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(10/28/16 3:17am)
You hear them almost every afternoon. You see them at every home football game. You probably have at least one of them in one of your classes. Mercer’s marching band is active on campus, but they also take their skills on the road to recruit potential marchers for Mercer.
As part of their recruitment program, they are traveling to Valdosta, Georgia on Oct. 29 to perform at a local high school marching competition. After the high school bands play, Mercer’s marching band will do an exhibition to encourage high schoolers to march for Mercer.
High schoolers will be able to talk to members of the band, having the opportunity to make connections with marchers from Mercer.
Doug Cowden is the current director for Marching Band. He started marching in 1990, he has been working and teaching for high school marching bands since 1997, and in 2006 he came to Mercer and started a pep band, which became a proper marching band with the reinstatement of Mercer’s football program in 2012.
Cowden said that the first four years of the program have been spent getting things started. Though Mercer does not currently offer marching scholarships, they are currently in the process of creating them. The athletic administration is in support of the scholarships, he said.
Cowden brags about the inclusiveness of Mercer’s Marching Band. Any student, regardless of what school they are in, can try out for marching band.
“It makes it better because each group of majors has certain positive characters, and when you bring them together you get a plethora of perspectives and ways to make things better,” he said.
He estimates only 20 percent are music majors and that the two majors with the highest representation are engineering and biology.
Aside from their inclusiveness, Mercer’s band distinguishes themselves in their work ethic.
“We have a philosophy that if you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability . . . We try to do things that many marching bands won’t do,” Cowden said.
Haley Peters is a junior drum major who is majoring in biology on the pre-pharmacy track. She marched competitively in high school, and though there are no collegiate level marching competitions, she says she still feels she has not stopped improving.
There is currently no parent organization to fund marching competitions at the college level, but Cowden predicts that, based on rumors he has heard, there could be the first collegiate competition within the next couple of years.
Another drum major, Maia Nichols, a chemical commerce major, says she enjoys being able to perform at the high school competitions. “This is my first year as a drum major. I’m looking forward to conducting in the last piece,” Nichols said.
Peters is also looking forward to the upcoming competition. “In high school, one of my favorite parts of the competitions was the exhibition. It’s nice being on the other end. It’s cool to see students who are genuinely interested in what we do,” Peters said.
Though Peters and Nichols are happy with what they currently do, they look forward to potential competitions. Reflecting on their experience, they believe that marching band has been a fun and accepting environment.
“Bus rides are the best,” said Peters, looking forward to traveling on the 29th.
Cowden said that when he is recruiting, he looks for students that are not necessarily full of talent, but for students who want to constantly improve. He believes the two most positive things students can look forward to in marching for Mercer are firstly that they will make friends for life; and second, they will be able to reach the highest level of performance that they will ever achieve.
Cowden, Peters and Nichols look forward to expanding the program through more recruiting, which would be helped greatly by the creation of scholarships.
(10/28/16 12:25am)
Red, blue and yellow lights illuminated a modest stage set up in front of Stetson Hall as the annual Battle of the Bands contest commenced on Oct. 20. Across Cruz Plaza, students gathered with blankets and towels in tow to sit down and listen to what was about to unfold.
[gallery ids="20310,20320,20317"]
What started out as a few onlookers soon became a sizable audience that would grow throughout the night. At 7 p.m., all eyes were on MCs Jordan Hester and Emily Thompson as they announced the official start of Battle of the Bands.
They explained that each act had 25 minutes to perform. They introduced the esteemed judges, each of whom would be scoring the acts. Their scores, however, were only 50 percent of what determines the winners. The rest was in the hands of the audience, who was asked to vote for their favorite by putting a slip of paper in their favorite act’s bucket on a table set up by quadworks.
Quadworks representative Kiara Williams is on the Mercer Live committee, which organizes Battle of the Bands along with other events such as homecoming and Bearstock. She believes Battle of the Bands is a particularly special event because it is actual students who are performing in front of their peers.
She said she sees music as an integral part to the Mercer community. “There’s music at sporting events, coming out of the Greeks’ houses — it’s everywhere.”
The music at Battle of the Bands was not the same music Williams describes hearing around campus. It was live music coming from members of our own Mercer family.
The first act went by the name Saint Jak and the Boys. Saint Jak is the junior journalism major Jackson Dillard.
Dillard, who normally performs solo, recruited his friend Liam Bassett to be “the boys.” Basset sang backup and played guitar.
