Athens This Weekend: March 30- April 01

The weekend is finally here! With the warm weather rolling in, there are so many exciting and fun events taking place in Athens,GA. With a variety of charitable events, sporting events, and fun activities for the entire family, you are guaranteed to have an amazing weekend in Athens! Here are a few ideas taking place this weekend that will hopefully spark your interest.

1.  Auction for Adoption Benefit

Join us at Buffalo's Cafe for our Annual Auction For Adoption to benefit All God's Children, Inc, a local non-profit special needs adoption agency in northeast Georgia. It will be a night of fun planned with live music from Buttermilk Revival, a live and silent auctions with items from all of your favorite local places, plus a gourmet appetizer buffet. This charitable event will take place Friday, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets will be $20 per person. This will be a fun and rewarding event in which the proceeds go to a great cause! 

2. Athens Food Cart Festival 

The students of the UGA College of Environment and Design encourage you to "Mobilize Your Appetite" as they stage a Food Cart Festival celebrating local and regional food production. This event will feature food trucks from Atlanta as well as Athens food vendors, including an empanada cart, FarmCart, La Fonda Dawgs, and King of Pops. Bring the entire family out for this delicious event on Saturday from Noon-6:00 p.m. in Downtown Athens.

3. Dancing With the Athens Stars

Bring the family for a night out and see the Dancing With the Athens Stars performances! The 5th Annual Dancing with the Athens Stars is an annual fundraiser is for Project Safe, to help combat domestic violence. Each vote is $1 contributed to Project Safe in honor of a participating couple. The couple with the highest total wins the Audience Favorite trophy.  Our panel of expert judges will award trophies for the best dance performance. This event will take place on Sunday from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Classic Center.

These are only a few of the exciting events taking place in Athens, GA this weekend. Here are a few more interesting ideas that you can hopefully mark down in your calendar:

• Charlotte's Web at the Memorial Park and Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail will be this Friday at 7:00 p.m. and this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. This will be a full length play presented by Athens Creative Theatre.The tickets will be $15 for adults, and only $12 for seniors, students, and children.This play is great for kids and kids at heart!
• UGA Equestrian in Southern Equestrian Championships at UGA will be this Friday and Saturday. Teams compete in four events at each dual meet: English Equitation over Fences, English Equitation, Western Horsemanship, and Western Reining. This is an exciting event you will not want to miss!
• A Royal Pet Affair will be a multi-shelter adoption event. There will be both dogs and cats available for adoption. There will also be games, food and refreshments, activities, and more for the entire family! A portion of the proceeds from these sponsored activities will benefit Athens Area Humane Society. This event will be Sunday from 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. at the Jittery Joe's on Atlanta Highway. 

Be sure to check out our Visit Athens, GA calendar for a full list of even more events and activities! 

To stay in the know about what's coming up in Athens, join our mailing list!

What are your weekend plans in Athens,GA?

Dive Adventures in Athens,Georgia and Beyond!

Athens, GA, with its unique and diverse culture, has so much to offer to students and local residents. However, when looking for “adventure,” the fist thing that pops into my mind is Athens’ local and only scuba diving shop, Dolphin Dive Center. This exclusive and top-notch store is located off Atlanta Highway.

Dolphin Dive is owned by Tim Bridgham, a friendly and fitted businessman. He runs his shop with the motto, “What Do You Do For Fun?” This saying sums up his desire to provide Athens with the exceptional opportunity for a different kind of “fun.” Between the many class options and trips, to the best tanning beds in town, Dolphin Dive provides Athens with true and exciting experiences.

When I first visited Dolphin Dive Center, I had no idea if scuba diving was for me. I had snorkeled before, but was ready to go deeper and explore more. Fortunately, they have a Discover Scuba course on the first Sunday of each month. The equipment is provided as you are instructed how to breath underwater. This allows you to see how fun and easy “blowing bubbles" can be.  After completing this course, I knew that I wanted to further my scuba diving knowledge and capabilities. They offer a three-step open water certification process, which once you are certified, you are certified for life! There are also additional specialty courses offered as you advance in this adventure. Dolphin Dive sells all of the equipment you will ever need, at great prices!

