You're Going Outside Wearing THAT?

If you're in Athens this weekend, you need to pack appropriately. I'm not talking about the unseasonably warm weather. If you'll be anywhere near Downtown Athens on Saturday night, you'd better be wearing a costume. Halloween has been described as "Athens' Mardi Gras," and adults come out in full force (some bring the kids too) for people watching and posing around town with their favorite characters.

If you haven't figured out your costume yet, don't fret. Athens is ready to outfit you in scary, silly, or sexy style, depending on your tastes. I thought I'd share a few great places to pick up gear, in case you roll into town with a suitcase empty of masks and props.

Junkman's Daughter's Brother: The legendary and cavernous novelty store on Clayton Street in Downtown Athens is known for its tremendous costume selection. Check out this video of AthensTalks reporter Maggie Sims trying on some of the more interesting selections:



Local photo studio ZoomWorks shares some tips for Halloween makeup on their Facebook page.

In the Beechwood Shopping Center on Alps Road, Halloween City is stocked with everything you could need to outfit your person, your yard, and probably even your dog. Find them near Borders and the Post Office.

If all else fails, attach something funny to your head. A pot? An egg? A miniature bed? A gear? (Get it?) For more ideas, check out the website of Athens' annual downtown Halloween Parade, the Wild Rumpus. Scan photos and get inspired.

So what are you going as?

It's a crazy week in The Classic City

Check out some of the great events this week!

The Lineup:
1. Next to Last Festival
2. FALL In Love With Athens- ENTER NOW!
3. Halloween for the Kids
4. Halloween for the Adults- Wild Rumpus Parade
5. Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville!
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1. Next to Last Festival
This Next to Last Festival is one of the most unique Fall festivals that is offered in Athens. It boasts over 70 bands and artists from October 27 - October 31 in some of the best local venues. This year, the festival is bringing ESG, The Music Tapes, and Van Dyke Parks to the city to headline the week. Check out the shows at Go Bar, New Earth Music Hall, the Seney-Stovall Chapel, the Botanical Gardens, and The Melting Point.

Win 2 FREE full festival wristbands by retweeting "I want to go to The Next to Last Festival #AthensGA" on our Twitter profile (@VisitAthensGA). Hurry, the contest ends on 10/26/10. I'll pick a winner randomly and then let you know through DM.

2. FALL In Love With Athens- Photo Contest
So..... only a few people have entered the Fall 2010 Photo Contest so far (Big shout out if you have, because that prize package is sweet). I know you all are saying "But Claire, what if our photo isn't up to snuff?". Don't worry, I'm not allowed to enter. Haha! All kidding aside, we WANT you to upload a photo. Your shots are really the best way for potential visitors and homesick former residents to see what's up in the Classic City.

"Athens is amazing in the Fall because __________!" All you have to do is fill in the blank with an original photo. Upload that photo to the Visit Athens, GA Facebook page and give us a descriptive caption. You're done! You could win an Athens prize package worth $250.00!

Check out the complete rules at the contest page!

3. Halloween for the Kids
Your kids love Halloween, but real trick-or-treating can be scary...and not in a good way. Try some fun, safe alternatives hosted by ACC Leisure Services.

The Halloween Carnival at Bear Hollow Zoo will be held on the 28th from 5 - 8 p.m. Explore the zoo in full costume, play Halloween games, and listen to some spooky stories. Prizes will be given during costume contests.

The Spooktacular Carnival will also be held on the 28th at Lay Park from 6 - 8 p.m. This carnival will feature scary prizes and games, a trick-or-treat, and costume contests.

4. Halloween for the Adults
Adults love the holiday too. We're just big kids at heart, so dress up to your heart's desire and party with the masses in downtown Athens!

The 2nd annual Wild Rumpus Parade will snake through N. Hull, E. Washington, College, and E. Clayton in the downtown district from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on the 30th. Join a brigade or show off your one of a kind costume during this Halloween parade and spectacle. Please follow all guidelines.


Check out the full event listing for this week on our calendar!

Retweet to Win!