Saint Jak is a rapper who has been practicing for years now. He first began rapping his freshman year of high school, and during his time in college, he has performed with his previous rap group, the Fresh Valley Kings.
Dillard describes his previous group as doing pretty typical rap in an over-the-top comedic style. He has since found his own voice, which incorporates more slow melodies.
[pullquote speaker="Jackson Dillard" photo="" align="right" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]The thing I love about rap is it lets you tell a story.[/pullquote]
“The thing I love about rap is it lets you tell a story. What sets rappers apart is how interesting their story is,” Dillard said. He raps about his own life experience, particularly relationships he has had.
The set he performed started off with some of his earlier work, which was slow and lyrically heavy. He transitioned into four songs which comprise his upcoming EP. These songs were somewhat more upbeat. He incorporated a great mix of acoustic and electronic beats for a chill but exciting feel.
Though there were only two people on stage, his movement and enthusiasm gave him more stage presence.
He finished out his set with a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”
“It was just a pleasure,” Dillard said at the end of his set.
The following act, Mason Mishael, was a stark contrast to Saint Jak who relied on his prerecorded beats.
Mishael is a singer, guitarist and pianist.
Mishael is a sophomore technical communications major who says he has been playing one instrument or another since he was a small child. He has been playing piano for almost 16 years, and he has been playing guitar a little longer than that. He also trained in violin for several years.
Like the variety in his talents, he has a variety of interest in music. Generally, he likes anything classic rock. “A lot of my friends say I’m stuck in the ’70s,” Mishael said.
The set that he performed Thursday reflected his talent and variety. With his guitar he played Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” an original composition and Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.”
He involved the audience by having them sing along to his original song, and they continued to sing with him through “Wagon Wheel.”
He then put down the guitar in favor of the piano. He then played Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” and The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
Between songs, he would make cheeky and honest comments to the audience. At one point he just stopped playing because, as he explained to the audience, he had to adjust his petal.
His performance was simple and true to the original artists. He finished out with Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” He included some improvised verses that referenced Mercer’s President Bill Underwood.
[pullquote speaker="Mason Mishael" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]I love the response I got, it made me feel that this had a purpose.[/pullquote]
“I love the response I got, it made me feel that this had a purpose,” Mishael said when he finished.
He enjoys having others connect with his music. “Something I love about music is you can just make friends with people, purely because you play an instrument. You don’t even have to speak the same language to play with each other. Music is a universal language,” Mishael said.
He hopes to create a band sometime soon and continue to be involved with music for all his life.
Up next was another solo artist, Sophie Leveille.
Leveille is a junior who studies voice at Mercer’s music school. She has done Battle of the Bands every year she has been here, and she won one year when she performed with the band Boots and Cats.
She has been musically involved all her life. She started singing when she was 3, and in 5th grade, she picked up piano to accompany her own singing.
“I’ve been writing my own songs all my life. The first song I wrote, I was three, and it was called ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ I would always write stuff to get my feelings out,” Leveille said.
She writes about how she sees life, about relationships and about finding your place in life. Her personal style is something unique.
[pullquote speaker="Sophie Leveille" photo="" align="right" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]Be prepared to hear a new spin on soul-pop, that’s me[/pullquote]
“Somebody told me that I sounded like a mix Lana Del Rey and Adele. Be prepared to hear a new spin on soul-pop, that’s me,” Leveille said.
She took that onstage when she played a set that mixed covers and original works. All of her songs featured her with only her piano to keep her company. She sang with a powerful voice, backed by beautiful piano.
The cheers of the audience signaled they connected to her sound and to the moving lyrics she sang. One of the original songs she played, “Cherry Blossoms,” used the imagery of cherry blossoms to describe her feelings. She was inspired by Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
“There are lots of music things happening in Macon. Macon is so involved in immersing themselves in the music,” Leveille said.
“I’m happy I didn’t mess anything up. I’m relieved and excited,” she said after getting off the stage. She was promptly swarmed with friends waiting for a turn to give her a hug.
Between acts, the MCs invited anyone to the stage to freestyle. One student took the stage and showed off his quick rhyming prowess.
Next up was the first full band of the night, Garfield and the Not-so-top Knots.
The name for this band comes from lead singer and electric guitarist Caleb Henning’s resemblance to actor Andrew Garfield and the fact that members of their band used to sport a top knot, whereas now they do not.
