1-Day Contest with the Melting Point!

After the fun we had with the AthFest contest, we'll be rolling more out in the coming weeks.

The first one will be short and sweet- only 1 day, tomorrow (July 1).

How to Participate

In the morning, look for a tweet from the Athens CVB saying "I want to go to the Red, White, and Brewgrass Festival."



Once that goes out, just retweet us and we'll take care of the rest.

You have until 8 p.m. After 8, we will use a random number generator program to pick the winner & let everyone know!

The winner will then be added to the Melting Point's guest list for the festival and should bring a photo ID to the event to gain entrance.

Want more details about the festival?

The Red, White & Brewgrass Festival is hosted by Packway Handle Band & The Melting Point. On July 4, starting at noon, the Melting Point will feature 14 acts on 2 intimate stages for a full day of some of the region's best bluegrass and Americana bands. The festival is open to all-ages (children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult). The event will be held rain or shine. A variety of food and beverage potions will be provided by the award-winning culinary team.

Performers include Mountain Heart, Packway Handle Band, The Jumpin' Jesus Christers, The Dappled Grays, Curley Maple, Mayhem String Band, Johnny Roquemore & The Apostles of Bluegrass, The Corduroy Road, Bob Hay & The Jolly Beggars, Peachtree Station, Solstice Sisters, String Theory, and Hawk Proof Rooster.

Good luck and happy tweeting!

Athens this Weekend

Whether you're heading to AthFest or looking for a break from the music scene, check out what's going on around Athens this weekend.

Friday

• AthFest. Bands, art, film, and KidsFest activities for the whole family! This is the best opportunity of the year to experience the local music and arts scene. Outdoor stages are FREE; wristbands are $20. So whether you bought a wristband (or won it!) or are just looking forward to the free shows, check out the complete schedule on the AthFest website. Highlights of the night include The Incredible Sandwich, Dead Confederate, and The Black Lips.
• Looking for a more relaxed atmosphere? Check out Kate Morrissey at Two Story Coffeehouse. 8-10 p.m. Cover is $5
• Move to Improve Block Party. A block party in celebration of National Home Ownership Month featuring live music, a dunking booth, a moonwalk, hot dogs, face painting, workshops and more. Between Paris St. and Minor St. 4-7 p.m. Free.

Saturday

• Athens Heritage Walks: Henderson Ave. Tour Henderson Avenue with guide John Whitehead. This peaceful residential enclave amidst the bustling Milledge Avenue/Baxter Street corridors presents an attractive mixture of late-19th and early-20th century dwellings. 10 a.m.
• AthFest. Stroll around the local booths before heading over to the main stage for perfomances by Futurebirds, Plume, and The Interns.
• Inspired by the music at AthFest? Check out the vinyl record sale at the corner of Oconee and Carr. Features LPs, 45s and 78s. 9 a.m.–5 p.m

Sunday

• AthFest. Highlights include the Holman Autry Band, Dreams So Real, and the Randall Bramblett Band.
• Iron AthChef. Love a good food competition? Head downtown to watch as two local chefs battle it out in a head-to-head cooking competition. West Washington street serves as "Kitchen Stadium" for Eric Wagoner of Athens Locally Grown and Craig Page of Promoting Local Agriculture and Cultural Experiences (PLACE). 5 p.m. Free.
  
• Mountain Music Medicine Show. Experience Doc Johnson's traveling Miracle Medicine Show, with musical acts and humor from the early 1950s. Set in Dahlonega, Doc promotes his "Wizard Water" elixir for improving lives. DISCOUNT for AthFest wristband holder. 8 p.m.

For more information on these events or to see more calendar listings, visit our website here.

Weeky Freebie: Big Surprise

So, maybe you've heard... AthFest officially kicked off tonight!

That means free music at the outdoor stages all weekend. Here's a schedule of all the acts...hope to see you out there!

Friday, June 26
(5:00-10:00 p.m.)

