GQ Magazine Features: Hugh Acheson's Guide to Athens Georgia

In an article in GQ Magazine, Athens' own award-winning and highly acclaimed chef, Hugh Acheson, guides readers through his personal list of what he thinks are some of the Classic City's best food and entertainment hot spots! From upscale restaurants to unassuming eateries to fantastic night-life locales, Acheson lets you know where to hit up for your next Athens outing.

Read about it here:  http://www.gq.com/food-travel/restaurants-and-bars/201207/chef-hugh-acheson-athens-georgia-guide-short-order

--Elizabeth Bertrand

Exploring Athens' Classic City Cuisine: La Dolce Vita

After an exhausting week of triathlon training, interning, and fighting with my apartment's Internet connection for my online class, I was in dire need of the physical and mental boost that only great Athens, Georgia food can provide me. So I drove straight to Broad Street to indulge in a hearty Friday night Italian meal at La Dolce Vita. This downtown Athens restaurant is on the second floor and overlooks the historic North Campus of the University of Georgia. Perfection.

I met my parents for dinner because my mom had been out of town for a few weeks and I hadn't seen her in a while. (Of course, I wasn't about to pass up a free meal. Especially because La Dolce Vita is normally a tad bit out of my regular price range when dining on my own.) I greeted her with a big, traditional Bertrand hug, then sat down to nibble on pieces of freshly baked bread dipped in olive oil, while listening to our waitress read off the specials of the night. I didn't even need to look at the menu after hearing her, I knew exactly what I wanted to order- the tagliatelle pasta served with a lamb bolognese.

Perhaps I could improve on my photography skills
 a bit, but here it is: my Tagliatelle pasta
with lamb bolognese! Magnifico!

For me, pasta is right up there with chocolate and pizza on the list of foods I could eat all day, every day for the rest of my life. However, after years of fighting with uncoordinated hands that can never seem to successfully swirl and twirl lengthy noodles around my fork, I usually go for something shorter, like a penne or a rigatoni. But when seasoned ground lamb is served in a bubbling red wine and tomato-based sauce, you don't question the type of noodle that lies beneath. You neatly tuck that white cloth napkin into your shirt, prepare your knife and fork (and maybe yourself, mentally) and then impatiently await to be served this glorious pasta.


It was just as, or more, delicious than it sounds. I was definitely approaching full less than halfway through, but I simply couldn't put down my utensils. As I continued to eat, I fell more and more away from the conversation Mama and Papa Bertrand were having, in order to focus intently on getting heaping forkfuls of pasta into my mouth. And I didn't stop 'til I had licked the bowl clean.

The Tagliatelle al Salmone! Absolute perfection.
(I promise it was presented in a much
prettier manner than I captured in the picture!
I'm workin' on it..) 

I cannot close, though, until I rave a little about my mom's dish. I only tried a bite, but it was a bite I feel worthy of mentioning. She ordered the Tagliatelle al Salmone, a regularly-listed menu item. It was an eggy tagliatelle noodle served in a vodka cream sauce with smoked salmon and black fish roe. This might be a bold statement, but I really don't believe I have ever had a piece of salmon that was this tasty. The intensely smoky flavor hit the taste buds beautifully just before the smooth cream sauce coated the tongue with a savory flavor, followed by a faint twinge of sweetness. It was absolutely divine.


Work and school have continuously become more overwhelming and stressful. This, along with the beautiful Athens summer weather that incessantly beckons me away from my desk, sort of makes me want to quit everything and take an impromptu vacation to the coast. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way, at least every once in a while. My suggestion would be to do the next best (feasible) thing- stuff yourself with outstanding Classic City food from La Dolce Vita, preferably while surrounded by friends and family! They're even open for lunch, in case you just can't wait until dinner for a great pick-me-up Italian meal. 


--Elizabeth Bertrand

Exploring Athens' Classic City Cuisine: Al's Beef

"You can pretty much write about anything."

