Comedian Wanda Sykes Coming to Athens' Classic Center Oct. 11

"Wanda Sykes is coming to Athens!"
I was on the phone with my hubby right quick when I heard the announcement from  The Classic Center Theatre.  Wanda Sykes is, hands down, absolutely our favorite comedian.  We got hooked on her TV show  "Wanda at Large" about 10 years ago, and watched them all again a couple of years ago when we found them on our satellite programming (I think we're about ready for a round with Netflix-- will have to check that out).

Now we're going to get to see her live and in person! Wanda Sykes is bringing her one-of-a-kind stand-up comedy to The Classic Center Theatre stage on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.ClassicCenter.com.

Here's the rest of the press release from The Classic Center:

Wanda Sykes has been called "one of the funniest stand-up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. Her smart-witted stand-up has sent her career in many different areas.

Sykes in the last two years has been seen on several television shows, such as her own late night talk show on FOX, “The Wanda Sykes Show.” In October 2009, she had her second HBO stand- up special “I’ma Be Me.” She also was seen on the CBS comedy “The New Adventures of Old Christine” as “Barb.” Her first HBO comedy special, “WANDA SYKES: SICK & TIRED” debuted in October 2006 and was nominated for a 2007 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.

Sykes was seen in the feature films “Evan Almighty,” the sequel to “Bruce Almighty,” in which she co-starred with Steve Carell, the feature film “Monster-In-Law” starring opposite Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, and was heard in the animated feature “Over The Hedge” for Dreamworks, as well as “The Barnyard” for Paramount Pictures. She also can be seen co-starring with Luke Wilson and Uma Thurman in the romantic comedy “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” Sykes starred and produced the Comedy Central show "Wanda Does It" where she tried various non-showbiz jobs. Her first book titled “Yeah, I Said It,” published by Simon and Schuster, hit bookstores in September 2004. “Yeah, I Said It” is a hilarious collection of essays touching on life, family and current events.

In the fall of 2003 she was seen on Fox's "Wanda at Large," which she wrote, produced and starred in. She also has a one hour Comedy Central special called "Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied.”  In addition, she can be seen on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" or heard on Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers” as the voice of Gladys Murphy.

Wanda was born in Portsmouth, Va., and raised in Maryland. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University. Her stand-up career began at a Coors Light Super talent Showcase in Washington, D.C., where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience.

She spent five years as part of the HBO's critically acclaimed "Chris Rock Show." As a performer and writer on the show, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy's and in 1999 won the Emmy for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special." In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for "Outstanding Female Stand-Up Comic.” She won three more Emmys, in 2002, 2004 and 2005, for her work on “Inside the NFL” for “Outstanding Studio Show - Weekly- Inside The NFL".

In 2003, Wanda earned a Comedy Central Commie Award for "Funniest TV Actress." Other writing credits include the "MTV 1999 Music Video Awards,” "The MTV Movie Awards,” the "74th Annual Academy Awards," "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" and "Wanda at Large."

She also appeared in the feature films "Pootie Tang,” "Nutty Professor 2; The Klumps” and "Down to Earth".

Visit www.ClassicCenter.com to buy tickets, call 706.357.4444 or stop by The Classic Center Theatre Box Office.

Best of the Road

The 2012 Rand McNally "Best of the Road" search for the most unique and inspiring road trip stop in America has kicked off! We want Athens, GA to be voted as the "2012 Best Small Town in America." You can nominate Athens for several categories, but we feel that Athens, GA definitely is the best small town with the Best Food! The unique culture of the Athens dining experience is definitely a special aspect of the Classic City. 

If Athens wins, our town will receive exposure and publicity which will benefit the entire Athens Area! You can vote once daily! Go to the following website, register, share a review of how much you love Athens dining, then VOTE- http://www.bestoftheroad.com! It's that easy (especially after you register the first time)! Tell all of your family and friends that they should vote once daily, too!

Athens This Weekend: May 4-6

The weekend is finally here! Come and spend a relaxing weekend in the Classic City. With all of the exciting festivals, musical performances, and even more for the entire family, we know your weekend in Athens, GA will be amazing! Here are a few events that are taking place this weekend.

1. Athens Human Rights Festival

The 34th Annual Athens Human Rights Festival is a springtime political and cultural tradition in Athens. The festival features a dynamic, educational, and family-friendly weekend of oratory, music, activities for the children, and street theater performances in an outdoor setting. This event is perfect for the entire family! This festival will take place Friday and Saturday at College Square in Downtown Athens,GA. There is no admission charge, so make sure to bring everyone you know! 