5:00-5:30 p.m.	Monsignor Donovan Ram Jam Winner - Joachim's Dream
5:30-6:10 p.m.	The Empties (Main Stage)
6:10-6:40 p.m.	Tealvox
6:40-7:20 p.m.	Twin Tigers (Main Stage)
7:20-7:50 p.m.	Those Darlins
7:50-8:30 p.m.	Dead Confederate (Main Stage)
8:30-9:00 p.m.	ExcaliBrah
9:00-10:00 p.m.	The Black Lips (Main Stage)
10:00-11:00 p.m.	Darius Goes West [Film Screening] (Main Stage)

Saturday, June 27
(11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.)

11:00 a.m. - Noon	Pam Blanchard & the Sunny-Side Up Band (Main Stage)
Noon - 12:40 p.m.	Farmer Jason
12:40-1:20 p.m.	Nappy Roots (Main Stage)
1:20-2:00 p.m.	Art Rosenbaum & Friends
2:00-2:40 p.m.	Dancer Vs. Politician (Main Stage)
2:40-3:10 p.m.	The Warm Fuzzies
3:10-3:50 p.m.	Venice is Sinking (Main Stage)
3:50-4:20 p.m.	Liz Durrett
4:20-5:00 p.m.	The Ginger Envelope (Main Stage)
5:00-5:30 p.m.	The Starter Kits
5:30-6:10 p.m.	The Corduroy Road (Main Stage)
6:10-6:40 p.m.	Gabriel Kelly & the Reigns
6:40-7:20 p.m.	Don Chambers + GOAT (Main Stage)
7:20-7:50 p.m.	Jason Ringenberg
7:50-8:30 p.m.	Bloodkin (Main Stage)
8:30-9:00 p.m.	Holy Liars
9:00-10:00 p.m.	Patterson Hood & the Screwtopians (Main Stage)
10:00-11:00 p.m.	DJ Kurt Wood (Main Stage)

Sunday, June 28
(11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

11:00 a.m. - Noon	The Gospel Starlights (Main Stage)
Noon - 1 p.m.	Nuçi's Space Camp Amped Student Band Showcase
1:00-1:50 p.m.	Lefty Hathaway & the Half Dozen Brass Band (Main Stage)
1:50-2:20 p.m.	Marty Winkler & Michael C. Steele with special guest M. Lee Davis
2:20-3:00 p.m.	Betsy Franck & the Bareknuckle Band (Main Stage)
3:00-3:30 p.m.	Bob Livingston
3:30-4:10 p.m.	Holman Autry Band (Main Stage)
4:10-4:40 p.m.	JazzChronic
4:40-5:20 p.m.	Grogus (Main Stage)
5:20-5:50 p.m.	Heavy Feather
5:50-6:30 p.m.	Dreams So Real (Main Stage)
6:30-7:00 p.m.	David Barbe & the Quick Hooks
7:00-8:00 p.m.	Randall Bramblett Band (Main Stage)

For more info visit the AthFest website.

Junkman's: A Retail Superstar

Junkman's Daughter's Brother, the fun and eclectic store downtown featuring an endless variety of goods, is featured in the newly released book "Retail Superstars."

George Whalin the author and researcher behind the book, spent several years personally visiting retail stores across the country. The book highlights the Top 25 stores Whalin believes to be the most interesting in the country.

Junkman's Daughter's Brother makes the cut and is featured in a 5-page spread! The spread details the owners and managers, how the business began, and how the owners developed the store into a successful venture.

Junkman's counterpart in Atlanta, Junkman's Daughter, is also featured in the book.

Curious about the names? Mark Gavron, owner of the Athens Junkman's, and his sister Pam Major, Atlanta Junkman's owner, chose to share a small bit of personal information when deciding on store names. Their father was in the surplus and salvage business, buying up random assortments of products from stores going out of business or discontinued lines.

For me, Junkman's is a must-stop shop to pick up unusual and amusing gifts. I am happy to see that Whalin agrees.

The book is now available at most major bookstores and online here.

Athens Music History Tour

In conjunction with AthFest, Classic City Tours will be offering music history tours throughout Athens. There will be 4 chances to climb onto the Classic City Tours 19-passenger bus and explore the sights and sounds that cultivated Athens’ rich musical heritage.