These are the words every public relations intern loves to hear, especially when it comes to blogging. Therefore, one can imagine my excitement when, on my very first day in the office, my lovely boss relayed this exact message to me. The problem then, however, became what to choose! 

That's me on the right! Next to my wonderful friend,
and fellow Athenian/food-junkie, Victoria

There are a few things I am certain of in this world: My name is Elizabeth Bertrand, I am a rising third-year Public Relations student at the University of Georgia, and if I'm not running, swimming, or getting my backside kicked in spin class, I am baking and eating. I love exercise and I love food. Having lived in Athens for the last six years, I must admit I've gotten pretty good at sampling the city's fabulous cuisine, from both locally owned eateries and restaurants with multiple locations, all while managing my college-student budget. Thus, when faced with the question, "what do I blog about during my time spent as the summer PR intern for the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau?," it didn't take long to decide. Classic City Cuisine. 

My first stop on this summer's culinary journey is Al's Beef downtown. Now I know Athens is not the only home to this renowned restaurant, but I still think it deserving of the spotlight, especially after having been featured on both the Food Network and the Travel Channel, as well as in a whole slew of books and magazines. But never mind the awards, it's really all about the beef. 

Al's is famous for its Italian beef sandwich. It comes in three sizes, all with thinly-sliced meat, messy, and perfectly delicious. Get the gravy drizzled over only the meat itself, or opt to dunk the entire sandwich, bread and all, into the vat of savory liquid. Either way, you'll be more than satisfied.

Double Italian Sausage! So spicy
and sweet and mouth-
wateringly scrumptious! With a
side of those thin-cut fries, of course!

But the Italian Beef, while maybe the most popular menu item, certainly isn't the only tasty option. I was able to sample my dad's Double Italian Sausage with homemade Giardiniera and sweet peppers. It could be my cajun roots talking, but this spicy sausage tucked away neatly in a warm hotdog bun was my idea of the perfect summer food. Add a side of Al's crispy and fresh-cut french fries to round out the meal. You won't be disappointed!

So the next time you're in the mood for some authentic Italian food with a classic Chicago twist, head out to East Clayton Street to Al's Beef! And check back next week for another great place to eat in the Classic City!

What's your favorite item on the Al's Beef menu?

--Elizabeth Bertrand

Craving Cajun

Today's blog post comes from guest contributor Brooke Lane, an Athens Food Tours intern. She's given great ideas on how to satisfy a cajun craving in Athens, GA. Get your taste buds under control, because these locations promise to offer a delicious meal.

Brooke tells us all about it:

A visit to the colorful city of New Orleans is bound to leave one craving more of its unique culture; especially the food! The cuisine is nothing short of incredible blend of multicultural influences. Luckily for us Athenians, cravings can be satisfied at one of the authentic, New Orleans-inspired restaurants right here in town! The restaurants below serve up classics that are sure to please the palate of New Orleans natives and visitors alike.

Sisters Creole Market

Owned and run by three sisters from New Orleans, Sisters Creole Market has a menu featuring hearty staples such as Po Boys, jambalaya and shrimp etouffee -- just to name a few! Also available are specialty products such as creamy pralines and olive salad for muffaletta sandwiches. Be sure to stop by and get your King Cake for Mardi Gras! Oh, and they have sweet potato tater tots. Say that 5x fast!

http://www.sisterscreolemarket.com/

George's Lowcountry Table

Located on Milledge Avenue, George's menu includes a variety of New Orleans favorites like gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage, popcorn crawfish, chargrilled oysters and barbeque. Brunch is something you don't want to miss either -- added to the menu are egg dishes including lowcountry benedict and french toast casserole. Yum!