However, my favorite thing about Dolphin Dive Center, in Athens,GA, is the amazing trips they plan. In the next six months they will be taking people to the Florida Keys, Cozumel, an all-exclusive week on a sailboat, and many more exotic locations! The trips are reasonably priced, and I am personally planning on taking a trip on the Juliet Sailboat, for a week of diving, memories, and fun with my friends!

So, if you are looking for something new and exciting, try the exhilarating sport of scuba diving. They say that scientists know more about the moon than our own oceans.  So if you are ready to become an explorer, let the journey begin!

For more information about this exciting local Athens,GA adventure shop, check out their website at: http://www.dolphindiveathens.com/index.html

Athens This Weekend: March 23-25

Spring is definitely in the air in Athens,GA! With the weekend finally here, it is time to enjoy this beautiful weather with exciting plans. Athens has so much to offer this weekend. With fascinating musical performances, benefit events, and much more for the entire family, we know that your weekend in Athens, GA will be a wonderful one! Here are a few ideas that hopefully spark your interest.

1. BreastFest Athens

Join BreastFest Athens on Saturday, March 24 from Noon – 7:30 p.m. at Terrapin Beer Co. for a day of local beer, food and music, while supporting breast cancer awareness and breast health. Enjoy live music on two stages from Bloodkin, Kyshona Armstrong, Betsy Kingston & The Crowns, efren, Adam Payne, Charlie Garrett Band, Déjà Vu, Mark Cunningham and the Nationals, 90 Acre Farm, Chris Moore, Clay Leverett, Dodd Ferrelle, The Granfalloons, Betsy Franck and the Bareknuckle Band and Athens Showgirls Cabaret, as well as food from local restaurants, brewery tours, beer tastings, a huge silent auction and raffle, pink hair extensions from City Salon, and tons of kids activities! Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and kids are FREE! Don't miss out on this exciting event that benefits a great cause!

2. Fiddler On The Roof

Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler On The Roof has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. Filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, which includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset," Fiddler On The Roof is a timeless classic. This entertaining performance will be Saturday, March 24 at the Classic Center Theatre at 8:00 p.m. Fiddler On The Roof will definitely be a show that the whole family will enjoy. Tickets range from $9-$65, so get yours while they last!  

3. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Come out and enjoy a beautiful program by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Leonidas Kavakos, who joins the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for this concert both as conductor and soloist, has established himself as a violinist and artist of rare quality, known at the highest level for his virtuosity, superb musicianship, and the integrity of his playing. After a recent performance in London, The Times called him a passionate and "entirely accomplished performer." Kavakos is also becoming increasingly recognized internationally as a conductor of rare gifts and musicianship. For the Atlanta Symphony's spring Hodgson Hall visit, the program will feature two works by Mozart, the Violin Concerto No. 3 and the Symphony No. 34, as well as Beethoven's Symphony No. 4. This event will be Sunday, March 25 at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center--Hodgson Concert Hall at 3:00 p.m. Tickets range from $45-$55.

Here are a few more ideas that you can hopefully squeeze into your weekend plans:

• Benefit for Athens PowerDawgs: Come out and support the Athens PowerDawgs while enjoying great performances! This event is a Fundraiser for Athens' own wheelchair soccer team. All ages show with special performance by The Athens Band, student bands, as well as performances by FlameThrowers, Surf Band, Thieves Market, and 706. This will take place on Saturday at The Office Lounge from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m.There is a $5 suggested donation, that will benefit a great cause! 
• Family Day: Fabric Fun: Come see the exhibition "Pattern and Palette in Print: Gentry Magazine and a New Generation of Trendsetters," then head to the Michael and Mary Erlanger Studio Classroom to create colorful patterns and design your own fabric. This is something to whole family will enjoy! This event will take place on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at the Georgia Museum of Art.There will be no admission charge, so bring out the entire family! 
• The 2nd Annual GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership Golf Tournament: Scramble with a shotgun start. Tickets are $95 for an individual, and $340 for a team. This fee includes the greens fee, beverages, lunch, snacks and contests. Awards will be given for: Closest to the pin, Longest Drive, Winning Player, Winning Team. The 2012 proceeds will benefit the Children's Specialty Services at St. Mary's Healthcare System & the academic endeavors of the students at the Medical Partnership.This event will take place on Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

