Homecoming Weekend in Athens: "Take me Down to the Classic City"

After almost a month on the road, the Bulldogs are back at Sanford Stadium. Make a weekend out of UGA's homecoming with a series of Dawg-related events.

Don't forget to share your favorite UGA football memories with us on our blog. The best memory will win a free night's stay at the Holiday Inn Athens! You have until Friday to give us a great Dawg story.

Friday, November 6th:

• Start the weekend off right at the Melting Point's weekly "Lunch With the Dawgs". This week's featured speaker is UGA strength coach Dave VanHalanger. The Coach's expectantly motivational speech is sure to pump up Dawg fans for this weekend's showdown. The lunch starts at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Price of admission includes lunch crafted by award winning Executive Chef Martin Smetana.
• The Homecoming Parade storms the streets of downtown at 6 p.m. Friday evening. UGA All-American gymnast Courtney Kupets will serve as the parade's Grand Marshal. She will lead a procession of floats, The Red Coat Band, UGA Athletes, and Athens dignitaries. For a complete list of the week's homecoming events visit the University Union's website.
• UGA Equestrian hosts Fresno State at the Equestrian complex on Friday afternoon.
• There is nothing better than an evening of live music the night before a Dawg's game. Come out and enjoy Kim Carnes at the Rialto Room this Friday. Nashville singer-songwriter Carnes has had three # 1 country hits, including Billboard #1 "Betty Davis Eyes". The song went on to win Grammys for both record and song of the year. Shows begin at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available on the Rialto Room's website.

Saturday, November 7th:

• The Dawgs are back at Sanford Stadium to take on the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Alumni visits and the crowning of the homecoming court will certainly make this a Saturday to remember.

Sunday, November 8th:

• Lady Bulldog basketball kicks off their 2009-2010 season this Sunday with an exhibition game versus Clayton State. Tip-off is at 2:30 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum. Admission is free.

This Sunday is also the closing of Athica's Free Press in Free Fall exhibit, be sure to witness this thought-provoking event before its too late. Visit the CVB's event calendar for a full list of the weekend's events. Enjoy your homecoming and GO DAWGS!

We Stop for Railroad Arts Districts

Good artists make good neighbors, especially in the Railroad Arts District, a collection of businesses and artists near the CSX railroad in the north part of town. This area is comprised more or less of the Leathers Building on Pulaski St., the D.O.C. Building at 585 Barber St. and the Chase St. Park Warehouses at Tracy and Oneta streets.

Their monthly open house, First Friday, is enjoying quite a bit of success, with the third event coming up this weekend. Initially organized by Lou Kregel, whose graphic prints and patterns grace artwork and textiles you might have seen at Five Star Day Cafe, Flicker Bar, Georgia Museum of Art, etc, the First Friday event opens the doors to businesses and studios in the area: Honeys Salon, Canopy Studio, Mom's Garage, The Ceramic Collective, Balance Pilates Studio, ATHICA, Floorspace Dance, Marmalade Pottery, and tons of others. Local artists gather on the sidewalk at the Chase Street Warehouses, set up tables with their art for sale and studios open their doors with cocktails. Last month's event was packed and a great way to spend a Friday happy hour--I ran into lots of fun people, and got some great ideas for locally-made Christmas presents.

This weekend's First Friday has several concurrent events going on, so I put together a little arts crawl itinerary for your Friday night. It's fully packed, but totally worth it.

5 p.m.: Arrive at the Chase Street Warehouses (160 Tracy Street) to check out the artists on the sidewalk and grab a cocktail. Pick out an original painting or piece of jewelry and cross somebody off your holiday gift list. Stop in at ATHICA to see their latest exhibit, Free Press in Free Fall, before it closes on Sunday.

6 p.m.: Walk the three or so scenic blocks to hit up the Dia de los Muertos celebration at White Tiger Gourmet on Hiawassee Avenue. This little Boulevard-neighborhood eatery in an old grocery store is celebrating the Day of the Dead with Casa de Culura, a Latino women's pottery collective. They've invited Latin-folk group Incatepec to play, and sugar skulls and traditional foods should abound.

7 p.m.: Head back over to Chase Street Warehouses for a dance performance from Kacico Dance, a visiting group from Kansas City, performing choreography by former Athens resident Julie Rothschild to music by Athens band Hope for Agoldensummer. They're showing in Floorspace, the shotgun-layout dance studio in the warehouses.

8 p.m.: Step into line next door for Canopy Studio's Repertory Company performance, Pirates of the Airrrr! There will be trapeze, a fantastic pirate ship, aerial fabrics, lyra, crazy stunts, pyrotechnics, and lots of silly accents. (I'll be there--I'm performing.) Bring your pirate hat.

You'd have a great night doing any one of these activities, but I challenge you to go for the sweep! Athens' amazing arts scene beckons.

New Contest: Favorite UGA Football Memories

This contest will be a little different than usual. Instead of winning through our Twitter page, you will be eligible to win only by commenting on this blog post.

Since Homecoming is this weekend, we want you to share your favorite UGA football memory. Watch the video below, reminisce on the sights & sounds of Sanford Stadium & then share!

The winner will be randomly selected on Friday from all memories submitted in the comments & will win a hotel voucher redeemable at the Holiday Inn Athens.

To view a complete list of contest rules, click here.

Awaken the Undead in Athens This Weekend

While many of our fellow Dawgs' fans are headed to Jacksonville for the annual Gator showdown, there are still ghouls and goblins left to entertain those of you staying in Athens this Halloween.