http://georgeslowcountryonline.com/index.html

Etienne

Most New Orleans dishes are a mix of French and other cultures, forming either Cajun or Creole cuisine. However, in the fancy restaurants of today's New Orleans', refined French food is very popular. In Athens, we find this refined French food on the corner of East Broad and North Jackson streets in Downtown Athens at Etienne Brasserie. Etienne opened in the summer of 2011 as a French restaurant serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Etienne stands as the only purely French restaurant in Athens; there are a few places that touch on French territory, but are not fully dedicated to it. The menu consists of very traditional, rustic French dishes such as coq au vin (marinated game hen, smoked bacon, onions and wild mushrooms), steak frites, duck confit, escargo, filet au poivre, hamburgers, baked pasta, homemade crepes, a meat and cheese plate, steak frites, poached salmon butter with a toasted baguette & salads. My personal favorite dish to rave about is the moules frites: made up of steamed mussles with white wine, garlic confit and fries to sop up the delicious juice. http://etienneathens.com

NONA                                                                                   As a downtown favorite, NONA offers all the quintessential New Orleans cuisine. Their menu has everything from Creole croque monsieur to traditional red beans and rice to eggplant pirogue. And for brunch, they offer beignets and bananas foster French toast among other satisfying selections such as the crab cakes benedict. NONA even has happy hour from 4-7 p.m. with $1 raw oysters and $1 beers! http://neworleansnathens.com/

Not only do all of these options serve delicious food,  but they each offer a unique atmosphere.These restaurants are sure to satisfy any craving. Be sure to check these local spots for some of your cajun favorites!

Athens' Vegetarian Hotspots

Those of you with vegetarian friends know the limited options vegetarians face in the restaurant scene. They are either stuck with the one entree on the menu that meets their dietary needs or forced to pick the salad. As a food lover myself, I feel as though the abundance of choices and delicious descriptions on page after page of a menu is half the adventure of dining out. With a thriving vegetarian population in Athens, GA, I have always wondered how they all survived on such limited options.

Well, last Wednesday I tasted veggie heaven. My vegetarian friend was ecstatic that our dinner crew let her pick the restaurant for the night. While we had all heard raving reviews, none of the meat-eaters in the group had ever been to The Grit. Feeling adventurous in our last year in college, we were excited to try something new. Little did we know how much we would all actually love it.

Surrounded by a relaxed, local vibe, the menu was endless. Noodle bowls, stir fry, falafel sandwiches, quesadillas, pita pizzas, loaded nachos - the list went on and on. After thinking long and hard about all of my options, I ordered the grilled cheese smelt, and I can guarantee you it was one of the best decisions of my day. With chips and vegetables on the side, the fresh thick and well-buttered bread oozed with delectable cheddar cheese. I pulled the two sandwich halves apart only to discover a sliver of crisp spinach and a bright red tomato just waiting to be savored. My friends' dishes filled the table with homemade macaroni and cheese, dusted with light brown bread crumbs and creamy golden cheese, a massive crunchy vegetable and cheese quesadilla, stuffed with flavorful peppers and onions, and a falafel pita, filled with chick pea fritters, veggies and lemon-tahini dressing. Needless to say, it didn't take any of us long to dig in and polish off the plate. The meal was refreshingly different than many of the Athens restaurants we have eaten at before, and the fresh ingredients and local touches left us with full stomachs and a new favorite restaurant.

Of course Athens has an abundance of other restaurants that provide its vegetarian crowd with meat-less options. While most of them are not exclusively vegetarian, their menus offer selections for stricter diets. Clocked for example, a quaint but retro small burger and sandwich joint, has great vegetarian options including a humus sandwich, a hot falafel sandwich, and their juicy veggieburgers that taste just as good as the flavorful burgers they're known for. Local favorite Mama's Boy is also vegetarian-friendly and will easily prepare menu items without meat upon request. With a menu designed exclusively for its Athenian diners, the Athens' Buffalo's Cafe location also provides vegetarian options that are unique to the franchise. An entire page of the menu is dedicated to garden burrito wraps, tortilla broccoli and penne pasta, spinach quesadillas, veggie fajitas, and so much more.