These are just a few of the many exciting events taking place in Athens,GA. Hopefully you've read something that you are looking forward to! Be sure to check out our Visit Athens, GA calendar for a full list of even more events and activities! 

To stay in the know about what's coming up in Athens, join our mailing list!

What are you looking forward to this weekend in Athens,GA?

Spanish Wine Dinner at Farm 255, with Chef Whitney Otawka - Wed., 3/21

Our friends at Farm 255 have an amazing special dinner planned for Wednesday, March 21.   No Sleep 'Til Galicia is a five-course wine dinner inspired by Whitney's adventure through Spain with winemaker Raúl Pérez.

On the restaurant's Farm Dirt blog, Chef Whitney reflects on her experiences in Spain and its inspiration for this dining event:

"We'd go to all these beautiful vineyards and eat grapes from vines that were 100 years old," Chef Whitney says. Along the way, she was able to taste myriad wines in their various stages of development — from a few days aged to those that had been aging for months or even years — and participate in the wine-making process from start to finish. "Now I understand that region, and I understand Mencia grapes," she says. 

>>Read more

Drum roll, please . . . Here's the delectable menu!

First: Jamón

iberico ham, savory churro, favas, spring vidalias, mint

with a portela mencia 

Second: Pulpa a la Gallega

galicia-style octopus, portugese olive oil, pimento

with alanda blanco

Third: Caldereta de Cordero

braised lamb shank, loin, chickpeas, turnip greens

with quinta de muradella

Fourth: Cheese

local selection to be announced

with muti albarino 

Fifth: Torta de Santiago

almond cake, saffron ice cream, honey, yogurt

with navan pearl sparking wine

Wednesday, March 21 @ 6:30

$65 per person { includes wine; not tax & gratuity }

Reservations can be made by email to reservations@farm255.com or by calling 706.549.4660.

Wines provided by Olé Imports

Athens This Weekend: March 16-18

The weekend is finally here, and let's not forget that St. Patrick's Day is too! Athens, GA has several exciting events taking place this weekend. Between the St. Patrick's Day activities, exciting sporting events, and several other events for the entire family, we know you will have an amazing weekend here in the Classic City. So bring the whole family out for an exciting weekend, and don't forget to wear green! Here are a few of the events taking place in Athens this weekend:

1. The Melting Point's 7th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration 

This exciting celebration is guaranteed to be a good time! This Annual Celebration features  a night of The Pogues music as performed by The Donner Party, The Knockouts & The Welfare Liners. The evening will begin with a special opening dance performances by the Drake School of Irish Dance.There will be reserved table seating available on the mezzanine level on a first come first serve basis. The event will be this Saturday at 7:00. Tickets are only $7 in advance and $10 at the door. You can get a reserved table for two for only $21, and a table for four will be $42. Tickets are on sale now, so make your St. Patrick's day one to remember!

2. "A Divine Light" exhibit at the Georgia Museum of Art. 

These Northern Renaissance Paintings from the Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery are making their first appearance as the sole focus of an exhibit. Designed as an intimate encounter with the devotional art of the 15th and 16th centuries, "A Divine Light" explores the ways in which Northern Renaissance artists expressed the central mysteries of the Christian faith through setting, pose, gesture and the objects of everyday life. This beautiful artwork will be on display this Saturday from Noon-5:00 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Art. There is no admission fee, but there is a $3 suggested donation. 

