Weekly Freebie: The Arcs

This is an amazing find for music lovers. Local rock band The Arcs have a new single out. It can be purchased at Wuxtry Records (click here for directions) or at Schoolkids Records (click here for directions).

Are you thinking: "Umm..that's not a freebie"? Well that's because I'm not finished yet.

Act fast because if you buy the single at either of these locations before their show at The Georgia Theater tonight (Friday, May 29 at 9 p.m.) you will receive two free tickets to the show.

Buy a single, win 2 concert tickets. That is a pretty amazing deal. But remember to hurry because today is your last chance!

Hotel Indigo: Making Athens Greener

New hotels seem to pop in downtown Athens, GA almost as frequently as new bars. Most are your typical chains, but Hotel Indigo plans to shake that up when it opens its doors in late August.

Hotel Indigo will be the first green hotel in Athens. To be certified as a green hotel, the hotel must be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, and must meet the system's criteria for environmentally sustainable construction.

During our hard hat tour on Thursday, the Athens CVB had the chance to view many of the features that will help make Hotel Indigo so unique. Three of the factors that stood out to me include:

1. Priority parking for hybrid cars- Move over luxury gas-guzzling vehicles. Long given the front-row treatment at hotels, hybrids are taking your spot at Hotel Indigo. As a green hotel, Hotel Indigo plans to give priority parking in the front of the hotel to those hybrid vehicle owners leading the way to a greener earth.
2. Local, local, local- One of the requirements in LEED certification is that a large portion of supplies and materials for the building must come from within a 300-mile radius. A perfect example of this within Hotel Indigo comes from the model hotel room on-site. The rooms will feature hardwood flooring from Shaw Industries, based out of my home turf Dalton, GA (just a 2.5 hour, very boring drive away from Athens!). All of the wood for the furniture came from a location in South Carolina, & the framing for photos is made by local Athens carpenters who use refurbished wood. The photos themselves are music posters from local bands. Hotel Indigo plans to include one well-known band (in the model room it was Pylon) as well as one lesser known, "rising star". Finally, while Starbucks coffee will be offered in the main areas of the hotel, each room will feature coffee from local favorite Jittery Joe's.
3. Natural Light- The hotel is designed with the sun in mind! The rooms face North & South, and as the sun rises & sets East to West, you never have to deal with the usual glaring blindness. With large, beautiful windows in each room, hotel patrons will be encouraged to allow the natural light from the sun illuminate their rooms during the day.
   

Do you think Hotel Indigo will be a successful addition to Athens?

Athens, GA Voted a "Best City of 2009"

Athens, GA was recently voted #5 on Kiplinger's Personal Finance's 10 Best Cities of 2009. Kiplinger's chose cities that offered solid employment and the talent to create new, well-paying positions. UGA provides a multitude of jobs for Athens residents, a reason Athens is steadily climbing into polls of top cities during current economic conditions.

According to Jessica Andrews, the journalist covering Athens for Kiplinger's, reporters were sent out to 10 different cities and, once reassembled, would be responsible for advocating for the best 5- who would receive expanded coverage. Obviously Athens did a great job charming Jessica, and she did a great job charming her editors and Athens is a featured city!

The Kiplinger's article states:

"The Classic City is home to the University of Georgia, the city’s largest employer. It is also a hub of regional medical services, including Athens Regional Medical Center, St. Mary’s Health Care System, and Landmark Hospital, providing health care and jobs not only for the community but also for nearby counties. International manufacturing companies, such as Carrier and DuPont, also have operations in Athens."

Kiplinger's video/slideshow of Athens:




For more information or to read the full article click here.

While college students like myself would put Athens atop any "favorite city" list, it's nice to see publications doing the same. It's also great to see that Athens is stepping outside its' college town label and gaining noterity for more than bars and football games.

The Clute Barrow Nelson Life Foundation's 10th Annual Golf Tournament

The Clute Barrow Nelson Life Foundation has been established as a tax deductible charitable organization to help children with cancer and their families. Clute Barrow was only 5 1/2 when he was diagnosed with a large, cancerous tumor in the center of his brain. A little over a year after diagnosis, Clute Barrow passed away. In memoriam, his parents began the Clute Barrow foundation.

