Author

Molly Swift

Much like “budget” and “terms and conditions,” the words “diet” and “nutrition” make my eyes glaze over as my brain takes a small vacation elsewhere until the moment has passed. But, it is pretty vital for our health — we are what we eat, so to speak.

According to a plethora of experts and other random people who publish stuff online, the most nutritious (read “healthy”) diet one could opt for is the Mediterranean diet; a selection of foods and preparation styles most commonly found in Greece, southern Italy and Spain. No, not the popular “Mediterranean diet” as touted by Dr. Oz., just various foods common to the area, such as fish, olives, eggplant and zucchini. Foods found at Laziza Mediterranean Grill in Evans.

Laziza is a popular restaurant near Publix on Washington Road that has become known as a wonderful spot for lunch or dinner. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 11.30 a.m.-9 p.m. and on Sunday from 11.30 a.m.-3 p.m. It offers authentic Mediterranean and middle-eastern fare including baba gannoush, tabbouleh salad and stuffed grape leaves.

After renovating the space previously inhabited by Quiznos, Laziza opened in September of 2011. The restaurant still looks bright and fresh four years on. I surmised this is helped in part by the kind of cleaning I witnessed while eating lunch there last week. It always makes me feel better when I see someone take the time to properly clean a table as soon as it’s unoccupied — yes, please do wipe that off and do it like you love the person about to eat there. This guy did and I was impressed.

It’s also a good sign when a restaurant recognizes different types of customers have different needs — while some can afford to sit a minute, others are stopping by to grab something they need to eat in the office. Laziza caters to everyone; eat in, order to go or find the Laziza food truck while you’re out and about. I opted to dine in because this was my first time eating at Laziza. I loved the mustard yellow walls, and the natural light pouring through the glass storefront totally convinced me I needed to sit down and take a load off.

Although you can seat yourself, food orders are placed at the counter. I get ridiculously nervous dealing with new things, so when I saw instructions on how to order posted on the wall I was instantly relieved. Ordering was easy. Mostly thanks to the smiling dude behind the counter who calmly and patiently explained each item to me as I ummed and aahed and generally took forever to order.
It was also easy because the process is broken down into three parts. First, you choose your “style” — that is, do you want your food to be in a pita wrap, on a platter, or a salad? Then it’s time to select the meat, fish or veggies that will fill that wrap, platter or salad. And last, it’s time to opt for a side. Customers are given a cup for their drinks, which are self-serve at a separate station next to the counter.

Entrees run between $8.49 and $9.99, but you can also order a la carte and choose individual items if you wish. This is true both in-house and if you order through their website — another bonus for folks who don’t have the time to wait.

I admit I found the menu daunting, and purely out of ignorance. I’m familiar with Mediterranean food, but have never gravitated toward it, though I can’t say why. And I’ve never had falafel before, which — according to my teenager — makes me something of a freak. But hey, I’m up for trying any dish at least once, so I chose a pita wrap filled with beef kebab and falafel as my side dish.

Apparently the hands-down fave is shawarma — a warm pita sandwich filled with shaved pieces of chicken, pickles, pickled turnips, tomatoes and a garlic sauce. Perhaps proof of its popularity, the shawarma was sold out by the time I arrived.

Other customer favorites include Baklava and crepes. Available as a snack for $4.99, crepes are thin pancakes filled with banana and Nutella, or with blueberry-lemon cheesecake and I made a mental note to try them after my entree.

The food is made fresh and it took about 15 minutes until I was served my wrap and falafel. Conveniently wrapped in foil to help contain the abundant filling, the pita wrap smelled and looked amazing. The falafel looked kinda like hush puppies and crab cakes had morphed together, though I discovered they’re actually fritters of chickpeas. The crunchy fritter is a wonderful contrast to the soft, savory chickpea filling which I swear had some cumin and coriander in there, though I may be wrong. Delicious!

The wrap was incredible. A fabulous concert of pickled veggies, seasoned beef and soft pita bread, it didn’t last long. I had been looking forward to tasting the beef, but I ended up loving the pickled veggies, too. I will extend a warning to anyone who goes wearing their Sunday best — be careful, I’ve heard the filling can fall out of the wrap and all over your lap. So, you (I) might want to wear a napkin or a bib while you’re (I’m) eating. Just sayin’.

And, going back to what I said earlier about the friendly, helpful, behind-the-counter dude, everyone from the kitchen who walked by asked if I liked my food or if I needed anything, which was very cool. In fact, everyone at Laziza seemed really nice and into working there, and that is definitely not something to be taken for granted.

Laziza also goes the extra mile by offering catering and that too can be ordered online. The catering menu offers the same appetizers and entrees available on the main menu for $11 per person; however, customized orders are also accepted. The only requirement is a catered group must be for a minimum of eight people.

By the time I was done with my wrap and the very more-ish falafel I didn’t have any room left for the crepes. Ugh. And though I had plowed through most of my lunch, I still had to take about a third of the wrap home with me. As the plate was set in front of me, I didn’t really considered just how much food you get with the pita wrap entrée, but it’s definitely a good sized portion.

As many before me have discovered, Laziza is a lovely little place to grab a bite. The service and menu is great, the food is delicious, the restaurant is accommodating in so many ways and it is open seven days a week. Children are also welcome and Laziza offers platters for kids priced at $4.99.

Hold onto your little gem, Columbia County, because I wouldn’t complain if they relocated down the road a little… like, closer to my house.

August 8, 2015

Food Stuff

by Molly Swift August 1, 2015

Cucina 503 opened adjacent to Bi-Lo at 503 Fury’s Ferry Road in late February of this year. It got a few mentions from local media, and then it dropped off my radar. That part of town isn’t central, and unless you know of a restaurant worthy of a visit, chances are you won’t head out that way when you’re looking for a good meal.

Which is a shame, because Cucina is definitely worth a visit.

The eatery describes itself as a provider of “real Italian” food. I couldn’t find the menu online except as a photo that happened to show up in my Google search. From what I could read, the menu certainly supports the claim, offering pasta made from scratch, calamari, scallops for example. The staples are there — lasagna, gnocchi, flatbreads, among others — and a few fusion dishes have been thrown in for good measure.

The prices seemed to range from around $10 to upwards of $25, which is a bit on the high side for me. But, as summer is drawing to a close and all those holiday occasions loom, it’s best to find a few nice places to head out to for your office parties or family gatherings. So, the teenager and I headed out for a little upscale mother-daughter chow-down.

The drive certainly prepared me for my meal. Negotiating Washington Road, River Watch and Fury’s Ferry in rush-hour traffic has long been a source of pure joy for me and I was delighted to see the wine list already on the table as we were seated. We sat in the middle dining area, for lack of a better description, with a view of the smallest dining area, which itself is decorated radically differently from the rest of the restaurant.

The interior is odd. Let me tell you, this place has some dualism going on. Much of the décor suggests elegance and taste; perhaps best described as contemporary, but with European flair? However, certain items look out of place and almost too inappropriate.

For instance, chalk drawings of a pig showing standard cuts of meat complements the Italian theme, but the couple of mismatched wall prints directly opposite them remind me that I really need to run to Burlington for some bedding. The same goes for the light fixture. A very funky, modern chandelier has been hung too high to be seen — unless you really look up and then the track lighting behind it becomes awkwardly noticeable.

I’ve always had an issue with restaurants in strip malls, purely because there’s only so much you can do to customize a cookie cutter style retail space. Yes, the food is the most important thing, but ambience helps and not being able to put your own stamp on the look of a place is often a detriment to a dining establishment.

That said, this place is very easy on the eyes. By providing ample seating, plenty of natural light, a neutral palette and some bright, eye-catching wall pieces, Cucina 503 instead creates a welcoming and intimate atmosphere in what could so easily be a Verizon store.

Our server was keen on doing things right. I wasn’t expecting the intuitive perfection of silver service dining, and I certainly didn’t get it, but the service was consistently good throughout the meal. We were handed menus and served water within a minute of sitting, and then we got down to the nitty-gritty talk about wine. I chose a glass of Freakshow, a cabernet the server swore was among their most popular, while the kid grumbled something about how “if we were in Europe she could have a glass of wine.”

