Roll With Athens' Toughest Ladies: The Classic City Roller Girls

What are girls made of? Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice?

Before you answer that, meet The Classic City Roller Girls- a group of Athens girls who'd love nothing more than to show you, and a packed arena of spectators, just exactly what they are made of. And I can go ahead and tell you, it is not sugar.

The Classic City Roller Girls are a tangy, tough team of fierce female athletes on skates, and often also, in fishnets and fake eyelashes. Today, the all-American contact sport of Roller Derby is revived and thriving among aggressive women all over the world. And Athens, GA, is no exception- with ever-expanding local interest making The Classic City Roller Girls impossible to ignore.

I already knew a lot about the pop culture praise of the national Roller Derby scene when I heard about the Athens league, but after attending my first actual bout at the Athens Arena, I gained a whole new respect for the sport and the Classic City Roller Girls. Roller Derby is fully physical, highly energized, heart-pumpingly exciting, and just incredibly fun to watch. I have attended few sports events quite like a Roller Derby bout, and we are lucky enough in Athens, GA to have a dedicated team worth watching and cheering on manically from the stands.

In more focused moments of my Roller Derby viewing experience, I was able to stay quiet long enough to capture a few videos. Later, I was even able to interview a few of the Athens' roller girls myself. The video account of my first Classic City Roller Girls and Roller Derby bout experience are below for your viewing enjoyment.




There may not be a home football game in Athens this weekend, but there will certainly be a high energy sporting event worthy of your support taking place- Don't miss your chance to see the Classic City Roller Girls face off against the Atlanta Roller Girl's Jukes of Hazard at this Saturday's Fall Brawl at the Athens Arena - Saturday, September 24th at 7 p.m. | Tickets can be purchased at the door for $12 (adults), $5 (kids 6-10), & free admission for children 5 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased here for only $10.

Athens This Weekend: May 28 - 31

This weekend in Athens is jam-packed with fun events in and around the Athens area! Get ready for a chance to see live college sports, interact with local artists, and celebrate Memorial Day!

The NCAA Tennis Championships continue this weekend starting on Friday, when the best collegiate tennis teams and student-athletes from across the country showcase their talents and compete for national titles. There's a game today (Friday) at 10 a.m., Saturday and Sunday at noon, and Monday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Come out to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex and enjoy the great weather while watching the teams duke it out for the National Championship title. Visit here for more info.

On Sunday, ATHICA's spring exhibition, Deluge, comes to a close. Deluge is a study in how humanity reacts to the impacts of environmental forces beyond our control. A thought-provoking exhibit of paintings, photography, conceptual embroideries and a large sculptural installation, it consequently addresses global warming and land use issues. The final day will close with a Panel Discussion with visiting and local artists, Discussion of natural extremes and manmade mistakes, a Rain Barrel Making Demo, followed by a Porch BBQ. Visit here for more info.

On Monday, come celebrate Memorial Day at Memorial Park from noon to 3 p.m.! Park activities for the day include concessions, inflatables, face painting, music and more. It's a great opportunity to have some holiday fun with the whole family for free! The Memorial Park pool will be open Memorial Day weekend from 1-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and admission to the pool is $1 per person. Click here for more info.

Other Events going on this weekend:

• Tonight (Friday), come jam out with Highballs at the Melting Point ($8 advance, $10 at door; 8:30 p.m.).
• Athens Creative Theater will be performing the comedy Honest Pleasure at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday ($12.50 advance, $15 at door).
• Saturday, come get some local food at the Farmers Market at Bishop Park! There will be live music by George Boggs and Lera Lynn.
• Come supports the Classic City Rollergirls by going to their Percentage Night at Alibi on Saturday the 29th at 9 p.m.

All in all, its going to be a great Memorial Day weekend in Athens. So bring you family and friends with you to one of these great events, and make a comment on this post to let us know how it went!

Athens This Weekend: April 16 - 18

Friday, April 16:

• Abbey West Apartments presents Reality Tour 2010! Stop by for lots of free food, prizes, music, games, contests and a celebrity meet and greet. There will be a swimwear fashion show sponsored by b.swin and baskit as well as your chance to try out to become a reality TV celebrity! RSVP online to win prizes.

Saturday, April 17:

• The 21st Annual Boybutante Ball is a Broadway-style event at the 40 Watt featuring the talents of approximately 20 local and imported drag queens and kings. All performances and costumes will be set around the central theme of "Fairy Tales," and guests are encouraged to dress to the theme. All proceeds benefit AIDS Athens.

