A Call to Action: Human Rights Festival this Weekend!

I am beginning to understand just why Athens is so popular in the spring. The idea of festival season seems to mean spring fun outdoors, but in Athens festival "season" is just that.

This weekend Athens is hosting two festivals. The Hot Corner festival, celebrating African American history in Athens which I mentioned a few posts back, and the Human Rights Festival.

The Athens Human Rights Festival brings together political activists, musicians and artists in a celebration of advances in the area of human rights and call for further action.

The festivities will go from 10 a.m. - Midnight Saturday and 2 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the College Ave. block of downtown Athens. The celebration is free and is also a fun and unique way to experience how Athens residents are making a difference. There is even a separate program just for kids!

Live music, food, crafts and awareness organizations will all be present from all over the UGA and Athens communities.

For a complete schedule, click here.

Biking by Twilight

I have heard it called the Nascar of bike races and one of Athens best life experiences. And it is making a comeback this weekend: The Twilight Criterium.

Twilight, as it is better known, is a nationally ranked, professional cycling event in Athens, Ga. and this year they are celebrating their 30th anniversary.

Although the most popular event is the Saturday night race through downtown, there are events all weekend for all ages beginning Friday afternoon.

Friday night enjoy a sports zone with games for the kids, a business expo to learn about Athens area businesses, the Georgia Cycle Sports qualifying race and the 2nd annual Twilight Jazz Festival by the University of Georgia School of Music.

Saturday get out early because Twilight doesn't only take place at night. Starting at 8 a.m. there will be an ametur race on the Greenway, at 8:30 a.m. a 5k walk/run will begin. The Twilight expo will be back all day begninning at 9 a.m. and so will the KidsZone and Jazz Festival.

Kids looking to join the race? Bring out the big wheels...literally...the Big Wheel race begins at 11:30 a.m. and children ages 5-14 are invited to participate.

The list of daily events it pretty extensive, so you will not be bored, for a full list, click here.

The big show, the criterium itself, will run from 8:45 p.m. to 10: 45 p.m. but don't get there on time, you will want to be early to get a good spot as the streets pack fairly quick.

For more information about the event click here. Get ready, this is going to be one great, long ride of a weekend.

In the meantime, check out this video from last year from OnlineAthens:

On the right track: Antebellum Trail Pilmgrimage

If you are looking to a way to enjoy the beautiful weather and explore some of Northeast Georgia's most quaint southern towns.

Georgia's award-winning, antebellum pilgrimage will take places during three consecutive weekends, April 16-19, 2009, April 23-25 and April 30-May 2. Each weekend has its own itinerary, so be sure to check out what is going on over the next few weeks.

Activities include historic home tours, cemeteries, restaurants and much more. Tickets are $25 each and include entrance into all activities on each city tour, including access to seven attractions and/or events.

The pilgrimage travels from Athens to Macon and includes seven different cities including Athens, Watkinsville, Madison, Eatonton, Milledgeville, Jones County and Macon.

To learn more about each city click here.

Can't afford the $25 ticket? Don't worry, many of the attractions along the trail are free or fairly cheap and still offer much of the same guidance and assistance.

The pilgramige is great for young and old alike, so don't count yourself out just yet. Look at this article from the Red & Black and see what event fits you best!

Get outside this weekend in Athens

Spring is here...hopefully to stay this time...and this weekend is a great time to get out and explore all of the activities going on in Athens.

Look at some of this weekend's most exciting events.

Fourth Annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic
April 13-19 Jennings Mill
Professional golf returns to Athens and Jennings Mill, a Bob Cupp-designed, 7,000+ yard course. The event offers a $500,000 purse with proceeds benefiting the Athens Regional Foundation.

Click here for tickets and more information.

16th Annual Piedmont Gardeners' Tour
This spring garden tour has been sponsored and presented by The Piedmont Gardeners since 1992, and features an inside look at Athens' most inspired private gardens. Six gardens will be featured. Your ticket is a brochure that includes a map and directions. Rain or shine. The home of Vince and Barbara Dooley is on the list.