2. Stadion Classic at UGA

The Athens stop on the PGA's Nationwide Tour is entering its seventh year, and its third with the University of Georgia as host. This annual golf tournament will be operated by the University's Auxiliary Services Department. All net proceeds from the event will support need-based scholarships for UGA students and local non-profit organizations through the Regional FirstCare TICKETS Fore CHARITY program. This is definitely an event you will not want to miss. It will  be taking place all week long, and it is only $25 for a weekly grounds pass. 

3. Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens

Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens proudly announces its third-annual ride on May 5-6, 2012. After its inaugural debut in 2010, buzz is escalating throughout the cycling community for this two-day ride that raises money to fight multiple sclerosis and benefits the GA Chapter of the National MS Society. The ride offers a century route option on day one of the 2-day ride and new for 2012, Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens is offering a separate 1-day, 35 mile route option that will start and finish in Athens. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity, all for a great cause!

These are just a few of the exciting events that are taking place in Athens,GA this weekend. Here are a few more ideas that will hopefully spark your interest:

• Friday-Sunday: UGA Men's Baseball vs. Auburn at Foley Field.
• Sunday: Raindrop: 2nd Annual Spring Handmade & Vintage Artist Market at Treehouse Kid & Craft. 

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 you looking forward to this weekend in Athens,GA?

Athens Georgia Named a Top 10 affordable Vacation

Athens has been named one of the Top 10 Cities for Affordable Vacations, by Livability.com. College towns such as Athens are a smart choice for affordable fun, with a high level and quality of entertainment at nominal or even FREE admission.  Athens ranks eighth on this list.

Coverage on WXIA 11Alive!

Livability.com reports that their Top 10 list includes "places where friends and families can come together in the pursuit of fun and relaxation without the worry of busting budgets. Cities were ranked by their offering of unique, free activities, both indoors and out, and by the availability of discounts on otherwise pricey attractions."

Livability.com  highlights several top Athens attractions, including the Georgia Museum of Art, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and the World of Wonder community playground at Southeast Clarke Park.

Athens is also world-renowned for its live music scene, which is not only thriving but is also extremely inexpensive.  The best time of the year to sample the Athens music scene might just be AthFest, with over 150 bands playing over a 4-day weekend on FREE outdoor stages plus in local clubs, accessible with a $15 wristband.   AthFest 2012 is June 20-24.

Read more about Athens and the rest of the list at:

http://livability.com/top-10/top-10-cities-for-affordable-vacations/athens/ga 

And, check out more FREE things to do in Athens here:

http://www.visitathensga.com/things-to-do/20-free-things/

Athens This Weekend: April 27-29

The weekend is finally here! Come spend an exciting weekend in the beautiful Classic City.  We know you will have an amazing time with all of the many festivals, concerts, and even more fun activities for the entire family, taking place in Athens,GA! Here are a few ideas that will hopefully spark your interest!

1.Athens Terrapin Twilight Criterium

The 33nd Annual Athens Twilight weekend is a professional cycling event and festival fun for fans, families, and racers. You heard right - this is the 33nd Annual Twilight, and this year's weekend will be bigger and better than ever! The kickoff on Friday will feature Twilight Music, the Twilight Expo and Food Court, and the Grid Qualifiers presented by Georgia Cycle Sport, which lets you get up-close-and-personal with your favorite professional rider as they battle it out Friday night for coveted starting places in America's best criterium. Of course, Saturday night is the main event - the Terrapin Twilight Criterium. More than 30,000 fans will pack the cozy confines of downtown Athens to witness the best in American criterium racing.In addition to the professional criterium racing, there will also be amateur category racing, a 5k run, a BMX Jam and the Gambler participation bike ride, among many other events. This event will take place Friday and Saturday in Downtown Athens. This event is perfect for the entire family, and is one you will not want to miss out on!

2. Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa

The Indie Craftstravaganzaa will feature an eclectic blend of artists and crafters, everything from jewelry and fashion to fine arts and pottery, plus stuff for the little ones, pets, and the home.There will be local and regional food carts to provide eats and beverages. There will also be activities for the children including an exciting kids crafts booth.There will also be live performances by local musicians on both days, so be sure to stop by around 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. to catch some quality jams for free.The vintage market is also back! There will be curated vendors from around the Southeast with the finest selection of clothing, housewares, and curiosities a collector could want.

3. Dreams So Real Reunion 

Dreams So Real, the Athens Georgia band perhaps best known for its 1988 album, Rough Night In Jericho, will reunite to perform again in a short series of shows in Spring 2012 for just the second time in a decade and nearly 25 years since the release of Rough Night In Jericho whose title track garnered heavy airplay on radio and MTV and reached #28 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart. This exciting show will take place on Friday at 8:00 p.m. at The Melting Point. Tickets are only $12 in advance, and $15 at the door.

