Welcome to Visit Augusta GA blog

Nestled away in the beautiful Forest Hills neighborhood in Augusta, Georgia along the legendary Rae’s Creek (which runs through the Augusta National Golf Club’s infamous Amen Corner) is Rae’s Coastal Cafe.

To be honest, the restaurant is a little difficult to find, it’s hidden and is a nice, quaint escape from the city. But, one call to the cafe and the friendly staff will be more than happy to guide you to your destination. Or you could always follow the smell of their unforgettable food!

My first trip to Rae’s Coastal Cafe was for a friend’s baby luncheon. Traditionally people have baby showers to celebrate the birth of a child, but she wanted something different and non-conventional. So, we chose a different, non-traditional restaurant.

They serve seafood, Southern and Caribbean style dishes. The atmosphere is quite cozy and nestled within a very pleasant neighborhood, surrounded by lots of trees and vegetation. You really feel like you’ve left the busy city, even though it’s simply minutes away.

Our waiter, Derrick, was fantastic and very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. The management was also very friendly and came out to check and make sure everything was perfect, and it was!

For an appetizer, we ordered the Onion Bloom and the Shrimp Pate with Mango Chutney, which was delish.

I ordered the Coconut Shrimp for an entree, which was served with the Rae’s House Salad (fresh greens, tomatoes, pita croutons  and Rae’s house made  dressing), and rice and black beans. I was very satisfied with my choice.

After hearing so many people rave about Rae’s famous She-Crab Soup, we couldn’t leave without trying it! And? It was fantastic! The soup was cream-based, similar to a chowder, but lighter with a sweet, fresh crab taste. Simply said…it is the best soup I’ve ever tasted.

Rae’s is open for both lunch and dinner. The Cafe also has a full bar and outdoor seating. Oh, and don’t forget their Key Lime Pie; it’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart, just as it should be.

If you haven’t tried Rae’s, you’re missing out on some scrumptious food!

Rae’s Coastal Cafe
(706) 738-1313
3208 W. Wimbledon Drive
Augusta, Georgia 30909

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Friday    11 am – 2 pm for lunch
Tuesday – Thursday   5 pm – 10 pm for dinner
Friday  -  Saturday    5 pm – 11 pm for dinner
Sunday  12 pm – 10 pm for lunch and dinner

I got to see a random act of culture on the streets of Augusta this past Tuesday. A group  from out of town called the 6th Floor Trio set up below the Imperial Theatre marquee and played for an hour before moving on to the Riverwalk to play some more. The concert was free and the trio encouraged anyone passing by on the street to stop and listen. 

 (Click here to see part of the concert on YouTube.)

After a little research on the internet, I learned that people all over the United States are experiencing random acts of culture thanks to a grant program through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. I’m talking opera performances in the Philadelphia Ikea, ballet performances at the Miami airport and brass quintet performances in the Macy’s in St. Paul. This movement is pretty cool and is kind of a big deal. I’ve got my fingers crossed that we see more random acts in Augusta very soon.

You could win a fun filled weekend in Augusta, Ga from September 14 – September 16, 2012.! Click here to register.

Shop for local arts and crafts, sample food from around the world, see live performances and much more during the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. Hear bluegrass legend Ricky Scaggs live at the historic Imperial Theatre and eat like a foodie at some of Augusta’s best local restaurants.

Vacation package includes:

• 2 VIP passes to Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival (Learn more about Arts in the Heart of Augusta )
• 2 tickets to Southern Soul & Song presents: Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder (Learn more about the Southern Soul and Song series)
• 2 night stay and breakfast for two days at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
• Dinner at La Maison
• Dinner at Rooster’s Beak
• Lunch at The Boll Weevil
• Gas Card
• 2 VIP Passes to Augusta attractions

Winner will be notified by August 24, 2012.

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:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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