Whatever.

Sleuthing around, I discovered booster seats and high chairs are available for babies and young kids. As we were eating, a number of families came in with kids of all ages. I did not notice a kids menu, but for once I wasn’t looking, and I figure most kids would be happy when pizza’s on the menu. Judging from how accommodating our server was, Cucina’s kitchen staff would be more than happy to find a solution to a child’s dining needs.

I also discovered Cucina 503 offers Cucina hand soap and lotion for use in their restrooms. These products are scented with smells of Italy, such as coriander, olive tree and lime zest — a nice touch.

We plumped for a starter — the Buffalo Mozzarella Caprese, which was a simple salad of red and yellow grape tomatoes, mozzarella, basil oil and balsamic vinegar. It was beautifully presented on a long plate for the two of us to share. The combination of tomatoes, basil, balsamic and cheese has always made me smile, and it seemed my daughter has developed a similar palate — it took us no time to devour them. The appetizers range from roughly $5 per item to upward of $11. And, the food is fresh and delicious — yes, you get what you pay for.

By this time, my wine had arrived and I was really relaxing into Cucina’s Italian vibe. It certainly helped that my daughter was enjoying it as much as I was, and we were able to chat uninterrupted throughout most of our meal. One nice touch that will forever stand out in my memory (and one of the reasons I will return to Cucina 503) took place while we were talking. I was telling my daughter about a favorite recipe of mine that involved much of the same ingredients we ate in the salad, but included the Italian flatbread, ciabatta. I went to great lengths to explain what ciabatta was while my daughter stared at me, blankly.

A few minutes later and surprise! — a basket of warm, soft ciabatta was placed on the table between us. The only thing that could top that would be if Andrea Bocelli had entered the room singing Canto della Terra while handing out Prada goody bags.

The specials for the evening included crab, which I was close to getting, but I decided to go with a traditional dish. Lasagna Rustica — “free form” lasagna stuffed with ricotta, Bolognese, parmesan, buffalo mozzarella and crispy prosciutto — was priced at $16.95. The teen went for what had been my first choice — roasted chicken and wild mushroom in pappardelle pasta, topped with a white wine garlic cream sauce and truffle oil, also $16.95.

The portions were substantial and my lasagna took up the entire available space in a roughly 10-inch diameter bowl. It was huge. The kid’s pasta dish was enough to feed three of her, but from the first bite she was totally committed to finishing the whole thing, even if that meant taking most of it home in a box to eat while watching Netflix. I tried some of her dish and secretly wished I’d opted for it instead of the pillow of cheese and meat in front of me.

But then I took a bite and all those wishes melted away. The Bolognese sauce was fabulously meaty, sweet but tangy, and well-seasoned. The cheeses yielded mouthfuls of gooey cheeseness that took me to cheese heaven. And the prosciutto delivered the right amount of smokiness and saltiness in contrast to the lasagna noodles. It was divine and I ate the entire thing. It took a while, during which I also managed to pack away half the ciabatta loaf and the glass of Freakshow — which was exactly the right accompaniment for this heavy pasta dish.

After consuming something the size of a junior football, the last thing I should do is contemplate getting a dessert, but when presented with the sweets menu I actually gave it some thought. Thankfully, I’ve seen Monty Python’s “The Meaning of Life,” and I knew what would go down if I went for even just one more thing, so I passed. For those of you who aren’t so silly as to eat something way too large for their stomach, Cucina offers only a few desserts, but the Affogato (an ice cream and espresso dish) is on my list for next time.

Thing is, digestion is a funny, fickle thing and, as my grandmother’s fond of saying, my eyes were too big for my stomach. The massive slab of lasagna, along with the bread, gave me flashbacks to the discomfort that comes from being heavily pregnant, a gluttonous feeling that stayed with me until I fell asleep a few hours later.

I actually didn’t care. It was the best lasagna I’ve ever had and worth every bite.

Cucina 503 is located at 503 Fury’s Ferry Road in the Bi-Lo shopping center. It is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. and Saturday from 5-10 p.m. Call 762-994-0142 or visit 503cucina.com.

August 1, 2015

Meat… And a Whole Lot More

by Molly Swift July 29, 2015

Down on Walton Way a big cow stands atop a red and white building looking out at the traffic and soaking up the sun. It’s been there for a couple of years now, having moved from its original home on Highway 1, where it had been a fixture since the late ‘60s. Some folks know it by sight, while others are more familiar with its owner, Wayne Lanier, owner of Lanier’s Fresh Meat Market and one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.

Lanier’s was started by Wayne’s oldest brother, Terry, in 1969. After Terry, another brother, James, managed the company until Wayne eventually took the reins. Growing up on a farm in rural Georgia during the ‘50s and ‘60s, the family was already associated with cattle. Their father had worked on the farm all their lives, and one of their distant cousins owned a meat processing plant — meat processing is something Wayne feels is in their blood.

“Kinda like carpenters, or other trades, once it gets in the family it shapes and changes you,” he said. “I know when I go into a store, the first place I go is the meat counter to see what they’ve got.”

The Lanier farm is located out Highway 1 on the way to Wrens; from ’69 to ‘85 when James and Terry were running things, the focus was on neighbors and local community. While the young business was growing, Wayne went to school and then onto University of Georgia where he majored in agriculture and economics with a minor in animal science.

He said that when his brothers started out, the company was built for custom slaughter.

“At the time, many people in that area had their own livestock — they had maybe a couple of hogs or some cows,” he said. “And they’d put them in a truck and bring them to us and tell us how they wanted them processed. We had an inspector from the Department of Agriculture who had an office out there and who inspected the cows before they were killed, and he’d put the USDA stamp on it.”

As trends changed, so did the Lanier’s approach to their industry. The 1980s and 1990s were a particularly transformative time for the meat packing industry. Not only were local farmers finding it hard to compete with larger companies, but their customers discovered they no longer had to look to local providers and instead could “conveniently” buy pre-packaged portions at an affordable price in the larger grocery markets.

Warehouse stores, including Walmart and Sam’s Club, started squeezing out the smaller companies and by the late ‘90s, the top four firms accounted for roughly 50 percent of all U.S. poultry and pork production, and a whopping 80 percent of all beef production.

To adapt to these changes, James took the company in a slightly different direction. Lanier’s started to explore the retail side of the industry, an aspect of the business that would expand even more when Wayne took over. Wayne said the change was the right response to the growing demand for ready-packaged meat, “It is progress. Back then everyone had their own animals. Now, nobody does.”

With profits slashed by the infiltration of larger providers, smaller meat processing companies had to find other ways to appeal to customers — competing in terms of quantity alone wasn’t going to cut it. Luckily for Wayne’s employees and customers, the Lanier way is not to focus on how much they can profit, but rather on quality of both the product and customer service. The result is a unique shopping experience for customers of all backgrounds, income and age.

The Lanier family loves what they are doing because it allows them to take care of others.

“Many people have said to me that this store’s doing well, so when am I going to open another one,” Wayne said. “But I really just want to do real well here in this location. I also want the people who are working with me to do well, too. I am not about making lots of money at all costs — I really just want to be comfortable and content.”

To do so, Wayne has made a conscious decision to put the consumer first.

“This weekend I’m going to have a sale on chicken,” he explained. “A 40-pound case of leg quarters for $14.99, which is dirt cheap. I like to see other people benefit. I enjoy helping and giving to them.”

This connection with customers is something that has been years in the making, and Wayne sees many of the same faces return year upon year.

“Some of the customers who shop with me now shopped with me 20 years ago when they were little children coming in with their mother or grandmother. It’s become a generational thing. So many of my customers have known me for all their lives.”

For the sake of his customers — many of them residents of Richmond County — Lanier’s Meat Market moved to Augusta in December of 2013, but the transition didn’t go as smoothly as Wayne would have liked. Another lot further down Walton Way near 10th Street was originally selected as the new location, but the process was a struggle and Wayne started looking for another potential building.

After months of giving literally everything he had to make it work, Wayne stumbled upon 1831 Walton Way.

