Author Archives: Kristy Johnson

Drink (and Eat) to Your Health

LIFE + STYLE

Sample signature culinary and beverage offerings at Bonne Santé.

There are lots of ways to spend a Sunday spring afternoon. However, one of the best ways to welcome the season is by attending Bonne Santé at Pine Knoll Farms in Appling.

Bonne Santé (French for “good health”) is a food and drink showcase that raises funds and awareness for National Kidney Foundation programs that support patients, their families and those at risk of developing kidney disease. Proceeds will be used for educating the public about reducing the risk of chronic kidney disease, advocacy, research and free kidney screenings.

The fundraiser will highlight the signature dishes of 10 to 15 local chefs at establishments such as Abel Brown Southern Kitchen and Oyster Bar, West Lake Country Club, Creative Cuisine, TakoSushi, Silver Palm Catering, The Crazy Empanada, Willie Jewell’s Old School Bar-B-Q, La Bonbonnière, Lil’ Dutch Bakery and The Pie Hole.

Drinks will include signature cocktails from Bar on Broad, craft beer from Back Paddle Brewing and gourmet coffee from 7 South Coffee, whose owner Lance Shay donated a kidney to his mother 29 years ago.

Typically drawing about 200 people, the event also will feature a silent auction and musical entertainment. In a live auction, attendees can bid on a private dinner for guests in their own homes prepared by some of the chefs or dinner, paired with wine, at the chefs’ restaurants.

Guest speakers will be dialysis patients including Michael Cofer, a former NFL linebacker who spent his entire 10-year career with the Detroit Lions and was selected for the 1988 Pro Bowl.

“I like to incorporate local dialysis and transplant patients as speakers to share their thoughts and highlight the importance of kidney disease,” says Dr. Laura Mulloy, division director, nephrology, at MCG at Augusta University and chairwoman of the fundraiser.

“Kidney disease can be detected with two simple tests at your doctor’s office,” says Krista Dasher, National Kidney Foundation senior development manager. “One in seven people in Georgia are at risk of getting kidney disease, which is the highest rate in the nation.”

If You Go:
What: Bonne Santé

When: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Where: Pine Knoll Farms, Appling

How Much: $100 per person; $700 for table of eight; tickets available online or at the door

More Info: kidneyga.org, krista.dasher@kidney.org or (770) 452-1539, ext. 611

Sautéed Mushroom Fettuccine

Entrees

4 cups mixed mushrooms (porcini, cremini, shiitake, etc.)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh oregano
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley
Pinch of salt
1 cup homemade vegetable broth or water
1/2 pound spinach fettuccine
Salt and pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Clean and thinly slice mushrooms. In a large frying pan, heat olive oil and garlic over medium heat. When garlic begins to color (about 5 minutes), add oregano and parsley; cook 1 minute. Add mushrooms and sprinkle them with a pinch of salt to exude its juices. Cook about 7 minutes. Stir in vegetable broth and cook 8-12 minutes, until mushrooms are soft and cooked brown. While mushrooms are cooking, prepare pasta per package directions and drain. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve over pasta. Makes 2-4 servings.

It’s a Date

LIFE + STYLE

Music lovers can court their sweethearts with musical trips over the rainbow and across the ivories.

Fans of the cinema and of concertos can click their heels together and head to the Miller Theater this month for a pair of performances by Augusta Symphony.

To celebrate with valentines of all ages, music and movie aficionados can watch a screening of The Wizard of Oz on February 14, as the symphony plays the live musical score from the film.

Music Director Dirk Meyer will lead the orchestra in Harold Arlen’s score from the movie, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion make their way to the Emerald City. Ticket prices range from $36 – $100.

On Saturday, February 23, the symphony will perform “Mentors” with Meyer and Alon Goldstein on piano. Goldstein’s artistic vision and innovative programming have made him a favorite with audiences and critics alike throughout the United States, Europe and Israel.

The program will include Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance No. 1, Op. 46; Schumann’s Piano Concerto and Brahms’s Symphony No. 1.

Tickets range from $22 – $67. Beginning an hour before the concert, walk-up tickets for students and military personnel will be available for purchase at the box office for $10. A student is anyone under age 16 or anyone 16 or older with a valid ID.

Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Funny Business

LIFE + STYLE

Who doesn’t love to laugh? Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias does, and he is bringing his standup routine to Bell Auditorium on February 28.