• Enjoy a picturesque tour of five lovely private homes and gardens at the 17th Annual Garden Tour of Athens! The tour features the private gardens of Magdalena Williams, Mary and Charlie Weiland, Patti and Charlie Burch, John Knowlton and Lee Epting. Your ticket is a brochure that includes a map and directions.

• The Classic Center presents The All-Star Comedy Jam featuring "Martin" sitcom star "Bruh Man from the 5th Floor (Reginald Ballard)," the amazingly funny Steve Brown (HBO Def Comedy Jam, Showtime at the Apollo,) and pharmacist by day and comedian by night, Lavar (Jamie Foxx's Laffapalooza, BET Comic View.) All hosted by Miss Sophia from Atlanta's V-103.

• Celebrate Terrapin's 8th Anniversary with a cask ale tent, live music and special beers. Expect an exciting cask ale tent with almost ten special Terrapin fixkins and live music from Timmi Conley, Kite to the Moon and Jango Monkey. Terrapin also just released the newest member of their Monster Beer Tour, Monk's Revenge.

Ongoing Events:

• Throw on your boots, grab your hat and head down to the Livestock Instructional Arena this weekend! UGA's Block and Bridle Club organizes the Great Southland Stampede Rodeo each year. Steeped in tradition as the ONLY all student-run PRCA rodeo in the country, it is a guaranteed two-and-a-half hours of slam-packed action.

• SpringSing Weekend 2010 is the second-annual two-day a cappalla music festival for cancer research and awareness. SpringSing uses the power of human voice to bring people together for one common cause, gathering nearly a dozen of the best college and professional a cappella groups, who donate their time and talents to charity.

• UGA Sports: Watch Georgia Softball take on Auburn, Women's Tennis take on Tennessee and cheer on UGA Track at the Spec Towns Invitational track and field home meet.

For a full calendar of spring events, please click here.

My Adventure at Active Climbing: Georgia's #1 Indoor Rock Climbing Gym

Today I discovered a new hobby- and believe it or not, it is indoor rock climbing. Even more unbelievable is that I did not have to leave Athens to discover it. Located on Barber Street, Active Climbing is truly a hidden gem of Athens. Whether you are a beginner to climbing or are looking to advance to the next level, one of Romania's BEST climbers (Adrian Prelipceanu) has something to offer you at Georgia's #1 Indoor Rock Climbing Gym.

When I arrived at Active Climbing, I was pleasantly surprised at how large the building and climbing walls were. At first I was a little intimidated, because while rock climbing is not entirely new to me, it has been about four years since I have ventured up the face of a climbing wall. My skill level (or lack thereof) did not matter at Active Climbing, however. Dustin, the Active Climbing intern, was extremely friendly, and he taught my friend Melanie & I how to use the safety belay devices in less than 10 minutes (they provide all the necessary equipment, even shoes!) Before we knew it we were on our own, climbing and bouldering the different courses.

There are two separate climbing gyms at Active Climbing, and each gym has multiple courses for different skill levels. Melanie and I started off at the easier courses and quickly gained courage to attempt the harder ones. The atmosphere at Active Climbing is very relaxing with great music, and everyone (especially the regulars!) is willing to help out. Because of this, I felt extremely comfortable climbing the walls and challenging myself to the harder courses in front of complete strangers. So, if you are like me and have very little experience in climbing, do NOT be afraid. Active Climbing is the perfect place for you to learn about this unique sport and try it out for yourself!

Active Climbing offers something for everyone, including those on a tight budget. They offer daily specials like Monday night Ladies Night ($8) and Wednesday night College Night ($8) as well as monthly or year-long memberships at a cheap rate. And if you do not feel like climbing, there are alternatives like yoga and gymnastics. They even offer a birthday party room for kids with tunnels, a FAST slide (I tried it!), a rope swing and more!

For more information, please click here. And don't forget to keep climbing- I know I will.

Athens this Weekend: April 9 - 11

This weekend in Athens is filled with art, athletics, culture, music and wine! Don't miss out on the great events and annual festivals the Classic City has to offer.

Friday, April 9:

• It's time to Celebrate the Arts! The Athens Area Arts Council presents the biggest fundraising event of the year, where material-world art meets the runway to support the artist-designed bus shelters. The celebration will be held at Hotel Indigo and will include a runway of wearable art featuring exotic creations from local and emerging artists. The event is free and open to the public, but VIP runway seats are on sale for $40.

Saturday, April 10:

• Georgia Football is back in action! Come get a preview of the great things that lay ahead for the 2010 Bulldogs at the G-day Spring Football Game! The game annually features the Bulldog team split into the Red and Black squads. Tickets can be ordered at 12:30 p.m. on the day of the game at Sanford Stadium Gates 2, 4, 6 and the Main Gate located below the Sanford Drive Bridge. Kick-off benefits Hope Haven and starts at 2 p.m.

