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

Blog posts by Hillary Brown

Changes at Preserve and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Instagram

Preserve's tofu and kimchi sandwich.

Pi Day (Mar. 14 = 3.14) is coming up this weekend, and Your Pie will offer a special of $3.14 off your pizza (a slightly different deal than in previous years) and $3.14 pints at all its Athens-area locations. It's especially nice that the yearly promo tends to coincide with spring break, which means the lines are short, too.

By Hillary Brown | March 13, 2015
Board Game Café to Open Downtown in May

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Alexandre Duret-Lutz/Flickr

Tim and Carrie Kelly are in the middle of renovating the space that's part of the former Sunshine Cycles building, now Philanthropy, on West Washington Street (next to Ted's Most Best), into The Rook and Pawn, a board game café.

By Hillary Brown | March 5, 2015
Georgia Organics Dinner and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Porter McLeod

Whitney Otawka

As part of this weekend's Georgia Organics conference, you can still buy tickets to the benefit dinner Whitney Otawka (late of Cinco y Diez) is hosting to highlight local farms.

For $65, you get four courses…

By Hillary Brown | February 18, 2015
The Table is Open on Baxter; Cheddar's is Open in Oconee

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

The Table

The space in the Baxter Street lofts building that previously housed Silver Lining Cupcakes now has a new restaurant in it: The Table. The name is a little generic, but the food looks not uninteresting, and the folks who own it have done this before (not in Athens).

By Hillary Brown | February 13, 2015
Foundry Bar and Mill, The Place Now Open

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via The Foundry

Graduate Athens has been rolling out its changes slowly, and the latest is a revamp of its food and drink options. The space formerly known as the Melting Point is now The Foundry Bar and Mill and opened last week. The "mill" in the title is no typo: The restaurant mills its own grits on-site (usually in the kitchen, but the mill is on rollers, so demos in the dining room happen from time to time).

By Hillary Brown | February 9, 2015
Porkhouse BBQ Is Open on Baxter and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

After some months vacant, the little space next to Jimbo's convenience store on Baxter that once was Ronnie B's and since then has been a succession of barbecue joints is once again serving up pig. Porkhouse BBQ opened there this week and has its Facebook and Twitter accounts up, but not its website or phone (yet).

More below.

By Hillary Brown | January 30, 2015
Swen Froemke Revises Speakeasy, Herschel's Is Closed, Automatic Pizza is Open and More

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Speakeasy

If you don't know Swen Froemke's name, you might at least remember his desserts, if you ever went to Cinco y Diez while it was open. Like many aspects of the dearly missed restaurant, they were forward-thinking and intelligent, combining boundary-pushing with pleasure in a rare way. Froemke is now the new general manager at Speakeasy, and he's changing its direction, judging by the new menus.

By Hillary Brown | January 28, 2015
Local Table is Closed and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Well, dang it. Local Table (reviewed here), which was doing such a nice job in downtown Watkinsville, is closed, due to issues with its flooring that were not covered by insurance and were too expensive for the restaurant to fix. Kiki's Bakeshop next door, also owned by Kirsten Bradford, remains open.

More below.

By Hillary Brown | January 23, 2015
January Events and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Seabear Oyster Bar is hosting an Athens Chefs Dinner this MLK Day, at 7 p.m., with eight courses plus beer pairings by Creature Comforts for $60. Call the restaurant at 706-850-4367 for reservations (only 40 seats available).

On Jan. 28, at 7 p.m., the State Botanical Garden of Georgia will host the latest in UGA's series of science cafés, "Everyday Fermentation," with Hugh Acheson leading a live kimchi demonstration.

By Hillary Brown | January 12, 2015
Freddy's and Condor Chocolates Open and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Condor Chocolates

Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, kind of a Steak 'n Shake-type franchise, opened this past Sunday in the Epps Bridge Center off the Oconee Connector, giving the weary and hungry another option besides froyo and tacos.

More news below.