While I may never be a vegetarian myself, its exciting to know that the amazing assortment of Athens restaurants takes care of its vegetarian residents and visitors.

Do you have a favorite vegetarian spot to get your veggie fix? Let me know, so I can try it myself!

Bun Voyage: A Search for the Best Burger in Athens, Georgia

There are so many reasons why I have enjoyed college more than high school. Aside from the obvious (new-found independence, dining halls that are open 24/7, etc.), one of my favorite things about college is that I find, more often than not, that I actually enjoy my class assignments. Gone are the days of pulling my hair out over chemistry and calculus problems, and in their place: projects and assignments that I would actually describe as fun, and that I look forward to working on. Bun Voyage was one such assignment.

I took a social media seminar last semester, and one of our assignments was to keep a blog on any topic that we wanted. Because I had been blogging about my personal life for years now, I wanted to try something different. I wanted to take my readers on a journey, and also write about my love for food. After a little brainstorming, I came up with Bun Voyage, a journey to find the best burger in Athens, GA.

I spent all of my spring semester going out to eat at different Athens restaurants, eating burgers, and then writing about them and giving them a rating to help me determine just exactly what makes a great burger. My criteria included quality of the meat, freshness of ingredients, creativity, presentation, and then an overall rating.

Below are three of the best-rated burgers from my semester-long search:

1) Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Five Guys is about as traditional as a burger place can get. With a fairly simple menu of burgers and hot dogs, there's really no question on what you're going to get. I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mustard and an order of Cajun fries.

The burger was cooked right there before my eyes and delivered hot to my table. The meat was extremely juicy (although it could have used a touch more salt), and the ingredients were all very fresh. The burger was huge, and way more than I could eat, but for only $5, that is hardly a problem.

For being ready in a flash, and for giving me a great value (and then some), I gave the burger at Five Guys an 8.5.

To read the full post, check out Party of Five.

2) Clocked
The burger that I had at Clocked in downtown Athens was on the other end of the spectrum when compared to Five Guys. I had heard tale of a Peanut Butter Bacon Burger at Clocked, and it had gotten rave reviews from my fellow burger fans, but I wouldn't believe it until I tried it for myself.

Seated outside the diner with a cream soda and a cool breeze, I waited eagerly for a burger with a topping I had previously only reserved for toast. When it arrived, I was shocked by how delicious it was. The meat was flavorful and juicy, and the peanut butter added the perfect sweet accompaniment to the crispy bacon. Not to mention the tater tots with the blue cheese dressing. I remember feeling like I needed a nap after this burger, but before it made me sleepy, I thoroughly enjoyed every single bite.

For introducing me to the unsuspecting harmony of peanut butter and meat, and for being off the wall in general, I gave the burger at Clocked a 9.5.

To read the full post, check out Rock Around the Clocked.

3) Farm 255
I have never been bashful about my adoration for this lovely farm-to-table restaurant, but I had never thought of it as the kind of place I would go for a burger. However, one night at dinner with friends, I decided to see what kind of spin Farm 255 would put on a burger. With locally sourced meat and vegetables from nearby farms, I was expecting a burger that would be sure to please. And please it did.

The meat had that wonderful grassy flavor that only comes from cows happily chewing cud on a local farm, and the caramelized onions and sharp Tillamook cheddar provided the perfect sweet and salty flavors. The rosemary french fries were delicious as well, and the homemade pickles on top of the burger really emphasized just how much effort was put into producing the humble hamburger.

For homemade toppings, locally sourced ingredients, and giving me thoughts of happy cows on a nearby farm, I gave the burger at Farm 255 a 9.5.

To read the full post, check out Down on the Farm.

If you visit any of these restaurants and try one of these burgers, let us know what you think! Or is there a delicious hamburger in Athens that we didn't mention? Tell us what you think we're missing!