The tour departs from City Hall. Cost is $10 with AthFest wristband, $15 without.

The tour will be led by local scenester and former Side Effect, Paul Butchart. Paul knows the scene well and has many great stories to prove it.

Stops include the Murmur trestle, the “Sidewalk of the Stars,” and Ricky Wilson’s grave. Approximate running time is two hours.

The tour will depart from the kiosk on Washington Street in front of City Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of AthFest. Tickets are on sale at the Athens Welcome Center or at the kiosk. Space is limited. Call 706-208-8687 for your reservation.

The Georgia Theatre

By now we have all heard the sad news that the Georgia Theatre caught fire around 7 a.m. this morning. Wade Koch was walking home through downtown this morning when he noticed smoke pouring from the doors of the theatre and called 911.

According to a press conference held by the Athens-Clarke County fire department today, it may be weeks before they can correctly identify what caused the fire. Georgia Theatre employees stated they left the air conditioner on all night due to the extreme summer heat.

Most of the roof collapsed because of the fire, but the exterior walls are currently considered salvageable. The inside, however, is completely gutted. (see picture here).

Georgia Theatre owner Wilmot Greene is committed to rebuilding the historic theatre. In the past, legenedary performers such as the B-52's, The Police, Widespread Panic, and B.B. King have taken the stage at the Georgia Theatre.

Perpetual Groove, who was slated to perform Friday and Saturday at the Georgia Theatre, will now be performing at the Classic Center. Saturday's show will be a benefit concert, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the Georgia Theatre restoration. Click here to buy tickets.

All shows slated for the Georgia Theatre during AthFest will be moved to Morton Theatre.

To join the facebook group in support of the Georgia Theatre restoration click here.

AthFest/Twitter Contest Rules

So, you want to win a pair of AthFest wristbands? The amazing people in charge of AthFest delivered 10 wristbands to our offices today to give out through a Twitter contest! We're giving away a pair a day for the next 5 days. In addition, we also have free AthFest CD's.

The contest starts tomorrow, Friday June 19. Don't miss out!

How To Participate

Each day, I will tweet a countdown to AthFest. It will look similar to this:

Once you spot the countdown, RT it on your account. So it will look like this:

That's it! Sit back, relax, & cross your fingers. Each day I will randomly pick a winner out of the RT's. I'll direct message the winner each night to let them know they are the lucky girl or guy!

Starting Monday, the winners can drop by the Classic Center any time during business hours to pick up their prize! Can't make it then? We'll leave the wristbands with the box office for easy pickup!

Remember the contest starts tomorrow, June 19. You can retweet until 8 p.m. each day. See you tomorrow!

Athens this Weekend

Looking for a special treat for Dad this weekend? Or maybe you feel like going out and treating yourself? Here's a preview of everything happening in Athens!

Friday

• Check out singer-songwriter Aslyn as she takes the stage at The Melting Point. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance & $10 at the door.
  
• If your Dad loves the college scene, take him to check out Perpetual Groove at the Georgia Theatre. The band plays another 2-day stint, sure to be packed with enthusiastic fans. 9 p.m. both nights. $20 gets you a 2-day pass, or $12 for a single show.
  
• Ready to try a new fitness craze? Try Laugh-a-Yoga! Helps produce changes in mood, confidence and health. 5:30 p.m. at the Mind Body Institute.

Saturday

• Athens Heritage Walk: Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. This tour is the first in a series of guided tours celebrating Athens' designation as one of the National Trust's 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Each tour is guided by a distinctive Athens personality whose knowledge brings a unique and colorful perspective to our local history. The tour begins at 10 a.m.
• Check out "The Lost Son" Saturday at Morton Theatre. 3 & 7 p.m. This riveting play promises to change your life and strengthen your belief in family, fatherhood, and faith. Featuring Gary Jenkins and Gary Glenn of the group Silk. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $20 for children & students, & $15 for seniors. Special discount on men's tickets in honor of Father's Day ($20).
• If your Dad is an art fan, come out for Athica Emerges III: Journeys. This exhibit will feature exciting new work by three young local artists, with new media, photo-based works and conceptual practices predominating. Opening weekend events include a public reception Saturday from 7 - 9 p.m. and performance art event on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information on these events or to see more calendar listings, visit our website here.

