.; $20 advance; $25 day of show

BUCKTOWN KICKBACK @ Stillwater Tap Room | 10 p.m.; $5

JOE STEVENSON @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.FUNK yOU ST. PATTy’S DAy

PARTy @ Sky City | 10 p.m.

TyLER HAMMOND @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.

MONDAyS MIKE FROST JAZZ @ The Willcox | 8 p.m.

TUESDAySTWISTED TRIVIA @ The Playground Bar | 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAySKRAZy KARAOKE @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.

THURSDAySTANGO NIGHT @ Casa Blanca Café | 6 p.m.

SOUP, SUDS & CONVERSATIONS @ The Fox’s Lair | 6 p.m.

4 CATS IN THE DOG HOUSE @ The Willcox | 6 p.m.

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.

FRIDAySOPEN MIC NIGHT @ The Playground Bar | 8 p.m.

BIG CITy MUSIC @ 2115 Windsor Spring Road #16; 706.364.3033CASA BLANCA CAFé @ 936 Broad St.; 706.504.3431THE COUNTRy CLUB @ 2834 Washington Road.; 706.364.1862COyOTE’S @ 2512 Peach Orchard Road; 706.560.9245THE FOX’S LAIR @ 349 Telfair St.; 706.364.8278MANUEL’S BREAD CAFE @ 505 Railroad Ave., North Augusta; 803.380.1323METRO PUB & COFFEEHOUSE @ 1054 Broad St.; 706.722.6468THE PLAyGROUND BAR@ 978 Broad St.; 706.724.2232SKy CITy @ 1157 Broad St.; 706.945.1270SOUL BAR @ 984 Broad St.; 706.724.8880 SOMEWHERE IN AUGUSTA @ 2820 Washington Road; 706.739.0002STILLWATER TAP ROOM @ 974 Broad St.; 706.826.9857

WILD WING CAFE @ 3035 Washington Road.; 706.364.9453

THE WILLCOX @ 100 Colleton Ave. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1898

nightlifeTHRU MAR. 17A SELECTIvE GUIDE TO NIGHTLIFE IN THE CSRA

THURSDAY, MAR. 1

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 14

FRIDAY, MAR. 2

FIND THE vENUE

THURSDAY, MAR. 15

Plan 9 is not what you would expect from an Atlanta musician who came from Augusta –this isn’t your typical Dirty South rap album. No, the artist known as Ephelant brings something totally different to the table with Plan 9. What is it about this album that makes it so intriguing, so different and, in many ways, so odd? The sampling is there and so is the straight-forward rap. But there is more: Plan 9 has a low-key, electronic and smooth jazz feeling that invades each song, bringing it way down from Gangsta Rap and a far shot from the side of the corporate greed rap that infests the mainstream club music of today. Can you dance to Ephelant? Certainly, but his music is more for chilling out with your boys and talking about good times. At the same time, it’s definitely not elevator music, Muzak, or simply background noise. Ephelant offers something more than just a strong beat and more than simple club tunes. This isn’t music to get pumped up and angry about. Ephelant’s trance-style music touches more on groups such as STS9 and early techno from Chicago than it does on gritty hardcore or goofy fun-loving rap as most people have come to expect from Atlanta. Whether it is the pipe organs of a church or the straight forward electronic dance beats, Ephelant keeps a transcendental mood throughout the album, letting the music do most of the talking for him and generating a mood that is sometimes frenzied and static-filled while at other times keeping everything nice and calm. Plan 9 is more of a concept album than a collection of individual tracks, touching more on what an album can be capable of becoming instead of just a hodge-podge of songs cobbled together. There is no real standalone track on this album, but it’s not meant to be that way. This isn’t your grandparents’ music; Plan 9 is something wholly diverse and unique. Some of the more interesting tracks include “Out of the Other Things,” “Intersecting Highways” remixed by Dr. Bread, “Warping through Underworld,” “The Empiracle,” and “Canopy Vision.” Featuring a collection of other musicians, a veritable who’s-who in the underground, Plan 9 comes off as a tight-knit family, an album meant for easy relaxing and enjoying excellent craftsmanship. The album also features artists such as Augusta musicians Dr. Bread, Ayo K, and Square MC on the album and Lee Christenson. Other featured musicians include Time, Dfresh Deville, Dockta Valkus, Halcyon Silence and Fastaro. Also look for Ephelant’s newest remix of the song “All Because of You” by Angel Cruz, which is now available online. MORE HOCUSOPUS.BANDCAMP.COM or EPHELANTOPUS@TUMBLR.COM

REVIEW: PLAN 9 By EPHELANT

by DINO LULL

LANGHORNE SLIM

for more eventsvisit vergelive.com

KARAOKE AND SUCH

LEE ANN WOMACKFRIDAY, MAR. 9

TUESDAY, MAR. 6

THURSDAY, MAR. 8

MONDAY, MAR. 12

THE WOMBATS

FRIDAY, MAR. 16

SATURDAY, MAR. 17

MOTHER’S FINEST

MEMBERS Brandy Douglas – vocals/guitar, Drea Suarez – vocals/guitar, Kate Anderson – vocals/bass, Greg Wariner – drums, Brandon Douglas – guitar

GENRE Folk rock with free-form modern jazz and jam band style

MUSIC Crimson Silence (2011, recorded in Parham Studios). Check out the new song “Verge of You.”