The Soul of the City in the Stomach of the People: Athens, GA Soul Food

With a proud history and culture of fabulous and unique dining options, Athens, GA is the kind of place where choosing a restaurant for dinner might make the most challenging and rewarding part of a person's day. And there is no greater culinary history and no greater challenge of choice than amongst the Soul Food restaurants of Athens, GA. 

When I approach the delightful task of eating out in this town, I usually break the decision-making process up into a few steps. The initial task in the quest for a tasty meal out must begin by narrowing the options through personal preference by first choosing between food categories- Thai, Italian, Vegetarian, American and so on. The next step then includes a collaboration with dining partners on general price and seating preferences for the coming outing. Once all preferences have been discussed and accounted for, the perfect option should be relatively clear or at least reduced to a less daunting choice between 2 restaurants. My formula for efficient dining decision-making had worked flawlessly for me, that is until I was asked to choose between Athens Soul Food restaurants. 

Each holding a similar yet completely distinct quality of character, two very special soul food restaurants left me unable to move past my final step. Unable to quantify what made each so unique yet connected, I set out to discover what was so special about these two Athens soul food favorites: Weaver D's and Wilson's Soul Food. 

For all its fame and acclaim, Athens landmark and soul food restaurant, Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods still sits somewhat unassumingly at the end of E. Broad Street despite the vibrance of the new lime green paint covering its aging cinder block facade. Customers rush from around the block and across the world to order a paper plate bending with the weight of fried chicken and whatever else is on that day's menu before the kitchen runs out and closes up shop. Since inspiring the name of R.E.M.'s Grammy-nominated album "Automatic For The People," Weaver D's has of course experienced a greatly increased wealth of recognition, business, and culinary celebrity, but you wouldn't know that by walking through the front door, chatting with kitchen staff, and sitting down next to someone on their lunch break. Serving up the same rich, starchy flavors of all the best soul foods since 1986, Weaver D's hasn't changed much over the years, even after gaining national attention and praise as a beloved character of Athens music and food culture. Awarded the title of "American Classic" by the James Beard Foundation in 2007 (see video below!), the history of this soul food restaurant continues to be written. The awards and articles of praise aren't what make Weaver D's so special though, what really solidifies the little soul food shack's reputation is its unaffected commitment to the simple, but meaningful task of providing warm, delicious food to the people of a community. Find them on Facebook.  

After over 30 years of change and progress taking place in the world outside its front doors, Wilson's Soul Food managed to stay frozen in time, serving up the same food to an ever-evolving, yet consistently loyal crowd of customers. Though it didn't have a hugely successful rock album named for it, Wilson's Soul Food still has an interesting history all its own. Centered smack in the middle of Athens' famous Hot Corner, an area of downtown known historically as an early conglomerate of many African-American owned businesses, Wilson's Soul Food opened second to Wilson's Styling Shop located directly next door and run by the same family. The Wilson family has been providing friendly services from their own little stretch of Hull St. since 1954. At the heart of the Wilson family business is just that, family, a warm greeting and a huge plate of comfort food for anyone who walks through the front door. The cafeteria-style buffet of steamy, heavy food may hard to choose from, but no one will rush you and as soon as you have a seat, all your worries in the world might just melt away with the perfect bite of mashed potatoes.

The rich food, history and sense of community encapsulated within Athens favorite soul food restaurants enrich the already diverse culture of this small Southern town. Without places like Weaver D's or Wilson's, Athens GA wouldn't be quite as magical as it is today. It's the long-standing commitment to place and community exemplified by these two great soul food restaurants that inspire and warm the creative soul of Athens, GA.

Though Weaver D's and Wilson's are the most famous soul food spots in Athens, GA, they are not the only and maybe not even the best- decide for yourself... visit the less talked about soul food restaurants in Athens, then tell us about it! Which one is the best and why? Other very worthy establishments include:

• Peaches Fine Foods
• Food For the Soul
• Five Star Day

Excited for a new internship...and a summer in Athens!

