FALL In Love With Athens!

2010 Digital Photo Contest

September 30 - November 15, 2010

The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau invites you to participate in our Fall 2010 Digital Photo Contest. Submit an original photo that you think captures the atmosphere of Fall in Athens, Georgia.

We're looking for your take on the season, so WOW us with photos of your tailgate, a beautiful landscape, or a rockin' event that you attended. All original, digital photography is eligible for submission into the contest.

The two winners, "Best Overall Photo" and "Fan Favorite Photo", will receive a prize package worth $250.00 and the recognition of having your photo and name prominently displayed on our websites. Your photo will be seen by thousands of people each day! The winning photos will also have the chance to be included in future projects by the CVB.

Visit our website to read the complete contest rules, then upload your images to Facebook to enter. Be sure to include the following in the photo description in order to be considered:

1) FALL In Love With Athens- F2010 Photo Contest (write this first!)

2) A short description about the photo including where you were, what you were doing, and why the photo is a great representation of The Classic City.

Looking for a little inspiration? Check out our Facebook page and Flickr page for some great pictures that we've taken. Our website, www.visitathensga.com, has some great upcoming events for your next photo shoot.

Fall Festivals in Athens!

If you're searching for some fun this fall, look no further! Athens is serving up some of the coolest festivals and expos around to help you celebrate the fabulous weather and changing colors. Check out local films, crafts, music, and food. We've got an overview of 8 of them happening in the next two months so that you can mark your calendars. Events are listed below by date order.

1. 3rd Annual EcoFocus Film Festival- September 24 - October 3
EcoFocus celebrates environmental stewardship in Athens with high-quality films and shorts. The festival, presented by The University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology, hopes to inspire viewers to take up the cause in their own lives by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

2. Dixie Film Festival- October 1 - 3
The Dixie Film Festival allows independent, international film makers to show off their craft in the heart of the South. High-quality full length films, shorts, and documentaries will compete for awards like Best Comedy and Best Animation. There is sure to be something for everyone here.

3. Clips of Faith Beer and Film Tour- October 1
New Belgium Brewing, hailing all the way from Colorado, is touring the country with 20 handpicked amateur short films. Local food will be served with samples of some of the latest New Belgium creations. Bring a lawn chair to Hot Corner and expect some incredibly funny films.

4. 26th Annual North Georgia Folk Festival- October 2
The beloved North Georgia Folk Festival is back in Athens for it's 26th year! The festival will kick off with bluegrass music, craft demonstrations, and some of the tastiest soul food you will ever have. Kids are welcome too! Sandy Creek Nature Park employees will have crafts and activities just for the youngest folk lovers as well as animal demonstrations.

5. 3rd Annual Next To Last Festival- October 28 - 31
The Next To Last Festival will offer music lovers the unique experience to check out over 70 musicians, bands, and artists. The acts will be taking over nearly every major musical venue in Athens. Concerts will be followed by the Wild Rumpus parade, warehouse parties, and haunted houses.

6. 2nd Annual Cask Ale Festival- November 7
Taste 20 cask-conditioned ales at Aroma's Wine Bar on South Milledge Avenue in the heart of Athens, Georgia.

7. Athens Christmas Art & Craft Show- November 19 - 21
Shop for all your Christmas and holiday gifts at one of the largest theme craft shows in the area. More than 150 artists and craftsmen from around the country will be showing off their wares and giving demonstrations . You're sure to find something for everyone on your list; from jewelry lovers to pottery collectors.
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Check out www.visitathensga.com for more upcoming events in The Classic City.

Good News for Veggie Lovers

The deservedly famous, delicious favorite The Grit has held the vegetarian restaurant crown in Athens for many years, but I doubt any diners (or anyone at The Grit) is sorry to see another addition to the vegetarian dining options in town. The locavore movement (which prioritizes eating food grown nearby) has made an impact in Athens, and new restaurant Gymnopedie embraces both with their "natural, vegetarian, local" mantra.

Gymnopedie, located in the Leathers Building on Pulaski Street near downtown, opened in late August, to praise from the foodie community. Seating just 16 people in their intimate dining space, Gymnopedie is the brainchild of Sarah Dunning, the self-taught head chef, with support from her husband Cal Clements, who serves as maitre d'.

Dunning's approach to food is simple and healthy: she cooks with a minimum of fat, almost no dairy, and avoids food which are common allergens, focusing on very fresh vegetables and whimsical presentations, like in an heirloom tomato and watermelon salad we tried on our visit, which was served with mint sorbet (top plate). The menu features a handful of dishes, rotated regularly, and displayed on a chalkboard in the dining room. French wines make up the bulk of the drink menu, with cocktails like sangria (delicious) offered as ingredients are in season.


The tucked-away restaurant embodies some of the best parts of Athens: it feels a little like a secret spot, but it also feels inclusive and warm. Longtime Athenian Clements is welcoming and helpful as a waiter, and the space features, on one wall, an intricately-pieced quilt that he made himself. A large painting by acclaimed Athens artist Terry Rowlett hangs on the other wall.

