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What Makes a

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles

PUBLISHER Pete McCommons

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner

ADVERTISING SALES Fabienne Mack, Jessica Pritchard Mangum

CITY EDITOR Blake Aued

ARTS & MUSIC EDITOR Jessica

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ADVICE: advice@flagpole.com

The Athens Music Walk of Fame Committee officially announced five new inductees for 2023 in between acts during the AthFest Music & Arts Festival on Friday, June 23. Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton, Normaltown Flyers, Jackie Payne, Calvin Orlando Smith and WUOG 90.5 FM will each be honored with a bronze plaque.

See “Athens Music Walk of Fame Announces 2023 Inductees” at flagpole.com.

After a thunderstorm and severe weather alert ended the AthFest Music & Arts Festival early on Sunday, June 25, a double rainbow appeared after the storm cleared, seen here at College Square downtown.

Energy Star

BIDEN CABINET MEMBER VISITS ATHENS HOMEOWNER

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

When a magnolia tree’s roots grew into the water line running through Bennie and Annie Pearl Tillman’s Paris Street front yard, the retired couple couldn’t afford to have the leak fixed. Nor could they afford the water bill when their usage tripled. The problem got so bad that Bennie would turn the water off at night and turn it back on in the morning.

but has recently been the focus of revitalization efforts. “We started hosting meetings to find out what the neighborhood needs,” ALT Executive Director Heather Benham said. “We didn’t know what we were going to do until [the residents] told us.”

ACC’s then-environmental coordinator Andrew Saunders, who is now director of

If the Tillmans ever replace their gas stove, Granholm urged them to take advantage of a program in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that provides rebates of up to $800 on safer and less polluting induction stoves.

Bennie Tillman said his father built the Paris Street house himself in the 1940s using stones from an old airport around where the Alps Kroger is now. After serving almost 14 years in the Air Force, he returned to Athens and worked in food services at UGA for 22 years before retiring.

Bennie—who briefly studied journalism at Memphis State, now the University of Memphis—said the national press attention around a cabinet secretary visiting his home made him a bit emotional, but he was excited for the opportunity to highlight the weatherization program. “This is Paris Street, in the middle of the neighborhood,” he said. “This never happens. For all this to be here, I’m amazed.”

New Precincts Proposed

Thousands of Athens voters will be voting at different polling locations next November under a new precinct map the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections is scheduled to vote on next week.

registered voters as required by state law (about 10–15 machines on average).

“It’s like we needed a magic wand,” board member Ann Till said at a June 20 public hearing.

The plan the BOE is presenting would fold the smallest precinct (6D, the Oglethorpe Avenue fire station) into 5A, Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School.

A new precinct would be created in East Athens, which has the most populous precinct—2B, Howard Stroud Elementary, with 4,559 registered voters as of November 2022. The new polling place will be located at either Heard Park or the Miriam Moore Community Center next door. The polling place for 4A would be moved to the AthensBen Epps Airport community room, and the mall polling station would be moved to the ACC Extension Office off Cleveland Road. Other changes include moving 1A from the Winterville Train Depot to the Winterville Community Center, moving 5D from ACC Fleet Management to the Girl Scouts of Historic Northeast Georgia, and moving 7C from the Five Points fire station to Milledge Avenue Baptist Church.

“With us being on a set income, we were actually running out of money at the end of the month,” Bennie Tillman told U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm when she visited his home last Tuesday. “Now we have money available at the end of the month.”

Tillman had gotten involved with the Athens Land Trust, serving on its West Broad advisory committee, and the nonprofit offered to make repairs through its Young Urban Builders program, which trains high school students to work in the construction industry. The ALT moved the water line, fixed leaks in the roof, replaced the heating and air with more fuel-efficient models, installed insulation in the attic and caulked around windows. Tillman said his water bill dropped from $170 a month to $60. His power and gas bills were also cut in half, saving him a total of about $200 a month.

Granholm—formerly the governor of Michigan—is touring the Southeast to promote the benefits of the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which includes $3.5 billion for weatherization. $1.18 million of that funding went to the ALT, which is partnering with the AthensClarke County government and another local nonprofit, ACTION Inc., on weatherization for low-income homeowners.