• The 12th Annual International Street Festival, presented by UGA's International Student Organizations, will feature colorful cultural displays from around the world, traditional costumes, dances and international bands. Collect "Passport" Stamps, watch musical and dance performances, and participate in hands-on activities with your children. Door prizes and giveaways will be available from local businesses.

• Enjoy a cold one after the 2nd Annual Terrapin Beer 5K Plus One More Mile. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. and will end at the brewery with a tour. Only $25 to compete!

Sunday, April 11:

• The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra heads to Athens! The UGA Performing Arts Center presents this program which features two of Tchaikovsky's great masterpieces. Russian guest conductor Vasily Petrenko, pianist Barry Douglas, and the ASO will bring excitement to these melodic treats.

Ongoing Events:

• Calling all aficionados and novice wine lover alike! Athens Wine Weekend will be a treat for the senses featuring seminars with wine experts including Master Sommelier Brett Zimmerman, a Grand Tasting showcasing wines from around the world, and a gourmet seven-course meal with multiple wine pairings. The event benefits The Classic Center Cultural Foundation.

• This weekend presents the newest addition to the Bike MS cycling series in Georgia! Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens Ride is a two-day, fully-supported bicycle ride that will raise money to fight multiple sclerosis and help the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

• Fashion, music, arts and fun - what else do you need for the perfect weekend in Athens? Don't miss blvd. Magazine's three-day fashion extravaganza, A Weekend Fashion Affair, showcasing local art and fashion with runway shows, music events and dance parties!

Athens this Weekend: April 2 - 4

Spring is in the air, and the warm weather is here! Start enjoying the month of April with the great events that Athens has to offer this weekend.

Friday, April 2:

• A parade of dog breeds, farrier and horseback riding demonstrations, hospital tours and exhibits- these are just some of the activities available to the young and old alike at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Open House! Guided tours of the College and Teaching Hospital facilities will be available throughout the day, and interesting exhibits will focus on topics such as animal behavior, equine reproduction and herd health.

Saturday, April 3:

• Great exercise, great fun and a great cause! Join the Athens' Habitat for Humanity and the Athens' Homeless Shelter for the 17th Annual Run/Walk for Home 5K! The race will start at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, run through the downtown area, the North Oconee Greenway and finish behind the Classic Center on Foundry Street. The race will start at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine, and is an event for walkers and runners alike. Proceeds benefits Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and the Athens Area Homeless Shelter.

• The Athens Symphony will present its FREE Spring Concert this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Classic Center! The Symphony will perform movements from famous fifth symphonies and will feature a former UGA professor and a Monroe band teacher as soloists.

Sunday, April 4: Happy Easter!

• You're invited to celebrate Easter at The Georgia Center, with Easter Lunch served in the Magnolia Ballroom. Reservations required. Entree selections include leg of lamb, honey-glazed ham, sirloin of beef, chicken Key Largo and pecan crusted tilapia. Call 706.542.6341 to reserve today! Only $19.95 for adults, $6.95 for children and children under 6 are free!

Ongoing Events:

• Happy 30th birthday, R.E.M.! April 5, 1980 marked the very first time Bill, Peter, Mike and Michael took the stage together in Athens, GA. It has been 30 years since R.E.M. made its debut, and the Classic City is ready to celebrate with a weekend full of very special events! Take a music heritage tour with scenster Paul Butchart, celebrate at a very special party at The Melting Point, view a 90-minute retropective at Cine and listen to WUOG 90.5 fm for 5 STRAIGHT HOURS of R.E.M. music!

• Now is your chance to see Athens on the big screen! Produced by Athens native Ashley Epting, Not Since You is the story of a group of once tight-knit college friends coming back together for a wedding. This movie was filmed and set in Athens! One screening per day brought to you by Epting Events and Harry's Pig Shop. Monday through Thursday, each night will have a charity designation for which patrons can elect for one dollar from each ticket to go to the designated charity of the day.

• UGA Sports: UGA Tennis has two home matches this weekend and Top Ten-Ranked UGA Softball takes on Arkansas.

DON'T FORGET! Spring means festivals, and Athens has over 10 annual events/festivals just this month! We are offering 18 web coupons and 5 great getaway packages to make your planning easier! We also have a calendar of events with a list of all music, festivals, etc. Click here to see what we have to offer.

