Authors | Flagpole Magazine | Athens, GA News, Music, Arts, Restaurants

Blog posts by Hillary Brown

Peter Dale Is Opening a New Restaurant on Chase Street

Blog: Grub Notes

Peter Dale

Love The National but don't go there anymore because, as Yogi Berra is alleged to have said, it's too crowded? Well, you're in luck. Local cheftrepreneur-made-good Peter Dale is opening a new restaurant, Maepole, on Chase Street in early 2018.

By Hillary Brown | October 31, 2017
Now Open: Mama's Boy No. 2, The Office Sports Bar, Fully Loaded Pizza

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Mama's Boy/Facebook

As of 7 a.m. this morning, the second location of Mama's Boy (aka Mama's Boy at the Falls) is open for business, at 8851 Macon Hwy., near the intersection with White Oak. The hope, of course, is that having two locations will relieve the brunch wait, and now you can decide if you want your sales tax dollars to go to Clarke or Oconee.

By Hillary Brown | October 16, 2017
Jerry and Krista Slater to Open The Expat in Two Story Coffee Space

Blog: Grub Notes

If there's anything that can dry your tears over beloved coffee shop Two Story Coffee (which always made a lovely pour-over cup) being booted out of its Five Points location, it might be the news of what's taking its place.

By Hillary Brown | October 12, 2017
Tamales for Mexico and Lots More Local Food Events

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: FiveRings/Wikimedia Commons

Mmmm… chili.

The last blog post of food events in Athens wasn't enough for you? You want more? OK. Here goes:

By Hillary Brown | September 29, 2017
Akademia Brewing Co. Has an Opening Date Set, and More Food Events

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Akademia Brewing Co./Facebook

Akademia Brewing Co. has been hard at work for a while on its beers (which it was making at Southern Brewing Co.) and its building, the former Musician's Warehouse by what is now the Atlanta Highway Goodwill. (Technically, the address is 150 Crane Dr.) The original projected date for opening was "late summer," and these days, mid-October totally counts.

Although Josh Aaron of the Savory Spoon is no longer on board (he's cooking at Chops & Hops, in Watkinsville), Akademia will still have a restaurant as well as its beer. Opening day is Monday, Oct. 16, and more updates should be posted on the Facebook event.

By Hillary Brown | September 25, 2017
Eat Food and Help People at home.made Sept. 18

Blog: Grub Notes

Trying to figure out how to feel less helpless and alone these days? Here is a thing you can do that will also make your belly and your tastebuds happy. home.made, on Baxter Street, will host Comida de los Nuevos Sureños, a dinner benefiting immigrants' rights causes in Athens, on Monday, Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

By Hillary Brown | September 11, 2017
Five & Ten, The National, home.made Offer Game Day Eats

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: via Five & Ten/Facebook

If you are not interested in consuming a heretical Alabama barbecue sandwich in Sanford Stadium on Saturday, there are some other options around town.

By Hillary Brown | September 1, 2017
The Dudes from the Pine Have Two New Projects

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Google Streeview

The future home of El Barrio.

One thing Five Points doesn't have at the moment is a Mexican restaurant. (No, Barberitos doesn't count. That's a burrito place. Those things are in different categories.) So the dudes behind The Pine are in the middle of planning for one to open just down the street from them, at the corner of Milledge and Morton, to be called El Barrio Tacos and Tequila.

By Hillary Brown | August 31, 2017
Little Italy's Turning 20, and Other Food Events

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

Little Italy

Little Italy, in downtown Athens, seems like an ageless wonder, but tomorrow brings its 20th anniversary, with a big ol' celebration from 11 a.m. all the way until 3 a.m. That party includes: prices from 20 years ago ($1 slices, $5 subs, $1 drinks, including beer), a Pepsi sampling (calling attention to the restaurant's only real flaw) and giveaways (T-shirts, Braves tickets, gift certificates, etc.).

By Hillary Brown | August 10, 2017
Dreamland BBQ Locations Inside Sanford Stadium Continue the Alabamification of UGA

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Social_Stratification/Flickr

Who doesn't want to be Alabama, amirite?

By Hillary Brown | August 9, 2017
Soul-Food Restaurant Peaches Is Back

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Peaches/Facebook

If you arrived in Athens after 2012, you probably don't know what I'm talking about, but once upon a time there was a wonderful Southern restaurant called Peaches, on the spot where Saucehouse built its palace of barbecue.

By Hillary Brown | August 9, 2017
UGA Now Has an Au Bon Pain, Mamoun's Falafel Is Coming to Athens and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: m01229/Flickr

If you feel like the only thing missing to make Athens just like an international airport was an Au Bon Pain, you're totally in luck. The Business Learning Community that UGA's Terry College of Business has been putting up for a few years now just added one, in its Amos Hall, and it started operations yesterday.