The other members are lead female vocalist and acoustic guitarist Abby Henry, pianist and violinist Allen Kim and drummer Brady Bradshaw. The band formed after they all met through RUF, a campus ministry group.
“I think music has been always important to me with faith. I think that for a lot of the university fellowships, the worship is a big aspect; people can come together for music,” Bradshaw said.
These musicians delivered an upbeat performance, covering hit pop and rock songs. They played a more rock-oriented cover of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” Kim broke out the viola for their rendition of Coldplay’s “Fix You.”
They finished with a mashup of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and The Chainsmokers’ “Closer.” On stage, the band gave an animated performance, which lead to cheers and dancing by audience members.
“I think we did good, but it wasn’t on par with what we have been doing. We are critical, but all musicians are. It could have been worse,” Bradshaw said with a smile after the performance.
The final performers for the night were a group called Three 17.
The band is comprised of lead singer and acoustic guitarist Justis Ward, his roommate Matthew Harris on the keys, his brother Mark Harris on electric bass, and friends Earl Bushe and Ehjayson Henry on electric guitar and drums, respectively.
The Harris brothers met Ward playing at church, and they became friends. “We all are similar minded. As soon as we got together we just meshed; we are all jokesters,” Ward said.
While as a whole, the entire band does not often play together, Ward and Matthew Harris play gigs together often. They play a variety of genres, but always with a soulful twist.
“Because of their skill level, we can pick up anything,” Ward said, referring to the other members of his band.
Matthew Harris said the band’s sound is all about “good vibes.” “Vibes is such a good word, because we are vibing together and our instruments are vibing, and hopefully the audience will be vibing with us,” Ward said.
Ward and Harris want to bring the house down, knock them dead, and absolutely kill it when they perform, but they do it “for the glory of God,” Ward said.
They started their set with their rendition of “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer. By the time they started this song, the audience had reached its maximum size, and almost everyone stood up to get closer to the band.
The band was all smiles as they started the next song, “Sugar” by Maroon 5. The band was genuinely having fun as they played. This song highlighted Ward’s vocals and his ability to harmonize.
[pullquote speaker="Justis Ward" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]I feel on top of the world. We really came together tonight. [/pullquote]
Next the band played their own song, “Friend Zone.” Ward took the time during this song to introduce the rest of the band. Each member played a solo on their instruments, and every solo was a piece of art own its own.
They slowed it down for the next one with “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. Audience members held up phones or lighters and swayed.
The final song of the evening was “Treasure” by Bruno Mars. The crowd was electric. After the band finished, the audience called for an encore, but by the rules of the competition, the acts could not have any extra time.
“I feel on top of the world. We really came together tonight. It wasn’t a matter of winning, but if we did, I’d be ecstatic,” Ward said after performing the last act that night.
“I think all the performers did great. We have such talent at Mercer,” said MC Emily Thompson.
Ultimately, Three 17 won the competition.
Ward took the stage again, but his focus was not so much on receiving the prize as it was making sure the other members of his band got on stage with him that last time.
Overall, members of Quadworks said they were satisfied with the event.
“It was very successful. We had a great turnout, way bigger than last year,” said a member of Quadwork’s Mercer Live committee, Mariyun Khun.
(10/16/16 5:15pm)
Tucked in between two gravel parking lots is an inconspicuous-looking building with an old sign reading, “Jim Shaw’s Seafood Restaurant.” The inside was just what one might expect from any old seafood joint.
Marianna Bacallao, another Cluster writer who came with me, described the small dining area as “sparsely decorated with pelicans, whales, trout and a wood carving of a boat captain.”
Jim Shaw’s sits just seven minutes away from Mercer on Vineville Avenue, across from the Red Rooster Cafe. This place felt like a small family restaurant — one that served good old seafood, in a great old-fashioned way.
The Good
The Portions
No patron of Jim Shaw’s will leave hungry.
Everyone’s plate was served with good portions of the entree and a huge order of a side, and if that wasn’t enough, they even give you some jumbo hush puppies.
The Sides
Beyond being plentiful, the sides were great. I could not resist their cheese grits, and I was given a generous bowl that was warm and soft.
The hushpuppies were also delicious.
“The hush puppies were the best ones I have had in a long time and reminded me of the ones my grandmother makes from scratch,” said Brittany Wiggins, a freshman who also came along on our dining outing.