Weekly Freebie: Music

For this edition of Weekly Freebie, I've compiled a list of all the free shows in Athens this weekend. So pick one (or four!) & go see what the Athens music scene is all about. Who knows, you might even discover the next R.E.M.

Grains of Sand

This cover band performs classic Motown hits.

Where: Alibi

When: Friday, 8 p.m.

Contact:706-549-1010

Kyshona Armstrong

Local Kyshona sings soulful ballads over acoustic guitar.

Where: Allen's Bar & Grill

When: Friday, 8 p.m.

Contact: http://www.allensbarandgrill.com/

Claire Campbell

Vocalist for celebrated local folk act Hope for Agoldensummer performs with friends. Also features The Theater Fire.

Where: Farm 255

When: Friday, 11 p.m.

Contact: http://www.farm255.com/

Three 7s

Performs rock & funky covers.

Where: Fat Daddy's

When: Friday, 9 p.m.

Contact: 706-353-0241

TJ Mimbs

This local acoustic singer-songwriter plays music reminiscent of Dave Matthews.

Where: Gnat's Landing

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Contact: www.gnatslanding.net

Founder and the Invisibles

Local singer-songwriter and UGA student Drew Dixon's band accompanies his John Mayer-like vocals with blues and soul-inspired arrangements.

Where: Rye Bar

When: Friday, 10 p.m.

Contact: www.myspace.com/ryebarathens

51 Rising
The Southern rock three-piece based out of Hartwell plays a blend of blues, rock and country.
Where: Allen's Bar & Grill
When: Saturday, 9:30 p.m.
Contact: http://www.allensbarandgrill.com/

Brian Matthews

Former Blue Hiram guitarist plays a solo set of heartfelt acoustic numbers.

When: Saturday, 8 a.m

Where: Athens Farmers' Market

Contact: http://www.athensfarmersmarket.net/

Ken Will Morton

Athens' own Ken Will Morton soulful rasp and sharp lyrics encompass both the heart of folk and the rough and tumble vitality of rock.

When: Saturday, 10 a.m

Where: Athens Farmers' Market

Contact: http://www.athensfarmersmarket.net/

Kyle Dawkins
Distant and minimalistic, local experimental artist Kyle Dawkins' guitar and banjo combine eerie psychedelia with rich folk roots.

Where: Farm 255

When: Saturday, 11 p.m.

Contact: http://www.farm255.com/

Harp Unstrung
This local act gives melodic alternative rock a bluesy, Southern twist.
Where: Lansdowne Road Irish Pub
When: Saturday, 10 p.m.
Contact: http://www.landsdowneroadpub.com/

Albatross
Local band plays classic rock and alternative rock covers.
Where: Rye Bar
When: Friday, 10 p.m.
Contact: www.myspace.com/ryebarathens


Happy listening!

Tasty World Revamps

If you have been downtown recently, you may have noticed the changes going on at Tasty World. I pass the iconic bar every day, and at first chalked the changes up to some late spring cleaning. Then I worried, is Tasty World closing? But as more time passed, and the look of Tasty World continued to change, I realized this must be a remodel.

In fact, Tasty World is essentially splitting in two. The downstairs bar and stage area are being remodeled as a new bar with a new name- Magnolia's. According to this Flagpole article, the new bar will feature an "extended, open patio space accentuated by finely crafted metalwork. Inside you'll find all-new furniture, handmade by the staff, plus a sleek brick bar topped with granite." The downstairs stage will remain, but is also undergoing a remodel- it is being extended to make room for a new grand piano.

The upstairs area will remain primarily a music venue. The upstairs stage has also been extended and new lights have been added to shine on Athens' performing stars.

The last substantial change to Tasty World will be the name- the upstairs area will be called Tasty World Uptown.

Tasty World Uptown will opens its door just in time for AthFest, which begins next Thursday.

