Athens This Weekend: February 26 - 28

Friday, February 26:

• History comes alive at the State Botanical Garden this Friday. You will have the opportunity to meet John Bartram, America's first botanist and horticulturist- John Bartram Lives! Okay, so it is actually Pennsylvanian Kirk R. Brown. Enjoy this first-person biographical and historical presentation on the life of John Bartram. Prepare to be entertained, amused and educated as history comes alive! Attendees will have the opportunity to meet John Bartram at a reception from 6:30-7:30pm. The program will follow. $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

• This Friday is your last chance to see the "Not Since You" movie premiere and screening at Beechwood Cinemas on Alps, and you do not want to miss out. This film was shot in large part in Athens and potrays Athens as itself! It is a film about a tight-knit group of college friends who graduated from NYU just prior to 9/11 and reunite years later for a weekend wedding in Georgia. Unresolved conflicts and love affairs spark again.

Saturday, February 27:

• America's most successful black stage play, "Beauty Shop," comes to the Classic Center Theatre this Saturday! This production served as inspiration for the recent film "Beauty Shop," starring Queen Latifah. The story continues as the curling irons get hotter, the gossip is juicier, the backstabbing is deeper, and the he-said/she-said tipping the scales. Get ready to fall out of your seat, because you'll be rolling in the aisles with mascara-running laughter.

Sunday, February 28:

• The UGA Performing Arts Center is proud to present "Coppelia," a charming and comic ballet performance by the Moscow Festival Ballet! Their tours throughout the world have presented many of ballet's greatest works featuring the highest artistic elements within the framework of Russian classic ballet. Enjoy lush melodies, beautiful costumes, and stunning virtuostic and athletic dancing.

• Over 20 of northeast Georgia's premium wedding vendors will be on hand at the Foundry Park Inn & Spa Bridal Open House! Vendors will include photographers, florists, formal wear, wedding panners, pastry chefs, entertainment, transportation companies and more! Sample the cuisine of our award winning culinary team while persuing the latest bridal fashions for the entire wedding party.

Ongoing events:

• It is the last weekend to enjoy the stunning works of Amy Jenkins at ATHICA! "Nurture: Video and Photography by Amy Jenkins" features works from her "Cradle Series" in which the artist films herself and members of her family in order to reveal salient aspects of familial relationships. Great for families and art lovers alike!

• There are only 10 seats left for the unique African-American History Tour this Saturday! Enjoy a special 2-hour bus tour with stops including the Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery and the Morton Theatre. Call 706.353.1820 for more details or visit the Athens Welcome Center Web site.

• In these tough economic times, sales are greatly appreciated! The 26th Annual Athens-Clarke County Library Book Sale features thousands of books including fiction, non-fiction, children's books, hardbacks, paperbacks, audio books, CDs and more. All proceeds from the Book Sale benefit the Athens-Clarke County Library.

• Considering remodeling your home, landscaping your yard or even building or buying your dream home? Stop by the 15th Annual Home and Garden Show at The Classic Center on Saturday and Sunday to get your questions answered on topics such as decor, landscaping, lighting and more!

Patterson Hood's Guitar Pull for Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival

Patterson Hood, lead singer of Drive By Truckers, will host the 5th Annual Benefit Guitar Pull tomorrow night at 9 p.m. at the 40 Watt.

The Guitar Pull is a Nashville-style Songwriter in the Round performance of some of Athens' best musicians.

All proceeds go towards the Robert Osborne Film Festival, an incredible festival which screens classic movies at The Classic Center with state-of-the-art projection and archival prints.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

For more information, please visit the Robert Osborne Film Festival Web site.

Athens This Weekend: February 19 - 21

Friday, February 19:

• Join us for the 2010 Southern Garden Heritage Conference at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia! Robin Salmon will open the conference with a lecture about garden sculpture and close the conference with a lecture about garden sculpture and close the conference with a presentation about Brookgreen Gardens, one of America's finest sculpture gardens. Amateurs and professionals alike are sure to find this conference interesting and informative. Preregistration is required- call 706.542.6359 today! $95 for members, $110 for non-members.

• Great event for all ages! Sandy Creek Park and the Athens Astronomical Association will host Starwatch: Winter Night Skies tomorrow from 7- 9 p.m. Starwatch is a unique event where participants can enjoy views of the winter constellations, Mars, and the crescent moon. Pre-registration is recommended. Only $2 for ACC residents and $3 for non-residents!