While the side salad was simple and unremarkable, their house dressing is worth talking about. It is a Catalina dressing — a tangy tomato, oil and vinegar-based mixture that balanced a sweet sugary taste with the sharp flavors of onions and vinegar.
The Seafood
The combination plate I ordered came with a fried catfish fillet and four grilled shrimp over rice. The catfish did not have the foul freshwater taste that it can have if not cooked properly. It was flaky, and had a nice and light fish flavor. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and tasted fresh.
Will Darragh
Combination plate with fired catfish fillet and grilled shrimp, and a side of cheese grits and hushpuppies. Served with lemon, tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. A delicious homestyle seafood meal.
The Dessert
Wiggins decided that on top of all the food she had, she needed something sweet. So, we tried a chocolate brownie with ice cream. The warm brownie with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate syrup was enough to satisfy all of our sweet tooths.
The Questionable
The Battered Fries
Even though I myself did not order fries, my friends were more than happy to share some with me. The fries definitely distinguish themselves in their thick crispy battering.
The insides were so warm and soft, it almost felt like I was eating fried mashed potatoes. With a crunchy outer layer. These fries had great textural variation that made me unable to stop munching away at them.
My friends, however, were not so convinced. “The breading was too much, and it took away from the flavor of the fries,” Wiggins said.
The Service
We arrived at Jim Shaw’s Seafood Grill right as it opened at 5 p.m., and we were seated promptly. After that, though, while there was never any particularly long wait, it seemed every bit of the service just took a little longer than it should have.
There was a slight wait to get our drinks, and then we sat around waiting to order for a while.We also waited a significant amount of time to get our entrees and dessert. On top of that, we were ready for the checks for quite some time before they were given to us.
My friends did not think it was particularly bad, but I personally thought the service was poor.
“The service was hospitable and helpful, but definitely a bit on the slow side.” said Elizabeth Tammi, another friend who accompanied us to dinner.
The Price
Even though I got the early bird special, I ended up spending almost 20 bucks on my meal. I definitely left full, and my seafood craving was satisfied. Still, I felt like it was a little pricy.
The non-seafood plates are naturally less expensive. Tammi’s grilled chicken sandwich plate was less than 10, which is a great price for the amount of food.
The Bad
The Calories
The combination of huge portions and ample fried things makes Jim Shaw’s satisfying, but I couldn’t help but feel guilty about what I had just eaten. They were heavy on the seasoning, especially the salt.
“I could practically feel the sheer amount of salt cooked into everything,” Tammi said.
Good seafood is the kind of thing which warms people’s souls, and often reminds them of their family’s home cooking. Sometimes, you cannot put a price on such an experience. Jim Shaw’s is the kind of place for long conversations with family and friends.
The seafood experience is worth a try if you have the time and money.
Rating
Will 4/5
Marianna 3.5/5
(10/15/16 3:37pm)
Mercer’s baseball field features all the standard scenery of a baseball park: grass, dirt, plates and some odd additions like a backhoe. Mercer’s OrthoGeorgia Park is currently under construction, which means that the players are forced to practice on a field that is in the process of being completed.
On top of dealing with the sweltering Georgia heat, the team has had to adjust to not having a dugout and the constant sounds of heavy machinery at work.
“Well, I tell you, it’s been challenging,” said Coach Craig Gibson, Mercer’s head baseball coach for the 14th year in a row.
Because of the construction, the team has to practice without some of the little things the team takes for granted, like benches and water fountains and storage areas, Gibson said.
“It’s been a little bit of an inconvenience,” he said.
Little inconveniences are not enough to keep this team down. They carry out portable benching, seating and netting to the field daily. “Baseball is a game of routine . . . I coach the same way now that I have been for 14 years,” Gibson said.
He credits the older leadership for helping ease the adjustment process. “It’s been an adjustment, but thank goodness for us, we have an older group of guys, a lot of returning players, and they can handle it better than a group of younger guys,” Gibson said.
The younger guys, though, are having no trouble incorporating themselves into the team.
“It’s always good to watch the new guys blend in with the old guys. The upperclassmen have done a good job of bringing those guys along,” Gibson said.
The players of this team are used to adjusting to new environments.
“It’s just like the game. Sometimes it’s raining and it’s cold. Some days you have to play early, so there’s always an adjustment process. It’s not normal, but we’ve waited a long time for this inconvenience. It’s an inconvenience we welcome because we are excited about the new stadium,” Gibson said.
