Thank you all for the feedback on the Augusta Dinner Club idea! (if you don’t know what I’m talking about read last weeks edition)
Expect some news about in in the next week or two (and if you’re a restaurant wanting to host reply to this email!)
Super excited to get this idea going. For now, here’s this week’s edition:
🌴 A Hidden Coastal Escape on the West Side
Tucked away in a neighborhood at the west end of Walton Way, Rae's Coastal Cafe feels like a trip to your favorite beach. Open since 1992, this locally owned spot serves Caribbean-inspired seafood and grilled dishes in a tin-roofed "shack" surrounded by lush vegetation along Rae's Creek. The menu highlights include Outer Banks crab cake sandwiches, jerk baby back ribs slow-cooked until they fall off the bone, and a jerk chicken marinated in a recipe brought back from Montego Bay. The outdoor patio overlooking the creek is one of Augusta's best-kept secrets.
Read more here.
⛽ Georgia Gas Tax Suspended for 60 Days
The Gist: The Georgia Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday to suspend the state's gas tax for 60 days, and Gov. Kemp plans to sign it Friday. The state gas tax is currently 33.3 cents per gallon, meaning drivers could save over 30 cents a gallon for the next two months.
Why It Matters: Local mobile businesses say rising gas prices are cutting into their bottom line, and this is the fourth time Kemp has suspended the tax since 2021.
Read more here.
🏠 Augusta's First Tiny Home Village Nears Completion
The Gist: Community members toured Augusta's first tiny home community Wednesday, getting an inside look at the nearly finished homes being built for young adults aging out of foster care. The nonprofit Bridge Builders Communities is leading the 25-home project on Merry Street.
Why It Matters: With 11,000 kids in foster care in the state of Georgia, many face homelessness as soon as they turn 18. Young adults are expected to move in by summer.
Read more here.
💰 $6.8 Million in Rental Aid Unaccounted For
The Gist: Auditors reviewing Augusta's Department of Housing and Community Development found that out of $26 million in federal emergency rental assistance, about $6.8 million cannot be confirmed as having been used for its intended purpose.
Why It Matters: The department's financial missteps have already cost Augusta over $8 million in federal reimbursements and penalties, and some commissioners are calling for the FBI to investigate.
Read more here.
🎨 Artrageous! Family Sunday: Social Canvas Block Party | Morris Museum of Art | Augusta | 03/22 | More Hands-on art activities for all ages along the Riverwalk.
🏃 Shamrock Shuffle 5K & Fun Run | Salvation Army Kroc Center | Augusta | 03/21 | More A family-friendly race along the canal, plus a children's concert with Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band at 10:30 a.m.
🛒 The Augusta Market Opening Day | 8th & Reynolds St (Riverwalk) | Augusta | 03/21 | More The beloved Saturday market returns with local farmers, artisans, food vendors, and live music through November.
🎨 Art at Lunch: Gail Wegodsky | Morris Museum of Art | Augusta | 03/20 | More A midday art talk spotlighting Southern painter Gail Wegodsky's recent work.
🖼️ Closing Reception: Gail Wegodsky: Recent Painting | Morris Museum of Art | Augusta | 03/20 | More Last chance to see the Charlotte-born painter's exhibition on the Riverwalk.
🎶 Augusta Symphony: Unfinished Business | Miller Theater | Augusta | 03/21 | More A Saturday evening of orchestral power at Augusta's restored Art Moderne masterpiece.
🎵 Augusta Symphony Family Concert | Miller Theater | Augusta | 03/22 | More A Sunday matinee at 4 p.m. with tickets starting at just $10.
🦪 2026 Roast on the River | 328 Riverfront Drive | Augusta | 03/21 | More Savannah Riverkeeper celebrates 25 years with its signature oyster roast, fresh seafood, live music, and riverfront views.
🎨 Trap & Paint | 1515 N Leg Rd | Augusta | 03/21 | More A Saturday evening paint-and-sip with a lively, social atmosphere.
🖼️ Art Now Artist Talk: Kaminer Haislip | Morris Museum of Art | Augusta | 03/26 | More A visiting artist talk exploring contemporary Southern art and craft.
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
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