Daily.Affirmations.

I walked in, was introduced to the staff, handed an apron, and immediately got put to work. The atmosphere was fast paced yet fun as I helped the six chefs prep their stations in anticipation for the busy Friday night dinner rush. While some students were still in class, and others were napping after an exhausting week, I was beginning what would soon be one of my most memorable nights in Athens.

When I first met Peter at the UGA Visitors Center last fall, I was captivated by his story and intrigued by his work. The man had been in my shoes as a UGA tour guide roughly a decade before me and is now living out his dream as the head chef at one of Athens’ finest restaurants, The National.  Our initial meeting was followed by a few emails back and forth and resulted in the once in a lifetime opportunity of shadowing him for an evening at work, creating remarkable culinary masterpieces and overseeing the kitchen and dining room. For six and a half hours my senses were on overdrive as I observed, smelt, and tasted dish after dish of incredible cuisine. I was in heaven as I bounced around the kitchen, rolling lamb kefta, designing cheese plates, garnishing desserts, and so much more. I asked the chefs hundreds of questions about their technique, flavor combinations, and tricks of the trade, soaking up as much kitchen wisdom as I possibly could.  After this unique experience, I was pleasantly exhausted and surprisingly a bit hungry but my night was not complete. Per Peter’s instructions I took a seat at the bar where he graciously served me a delightful dinner of some of his favorites from the menu, most notably the scrumptious fried squid and the shockingly tasty duck tongues. As I left that evening, I was stuffed and unbelievably thankful for such an unforgettable night.

What started out a random meeting at the UGA Visitors Center followed by email correspondence resulted in perhaps one of my greatest nights in Athens, doing things beyond my wildest dreams. So, no matter how random or wild or impossible your outrageous goal is, do not ever give up. Attack it with unwavering persistence and if necessary resilience and your dream could become a reality too.  92 down, 8 to go!

Do you often find yourself sitting on a public bench staring and analyzing people as they pass by? Or, are you more stealth, and appear to be diligently working at a local coffee shop but really are just observing customers as they come in and eavesdropping on a nearby table’s conversation? If so, then I’m probably not the first to diagnose you as a people watcher and if not then you are missing out on the exhilarating concept of witnessing the awkwardness of total strangers’ lives. Either way, I proudly deem myself an avid people watcher and Athens happens to be the perfect place to indulge in this fun and borderline creepy activity.

Sure, people watching is something you can do virtually anywhere and while that’s true, downtown Athens offers an extremely unique environment. The diverse population, clash of cultures, and most notably 34,000 college students, mainly age eighteen to twenty-five mixing downtown, makes it an atmosphere like none other. On almost any given night (expect Sundays) downtown Athens fills up with all sorts of groups. On this particular weekend night we got a glimpse of it all. In just an hour of sitting and watching we saw the full spectrum of emotions including, hysterically laughing, hysterically crying, cheerfully skipping by and angrily causing a fight. At the same time we saw a wide array of attire ranging from the casual townie outfit, to the “I can’t believe your friend let you out of the house looking like that” dress, to the brilliantly crafted and strangely bizarre social themed costumes. Beyond that we witnessed a few individuals shouting bible versus at anyone that passed, random street musicians singing and playing, stumbling obnoxious drunks, and late night eaters going to any means necessary to get a bite to eat. In that one hour sitting on a bench we witnessed it all.

So, it does not matter if you are a first timer, a closet expert, or its one of your most favorite hobbies, you have to check out downtown Athens for some quality people watching. At the very least you will be highly entertained! 91 down, 9 to go!

“We will never bring disgrace on this our City by an act of dishonesty or cowardice. We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and with many. We will revere and obey the City’s laws and will do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul them or set them at naught. We will strive increasingly to quicken the public’s sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit this City, not only not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

On July 25, 1801 John Milledge, one of the first members of the university’s board of trustees, donated 633 acres of land to the school and named the nearby area Athens after the city in ancient Greece, the then center for learning and home to the academies of Plato and Aristotle. Aside from the name, Athens, Georgia remained virtually unconnected to the ancient city until the Olympic games came to Atlanta in the summer of 1996, resulting in three events (soccer, volleyball, and rhythmic gymnastics) being held in Athens, Georgia. In honor of the games being hosted in our city a sculpture of the Greek Goddess Athena was commissioned and later placed in front of the Classic Center. Inscribed on the base of the statue is the Athenian oath (as seen above) that was taken by the youth of ancient Athens on their seventeenth birthday. The language may be a bit outdated, but he message is still clear and applicable and serves as a timeless code of civic responsibility. 