“It was a dream I had,” he said. “I wanted to find a nice big building but I didn’t have a lot of money saved — I just wanted to go for it and so I went for it. I mortgaged everything I had and borrowed money to go all in. I was blessed — it paid off. The community, and Augusta in general, has supported me and encouraged me and everything is great.”

Lanier’s customers are so central to the store’s success that they drive every business decision Wayne makes. How the business operates is simple — Lanier’s offers affordable, fresh, local, healthy meat, fish and poultry. But, it doesn’t stop there. The store is clean and spacious, the products are of a high quality, and Lanier’s employees deliver top notch customer service.

In fact, the main difference between Lanier’s and many other stores is its employees — and I mean all the employees. No matter who you are, whether you are a first-time customer or someone whose family has been buying from Lanier’s for the last 45 years, the service provided is exemplary. Lanier’s employees are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful — they even help take your bags out to your car. They are attentive, competent and know how to listen; they also look like they are enjoying their jobs.

And it’s a part of the shopping experience that gets the most mention on social media. Out of nearly 200 customer reviews on Facebook, the majority mention the excellent customer service and the positive attitude of the employees. Wayne says that might have something to do with management.

“We really don’t have a turnover — everybody stays,” he said. “I’m flexible and generous, and I encourage them to take control of their job — yes, they interact with the customers, but they also know their job inside out. They are experienced professionals who take pride in what they do. Sure, you’re gonna have bumps — you’re dealing with people — but it’s really just like a family here.”

Lanier’s also makes buying in bulk easy. Customers can choose from individual meat selections, or they buy a “pack” designed to suit their lifestyle. For instance, the “Grill Master” pack, priced at $129.99, includes five pounds of T-bone steaks, 10 pounds of riblets, 20 pounds leg quarters, five pounds of chops, five pounds of smoked sausage and four pounds of hot dogs. The “Breakfast Pack,” priced at $65.99, offers country bacon, ham, sausage, hash browns, biscuits, eggs and a jar of jelly.

There are approximately 10 packs to choose from, not to mention the additional items on offer — frog legs, quail and alligator are all available through Lanier’s. The jars of jellies and other condiments come from a local Mennonite farm and are absolutely delicious. Also available are vegetables, biscuits, eggs, milk and much more. Customers can get virtually all their weekly grocery shopping done at Lanier’s.

The certified Angus beef sold at Lanier’s is the best beef in Augusta, Wayne claims.

“I’m the only licensed retailer in Augusta,” Wayne said. ”You have to meet their requirements — there are 10 standards the beef has to meet that goes beyond USDA inspections.”

These specifications cover marbling and maturity, as well as consistency in sizing and appearance. All of these aspects affect the quality, tenderness and taste of the beef. According to Wayne’s customers, you can truly taste the difference.

The money he makes on beef is nominal and Lanier’s really only makes money on two other popular items — chicken and pork. But one thing you won’t find in Lanier’s is hormone-injected meat. All products are free of hormones, antibiotics and steroids, and all of them are farmed locally. Though he doesn’t supply commercial customers with bulk orders, Wayne said he’s very happy to help anyone out as best he can, whether if it’s for their home or their business.

Wayne’s love of flexibility extends to the checkout process. Customers can pay with cash, credit card or EBT. I asked Wayne about the option to buy his products with EBT and he responded firmly.

“It is a great stimulus program, and anyone who says otherwise needs to check themselves,” he said. “It puts money back into the system that otherwise wouldn’t be there. It pays farmers, it pays truck drivers and it pays people who work in the warehouses. It impacts just about every part of the economy.”

EBT is the latest incarnation of the food stamps program, established to help combat severe domestic hunger — an estimated 45 million people in the United States use EBT each month, which covers food purchases only. Often used to supplement low incomes, the program offers people the opportunity to buy the food they need for sustenance and health. Some people cite abuse and fraud as reasons to abandon or abolish the program, while others believe the benefits of feeding people in need far outweigh these contentious issues.

Wayne Lanier falls into the latter category.

“Not only do I accept EBT, but I appreciate it so much,” he said. “It’s accepted here no matter where you’re from — South Carolina, Georgia, wherever, I can sell you food. And look, there’s fraud everywhere and probably more big-money fraud in other parts of the government than in this program. The majority of the people who use EBT really need it — their food is just a drop in the bucket as compared to what’s spent unnecessarily by government on conflicts in other countries. We have hungry people here in America who need help. Why people can’t realize that and appreciate that, I don’t understand.”

Being accommodating seems to come naturally to the Lanier family. They have a history that has enriched not only the individual family members, but their neighborhood and wider community. The store itself is decorated with items from the Lanier family farm — old tin signs, tools and toys from an age ago that would otherwise be sitting in their barn. These collectibles are now a source of conversation among Wayne’s customers, some of whom have added their own items to his collection.

“People come and give me stuff now. I put their things out and now they come in to our store and see things like their old overalls which are hanging up there, or one lady’s sweater that’s up there and another one’s clock.”

Making connections and celebrating life is part of Lanier’s business model, too. Wayne believes this is another part of working in his company that instills a sense of ownership among his employees.

“The meat business is very much a profession. Our product isn’t pre-packaged — we are grinding beef 20 times a day, for example — and it’s there for them to handle, to prepare and to provide. They are a vital part of that process and it gives them pride.”

The same is true of coming up with new ways to make life easier for his customers. Lanier’s already offers a text service — customers can text the word “meat” to a number that will automatically send them a text message notifying them of weekly specials. These specials are also featured on Lanier’s Facebook page, generating a lot of excitement and contributing to their high volume of sales.

Looking to the future, customers will be able to have even more control over their food orders and pickup, says Wayne. He has a lot of great ideas for the years ahead and told me it was very important to him to do as much as he can for the customers and his business.

“I want to continue to learn, I want us to grow — to do better.”

You can visit Wayne and his cheerful crew at Lanier’s Fresh Meat Market, located at 1831 Walton Way, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call them at 706-733-3313 or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/laniersfreshmeatmarket.

July 29, 2015

Ray of Light

by Molly Swift July 15, 2015

It’s hot, folks. Most evenings with temperatures still in the mid-90s, the last thing anyone wants to do is stand in the kitchen cooking for an hour.

Thankfully, new kid in town, Solé, is ushering in a welcome change to the otherwise limited Monday night dining landscape. I grabbed a friend and headed downtown to 1033 Broad Street.

Solé is owned by Jay Klugo, an experienced restaurateur from Clemson, South Carolina, and has revitalized a large section of the 10th block, built in the late 1800s, that was previously home to loans and insurance offices as well as a vacant lot. After extensive renovations to the interior, and alterations to the structure to incorporate a large patio and two dining areas, Solé opened July 1 promising tapas, sushi, contemporary and casual dining, and a wine bar.

Solé opens at 5 p.m. but when I arrived for the all-you-can-eat sushi special at 5:10, many of the restaurant’s tables were already occupied. I was greeted by a very friendly lady and shown immediately to the spacious dining room adjacent to the outside patio. Immediately I could tell I was about to enjoy myself. High ceilings, contemporary wall art that pops against a neutral color palette, beautifully stained concrete floors, exposed brick façade on one wall, and all of it bathed in natural light pouring through the many windows. To top it off, G. Love and Special Sauce came on as I sat down at one of the dark wooden tables featuring soft, comfortable high-backed leather booths — you really don’t get much funkier than that.

Service is a key part of the dining experience, and it can make or break a restaurant. Servers are supposed to be a conduit, but they should not be ever-present, nor should they be completely absent. It’s a balancing act and one that I appreciate can be super challenging, particularly when confronted by a demanding or hard-to-please customer. At Solé, I had a truly wonderful server who really deserved a larger tip than I could afford. She made eye contact, spoke clearly, smiled often and did exactly what she said she would do when she said she would do it. And she didn’t hover, mumble or get flustered — a pet peeve of mine that will turn me from a relaxed diner into a raging monster itching to leave and never return. And although I didn’t deal with more than a couple of the staff members, they all seemed more than competent and happy to be there. The manager swung by a couple of time to check on us, too. That speaks volumes.

The all-you-can-eat deal runs every Monday. As it was explained to me, each diner who pays $13.99 can order up to two rolls at a time from the Maki Sushi section of Solé’s ample menu, and there is absolutely no limit on how many times you order. The only restricted item is the shrimp tempura.