Saturday, February 20:

• Take a trip to Kingpins Bowl and Brew this Saturday from 2 - 5 p.m. for Bowling for the Bard and great prizes! They will be raffling off a framed, autographed poster from REM! Season tickets, restaurant gift certificates and more are also up for grabs. All proceeds help produce this summer's free production of The Taming of the Shrew. Only $5 to participate!

• In celebration of Black History Month, Classic City Tours is offering a special 2-hour bus tour at 2 p.m. of Athens' most significant African-American heritage sites. Stops include the Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery and Morton Theatre.

Sunday, February 21:

• "Eat, Drink, and Help Many" by attending the 17th annual A Taste of Athens! Over 50 restaurants and beverage distributors are participating for your chance to sample local cuisine, sip on wine & beer from regional distributors, bid on amazing silent auction items, and mix & mingle with other community supporters. This event benefits Community Connection of Northeast Georgia, who empowers our community to GET HELP, GIVE HELP, and GROW HELP.

• Support Sandy Creek Nature Center by walking or running in the Frog Hop 5K! The one-mile Tadpole Fun Run starts at 2 p.m. with the 5K race set for 2:30 p.m. Race entry forms are available around town, at Sandy Creek Nature Center or at the nature center's Web site. You can also register here. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome!

Ongoing Events:

• SEC Swim & Dive Championships: The Georgia swimming and diving teams are proud to host the 2010 Southeastern Conference Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium. The four-day competition features seven men's teams and six women's squads that are ranked in the Top 25 by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America! See schedule here.

• Town and Gown presents Mame: Town and Gown presents Mame, a Tony-Award winning musical, at the Athens Community Theater! From mountain climbing related deaths to Massachusetts boarding schools, Mame is a musical that has it all. The musical, based on Patrick Dennis' novel Auntie Mame, chronicles the tumultuous and often hilarious life of the titular character. Mame made its broadway Theatre debut in 1969, and it features Georgia as a prominent setting. 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.

• UGA Sports: UGA tennis has two home matches this weekend, taking on Southern Cal. on Friday and Arkansas on Sunday. Also, cheer on the Hoop Dawgs as they take on Alabama!

• Not Since You Movie Premiere and Screening: This film was shot in large part in Athens! Not Since You is an ensemble film about a tight-knit group of college friends who graduated from NYU just prior to 9/11 and reunite years later for a weekend wedding in Georgia. It premieres this Friday, and screening for only one week at Beechwood Cinemas.

Win Tickets to the 17th Annual Taste of Athens

It's contest time- win tickets to one of the best annual events in Athens!

The 17th Annual Taste of Athens is Saturday, February 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Over 50 restaurants and beverage distributors are participating for your chance to sample local cuisine, sip on wine & beer from regional distributors, bid on amazing silent auction items, and mix & mingle with other community supporters. All proceeds benefit Community Connection of Northeast Georgia. What a great chance to eat unique food and support a local cause!

Want to go? Participate in either the Facebook or Twitter contest. I will select one lucky winner of two tickets from Facebook and another lucky winner of two tickets from Twitter!

How to participate in the Facebook contest:

Log in to Facebook and type in "Visit Athens, Georgia" or use this link. Become a fan! (You must be a fan of Visit Athens, Georgia on Facebook to win.)

Reply to my post with a comment about your favorite local Athens restaurant and let us know why is it your favorite? After midnight on Wednesday, February 17, a random number generator will select the winner.

How to participate in the Twitter contest:

Simply retweet my Twitter post about the event. After midnight on Wednesday, February 17, a random number generator will select the winner.

New to Twitter or our contests? Not sure how to retweet? Click here or here for examples.

For official contest rules, click here.

Good luck!

Rock It Out! Benefit Concert for Girls Rock

Mark your calendars! This Wednesday, February 17, UGA's Grady Ambassadors present a show you don't want to miss.

Rock it Out! is a concert benefitting Girls Rock, an organization whose mission is to build female youth empowerment through music education and creation. The concert highlights local bands and encourages support for young women to pursue music and find their inner strength.

The 40 Watt will host the benefit for headline Allison Weiss and featured musicians Creepy, The Incendiaries and The Orkids. Tickets are only $5 in advance and $7 the day of the show- a small fee to pay for the great entertainment and contributions to an important cause.

