Welcome to Visit Augusta GA blog

This year’s Social Canvas is coming! It will be held Sunday, May 6th on the Riverwalk in front of the Morris Museum of Art. Check out last year’s blog about Social Canvas:

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Last weekend the Morris Museum of Art held its third annual Social Canvas event. The first thing you need to know about Social Canvas is that it is AWESOME! The second thing you need to know about Social Canvas is that it is FREE!

So, WHAT IS SOCIAL CANVAS?

Sound like fun? It should! If you have kids, they will adore all the art projects that they can be a part of; including painting on the massive canvas that’s appropriately titled the “Social Canvas!”

WHAT DO YOU DO?

If you’re like me and going alone or with a friend, there’s plenty for you to enjoy. Artists. Live music. Breakdancing. The Artisan Market. Art Projects. Did I mention the live music and breakdancing?

At the Artisan Market you can find anything from hand sculpted ceramic bowls, vases and sculptures to handmade jewlery and accesories, local photography and even hand sewn clothing. After I made my rounds and spent my hard earned money on FABULOUS finds in the market, I headed over to one of the art projects and tried my (decidedly unartistic) hand at screen poster making.

For those of you who have never tried screening a poster, it’s a step by step process-NOT at all like what I’m used to, which is creating a digital file and hitting “print.” The result is a beautiful, layered print with lots of bright colors and TONS of personality.

While waiting on each layer of my poster to dry, I sat under a tree with a sweet tea and listened to The Favors. I’d never heard them play before, although I have seen where they are frequent guests at Sky City- a local bar and indie music venue. Two words to describe them…smooth and catchy!

At the end of the day, I felt….well, sunburned (next year I’ll bring sunscreen) but also incredibly satisfied. For a self-admitted NON-artist, I had created an awesome poster, watched as local artists created paintings inspired by the atmosphere, listened to great music, boosted the local economy and left with a bag full of one-of-a-kind jewelry and art.

I grabbed a free sticker on the way out that says “I Experienced Art at the Morris.” Until you do something like this, you don’t really appreciate that phrase, so GO! EXPERIENCE! The Morris puts on events all the time-ranging from independent films, workshops, readings,  even cooking demos! It is always reasonably priced or free and most definitely worth a visit!

Morris Museum of Art

1 Tenth St.

Augusta, GA 30901

I’m a dream gardener. As in I dream big. I have these grand ideas of this beautiful backyard paradise that I’ll develop from scratch and plant with my own two hands – complete with lush greenery, gorgeous flowers and a bountiful garden. I think one day I’ll actually make it to my dream, but until then I try in vain not to kill window boxes (apparently they need a lot of water) and take great pride in the fact that I can work wonders on my front yard with petunias.

I also drool over fancy gardens in magazines and can lose hours watching HGTV. But my favorite window (and some actual) shopping for my dream garden is the Sacred Heart Garden Festival. Held annually over the last weekend in April, the Sacred Heart Garden Festival provides an opportunity to learn, plan, shop and get ideas from gardens that are the envy of Augusta. The festival includes workshops by master gardeners, vendors and admission to tour the gardens of private homes.

The Sacred Heart Cultural Center – a one-time catholic church that is a beautiful attraction in its own right – is filled with garden vendors. You can buy everything from vases to scarecrows to beautiful bird houses. Home items are also available. I almost took home this beautiful rocker (I really need a front porch).

Head outside and find even more vendors that have unique garden art, neat little hanging mechanisms and all the plants you could hope to find.

And then, my favorite part, the dream gardens. Local landscape architects and nurseries create sample gardens. And although I always say that I really want the first one that I see, then I see the next one. And the next one. And the next one. I want them all. They are fabulous, and many of the creators actually provide schematics for each that detail directions and exact plant types. I went home with several big ideas for my one day garden.

Unfortunately I didn’t have time to do the garden tours. But there’s always next year….

Sacred Heart Garden Festival

April 27 – 30, 2012

www.sacredheartgardenfestival.com

Rock Fore! Dough this year was once again a great time! The 7th annual concert and fundraising event is held every year during Masters Week at the First Tee of Augusta. Last year, the concert took place on Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

This event has become a Masters Week tradition for both locals and visitors. It’s a great event because it’s your opportunity to listen to music and help raise money!

The Sibling Strings, a local band, started the night off. Next came Edwin McCain singing his famous hits “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More.” He also sang several well-known cover songs including one of my favorites from the talented Bob Marley, “No Women, No Cry.”

Michelle and I had a great time singing and dancing along, especially when Sister Hazel took the stage next. My favorite part was when they did what lead singer/guitarist, Ryan Newell called a “smooch up.” This was a compilation of several pieces of all their great songs and a real crowd pleaser. They also did a great job covering Bad Company’s “Shooting Star.” 

The moment everyone was waiting for was when the headliner, Darius Rucker  took the stage. Rucker has played at Rock Fore! Dough four times in the past as a member of Hootie and The Blowfish. 2011 was his first year headlining the act as Darius Rucker. He sang several of his new songs like, “Come Back Song,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” and his newest single “This.” He also gave the people what they wanted and sang some of the hits from his former band Hootie and the Blowfish like, “Hold My Hand,” Let Her Be,” and “I Only Wanna Be With You.” He also did a fabulous job covering Hank William Jr.’s “Family Tradition.”

If you have never been to Rock Fore! Dough I encourage you to get your tickets for 2012! It is usually held the Tuesday during Masters Week.

If you’re looking for an warm setting and great food, Crums on Central is the place to go.

This locally owned treasure is tucked away in the Summerville neighborhood. They serve lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. They have a variety of delicious appetizers and entrées  ranging from Crab Cakes and Crummy Fries to wood fire pizza, Shrimp and Grits, Chicken Florentine, and Fried Quail.

I have been for dinner and loved it and had lunch there other day with a coworker and some of our volunteers. I had the Crummy Fries which came with bacon, parmesan, feta cheese, and Crum’s pesto ailoi. They were to die for!

My coworker and I had the bacon cheddar burger and I added a fried egg to mine. One of the volunteers had the crab cakes and the other had the catfish po-boy. The service is wonderful and the owner and general manager were very accommodating. I can’t wait to try their brunch!

Crums on Central

1855 Central Avenue, Augusta Ga

706.729.6969

Lunch: Tues-Fri, 11-2:30
Brunch: Sat & Sun, 11-2:30
Dinner: Tues-Sun, 4:30 to until

Family reunions are great fun, and great for family relationships. We know, because Augusta has played host to reunions large and small for generations.

And over the years, we’ve learned a lot about what makes them work—from hotel proposals to welcome packets to ideas for activities.

Join “Cousin” Michelle Bovian from the Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau for a workshop that will help make your reunion in Augusta the best ever. The workshop is free, but reservations are required.

Watch Video to learn what you’ll get to do during the 2012 family reunion planning workshop.

To register, call the Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau at (706) 823-6600 ext: 226

Family Reunion Planning Workshop

Saturday, February 4 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

at the Kroc Center: 1833 Broad Street