These are just a few of the many exciting events taking place this weekend. Here are a few more ideas that we know you will love:

• Saturday:  Athens Area Master Gardener Association's Annual Spring Plant Sale at Athens-Clarke County Extension Office. There will be hand-crafted yard art, verbs, vegetable plants, annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, ferns, ground clovers, seedlings, and more! This event will take place Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday: Georgia Children's Chorus Tour of Kitchens at The Hill at the Armstrong & Dobbs House. The Georgia Children's Chorus (GCC) presents The Hill and Oak Grove neighborhoods, as the sites for its annual fundraiser, the Athens Tour of Kitchens. As part of the 14th annual tour, celebrity chef Peter Dale of The National restaurant will host a cooking demonstration at the home of internationally acclaimed artist, Jim Fiscus, whose home is on the tour. This event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tickets are only $20 in advance, and $25 the day of the tour. 
• Sunday:High Hat Party at The Classic Center. There will be plenty of games and crafts for kids, delicious snacks, and silent and live auctions. Reservations are $25 per person or $300 for a table of 10 guests.This event will take place from 1:00-3:00 p.m. 

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 plans this weekend in Athens,GA?

New Teen Program at Georgia Museum of Art-- and it's FREE!

Great news from the Georgia Museum of Art!  Michael Lachowski, the Museum's Public Relations coordinator, tells us about a new teen program:

Responding to an audience underserved by museums, the Georgia Museum of Art (GMOA) at the University of Georgia has created a new program specifically for teenagers. The first Teen Studio Night is scheduled for Thursday, May 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Teens can join GMOA editor Mary Koon and textile designer Susan Hable as they discuss the exhibition "Pattern and Palette in Print: Gentry Magazine and a New Generation of Trendsetters," then participate in a fabric design workshop inspired by the exhibition.
"Pattern and Palette in Print" is a collaborative exhibition featuring work by students in the fabric design program at UGA's Lamar Dodd School of Art. Students took inspiration from the 1950s menswear periodical Gentry and were asked to create a color palette and design their own patterns based on their studies of the magazine and other 1950s-era media. Koon and Hable served as co-curators of the exhibition along with Clay McLaurin, fabric design chair at the art school.
"This is a really great chance for teens to work alongside successful professionals in the field and get authentic hands-on experience," said Melissa Rackley, who organizes community programs for GMOA's education department.

This program provides a unique opportunity for teenagers to tour the exhibition and participate in an individualized workshop with the co-curators. Pizza will be served and space is limited. Call the museum at 706.542.GMOA (4662) to reserve your spot.

A Getaway to Athens! Drive a Little. Live a Lot.

Just over an hour from Atlanta, the quintessential college town of Athens is a wise choice for a quick getaway. Visitors are immediately struck by the town's creative energy.  Well-known as a hotbed of live music, hundreds of bands call Athens home and perform in a wide variety of genres to suit many tastes.  More recently, Athens has arrived on the culinary scene with chefs such as Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten (James Beard finalist, Top Chef Masters contestant, Top Chef judge), Whitney Otawka of Farm 255 (Top Chef: Texas contestant), and Peter Dale of The National (Food & Wine Magazine's People's Best New Chef Southeast) receiving national acclaim.  Spring is a wonderful time of year to visit Athens, for patio dining, outdoor music stages and blooms at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the gardens of Athens' four historic house museums. With the beautiful weather out in full force, a weekend getaway to Athens,GA is perfect for enjoying time with loved ones and friends!

Athens' Music Scene

Home of the The B-52's, Pylon, R.E.M., and Widespread Panic, Athens' music scene offers entertainment suited to every taste. The newly-renovated Georgia Theatre hosts a wide variety of musical performances. Enjoy the wide open floor space in front of the stage, or spacious seating in the balconies. You can check out the Georgia Theatre's upcoming performance calendar here. The Georgia Theatre's new rooftop bar is sure to impress. The rooftop bar also offers a menu including a delicious array of their signature sandwiches and salads. The Georgia Theatre has recently launched a new rooftop dance party series named Get Up Get Down. This series takes place every Tuesday night from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. in April and May, and runs through June 5th. The focus of Get Up Get Down will be on the aesthetic of "music people can dance to" showcasing local, regional, and national talent. Guests 18+  can attend the weekly showcase for just $2.00 a cover and will be able to enjoy $2.00 drink specials.The Georgia Theatre is located at 215 N. Lumpkin Street in
 Athens, GA. 

