Local Chef Nominated for "Best Chefs in the Southeast"

Congratulations to Athens' own Hugh Acheson, chef from Five and Ten, for his nomination in the "Best Chefs in the Southeast" category of the 2010 James Beard Awards! This is his second year in a row to be nominated for the award.

Competition includes Linton Hopkins of Atlanta's Restaurant Eugene, Sean Brock of McCrady's in Charleston, S.C., Andrea Reusing of Lantern in Chapel Hill, N.C. and Bell Smith of Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, N.C. The nominees were announced last week at Palace Cafe in New Orleans' French Quarter. The winners will be announced on May 3 at an event in New York (I will keep you updated!)

Established in 1990, the coveted James Beard Foundation Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and continue to emphasize the foundation's mission to celebrate, preserve and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity.

Be sure to give a "congrats!" to Hugh next time you visit Five and Ten!

Happy Birthday, R.E.M.!

April 5, 1980 marked the very first time Bill, Peter, Mike and Michael took the stage together in Athens, GA. It has almost been 30 years since R.E.M. made its debut, and the Classic City is ready to celebrate with two very special events!

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of R.E.M.'s first performance, the Athens Welcome Center & Classic City Tours are offering an Athens Music History Tour this weekend only! The Tour, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and again on Sunday, will depart from the Athens Welcome Center. Local "scenester" Paul Butchart will lead the tour, exploring the sights and sounds that cultivated Athens' rich musical heritage, with an emphasis on R.E.M.'s early days in Athens. Stops will include the Murmur trestle, the "Sidewalk of the Stars," among other musical points of interest. Tickets are $15 per person. Space is limited! Please call 706.208.8687 (toll free: 866.455.1820) to make your reservation.

The Melting Point is hosting a "birthday party" this Friday night called R.E.M. 30, and you are invited! Acquaintances and long-time friends of R.E.M. will perform R.E.M. songs that mean the most to them. Musicians including Casper & the Cookies, Supercluster, John Keane, VieTNam and the HEAP will grace the stage. Mitch Easter, a huge contributor to the band's earliest recordings, and B-52 members Cindy Wilson and Dana Downs will also perform. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

Happy 30th boys- we look forward to celebrating in your honor!

Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival

Don't miss Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival, tonight through Sunday. It's a rare chance to see film classics from multiple decades the way they were meant to be seen, on the BIG screen. Special guests will be on stage after each screening for Q&A. My best insider tip: don't miss the FREE panel discussion on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.-- it brings special guests and film experts together for a fascinating discussion.

Tickets are just $10 for a single film, or $70 for a festival pass to all films. Discounts for UGA students and Alumni Assn. members with ID. For complete information, see our event calendar.

Stadion Athens Classic at UGA

Only 36 more days until one of the most anticipated events of the year- the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA! The tournament, known in the previous four years as the Athens Regional Foundation Classic, well be held April 26 - May 2 at the UGA golf course. It will be the only PGA TOUR-sanctioned event that is owned and operated by an institution of higher education-go UGA!

All net proceeds from the tournament will fund need-based scholarships for UGA students through the Arch Foundation. In addition, local nonprofits will have the opportunity to add thousands of dollars to their bottom line through the TICKETS Fore CHARITY program. Tournament related events will be conducted all week, including multiple pro-ams, clinics and various other opportunities for fans to participate and interact with players.

Watkinsville-based Stadion Money Management, Inc. will serve as the title sponsor for the event. Since 1991, Stadion Money Management has been managing investors' money for long-term goals like retirement, education and future family legacy.

For more information about the event including how to purchase tickets and/or volunteer, click here.

Spring is in the Air!

Spring has finally arrived, and there is no better place than Athens to relax and enjoy the warm weather! Athens will host seven annual events this spring, including the 30th Annual Athens Twilight Criterium, the 2nd Annual Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage and the 12th Annual UGA International Street Festival. In addition, 20 local hotels, businesses and boutiques are offering great rates and discounts for budget-friendly ways to have a fun time. As always, Athens offers free anytime attractions, all filled with rich history, amazing talent and inspiring architecture.

For a complete events calendar, click here. Stay tuned for further information about these world-renowned events you do not want to miss!

