Blog Topic: Upcoming in Athens

Grub Notes: Little Italy's Turning 20, and Other Food Events

By Hillary Brown | August 10, 2017 2:48pm

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.).

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In the Loop: Chase Street Road Diet Will Be Reversed—for Now

By Blake Aued | July 27, 2017 1:23pm

Photo Credit: Austin Steele/file

Removing a lane from Chase Street has caused traffic to back up at the Loop.

Athens-Clarke County officials said Wednesday they will restripe part of Chase Street between the Loop and Newton Bridge Road, returning it to four lanes.

But that may not be the last change to the street, according to ACC Transportation and Public Works Director Drew Raessler. A consultant hired to update the county's bike and pedestrian master plan will produce a Complete Streets study of the corridor in November.

"We can't simply go back and say 'that's it,' in my opinion," Raessler said.

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In the Loop: Kelly Girtz Is Finally Officially Running for Mayor, Almost

By Blake Aued | July 20, 2017 12:56pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

Commissioner Kelly Girtz speaks at a rally to expand Medicaid in 2015.

Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Kelly Girtz has already told Flagpole, the Banner-Herald and WXAG 1470 AM, among others, that he plans to run for mayor in 2018, but he hasn't done much, you know, actual campaigning. That will change soon.

Girtz announced a campaign kickoff event this morning, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m.–noon at the Lyndon House Arts Center.

"We can build a strong foundation that will support Athenians of every walk of life, one that will set the stage for great lives for generations ahead,” Girtz said in a news release. “A safer, healthier, more prosperous Athens is awaiting, and I can't wait to work with you to build it.”

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Homedrone: Here Are the 2017 Flagpole Athens Music Awards Finalists

By Gabe Vodicka | June 12, 2017 11:40am

Nihilist Cheerleader will play the Flagpole Athens Music Awards show Thursday, June 22.

Nearly 2,000 of y'all voted, and here are the results: Below, peep the finalists in all 21 categories for this year's Flagpole Athens Music Awards, which takes place next Thursday, June 22 at the Morton Theatre.

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Grub Notes: Pop-Ups, Phickles Cocktails, Cooking Camp and More June Food Events

By Hillary Brown | June 9, 2017 4:53pm

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.

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In the Loop: Check Out the Bishop Park Master Plan

By Blake Aued | June 9, 2017 1:51pm

Bishop Park is one of Athens’ most popular recreational areas, but it hasn’t had a facelift in more than 40 years. “We’re surrounded by all-1974 infrastructure, and it’s bad. It needs repair,” Park Services Administrator Mel Cochran-Davis said at an open house for the Bishop Park master plan last week.

Location-wise, not much would change in the master plan, except the basketball courts would be moved from the center of the park to the far northern edge, making way for a stormwater pond. (Water drains there naturally, so Leisure Services couldn’t find anywhere else to put it, interim director Kent Kilpatrick said.) But many existing facilities would be replaced in phases with new, better and larger ones.

“This is our polished version—taking what’s working about Bishop Park, what people said they want, and making it better,” Cochran-Davis said.

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In the Loop: Commission Will Vote Tuesday on Demolition Bans

By Blake Aued | May 15, 2017 4:44pm

The Varsity's owners plan to demolish this 160-year-old Queen Anne house at 853 Reese Street that was once owned by slaves-turned-dentists James and Charlotte Mack and renowned educator Annie Burney.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission will vote Tuesday on whether to temporarily ban demolitions and new construction on Milledge Circle and in the Hancock Corridor while protections are being considered for those historic neighborhoods.

Milledge Circle homeowners have been spurred on by the imminent destruction of 398 Milledge Circle, continuing a recent trend of home-buyers snapping up historic properties only to demolish the houses to make way for much larger structures. A majority petitioned the commission for a historic district earlier this month.

Across town, the Gordy family, which owns The Varsity, applied for permits to demolish seven structures on the same block as the fast-food landmark, including several historic houses. The neighborhood along Hanock Avenue west of Milledge—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—is under threat because it's zoned multifamily, which is likely to entice developers looking to tear down older residences for denser and more expensive housing, according to a recent study of the West Broad area. Some residents have called for the neighborhood to be rezoned for small single-family lots.

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Homedrone: AthFest Reveals More 2017 Performers, Including Richard Lloyd, Muuy Biien, New Madrid and Ruby the Rabbitfoot

By Gabe Vodicka | May 17, 2017 9:54am

Muuy Biien

The AthFest Music and Arts Festival has revealed many more of the artists who will perform at this year’s event, the music portion of which is slated for June 23–25.

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Grub Notes: 1000 Faces to Develop and Move Into Former Good Dirt Building Downtown

By Hillary Brown | May 15, 2017 9:35am

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.

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Culture Briefs: Comedian, Actor and Musician Creed Bratton Speaks Ahead of May 8 Foundry Show

By Nathan Kerce | May 5, 2017 11:44am

Photo Credit: Andrew Hreha

Best known for playing an exaggerated version of himself on NBC’s “The Office,” Creed Bratton has a storied history as an American icon. In the late 1960s, Bratton was recruited to be the lead singer and guitarist in folk-rock group The Grass Roots. During his brief time with the band, it released its most enduring single, “Let’s Live for Today." Years later, he began a new career as an actor, taking bit parts in a slew of TV shows and movies before landing the “Office” role and becoming one of the show’s most popular figures. Bratton has also released music under his own name since the early 2000s. His current tour is a unique mix of comedy and music that aims to please fans from every generation.

Ahead of his show at The Foundry Monday, May 8, Flagpole picked Bratton’s brain on his unique dual career, the current state of his live show and what he thinks the future may hold. (Warning: Some his answers may or may not be facetious.)

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