So, go indulge in a bit of Athens, Georgia and Athens, Greece history and visit the Athena statue downtown. As she towers over you I challenge you to take the same oath as so many did thousands of years before you. 90 down, 10 to go!

It was a gorgeous almost-summer day and not a single cloud could be seen in the sky. The sun was shining or should I say blazing as the temperature was well into the 90’s making it crazy HOT outside! While some sought shade and cooler temperatures indoors, others including myself were out basking in the sunny rays. I watched as kids built sandcastles and splashed in the water while parents and students laid out on the beach. Beach? Sand? Where am I you ask?

The answer is you don’t have to leave the incredible Classic City to take in the beach atmosphere; instead just head over to Sandy Creek. Located on Bob Holman Road off of Commerce sits the massive 782-acre Sandy Creek Park. The park is full of incredible facilities and offers space for all sorts of outdoor recreational activities. If you like sports there are basketball and tennis courts, baseball fields, softball diamonds and even a disc golf course. For animal lovers they have four separate dog parks and a four-mile horse trail. The list doesn’t end there as the park borders the 260-acre Lake Chapman creating a beach like environment along the shore. Boats are welcomed and there are canoes and kayaks for rent or you can just enjoy a little time relaxing in the sun.

If you are craving the sand between your toes and need a day as a pseudo-beach to hold you over until you can vacation at the real one then you don’t have to travel far. So, regardless of what you are in the mood for, if you are feeling the slightest bit outdoorsy, head out to Sandy Creek Park. 89 down, 11 to go!

I just couldn’t make up my mind. Nearly every item on the menu sounded more phenomenal than the last, and every dish that went by smelled heavenly. The same question of what to possibly eat that plagued my mind before I arrived was once again running through my head but now in a whole new context. I simply couldn’t make up my mind, it all looked delicious. Despite my initial hesitation to dine at a solely vegetarian restaurant, I found myself impressed looking at the menu…I hadn’t even tasted the food yet.

Located off the edge of downtown, a little ways down Prince Avenue sits the tasty and surprisingly all vegetarian restaurant, The Grit. Opened in 1986 The Grit quickly became an Athens favorite and has been serving up savory meatless dishes for over 25 years.  From the day it first opened, The Grit has had an intimate connection with the Athens music scene. It is frequented by touring performers and local musicians, and little known fact it is located in a building owned by R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe. The menu is full of a variety of scrumptious dishes with varying tastes and includes Indian, Italian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern inspired dishes. Don’t let some of the items deceive you such as the Chik’n Parmesan Sandwich or Bid Daddy Burger as I mentioned before all are vegetarian and some are even vegan. After salivating over the menu for a good ten minutes I ordered a giant bowl of their black bean chili and it was DELICIOUS!

It doesn’t matter if you are a carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, or even a fruitarian The Grit has a delectable dish waiting for you. So, skip the meat for a meal and tantalize your taste buds to a unique dish from the one and only The Grit. 88 down, 12 to go!

On a random spring Saturday, Michelle and I, after packing in our days checking things off of my Athens Final 100 were a bit tired and looking for something relaxing to do. We searched through the list and came across the perfect item for that particular afternoon. We drove to one end of Milledge parked and set out walking with no destination in mind. For the next hour or so, we strolled down this historic street taking in the sights and sounds of our home for the last four years. Athens, Georgia is very much a college town, and one of its most notable streets, Milledge Avenue, captures the uniqueness and diversity of our city along its many miles.

Stretching from Normal Town to Whitehall Rd, Milledge Avenue runs through many different parts of town. Heading south you first come across UGA’s club sports complex, followed by the facilitates for some of UGA’s sports teams, including the soccer field, softball stadium, and the golf course. Continue a little further pass the residential area and you will come across 5 points, which is home to Top Chef Masters, Hugh Acheson’s restaurant Five and Ten, Earth Fare, Jittery Joes, and of course the freakishly popular Yoforia just to name a few. Next as you cross over Lumpkin, you enter the area most commonly known for the many Greek fraternity and sorority houses, each a different size, shape and style. Intermixed among these Greek mansions, sits many historic homes and buildings like the Alexander House, Dearing -Wilkins House, and Seney-Stovall Chapel.  As you continue traveling south you will pass Clarke Central High School and the famous Varsity restaurant as well as several small businesses. Right before Milledge dead ends into Prince Avenue, you will find Cecilia Villaveces Cakes, which is home to the kitchen that produces and supplies Last Resort with its decadent cakes.