It's hard to say what my favorite thing is about Athens. It might be the restaurants downtown that serve up local, home-grown fare from a farm only a few miles down the road. It could be the eclectic mixture of music, from bluegrass to jazz, that you can hear coming from inside clubs and music halls as you walk through town on a warm Friday night. It might also be the wonderful, southern hospitality of the people who live here, who always greet you with a smile on their face.

Or maybe my favorite thing about Athens is that I can't actually pick a favorite thing about Athens. My name is Sarah Varner, and I'm a few months away from beginning my senior year as a public relations major at the University of Georgia. I'm writing to you as one of the new PR and social media interns for the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau, and I hope that this internship will allow me to find out even more things that I love about this town.

In my three years as a student living in Athens, I've taken advantage of many of the opportunities that the city has to offer. From walks through the State Botanical Garden to tubing down the Broad River, from trips to the Athens Farmer's Market and shows at the 40 Watt, I have gotten a taste of the wide range of activities that go on year-round in Athens. But there's still so much more that I want to do, and try, and eat, and visit while I'm here.

As an intern for the Athens CVB, I will be writing about all of the events going on in Athens, and hopefully giving you a better glimpse at all this city has to offer. And if you're like me, you're going to find out about events and activities you didn't even know existed, and you're going to want to try them all.

So it's time to start making your Athens "To-Do" list, because I'm going to be giving you things to put on it all summer long!

Until next time,
Sarah Varner

Looking Forward to a Fantastic Summer in Athens!

Dearest Athens, GA,

For the last 3 years, I have been happily wandering through your glorious streets and parks, excitedly immersing myself in your own unique culture of Southern charm, and well frankly, just generally falling in love with your every quirk. And during that time, we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well, but now that I’ll be taking on the P.R. and Social Media internship position for the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau this summer, I think it’s time I properly introduce myself.

My name is Morgan Capps and I will be a senior at The University of Georgia in the fall, soon completing my studies in Psychology, Geography, and New Media. My unusual combination of studies allows me to explore a wide range of interests, a personal tendency that extends to my non-academic life as well. From hosting my own show on UGA’s student radio station, WUOG 90.5 fm, to acting in a production with Town & Gown Players, the local community theater, I am certainly no stranger to taking advantage of the awesome opportunities you have to offer, Athens. But even after 3 years here, I still constantly find myself discovering new places, people, and events existing throughout town.

I can think of no better way to spend the summer than by assisting Athens CVB in diligently seeking out and sharing information on the who, what, and where that combine to make life here so uniquely interesting. I genuinely cannot wait to provide information on your many wonderful restaurants, attractions, special events, and festivals. I promise to blog and otherwise report my many adventures, observations, and ideas, but I’ll need your help, Athens community- I want your feedback and suggestions. So don’t be shy, send me somewhere new and let me know what’s on your mind so we can make the most of this beautiful summer in Athens, GA.

Sincerely Yours,

Morgan Capps

Athens this Weekend

Looking for great shows? You know Athens is famous for its music scene. Need something else? Check out a few alternatives this weekend.

Friday

• Darius Goes West Day at the Student Presbyterian Center. Check out one of UGA's most famous alums. Everyone gets 10 free activity tickets. Make sure to see the Darius Goes West RV that's traveled 50,000 miles since Sept. 2008. 6-10 p.m.
  
• Check out the comedic routine of Lisa Mende and Stephanie Astalos-Jones at Cine. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15.
• Check out 4 great shows for the price of 1 at Tasty World Uptown. Celerity, Groove Stain, The K-Macks, and So It Goes are all set to perform. Tickets are $5 and the show starts at 10 p.m.
• Looking for a fun blast from the past? Head over to the Melting Point and check out The Splitz. They perform classic Motown, '70s funk, R&B, and disco hits. 8 p.m. Tickes are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Saturday

• Slow Food Pie Contest at the Athens Farmers' Market. 10:30 a.m. $5 (to taste all pies)
• Head over to Cine for a screening of Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life . See it in full at 7:30 p.m.
• Can't wait for football season? UGA's Countdown to Kickoff might ease the pain of waiting. Present and former UGA football players run drills, throw passes, play games, sign autographs and take pictures with fans. 3-6 p.m. $25.
• Killer Mike, Pastor Troy, and The Nappy Roots will be performing at The Classic Center at 10 p.m. Tickets are $5.