[pullquote speaker="Senior catcher Charlie Madden" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]“It’s definitely different. It’s noisy, but that just means that you have to focus more.[/pullquote]
Gibson said that he feels the practices they get in are good quality practice. The weekend after the first week of practice they played three intersquad games, and Gibson said that the players improved each game.
“Every season and every team is different. This is a good group of guys. We did a good job as a staff selecting the guys to be on our team,” Gibson said.
Mercer baseball has had great success in the past few years. They have had players drafted and countless games won, but last year they came up just short of taking the championship. The team remembers that loss, so they only look to improve.
“I think we are at a point now with this group that we are just playing against ourselves,” Gibson said. The team is not focused on beating other teams; they just want to be the best team that they can be. Their goal is to represent the Southern Conference in regional play.
Several players on this year’s team have been playing for four or five years. Players such as Charlie Madden, Danny Edgeworth, Matt Meeder, Hunter Bening and Ryan Askew have been staples for the team. “This is going to be a group that we will miss at the end of the season,” Gibson said.
The incoming park will elevate the status of Mercer’s baseball team within the Southern Conference, Gibson said.
“I think it will be on par with the University Center and our football facilities,” Gibson said. The park should be complete by mid-February.
Before the players get a chance to play in the new facility, they have to get through practice this fall with the hustle and bustle of construction.
“It’s definitely different. It’s noisy, but that just means that you have to focus more,” said Charlie Madden, a senior catcher who has been playing for Mercer since his freshman year.
As a senior, he has more responsibility to be accountable for himself, and to push younger players.
“The coaches are pushing me day in and day out. We have more seniors, more leadership and more experience on the team,” Madden said.
He too is ready for the new stadium. “I’m excited to see what it looks like. I want to see the final picture. I’m really looking forward to this year,” Madden said.
Danny Edgeworth, a senior third baseman who has also been playing for Mercer since his freshman year, is another leader on this team who works himself and his teammates to improve.
He sees the noise and changing environment as a good challenge.
“There’s a lot of noise, but it’s good because we always have to play in different environments, so this is good practice,” Edgeworth said.
He hopes the stadium will bring out more people to come and support the Bears.
“I’m looking forward to drawing in a bigger crowd with the new stadium,” Edgeworth said. “Do what you can to support the Mercer Bears.”
(10/09/16 10:59pm)
Attention foodies: your search for a local gourmet kitchen store is over. Robinson Home in downtown Macon is here to satisfy your desire to shop locally in the community and to fulfill all your kitchenware needs.
In the store itself, one can find a variety of coffee products, specialty spreads, chic cooking supplies and more. They source locally produced jams and jellies from farms in Middle Georgia. They carry unique brands of plates and cutlery, fun and functional. On top of that, one of their main employees is a Mercer graduate.
Bentley Hudgens, who recently graduated from Mercer, works for Robinson Home, and is always willing to answer customers’ questions. He and all the staff are extremely knowledgeable. Hudgens said he enjoys talking about food with anyone; though he knows more about it than most, he is unpretentious and hilarious.
Aside from working on the frontlines serving customers, he teaches cooking classes a few times a month, he said. On Sept. 22, he was at Mercer to teach a cooking class sponsored by SGA.[sidebar title="Upcoming classes at Robinson Home" align="right" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]
DATE NIGHT: LOW COUNTRY with Chef Teddi Wohlford
Tuesday, October 11th @ 6:30 pm - - $45 Per Student
FALL FRENCH BISTRO (HANDS-ON) with Chef Teddi Wohlford
Tuesday, October 18th @ 6:30 pm - - $45 Per Student
KIDS’ ITALIAN (HANDS-ON) with Chef Teddi Wohlford
Tuesday, October 19th @ 6:30 pm - - $45 Per Student
WINE TASTING with Instructor Bentley Hudgins
Saturday, October 22nd @ 12 pm - - $55 Per Student
AUTUMN SUPPER CLUB with Instructor Bentley Hudgins
Tuesday, October 25th @ 6:30 pm - - $45 Per Student
FALL PASTA (HANDS-ON) with Chef Teddi Wohlford
Wednesday, October 26th @ 6:30 pm - - $45 Per Student
COOKING WITH BEER (HANDS-ON) with Instructor Bentley Hudgins
Saturday, October 29th @ 12 pm - - $45 Per Student
[/sidebar]
The class he taught was about cooking with appliances that are allowed in any freshman dorm: a fridge/freezer, a microwave, and a rice cooker.