3. Put A Ring On It

This event is perfect for all of the brides to be! Put A Ring On It is an exclusive luxury showcase of wedding vendors, in many categories, all hand-selected with the highest standards and are dedicated to offering our sophisticated modern Bride the highest caliber of service. Featuring many "One Day Only" promotions and other giveaways at the Georgia Center. This event will be Sunday from Noon to Five. Tickets will be $20 for the bride and groom and $15 for general admission. This event has everything you need for the wedding of your dreams. 

These are just a few of the events taking place this weekend in Athens,GA. We hope something has sparked your interest so far, but here are a few more exciting events:

• Friday- Sunday: UGA Men's Baseball Game at Foley Field. Come cheer on the Diamond Dogs as they take on Tennessee! This will be Friday at 7:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday:  St. Patrick's Snake Day. Come and celebrate St. Patrick's Day by learning how to be green in your back yard and understanding the role of snakes in that environment at Bear Hollow Zoo. The event will take place this Saturday from 3:00-5:00 p.m. There will be no admission fee! This fascinating event is perfect for the entire family. 
• Saturday:  Pattern and Palette in Print at the Georgia Museum of Art. A collaboration with undergraduate fabric-design students at UGA's Lamar Dodd School of Art, this exhibition takes as its inspiration Gentry magazine, with special emphasis on textiles and color. This will take place from Noon-5:00 p.m. with a $3 suggested donation fee. Come see the unique and beautiful artwork from some of the most talented students!

Eating Right at Ted's Most Best

As the New Year kicked off, my desire to become healthier did as well. Eating healthy on a college student's budget can be a challenge, especially when wanting to dine out. A friend recommended that I try the new restaurant Ted's Most Best for some "delicious"  healthy food.

Ted's Most Best can be found at 254 W. Washington Street in Downtown Athens, GA in an old tire storage garage. However, the renovations they did on the inside are phenomenal. Ted's was opened in the summer of 2011 and was named after the late Grit owner, Ted Hafer. Since it has been open, their delicious pizzas, salads, and paninis have been enjoyed by many. They strive to get as many locally grown ingredients that they can, which is beneficial to both the community and one's health. You can even get your favorite beer and wine to go along with your meal.

So when venturing out to try this new restaurant, I was pleased when I walked up to a building with dazzling lights on the outside, and a beautiful chic inside. The atmosphere was very cozy, and the staff was very friendly. The middle garage door was opened when I went, which allowed the beautiful weather to be enjoyed by all.

Their menu included a multitude of healthy yet delicious foods to choose from. Me being a pizza connoisseur, I made the right decision when choosing the Margherita Pizza with fresh basil and mozzarella.

Ted's Most Best has definitely become a spot I frequently dine for both lunch and dinner with my friends. The eclectic and inviting atmosphere is something I always look forward to, but their food is something you'll definitely crave!

Have your next meal at Ted's Most Best and tell us what you think!

Athens This Weekend: March 9-11 2012

After a long week, the weekend is finally here! It's time to get out of the house and enjoy a fun-filled weekend with family and friends in the beautiful Classic City. Athens, GA has something to offer to everyone. With anticipated concerts, exciting sports events, and activities for the whole family, we know that your weekend in Athens, GA will be nothing short of amazing. Here are a few ideas that will hopefully spark your interest!

1. Wet Willie CD Release:

Foundry Entertainment & Music Matters Entertainment present Wet Willie CD Release for "Miles of Smiles," the first live Wet Willie album since "Left Coast Live." Wet Willie, after The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd, was the hardest-rocking of the Southern bands to come to national attention in the '70s. This concert is one you won't want to miss! Their new music is definitely a crowd pleaser. All tables and seating at The Melting Point are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The show will be Friday at 8:00 at the Melting Point. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $17 at the door. Come out for a night of rock and roll and fun!

2. Exotic Birds and Reptiles on Planet Earth- A Family Festival

Bring the family out for an exciting day learning about rare and special creatures! Roy Hodge from Exotic Paradise will educate and entertain family members with his menagerie of exotic forest animals. Discover amazing facts and adaptations as well as conservation concerns of cockatoos, exotic parrots, spectacled owls, monitor lizards, anacondas, boa constrictors and more! Following his presentation, you and the family can participate in hands-on activities and crafts to learn more about forest of our planet. This Family Festival will be fun for the entire family! It will take place this Saturday from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Tickets are only $5 for an individual, and $20 for a family. Children under 2 years of age are free! 