The ALT has been active for years in the West Broad neighborhood, roughly bounded by Broad and Baxter streets, Alps Road and Milledge Avenue. It’s a historically Black area full of longtime homeowners who experienced decades of disinvestment,

the Central Services Department, suggested focusing their outreach on homeowners with unusually high water usage, which led the ALT to the Tillmans.

Granholm said she chose to visit Athens after the Energy Department reached out to grant recipients looking for homeowners who had benefited from weatherization programs and were willing to share their story. “A lot of this is just really getting the word out about weatherization and how much money people can save,” she said.

Driving in an electric vehicle, Granholm made stops in North and South Carolina before arriving in Athens, then headed for Atlanta, where she was scheduled to visit a Home Depot to highlight energy-efficient appliances, participate in a roundtable discussion on jobs the Biden administration has created in the clean energy sector, and meet with Mayor Andre Dickens. Tennessee was next on the itinerary.

Granholm said she is traveling in an EV to highlight President Joe Biden’s commitment to installing chargers along major corridors and in urban and rural areas where the private sector has not made the investment. Despite the current lack of charging stations in much of the Southeast, “if you have an app, you can plan out where the charges occur,” she said, mentioning that her group juiced up at a Walmart along the way.

The recently released weatherization funds weren’t available when the ALT repaired Tillman’s house, but they may fund future improvements, like insulation in the crawl space and rooftop solar panels.

The board initially set out to look at alternate locations for Georgia Square Mall, which will be redeveloped in the coming years, and the Multimodal Transportation Center, which is actually located outside the Precinct 4A lines. Then members decided to expand the effort because populations within precincts had gotten out of whack in the decades since the last time the lines were changed, and some buildings were no longer suitable for voting. In particular, schools can be problematic, with a stream of people coming into buildings during the school day, so election officials looked at ACC-owned buildings first, then churches— if the church was willing—before considering schools. Buildings also need heavy-duty electrical wiring to handle the power needs of voting equipment, ample parking, access for disabled voters and enough space to accommodate one machine for every 250

In addition, precinct lines all over the county were tweaked to keep them under 4,000 registered voters. Precincts are made up of Census blocks, and must follow geographical boundaries like roads or streams.

BOE member Willa Fambrough said the changes make precincts more equitable. “It was urgent that we do something,” she said.

Director of Elections and Voter

Registration Charlotte Sosebee said she is recommending that the changes be implemented for the March presidential primaries. It will take eight weeks to update voter rolls and print cards to mail to voters informing them of their precinct and polling place, she said. Those cards would go out in February, before the start of early voting. Signs will also be posted at polling places during the November countywide special election for clerk of court, and at various locations around each precinct prior to the March vote.

The Board of Elections is scheduled to vote on the changes July 11. f

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm (right) talks to Annie Pearl Tillman on the porch of her Athens home.

“ It’s like we needed a magic wand.

Farther Along

HARD TO BELIEVE 10 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE JOE CAUSEY DIED

By Pete McCommons pete@flagpole.com

In the sunny afternoon, piano, guitar and violin fill the house with Bach and Schubert. Later in the evening, Davis Causey is picking his guitar and softly singing: “Show me the way to go home. I’m tired, and I want to go to bed… “ He’s singing it for his brother, Joe, who lies dying. Joe’s son Cole picks up the violin and plays along as family and friends join in the song. They segue into “I’ll Fly Away” and several hymns and even a Beatles song or two.

Joe is not conscious, but all are convinced that at some level he is aware of the love concentrated on him during this last night of his life. That love is a culmination of Joe’s being, a reflection of all he has given over the years to the people in this room: strong love, uplifting love, practical love, love that suffers long and is kind—as well as a lifetime of laughs.

Now Joe has made the transition in a few months from the death sentence of inoperable cancer to acceptance and readiness to face the inevitable, as he has always addressed the tasks that need to be done. The keys to this transition are his former wife and steady friend Marianne May Causey and their son, Cole. They have brought Joe home, where they can supervise his care and allow him time to tie up the loose ends of his life, to visit with a stream of friends and family, to husband his diminishing strength, to reach the point where he can let go of the people he most loves and the life he had looked forward to living a lot longer.

