Today we’d like to introduce you to Kigwana Cherry.
Kigwana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It was all a dream! I used to read Word-Up Magazine! lol But really… it started with an idea over drinks in downtown Augusta. I was telling my current business partner, Karen Gordon aka Augusta’s First Lady of Jazz bka “Empress of Cool”, about my desire to have a poolside concert at my house, my recent travel adventure with Passport Required (where travelers reserve a vacation package to an undisclosed location), and how she could build her existing White Dinner Augusta event to the capacity of Diner en Blanc, that we had recently attended in Atlanta. We were intrigued by the possibilities and after many conversational pivots and pirouettes, my feet started twitching – that’s when I know a good idea is coming and the third eye went off! We would join forces and pull them off together.
Me: Yeah! N they don’t know the location till 48hrs in advance, like the Barcelona pop-ups and how I didn’t know where I was going with Passport Required.
Karen: RIght RIght! And we feature a local artist for a mini-concert.
Me: AW SHUCKS
Karen: What do you want to call it? If we focus on pop-ups, I have the domain name already.
Me: Pop-Up Augusta…With an exclamation point! Must have the exclamation point!
*Karen hits robot*
Pop-up Augusta! was conceived in the back of Whiskey Bar on Broad Street. Broad Street is our creative center… it is the location that all great ideas are given life. With our initial group, we launched our inaugural event on August 4, 2017, in a historic building that was undergoing renovations. Chef Felicia White provided a sumptuous buffet and Augusta’s Best R&B and Jazz Band, The Lady & The Gents, set a high bar for future musical guests. Though there are exceptions, our preference for vendors and partners are African-American creatives and entrepreneurs. Over the past two years, Pop-Up Augusta! has presented Adult Science 101 (a mixology class), Studio Music Hall (a weekly listening room), Murder Mystery and our perennial favorite, The Mimosa Crawl.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The entire concept (of destination unknown and hanging with people outside your established circle) is new to this area, so the largest obstacle we faced was getting people to understand exactly WHAT we were doing and WHY we the concept would work. Though there were news reports and media features, even our close friends were confused about exactly what to expect. The answer was simple: expect the unexpected… this will be a SENSORY event.
We are constantly asked: “Who’s gonna be there? Where will we be? Who’s performing, cooking, etc…? The answer was always the same. “We can’t reveal that. You’ll just have to buy a ticket.”
We never had any problems enlisting partners – chefs, musicians, hosts as the team has developed solid relationships over the years. Shifting the paradigm of our existing audience was more difficult than we anticipated. SO, we pivoted and began to build an entirely new tribe comprised of people who are adventurous enough to leave their comfort zone, enjoy a unique experience and meet their future BFFs…. phones down… everyone should be fully engaged! While we do not advertise, our mailing list continues to grow. We have discovered that FOMO is a real thing!
Pop-Up Augusta! – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Pop-Up Augusta! is a collective of uniquely curated, spontaneous experiences. Guests can expect myriad events- dinner parties, spoken word events, concerts, and family-friendly gatherings. The events are intimate, exclusive and unforgettable.
Pop-up dinners are one-time food events that offer guests a taste of something different. Whether it’s an unexpected location, a personal interaction with the chef or a unique menu or theme… these events cater to the “Experiential Diner” — who craves not just an amazing meal but a new and exciting dining experience. From a “Top Chef” collaborative dinner to underground supper clubs and a funky fried chicken series, we’re seeing these one-of-a-kind dining experiences pop up all over the place.
To date we have curated a variety of events:
Speakeasy Burlesque – A dinner and a burlesque show featuring the Dirty South Burlesque troupe in Augusta’s only authentic speakeasy venue.
Pop-Up Murder Mystery Dinner, an adult game of a childhood favorite CLUE.
Progressive White Dinner during Augusta’s Labor Day Jazz Weekend that featured a strolling dinner where each course is enjoyed at a different venue. Each stop highlights the different culinary talent and interesting downtown venues. The evening ends with the treat of handcrafted dessert by BERD Creations and a concert under the stars. Mimosa Crawls are our guest favorite. The experience is an all-inclusive crawl featuring signature mimosas and appetizers from restaurants along our route. This event is the gateway to PopUp! for most patrons.
What sets us apart? Our Motto: Share a meal. Ignite conversation. Inspire change. Pop-Up Augusta! goes beyond entertainment. We didn’t just want to entertain. We made a direct effort to change this community. At the grassroots level, cities are changed by the individuals who inhabit them and the alliances they form. In effort to preserve guest experience we limit each group to a maximum of 30 guests. We seek to connect creatives and change-makers. Though we could accommodate larger groups we feel the need to preserve the opportunity for guests to network.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
This spring we presented our signature event “Courses On The Course” during Masters Week. For those unfamiliar, The Masters Tournament is the most exclusive golf event in the world, and it’s hosted right here in Augusta. Our guests (affectionately dubbed “Popupetteers”) experienced a five-course meal prepared by renowned Chef Darrin West on the 18th hole of Augusta’s Municipal Golf Course, “The Patch.” They participated in a putting challenge against local Professional Golfers Association (PGA) pro Andre Lacey while being serenaded by one of Savannah’s finest entertainers, Laiken Love.
We provided a unique, immersive experience. Even our volunteers dressed in caddy uniforms. Again, we want to provide a sensory experience. We thank our downtown partners, International Uniform, for their interest and sponsorship. The spirit of collaboration between entrepreneurs, professionals and artists is necessary to make our efforts a success… that has made me PROUDEST. Everyone working together with the intention to bring new experiences, fun and culture to the city. This was also our first outdoor pop-up event so we prayed for three weeks straight for no rain. Prayers answered!
The second was this year’s Progressive White Dinner during Labor Day Weekend. The event is a mashup between Diner en Blanc and a progressive dinner or food tour. 2019, was our second year employing the tour format – in three hours, we experience three locations, three chefs, with live entertainment. During the planning process, Murphy’s Law kicked in and everything that could go wrong DID go wrong; however, we took every hit…dusted ourselves off, regrouped and flawlessly executed one of the best events yet! I was so happy that I celebrated by dancing in the 8th street fountain – dressed in all white!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.popupaugusta.com
- Email: popupaugusta@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Ingrid
Random Elbows Media
Jaye Eileen Photography
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