The Maki Sushi selection runs the gamut of popular sushi; from the well-known Philadelphia and California rolls, to Solé’s own in-house creations. I ordered the Augusta roll containing crab, shrimp and avocado, and the Grove, a staff favorite featuring eel, crab, cream cheese, avocado and sauces.

Good sushi takes a minute and I was more than prepared to wait the 20 minutes it took for the food to arrive. I used the time to peruse the rest of the menu, which struck me as well-balanced and thoroughly appealing. The menu is divided into sections: salads, burgers, grill, tapas and Maki sushi rolls and specialty sushi rolls. Each offered variety in terms of ingredients and dishes, as well as price.

And though it’s not cheap, it’s not expensive either. A salad might run you $10.99-$14.99, but you’re getting a full meal. Same with the burgers and grill items. Nobody could possibly leave hungry. Sushi rolls also vary in price from $4.99 to $8.99 — again, very reasonable.

The tapas items looked interesting. Never have I considered mozzarella jalapeno grit fritters or fried martini olives that have been soaked in vodka, but I seriously did that night. My dinner companion ordered the chicken finger basket from the grill section, which was a huge plate full of some of the best looking chicken fingers I’ve ever seen — not to mention a generous portion of really delicious fries. At $9.99, it’s perfect for diners with kids.

And yes, Solé is family-friendly. Tables seating for anywhere from two to eight people is dotted throughout the two dining areas, and there is also seating at the bar, which itself runs the length of one of the rooms. As the temperature cooled, the outdoor patio area also began to fill up with people eating and drinking — and dining al fresco will be fabulous during our cooler months. The patio also offers ample seating, some cornhole boards, umbrella-covered tables and a lovely view of Broad Street.

Our food arrived simply but beautifully arranged on a single plate with dipping dishes and chopsticks — though forks and knives are also provided. I gave some consideration to choosing one of the many adult beverages on offer, but decided to wait until I didn’t have to go into work the next day. That said, the selection is impressive — Solé offers a range of wines, beers, traditional and contemporary cocktails and mixed drinks.

Fresh ingredients, perfect sticky rice and a nice kick from Sriracha-based sauces made the Grove an instant favorite of mine. I loved the textures and the presentation — it delivered mouthful after mouthful of complex but refreshing flavors, and it took a good deal of restraint to eat it slowly. The Augusta roll was likewise delicious, although very similar in taste to the generally popular California and the Maine rolls. Zero complaints.

As we closed in on the final bites, we ordered the Yellowtail Crunch (yellowtail, cucumber, red pepper and Panko crunch) and the Futo Maki (shrimp, crab, salmon, avocado, cucumbers and dynamite sauce). Again we waited maybe 15 minutes for these to arrive and again they came out looking spectacular. Of the two though I preferred the Futo Maki, which was huge but cut into manageable discs, simply because I have a broken tooth that didn’t like the crunch on the Yellowtail Crunch roll. The Yellowtail roll did yield some bright and refreshing tones due to the red pepper and cucumber combination. Really nice touch.

Solé has received rave reviews (“awesome sushi,” “great service,” “amazing tapas”…) on Facebook and Twitter — the only places they advertise their specials — and they are entirely justified. As the evening progressed, we didn’t feel rushed to leave, but instead welcome to stay for as long as we wanted.

Overall, I’m thrilled Augusta has a quality restaurant like Solé that offers wonderful food at an affordable price and on a Monday. In my opinion, it effortlessly joins the ranks of numerous high-quality restaurants now making a home for themselves downtown; a change that was badly needed and clearly meets a demand. By the time we rolled out, two hours after we first arrived, the place was heaving, from the patio to the bar.

Chin, chin, Augusta! We’ve finally arrived.

Solé is located at 1033 Broad Street in downtown Augusta. Solé’s kitchen is open Monday-Saturday from 5-10 p.m. The sushi bar is open until midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday, and until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The drinks bar is open until 2 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Find them on Facebook at facebook.com/SoleAugusta, or on Twitter at twitter.com/Sole_Augusta.

July 15, 2015

Food Stuff

by Molly Swift July 4, 2015

Ducking into Taqueria El Patron for a quick bite on Friday was probably one of the best ideas we’ve had in a while. In fact, when Amy and I looked at the menu (tacos from $2.50, wut?!), I became even more confident we were in for a treat.

This little Mexican restaurant, set back in a strip mall on Washington Road, was highly recommended by a couple of good friends and has been on my list of places to go for a number of weeks. Check out the taqueria online and you’ll discover it has proved a hit on review sites such as Yelp and Trip Advisor.

Reviewers give it props for the “simple, authentic, belly pleasing food,” and “the best Carne Asada tacos in town!” For someone who is intimately familiar with authentic Mexican cooking, that’s got to be a huge bonus. But it’s the handmade corn tortillas and the massive flour burritos that seem to impress almost every commenter.

The interior is simple — pretty much what I had expected, but with one difference; it is bright, airy, spacious and cheerful. The walls painted a warm pumpkin orange, decorated with framed prints and greenery only add to the casual dining area. Tables are pulled together for large groups and small, and booths line the walls. The place was busy and only a couple of tables were available — we sat at one of the booths and were approached immediately.

After ordering a coke, I took a minute to look around. It’s a clean restaurant, despite the fast-paced service and constant traffic, and patrons are welcome to buy authentic Mexican products and fresh fruit including some hefty looking watermelons. The service was consistent and speedy and the servers were friendly without being overbearing. I was able to relax, chat with Amy and enjoy the game on the TV (the USA men’s soccer team beat Jamaica 2-0, btw. And you should already know this.)

Chips and salsa came out — three bowls ranging from the standard mild to a spicy hot, with a large bowl of crispy tortilla chips. I’m not a fan of anything that makes my eyes sting, but the spicy salsa wasn’t overbearing and though it packed some heat, the flavor was still very much present. Of course, you could use your own little dipping bowl to combine the three to your liking, but I was too caught up in the game to bother and before I knew it, our lunch was being served.

The massive Burrito El Patron was a wee beast. I told Amy I was sure my youngest was about that size when she was born. The charger it came out on was likely a 12-inch platter and almost every bit of available space was inhabited by this swaddled bundle of heaven. You’re given a steak knife to cut it — it’s that big.

The Burrito El Patron was stuffed with a delicious seared seasoned steak, rice, avocado, refried beans, cheese, onion, lettuce and tomato and topped with a tangy but sweet salsa verde. That extra note on top was brilliant and inspired. Goodness me. The tortilla was soft yet firm enough to handle its enormous load and the cheese, evenly melted throughout, made this challenge a truly guilty pleasure. At around $8, the burrito is a complete meal with every bite.

Amy went with a torta, the Mexican version of a sandwich that is sure to make any red-blooded American happy since it’s served with fries. The difference between a Mexican and American sandwich, however, is in the fillings. Sure, ham is offered, but on a rainy Friday, chorizo con huevos seemed like a good idea.

Served warm on a toasted roll, the sandwich was packed with spicy ground sausage, avocado, cheese, lettuce and tomato, but Amy couldn’t seem to find any eggs. That, however, was her only complaint, and she, like me, had to get a to-go box for the sandwich that was almost as big as my burrito. And at about $9, it was almost as good a deal.

I cannot say too much more — I was pleasantly stuffed after devouring half the burrito, and happily shoved the rest into a to-go box to be torn into the second I arrived home. Yum! No wonder customers leave happy — good service, clean and friendly restaurant with affordable, authentic and insanely delicious food. Ten out of 10. I would recommend it and will definitely return.

July 4, 2015

Local Network

by Molly Swift July 1, 2015

If you are using events on Facebook to discover what’s happening in your area, you’re not alone. According to the Social Network, 400 million people are doing the same and with a focus on growing hyper-local economies. The yield? “Nearly 30% of all the events people connect to — like concerts, community events and special nights at bars and restaurants — are created by Pages.”

Similar to other online advertising, a local Facebook page can be highly effective in getting people off their couch and out into the wild. It can also galvanize a body of people to try new things, such as Sidewalk Saturday taking place this weekend in downtown Augusta.

