The Jury Room: 551 Greene St.

A wonderful place to eat if you want a soothing atmosphere and great food, The Jury Room specializes in coffee, salads, and sandwiches for the lunch crowd.  Not only that, but they are becoming well known for their home-made Italian gelato and fudge as well. The décor is reminiscent of an old court room chamber with polished solid wood doors and bookshelves filled with old law books. This small and simple café really lives up to its name. The wait staff is personable and pleased to help in any way possible. The manager Cathy Walker invites anyone to come and visit Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.  Lunch is served from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Tribeca Buddha Lounge and Shoe Bar: 968 Broad St.

Tribeca is the hat-trick for your night out on the town. A blend of full bar, Buddha lounge, and shoe store, Tribeca will certainly play to one if not all of your fancies. They have two full bars with experienced bartenders to help pick out the perfect drink for your night. Their shoe store has some of the coolest and latest fashions and is sure to catch your eye. The Buddha lounge is a great place to chill out and go with the flow if you find the bar atmosphere a little overwhelming. Their hours are limited to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the evening and they are located at 968 Broad Street. Stop on by to entertain yourself in any of the ways they offer.

Rebel Lion Den: 910 Broad St.

A great place to experience Afro-centric influences from around the world, Rebel Lion Den brings a little bit of Africa into every part of their varied inventory. Shama Cartwright, owner and operator, says it is his passion to make people aware of the culture surrounding Africans in every part of the world, from the unique Bahamian culture to past and present Africa itself. The shop includes Bob Marley t-shirts, clothing from many different African cultures, Rastafarian colored hats and jewelry, flags from countries with heavy African populations, reggae music, hemp and seashell jewelry, and natural incense.  Business hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm.

Dazzling Car Care by Leon: 210 Tenth St.

If your car is caked with mud, suffers from minor scratches, or just needs a good interior cleaning, Dazzling Car Care by Leon should be your first stop. Leon’s fast and efficient crew will have your car cleaned, polished, waxed, and looking like new in no time. The team uses a very strict five step program to ensure that all vehicles come out looking like they just rolled off the showroom floor. Prices are reasonable and vary depending on the condition of the car. Leon also offers car pick-up and delivery if you can’t find the time to drop off your car. Stop by the garage Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5pm, or call for a pick-up: 706.826.9975. Visit www.dazzlingcarecare.com.

River Boat Tours begin in April on the Savannah River

The Patriot, an 85 passenger river boat, made its first launch into the Savannah River on March 25, 2008.

Captain Jim Bradshaw will operate daily river boat tours beginning April 4, 2008. Tours will depart from the 10th Street dock at Hero’s Overlook on Riverwalk, behind the Marriott Hotel and Suites.

Tours will be offered daily at 10:30am and 1:30pm. Two to three hour cruises will be offered on Friday and Saturday night and may include music and food. Reservations required.

Daily one hour tours are $12 and the two hour tour is $20 per person. The boat is available for charter and begins at $355 for the first two hours and $100 an hour for every hour after.

Captain Bradshaw and his wife Cindy purchased The Patriot, in Boston, Massachusetts. They drydocked the boat in Augusta and have spent the last 18 months working on its complete restoration. The boat is 16 feet wide and 51 feet in length. Captain Bradshaw graduated from Cape Fear Maritime College in Wilmington, NC in 1970 and has been operating passenger boats in Augusta for the last four years.

Captain Jim Bradshaw at 803-730-9739 for reservations and more information.

movies at main: april

Augusta Headquarters Library
902 Greene Street
6:30 pm
mondays
free

7 April: No Country For Old Men
2007 ? rated R ? 122 minutes
Best Picture of 2008

directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem & Josh Brolin
based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy

A book leaps from print into life in No Country For Old Men. Lifting text and narrative directly from the novel, the Coen brothers create a work true to the story yet uniquely their own. They delved into the macabre with the black comedy Fargo. They mastered period and drama in Miller’s Crossing. No Country is their masterpiece. Visually compelling and meticulously paced, the story draws you through the blackest postmodern heart. Framed by a sheriff whose spiritual depth brings brokenness to darkened hearts, this movie receives my highest commendation. [David Hutchison]

14 April: Atonement
2007 ? R ? 123 minutes
Best Original Score of 2008

directed by Joe Wright
starring Keira Knightley & James McAvoy
based on the novel by Ian McEwan

Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit.