Iglesias is one of a handful of comedians who has headlined and sold out Staples Center, Madison Square Garden and Sydney Opera House. In addition to being one of America’s most successful standup comedians, he is one of the most-watched comedians on YouTube with more than 380,000,000 views. Iglesias also has more than 14 million fans on social media.

He recently was featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 40 Comedy Players of 2018 issue alongside comedy giants Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Lorne Michaels.

Currently, he is in production as the star and executive producer of the upcoming multi-cam Netflix comedy series, “Mr. Iglesias” in which he plays a good-natured public high school teacher who works at his alma mater. Premiering this year, the series will include 10 half-hour episodes. He also will star in two standup comedy specials for the network.

Iglesias entertains his audiences with (mostly) clean comedy and noncontroversial material that appeals to people of all ages and all walks of life. So, throw on a Hawaiian shirt – you know he’ll be wearing one – and head out for a healthy dose of humor.

If You Go:

What: Beyond the Fluffy Tour featuring Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, February 28

Where: Bell Auditorium

How Much: $37 – $67

More Info: augustaentertainmentcomplex.com

For the Love of Dance

LIFE + STYLE

Photography by Kyle Froman, courtesy of
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

An Augusta native returns to Georgia to perform in the venue where he first entertained the idea of becoming a professional dancer.

As part of its 60th anniversary, 21-city North American tour, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform at the Fox Theater in Atlanta this month. And Augusta native Christopher R. Wilson, a 2013 graduate of John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, will be part of the 34-dancer company.

“The Fox is the first place I saw the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I was 10 years old,” says Wilson, who had started dancing a year earlier. “I started to feel their essence. I knew I would do this one day.”

He was encouraged to pursue dance after another Augusta native, Russell Joel Brown, who appeared in national tours of The Lion King, saw him in a dance class at a local summer camp.

Wilson danced with Ailey II, which features young dancers and emerging choreographers, for a year, and after auditioning for AAADT in April, he joined the company in May.

This will not be the first time he has returned to his home state since he became a member of AAADT, however. He came home from New York City during time off in October and taught dance and choreography at Colton Ballet School, Davidson and Jessye Norman School of the Arts.

“It’s important to give back and reach the next generation,” says Wilson. “I can’t do this forever. Someone has to do this after me.”

AAADT is a modern dance company that includes ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary dance artists, and the dancers will celebrate Ailey’s life and legacy with six performances in three different programs at the Fox.

“We are a very versatile company,” says Wilson. “I think that’s what makes us so special.”

He is looking forward to dancing at the Fox. “I can’t even imagine what that emotion will feel like when it happens, but I am very much ready to embrace it,” he says. “I am thrilled to take the stage where I first saw my dream company.”

He believes the dance company gives people a platform for expression.

“With dance, I’m able to say things I wouldn’t necessarily be able to put into words. It adds another layer to my voice,” says Wilson. “When I’m on stage, nothing else in the world matters other than that moment. I’m on stage telling people a story.”

He wants audience members to experience happiness, anger, joy or sadness through his performances.

“I want them to feel through me,” says Wilson. “Once that happens, I know I’ve done my job.”

If You Go:

What: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 60th anniversary celebration

When: February 21-24; performances and show times vary

Where: Fox Theater, Atlanta

How Much: Tickets start at $29

More Info: alvinailey.org, foxatltix.com or (855) 285-8499

By Sarah James

Chicken & Waffles

Entrees

Chicken:

2 pounds chicken tenders
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Canola or peanut oil for frying
2 cups flour

Waffles:

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Syrup

Place buttermilk and hot sauce in a resealable bag and massage ingredients together. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to bag, coating chicken thoroughly. Marinate in fridge 1-2 hours. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a medium heavy-bottom skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 1 inch canola or peanut oil over medium to medium high heat, until between 350 and 375 degrees. Add flour to a large mixing bowl and dredge chicken pieces until fully coated. Tap off excess flour and gently place chicken into hot oil (do not crowd pan). Fry 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally with tongs until crispy and a deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Set on baking sheet in oven to keep chicken warm.

To make waffles, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Separate eggs and place egg whites in a blender. Blend until frothy. Add egg yolks, vegetable oil, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Blend until mixed well. Pour into bowl with dry ingredients and stir until combined. Make waffles according to waffle iron instructions. Place chicken on waffles and drizzle with syrup. Serve open-faced or stack as sliders or towers. Makes 4 servings.