One such local Facebook page is the Downtown (Augusta) Lowdown. Primarily a hotspot for downtown business owners, but also for many of those actively supporting and developing the downtown vibe, the Lowdown is full of current information on programs, daily specials, store and restaurant openings, arts, music and more. Created and moderated by CoCo Rubio, owner of Soul Bar and Sky City, the Downtown Lowdown page is a helpful hub of info for its 3,100-plus members.

Unlike an online ad, a Facebook group page provides the option to interact and offer feedback. As a private group, the Lowdown provides a platform for its members to discuss new initiatives — brainstorming and often debating concepts and proposals. Sometimes, the topics die a rapid death; probably one of the easiest ways to gauge if an idea was worth pursuing. Others linger, gathering momentum as more and more members engage in a thorough discussion.

Sidewalk Saturday began as a question posed by member Kimberly Beasley. Beasley owns Curvitude, a boutique on Broad Street. Curvitude is one of several businesses that adopted downtown as their home and committed to growing a thriving downtown community.

The question Beasley asked was simple enough — which downtown businesses would support a Saturday initiative to draw foot traffic downtown during retail hours? Reasons were discussed; the Saturday Market is a great asset to Augusta, as is First Friday, but neither necessarily drove people to the shops in the way a sidewalk event can.

Support for the idea snowballed. The concept came together as experienced owners chimed in with their two cents and a formal meeting to flesh out the details was arranged. By the middle of June, Sidewalk Saturday had its own page and publicity flyer.

Described as a family friendly event, vendors and retailers will combine to offer special offers in the company of street artists, musicians and performers. Participating vendors and retailers from Riverwalk to beyond Broad Street will have sidewalk stands outside their stores displaying their products. How frequently the sidewalk sales take place is still to be determined, but a regular sidewalk event would keep people coming back for more.

“We hope to make this a main attraction for our Augustans and for tourists,” Beasley said. “The vision is to have a robust downtown, not just during peak events but year-round.”

As social networking has proven time and time again, having a great time with others and appreciating the collective local culture creates a vital sense of identity. Real people showing actual support for their community and then sharing that experience online creates a sense of belonging and pride.

“We want people to experience downtown in a positive manner,” Beasley explained. “Downtown is the heart of the city.”

The concept is not a new one, and towns and cities across the world use sidewalk events as a chance to offer bargains to potential customers. For those wandering around it’s a great opportunity to get to know the people behind the businesses and to experience downtown firsthand, rather than relying on gossip and urban myths. There’s no admission fee and no obligation to buy anything. Folks heading downtown can grab a coffee and start walking.

Participating retailers have been doing role call on the Downtown Augusta Sidewalk Saturday page. So far, the diverse selection includes everything from juice joint Humanitree House and retro collectibles, clothing and accessories from Vintage Ooollee to drinks from Flo, vinyl records at Pyramid Music and retro-inspired furnishings from Ashton Brooke Ltd.

Businesses and individuals use social networks such as Twitter and Facebook as an affordable means of reaching the neighbors. It’s the online equivalent of the events section in the paper, or (for those of us who remember) the Soul Bar’s message board. Drowning out competition in a virtual space is as challenging as finding an ad-free area on Washington Road, particularly when it comes to getting people to cross county lines for anything other than big-name retailers or bulk groceries. It takes some heavy advertising to cut through all that noise.

Across town and up the road, Columbia County also gets traction on its events through its Facebook promotion, but not through a central community page. Evans Towne Center Park, for instance, is an unofficial page populated with tagged photos and posts — kids playing in the park, professional photo shoots and user reviews comprise the bulk of the content — while the Evans Towne Farmers Market operates its own page separate from its location.

Evans and Martinez businesses advertise individually and don’t possess the single community page in the same way as downtown’s owners. Partly because sprawling suburbs can’t possibly have an identity based on anything other than proximity and property value, and partly because the area businesses are predominately large, corporate-owned entities.

The development in Columbia County, while providing people with a decent standard of living, doesn’t seem to be as focused on banding together to attract more customers. For some, there’s probably not much need. The Evans Mellow Mushroom page has been “liked” by nearly 4,000 users, while Limelite Café reaches nearly 2,000 people. Healthy numbers for self-promotion.

Efforts are continually being made to create opportunity for locals to enjoy life in the CSRA. In the last decade Columbia and Augusta-Richmond counties have exploded with more of everything; from businesses and organizations to family-friendly events, businesses and individuals are proving up to the challenge of catering to an ever-expanding population. Even the increasing prevalence of “locally grown” and “locally owned” aligns with the national trend toward developing locally supported micro economies.

But, when it comes to growing an interactive and supportive community, there is nothing on Facebook for the Evans or Martinez area. And this is understandable. Downtown Augusta is playing catch-up and it needs all the help it can get. The business owners downtown are fighting for stimulating support from their neighbors — a cash injection, if you will.

The successful implementation of sidewalk sales within numerous cities across the U.S. including Boulder, Colorado, and Greenwich, Connecticut, should encourage the general populous to welcome the establishment of Sidewalk Saturday. Many cities who host sidewalk sales report a marked increase in revenue and revitalization — a move that would significantly contribute toward growing the local marketplace.

Whether Augusta’s own Downtown Sidewalk Saturday can bring in the crowds now seen at First Friday and the Saturday Market will take some time to assess. However, grassroots projects such as these need commitment and engagement from the public and the players — the inclusion of all retailers, entertainers, artists and vendors on Broad Street could be the spark it needs to transform it from a sidewalk bazaar to an organic, self-sustaining celebration of the city.

July 1, 2015

Food Stuff

by Molly Swift June 27, 2015

Saying goodbye to June will be easy enough — the temps have been brutal across the southeast, eased only by a day by the water and something frozen, like a Frappuccino, or an ice cream, or an ice pop. Perhaps a margarita?

In fact, and unsurprisingly, June is the month when the highest volume of ice cream is produced across the country, with the greatest amount produced in the midwest. I’d wager the same could be said of margaritas.

Traipsing around downtown, I’ve discovered a few places that can help with me out with something cold. I’ve always hoped to see a proper ice cream shop open up downtown, but if it can’t happen, at least we have some intuitive retailers willing to fill that gap.

First up, the truly cool and truly delightful Sweet Sticks Skateboard Gallery. In a creative move, the downtown skate shop has partnered up with King of Pops, a brand of hand-crafted, all-natural ice pops from Atlanta. The partnership ties in with the store’s commitment to hand-crafted quality goods, and its name.

Ice pops are a good idea because ice pops appeal to customers of all ages. First invented by an 11-year-old in 1905, more than two billion of the frozen treats are now sold each year. Located at 1022 Broad, Sweet Sticks offers a mini-oasis of relief, and the very friendly staff welcome King of Pops customers as enthusiastically and warmly as their skateboarding customers. The day before I went in, they sold more than 30.

That’s a significant amount of exposure for a small shop enjoying its first year.

King of Pops appeals to those of us who enjoy fresh fruit, bright colors and a brand image that reminds some of us of the ‘80s. But it also appeals to those of us who are willing to try almost anything. On its website, you’ll find such King of Pops creations as Thai Tea, Herbes de Provence Lemonade, Creamy Avocado, Eggnog and Mango Habanero.

At Sweet Sticks, the King of Pops flavors on offer are near-perfect combinations: raspberry and lime; coconut, banana and orange; banana caramel; chocolate sea salt; and cookies and cream. I bought the raspberry and lime, expecting the usual sugar-explosion and instead found myself enjoying a ridiculously refreshing tart-sweet icy crunch from start to finish. It was delicious; for $3 the King of Pops proved a total treat.

Next, a visit to the 900 block which has changed radically in the past decade. Home to the JB Whites building, the transformed department store has been converted to loft apartments and retail space, including funky café The New Moon. Fresh pastries and sandwiches are always on the menu, but when it comes to battling the raging inferno of the Augusta summer, their milkshakes are hard to beat.

As is the upward trend, New Moon uses local ingredients for its menu selection. The creamy handspun milkshakes come in a variety of flavors and run around $4. I’m also a huge fan of the frappes and iced chai lattes.