Sunday

• Comedian Carl Hurley will be performing at The Classic Center at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Drawing from his roots in the tradition of such other American humorists as Andy Griffith and Garrison Keillor, Hurley delights audiences with his reflections on life as viewed by a native of Appalachia with a singular sense of the absurd.
  

Athens this Weekend

Check out the usual suspects of art, live music, and entertainment throughout the Classic City this weekend.

Friday

• Looking for a new form of fun this weekend? Check out Effie's Club Follies at the 40 Watt. This local "slap-strip comedic burlesque" troupe combines the best elements of sketch comedy, musical theatre, drag and striptease. The show starts at 10 p.m. & tickets are $10 for the 21 & over set, $12 for 18+.
• The Michael Guthrie Band will be performing at the Melting Point at 9 p.m. For nearly 40 years, Athenian Michael Guthrie and his various bandmates have delved into the world of melodic, jangly British-sounding throwback rock. The latest incarnation is a family affair with brother Herb and son Jon. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the door.
• Check out a large lineup at the new Tasty World Uptown this Friday. Against All Odds, Heroes for Tonight, Leaving Araby, Lost Heritage, Shootout the Stars, and The Wristbandits will all grace the new stage. Tickets are $5.

Saturday

• Taste Your PLACE Kickoff at the Athens Farmers' Market. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. To learn more, checkout this week's freebie.
• With football season so close yet so far, get your dawg fix at the Classic Center with the Dawg Derby Flyball Tournament. This year's tournament features 64 teams of dogs and handlers from 10 states competing in a fast-paced relay race that involves sprinting, jumping and retrieving. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $1.
• Want to see how UGA's gardens grow? The Gardens at UGA Open House runs from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Guided tour led by the founder of UGA's Trial Gardens, which are nationally known for trialing annuals and perennials for the Southeast. $5.
• Swing by Caledonia Lounge to hear The Buddy System's final show. Check out the adorable projected animation of Lauren Gregg's illustrations to go along with the gently grooving indie-pop tunes delivered by Kindercore stalwarts in their last performance. Also featuring Allison Weiss, Attractive Eighties Women, and ExcaliBrah. 10 p.m. $5.

Sunday

• Enjoy a lazy Sunday at Memorial Park with a free community picnic. Featuring music, yard games, face painting, ice cream, performances and more. Bring a blanket and picnic basket. 5 p.m.
• Square One Restaurant and Bar's weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch features rotating local jazz artists out on their patio. Enjoy it before the heat index goes back up! 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Exercise your brain and gear up for the work week with sports-themed trivia at Allen's Bar & Grill. 9 p.m.

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

St. Patrick's Day in Athens

Looking for ways to bring out the Irish in yourself tomorrow night while enyoing the Classic City? Here are some pretty lucky ideas:

Terrapin Tuesday St. Patrick's Day celebration with Short Road Home and Green Flag

Enjoy live music, performances and great food at the Melting Point. Entertainment includes Short Road Home, a six-piece Athens-based ensemble inspired by the music of Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Appalachia; Green flag, a quartet focusing on traditional Irish music; and Irish Riverdance performances.

This event starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are avalible online for $5 or $8 at the door.

St. Patrick's Day at Harry Bissetts' on the Westside

"We may be Cajun, but there is a bit of Irish in us all."
Enjoy Irish Bayou food and drink specials, plus a live Bagpiper on the patio from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Five Dollar Five Star Dining

Looking for an excellent, yet affordable, restaurant for your next meeting or lunch date? Who isn't trying to save money in today's economy.