Block Party

LIFE + STYLE

Professional Lego artists will showcase almost 100 creations.

Calling all blockheads. For the first time, the BrickUniverse Lego Fan Convention is coming to the area. The event will play upon Lego’s long-standing popularity and ingenuity with attractions and activities built around the world’s favorite plastic building blocks.

The first convention was held in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2015, and since that time thousands of Lego fans have attended shows to see live Lego builds and life-sized Lego models.

Visitors can build their own masterpieces in the Building Zone, the Lego Friends Building Area, Big Brick Building for younger fans and the Star Wars Zone. Lego merchandise also will be available for purchase in the Lego Retail area.

For inspiration, attendees can visit with renowned Lego artists Jonathan Lopes of San Diego, Chicago-based Rocco Buttliere and Paul Hetherington of Vancouver, Canada.

Lopes will showcase more than 30 of his select Lego displays including an 8-foot model of New York City’s Woolworth Building.

Buttliere will bring 50-plus massive Lego models of famous landmarks from around the globe such as the world’s tallest skyscraper in Dubai and the Westminster Palace in London.

Hetherington will display the five Best in Show Award creations he won at Brickcon in Seattle and his “Batman vs. Joker Gotham Theater Showdown,” which was named the 2016 Lego Creation of the Year by the Brothers-Bricks.

Tickets for the convention typically sell out, so early booking is recommended at brickuniverse.com/augusta.

If You Go:

What: BrickUniverse Lego Fan Convention

When: Saturday, January 26 – Sunday, January 27; 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. each day

Where: Augusta Convention Center

How Much: $13 online; $18 at the door, if tickets still are available; free for children ages 2 and younger

More Info: brickuniverse.com

Winter Citrus Salad

Salads

2 navel oranges
3 blood oranges
2 pink grapefruit
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Peel and cut oranges and grapefruit into 1/2-inch rounds, removing as much pith as possible. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar and honey. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Layer sliced oranges and grapefruit on a large serving platter and drizzle with honey vinaigrette. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve. Makes 6 servings.

Beach Babes

Travel

Photos courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation and Stephanie Fell

Step aside Arnold, Babe, Miss Piggy, Napoleon, Piglet and Wilbur — make way for the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas.

Most pigs are known for their penchant for wallowing in the mud. Then there are the illustrious swimming pigs of the Bahamas. These discriminating swine turn up their snouts to mud holes, preferring to frolic in the pristine, picture-perfect Atlantic Ocean waters around the island nation.

The renowned 15 or 20 swimming pigs make their home on Big Major Cay (aka Pig Beach – go figure) in The Exumas, an archipelago of 365 cays and islands. Big Major Cay can be reached only by boat, and as soon as the pigs hear the motors of approaching vessels, they spring into action. They eagerly pig-paddle out to greet the Bahamians and tourists who make daily visits to their little piece of uninhabited (by humans, anyway) hog heaven.

The Exumas has become a playground for the rich and famous – think Johnny Depp, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, David Copperfield – and the paddling porkers have become celebri-pigs in their own right. The camera-ready pigs don’t even mind posing for the paparazzi – especially if they can be bribed with snacks.

Once a little-known secret, the social media sensations have their own Instagram (#theswimmingpigs and #pigsofparadise) and Twitter (@pigsofparadise) accounts. They star in a short, award-winning documentary called – what else? – “When Pigs Swim” and, of course, in too many selfies to count. The outgoing oinkers have been featured on the likes of NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “The Bachelor.” They even snagged a hoof-hold in the literary world when a book about them, Pigs of Paradise by T.R. Todd, hit the shelves in October.

No Pig is an Island
No one knows for sure how the pigs found their way to the white sandy beaches of Big Major Cay, which is about 82 miles southeast of Nassau and about 50 miles northwest of George Town. However, their presence on the island is the stuff of legend. Some people believe the pigs swam to safety from a nearby shipwreck. Others say they were left there by sailors or pirates who planned to come back later to cook and eat them, but never returned.

A man named Wayde Nixon also claims to have brought the first pigs – one male and four females – to the island with his business partner, Don Rolle, in hopes of starting a pig farm in the late 1990s. Nixon told the “Today” show he was preparing a sustainable food supply in case of the dreaded Y2K computer meltdown.