After years of drinking my fair share of coffee and tea, I’ve discovered the difference between the New Moon and Starbucks is simply a matter of quality. Fresher ingredients, less-processed food and a more direct injection of cash into our community. As guilty as I might be at slipping into a Starbucks every now and then, I’d rather give my money to the people of local coffee shops who strive to support the local food market, and The New Moon is no exception. Not to mention, the staff is always super friendly and helpful, willing to answer even the most banal questions about menu items and ingredients.

Further down Broad Street, the Metro Market was a revelation to me when I first enjoyed lunch in its funky al fresco dining courtyard. Located next to Augusta Common, Metro Market is a convenience mart and café featuring to-go food items and dine-in options. The brick interior and the outdoor seating areas are — for lack of a better phrase — very cool, and creatively make use of the existing structure, ample natural light and neighboring green space.

Thanks to the 97-degree heat, I was parched by the time I had walked the few hundred feet to 851 Broad. Metro Market is actually a Sprint-owned store, but the food is so far beyond standard gas station food you’ll be glad you stopped by. Frozen drinks such as iced coffee and smoothies made with fresh fruit are available to-go, or you can grab a seat on the rooftop and enjoy your Orange Augustus while staring out over the Common.

I chose to sit in the shade sipping a Peach Mango con Leche — a Brazilian drink of peach and mango blended with sweet milk and ice. Creamy, fruity, sweet but not sugary, it was so good I had to practice serious self-restraint in not ordering another!

Yes, smoothies seem to be everywhere now, and I know making smoothies is not rocket science, but this smoothie was an unadulterated exercise in self-indulgence.
Sure, you can find cold drinks at any one of a number of locations downtown, but for chilled or frozen treats I can only add a few honorable mentions:

FLO at 879 is an urban contemporary social bar; its menu of mocktails and smoothies includes a broad array of affordable, non-alcoholic chilled or frozen drinks, all of which sound awesome. The one that caught my eye was the Augusta Ginger Peach Tea, though the Berry Smoothie and the Hawaiian Sophie — a strawberry, mango and pineapple smoothie — also sound yummy. For more info, check out their Facebook page facebook.com/augustaflo.

Humanitree House — which I’ve reviewed before — has one of the best smoothies I’ve ever tasted. The Chocolate Goddess is packed with nutrition and boasts a flavor that is out of this world. As of press time, they have a vegan cappuccino ice cream on offer, but it is definitely a new addition. Check out their daily specials on their Facebook page and their menu online at humanitreehouse.com.

Ice cream trucks and lemonade stands aren’t as common downtown as perhaps they should be. Of course First Friday this usually changes. During July’s First Friday which takes place July 3, the local nonprofit Alex’s Lemonade Stand will be making an appearance in front of Firehouse at 1147 Broad Street. Yes, that means cups of cold, sweet lemonade to quench your thirst and for the cost of any size donation. A registered charity, Alex’s Lemonade Stand raises money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, but take it from me, they also serve some fabulous lemonade!

Augusta’s tidy little selection doesn’t exactly bowl me over with choices, but I am willing to swear that what is on offer is worth trying at least once! And if there’s more, I’d love to know — shoot me a line at molly@themetrospirit.com.

June 27, 2015

Bowled Over: Brunswick Burgers and More

by Molly Swift June 14, 2015

Signs of summer: mosquito bites on ankles; that shimmery haze floating above every inch of asphalt in the state; the smell of BBQ; and kids. Kids at the mall. Kids at the stores. Kids at the lake.

Speaking to my boss about potential targets for my palate, he thought it wise to cover something related to what many families will be doing in the coming weeks. Sure, makes sense, right? After going through the list of potentials, he began grinning like a maniacal psycho and scribbled my next mission onto a piece of paper before collapsing onto his iron throne of swords, overcome with rampant roars of self-congratulatory laughter.

Well, that’s how it played out in my mind. Anyway, I was told I had to go to the bowling alley.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

The bowling alley is NOT somewhere you choose to go eat. In fact, eating at the bowling alley is merely a byproduct of the bowling experience in the same way a gas station hotdog is only to be consumed when adequately inebriated after a night at the Rack and Grill.

Brunswick is always busy. Yes, it was the middle of the week and the middle of the day, but there were kids everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Sure enough, they were wearing matching t-shirts and a few authoritative women were standing around keeping the kids’ fingers in the bowling balls and out of their nostrils. Camp groups, yay!

Couple of things about this review – first, I do love the bowling alley. It holds many fabulous memories for me. Mostly of dropping my girls off there for parties so I can get some “me time”, but also – way back in the day – it was the only place you could go drink pitchers of “beer” and passively smoke a few packs of cigarettes without showing your ID.

Second, I cannot truly critique a place that has limited control over its menu, suppliers, or staff. The place is owned by Bowlmor AMF Corps.; individuals may make a difference, but you are going to get the same type of food regardless of the location. This is where that stupid phrase “it is what it is” actually makes sense.

So I’m just here to share my experience, because so many of you are going to go through it too. Suckers.

Once again, I had my youngest with me. The kid was not happy with the fact we weren’t bowling, but after I bribed her with a lollipop and a promise we would soon return for a game, she was fine. Hungry, but fine. Problem being, we couldn’t order anything. Three groups of camp kids got there before us and they all wanted pizza. My math skills told me this meant the one guy they had in the kitchen would need to make something like 200 pizzas in 15 minutes, so I told him I’d wait to order until he was more available.

Turned out to be a mistake. What I thought was a nice thing to do – being considerate and waiting – only became an opportunity for the other 350 bowlers to step up to the counter to complain or demand their food. As I watched the cook silently freak out in his head, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Folks, think about your own cooking experiences. Why would you think a single person could handle an avalanche of food orders at once? Can you? I can hardly manage to get dinner out for five people within half an hour and you expect him to make 12 pizzas, a dozen orders of wings and 40 baskets of fries in five minutes? What planet do you live on? And, if you are so talented, can you please come cook dinner for my family?

We waited and watched the bowling. And the Women’s World Cup match between USA and Australia was on, so I was very happy (USA won 3-1, by the way. And yes, you should know that.) The screens were showing all kinds of things and somehow the speakers were blaring out music, too. Pair that with the noise of a gazillion people bowling/shouting and you have a sensory overload that rivals Chuck E. Cheese birthday parties and the mall at Christmas. I began cursing my boss under my breath. Repeatedly.

Speaking to one of the ladies at the desk I discovered Brunswick needs cooks. Well, no duh. But, even under the kind of pressure that would crush me, the cook was really nice to us. Fielding complaints from customers, he was professional and straight forward. He even smiled when I thanked him, which I didn’t anticipate – really, for the hour or so I was there I half expected him to start hurling plastic food baskets across the counter, but he didn’t.

Anyhow, 35 minutes later, I was able to order from the extremely standard menu. Bizarrely the selection is varied enough everyone can find at least one meal they would eat. Yes, burgers, hot dogs and pizza are a given but the “healthy options” were a surprise – not that I could ever eat a chicken salad wrap when breathing in the aroma of 300 people’s feet, but it was comforting to know I at least had the option.

It was fairly standard pricing, too. Ranging from a few dollars for snacks and appetizers to about $9-$10 for a combo meal – slightly more than I’d care to spend, but again, it is what it is.

Naturally, they have a kids menu. Pizza, hot dog, mac & cheese bites (wut?), grilled cheese. The usual. My daughter chose chicken tenders and fries. Altogether the mini-meals cost about $5 including a drink. Served with a generous cup of honey mustard, the portions are plenty large enough for an adult, let alone a child.

The same could be said for my food, which I got about 20 minutes after I ordered. I went for the “Crowd-Cheeser” – a $9 combo of fries and a “classic burger covered in chees and grilled to please.” Note: do NOT order it by name. Just say you want a cheeseburger, or the woman helping the cook will issue you with a blank look, a slight sneer and then correct you with the question, “You mean a cheeseburger?”

Oh, you got me, don’t I feel silly for ordering it by its name. Sorry you don’t like your job.