Reservations are highly encouraged at Gymnopedie, and can be made online via their web site. They're open Wednesday-Sunday 5:30-9:30 p.m. To get there, drive north on Pulaski from downtown, crossing Prince Avenue / Dougherty Street. The Leathers Building is on the left just before the railroad tracks. Park on the side of the building closest to the tracks (the north side).

Tonight, Local Music Reigns in Athens

Local Bands featured at the Caledonia Lounge

I'm not a music aficionado. I listen to a mix of whatever is on the radio (R.I.P. 95.5), mos def cd's, and a shuffled iTunes library that I have neither the time nor inclination to organize. Most of the songs are listed by track number. This is why I was surprised to be invited to the Caledonia Lounge tonight to catch a show featuring some rising stars from Athens. Caledonia brings together Nashville's indie-pop group Heypenny and local bands Misfortune 500 and The Orkids tonight at 10:00 p.m. I had a chance to catch up with Chisolm Thompson, singer for Misfortune 500, to pick his brain on the inner workings of the group and on "making" it in the wildly diverse music scene of Athens, Georgia.

Thompson and lead guitarist Pascal Cureton met in highschool and played in several different projects together before meeting bassist Natalie Gazaway. They were acquainted in The University of Georgia's Lamar Dodd School of Art. The band found a fourth member, drummer Lemuel Hayes, through Myspace.

Check out our full interview below:

CCU: Misfortune 500 is a cool name. What's the story behind it?
CT: The name is also the title of a book by Bruce Nash about financial catastrophes in major companies that have ruined the lives of thousands of people; employees, stockholders, consumers, you name it. We felt that this was particularly relevant to anyone endeavoring to pursue a career in any creative industry in the current economy. The entertainment industry and particularly the music industry rewards artists whose work lacks critical content.

CCU: Personally, I'm a big fan of that sort of "britney-ized" pop sound. Does music need a message?
CT: As one who has the opportunity to speak in front of others, if an artist or entertainer doesn't use the opportunity for worthwhile discourse, it's sinful. In our opinion, if you are endeavoring to make a living as an artist for altruistic purposes, you have embarked into an enterprise seemingly destined to meet constant resistance.

CCU: Okay, I'll bite. So how do you come up with music that is interesting from a content standpoint as well as a musical one? What is your inspiration?
CT: We draw from our own experiences. Literature, life, cinema, and a feeling of confusion. The concept of a longing that matures into action is a big component of that.

CCU: What advice would you give to other local artists who are trying to make it in the music industry?
CT: Making it is what you make it. Be prepared for the terms "artist" and "making it" to be disconnected for some time. Success is completely different from fame and is always completely subjective. However, being an artist isn't a hobby, get serious about it, or get out of the way.

I think if you are committed to REALLY getting involved in the industry aspect of it. be prepared to work as hard as if you suddenly decided to invent the tire in a market already saturated with tires. You have Goodyears and Firestones to compete with. It's hard convincing people that your product is new and special.

CCU: That's a weird analogy but it works. Let's talk about the show tonight. What songs can fans expect to hear?
CT: You can expect to hear variations on sets of our originals. Be prepared for gravity and grandeur. We'll be playing a few songs from our upcoming album as well as material from Before This Winter Ends.


CCU: Where can fans get your music?
CT: Firstly, check with the local record stores. If they don't have it, they can get it. Seriously, just ask them. I'm always surprised to see our record in local shops from New York to L.A. Because of those smaller shops, our album landed in the hands of an SNL writer. Local shops are the best.

CCU: Well that's some amazing luck! Is there anything else you would like all of our blog readers to know before the show tonight?
CT: Sleepers, Wake Up. Dawn Approaches Like a Shockwave.

CCU: Okay then.
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You can check out Chisolm and the rest of Misfortune 500 on their Myspace page or on Facebook. Come out to the show tonight at The Caledonia Lounge in Athens, Georgia. The show starts at 10:00 p.m. (+21) $7, (18-20) $9

Photo: Michael Lachowski

"It's Cool To Be Green, It's The New Black."

EcoFocus Film Festival
Pre-Screening Event

Tonight The Odum School of Ecology kicked off the annual EcoFocus Film Festival with a free screening of Greenlit. The screening was one of 13 free shows between now and October 3. The festival officially kicks off this Friday at Cine in downtown Athens, Georgia.

Greenlit, produced by Ambush Entertainment's Miranda Bailey and Reel Green Media, follows the production team and a green consultant as they navigate the mostly uncharted world of eco-friendly film making. They will be making a film adaptation of the book "The River Why". They struggle to reduce, reuse, and recycle while on the set, but often those eco-friendly strategies are more expensive and usually met with resistance. Bailey raises major questions about the real cost of minimizing "the bottom line" with hilarious results.

