Living briefs

LOOK AHEAD

LEND A HAND

THE AUGUSTA HABITAT RESTORE, which accepts donations of overstocked, discontinued, new and used building materials, helps support the CSRA Habitat for Humanity.

Coming Saturday

SPECIAL

IT'S A GAS, GAS, GAS

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT GASOLINE PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING, BUT HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE WHEN YOU'RE STANDING AT THE PUMP?

Coming Sunday

CHEW ON THIS

AND YOU THOUGHT CHEWING GUM WAS JUST A TREAT. TODAY, COMPANIES ARE CRAMMING MORE INTO THOSE BUBBLE-MAKERS.

Coming Tuesday

COOL CONTEST

PICK YOUR FAVORITE SINGER-SONGWRITER

Who is Augusta's best singer-songwriter?

Have your say in The Augusta Chronicle's Singer-Songwriter contest.

Each artist's submission has been posted online, and we're asking our readers to check them out, consider carefully and vote for their favorites. Please, only one vote per contestant.

The top three, along with three critics' picks, will move onto the finals, where they will perform in front of a panel of judges, beginning at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival.

The performance will take place as part of the opening-day festivities for the festival.

Mailed-in ballots must be cut from the newspaper; no photocopies are allowed. Questions? Call Features Editor Tharon Giddens at (706) 823-3347 or send e-mail to tharon. giddens@augustachronicle. com.

STUFF TO DO

Here's a look at some of your best entertainment bets for this weekend:

BORDERS BOOKS, MUSIC AND CAFE: 257 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway; 8-10 p.m. today, John Krueger; 8-10 p.m. Saturday, Dave Owens; 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Ron Eaker to sign copies of Holy Hormones, with Shirley Mitchell signing copies of Sensational After 60; free.

LIVE MUSIC: On Saturday, Livingroom Legends perform The Byrds' 1968 country album Sweetheart of the Rodeo as part of The Mission's cover series. Athens, Ga., band Modern Skirts will celebrate the release of its first full-length CD, Catalogue of Generous Men, on Saturday at The Soul Bar.

BIRTHDAYS

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Drummer Adrian Young of No Doubt is 36. Actress Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls) is 35. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 25.

REACH US

Contact Lifestyles Editor Erica C. Cline at: 828-2946 or erica.cline@augusta chronicle.com.