21 April: Sweeney Todd
2007 ? R ? 117 minutes
Best Art Direction of 2008

directed by Tim Burton
starring Johnny Depp & Helena Bonham Carter
based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning thriller comes to life on the big screen under the skilled direction of Tim Burton. The infamous story of Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeny Todd) who seeks vengeance and joins forces with his amorous accomplice Mrs. Lovett in this delightfully macabre musical. Shave and a meat pie, anyone? [Jason Sumerau]

28 April: Juno
2007 ? PG13 ? 92 minutes
Best Original Screenplay of 2008

directed by Jason Reitman
starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner & Jason Bateman
original screenplay by Diablo Cody

“It all started with a chair.” From the get-go, Jason Reitman’s offbeat comedy pulls you into the quirky, bittersweet and raw story of Juno MacGuff. Upon becoming pregnant by her close friend, Paulie Bleeker, Juno searches for the perfect home for her unborn and ultimate happiness. Complete with a gamete of vibrant characters, a subtly charming soundtrack and witty dialogue, Juno is sure to send its viewers on a wonderful emotional rollercoaster. [Ashley Plocha]

broad street market to re-open

broad street market
1282 broad street
706.922.5970

Fused foods are a fast-growing trend popping up in restaurants throughout the country. Downtown Augusta gets trendy this month with the launch of a modernized and fully revamped Broad Street Market. Entwining Asian, French, and Southern influences, two doctors are creating a fresh, contemporary dining experience at 1282 Broad Street. Their vision becomes reality on April 6th, as the restaurant opens its doors.

Menus at fusion restaurants are typically the most artistic and creative concoctions of all local cuisines. Broad Street Market is blessed with some fantastic chefs (hailing from Atlantas renowned Bacchanalia, Robert de Niros Tribeca Grill and Augustas Bambu), ready to give patrons a taste of their personalized vision of culinary delight. The chefs espouse the ideology of fresh food, unique blends and on-site creations. Ive volunteered to be an official taste-tester as they concoct and fine-tune the menu.

Owners Shrinath Parimi and Hetal Thakore share a friendship, profession and, now, a restaurant. Both primary care physicians, they have a passion for fine scotch, delicious food, and the downtown atmosphere. The duo chose downtown because downtown hasnt experienced this type of dining yet. Plus, downtown is changing; theres a growing influx of going out to eat, things to do at night its simply a perfect place to put a fine dining place and there is a need for it. Parimi adds, plus we wanted to add to the revitalization of downtown Augusta.

Parimi chuckles, It seems like if you own your own business, you might as well enjoy a good meal while youre at it.

The average dinner plate will run between $20 to $30. Broad Street Market will boast a full bar, specializing in scotch. In a few months, a dedicated pastry chef will join the staff. The Market also has two specially designed separate dining rooms for private parties and events.

Reserve your seats online at www.broadstreet-market.com. Theyre open Tuesday to Thursday from 5 pm to 10 pm and Friday to Saturday from 5 pm to 11 pm.

- by Lara E. Plocha

Jessica Fuselier: A Breath of Fresh Air for Saturday Market

Springtime arrives, the weekend abounds with sunshine and warmth, and the family is looking for a way to spend the day. Downtown Augusta’s Saturday Market is the perfect setting for an outdoor family excursion.

The Saturday Market on Broad kicks off again on April 19, moving to a new location and under the direction of a new coordinator. As the market expands, so must the space and vision. Jessica Fuselier is just the woman to get the job done.

An enthusiastic woman when discussing the market, Jessica is Augusta born and bred. She spends her life meeting new people while finding time to care for her two children and her husband. A busy woman with a passion for the market, Jessica adores the concept of outdoor gatherings. She fondly recalls attending outdoor markets when her husband was stationed in Hawaii, and speaks of the Saturday Market with an eye on its potential growth.

Her first initiative as coordinator began with moving the market’s home to the Eighth Street Bulkhead (at the corner of Reynolds and Eighth). She smiles while discussing the change in the market’s structure, which “will open up space for more activities and vendors.” The move evolved out of the need for more parking and a more convenient working relationship with Health Central, which has served as a staunch supporter of the market. She also notes the enhanced safety found in an area with less car traffic and more space for parking and vendors.