According to a recent study by UCLA scientists, the film industry is the 3rd largest producer of pollution in the Los Angeles area. Hollywood is also a top producer of air pollution. L.A. is also considered one of the most polluted cities in the country. Film production uses resources at an alarming rate and is a major consumer of energy and fuel. The film claims that unless changes are made the film industry will soon be responsible for 140,000 tons of air pollution per year. Some of the larger studios, like Fox, are attempting to offset this waste by becoming carbon neutral. They are replanting trees and purchasing carbon credits. Bailey and green consultants from Reel Green Media wonder if the environment would be better served if steps to lessen pollution were taken during production as opposed to after it. Buying carbon credits could be seen as buying off guilt, according to the film.

Through the EcoFocus Film Festival, the Odum School of Ecology, hopes to raise awareness and discussion about some of the same questions that are in Greenlit. Check out a full listing of shows and times at the festival website. Passes can be purchased at the Cine box office. Ask for special offers on full-festival passes for students and seniors! See you there!

Discussing Innovation in Athens

New Media: How Technology Influences America Politics

Yesterday I wandered over to The Chapel on the campus of The University of Georgia to check out another great program. It's always impressed me how many great speakers, panels, and conferences come through Athens, Georgia. The university hosted panelists Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Ben Nelson, talk show host Neal Boortz, and Grady School Dean Dr. Cully Clark. University of Georgia President Dr. Michael Adams introduced the speakers to a crowd of local business leaders, faculty, and students. Senator Chambliss (R-GA), who heads up the Committee on Agriculture, cited a study that ranked him among the worst in the Senate for the adoption of media and technology. He thought that extensive "emailing and blackberry-ing" should have been taken into consideration.

All of the panelists agreed that the media revolution that we are experiencing is here to stay and that privacy is no longer a luxury afforded to anyone. "There is no space that I'm in that is not subject to digital representation...[the audience] is there, it won't go away." explains Clark. He, as well as other teachers at UGA, have noticed a significant uptick in the number of students using multimedia tools in the classroom such as laptops, smart phones, and tablets. Students can instantly post classroom comments to online platforms for hundreds of their friends to read. Boortz tells the audience that "There are no personal conversations anymore". However, this "live-tweeting" does have positives. The ability to communicate instantaneously allows everyone to be a reporter, fact-checking to keep teachers and politicians honest.

In Athens, we're lucky to be able to draw such distinguished speakers and generate tons of public interest that keeps them coming back. Athens, Georgia is a city that is dedicated to fostering creativity and innovation. I hope that the city and the university will continue to invite speakers here, opening up the lines of communication between residents.

Want to dive into discussion or hear some great speakers around town? Check out the Athens-Clarke County Library for weekly lectures and workshops or check out the UGA Master Calendar for upcoming events.

My Impromptu Saturday Outing

My Sunday during the long weekend all started with a frisbee and got better from there. Actually, it all started with a bunch of frisbees. Who knew that they came in so many shapes and colors now. You can get foldable fabric ones, tiny "distance driver" ones, and ones that have holes in the middle. That can't be aerodynamic, can it? We finally settled on a highlighter yellow one with a metallic warrior embossed on the front. It was about eight dollars at Half Moon Outfitters in 5 Points. They had a bunch of neat stuff in there this past Sunday like 1-person tents and hacky sacks. Check it out if you're looking for rain gear. They had a bunch of men's and women's on sale.

We head to Bishop Park off of Prince to break in our purchase. On the way I spot that car show that's hosted by The Varsity. I've always meant to check it out. The entire parking lot was full of antique cars that had been restored. We saw mustangs, chargers, and an edsel. They were all flawless, but then again I know squat about cars. The owners would occasionally get up from their shady folding chair and buff the cars with diapers. As a joke, I wanted to go pop the hood of my dirty, red Dodge Caliber to see if it could generate any interest.

After the car show, we head to the park. There were already a good number of people out. They were throwing frisbees too or reading on blankets. That's just what you do in Athens. Right before kickoff of last Saturday's game, I saw a guy reading poetry and eating little fruits in a shady spot next to New Tate. It was amazing that he could concentrate with hundreds of rowdy fans walking by. I love all of the different people you can find in this city.

After throwing our new frisbee for a while, I started to get sunburned so we retreated to the basketball court. It's the same one they hold the Athens Farmers Market on each Saturday. Long story short, we found a perfectly good basketball, I found a dollar on the ground, and half-court shots are just as difficult as they should be. Athens is definitely a city that you can take your time exploring. It has a funny way of leading you in a completely different direction than you had anticipated.

Book a room for this Saturday

Attention Dawg Fans:

There are still rooms available in Athens for this Saturday's home football game. Hurry, spaces are going fast! So come on down and tailgate with us for the UGA vs. Louisiana-Lafayette game, stay in any one of the fabulous hotels here, then hang around on Sunday for lunch and shopping in the Classic City. You can find an updated availability chart for all area hotels by clicking here.