Next to Last Festival, Athens, Georgia
October 27 - 31, 2010

The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau is teaming up with one of the most unique annual festivals in Athens, the Next to Last Festival. We're so sure you'll love this event that we're giving away TWO FREE WRISTBANDS good for the entire event. This year the Next to Last Festival will be held all over Athens at concert venues like Go Bar, New Earth Music Hall, The State Botanical Gardens, The Melting Point, and the Seney-Stovall Chapel on Milledge. The shows and films will be held next week starting on the 27th and ending Halloween night.

The Next to Last Festival is one of the coolest annual events in town. This year's event features over 70 artists such as ESG, Van Dyke Parks, and Music Tapes. Through music and visual arts, the festival hopes to introduce you to the musical culture of our city as well as some great venues. The festival creators promise to give you "five days of exciting, inimitable, and unforgettable musical happenings."

A note about tickets:
If you bought individual tickets to every show, it would cost you just about $62.00. Full-festival wristbands are also on sale for $40.00 by emailing nexttolastfest@gmail.com and individual passes are available at New Earth.

But we think one of you and a friend should see the show for absolutely nothing. Enter to win two passes for FREE by retweeting "I want to go to the Next to Last Festival #AthensGA" to our VisitAthensGA Twitter profile. I'll pick one winner at random. Retweet anytime between now and next Tuesday the 26th to enter the drawing. I'll DM you if you're the big winner. Instructions for pickup will come in the message.

Start retweeting here!

See you at the show!

Homecoming Weekend Festivities

Welcome back to Old Athens Town!

Hope that everyone made it out to the Homecoming Parade tonight! If you didn't, you still have all of Saturday to rediscover Athens. It seems like it's always changing. Check out some new restaurants or shops by visiting the CVB website.

1. UGA vs. Vanderbilt
2. FALL In Love With Athens Photo Contest
3. UGA VIII ceremony of the collar
4. Alumni tailgates!!

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1. UGA vs. Vanderbilt
The University of Georgia Bulldogs are coming off of a big home win against the Tennessee Volunteers last week. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:21 p.m. in the iconic Sanford Stadium. The Dawgs have been prepping all week for the meeting and hope to wow fans. Standout quarterback Aaron Murray and a deep roster on both sides of the ball will help Georgia against the SEC team.
The UGA Athletic Association has announced that they will release a limited number of additional tickets for tomorrow's game. You can purchase them for $50.00 at the Sanford Stadium Ticket Booth. Better get there early though! The tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. and I'm sure there will be a rush for them.

2. FALL In Love With Athens Photo Contest
The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau is hosting a Fall 2010 Photo Contest and everyone is invited to participate! We are looking for your original photos that capture the spirit of Athens during the Fall. Two winners will be announced on November 20, 2010 based on fan votes and nominations by a panel of CVB judges. They will receive an Athens prize package worth over $250.00. All you have to do is upload your photo to the Athens, GA Facebook Page and then vote by hitting the "Like" button. Check out the complete rules at the contest page. We would love to see your Homecoming pictures!

3. UGA VIII ceremony of the collar
Georgia's newest mascot will enter Sanford Stadium for the first time tomorrow during the Collar ceremony at 12:10 p.m. Russ, the current temporary mascot, will be relieved of his duties to live a happy, doggy life in Alpharetta with the Seiler family. UGA VIII is taking over the 2010 season with a clean slate. His official name is "Big Bad Bruce".

4. Alumni Tailgates
Most of the schools that make up the University will be hosting Alumni Tailgates. However, you will need to check with your individual school or alumni coordinator to find out the when and where. Student organizations and local businesses will also be bringing in the school spirit with food, drinks, and music.

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Check out our Youtube channel to see game highlights and videos to get you going for tomorrow's big game!

FYI

Just thought I'd update you guys on some cool stuff happening in Athens, Georgia.
1. Fort Wilson Riot concert TONIGHT at Go Bar
2. UGA VIII debut during Homecoming
3. Corey Smith
4. Nuci's Space Jam- Concert Series (THE ORKIDS!)
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1. Fort Wilson Riot tonight @ Go Bar, 10 p.m.
The Minneapolis rock duo, Amy Hagar and Jacob Mullins, will be bringing their own musical perspective to The Classic City tonight. They formed the group Fort Wilson Riot back in 2005 and have been adding to the rock scene ever since with a mix of electronic pop and progressive sounds. Tonight they will be giving Athens a taste of their latest work, Predator/ Prey during the performance at Go Bar.
“…Fort Wilson Riot is a tornado, their live act is a perfect balance of the calm before the storm and the glittering excitement of its strength.” -Natalie Gallagher, HowWasTheShow.com
The ticket tonight also includes sets by local groups Arturo In Letto and Catawba!