The 10th Annual Golf Classic is June 13, 2009 at the Lane Creek Golf Club. Teams consist of 4 players per team. Prizes include: $300 for the first place team, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place. A hole in one will score a lucky player a 36-month lease on a 2009 BMW 328 4-door sedan. In addition, prizes will be given for "closest to pin" and "longest drive."

For more information on the Clute Barrow Nelson Life Foundation visit their website here. For more information on the golf classic, click here.

Weekly Freebie!

With Memorial Day rolling in on Monday, we will all need that classic summer staple- watermelon- for our pool parties and barbecues!

The Athens Farmers' Market is the perfect place to find that plus more. While technically the produce and crafts aren't free, the atmosphere, booth shopping, and music will be. In addition, prepared food from local favorite such as Big City Bread and 1000 Faces Coffee will be available.

The Athens Farmers' Market runs from May 9-November 14. So, even if your Memorial Day plans don't allow you time to check out the market you have plenty of time.

Annual Tourism Breakfast and Hospitality Awards

This past Friday, May 15, the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Athens Welcome Center hosted hospitality industry representatives and local elected officials at the annual Tourism Breakfast at the the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. In addition to a Mayoral proclamation that recognized May 9-17, 2009, as Tourism Week in Athens, the CVB also presented the annual Athens Hospitality Awards.

The Hospitality H.E.R.O.E.S. (Hospitality Employees Recognition of Excellent Services) of the Year award recognizes a front-line employee who has exceeded normal expectations to provide excellent service to visitors and residents. This year's winner is Lesley Nelms, Executive Housekeeper for Hilton Garden Inn. Among other efforts, Ms. Nelms worked almost 48 non-stop hours during the surprise snowstorm this year to keep guests comfortable. Click here to learn more about the award and see the winner's speech.

The Classic Host Award recognizes a local individual committed to bringing to Athens a new convention, meeting, or event generating a significant economic impact. The 2009 Classic Host Award winner is Johnny Fowler. Fowler routinely secures and serves Athens' largest convention, the Northeast Georgia Methodist Conference. The convention has met in Athens 10 of the past 11 years, bringing 3,000 attendees and an economic impact of between $2 and $3.5 million annually to Athens. Click here to learn more about the award and see the winner's speech.

The Louis Griffith Hospitality Leadership Award honors an outstanding individual in the local hospitality industry who displays foresight and exceptional leadership skills to impact the Athens-Clarke County hospitality industry and the community as a whole. This year winner is E.H. Culpepper. Culpepper has served Athens for over five decades and has included numerous leadership roles on the local, regional and state level. Click here to learn more about the award and see the winner's speech.

Check out Mayor Heidi Davidson's comments on tourism below.

Athens was "Rickrolled"

As the birth place to the B-52's, Pylon, Widespread Panic, and R.E.M., Athens, GA is no stranger to famous musicians. However, everyone was surprised over the weekend when Rick Astley stopped by Go Bar for Dr. Fred's Famous Karoke. As he took the stage and belted out his 1987 song Never Gonna Give You Up, one thing became very apparent.

Athens was being "Rickrolled." For those not familiar with the term, I have provided a definition:

Rickrolling- (verb) an internet sensation wherein an individual believes he or she is clicking a link relevant to a certain topic, but instead the link leads to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" video.

Check out the video of Astley in action at Go Bar here.

I first remember hearing about Rickrolling last April Fools Day when all the featured videos on YouTube's home page led to the Astley video. Since then the prank has continued to spread in popularity. An April 2008 poll estimated that at least 18 million American adults have been Rickrolled. Even the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was a victim this year.

Parades, sporting events, and websites have all been Rickrolled, but I think Athens is the only city lucky enough to be personally rolled by the man himself!

Summertime and the Living is Easy (and Free!)