Athens This Weekend

Travel around & party like a local throughout Athens, GA this weekend! Or practice for football season by cheering on some local sports teams!



Friday

• See where your beer comes from (hint: it's not the tap or fridge). Terrapin Brewery Tours & Tastings. If you can't make it Friday, Terraphin hosts tours on Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. See the brewing process first hand, get tastings of Terrapin's full line of award winning beers, and stick around for local live music!
• Abbey Road LIVE! at the Georgia Theater on Friday, 10 p.m. This high-energy local band will cover the Beatles' Abbey Road and other late-era Beatles rockers from Sgt. Pepper, the White Album, and more. Don't miss out on the special family show on Saturday afternoon!
• Fiction Family, the alternative rock duo that features Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, will be perfoming at the Melting Point. 9 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance or $20 at the door.
• Looking for a country night? Jot 'Em Down Country Store & BBQ will be serving up their famous dishes alongside local country legend Redneck GReece. The show starts at 6 p.m. Traditionally the show features 2 sets- one the whole family can enjoy and a second set that might make you want to leave the kids at home.

Saturday

• Athens Farmers' Market. Come celebrate treasures that are uniquely ours. Our food grown in our soil by our farmers. Our crafts made in our homes by our artists. Our music, our merriment, and our memories. This week's music lineup: Leralynn, and the Athens Folk Society Band.
  
• Come out & support the Classic City Rollergirls as Athens own female flat-track roller derby league takes on Charleston in the first home meet of their season. The meet will be held at Skate-A-Round USA at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults & $5 for kids. A portion of the proceeds will help support Hands On Northeast Georgia. Then join the Rollergirls for the after-party at Kingpins.
• For more sports action, check out the Classic City Tigers, Athens' own semipro football team in their second season, as they face the Atlanta Red Villains. Home games are played at Billy Henderson Stadium at Clarke Central High School. Kickoff is 7 p.m. & tickets are $5.

For more information on these events or to see more calendar listings, visit our website here.

Vote for Athens & (maybe!) Win

What's your favorite spot in Athens, GA? Terrapin? Five and Ten? Memorial Park?

We all have our favorites and now we all have our chance to vote!

Georgia Magazine is currently asking for submissions for favorite people, places, and things all throughout Georgia for the 2009 Readers' Choice Awards. While we all agree GA has it all, we're calling on all Athens lovers in particular to cast their vote for top spots around the Classic City.

Once you submit your favorites, you are automatically entered to win a grand prize of a weekend getaway for two. There will also be four 2nd-place prizes of $100 each.

So here's your chance to have a say in what Georgia Magazine features about our city! Click here to begin the form.

Also, if you vote, leave a comment below & let us know what you selected.

UGA now a stop on the Nationwide Tour

The Nationwide Tour, a professional golf tournament, has added a new stop to its roster- the University of Georgia. The Athens Classic at UGA will begin in 2010.

UGA has a 3-year contract with the Nationwide Tour and is one of only two universities to host a stop on the tour. Ohio State also hosts a stop.

This tournament will replace a similar event in Athens, usually held at the Jennings Mill Country Club. When Jennings did not renew their contract with the Nationwide Tour after 4 years, the tour approached UGA.

Athens is considered one of the most-attended stops on the tour, and the tour is expected to bring the Classic City at least $5 million in economic impact.

The exact date of the tour is currently in the works, but fans of the tour at Jennings can expect a similar April date.

For more information, the press conference from the announcement of The Athens Classic is embedded below.

Weekly Freebie: AthFest Sampler

Can't wait for AthFest? Wish you could have a preview now?

Good news: you can! The Melting Point is hosting an Athfest Sampler Hoot tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.


The event will feature music from Betsy Franck, Goodman Brown and The Corduroy Road plus Lombard, Norman & Hunter.

In addition to the music, they'll be handing out AthFest goodies!

Most importantly, the whole thing is free. Shows at the Melting Point cost a little something, so don't miss out on a great atmosphere & great preview!