The Melting Point is another popular local music venue. The Melting Point is a blend of old and new: vintage modern decor in the oldest building on the Foundry Park Inn & Spa property. A 30 foot smoke stack anchors the venue's entry tower while three glass and metal garage doors blend the exterior patio with the interior space for al fresco dining and listening in pleasant weather. Savor, sip and socialize in style with a mix of locals and travelers alike in an atmosphere like no other.This intimate music venue hosts a variety of music styles and is a favorite of a wide range of fans. Why end your night here? With the beautiful Foundry Park Inn & Spa next door you can enjoy a night of luxury in their boutique hotel, or melt away stress and restore the soul at the spa. 

There are even more local music venues in Athens, GA. A complete list of the live music venues can be found here http://www.visitathensga.com/live-music/where-to-hear-live-music/.

Athens Dining

Athens is also known for their local dining selections. The creative energy of Athens, Georgia is alive and well in local Athens restaurants, with masterful artwork on both the walls and the plate. Dozens of unique independent eateries offer a distinctive culinary experience, from traditional southern soul food to trendsetting nouveau southern cuisine. Relax in ambient settings from sidewalk and courtyard cafés to dining rooms overlooking the University of Georgia's historic North Campus, with menus that feature exceptional wines and Italian, Sushi, Steak, Cajun, and farm fresh offerings from local Athens growers. Farm 255 is a unique and local dining location that  serves local, seasonal & sustainable food. The menu is a mix of Mediterranean & Southern influences and changes daily. And, the music is as homegrown as the food, with performances typically held on the patio. Farm 255's Executive Chef is Whitney Otawka who competed on Top Chef: Texas in 2011. With patio dining available you can enjoy delicious food and the beautiful weather. There are several other delicious restaurant spots to satisfy any craving including the Cajun favorite, NONA, the vegetarian based menu from The Grit, delicious fresh seafood from Square One Fish Co, and many more! A complete listing of local Athens restaurants can be found at http://www.visitathensga.com/restaurants/. 

Athens Welcomes Pets

Athens also welcomes those who want to visit with their dogs! There are several dog-friendly places and events around the Classic City. You can enjoy a delicious meal on the patio with your dog at several restaurants including Five Star Day Cafe, Mama's Boy, Farm 255, Big City Bread Cafe, East West Bistro, Square One Fish Co, and several other unique and local places. Terrapin Brewery is also a fun and exciting dog-friendly location. Terrapin Brewery offers brewery tours and tastings every Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Experience live music and tastings of Terrapin's full line of award winning beers while observing the brewing process first hand. For only $10, you'll get a Terrapin beer glass for tastings, a tour of the brewery, and access to their lively atmosphere. Their spacious outdoor area is perfect for enjoying Terrapin's wide selection of beer and the company of your dog. As a completely pet-friendly hotel, The Hotel Indigo in Athens also has a unique opportunity for you and your pup! Every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m., they host a Canine Cocktail Hour where your beloved pet can hang out with other pets, and you can enjoy $3 special Salty-Dogs or Greyhounds. 

Upcoming Events

There a several upcoming events and festivals taking place in Athens,GA, including:

• Professional golf returns to Athens April 30 - May 6 during the Stadion Classic at UGA. This is one of two Nationwide Tour stops in Georgia. The Stadion Classic at UGA is the only event on the Nationwide Tour that is owned and operated by an institution of higher education.  All net proceeds from the event will support need-based scholarships for UGA students through the Arch Foundation. Tickets can be purchased through the TICKETS Fore CHARITY program which supports non-profits in Georgia and nationwide. 

• The 34th Annual Athens Human Rights Festival will be May 5 - 6. This is a springtime political and cultural tradition in Athens. The festival features a dynamic, educational, and family-friendly weekend of oratory, music, activities for the children, and street theater performances in an outdoor setting. 

• The Athens live music scene is ready to kick off the 16th Annual AthFest Music and Arts Festival June 20 - 24. This has been named a Top 20 Event by The Southeast Tourism Society. AthFest features more than 150 bands on outdoor stages and in Athens' renowned clubs. Between the live music, art, local film screenings and KidsFest, there is entertainment for all ages. 

With so many exciting things to do in Athens, make your visit a weekend getaway to ensure you get the full Classic City experience! Athens has many beautiful and accommodating hotels to make your visit even more special. With many convenient downtown locations, you can enjoy both the music scene and the famous local restaurants without even driving! A complete listing of hotels in Athens, GA can be found at this website, http://www.visitathensga.com/places-to-stay/.

For more information about spring events taking place in Athens, along with special offers and discounts on accommodations, activities, shopping and dining, visit www.visitathensga.com/spring or contact the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706-357-4430, toll-free 800-653-0603. 


What festivals and events that are taking place in Athens,GA are you looking forward to?