Jessica’s face lights up when she begins to talk about the changes to this year’s market. She’s engaged in discussions with seafood and meat vendors, and the addition of Indian food from Bombay Central into the market setting. The market expects to incorporate organic education into its setting as well as promoting healthy habits for kids. She shines as she discusses setting up activities for children to learn about produce and healthy living habits at the market. Thanks to fantastic support from Flowers Express, the market can undertake the task of beautification by installing flowers and fountains to create a welcoming entrance to the market.

When describing her vision for Saturday Market’s future, she cites examples of Charleston and Savannah. She laments that magazines seem to mention Augusta only in context the Master’s Tournament, and would like to add the outdoor market to the tourist equation.

The sky opens up with an array of possibilities as Jessica discusses the path to her vision for the market. She speaks of a desire to incorporate organic techniques as much as possible. She sees the market’s potential as a major tourist attraction, an opportunity to educate citizens about healthy lifestyles, and a promotional tool for other businesses downtown.

Other plans of improvement, growth, and expansion rest on her belief that the market can become a staple of Augusta life. She speaks about inviting the participation of people across the river by seeking vendors of crafts and farming goods from Aiken County. The incorporation of different tastes and goods provides an experience wrapped in pleasant variety for patrons.

The Saturday Market is a solid success story. Beginning as a city-funded program, it is now fully self-sustaining. In this regard, Jessica says the success is due to the relentless support offered by the merchants of local businesses. Her voice rises as she expresses her gratitude for their efforts promoting the market to customers, joining the Friends of the Market program, and participating in coupon book drives.

Jessica speaks of one day filling the Augusta Commons due to the growth of the market and, summing up her thoughts on her position, she exhales saying “I love this market!” Through her eyes and in her voice, one will find a market of endless possibility.

by J. Edward Sumerau

Play Through Downtown Friday to Friday

April’s First Friday Expands to a Weeklong Celebration

Front Nine: April 4
Back Nine: April 11

April’s First Friday swings into play with a weeklong celebration of downtown Augusta’s arts and culture. Beginning on April 4th with the Front Nine First Friday, the festivities continue through the following Back Nine Friday, April 11th, with golf-themed downtown events.

In a collaboration with Downtown Augusta Alliance (DA²), the Greater Augusta Arts Council expanded April’s First Friday celebration to dispel the concept that Augusta closes down during Masters week. The goal is to entice Masters visitors and encourage residents to experience downtown Augusta.

Come Play Through Downtown as both Fridays feature sidewalk entertainment, live performances and feature the galleries, shops and restaurants in the downtown district.
Mark Ross of Putt Putt Fun Center will be providing a free mini putt-putt course for the kids. Club Car will also display a variety of golf cars down Broad Street.

The Play Through Downtown Game

David Hutchison of Book Tavern and Claire Riche of Vintage 965 devised and designed the Play Through Downtown game! A combination of a golf game and scavenger hunt, Play Through Downtown consists of going to eighteen “holes” or locations throughout the downtown district. Contestants will get their scorecard “punched” upon completion of each hole’s task (see complete scorecard below).

Scorecards will be available for pickup at all participating downtown businesses or the First Friday HQ Tent at the corner of 10th And Broad Streets. The game runs through the following Friday, April 11. Completed scorecards can be returned to any of the participating businesses.

Winners will be announced at 2:00 pm at the Play Through Downtown Jacketing, Sunday, April 13th at New Moon Café. Come in for brunch, stay to watch the golf tournament on the “Big Screen” and don’t miss your chance to win one of the four large gift baskets full of prizes from the participating businesses. Contestants must be present to win!

For more details call 706.826.4702 or visit www.augustaarts.com.

Georgia Hatters

Where? 318 Eight Street

Located at 318 Eighth Street between Ellis and Greene, Georgia Hatters Dry Cleaning is easy to find and readily accessible for those who work in and around downtown and need excellent laundry services. Owner Hyun Kim provides excellent dry cleaning, freshly pressed shirts, minor repairs and alterations, hat cleaning and one hour pant and shirt service for customer convenience (which is nice if you want to walk around and shop or get called into a meeting on short notice). Open for business every day: Sun to Fri: 7 am to 6 pm and on Sat: 9:30 am to noon.

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