Luckily, fine dining and a small bill may go hand and hand in one Athens area restaurant.

East-West Bistro, one of Athens most popular downtown restaurants known for its fine dining and exquisite meals is now offering a daily lunch special...for five dollars.

Consider this, a five dollar meal is less than you would more than likely spend at a local fast food chain--but I promise you it's on a whole other level at East-West.

The "five spot" deal is available Monday-Friday during lunch and is different everyday of the week, leaving plenty of room for second visit--or perhaps dessert?

East-West Bistro is located on Broad Street in downtown Athens, stop by and see what the menu offers today--because you already missed yesterday.

Lunch Hot Spots

One of my biggest guilty pleasures is going out to eat. Even though I'm completely capable of fixing my own meal and usually have a refrigerator full of food at home, there's something about going out to a restaurant and having someone else do it all for me that is always so enticing. Usually I feel bad about it later, because I could have saved money by staying in and making a sandwich.

A way to get around this is to go to your favorite restaurants for lunch. I was just at Basil Press on Friday, and had an amazing lunch for $6.95, complete with leftovers. There are a lot of places like this downtown that have the same or similar menus for lunch and dinner, but everything at lunch is half the price as it is for dinner. Besides Basil Press, some of my favorite lunch places in Athens are Last Resort, East West Bistro, and DePalma's. When I go to any of these places, I still feel like I'm treating myself to a nice lunch, but I don't break the bank.

If you are visiting Athens, don't be turned away by the expensive-looking restaurants downtown. Check out the menus, peek in to see what the atmosphere is like. Pretty much anywhere you go, you will have a great experience and an affordable meal.

It's Saturday in Athens

I may be a little biased, but every time I get back from an away football game, I can't help but be reminded of how ideal Athens is for game days. Not that I have anything against our favorite SEC rivals that I've visited, I just think there are a lot of aspects which make Athens nice to visit - especially on Saturdays in the fall.

• Tailgating on North Campus. The wide open fields offer tons of space to set up tents, chairs and coolers, not to mention plenty of shade to relax under. There are other places to tailgate scattered all over town and campus, but North Campus is the most scenic and popular.
• Proximity of hotels, restaurants, and bars to campus. Athens is a very pedestrian-friendly town, especially if you stay in one of the many hotels downtown - you won't need a car all weekend!
• Variety of places to watch. There are hundreds of bars and restaurants downtown which will all have the game on if you aren't lucky enough to get a ticket in to Sanford Stadium. The Georgia Theatre also plays the game on a big screen, providing a fun (air conditioned!) spot to watch the game with your fellow fans.
• Unique restaurants, bars, and music venues. There is plenty of entertainment downtown after the game is over, from unique restaurants like Last Resort Grill and East West Bistro, to bars like the 40 Watt and The Globe.

For a complete listing of Athens restaurants, bars, attractions, and events, click here.

GO DAWGS!

Restaurant Spotlight: 237 Prince

Like most people in Athens, I'm drawn to the downtown scene when I go out to eat. However, last week I ventured outside my comfort zone over to 237 Prince Woodfire Grille (on Prince Avenue) - and it was well worth it.

First I just have to say how amazing it is to go somewhere and not have to worry about parking! There's a parking lot in The Bottleworks so you don't have to worry about cruising up and down Broad and Clayton fighting for a spot.

Walking into the restaurant, you enter a lounge and bar area which is separate from the restaurant. There is also outside seating on the patio so you have several places to enjoy your meal or a drink. The ambiance is great, the restaurant isn't too big and the big woodfire oven next to the bar is really cool.

They had a great selection of salads, entrees, and pasta dishes in addition to the unique pizza creations cooked in the woodfire oven.  The menu isn't too pricey, and there are great drink specials every night of the week.

I went back over the weekend to talk with the owner and find out a little more about what sets this restaurant apart from everything else Athens has to offer.

There are tons of great unique restaurants in Athens, and I'm definitely going to add 237 to my list of favorites.