Regardless of how the pigs originally arrived at Big Major Cay, visitors have to charter a boat or take a guided tour to get to the island since it is accessible only by water. Boat tours to Pig Beach leave daily from Nassau and Great Exuma, but these all-day excursions require lengthy travel times. As an alternative, people can fly into the small airports on Staniel Cay, Black Point or Farmer’s Cay before boarding a boat.

Visitors should book their group or private tours with a reputable operator such as Coastline Adventures Exuma, Comfort Venture Tours or Harbour Safaris. If staying in The Exumas, guests can inquire about tours at their hotel. Staniel Cay Yacht Club also provides its own tours for resort guests. Visitors can go to Pig Beach year-round, but they might want to keep in mind that June through November is hurricane season.

Most tour boats, which generally hold 20 to 30 people, run to the island between 9 a.m. and sunset. The Bahamas limits the number of tour operators that can visit the swimming pigs per day, and the tours are suitable for adults and children ages 12 and older.

Swimming pig seekers who take their own boat to the island do well to go early in the morning for the most undivided attention from the porkers. By late afternoon they often are tuckered out, and they’re more likely to sunbathe their full bellies on the beach than to wade into the water.

After discovering the aquatic critters on Instagram, Augusta residents Stephanie and Keith Fell knew they had to go to Big Major Cay. In July of 2017, they rented a vacation home with another couple, Jefferson Morris and Natalie Walls, on Staniel Cay and rented a 16-foot Boston Whaler to travel to Pig Beach.

“The pigs are precious — they’re huge,” says Stephanie. “When they see you, they start running toward you because they know you have food. We went on shore and hung out with them.”

Boats anchor in the water, she says, and people take dinghies, jet skis and paddleboards toward the shore. Apparently, none of these watercraft phase the pigs. After all, they know the people on them come bearing groceries.

“You can touch and pet them,” says Stephanie. “The pigs are super friendly and come right up to you because they want food. There are plenty of pigs to go around.”

Pig Out
Since human visitors have become commonplace on the island, the pigs mostly have abandoned foraging in the forest in favor of eating the free food that’s tossed to them from their guests. The best things to feed them are pitted fruits and vegetables such as grapes, watermelon, apples, carrots and lettuce. (Rumor has it that they particularly love watermelon rinds.) Fresh water is a good alternative to food as well.

“At first we fed them from the boat,” Stephanie says. “None of us had fed pigs before. They’ll eat anything.”

It’s better to feed the pigs in the water than on the beach to keep them from swallowing sand, which could be lethal for them. At least seven pigs were found dead in February 2017. While many reports speculated that the pigs died after imbibing booze from tourists, government officials said autopsy results found that sand ingestion was the likely culprit.

Other practical reasons to skip shore feeding frenzies? It’s better for humans, too. Persistent pigs have been known to stalk people who are carrying food on the beach. And, adds Stephanie, their aroma isn’t as noticeable in the water as it is on the island.

Living and thriving autonomously, the pigs and piglets are not dependent solely on the largess of tourists for their sustenance. Last year local volunteers formed the Official Swimming Pigs Association to care for the oinkers. The nonprofit organization monitors the pigs’ diets to ensure that they receive healthy meals in addition to treats from tourists.

The group makes sure the pigs always have fresh water, which they store on the island in three 150-gallon drums. Volunteers also mix vitamins with the water and provide the piggies with feed pellets to supplement the berries and other food they still forage on their own.

The association members even built pens for the young piglets and for ailing pigs that need medical treatment. The Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources also monitors the health and safety of the pig population.

Distinguishing Characteristics
Most of the pigs on Big Major Cay have names. Raleigh, Roosevelt and Shirley were named after friends and ancestors. Three large mama pigs – Blanche, Maggie and Diane – are the namesakes of Staniel Cay matriarchs. Other pigs such as Cinnamon and Ginger get their monikers from their color patterns.

Ginger has another distinguishing characteristic as well. “She would sit for her food,” says Stephanie.

Some of the pigs are spotted; some are solid pink; others are half pink and half black.

“The pigs had different colors and different names, but they all had the same shape. They were all fat,” Stephanie says. “They were all friendly, and they were all hungry.”

As much as the pigs love being petted and pampered, they’re willing to share the spotlight with their tropical neighbors. On the full-day boat tours to The Exumas, visitors can swim with nurse sharks at Compass Cay and see endangered Exuma Island iguanas on Bitter Guana Cay. At Thunderball Grotto — a marine cave named for the 1965 James Bond movie that was filmed there — tourists can snorkel with schools of fish. Visitors also can swim with sea turtles and feed them conch at Little Farmer’s Cay.