 So the next time a beautiful day rolls around and you head our for a walk, skip the parks for a day and walk the length of Milledge Avenue. You will experience a little taste of everything that Athens and UGA has to offer. 87 down, 13 to go!

In most college towns and especially Athens, the long awaited weekend begins on Thursday night, as Friday classes seem to become optional and are often skipped. On this particular Thursday a group of friends and myself rapped up the pregame, piled into my car and headed downtown. We circled a few times and finally found a spot on Clayton Street. As we jumped out of the car the clock struck 11 pm, the night was young and really just beginning, where to next….are options were virtually endless.

 Believed to be the most bars per square mile, Athens has packed in nearly 100 bars in its four block by six block downtown. The beauty of this layout is that it is all walk-able allowing you to bar hop from one to another to meet up with friends, escape an awkward encounter, or change up the scenery. For the most part each is unique, differing in theme, style, or setup. Feeling classy? Grab a glass of wine from the Winery or hit up Blue Sky for one of their high gravity beers. In the mood to dance? Check out 9ds, where the songs we grew up on play all night long, or perhaps the Loft if you are in the mood for something more fast paced. Want a bite to eat? Venture over to Copper Creek for some tasty bar food or end your night at Boars Head for hotdog and deliciously greasy french fries.  Want to go out on a Sunday night? Swing by the always crowded Pauley’s  or the Capital Room, located on the bottom floor of the Georgian, who are exempt from the Georgia law of not selling alcohol on Sundays because more than 50% of their sales are from food.

 Just as UGA offers a major or student organization for everyone, downtown Athens offers enough venues to where you can easily find your social niche. So whether its your goal to visit them all or your wish to be a regular at just one, take some time to explore the nightlife of our Classic City.  86 down, 14 to go!

We arrived earlier than excepted so rather than head straight inside, we grabbed seats on the beautiful outdoor patio. Sitting beneath the stars and the strung up lights we talked and people watched and enjoyed the incredible weather. Inside we saw the lights dim and heard the crowd start to yell. We quickly ran inside and grabbed seats in the upper balcony. For the first few songs we danced in our seats and watched the significantly older couples make their way to the dance floor. However, as the 80’s cover band started belting out “Pretty Young Thing” by Michael Jackson we could not resist the urge any longer. We jumped out of our seats and headed to the dance floor, where we remained for the rest of the night.  

In a town know for its music history and unique concert venues, such as Georgia Theatre and 40 Watt, the Melting Point can often be overlooked. Located in the back corner of downtown on The Foundry Park Inn property sits this creatively designed music venue. Composed of an outdoor patio, upstairs balcony seating, dinner tables seating (with an awesome menu), two full bars, and a decent sized dance floor this facility truly has it all. Not to mention, no matter where you sit or stand you are never more than 53 feet from the stage. 

So when the auto-tuned songs on your iPod are getting old and you are craving a live music, be sure to check out the line up at the Melting Point. While it may be a band you’ve never heard of, seeing a concert at the Meting Point is a must-have Athens experience. You too can end up dancing the night away. 85 down, 15 to go!

jelizabethl asked: In post #17, about the painted bulldogs, where is the top one located at?

It is located in downtown Athens in front of the Chastain building on the corner of Pulaski and Hancock. Thanks for reading.

Who let the dawgs out? We Let the Dawgs Out! And by “we”, I mean, the Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club and by “dawgs” I mean the large bulldog statues scattered throughout Athens. Their public art project has become one of the most recognized symbols for UGA and Athens and are the most photographed bulldogs behind, of course, our mascot UGA. 

Athens is the first city in Georgia to join the national animals on parade phenomenon. Each bulldog is unique in that it has been paid for by an individual or corporate sponsor and is designed and painted by a local artist. These massive creatures are made out of fiberglass and stand a proud four feet tall. The project stated in 2003 with a goal of 25 statues, but was quickly upped to 36 due to popular demand and even a few more have been added since. You can find a bulldog just about anywhere throughout the Classic City including downtown, five points, Milledge, Epps Bridge, and various parks and business. The statues quickly became a popular part of the town’s landscape and caused a bit of an uproar when they abruptly began to disappear in the fall of last year. However, the statues were simply auctioned off to raise money for charity and raised more than $20,000 for AIDS Athens. In the end, many of the bulldogs remain in the city but at a new location. 

Without a map or directions, Michelle and I set out one afternoon to take our own pictures with as many bulldogs as we could find. We went by memory and even found some by luck along the way. So, if you are up for the challenge and looking for a fun adventure, spend an afternoon on a scavenger hunt seeking out these whimsically decorated versions of our beloved mascot. 84 down, 16 to go!