For more information click here.

Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage
Georgia’s Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage will take place from April 16-18, April 23-25 and April 30-May 2 from 10am – 4pm. It will feature events and tours along the Trail as well as entrance into private, historic homes not generally open to the general public. Tickets are $25 per person and include access to your choice of seven attractions and/or events. The tickets can be purchased at any of the Welcome Centers along the trail and used on any of the three weekends.

Looking for more? Don't forget about UGA Athletics like Baseball and Track and Field or the Great Southland Stampede Rodeo. Or check out the Stay and Do page from Athens Life Unleashed.

A Second Life for the Georgia Museum of Art

The Georgia Museum of Art, UGA's on-campus art museum may be closed for renovations until early 2011, but is still open to visitors...and you will not be accompanied by clouds of dust, the clamor of drills or masks as visitor attire; you can visit the museum virtually.


The museum recently launched a virtual museum in Second Life featuring paintings and drawings from its permanent collection. The virtual museum contains an almost exact replica of the galleries at the museum in Athens and is available to all residents of Second Life.

Second Life is a free, virtual online world that is imagined, created and maintained by its residents. Since its inception in 2003, Second Life has provided a world that supports all forms of expression and offers educational, business and entertainment opportunities to millions of users.

The Georgia Museum of Art can be found in Second Life by stopping by the UGA CTL Island: UGA's virtual world in Second Life. The Georgia Museum of Art hopes to utilize Second Life as an educational tool for its current audience as well as a new online audience.

What easier way to take part in one of the many places Athens has to offer than for free and from the comfort of your own home?

One Day without Shoes

Did you know that more than 40% of people do not own a single pair of shoes? That's a tough one to imagine since I know I am guilty of more than a few pairs in my own closet.

Tom's Shoes is fighting to end this statistic, by putting a pair of shoes on every child's feet. Tom's= shoes for tomorrow and the idea is simple: for every pair of their shoes you purchase, they donate a pair to a child in need. One for One. Pretty cool concept.

This Thursday, Tom's is hosting "One Day without Shoes." A global campaign asking people to go barefoot for one day and its coming to Athens!

One Day without Shoes at UGA will take place on Brumby Beach (the grassy field in front of the freshman high rise dorms on campus) from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.

Come out and become a kid again, dance barefoot to live music, jump shoeless on our moonwalk and watch the TOMS Shoes documentary to learn more. If you already own a pair of TOMS shoes, "Style Your Sole" and decorate your own signature pair.

The best part? It's free and everyone is invited, not just students.

I was introduced to Tom's a little over six months ago and fell in love with this cause. Plus the shoes are super comfortable and cute, when does that happen? Before you go out shopping next consider Tom's. Stop by on Thursday, who knows maybe you will end up with one more pair in your closet?

Get Back Between the Hedges this Saturday

Football season may seem like an eternity away...a little less than five months to be honest...but this weekend Bulldog fans can at least begin to dust off the Red and Black and the tailgating gear.

G-day is here. And this year's scrimmage game has much more incentive than years past. The game starts at 2 p.m. but get here early, seating is general admission so getting 50 yard line views is all up to you.

Here are a few of my top reasons to make the trek to Athens this weekend:

1. Stafford is gone and it is time for Joe Cox to prove what he's got to the bulldog nation.

2. Count Knowshon and the class of '08 out as well...this breed of bulldog is full of new talent.

3. ESPN! Kirk Herbstreit and the gang have already made there way to Athens as ESPN covers the game live from Athens. This will be the only collegiate spring practice game broadcast slated to appear.

4. It's a steal. Tickets are only $5 for adults and $3 for youth. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Butts-Mehre ticket windows between 8:30 am-4:30 pm through Friday, April 6 and also beginning at 12:30 pm on the day of the game at Sanford Stadium Gates 2, 4, 6 and the Main Gate located below the Sanford Drive Bridge.