By Hillary Brown | July 26, 2017
The Brixx Space Has a New Tenant, and More Chains Cometh

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

The Office Sports Bar and Grill

Have you been walking past the West Washington parking deck/mixed-use building and thinking about the sad, empty space that used to house Brixx? I have. But if everything works out with the lease, it won't be empty for long. The Office Sports Bar and Grill, which operates one other location, in Columbus, is looking to move in. Co-owner Darren Phillips confirmed that negotiations are ongoing.

By Hillary Brown | June 28, 2017
Pop-Ups, Phickles Cocktails, Cooking Camp and More June Food Events

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Craft Public House/Facebook

The Old Pal will host a pop-up by the Plate Sale (Shyretha and Mike Sheats, of Staplehouse, in Atlanta) on Monday, June 12 from 6–8 p.m., with special cocktails and a la carte food at the bar until it runs out.

By Hillary Brown | June 9, 2017
1000 Faces to Develop and Move Into Former Good Dirt Building Downtown

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Hillary Brown

1000 Faces' new location.

After a bit more than 10 years in business, 1000 Faces Coffee seems to be outgrowing its Barber Street space. Rather than move farther from the center of town, seeking more square footage, it's going right into the thick of things, renovating the interior of a historic building at Thomas and Dougherty downtown.

By Hillary Brown | May 15, 2017
Places to Buy Your Mom Some Brunch

Blog: Grub Notes

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Mother's Day and brunch go together like Halloween and candy corn. I guess. Here are some places offering special things for your moms and meemaws this Sunday. The list will be updated as we see more places.

By Hillary Brown | May 12, 2017
Avid Bookshop Has Three Food Book Events Coming Up, Starting Saturday

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Bill Miles

Mary Kay Andrews

Hopefully not buried among the many things Avid Bookshop has going on tomorrow (Saturday, Apr. 29) for Independent Bookstore Day—which include local art for sale, free Ike & Jane doughnuts at the Prince Avenue location, free Independent Baking Co. pastries at the Five Points location, face painting, sidewalk chalk and poetry readings—is a meet-and-greet and book signing with Mary Kay Andrews for her brand-new The Beach House Cookbook. That's at the Prince Avid, starting at 11 a.m. and going until noon. Andrews is better known for her novels, but she also likes to cook—hence, the book.

By Hillary Brown | April 28, 2017
Watkinsville Has Two New Restaurants, Pour and Suncatcher Café

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Pour Restaurant & Bar/Facebook

Pour Restaurant & Bar, an offshoot of an Atlanta business by the same name, opened for business early last week at 22 N. Main Street, in the Dolvin building across the street from the courthouse annex in downtown Watkinsville. Renovations have been in the works for a while to transform the space.

By Hillary Brown | April 27, 2017
15-cent Pizza, Burgers and Brews, a Flagpole Fundraiser and More Food Events

Blog: Grub Notes

For tax day tomorrow (Apr. 18), pizza chain Hungry Howie’s, on Baxter, is offering a medium one-topping pizza for a mere 15 cents if you buy a large one-topping pizza at regular menu price (promo code TAXDAY) online.

Kristie Middleton, senior director of food policy for the Humane Society of the United States and author of MeatLess: Transform the Way you Eat and Live—One Meal at a Time, will be signing her book at Avid on Prince at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (still Apr. 18). Middleton isn't trying to get people to commit to vegetarianism immediately. Rather, her book tries to encourage people to incorporate vegetable-based meals into their diets more often. Also: Paul McCartney liked it.

Thursday, Apr. 20 from 8–11 p.m., Heirloom Cafe will host a pop-up cocktail event with T Silva from Hi-Lo to benefit the Boybutante AIDS foundation (which gets 10 percent of sales for the day). Bar snacks by Heirloom chef Joel Penn.

The same night, from 6-8 p.m. (so you can totally go to both), White Tiger hosts a fundraiser for Stranger Danger, Flagpole's band in the Athens Business Rocks competition, feature "Stranger Things"-themed music, food and drinks. Proceeds will benefit Nuci's Space.

By Hillary Brown | April 17, 2017
Athens Is Getting a Filipino Food Truck

Blog: Grub Notes

Praise the Lord, Athenians (and engaged couple) Rachel Barnes and Alfredo Lapuz Jr. are just a few steps away from launching their food truck, Manila Express, which should start serving at various locations very soon. You might have seen the truck, with its temporary sign, parked next to Holy Crepe at Boulevard and Park.

Barnes says Manila Express gets its name from Lapuz's dad's band, and will likely set up shop on East Clayton next to Atomic or on Hancock at Creature Comforts, as well as elsewhere. She points out that Filipino street food goes well with brews, and describes the truck's offerings as "pulutan-esque items," which translates as "to pair with beer."

By Hillary Brown | April 13, 2017