HISTORy Douglas had been out of the local music scene for a few years when she met Suarez. Both of them hung out at The Playground Bar’s Open Mic Night, a haven for local musicians to meet up and begin brainstorming. The two women both had songs they were working on and began writing together. From there, it was just a hop-skip-and-a-jump to forming a cohesive band sound with She N She (an obvious play on the name of the band She & Him starring actress Zooey Deschanel). Douglas and Suarez went into Parham Studios and recorded their debut album Crimson Silence, joined by bassist Anderson. Suarez says Anderson was the missing piece in the band.

In time, She N She added Wariner (May 2011) and Douglas’ brother Brandon. With the band finally fleshed, She N She was booked for Augusta Pride 2011.

“We had one month to get ready,” Anderson says.

The Pride show was a huge success and She N She was asked to come back for the 2012 Pride in Augusta and in Savannah. Since recording Crimson Silence, She N She has grown into a fuller sound that Anderson calls “very organic.”

While Douglas is known locally as a superb lyricist, this does

not detract from what the others add to the group. Every member brings something special to the sound, playing off of what the others have made. Key components include a laid-back jazzy sound courtesy of Suarez, the fluid jam-band style of Douglas and the more structure-oriented Wariner. She N She mix multiple influences when they play live, appealing to a wide variety of fans, crafting a folk-rock jazzy jam feel that straddles the line between more musical styles than there is room in this article to name.

AWARDS She N She won four awards at the 2011 Lokal Loudness Awards Show: Favorite Local Band, Favorite Local Album for Crimson Silence, Favorite Local Female Artist for Brandy Douglas and Favorite Rock Artist.

UPCOMING SHOWS March 3 and 23 at Sky City

D.I.y. facebook.com/SheNSheSounds

PROFILER: SHE N SHE

the profiler is DINO LULL

SATURDAY, MAR. 3

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 7

SATURDAY, MAR. 10

32 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

in good healthNEWS FROM THE CSRA MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO HELP YOU

There might be a way to double efficacy of radiation therapy while reducing its side effects. Georgia Health Sciences University scientists have devised a method to reduce lung cancer cells’ ability to repair the lethal double-strand DNA breaks caused by radiation therapy.

“Radiation is a great therapy – the problem is the side effects,” said Dr. William S. Dynan, a biochemist and associate director of Research and Chief, Nanomedicine and Gene Regulation at the GHSU Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics. “We think this is a way to get the same amount of cancer cell death with less radiation or use the same amount and maybe cure a patient that could not be cured before.”

Radiation therapy capitalizes on radiation’s ability to kill cells by causing double-strand breaks in DNA. But, varying levels of radiation are essentially everywhere – food, air, the ground, etc. – which means all cells, including cancer cells, have internal mechanisms to prevent the lethal breakage.

GHSU scientists are targeting the natural defense mechanisms by packaging a piece of an antibody against one of them with folate, which has easy access to most cells, particularly cancer cells. Many cancers, including the lung cancer cells they studied, have large numbers of folate receptors so that cancer cells get a disproportionate share of the package.

Previous efforts to destroy cancer cells’ ability to avoid radiation damage have focused on receptors on their surface, said Dr. Shuyi Li, a molecular biologist, pediatrician and corresponding author on the study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology.

To get a more direct hit, the scientists took advantage of folate receptors as a point of entry by chemically binding folate with the small piece of their antibody, ScFv 18-2. The package heads straight for the cell nucleus where a different chemical environment breaks the bond, freeing ScFv 18-2 to attack the regulatory region of DNA-dependent protein kinase, an enzyme essential to DNA repair. This makes cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation.

Dynan and Li say the approach could be used to deliver any number of drugs directly inside cancer cells. Future studies include looking at other cell entry points and other targets to ensure they have the most effective package.

Folate receptors already are being used as direct entry points for chemotherapeutic drugs, including clinical studies of a new strategy for ovarian cancer. GHSU is participating in clinical trials of a therapy that pairs an agent too toxic to be delivered through the bloodstream with folate to better target one of the most deadly cancers.

by ALISON RICHTER | photo ©GEORGIAHEALTH

REDUCING THE SIDE EFFECTS OF RADIATION THERAPy

DNA DOUBLE BREAK

THE RESEARCHERS: DR. SHUyI LI (LEFT) AND DR. WILLIAM DyNAN (RIGHT)

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 33

A MODERN INQUESTSlow. Painful. I sat trapped in my prison of torture. The cruelty of my confinement was agonizing in its completeness. As the days turned into weeks I began to think I would never see the sun again. I would miss watching my nieces and nephews grow up and I would never get to see Paris. Oh, Paris! It was too horrible to contemplate.