Athens This Weekend: February 19 - 21

Friday, February 19:

• Join us for the 2010 Southern Garden Heritage Conference at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia! Robin Salmon will open the conference with a lecture about garden sculpture and close the conference with a lecture about garden sculpture and close the conference with a presentation about Brookgreen Gardens, one of America's finest sculpture gardens. Amateurs and professionals alike are sure to find this conference interesting and informative. Preregistration is required- call 706.542.6359 today! $95 for members, $110 for non-members.

• Great event for all ages! Sandy Creek Park and the Athens Astronomical Association will host Starwatch: Winter Night Skies tomorrow from 7- 9 p.m. Starwatch is a unique event where participants can enjoy views of the winter constellations, Mars, and the crescent moon. Pre-registration is recommended. Only $2 for ACC residents and $3 for non-residents!

Saturday, February 20:

• Take a trip to Kingpins Bowl and Brew this Saturday from 2 - 5 p.m. for Bowling for the Bard and great prizes! They will be raffling off a framed, autographed poster from REM! Season tickets, restaurant gift certificates and more are also up for grabs. All proceeds help produce this summer's free production of The Taming of the Shrew. Only $5 to participate!

• In celebration of Black History Month, Classic City Tours is offering a special 2-hour bus tour at 2 p.m. of Athens' most significant African-American heritage sites. Stops include the Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery and Morton Theatre.

Sunday, February 21:

• "Eat, Drink, and Help Many" by attending the 17th annual A Taste of Athens! Over 50 restaurants and beverage distributors are participating for your chance to sample local cuisine, sip on wine & beer from regional distributors, bid on amazing silent auction items, and mix & mingle with other community supporters. This event benefits Community Connection of Northeast Georgia, who empowers our community to GET HELP, GIVE HELP, and GROW HELP.

• Support Sandy Creek Nature Center by walking or running in the Frog Hop 5K! The one-mile Tadpole Fun Run starts at 2 p.m. with the 5K race set for 2:30 p.m. Race entry forms are available around town, at Sandy Creek Nature Center or at the nature center's Web site. You can also register here. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome!

Ongoing Events:

• SEC Swim & Dive Championships: The Georgia swimming and diving teams are proud to host the 2010 Southeastern Conference Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium. The four-day competition features seven men's teams and six women's squads that are ranked in the Top 25 by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America! See schedule here.

• Town and Gown presents Mame: Town and Gown presents Mame, a Tony-Award winning musical, at the Athens Community Theater! From mountain climbing related deaths to Massachusetts boarding schools, Mame is a musical that has it all. The musical, based on Patrick Dennis' novel Auntie Mame, chronicles the tumultuous and often hilarious life of the titular character. Mame made its broadway Theatre debut in 1969, and it features Georgia as a prominent setting. 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.

• UGA Sports: UGA tennis has two home matches this weekend, taking on Southern Cal. on Friday and Arkansas on Sunday. Also, cheer on the Hoop Dawgs as they take on Alabama!

• Not Since You Movie Premiere and Screening: This film was shot in large part in Athens! Not Since You is an ensemble film about a tight-knit group of college friends who graduated from NYU just prior to 9/11 and reunite years later for a weekend wedding in Georgia. It premieres this Friday, and screening for only one week at Beechwood Cinemas.

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.

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:

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.

Out in Athens This Weekend

This weekend is all about the arts this weekend in Athens. From music to theater and everything in-between there is something for everyone. Check out some of this weekend's great ideas.

UGA Performing Arts Center

You won't want to miss these classics live.
Friday: The Best of Andrew Loyd Webber. Performers have appeared on Broadway, in Carnegie Hall, and at the White House. 8 p.m. tickets range in price from $23-$28.
Saturday: Academy of Ancient Music. One of the world's foremost period-instrument orchestras, will perform the Complete Brandenburg Concertos. 8 p.m. tickets are $34 for students and $39 for non-students.
Sunday: Charles Wadsworth and Friends. Hosted by UGA Alumnus and founder of the Chamber MusicSociety of Lincoln Center. 7:30 p.m. Free.

Theater

Frederico Garcia Lorca's House of Bernarda Alba. March 25-28: 8 p.m. March 29: 2:30 p.m.
$10/Adult; $7/Student

MacBeth presented by Rose of Athens Theatre. Thursday, March 26: 10 a.m. school matinee Friday, March 27: 10 a.m. school matinee, 8 p.m. public performance Saturday, March 28: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. $15 adults, $10 students and age 25 and younger.

A Bag Full of Fables presented by Athens Little Playhouse. Friday, March 27 at 9:00 a.m. and 7:30 pm; Saturday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for students, children, seniors, and ALPS members. On Sunday, children’s tickets are $5.

UGA Sports
Men's and Women's tennis vs. LSU. 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.