Sports / Entertainment

Sports / Entertainment

Will Hollywood return to Georgia any time soon?

Every October, Hollywood’s elite arrives in Savannah, Georgia, for the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. And, while the star power brings fans — and their disposable income — from far and wide, key players in the entertainment industry see it as something more for our state. Walker Dalton, Executive Director of the Savannah Regional Film Commission: “Historically, the film industry is in Los Angeles. But around 2006, they implemented the incentives program here — which at the time was the most robust incentive program to come out, and which has been

Read More »
Sports / Entertainment

Working for the Weekend: Sara’s Farm Adventure

There are only two weekends left to experience the CSRA’s newest spot for fall family fun – Sara’s Farm Adventure. Sara’s has long been known in our area for quality produce (especially those sweet South Carolina peaches) but it won’t take long for folks to know that this is a high-quality weekend outing for the entire family. Sara’s has taken the farm fun that we’ve seen in other places and stepped it up a notch. They have a lot of open space to work with, so the entire experience feels

Read More »
B2B Stories

Sometimes A New Voice is Needed

Shortly after the Atlanta Braves ended their 2024 season by losing to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs, the team decided not to bring back three of their coaches for the 2025 season. (Note:  All three coaches are under contract for 2025 and will be paid their contracted salaries.) The most notable of those coaches was their primary hitting coach, Kevin Seitzer. Seitzer has been a major league hitting coach for most of the past eighteen years, with the last

Read More »
Sports / Entertainment

Working for the Weekend: Playland of Aiken

Parents have a love/hate relationship with Indoor Play Places. They are a great place to burn energy no matter the weather outdoors, but can also be an overstimulating germ factory. The Augusta area has had several indoor play zones through the years, and while there are now trampoline parks and such, the only true indoor playground I can think of that remains is Playland of Aiken. My family was introduced to Playland via a birthday party, and my girls have begged to go at least once every month since. While

Read More »
B2B Stories

CSRA businesses jump on board for Ironman

In a month that is projected to bring in more than $12 million to the local economy, the 15th Annual Ironman 70.3 on September 29 is one of the biggest events on the list. More than 6,500 visitors are expected to visit and cheer on participants with close to a $6 million estimated economic impact. Athletes will tackle a quick 1.2-mile down-river swim in the Savannah River before biking 56 miles through rural Augusta, and wind up with the flat 13.1-mile spectator-filled run course which will take them along the North Augusta Greeneway

Read More »
B2B Stories

More than $12 million expected in River Region coffers this month

A full slate of meetings, sports competitions, and other events are expected to draw more than 114,000 visitors to the CSRA in September, with an estimated economic impact of at least $12,564,076. Both Destination Augusta and the Augusta Sports Council agree that recruiting and hosting these various activities play a critical role in sustaining the nearly 30,000 jobs that are part of the Leisure and Hospitality Industry, the fourth-largest employment sector in the metro area. Total EEI is calculated based on research commissioned by both Explore Georgia and Destinations International

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Working for the Weekend: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

No matter the time of year, one of our favorite day trips is to visit Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. This zoo is the perfect size for me. It has a ton of animals and exhibits, but it’s not so big as to be overwhelming or so you feel like you can’t see it all in a day. However, when you visit in the summertime, the heat can be overwhelming. That’s why one of our favorite parts of the zoo is the splash zone in the botanical garden section. They also

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Working for the Weekend: The Augusta Market

I love a good day trip with the kiddos, but you don’t actually have to leave the city to find a fun outing for the weekend. Just a drive downtown can provide a fun Saturday with the kids, or even the pets. I hit up the Augusta Market with two of our three girls and had a good time just discovering what’s available at the stands near the river. And let me tell you, it’s quite an eclectic offering. I think most people assume it’s a farmer’s market vibe, but

Read More »
B2B Stories

Balancing the Short-Term and the Long-Term

At this time last year, I wrote a column that discussed Major League Baseball’s “trade deadline” and how it provides some good lessons that we can apply to business decision-making. In today’s column, I will revisit one of those lessons in more detail than I provided last time.  However, before we delve into that lesson, please allow me to quickly review the trade deadline and its implications. This year’s trade deadline was last Tuesday, July 30, at 6 pm EDT, meaning that teams cannot make trades for players from other

Read More »
B2B Stories

Busby’s brings an Olympic buzz to CSRA

A unique video campaign showcasing a company mascot is creating quite a buzz on social media. Busby’s Heating and Air Conditioning has put Buzz front and center at Olympic-style competitions including basketball, pole vaulting, and skateboarding. Of course, Buzz isn’t really in Paris, but the campaign highlights many local venues as a backdrop for his athletic prowess. Some of the highlights from their 10-video campaign include: Swimming: In this video, Buzz visits the Wilson Family Y and takes viewers on a tour of their pool and gives them a glimpse

Read More »