By Hillary Brown | December 19, 2014
Pouch Savory World of Pies to Open Downtown Soon

Blog: Grub Notes

Flagpole has been hearing dribs and drabs of information for some time now about the savory pie shop that is taking over the former Picante's space on Broad downtown, but we finally made contact with owner Charmaine Enslin, and she gave us the scoop.

By Hillary Brown | December 18, 2014
Here's Where to Get Holiday Takeout in Athens

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Heirloom Cafe

So, just like we did for Thanksgiving, we're supplying you with a list of places from which to order your food for the holidays. It'll be updated as we hear more.

By Hillary Brown | December 17, 2014
The Place to Open in Five Star Day Space Downtown

Blog: Grub Notes

If you've passed the old Five Star Day location at the corner of College and Broad recently, you may have noticed that there is stuff going on inside. The Pope brothers (Alan and Ryan), who own Gnat's Landing in St. Simons (but didn't own the Athens location) and used to own Sweet Peppers locally, are the lessees, and their new restaurant, The Place, is shooting to open in January.

More below.

By Hillary Brown | December 16, 2014
Baxter Street Mirko is Closed; Ramen Coming to Seabear

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Seabear Oyster Bar

The Baxter Street location of Mirko Pasta will close as of this Sunday, Dec. 14, following the closure of the Eastside location. Fortunately, you'll still have the Watkinsville location to get your fix.

Seabear Oyster Bar has introduced ramen on Monday nights for $9. The first iteration was mushroom-based and, therefore, veggie/vegan-friendly. The bar/restaurant will also be open New Year's Day with a traditional spread.

More news below.

By Hillary Brown | December 12, 2014
Cinco y Diez Is Now LRG Provisions and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

LRG Provisions

The space next door to Independent Baking Co. in Five Points that was Cinco y Diez (and, before that, Five & Ten) is now LRG Provisions, a place for the Last Resort Grill to operate catering out of and do pop-up dinners. Melissa Clegg, who owns Last Resort, was also a co-owner of Cinco. Dinners will be held on Thursdays from 5–10 p.m. in the space (you can make reservations by calling 706-850-2020 or walk up). The first one was last night, with a menu you can see here.

More news below.

By Hillary Brown | December 5, 2014
The Volstead, Junkyard Dawgs and Both Yoforias are Closed

Blog: Grub Notes

In addition to Harry's BBQ shuttering (although it'll still be around for catering), The Volstead, on Clayton Street downtown, closed last Saturday. Mostly a bar, it also served some food.

By Hillary Brown | December 2, 2014
Mama's Boy's New Place Has a Name and an Opening Date

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Goodie Two Shoes

Hey, remember when we told you about Mama's Boy opening a new restaurant in the 909 Broad Building downtown, only it didn't have a name yet? Well, now it does. Cooper Currin, co-owner, confirmed that Goodie Two Shoes is opening Dec. 1 for lunch. She said the space has already been used for catering and that she's looking to start booking private events in the spring. The website is a placeholder for now (but has hours—weekdays from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.—and the phone number), and the Facebook page has some sneak peeks of the interior.

More food news:

By Hillary Brown | November 21, 2014
Phickles Has a Store, Community Feast Sunday and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Phickles Pickles, long available in various locations throughout Athens (Heery's, Bell's, Southern Surplus), recently opened its own storefront on Baxter Street, across from Raising Cane's. The store sells not only Phickles products (now including a pimento cheese and a cheese spread called Hot Mess), but also other locally produced wares. It'll hold a holiday sale Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.–7 p.m., with discounts on pickles by the case and free samples.

More below.

By Hillary Brown | November 19, 2014
Free Waffle House in Athens Wednesday, Nov. 19

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Sam Howzit/Flickr

As if you needed more reasons to root against Auburn, there is now free food riding on this Saturday's game, which kicks off at 7:15 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.

By Hillary Brown | November 11, 2014
Veterans Day Food Specials in Athens

Blog: Grub Notes

Yo, Veterans Day is tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 11), and military folks are entitled to some discounts:

By Hillary Brown | November 10, 2014