Can't make it to the preview or want more after the preview? Don't forget to visit our website & take advantage of the AthFest package. It includes a hotel stay for two, two AthFest wristbands, CDs, T-shirt vouchers, and Music Heritage Tour tickets as well as a Downtown Gift Certificate ($10 value) and other cool AthFest gear delivered right to your hotel. Click here to reserve your package!

Weekend Fun in Athens, GA

Looking for something fun to do in Athens, GA this weekend? I've got you covered for Friday & Saturday

Friday

• Looking to relax from the work week? Normaltown Flyers Duo will perform at the Melting Point. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. but the Melting Point's doors open at 6 for dinner & drinks. Ticket are $5 in advance or $7 at the door
  
• Love Tractor is performing at Cine at 10 p.m. Tickets are $5.
• Want your own shot at stardom? The Incredible Sandwich is performing as well as shooting a live video at Tasty World. The show & shoot start at 10 p.m. & tickets are $5.
• Think you have more talent than these artists? Show off your skills at karaoke at the Office Lounge. $5 cover.

Saturday

• 31st Annual Snake Day: Yes, that's right- snake day. Slither on down for presentations about the misunderstood world of snakes. Explore venemous snakes and snake identification, the opportunity to touch a snake and snake-related crafts and games for the whole family. 12-4 p.m. at Sandy Creek Nature Center (205 Old Commerce Road). $2 for ACC residents, $3 for out-of-county residents.
• After you finish getting creeped out by snakes, visit historic Five Points for an art sale on the lawns of local merchants. Featuring paintings, prints, jewelry, ceramics, drawings and photography. The 2nd Annual Five Points Art Fest is from 2-7 p.m.
  

For more information on all these events and more, check out our website here.

Weekly Freebie: Terrapin Brewery

Terrapin Brewery is an Athens, GA staple. Looking back on Kaitlyn's post, Terrapin has obviously gained a following! Similar to going to The Grill or a football game, if you live in Athens, you must go to Terrapin at least once.

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale was released in Athens in April 2002 at the Classic City Brew Fest. Six months later, this beer, which was sold only in Athens, was awarded the American Pale Ale Gold Medal at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival, the most prestigious competition in North America. Founded by two brewers who share a commitment to creating world class beers unsurpassed in character and flavor, Terrapin brews its Golden Ale, Rye Squared, All-American Imperial Pilsner and several others.

For this week's freebie, I am cheating just a little bit. You can take a free tour of the Terrapin Brewery every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. However, if you want to taste the beers, it will cost you an $8 glass. But throw in the fact that there is live music, the tour is free, and that $8 also secures you tasting tickets for up to 32 oz. and I think it more than qualifies!

For more information on Terrapin, check out this latest video from Here for the Beer!

In Style Magazine: Five & Ten featured!

As Athens, GA continues to receive accolades, so do restaurants around town! The latest comes as no surprise.

Chef Hugh Acheson of Five and Ten appears in the June issue of In Style sharing his recipe for watermelon and feta salad with serrano chile vinaigrette(I added the oh-so-helpful yellow arrows). Acheson is certainly no stranger to recognition, he has been a finalist in the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Award (southeastern region) twice and won the title of one of America's Best New Chefs in Food & Wine magazine. In addition, Five and Ten was named the Atlanta Journal Consitution's Restaurant of the Year in 2007.

Hugh Acheson's recipe for watermelon and feta salad with serrano chile vinaigrette:

Serves 6
1 cup olive oil
2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 tbsp. champagne vinegar
2 tsp. fresh thyme
1 small shallot minced
1 serrano chile, stemmed and sliced into small half rounds
salt to taste
1 small seedless watermelon
1/3 lb. of feta cheese, sliced 1/8 " thick about 12 slices
1 bunch of arugula
sliced serrano chile for garnish

1. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, thyme, shallot and serrano chile. Shake well. Season with salt to taste. Chill in refrigerator.
2. Remove rind from watermelon and slice flesh into 3" squares.
3. To assemble salad, layer one piece of watermelon on one piece of feta. Repeat. Drizzle with vinaigrette and garnish with arugula and sliced serrano chile.

While this certainly sounds delicious, I think I'll make the trip down to Five & Ten and let the professional do the whole cooking part!