5. There won't be any Gator fans at this game...at least we hope.

For more coverage of the game click here. If you are looking for ideas while in town click here. In the meantime, here is your chance to practice the stadium chants...in case you have forgotten.

Celebrate Hot Corner this May

Athens has many downtown hot spots, but "The Hot Corner" has to be one of Athens oldest and most beloved local traditions.

During the early 1900s, the corner of Washington and Lumpkin Streets, nicknamed "The Hot Corner," was the center of cultural life in the Black community. Today, the Hot Corner Association, non-profit organization, preserves this history by presenting the Hot Corner Celebration and Soul Food Fest.

The 9th annual Hot Corner Festival will take place Friday May 1 and Saturday May 2. Friday's festivities will include a concert in the Morton Theatre from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and are on sale at the Morton Theatre.

Saturday will include an all day street festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the corner of Hull St. and Washington St. Saturday night, return to the Morton Theatre from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. to view “Fashion: Imagination Unrestricted.” When a fashion design student has a short amount of time to finish her senior project, it is up to her imagination to get her out of the fashion dilemma. Fashion designs from local Athens and Atlanta designers and businesses will be shown. Tickets go on sale in April and they are $12 in advance.

For more information contact Legendaryeventplanning@gmail.com.

Sudden Athens Values

If you are looking for a way to save money yet still enjoy everything Athens has to offer, Athens' resident Susan Dickerson has you covered.

Dickerson retired from a Fortune 100 company in December and was looking for something that would help local businesses.

She came across SuddenValues, a national website which allows local residents to create a medium for local businesses to promote coupons, savings and specials all in one place. Users are adopted into an email program where they will receive weekly updates or they can visit the website to learn about specials.

"SuddenValues came to the forefront in my search. I believe it will provide a great community for merchants and sell locally and for a cross-promotion opportunity between business' customers," says Dickerson.

Some of this week's sponsors include Revive Salon and Athens Golf Etc., but the site is growing rapidly.

Next time you go out, check out SuddenValues first, you never know what you might save. To visit the website, click here.

Around the globe

Today I had love written on my hand in Chinese, made an African wooden bead bracelet and enjoyed a snow cone and Central-American Jazz music...all in downtown Athens.

The UGA International Street Festival was even more fun than I could have imagined and brought my excitement about spring in Athens to a whole new level.

Check out the video from today below!

Athens This Weekend

April has arrived and festival season is here. There is no better reason to get out and enjoy all the culture Athens has to offer than this time of year.

And this weekend is packed with some great ideas...

International Street Festival
Saturday, noon - 5 p.m.

Featuring dozens of UGA international student organizations and local community groups only begin to describe what you will find here. The International Street Festival will take place in downtown Athens and features cultural displays, traditional costumes, dances and international bands. Admission is free. For more information check out this post from earlier this week.

Fluke Mini-Comics Festival
Saturday, 11a.m. - 6 p.m.

FLUKE is a mini-comic festival that is all about artists' work and ideas in mini-comics, zines and other independent publications. This event has been organized by Athens-area comic artists, underground publishers and their enthusiasts since 2002. Admission is $5. Click here for more about FLUKE.

Railroad Day
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The perfect way to entertain the kids this weekend: The Old Railway Station will come alive with model trains, Thomas the Train Hands-on-Layouts, inflatable slide and train, trackless train to ride, magician, tattoos and well...you will have to go to see what else they have in store. Admission tickets are available the day of the event: $8.00 for ages 3-12, $2.00 for ages 13 and older, Free for ages 2 and under, Family Package $25.oo for two adults and up to four children. For more information, visit the Athens Area Council on Aging at 135 Hoyt Street or call 706.549.4850.

For more weekend ideas, visit the online calendar here.

Looking for a preview of the upcoming festivals this summer? Check out this video!