The burger bun was toasted and slightly melted butter was spread on the inside of the bun. The burger itself was grilled enough I couldn’t really taste anything but ketchup. The fries were perfectly edible. The milkshakes were not actually shakes, but they were cold and sweet so I was happy slurping mine. If I’d been bowling, I wouldn’t have focused so much on the quality, but not being swept up by knocking pins down allowed me too much time to think about what I was eating.

We’ll be back, and we’ll eat the food – after all, the kid decided it’s where she wants to have her birthday party next month. But, I don’t think I’ll be eating a whole meal there again. It took about 7 hours for my stomach to digest that burger. No kidding. I couldn’t eat dinner that night, and the repercussions are not something I discuss in polite company, but I will say the following morning I was relieved to discover the abdominal swelling had disappeared. Funnily enough, it had kinda resembled a bowling ball…

June 14, 2015

Street Art

by Molly Swift June 10, 2015

Steve Cassell, assistant director of Traffic and Engineering for the city of Augusta, has been bringing art to the streets of Richmond County. The 23 painted traffic signal cabinets, aka boxes, throughout Richmond County were his brainchild, intended both as a means of bringing art to the public and creating beauty in unexpected places.

Art by Leonard Zimmerman (Porkchop)

“Steve’s a forward thinker,” said Sallie West, outreach director for the Greater Augusta Arts Council (GAAC). “He has traveled around the country and has seen projects like this one in other cities and brought the idea to us.”

After a few years, the required funding was identified and the GAAC — the city’s public art agency — was able to pick up the project and run with it.

Known as Art the Box, the painted traffic boxes are dotted throughout Augusta. Funding for the project — a cost of roughly $25,000 — was provided by the city of Augusta and the Downtown Development Authority, and not the Greater Augusta Arts Council.

“The partnership with the DDA came about because they were so excited with the idea of the boxes they funded the Broad Street locations,” West said.

There is a greater concentration of painted boxes on Broad as a result, but West said that was also because of funding and ordinances.

Art by Jason Craig

“It’s a city-funded project, so there is one at Augusta Regional Airport, Milledgeville Road, Walton Way Extension and more,” she explained. “We’ve got one in every commission district with an eligible box. There is only one district without one and that’s because it doesn’t have a traffic box that isn’t on a state highway, and these can’t go on state highways.”

Members of the public seemed to be under the impression Art the Box would be relegated to downtown, but West said that too was a misconception.

“We’re aware that the rest of the town that isn’t downtown believes that downtown always gets everything, so we wanted to make sure everyone was included in the project.”

Two of the outlying traffic cabinets were painted by Wesley Stewart, an art teacher at East Georgia State College. His designs, located at the corner of Barton Chapel Road and Milledgeville Road, and Lumpkin Road at Richmond Hill Road, will make people look twice.

“Each design plays with and manipulates the surface, creating an illusion from two dimensional into three dimensional. What is seen as the background reverses into foreground and vice versa.”

Art by Jacob Vaz

The box designs were selected out of 48 concepts submitted by 30 artists, which in the end was whittled down to 19 artists to paint 23 commissioned boxes. With a deadline of the end of May, artists began working in earnest, sharing their progress on social media and tagging it with the hashtag #arttheboxAUG.

One concern raised by the artists was that of integrity and preservation — would the boxes withstand time, wear and potential vandalism? West addressed this point, noting the boxes were covered in a clear layer that is itself washable, in case someone chose to tag a box.

During the selection process, the designs were assessed carefully by a large panel, and each artist was allocated their location. One exception, Jason Craig requested his location specifically both to keep an eye on it in the years to come and as a way of adding beauty to an eyesore.

“My main concern was to improve the box by making it feel like a part of its surroundings,” he said. “Honestly, I wish it had never been placed there in the first place. So I decided I would like to cover it with sights from around downtown that I see on my drive to work every day. Sort of a cultural camouflage. I figured that if I like seeing these things already, maybe I won’t mind them on the box.”

Guaranteeing the paintings would remain vivid, each artist was issued Golden Artist Colors paints, a brand recognized for its durability and quality. Artist Leonard Zimmerman said it really made all the difference.

“The magic they worked with Golden paint was exactly that — magic. Each artist selected the colors they wanted and double checked them with a specialist from Golden who offered suggestions if the hues we selected weren’t as color fast as another option.”

The project is also a way to introduce established and up and coming artists. Not all the Art the Box participants are well-known in Augusta, though others, such as Zimmerman, Rhian Swain and Craig are familiar names and successful artists in their own right.

“It’s hard for me to highlight one artist, because we have artists from all kinds of backgrounds — two of the artists are just finishing college, and several are aspiring or established professional artists,” West said. “So we had a wide variety — their resume was part of the selection process, but so was the concept and its quality.”

The submitted designs varied widely in concept, and though a few subjects were inevitable, not everyone went for the most obvious option.

“We actually didn’t get as many James Browns as we thought we would!” laughed West, but the selected concepts did sometimes determine their location. “The DDA insisted the James Brown box would be at James Brown Boulevard, and the Woodrow Wilson design would be near his childhood home, and the Jessye Norman design would be on a box near the Jessye Norman School of the Arts.”

The Greater Augusta Arts Council would love to see Art the Box have a positive impact on the image of Augusta, and as a means of encouraging the public to understand the need for exposure to creativity and art in public places. That the project resulted in a massive and sudden wave of art for Augusta isn’t lost on Zimmerman. The artist painted the box outside of Metro, A Coffee House on Broad, using his signature robots and warm, vibrant colors. He sees nothing but good coming from Art the Box.

Art by Stacey Atkins

“Do I think they benefit Augusta? Of course I do,” he said. “Augusta gained 23 pieces of public art at within a month. That’s pretty damn cool. It makes both locals and visitors aware of our community full of artists. The finished painted metal wardrobes in the middle of the sidewalk (that don’t’ lead to Narnia) are like the $20 bill you found in the coat you’ve not worn since last year… surprised when you see it but happy you did.”

The project is not intended to be seen as purely a means of beautification. Although the artwork is protected by an external clear seal, nature may ultimately decide just how long the community can enjoy the art.

Instead, Art the Box demonstrates a need for public art as a means of increasing pride in the community, but providing it is an option available to all — the city can provide funding for public art pieces, but so can Augusta’s businesses.

“Public art is any art that is enjoyed by the public,” she said, “but that public art is any art funded by the public or privately.”

What can we take from that? Well, if the Art the Box initiative generates enough support from the community, we may see the city support other public art projects throughout the area. Local organizations already have the option of funding a painted utility box near their property, said West, they just need to contact the GAAC.

Of course, this reveals one of downtown Augusta’s big struggles — a distinct lack of support and engagement from large corporations. Apart from a few major players, most businesses in Augusta are locally owned or smaller franchises that do not have the capacity or income to support larger public art commissions. Though, said West, there are some notable exceptions, to include the Children’s Medical Center through GRU. But for public art to become prevalent, city residents must become advocates.

Art by Erica Pasteki

Cultural tourism is considered a key factor in improving a city’s quality of life; through these pieces the city recognizes the creativity, beauty and heritage of the Augusta area. “The community has a cultural identity that is local with local artists,” Wesley Stewart said.

That’s why the themes on the boxes resound with so many people, whether native to the area or transplants. Magnolias, frogs, Amen Corner, James Brown, Woodrow Wilson, family, joy and vibrancy — they are all telling the city’s story to everyone.

Erica Pasteki, who painted the boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson on Broad, said, “I love the idea of celebrating Augusta and making its history known. We have such a rich history and the boyhood home of President Woodrow Wilson is just one little part of it.”

The economic impact of public art is also measurable and significant. Cities who actively support public art witness an increase in business and tourism.

“Public artwork can be accessed by anyone and everyone, without PPV,” Stewart said. “They change the space of where they’re installed at or painted and activate that area; this Art the Box project has turned common, run of the mill traffic boxes into works of art.”

Essentially, public art adds value to the area and makes it more appealing to individuals and business, something the Augusta area could benefit from for more than one week every year.

Which is why Art the Box is actually a very clever project. Not only is the outcome desirable, it actively engages Augusta residents and appeals to visitors from out of town. As anticipated, Art the Box has become a talking point on social media and among the public at large. Responses have been overwhelmingly positive, but it is the interaction between the artists and the public that have been even more revealing. Established Augusta artist and owner of Redwolf, Inc., Rhian Swain compiled a video of her experience painting in public demonstrating how eager some folks were to take part in what they saw as a novel venture.

