September

preserve history and enjoy vintage wines

Vintage wines and historic antiques create a combination perfectly suited for Historic Augusta’s annual benefit auction, Perfectly Aged: Antiques and Wines on Thursday, September 11.  Held at Saint Paul’s recently renovated River Room, the evening includes a wine tasting, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres provided by Augusta’s top restaurants and caterers, a silent auction and a luxury raffle.  The live auction begins at 8 pm and includes fine antiques, premium wines, innovate entertainment packages and art (such as the piece shown above: The Letter by Danny McCaw donated by Anne Irwin Fine Art in Atlanta).  Tickets range from $50 to $100 and all proceeds benefit the projects and programs of Historic Augusta.  Details: historicaugusta.org or 706.724.0436

dine on fish or “foul” during opera fall benefit 

The recent invitation says it perfectly: “Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Good Citizens of Augusta, pay us the great courtesy of attending A Happening on Fleet Street, Augusta Opera’s Fall Benefit. Dine on fish and fowl at Mrs. Lovett’s. Delight in the sounds of Sondheim, take a stroll down Fleet Street for an evening of merriment and, maybe, a touch of London fog.” This year’s event will be held in the Great Hall of Sacred Heart Cultural Center on September 4 at 1301 Greene Street.  Cost is $75.00 per person.  Tickets: 706.826.4710. 

randy lambeth unveils limited edition print

Following the success of last year’s limited edition poster for Saturday Market on Broad, Randy Lambeth has donated a second piece of art reflecting the new location, name and flavor of Saturday Market on the River.  Prints can be purchased at the Downtown Development Authority (706.722.8000).

there is such a thing as a free lunch 

Casa Blanca Coffee Café is building momentum toward their grand opening (to be determined) with a raffle for a free breakfast or lunch once a week for six months or a year.  It’s $5 to enter the 6 Months of Yummy Goodness raffle, and $10 if you want to try for the whole year. Official entry forms can be printed by visiting  HYPERLINK “http://casablancatime.com” \t “_blank” casablancatime.com.  To qualify, all entry forms must be received by 8 pm, October 3.  Participants must be 18 or older.  A  confirmation e-mail will be sent to  acknowledge receipt of your entry form.  You can also pick-up entry forms at the new White’s Building.  

CADI has new project manager with familiar face

Jessica Fuselier has taken over the job of managing our downtown CADI (Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative).  Her success at reenergizing the Saturday Market on the River made her the perfect candidate for the position of Project Manager.  CADI has been busy over the last few months, making our downtown streets cleaner and safer for all to enjoy.

rise up against depression

Curtis Baptist Church invites all women to learn more about understanding and overcoming depression during Rise Up!, a mini-conference focusing on a Biblical view of the emotional issues women face.  Three speakers, Dr. Ron Eaker, Rhonda Huff and Jan Boulineau, will share their expertise and experience on Saturday, September 20, from 9 am to noon.  Bagels and coffee will be served.  Cost is $5 per person, if registered by September 19, or $7 on the morning of the event. Curtis Baptist is located at 1326 Broad Street (park behind the church).  Details: curtisbc.org

hands free massage opens downtown

No more potentially uncomfortable towel slippage moments with Massage Matters.  Fully dressed, you lay down on one of their Therasage beds and receive a very affordable, hands free massage.  Perfect to grab a quick lunch and then relax and de-stress.  Check it out at 903 Broad Street.

support your downtown roller derby girls

Check out the Soul City Sirens first official roller derby bout on September 7 at Skateland at 7 pm and help cheer them on to victory.  Visit soulcitysirens.com and click on the “Kick Apps” button for ticket info and a video of the Sirens in action.

eighth street to light up during october’s first friday

Big plans are afoot on Eighth Street for October’s First Friday - so make plans to be there now.  Metal Sculptor Daniel Foreman will create a sculpture on site, accompanied by the visual delight of fire dancers and the sound of jammin’ music.  The sculpture will be displayed downtown for a few months and then auctioned off at a later date for charity.  The event is organized by Eighth Street Tobacco and Rock Bottom Music.

merry’s nears goal of block domination

Mr. Merry gets a “Pinky and the Brain” gleam in his eyes when asked what his long-term plans are for Merry’s Trash & Treasures.  “What are you doing tonight, Mr. Merry?” we asked.  He replied, “The same thing we do every night. Try to take over the 1200 block!”  In all seriousness, Merry’s recently purchased the State Furniture building on the corner of 12^th and Broad, significantly expanding their floor space - allowing this half-century bastion of downtown to introduce new lines of fine furniture.  The Merrys have refurbished their façade so all their storefront windows along Broad integrate and reflect the tradition and excellent quality found within.