While meeting the pigs can be an animal lover’s dream, people who are looking for nightlife or fancy restaurants might want to vacation elsewhere.

“It’s in the middle of nowhere,” Stephanie says, “and it’s absolutely gorgeous. I have never seen water with so many different shades of blue.”

In fact, because of the turquoise waters of The Exumas, astronaut Scott Kelly has called the Bahamas the most beautiful place on Earth to view from space. He would get no argument from Stephanie.

“I don’t want to say it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” she says, “because I can’t wait to go back.”

By Morgan Davis

Hitting the High Notes

LIFE + STYLE

Black-tie gala and European Favorites concert kick off 2019 for Augusta Symphony

If you think there’s nothing to do after the holidays, then it’s time to think again. This month Augusta Symphony will hold two events that are sure to put a song in your heart.

On Saturday, January 5, the Augusta Symphony Gala will celebrate one of the city’s greatest cultural assets. This toast to Dirk Meyer, music director, and the orchestra will feature Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. during the black-tie event. Odom, who has appeared on the big screen and on television, won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Hamilton. The gala begins at 8 p.m. at the Miller Theater, and tickets are $125, $175 or $275.

The Miller Theater also will be the site of the European Favorites concert on Saturday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m. Featured pieces will include Strauss On the Beautiful Blue Danube; Schreker Scherzo, Op. 8; Dvořák Slavonic Dance No. 2, Op. 72; Sibelius Finlandi and Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, “Scottish.” Tickets are $22, $35 or $67. In addition, $10 walk-up tickets will be available for purchase at the box office for students and military personnel beginning an hour before the concert.

For more information, visit augustasymphony.com.

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Food

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 3/4 cups fresh cranberries
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, room temperature, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a round cake pan or spray with non-stick vegetable spray. Melt 4 tablespoons butter and the brown sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it starts to bubble. Pour into cake pan and let cool. In a small saucepan, cook the cranberries and orange juice until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and pour evenly over the cooled caramelized sugar.

In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. With a mixer, beat the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in egg yolks (one at a time) and vanilla. Mix in 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by half of the milk. Mix in another 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk. Finally, mix in the remaining flour mixture.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks. Gradually fold into the batter and pour over cranberries. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and let cool 15-20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert the cake onto a serving plate.

A Joyful Noise

LIFE + STYLE

Celebrate the holiday season with songs that have a classical, country, contemporary or Celtic twist

Worship services, baking, shopping, gift wrapping and family fellowship are some of the traditional hallmarks of the holiday season. However, it would be impossible to celebrate Christmas without music. Two upcoming holiday concerts will showcase the place that holiday tunes hold in our hearts – especially when the music comes with a folk music or a Celtic twist.

The Annie Moses Band will perform a Christmas-themed show with a blend of folk and classical music on Wednesday, November 28. The band, made up of musicians from the same family, has a sound all its own. The siblings call their style “chamber pop,” a blend of classical, jazz and pop, mixed with some good, old-fashioned country. Tickets are $49.

On Monday, December 10 the Irish Cultural Academy, in association with CMI Entertainment (USA), will present the first Christmas tour of the Celtic Angels Christmas production, a holiday celebration of Christmas in Ireland, highlighting yuletide music from across the centuries. The show features vocal and instrumental seasonal favorites alongside Irish, contemporary and original Christmas themes – with Celtic flair, of course. Routines by world champion dancers will accompany the music. Tickets are $44.50.

The shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Hardin Performing Arts Center. Dinner reservations for a pre-concert meal are available as well. For more information or to order tickets, visit augustaamusements.com or call (706) 726-0366.

Wonderful Christmastime

LIFE + STYLE

Augusta Symphony brings the community two new yuletide concerts
The only thing better than one holiday concert is two holiday concerts, and Augusta Symphony is offering music fans a double dose of yuletide tunes this month.

The first show, Augusta Symphony Holiday Spectacular, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 6 at the Miller Theater.

In this inaugural holiday concert, the symphony will perform with the Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Chorale and Joan Ellison, who specializes in reviving Judy Garland’s repertoire from the golden Hollywood years to her Carnegie Hall concert and television show.