Wanda Dansereau

Another participating artist, Stacy Atkins, issued a challenge to Facebook and Instagram followers. In addition to the Americana style “Yummy Tomatoes” cabinet, Stacy painted Chopin’s music on one of the boxes on Walton Way Extension and invited anyone who can read it to take a keyboard to the location and play. So far, nobody has taken him up on the challenge, but it’s probably just a matter of time.

To the artists, the experience was unique more as a result of the interactions than the art alone. Jason Craig, whose design centered on well-known monuments of Augusta, said the responses were a welcome surprise.

“I have been painting outside in full view of the public for over 10 years and have never been thanked as much as I was on this project,” he said. “People felt like we were doing something good for the city and it really gave me more pride in what I was doing.”

Stories were shared on Facebook and Instagram, inspiring and motivating the artists and community to share their thoughts and memories. Erica Pasteki said the interactions were numerous.

“Some of the people that stopped by while I was working would tell me stories about their own history here and their time growing up in Augusta,” she said. “It was really interesting to hear all the different things people went through or did during different time periods. I was flattered they chose to share their stories with me… there were so many they could really fill a book.”

Days after the last of the paint had dried, the Art the Box “reveal” took place during the June First Friday in the new gallery and art space, 600 Broad. Brenda Durant, Sallie West and their team from GAAC welcomed a large crowd to view a live feed of the boxes before their presentation. Looking around the room, it was easy to see the impact the project has already had. Described as “phenomenal” and “just what Augusta needs,” the boxes have already appealed to Augusta’s community and the GAAC team is anticipating more support and interest to come.

Ultimately, it may be that the true reveal was a very real and visible change in the way we see public art, and one that could have an ever-increasing, positive impact on the city. A point on which all the artists seem to agree. Pasteki explained that the public art pieces were certainly enjoyable to paint, but in the end it’s all about improving the surroundings.

“Augusta is as great as we want it to be, but it all starts with us taking pride in our home, so we might as well spruce up the place a bit,” she said. “And a little paint goes a long way.”

Search for more images of the painted boxes on social media with the hashtag #arttheboxAUG, or go to the GAAC website augustaarts.com.

June 10, 2015

You Can Never Go Home Again

by Molly Swift June 3, 2015

There was a time Columbia Road was home to a truly unique little Japanese restaurant serving some of the best fresh sushi around. Kinki Sushi was a hop, skip and jump from another of my fave “hidden gems,” Emashiya Korean BBQ, and all of a few minutes from our home.

It was our go-to for date nights — usually quiet enough for a private meal, but populated enough you didn’t wonder if there was something hideously wrong with the place. For skeptics (ahem), the sushi bar provided the perfect spot to sit and watch the chefs create edible works of art from scratch. The service wasn’t just good; the servers were super friendly and had excellent timing. And the Kinki Roll with its crunchy tempura and spicy mayo sauce was just about the best sushi roll I’d ever had before then or since.

The restaurant endeared itself to me for all these reasons and one more. On the walls hung a few framed Japanese prints featuring beautiful scenery, sparkling rivers and traditional pagodas. All very normal, right? But, if you looked closely at these prints you would see tiny magazine cutouts of Miley Cyrus. Miley sitting on a porch, or peeking out behind a tree, or looking out a window. Countless Mileys just quietly waiting to be seen. So weird and funny.

Then, my youngest was born and Mr. Swift and I became hermits for I-don’t-know-how-long. By the time we were financially and physically capable of resuming date nights, Kinki was gone.

Actually, it had just moved. At some point between 2008 and 2010, Kinki’s business model changed and the restaurant realized it could profit from a more fast-food style system. Kinki Sushi occupied a place in the Augusta Mall’s food court and closed the restaurant on Columbia Road. At a later date, the mall location closed but Kinki had already taken up residence in Le Pavilion on Washington Road, its current location which offers customers the option to dine-in or take-out.

The Kinki Sushi I walked into was radically different from the original version and I was shocked — like I had been suckered into a fast food joint and seeing a red-haired clown guy wouldn’t be weird at all. Welcome to McKinki.

I tried to set aside the memories and go with it, but the difference is radical — from its décor to the menu. The dining area stainless steel chairs, plastic covered everything and a self-serve soda dispenser. Order your food at the counter, grab your plastic fork or chopsticks and go find a seat at one of the very few four-top tables, or one of three taller two-top tables looking out the window at Washington Road.

The young guy taking the food order at the register was nice enough — a couple of cooks were busy in the kitchen, but only two people were waiting for their food at a table, so I figured it wouldn’t take long to get our dinner. The man certainly wasn’t rude, but he was in a hurry and I felt it. I tried asking about the new rolls on offer, since I couldn’t see my Kinki Roll or even anything comparable to it on the menu, but either the heat of the kitchen or my five-year old interrupting everything I was saying led to a very brief and hurried exchange and he didn’t seem to understand what I was asking.

I admitted defeat and just went with the Super Crunchy Roll for $8.99, which the guy suggested was a suitable alternative. The sushi rolls were all very affordable, ranging from $5.99 to $14.99, while the teriyaki and hibachi grill items are closer to $10 per dish.

I ordered the chicken teriyaki with fried rice for the kid. She was thrilled because she thought I was about to force her to eat raw fish (for many five year olds that’s akin to being hung over a pit of snakes) — plus, she was allowed to use the soda dispenser herself and she got to use chopsticks. It was a big deal.

The place was clean and the tables looked like they’d been wiped down. We sat and waited. And waited. Fun parenting moments, like teaching the kid to use chop sticks and practicing with tabletop items and the obligatory “I need to go potty” panic made the time fly by. For about 10 minutes. After that, it was all I could do to stop myself from walking out. Because, now that it looked like a fast-food restaurant, I expected the food to be made quickly, which is just silly, apparently.

Sitting at the table, I couldn’t actually see our food being prepared — there was no telling what was happening behind the partition and no way to see the chefs working their magic. It took close to 20 minutes for our food to arrive. On a Styrofoam plate. The kid got hers served in a to-go box. So, not a place to come for a date night unless you want to dine on disposable dinnerware; though it does mean no awkward wait for a server at the end of the meal since you can just pick up everything and head straight out. But, in this moment I realized Kinki had totally changed — it had moved on and it was I that was stuck in the past.

The super crunchy roll wasn’t super crunchy — the shrimp tempura wasn’t tempura, it was panko bread crumbs. Seriously, I don’t know if the golden breaded shrimp was even prepped in-house, since it was indiscernible from something you can find in the freezer section at Kroger. And truly disappointingly, it was the only crunch. Semi-crunchy roll, perhaps?

The shrimp was accompanied by cucumber and mayo, and topped with crab, avocado and more shrimp. Again, I was disappointed both with its appearance, and then its lack of flavor. It was bland — yes, the innards were fresh ingredients (probably), but they certainly didn’t taste amazing. It wasn’t the Kinki Roll, or even close.

Just like the rest of the experience, there was nothing terribly wrong with it, but there was nothing terribly right, either. It was sushi in name only, so I dutifully dipped it in some soy sauce and got through it in a few minutes. Mmm… soy sauce.

There are no kid-size portions or half-portions, so the chicken teriyaki was a mountain of fried rice and chicken in a to-go box. I tried it (stole some) and it indeed tasted like every other chicken teriyaki I’ve ever had and, yes, I could totally eat the entire thing because it’s yummy. I can also eat an entire jar of Nutella with a spoon; doesn’t make it an epicurean delight.

It was time to exercise that to-go box. Nobody had asked us if our food was okay or if we needed anything but we did get a “goodbye” shouted to us as we headed out the door. I can’t say I’ll return, but I might. There’s no reason to avoid it — it is what it is. But I still need to let go, because now there’s no going back to how it was, and it was damn near perfect.

Kinki Sushi is located at 3328 Washington Road in the Le Pavilion shopping center. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Call 706-364-2161 or visit kinkisushi.com.

June 3, 2015