Athens This Weekend: March 19 - 21

Friday, March 19:

• One person's trash is another person's treasure at Northeast Georgia's largest thrift sale Bargainza! Head to Old Farmers Hardware on Lexington Road to shop from an eclectic mix of merchandise including furniture, lawn and garden equipment, children's toys and clothing. This sale is a major fundraiser for the Junior League of Athens, and a percentage of the proceeds will benefit P.A.L.S. (Friday - Saturday event.)

• The UGA Observatory will be open for public viewing this Friday for 60 to 90 minutes. If the night is clear, those attending will look through the telescope at the stars. If cloudy, there will be a brief talk on astronomy that is of current interest. Everyone is welcome!

• The 40 Watt Club presents Athens' first ever Athens Music Collective (AMC) Showcase Concert. All proceeds from the night's ticket sales will benefit GoARTS!, a local organization that brings opportunities to under-served children in the Athens area. During the show, Classic City Promotions draw a winner of the R.E.M. autographed guitar, live on stage. Show starts at 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 20:

• Save the Ta Ta's! This year's BreastFest event at the Terrapin Beer Company will feature live music by some of Athens' finest musicians, food, beer tasting, brewery tours and a silent auction - fun for the whole family! All proceeds from BreastFest will benefit the St. Mary's Women's Diagnostic Center to support local women and families affected by breast cancer. Tickets are $20.00 in advance/$25.00 at the door. Children are free!!!

• The UGA Performing Arts Center is proud to present I Musici de Montreal, a Canadian chamber ensemble that has performed in many of the world's greatest halls under the dynamic direction of Yuli Turovsky. Their vast repertoire extends from the Baroque to the contemporary and their many recordings have garnered numerous awards. Show starts at 8 p.m.

• Grab the family and head over to the Lamar Dodd School of Art to learn about animals in art at Family Day: Spring Festival. Look at images of works from the museum's collection and then create your own real or imaginary animal to take home. The event will feature live animals including an owl, a snake, frogs and turtles, courtesy of Memorial Park's Bear Hollow. Snacks will be provided.

Sunday, March 21:

• Dancing with the Athens Stars returns this Sunday to the Classic Center! The event puts a spotlight on some of the Classic City's better-known faces and names, pairing them with an instructor and setting them loose on the Classic Center's stage to show off their moves. Routines will be representative of various dance syles such as ballroom, salsa and hip hop. All proceeds benefit Project Safe. Tickets are only $15!

Five Shamrockin' Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Athens

The Classic City is celebrating St. Patrick's Day all week with exciting events and specials!

1. Take advantage of St. Patty's deals at local Irish pubs and breweries. Landsdowne Road Irish Pub, The Globe and Cutters Pub will all have celebrations you do not want to miss.
2. Listen to authentic Irish music at the Melting Point while drinking a few Guinness and Killians beers to truly honor the Irish tradition.
3. Enjoy and appreciate green beauty around Athens by participating in the St. Patrick's Day Ride.
4. Become a beer activist! Check out The Art of: Brew to see how you can truly learn the art behind brewing award-winning beer.
5. Grab some dinner and drinks at Molly O'Shea's Irish Pub and Restaurant.

5. _________________Insert YOUR ideas here -- Comment Away!

Click here to see more St Patrick's Day events in Athens, including kids' festivities.

Cheers!

Athens This Weekend: March 5 - 7

Friday, March 5:

• Everybody have fun tonight! Travel back in time to the era of shoulder pads, bangle bracelets and living to excess. The Melting Point presents The Highballs in Concert. The Highballs will be putting on a totally awesome show so you can party to the max. Like, for sure! Duran Duran, Madonna, Journey, the Bangles...all the best of the '80s in a high energy live show.

Saturday, March 6:

• The UGA Performing Arts Center is proud to present Narek Hakhnazaryan, a 19-year-old cellist who won first prize in the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions! His two rewarding debuts were in Carnegie's Zankel Hall in New York and at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater in Washington, D.C. According to San Francisco Classical Voice, "he produces a powerful and colorful sound in all registers, nails every big shift and flashes all the virtuoso's tricks with insolent ease. He should have a stellar career."