“It’ll be really fun to perform with these great artists,” says Dirk Meyer, the symphony’s music director. “Joan is a truly outstanding performer, and I am also looking forward to working with the exceptional chorus from Davidson.”

The concert will include holiday favorites ranging from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” to tunes from Home Alone and It’s a Wonderful Life. Tickets range from $36 – $100.

The second concert, Family Holiday Spectacular, will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, December 9 at Hardin Performing Arts Center. This one-hour concert, the first of two family concerts in Columbia County, is part of a new series designed to introduce children to the symphony.

“Introducing children to symphonic music at a young age is a wonderful opportunity to instill a love of music, art and culture in them,” Meyer says. “It sets them off for a lifetime of enjoyment of this amazing art form.”

The family program will feature highlights such as Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life and “Chestnuts.” Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets for the Columbia County series, which also includes Peter & the Wolf on March 24, are $52 for adults and $20 for students.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit augustasymphony.com.

Holiday Magic

LIFE + STYLE

Have yourself a merry little Christmas at Evans Towne Center Park

Local residents can celebrate Christmas in Columbia County with lots of lights, cameras and action. From Friday, November 30 through Tuesday, January 1 Evans Towne Center Park will be filled with lighted Christmas trees, animated light displays and a Holiday Market where children can be photographed with Santa.

The festivities will begin with a sneak peek at the lights on November 30 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., where visitors will see the new, LED-programmable, 46-foot tree this year as well as a 1,000-foot white light tunnel.

Other attractions include an animated 12 Days of Christmas display, gingerbread houses, Santa’s sleigh with reindeer, lighted toy soldiers, musical nutcrackers, a caroling family, Santa on a golf car, a waving snowman, elves, Peanuts characters and a multi-colored light tunnel.

Sparkle Express train rides will be available near the playground, and special activities include a scavenger hunt and movie nights. Free photos with Santa will be available at the Holiday Market on Saturdays, December 1, 8 and 15.

If You Go:
Friday, November 30
Sneak Peek 6 – 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 1 – Tuesday, January 1
Light Display 5 – 10 p.m.

Saturday, December 1
Tree Lighting with Holiday Market and Santa 2 – 6 p.m.

Thursday, December 6
Holiday Market 4 – 8 p.m.

Friday, December 7
Holiday Market and Movie Night 6 – 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 8
Holiday Market and Santa 2 – 6 p.m.

Thursday, December 13
Holiday Market 4 – 8 p.m.

Friday, December 14
Holiday Market and Movie Night 6 – 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 15
Holiday Market and Santa 2 – 6 p.m.

Packed House

LIFE + STYLE

Iconic music from the ’70s, along with a Christmas show, will fill up your senses at the Jabez.

From tribute artists to Christmas tunes, the Hardin Performing Arts Center will be stayin’ alive with music this month when a quartet of musical groups comes to Evans.

The first of the four – Bee Gees Gold, The Tribute – is scheduled for Friday, November 2. With the detailed vocal stylings of John Acosta (Barry), Daryl Borges (Robin) and Jeff Celentano (Maurice) as the brothers Gibb, the trio will recreate the look and sound of the Bee Gees with hits like “Massachusetts,” “I Started a Joke,” “Stayin’ Alive” and “You Should Be Dancing.” Tickets are $39.50.

The John Denver Musical Tribute with Ted Vigel is slated for Friday, November 9. Vigel won a celebrity look-alike contest in 2007 when he appeared as Denver, and afterward started planning a tribute show to the music icon. From 2010 to 2014, he toured with Denver’s lead guitar player, the late Steve Weisberg. “It was like working with John again,” Weisberg said at the time. Tickets are $39.50.

Live and Let Die, a Tribute to Paul McCartney featuring Tony Kishman will take place Friday, November 16. Kishman starred in the national and international tours of Broadway’s smash hit, “Beatlemania,” for years, and he also performs in the International Symphonic Beatles production, “Classical Mystery Tour.” Tickets are $44.50.

Finally, the Annie Moses Band will perform a blend of folk and classical music in its Christmas-themed show Wednesday, November 28. The band, made up of musicians from the same family, call their style “chamber pop,” a blend of classical, jazz and pop, mixed with some good, old-fashioned country. Tickets are $49.

All concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center. Dinner reservations also can be made for a meal at the center before each show. For more information or to order tickets, visit augustaamusements.com or call (706) 726-0366.