He created some memorable simple dishes. One was a quiche, or egg pie, that was easy and cheesy. Another was a sweet tooth-satisfying mug cake made with chocolate hazelnut spread. What he could not show us in the short amount of time he had, he talked about.
He also discussed multicultural food, which Jenna Bruck, a Mercer student who attended Hudgens’ class, especially appreciated.
“I love to explore different cuisines; the flavors in other countries are so different. It's just interesting to try new things from various countries from around the world,” said Bruck. “I enjoyed the class because I learned some new recipes to do in my dorm room, and [Bentley’s] sassy attitude was funny. It made the things more fun.”
Aside from showing students how to cook, Hudgens talked to them about his jobs. He works as a personal chef for Robinson Home, but he also does work with different community organizations within Macon, he said.
He said that cooking was something that he was passionate about that has also allowed him to pay the bills, but working to improve people’s lives within the community was something he has always wanted to do.
“Instead of going away to some place with established food culture and community, I decided to be a part of the solution within Macon.” Hudgens said. “Macon has such a rich history, and it’s amazing to see how much it has changed since I went to school at Mercer. Robinson Home is just a part of that.”
The cooking class taught at Mercer was part of SGA’s Paint the Town Orange initiative. The goal of this initiative is to promote interaction between Mercer students and local businesses — instead of shopping for kitchenware at Walmart, for example, a student could support a local business like Robinson Home.
“The difference is that Robinson Home is connected to the community; the money that you spend there will almost entirely be reinvested back into the community, because the owners and employees are locals,” said Cole Porter, an SGA representative.
Robinson Home has a lot to offer. They have an wide selection of bowls, plates and other dishes for a dorm room. Hudgens personally suggests investing in a line of paper plates and bowls made from recycled bamboo. They’re durable and make use of an otherwise wasted material, he said.
Robinson Home also offers cooking classes for all. At $45 per person, the classes can be hard to swing for most college students, but considering the price of going to the movies or a nice restaurant, it might be a reasonable option for a special date night.
“You would spend that much on full course dinner at a nice restaurant anyways. If you go to the class, you learn several new recipes and you will leave quite full. Plus, you get to hang out with me,” Hudgens said.
Just this year, Robinson Home opened their cafe and wine bar called Fork and Key. The cafe is in the store itself, and offers drinks along with cheese platters and other snacks.
If you want to take a trip to Robinson Home, you can find them in familiar downtown Macon, on 470 First St. Go grab a bite for lunch, shop for your room, or just chat with Hudgens. More information can be found on their website or on their Facebook page.
(10/09/16 9:03pm)
Mercer University, NewTown Macon, and The Lofts at Capricorn came together last week to hold a special groundbreaking ceremony for Mercer Music at Capricorn on Oct. 6.
Mercer students, businessmen, local artists and more gathered beside the dusty yellow brick building that used to be one of the most important recording studios in the world of rock and roll to hear about future plans for the site.
The groundbreaking ceremony came after Mercer University announced last December their plan to put the historic Capricorn Studio back to use again.
The historic building, where The Allman Brothers Band recorded music, will be revitalized as part of a residential development in the history of downtown Macon.
The studio itself will be utilized by Mercer music students.
Mercer Music at Capricorn is an initiative meant to help restore the historic Capricorn Recording Studio. The new studio will include space designed to for young musicians and live performance/special events, according to the press release.
Mercer President Bill Underwood joined Jim Daws, designer of the the Lofts, and Alan Walden,a co-founder of Capricorn, and other leaders in the Macon community.
They shoveled the first dirt of the project, officially commemorating the groundbreaking of the Lofts at Capricorn.
Underwood spoke about involving Mercer students in the community in order to create the next great Macon band.
“I want to thank you all for your support… without you all, it would not be possible,” Underwood said.
After the ceremony took place, guests were able to mill about Capricorn Studio and learn about the history of the building.
The speaking platform at the groundbreaking ceremony doubled as a stage for performers Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton. Boyer and Talton, previously of the Capricorn Records band Cowboy, held a special outdoor concert for attendees.
“I know a lot of y’all personally, but I don’t normally see y’all this dressed up,” Boyer said before diving into the pair’s first song.
Talton said he is excited about the reopening of Capricorn.
"It’s going to be used for what it was originally intended to be used for,” Talton said. He then began a song that he said was recorded in the studio.