Friday October 30th:

• Kick off your Halloween weekend with a visit to Terrapin Brewery. Terrapin will maintain its normal schedule this weekend with tours starting at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy live music by local acts Mac N Chz and OpEx. As always, tasting glasses are just $8 for eight sample pours. Come out and sip on your favorite brews as well as a few special projects, including a special pumpkin ale for the fall!
• The fabulous 40 Watt Club opens its doors at 9 p.m. Friday with an eventful evening of "Halloween Ghouls Gone Wild". DJ act Krush Girls headline the event. The festivities continue on Saturday at 9:30 with the CD release party for Dark Meat's new album Truce Opium. Cover for each night is $8 for those under 21, and $6 for those over the legal age. Visit the club's website for more details.
• Take a break from to the spooks and scares to enjoy some Bulldawg athletics. UGA Soccer hosts the Tennessee Volunteers Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the Soccer Complex on Milledge.

Saturday, October 31st:

• Halloween in the Classic City takes a wild turn this year with what is sure to become an Athens tradition. The Wild Rumpus Halloween Parade and Spectacle will take the sidewalks of downtown Athens at 10 p.m. In the style of events like The Burning Man and the Oregon Country fair, the vision of the Wild Rumpus is to provide an avenue for the massive, "bubbling stew of artistic self-expression, costuming and gleeful abandon" which manifests with such awesome power every Halloween. The Wild Rumpus will serve as a safe and highly visible outlet for the creative energies of Athens' most spirited inhabitants! After circling downtown a few times, the parade will culminate with a celebration at Tasty World Uptown. For more information including meeting location, costume guidelines, and key local ordinances please visit http://www.wildrumpus.org/.
• Athens nightclubs are world-renowned for their live music, and the scene doesn't get any better than on Halloween! Go Bar presents Bodies, a Sex Pistols cover band, followed by a goth rock disco dance party. Caldeonia Lounge features a one-of-a-kind acts with Girls Own Love, an all-girls Andrew W.K. cover band. Weezer cover band Hear You Me is the Lounge's second act that evening. These are just a few of your frightful music options this weekend. Be sure to Check the Flagpole for a complete list of musical events.
• Don't count the Dawgs out of the annual Georgia-Florida showdown in Jacksonville this weekend. Watch the historic rivalry on CBS at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 1st:

• Halloween may be over but the spirits of Athens past are still with us. The Athens Cultural Heritage Foundation continues to host their Athens Haunted History Walking Tour until Tuesday November 3rd. Hear the stories of bitter apparitions, scorned lovers, tragic souls, and Confederate soldiers with unfinished business. Come ready to awaken the spirits of the Classic City with a two-hour tour spanning through downtown and North Campus. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and are $12 for ACHF members and $15 for non-members. Be prepared to see a side of Athens you have never seen before!

Great music, creative costumes, and wild times are sure to make this a Halloween to remember. Visit the CVB's event calendar for more festivities. Have a fantastic (and safe!) Halloween!... and GO DAWGS!

Get Spooked: The Wild Rumpus Halloween Parade and Spectacle

If you're not heading to Jacksonville this weekend & looking for a fun activity for Halloween night, check out the The Wild Rumpus Halloween Parade and Spectacle .

For those who have experienced Halloween in Athens, you know that plenty of people arrive downtown dressed in full costume. The problem? Since it's the weekend of GA/FL some bars are closed, others are almost empty, & you end up feeling ridiculous being the only person dressed up.

The Wild Rumpus Halloween Parade and Spectacle is aiming to be the solution. Ready to take over downtown starting at 10 p.m. the Web site says:

"The vision of The Wild Rumpus is to provide an organized avenue for the massive array of Athens creativity which manifests with such awesome power every Halloween. This year we seek to organize this event for the purpose of channeling the creative spirit into a collaborative, all-inclusive, peaceful, fun time for all."

The event leaders will also be compiling videos & photos for a short feature.

After circling downtown a few times, the event will culminate at 11:11 with a party at Tasty World Uptown.

Participants will be organized into brigades including one led by the CVB's April Moore Skelton. To sign up for a bridgade and for more information including meet-up location, key costume guidelines, & key local ordinances (there's still an open-container policy even on Halloween!) visit the Wild Rumpus Website by clicking here.

Get Spooked: Athens Haunted History Walking Tour

Looking to start your Halloween early and learn about Athens' spooky history? Sign up for an Athens Haunted History Walking Tour.

Since being founded in 1801, Athens’ rich history has provided accounts of strange events and ghostly experiences. Follow your guide on a journey of Athens’ darker history. On this two-hour tour of downtown Athens and UGA’s North Campus, you will hear tales of spirits, hauntings, superstitions, mysteries, murders, suicide and other legends of the Classic City.

Tour dates and times:

Tuesday, October 27, 7:00 pm     (led by Carol Bishop)

Thursday, October 29, 7:00 pm   (led by Rick Rose)

Thursday, October 29, 7:30 pm   (led by Carol Bishop)

Tuesday, November 3, 7:00 pm   (led by Carol Bishop)

 

$12 for ACHF members, $15 for non-members. Tours are limited to 25 people and paid reservations will be accepted on a first come/first serve basis. 

E-mail achftours@bellsouth.net 

Does your band have what it takes?

Does your band have what it takes to open for an iconic Southern rock group?

One lucky band will earn the opportunity to open for Atlanta Rhythm Section on Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. at The Classic Center Theatre as a part of the Budweiser Select Music Series.

Bands who want to be considered as the opening act for Atlanta Rhythm Section are asked to submit a contest entry form along with a CD or DVD of a performance of one song. Contest entry forms may be downloaded from www.ClassicCenter.com . Contest forms are also available at The Classic Center Box Office.

All contest entries should be submitted during normal business hours no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 to The Classic Center . The winning band will be notified by Thursday, Nov. 4 and will open for Atlanta Rhythm Section, earn a cash prize of $375 and five complimentary tickets to the Atlanta Rhythm Section concert.