Concert attendees also will be able to enter a raffle for the chance to win a Daisy Rock Guitar or gift cards to Athens businesses and restaurants.

For event information or to buy tickets, call 706.542.6840 or visit the Web site. We look forward to seeing you rock it out for a great cause!

Athens This Weekend: Celebrate Mardi Gras & Valentine's Day

This weekend in Athens features Mardi Gras and Valentine's celebrations! From a costume party that benefits a non-profit, to Valentine's activities for all ages, Athens offers it all. Check out this eventful weekend in the Classic City!

Friday, February 12: You don't have to travel to New Orleans for a great Mardi Gras celebration, join us at The Melting Point.

Family Counseling Services of Athens will host the third annual Mardi Gras Athens fundraiser this Friday at The Melting Point. The event will feature a costume party, an authentic cajun meal, a $1,000 cash prize and raffle, a silent auction and door prizes. The king and queen of Mardi Gras Athens will also be announced. Tickets are $25 each and raffle tickets are $10 each.

Saturday, February 13: Celebrate the Morton Theatre Centennial, a year-long celebration of Culture, Heritage and Community.

• Broadway star Tituss Burgess returns to Athens this Saturday to kick-off Morton Theatre's Centennial Celebration with Tituss Burgess...One Night Only! Burgess will grace the stage with Showtunes, Jazz Standards and backstage stories. (Congratulations to Carly Migdall for winning the Twitter contest!!)

Sunday, February 14: Treat your sweetheart to a romantic weekend in Athens with these special packages, events and offers just in time for Valentine's Day.

• It's Valentine's, and Athens is celebrating all weekend! Athens offers great opportunities including overnight accommodations, romantic dinners by candlight and tickets to amazing concerts at the most unique music venues or great UGA sports. See my Valentine's blog post to plan your romantic weekend in Athens.

Valentine's Weekend in the Classic City

Enjoy a perfect Valentine's weekend getaway in Athens! Take advantage of fabulous rates and the first-class hospitality of this Classic City. Whether or not you have a lot of money to spend, Athens offers great opportunities for you and your sweetheart!

Go Big!

Fall in love all over again in the Classic City as you celebrate Valentine's all weekend! Several weekend romance packages are available which include overnight accommodations in Athens, romantic dinners by candlelight and tickets to amazing concerts at the most unique music venues or great UGA sports. Visit our packages page for complete information and options for the most romantic Valentine's weekend!

Budget-friendly!

On Valentine's Eve, the Melting Point offers an evening of Cool Jazz and Hot Romance. Eat, drink and listen closely as jazz legend Francine Reed performs. Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 the day of the show.

The Georgia Club hosts a Valentine's Dinner Dance on Sunday, featuring a one-man tribute to Sinatra by Adam Komesar. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Dawgwood Ballrooms. Admission is $40 for members and $44 for guests. Price will increase after February 12!! Call the clubhouse at 770.725.8100 to make reservations.

If you and your partner are looking for something adventurous to do on Valentine's Day, head over to Canopy Studio for a Beginner Partner Trapeze Workshop! Learn basic partnering skills on the dance trapeze in this workshop designed for friends or couples. Wear breathable clothing that will cover the backs of knees and arms. Advance registration and payment required. Send an e-mail to info@canopystudio.com. $40 per couple.

Get Creative!

So you are going to be in Athens on Valentine's weekend, but are on a tight budget. Don't panic- you can still find things to do that are free!

Star-gaze through a 24-inch telescope! The UGA Observatory (atop the Physics and Astronomy building) will be open for public viewing this Friday at 8 p.m. for 60 to 90 minutes. If cloudy, there will be a brief talk on astronomy that is of current interest.

Join the Georgia Museum of Art at the Lyndon House Arts Center for an early Valentine's Celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. - noon. Use the works of arts you see in the galleries to inspire your own pop-up Valentines. Heart-shaped treats will be provided.

On Valentine's Day, Lay Park hosts the annual Senior Sweetheart Prom in the park's gymnasium. Activities include dancing, music, refreshments and socializing! The Senior Sweetheart Prom is open to citizens 55-years and older.

Don't forget! Our Twitter contest runs until Wednesday at midnight! Retweet my Twitter post to win a certificate for you and a loved one for $50 credit at The National and admission to Tituss Burgess' performance at the Morton Theatre.