One of the best benefits of living in a college town is the large selection of things to see and do for free. In Athens, GA there is always a concert, art exhibit, or weekend festival to check out. Bored and low on cash this summer? Each week this blog will highlight one fun freebie sure to keep you entertained and out of the red!

First up, free Classic City tours are being offered in conjunction with National Tourism Week. You can choose between the Museum Mile or Athens Heritage Tour.

The Museum Mile tour is a two hour tour of Athens’ four unique house museums. In each house, you will see a different era of Athens history, from the 1820 Church-Waddel-Brumby House, to the 1840s Taylor-Grady House, and the 1850s Ware-Lyndon and T.R.R. Cobb Houses. Catch the tour for free on Wednesday, May 13 or Friday, May 15 at 10:30 a.m.



The Athens Heritage Tour covers 200 years of history in a 1.5-hour bus tour: from Athens' downtown to its historic homes and neighborhoods to the University of Georgia. Your tour will begin in the oldest house in Athens and you will see the world’s only double barrel canon. The Athens Heritage Tour is offered Wednesday, May 13 and Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m.

For more information on these tours as well as other tours offered in Athens, visit the Athens Welcome Center.

Do you know a fun, free event or activity going on in Athens this summer? Please share below!

Twilight Wrap-up

If you missed the Twilight Criterium in Athens last weekend, here is a little recap! Enjoy!!

Athens Top 10 ... For Now

So finals week has turned into two weeks...and thus I have neglected to share as much about this classic city as I would like. Next week, my time as the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau will come to an end, but not my time in Athens at UGA.

One year left. In my past three years in Athens I have come to love everything about this town, which led me to make a list of my top 10 favorite Athens outings. With a year left, I'm sure I have a lot to see, do and learn, and I don't want to miss a beat.

If you haven't seen or done any of these I suggest you do, whatever I am missing, please let me know, I plan on making the most of my short 4-year span here!

In no particular order, with the exception of how they came to mind, here are my top 10:

1. 5 & 10
Sunday brunch is to die for, I have yet to make it here for dinner, but the service, atmosphere, fresh fruit and french toast are the highlights of my weekends.

2. Memorial Park
Athens has a zoo?! Yes indeed, and it's free. Though you may not find hundreds of exotic animals, seeing some of the creatures that call Athens home is reason enough to make the trip.

3. North Campus Quad
I have yet to find a season that I can't find a big oak to sit under and enjoy. Not to mention the squirrels are unusually friendly. This one isn't just for the day either, visit North Campus late at night and you are sure to find students playing a game of frisbee golf on a course of random objects throughout.

4. Morton Theatre
I fell in love with this one this first time I stepped through the doors. It has maintained all of the charm and architecture, feeling as if you were in another time. Most shows are local and relatively inexpensive.

5. Last Resort Grill
The wait may be long, but there is a reason. The praline chicken is my favorite, and I seldom leave without leftovers for the next day.

6. Sanford Stadium
The center for all life in Athens in the fall. It would be hard to picture this town without football. Trying to explain the way Athens transforms on Saturdays in the fall is nearly impossible to do...I've tried for three years now.

7. Helix
If I ever need a card, a gift or a reason to window shop, this store takes the cake. From handmade crafts, to quirky kitchen utensils, finding the perfect one-of-a-kind gift is far from hard here.

8. Two Story Coffeehouse
A rather new addition to the Athens coffeehouse scene, the charm here is what gets me. To describe this one as a house in 5 points converted into a coffeehouse would almost seem to take away from the fact that it is still a house: full of chairs, tables and aroma perfect for studying or socializing.

9. Mama's Boy
Just like mom makes it. Sounds cliche, but this little spot is just that. Perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this one is quite popular on the weekends, so get there early. You won't be disappointed.

10. Georgia Theatre
The quintessential college campus venue, the Georgia Theatre combines local bands and fan favorites. The seating upstairs/pit downstairs accommodate all and don't miss the giant fan on the ceiling keeping everyone cool.

This is only 10 and Athens has hundreds. Let me know what I'm missing and where I should be next, even if only to help me procrastinate during finals week!