3. Gym Dogs vs NC State

Join the legendary ten-time National Champion Gym Dogs in Stegeman Coliseum for high-energy athletics and first-rate showmanship as they take on NC State. The Georgia gymnastics team enters the month of March and the final week of the regular season ranked No. 5 in the GymInfo Top 25. Experience the high energy and exciting crowd of a Gym Dog meet while cheering on the Dogs at the home finale.  

These are just a few of the exciting events taking place in Athens,GA. Here are a few more ideas that you can mark in your calendar:

• Saturday: March for Meals 5K at Athens Community Council on Aging. The ACCA in conjunction with Meals on Wheels Association of America will celebrate March for Meals with a 5K fundraiser. The 5K is organized by Classic City Races and will be the kick off to the afternoon of Railroad Days. All proceeds of the March for Meals 5K will benefit the local Meals on Wheels program. You can pre-register for this event for only $20, and register the day of the event for $25. 
• Saturday: Railroad Days  at  Athens Community Council on Aging.  This  family-oriented event is a nod to its history as the former Southern Railways passenger station. This year, Railroad Days is expanding to celebrate other modes of transportation. There will be a model train display by the Athens Bend Track as well as a fire truck, police car, antique car show, VW club cars, and some other fun modes of transportation. There will also be bar-b-que, inflatables, tractor rides, and other fun activities for children of all ages. Bring out the family for an exciting, fun-filled day! This event will be this Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, or $20 for a family of 5.
  
• Saturday: Open House at the Log House at Sandy Creek Nature Center and ENSAT Center.   Explore the past as you visit our circa 1810 Log House. Warm up by a fire and enjoy activities from long ago. Come for a few minutes or stay for a couple of hours. This will take place Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and there will be no admission charge. This event is perfect for the entire family!

These are just a few of the many exciting events happening in Athens,GA. Hopefully you've read something that you are looking forward to! Be sure to check out our Visit Athens, GA calendar for a full list of even more events and activities! 

To stay in the know about what's coming up in Athens, join our mailing list!

What are your exciting weekend plans in Athens,GA?

Vote for The National's Peter Dale for Food & Wine's People's Chef Award!

Chef Peter Dale has been nominated for Food & Wine magazine’s The People’s Best New Chef award 2012. As one of the great innovators of the southeast culinary field, Dale has crafted a unique meeting of Mediterranean tradition and local flavor that is drawing crowds in downtown Athens, Ga. 

Vote for Chef Peter Dale from March 5 through 11, 2012 at 

foodandwine.com/peoples-best-new-chef/southeast

"I admire and respect so many of the nominees for Food & Wine's The People's Best New Chef. It's truly an honor to be in their company.  It's really exciting for the Athens culinary scene to get this national attention, so much is happening here," says Dale.

More about Peter Dale and The National:

• Why He’s Amazing: Because his take on beautiful, Spanish-inspired Southern food is drawing crowds in a small college town.
• Background: Five and Ten (Athens, GA). Internship at La Broche (Madrid, Spain)
• Must-Try Dish: Chickpeas with crunchy okra, topped with yogurt and harissa
• Website: http://www.thenationalrestaurant.com/
• Former Career: A suit-and-tie job in politics on Capitol Hill. “I realized that I didn’t want that kind of life. I felt a need to do something creative, something with my hands.”
• Favorite Knife: Dale prefers the Japanese brand Masahiro, for their super-sharp blades.
• Review: http://clatl.com/atlanta/the-national-athenian-treasure/Content?oid=1274515

Peter Dale graduated from the University of Georgia in 1999 with an A.B.J. degree in public relations, and soon after decided to pursue his interest in cooking. His mother is from Ecuador and his father is a former New Yorker of Greek descent; their backgrounds provided him with the opportunity to try many types of foods and his childhood was filled with travel.