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Choosing local first boosts Augusta’s economy

A friend recently asked, �Does downtown Augusta really need another restaurant?� I replied with an emphatic yes. We do need more restaurants, plus galleries, retail stores, clubs, salons and parks resulting in a diverse and growing community.

Downtown Augusta is a unique destination point � grounded in history, eclectic in its offering, and driven by locally owned businesses. Its success is Augusta�s success � and relies heavily on residents choosing to keep their dollars local.

Spending local has benefits on many levels. I find the most compelling argument to support local businesses is simple economics.

A recent study demonstrates the power of a dollar spent at a locally owned business versus that same dollar at a chain or online. The study by Civic Economics, a national economic analysis and strategic planning consultancy firm, posed the simple question �does local matter?� Their findings present an incredible case: for every $100 spent at a locally owned and operated business, $45 stays in the community. That same $100 spent at a chain store only puts $13 back into our local economy.

For Augusta, that means if each household in Richmond County simply redirected $100 of planned spending next month from chain stores to local merchants, the local economic impact would reach approximately $3.4 million for the month. If we did that every month, the annual impact would be $40 million and create almost 300 new jobs.

The study illustrated how locally owned businesses contribute more to the community than chains or Internet companies. Online retailers pay no sales tax on products bought by Augusta customers, and, or course, have no employees in the area. Chains also do not spend money in the local community on services they retain on a national level. Local businesses typically pay other local businesses for their products and services � recirculating the money in our community. When we shop at local businesses, we simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development. That�s powerful.

To put it on a more personal level: the next time you run to Lowe�s for your lumber, maybe you should think of Pratt-Dudley first. If you�ve gone into Wal-Mart for a gift, try Elduets Treasures of the World. Instead of looking for books at Borders, call the Book Tavern (they can get it for you as fast & easy). It�s not hard to redirect your money � and it�s mostly cost competitive. You�ll also be getting personalized service from the folks who run the business and won�t be just another wallet in the checkout line.

Roane Loudermilk, part of the team renovating the White�s Building, elaborates on the Horizon Group�s commitment to supporting local business. She says, �[We] feel that supporting downtown Augusta’s local businesses is paramount to stimulating growth and stability in the downtown corridor.�

Her words are supported by her actions. With husband Sherwin, Roane makes a point of dining and shopping locally while in Augusta. They often start their day with coffee at New Moon Caf�, lunch at Blue Sky Kitchen or Cafe 209, and finish with dinner at White Elephant. The J.B. White�s building will host designs by blue magnolia, stone flooring by Tile Center Inc., commercial space signs by Wooden Features, and artwork from downtown galleries. Roane concludes, �Hopefully, by increasing the downtown population by approximately 10%, we can help promote a rebirth of downtown Augusta.�

Of course, it�s more than just the money. When we choose to shop local first, we choose to support our neighbors, add to the character and diversity of Augusta, and create a sustainable community.

Locally owned businesses add diversity and character to our community by offering original and unique products and services. Our Shop Menswear attributes their 38 years of successful downtown business to the uniqueness of their product which fills a niche a chain retailer cannot. Hildebrandt�s is a one of a kind small grocer and deli, serving downtown since 1879. From shoes to wigs, modern furniture to traditional, sushi to Creole, books to art, downtown offers an incredible array of products and services.

Locally owned businesses also support local community organizations and charitable functions creating a web of support within the community. For instance, The Book Tavern�s recent �Give a Soldier a Book to Read,� collected over 300 pounds of books to send to troops overseas. This local initiative is making a community impact.

Each of our daily decisions really does make a powerful collective impact on shaping Augusta. Remember, where you spend your money will truly determine what your neighborhood is going to look like in ten years.

Want to learn more?

�Every dollar of city money and every hour of city time wasted on unreliable non-local businesses are precious resources unavailable to nurturing local businesses. Real economic development should begin with the home team,� states Michael H. Shuman, author of Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition. This book is available at The Book Tavern (1026 Broad Street ? $16.95).

Shuman takes issue with the concept that there is no viable alternative to mega-stores like Wal-Mart. In The Small-Mart Revolution, he presents a compelling case for his alternative business model, where communities reap the benefits of “going local” in four key spending categories: goods, services, energy, and finance. Shuman argues that local businesses give more to charity, adapt more easily to rising labor and environmental standards, and produce more wealth for a community. They also spend more locally, thereby increasing community income and creating wealth and jobs. The Small-Mart Revolution presents a visionary yet practical roadmap for everyone concerned with mitigating the worst of globalization.