RT to Win the Tituss Burgess Dinner Package

Broadway star Tituss Burgess returns to Athens on February 13 to kick-off Morton Theatre's Centennial Celebration with Tituss Burgess...One Night Only! Burgess will grace the stage with Showtunes, Jazz Standards and backstage stories.

One lucky winner and a friend will receive a certificate which includes two admissions to the Tituss Burgess performance plus $50 credit at The National, a downtown Athens restaurant with Meditteranean-inspired food. The winner can pick up the certificate at the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau any time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 11.

The contest only runs until Wednesday, February 10 at midnight so hurry, and start retweeting!

About Tituss Burgess:

Burgess, a graduate of local Cedar Shoals High School and UGA, has appeared in four Broadway musicals. He recently starred as Nicely-Nice Johnson in the new Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls. He originated the role of Sebastian the Crab in Disney's The Little Mermaid, as well as original Broadway cast roles in Jersey Boys and Good Vibrations.

How to participate in the Twitter contest:

Simply retweet my Twitter post about the event. After midnight on Wednesday a random number generator will select the winner.

New to Twitter or our contests? Not sure how to retweet? Click here or here for examples.

For official contest rules, click here.

Athens This Weekend: February 5-7

Featured Event (Friday, February 5): The Classic Center welcomes George Jones, Country Music Hall of Fame vocalist and industry icon! He is known for dozens of hits over the past 40 years, including "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "The Grand Tour" and ever-popular duet with former wife Tammy Wynette, "Golden Ring." Opening for George Jones will be Country duo Wilson Fairchild - sons of Harold and Don Reid of the Statler Brothers. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 5:

• Travel to the UGA Performing Arts Center this Friday to enjoy award-winning pianist Benjamin Moser perform works by Mendelssoh, Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. According to Suddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), "[Benjamin] is already a master of color, atmosphere and delicate nuance, with technical mastery and youthful exuberance." The show starts at 8 p.m. in the Ramsey Concert Hall.
  

Saturday, February 6:

• The UGA Performing Arts Center presents an extraordinarily brilliant performance this Saturday at 8 p.m. The Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quartet captures the writings of great composers with music that will stir your emotions! This group continues to astonish audiences worldwide with its range of expression, total spectrum and conceptual unity. A pre-concert lecture will be given by Thomas Taylor Dickey, a doctoral student in orchestral conducting at UGA.
  


• Come meet Old Man Spruce (a puppet with personality!) during the Arbor Day Celebration at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and discover all the important things trees provide. Learners will gain a better understanding of the importance of trees through tree games, tree identification, "tree cookie" investigation and air quality sampling. A great event for all ages!

Sunday, February 7: Are you ready for some football?! Athens offers multiple venues and parties to watch the Saints vs the Colts play in the Super Bowl XLIV!

• Watch the game and celebrate with giveaways, a raffle, and drink and food specials in Buffalo's Georgia Room. Party starts at 6 p.m.
  


• Come on down to the Melting Point for the big game plus tailgate food, beer specials, and plenty of giveaways and prizes. No cover! Doors open at 5 p.m.

If you are still looking for great Valentine's ideas, treat your sweetheart to a romantic weekend in Athens! Click here to view special packages and offers just in time for Valentine's Day.

Go! Text! Win! a Tailwaggin' Weekend in Athens!

To celebrate Valentine's Day this year, we are giving away a complete Romance Package valued at $550! It is an amazing package and extremely easy to enter.

Simply text "DAWG" to 95495!

The winner will receive a complete Romance Package including:

• Two nights' accommodations at the Foundry Inn Park & Spa
• Two tickets to the Melting Point live music venue
• A $50 Downtown Athens gift certificate
• A $100 Classic Center Theatre gift certificate
• An $80 Five and Ten gift certificate
• Two Classic City Tours vouchers
• More Athens goodies and gifts!

Who can enter? Anyone who loves Athens and is interested in returning for a special weekend!

Are you just going to bug me with lots of texts? You can choose the opt-in to receive future information from Athens about upcoming events and specials. Or you can opt-out. It's up to you.

Will you give my information to anyone else? No. We never give our patron's information to other organizations.

How does this work? It just like sending a regular text message.

1. Open up a text message
2. Type in 95495 as the recipient
3. Type "DAWG" as the text
4. Hit send
5. You are entered!

Click here for official contest rules. Good luck!