2. UGA VIII makes a big debut this weekend at the university's homecoming game
The Seiler family, owner of the mascot's bloodline, will be presenting UGA VIII on October 16, 2010 during the pre-game ceremony. The Bulldogs will take on the Commodores of Vanderbilt in an SEC matchup. The two teams will meet between the hedges at 12:21 p.m. for kickoff.
The newest mascot will replace Russ as the symbol of athletics in Athens. We just hope he's up to speed with all of the responsibilities: photo shoots, public appearances, cooling off with ice on the field, and taking swipes at Auburn players (joke!)

3. Corey Smith in concert @ The Classic Center
Corey Smith is one of the most recognizable names in the Athens music scene. That's saying a lot in a town saturated in upcoming musical talent like Eddie and the Public Speakers and music legends like REM and the B-52's. Check out the concert for some new tracks and sing along to hits like "Twenty One".
Purchase your last minute tickets at The Classic Center's website.

4. Nuci's Space Jam Concert Series ft. The Orkids and Second Suns
This concert is part of a series of great shows put on at Nuci's Space by the Nuci Phillips Foundation. The Orkids, a cool local band with an indie/pop sound, will be playing with Second Suns at 7:30. All of the shows in the series are $5 at the door. Check back for more shows and showtimes!

The Unchained Tour of Georgia: Coming Soon To Athens!

Celebrating Independent Bookstores

I'm part of a clear minority. I've never owned a PS2, Wii, Nintendo, or XBox. I've never gunned down a virtual alien on Halo... although I can see the obvious appeal. Kids today play for hours on end, completely fascinated by the action that is created by game designers and enhanced by their own imagination. This feeling is not wholly foreign to me. I've been known to devour entire books in one sitting, gobbling up the words as if I had just regained the power of sight. Unfortunately, as a college student, it's hard to find time to read for pleasure anymore with the looming deadlines of exams and research papers. Barbara Walter's Audition has been collecting dust in my room for months now.

The Unchained Tour of Georgia and author and founder of The Moth George Dawes Green invite you to slow down and finally find time to celebrate the art of writing and storytelling. The 14 tour stops, starting on October 20, 2010, will feature original stories, musicians, and circus performers. But it's really all about literature; enhancing the appeal of the written and spoken word and fostering a tradition of readership in the host cities. The Tour will highlight independent bookstores at each stop.

The performers will roll into Athens (on a re-purposed school bus!) on October 20, 2010 at the Seney-Stovall Chapel around 7:30 p.m. These are not your grandfather's tales, these contemporary stories, drawn from personal experience, are riveting, hilarious, and contemplative. So set down the controller, unglue yourself from the laptop and just listen as 5 fabulous storytellers make you laugh and cry. Hope to see you there!

Check out The Unchained Tour of Georgia Facebook page!
The Seney-Stovall Chapel is located at 201 North Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30602.

Clips of Faith

Woo-Hoo Fall Film Festivals!

Last Friday, New Belgium brought films and fun to downtown Athens, Georgia. Their Annual Clips of Faith Film Tour featured 20 handpicked amateur short films that were produced by New Belgium drinkers with proceeds going to Bike Athens. The films included New Belgium craft brews, environmentally friendly statements, and just general goofiness.

The entire tour was environmentally focused, one of the company's "follies". Compostable cups were used for beer tasting and composting and recycling bins were readily available. I liked looking at the craft booths; you could make buttons, bracelets, and screen-printed shirts. All of the materials you could use were recycled. Even the beers were eco-friendly. Mothership Wit is entirely Organic. Fortunately, it tastes just as good as their other selections. Wit is light and drinkable with fun notes of citrus.

I'm glad that they chose to come to Athens, it's the perfect place for a creative festival like Clips of Faith. Hopefully, they will come back next year for even more laughs. I'm certain if I got another shot at the Lips of Faith tasting contest, I would win.