During the show, guests were invited to eat a lunch prepared by H&H Soul Food. The historic restaurant, a favorite of the Allman Brothers Band, presented guests with bagged lunches of pulled pork sandwiches.
According to a press release issued by Kyle Sears, Mercer’s Director of Media Relations, The Lofts at Capricorn will wrap around the Capricorn Studio building and occupy most of the block surrounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Plum Street, Poplar Street and 5th Street.
Totaling more than 190,000 square feet, the development will include 82 one-bedroom apartments and 55 two-bedrooms lofts and more than 15,000 square feet of new office and retail space, according to the release.
(10/03/16 10:48pm)
It’s not easy to find a restaurant that can please everyone, but Grey Goose Players Club has a menu that can satisfy anyone from the everyday chicken finger lover to an exciting flavor seeker. Just a quick 10-minute drive from Mercer’s campus, this tavern may appear to be a country club serving post-golf-trip old men, but it is actually a fun and affordable option for anyone.
The Good:
The Burgers
The signature of Grey Goose is their Gooseburger. Its distinguishing factor is the extra thick patty that may be a little hard to handle.
“The burger was very thick, and was hard to eat, but overall, those are the burgers I like: the ones that get messy,” said Mo Qureshi, a friend who came with me.
I opted for a special burger from their weekend menu called Players Club Brisket Burger. The burger itself was a conglomerate of brisket, well seasoned, and with great texture. The jalapeño bacon combined with the horseradish mayo to give the burger a great tangy kick at the finish. I enjoyed every bite and didn’t have trouble keeping the burger in between the buns, despite Mo’s report.
The Fish
Another option from the weekend menu was the Almond Crusted Grouper.
“It was really great. It was a unique dish for a grill and pub place. It was very unexpected. And the fact that it was delicious surprised me even more,” said Caroline Kittrell, another friend who came with us.
Jenna Bruck ordered grilled grouper from the regular menu, which was flavorful and cooked correctly. It was seasoned with herbs and butter.
The Sweet Potato Fries
The sweet potato fries were some of the best I have ever had. They were warm, firm and crispy. They were served very lightly salted, which I personally enjoy, but one could easily add salt if they so desired.
The Environment
The casual but classy environment feels like it could be a golfer's drinking spot. The walls are filled with photos and drawings of Macon’s past. It felt like a “historical place,” said another friend.
If that is not enticing enough, they have a wall-length fishtank. Yes. A fishtank. Be excited.
The Price and Variety
The price and eloquence of a meal at Grey Goose varies depending on what you want. A burger or a generous portion of fried chicken strips come at the very reasonable price of $7. Other items range all the way up to a $20 surf and turf plate.
The Questionable:
The Service
I went to Grey Goose with 8 other students, which is generally asking for trouble. But by calling ahead on our way there, we only had to wait 10 minutes to be seated. Our server was funny and accommodating. My only complaint was the long wait for our food, which is to be expected with a large group. Still, it was a bit long. They, however, did a great job of serving all the food hot and fresh at the same time.
The Bad:
The Sad Fries
The regular fries were disappointing. They were greasy, bland, and not on par with their sweet potato counterparts.
What college student does not want to relive the days cheeseburgers and chicken fingers? Well, maybe not everyone, but those who desire the finer things in life can be satisfied too. At Grey Goose Players Club, you can channel your inner child with a plate of chicken fingers while your roommate pretentiously eats his blackened fish. The Grey Goose caters to all.
Rating:
Will 4.5/5
Mo 3.5/5
(09/28/16 1:51pm)
When we arrived at Laniers Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., we expected to find another crowded downtown restaurant, bustling with servers and patrons. The tale of Laniers is accurately told with what we actually found: an empty restaurant, save for a waiter and a cook watching the football game and chatting at the bar. Talking to the waiter, we found out that he had sold a few tickets for lunch, but no one had been in since then.
The restaurant boasts an extensive menu featuring burgers, wings, hot dogs, salads, pasta and more, but from our small sample nothing hit a home run.
The Good:
The atmosphere
Located in historic downtown Macon, this restaurant is easy to find among the row of restaurants on 2nd Street. Laniers distinguishes itself with its unique decor. The building is a repurposed law office. One sits and eats on old wood furniture, surrounded by memorabilia of the 19th century.
No doubt, the fancy candle holders at the table add to the sensation of eating in a refined establishment.
This mood is altered slightly by the classic hits music playing in the background, but all in all, the atmosphere is unique and interesting.