• Treat your family to Exotic Birds & Animals on Planet Earth: Family Day at The State Botanical Garden! Roy Hodge from Exotic Paradise, Atlanta will travel to the State Botanical Garden this Saturday to educate and entertain families with his menagerie of exotic forest animals! Attendees will discover amazing facts and adaptations of exotic animals in a live animal presentation. Children and their parents can pet and take pictures with cockatoos, parrots, owls, monitor lizards, anacondas, boa constrictors and more!

Sunday, March 7:

• Head over to The State Botanical Garden this Sunday for the opening reception of Claire Clements' paintings exhibition Bottlebrush Buckeye and Beyond! Participate in a fun art critique exercise and interpret artworks currently on display. Claire's process, cut paintings, involves cutting mixed media painting on paper. Free to the public.

Ongoing Events:

• Do not miss your opportunity to view a colorful display of late winter flowers at the 18th Annual Hellebore Days at Piccadilly Farm in Bishop, Georgia! The public is invited to stroll the gardens and view thousands of Lenten Roses in full bloom in the 2.5 acre display garden. Hellebore Days has been featured in the New York Times and numerous other publications. For those unable to attend the event, the gardens will be open on Fridays and Saturdays during the spring season.

• Athens Creative Theatre presents "Bull in a China Shop," a Women's Repertoire Show and Dessert Theatre. When a houseful of sweet little old ladies discovers that a handsome bachelor lives across the street, they are delighted! When they learn that he is none other than Detective Dennis O'Finn, of Homicide, they are faced with the problem of how to attract his attention. The answer is simplicity itself: a nice, genteel homicide with a cup of tea as the murder weapon! Patrons will enjoy a dessert buffet at intermission.

• Paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media, large and small sculpture, works in clay and in fiber, jewelry, photographs, drawings, prints, and other works! The 35th Juried Exhibition at Lyndon House Arts Center showcases a wealth of Athens area talent. Over 740 art works by 291 artists were entered in the competition this year and 142 pieces were selected by this year's juror Ron Platt, the Hugh Kaul Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

We Are Athens: A Buy Local Initiative for Athens

As a native Athenian, I understand the importance of "buying local." With so many great local restaurants, shops and businesses in the area, it is hard to imagine anyone needing more than what the Athens community has to offer.

But it is not just about spending money. It is about helping local owners and employees, the people who genuinely care about this community. My father owns a local auto business in Athens (Kittle A-1 Auto & Truck,) and his commitment to serving the community parallels with other local businesses- they truly care about the well-being of Athens and want to provide superior services to meet every need of this community.

An uprising organization in the Athens area understands how vital it is to buy local, and it aims to increase awareness of this importance. We Are Athens, an Athens area buy local initiative, was formed by a group of local business owners, consumers and community supporters to "promote local business in the Athens area through education and promotion of the benefits of buying locally, local business advocacy, and the importance of preserving what makes the Athens area unique."

So what exactly defines, "local?"

• Private, Employee, Community or Cooperative Ownership
• At least 50 percent owned by area resident(s)
• Full decision-making function for the business lies with its owner(s)
• Limited number of locations, all within a single state or region

We Are Athens is working toward an official announcement to the community, which includes an upcoming launch event and Web site launch. Until then, be sure to check out the Buy Local Athens Facebook page.

Thanks to everyone who supports local businesses and do not forget to keep buying local!

Win Family Admission to Exotic Birds and Reptiles on Planet Earth

One lucky Facebook winner will win family admission to Exotic Birds and Animals on Planet Earth: Family Day, this Saturday, March 6 at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia! Special guest Roy Hodge from Exotic Paradise, Atlanta will educate and entertain family members with his menagerie of exotic forest animals in a live animal presentation.

Families will discover amazing facts and adaptations of exotic animals including cockatoos, exotic parrots, spectacled owls, monitor lizards, anacondas, boa constrictors and more. After the presentation, children and their parents can pet and take pictures with the exotic animals! There will also be several hands-on discovery stations focusing on forests and their importance in our lives.

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 family activity in Athens and let us know why is it your favorite? Perhaps you have a favorite memory or you attend an event annually with your family- let us know!

After midnight on Wednesday, March 3, a random number generator will select the winner.

For official contest rules, click here.

Good luck!