Find the solution to this puzzle at VERGELIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM

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The next issue of VERGE hits the newsstands on

MARCH 14Look for our outdoor boxes

or find your copy atPublix | EarthFare

Kroger | Bi-Loand more than

150 locations in the CSRA

Edited by Will Shortz | by DAvID STEINBERG | No. 1229

puzzle

ACROSS 1 Wagner heroine 4 Eagerly expectant 8 Street ___12 Opportunity

maker?14 Hello and farewell15 With 37-Down,

complete16 Facile17 Start of a

brainteaser whose answer appears in order, from top to bottom, in this puzzle’s circled squares

19 City in the San Gabriel Valley

21 Complete22 John XI’s

successor23 War of 1812

battle site24 Schedule abbr.27 Part two of the

brainteaser30 One of the

Chaplins31 Home state of the

1964 and 2008 Rep. presidential candidates

32 Part three of the brainteaser

38 Debate (with)39 10th- to 12th-

century Chinese dynasty

40 Part four of the brainteaser

48 Muckraker Tarbell

49 Harsh50 1944 Sartre play51 Lays the

groundwork for?52 Inventory53 End of the

brainteaser57 Harem rooms58 Nifty59 Trifled (with)60 Spanish muralist61 Russia/Ukraine’s

Sea of ___62 They can be

batted and rolled63 ’60s radical grp.

DOWN 1 Communist

Friedrich 2 Rudy with a

megaphone 3 “The End of

Eternity” author 4 Zoological wings 5 Certain cat 6 Start of many a

bumper sticker 7 Peppermint ___ 8 At the home of 9 Old bus maker10 Suffix with Euclid11 W.W. II gen.13 Greater than14 10,000, for 4, in

base 10, e.g.18 Person who’s

groundbreaking?20 Curtain fabric

23 Online merchant24 When tripled, a

1970 war movie25 One who may say

“I say” a lot26 Woodworker’s tool28 Blowup: Abbr.29 Cry from a crib32 Popular tablet33 Zola best seller34 Coastal flier35 Half a strawful,

say36 Like a house

that’s of interest to ghost hunters

37 See 15-Across38 Subj. of three

of the six Nobel Prizes

41 Aerosol target42 As yet43 Restaurant gofer44 “How to”

explanations45 Rust and quartz46 Person with

a conical hat, maybe

47 Bikini explosions

51 Onetime show for John Candy

52 Composition of Polynésie

53 ___ sense54 Part of a French

face55 ___ Tomé56 “g2g” follower

I was not a prisoner in a bleak dungeon. Nor was I stranded on a desert island scratching out a meal from among sea creatures left in pools by a receding tide, though both would have been preferable alternatives. In reality, I was sitting in line at the bank drive-through trapped between a banker who could not grasp the complexities of a deposit slip and a Volvo. With no means to escape, I comforted myself by slowly rocking back and forth and chewing on the armrest of my car.

When the Spanish Inquisition ended, the former Inquisitors were in search of a new profession. They needed something that used their talents of inflicting cruel punishment in a more modern, subtle way. They invented banking and laughed up the sleeves of their fancy robes as the innocent among us opened accounts in exchange for free coffee mugs and muffin pans. For centuries since, we’ve stood in lines with no end and have been forced to show two forms of ID to get our own money. Tricked into believing an elusive fairy called “interest” will visit our little lump of gold and cause it to multiply. Entering the bank is easy. It’s leaving that’s the trick. You think the line of 800 people will move quickly because there is a teller at every window but as you slowly wind your way through the velvet ropes you soon discover that only

one teller is actually waiting on customers. The others are working very hard at looking busy and you suspect the teller on the far left is really a crash test dummy in a shirt and tie.

You work yourself into a state and as you wait, you compose a little speech that you mean to deliver to the teller when you finally arrive at her window. The longer you stand shivering in the freezing bank air the longer your speech becomes until suddenly it’s your turn! You march up to the window prepared to launch into your 40-page treatise on the corruption of banks when the teller smiles a big smile and offers you a free sucker. Flustered by your enemy’s friendliness, you forget your speech as you struggle to simultaneously unwrap your Dum Dum and hand the teller your driver’s license. The next thing you know, it’s four days later, your deposit is finally made and you don’t remember walking out of the door but there you are on the sidewalk out front vowing never to return. “Well played,” you think. “Well played.” You spend the rest of your afternoon in front of the computer trying to retrieve your money via Internet banking and reflecting on the real reason banks invest in so much security.

NORA BLITHE is the author of Door In Face, a humor blog about all things that lay you flat. Read more at DOORINFACE.COM.

life face firstNEGOTIATING ONE CALAMITY AT A TIME

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a parting shotNOTHING A FEW GOATS COULDN’T HANDLE

PHOTO By CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

In the March 30, 2011, issue of verge, Christopher Selmek reported on the staus of the Augusta Golf and Gardens property and the efforts of volunteers to maintain it. A year has passed and it appears that little progress has been made to fashion a plan to use the property or to simply maintain it. In our next issue, Selmek will revisit the gardens and the key players involved. Our suggestion: Goats.

34 February 29, 2012 | community driven news | vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | February 29, 2012 35