The Questionable:
The sides
We had the chance to try a variety of sides, since everyone in my party ordered something different. They ranged in quality from okay to simply gross.
The onion rings and buttery roasted potatoes were pretty good, and the fries were standard. Unfortunately, the side salad was tasteless, and the baked potato and fried spring veggies were also unexceptional.
The greatest letdown for me, as a big fan of Southern food, was a dish I’m always excited to try: the fried green tomatoes were slimy with no crunch.
The Bad:
The meal
I had what was supposed to be a generous portion of a slightly spicy chicken alfredo pasta, but it was a large (but not as massive as the waiter described) dish of flavorless chicken, with equally flavorless noodles.
Adam ordered extra hot wings. They were barely spicy, and the wings were more bone than meat. Mathew’s Philly cheesesteak had stale bread with a sliver of meat.
The only success of the night was Sydney’s smothered chicken, which was tender and covered in tasty melted cheese, onions and mushrooms.
The biggest disappointment was Jacey’s disastrous chopped steak. Either the waiter forgot to ask how she wanted it cooked, or it only comes one way: burnt. The steak was dry, unseasoned and not worth eating.
Though the price is reasonable for what the menu offers, no dish was incredibly striking. The decor is interesting, and the service is decent, but Laniers struggles to find its identity within its food. A neat place, Laniers’ food is unfortunately just average.
Rating:
Will 2 / 5
Adam 2.5 / 5
(09/22/16 12:29am)
Bailey is 5’9” with freckles and red hair. Hannah is an inch taller and has dark brown hair. Looking at this pair on the court, the only apparent relationship between the two would be that they both play volleyball for Mercer University. However, Hannah and Bailey Noon are sisters who have the unique experience of being both siblings and teammates.
Born in Niceville, FL, Hannah started playing volleyball when she was in middle school. She began playing after her dad watched her hit a tetherball in their backyard and suggested that she try playing volleyball.
After a summer camp, Hannah was hooked. And when Bailey got into middle school, she followed in her sister’s footsteps. “I played because she played,” Bailey said.
Hannah added with a grin — “She likes to follow me.”
Five hours from their home in Florida, the Noon sisters now play volleyball for Mercer. They have been playing volleyball together for 10 years and still love it.
After playing for so long, the Noon sisters said, “You can’t stop, you can’t.” They share a genuine love for the sport. Every time the season ends, they cannot wait until it starts up again, they said.
For Hannah though, this will be her last season. She is a fifth year senior, and Bailey is a Junior.
Looking beyond the end of this season, Hannah says, “I’m not really sad. I’m mostly excited.”
After this season, she plans to take a semester studying abroad and is looking at grad school. Hannah is majoring in financial management and Bailey in public health.
Family is certainly important to the Noon sisters. Hannah said on her family coming to see their games, “They are there every game.”
The sisters have managed to be effective teammates by having a different on-the-court and off-the-court relationship.
“We are more like sisters off the court,” Hannah said. “On the court, we’re just like normal teammates,” Bailey.
“We don’t live together; on away games, we never room in the same room,” Bailey said.
“Our lockers are on opposite sides of the lockers,” Hannah said.
Talking not just about her sister, but about all of her teammates, “We’ll go randomly hang out in each other’s room,” Hannah said. The Noon sisters have developed strong bonds with each other, and with the entire team. They also seek support from fellow Mercer Bears. Other teams, such as the girl’s basketball team, will come to cheer on the girls at home games.
Goals for this season are to win conference and to have a winning record. But as upperclassmen, both sisters aim to do their best filling the roles of leaders on the team.
The Noon’s extended family of Mercer Bears is an encouraging factor for them. Home games for them take place in a smaller portion of the arena, so that the fans can feel more a part of the game.
“It’s close and loud and fun,” Hannah said. “It hypes us up. We don’t like it when there are no fans because then we have to create our own energy, but they give us a lot of energy to keep going.”
After practicing for four hours a day, the sisters said they watch Netflix to unwind. When they are feeling more adventurous, Hannah says, “Sometimes, we go to Atlanta, just to get out of Macon.”
The best advice that the sisters give athletes is to have fun and love the sport. The best advice they can give to sisters is to give each other space. “We argue sometimes,” Bailey said.
“But we are there for each other,” Hannah said.
“I couldn’t imagine my 5 years without the Noon family,” said Head Coach Damian Elder.