He began as an apprentice at Five & Ten, also in Athens, Ga., with plans to eventually attend culinary school.  While enjoying his experiences at Five & Ten, Dale was able to travel and eventually, culinary school fell by the wayside. “Travel has always been important to me. That’s where I get my inspiration. While working at Five & Ten I left several times to spend time in Europe, mostly Spain.” Dale said. “What I learned over there, combined with the fundamentals I learned at Five & Ten, was better than school in my opinion.”

In 2007, Dale and Hugh Acheson, chef of Five& Ten, opened The National. When explaining the idea and cuisine of the restaurant, Dale said, “TheNational really is a combination of my interests in cooking, travel and food politics.  We serve food inspired by my favorite cuisines: Spanish, French, North African, Greek, eastern Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern.”

Peter has also been active in the opening of Empire State South, Hugh Acheson’s new Southern farm-to-table restaurant in Atlanta.

Craving Cajun

Today's blog post comes from guest contributor Brooke Lane, an Athens Food Tours intern. She's given great ideas on how to satisfy a cajun craving in Athens, GA. Get your taste buds under control, because these locations promise to offer a delicious meal.

Brooke tells us all about it:

A visit to the colorful city of New Orleans is bound to leave one craving more of its unique culture; especially the food! The cuisine is nothing short of incredible blend of multicultural influences. Luckily for us Athenians, cravings can be satisfied at one of the authentic, New Orleans-inspired restaurants right here in town! The restaurants below serve up classics that are sure to please the palate of New Orleans natives and visitors alike.

Sisters Creole Market

Owned and run by three sisters from New Orleans, Sisters Creole Market has a menu featuring hearty staples such as Po Boys, jambalaya and shrimp etouffee -- just to name a few! Also available are specialty products such as creamy pralines and olive salad for muffaletta sandwiches. Be sure to stop by and get your King Cake for Mardi Gras! Oh, and they have sweet potato tater tots. Say that 5x fast!

http://www.sisterscreolemarket.com/

George's Lowcountry Table

Located on Milledge Avenue, George's menu includes a variety of New Orleans favorites like gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage, popcorn crawfish, chargrilled oysters and barbeque. Brunch is something you don't want to miss either -- added to the menu are egg dishes including lowcountry benedict and french toast casserole. Yum!

http://georgeslowcountryonline.com/index.html

Etienne

Most New Orleans dishes are a mix of French and other cultures, forming either Cajun or Creole cuisine. However, in the fancy restaurants of today's New Orleans', refined French food is very popular. In Athens, we find this refined French food on the corner of East Broad and North Jackson streets in Downtown Athens at Etienne Brasserie. Etienne opened in the summer of 2011 as a French restaurant serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Etienne stands as the only purely French restaurant in Athens; there are a few places that touch on French territory, but are not fully dedicated to it. The menu consists of very traditional, rustic French dishes such as coq au vin (marinated game hen, smoked bacon, onions and wild mushrooms), steak frites, duck confit, escargo, filet au poivre, hamburgers, baked pasta, homemade crepes, a meat and cheese plate, steak frites, poached salmon butter with a toasted baguette & salads. My personal favorite dish to rave about is the moules frites: made up of steamed mussles with white wine, garlic confit and fries to sop up the delicious juice. http://etienneathens.com

NONA                                                                                   As a downtown favorite, NONA offers all the quintessential New Orleans cuisine. Their menu has everything from Creole croque monsieur to traditional red beans and rice to eggplant pirogue. And for brunch, they offer beignets and bananas foster French toast among other satisfying selections such as the crab cakes benedict. NONA even has happy hour from 4-7 p.m. with $1 raw oysters and $1 beers! http://neworleansnathens.com/

Not only do all of these options serve delicious food,  but they each offer a unique atmosphere.These restaurants are sure to satisfy any craving. Be sure to check these local spots for some of your cajun favorites!