Now, quickly, the sunny days on the patio are over; the disease has progressed, the medicines have picked up. Hospice has stepped in, and the task is no longer to keep Joe alive, but to get him out of his ruined body. And all this love that has been such a big part of Joe’s life now becomes the vehicle for easing him out of it. This night is a party, a living wake. Those in the room with Joe are talking to him, stroking his arm, smoothing his hair, massaging his feet: laughing, talking, crying. His son Taylor is, as usual, in and out, touching Joe. The Braves game is on, with the sound turned down. There’s pizza in the kitchen. Nobody here has ever done anything like this in this way before. These people who do not flinch from life are meeting death head-on—not in the necessary sterility of a hospital room, but at home, where so much living has happened.

Some stay through the night, sleeping watchfully. Cole tells Joe what is happening, talking about their life together and the life that will continue after Joe can finally let go. And just before six o’clock in the morning, he does. His last breath comes, and he is gone. They have brought him through. Love has held steady in the valley of the shadow of death. Joe has died as he has lived—on his own terms, surrounded by music and by those he loves, feeling that love rebound to him, strengthening, even as life weakens. All those left behind now have to cope with the loss of Joe’s strong and caring presence. During the past months they have staged a heroic effort for Joe; now they must do it again for themselves. They all have to figure out how to live the rest of their lives without Joe, without his steady hand on the steering wheel (even when succumbing to the hijinks of “New York Taxi”).

Maybe Joe’s life, how he lived; and his death, how he died, tell us what we need to know in order to figure out how to go on without him: Work hard. Have fun. Love your friends and family, and take care of them. Be generous with your resources. Do what needs to be done. Practice. f

Reprinted from the July 3, 2013 Flagpole

“ These people who do not flinch from life are meeting death head-on.

Abortion Rights Up in the Air

A YEAR AFTER DOBBS, GEORGIA LAW STILL TIED UP IN COURT

By Ross Williams news@flagpole.com

Ayear ago last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a monumental ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning the constitutional right to an abortion and leaving it to states to place restrictions on the procedures.

In Georgia, the state’s 2019 anti-abortion law went into effect the following month, restricting abortions to the sixth week of pregnancy—before many women know they are pregnant—and allowing a few narrow exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother. The number of abortion procedures predictably plummeted, from 4,150 in July to 1,850 in August, according to data from a Society of Family Planning report. But the numbers have been trending upward since then, with the post-Roe peak at 2,790 in March, the most recent month for which data is available.

Kwajelyn Jackson, executive director at the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, which is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging Georgia’s law, said those statistics hold true for the center’s clinic. The number of patients seeking abortion crept up over the end of 2022 and the first half of 2023 as women adapted to life under the new law, taking regular pregnancy tests as a precaution or more closely monitoring their health.

“What that tells me is that more patients are acting quickly in order to try to get care within the time frame of that six-week restriction,” she said. “So we know that many of our patients are coming at the very first positive pregnancy test, and we’re continuing to see patients travel from total-ban states around us that have no clinics and no exceptions. If they are early enough in their pregnancy, they are still trying to come to Georgia, if possible.”

Jackson said the environment is frustrating for doctors who say the law prevents them from treating patients the way they were taught. “For our medical staff, having to adjust and adapt to a law that’s not really rooted in medicine and in best practice is challenging,” Jackson said. “I just explained how so many of our patients are now coming in earlier, where before the Dobbs decision, oftentimes folks who were that early in pregnancy, we would advise to wait until a few weeks beyond because we can see more clearly where the embryo has been implanted in the uterus.

“So even though there is good evidence and sort of clear protocols that we are using in these early cases, there are other choices that our physicians would likely make if they were not bound by these restrictive bans.”

Democratic State Rep. Michelle Au, a Johns Creek anesthesiologist, said that frustration is also present in hospitals, where doctors can be unsure whether the best procedure for a pregnant patient could lead to them losing their license. Georgia’s abortion law allows for exceptions in medical emergencies, but Au and other medical providers say the language is too vague for doctors to know which

procedures are allowed under which circumstances.

“Doctors in Georgia now work in an environment where we are afraid to do our jobs,” she said. “We work in an environment where medical judgment and patient care are criminalized and where we are told that sloppily written laws authored by state legislators with no medical training whatsoever supersede centuries of research and science and clinical expertise.”

A Divided State

While abortion providers and supporters treat the Dobbs anniversary as a solemn occasion, abortion opponents in Georgia are celebrating. In an email to supporters ahead of a June 24 rally at the state Capitol, Cole Muzio, president of the influential conservative lobbying group Frontline Policy Council, celebrated Georgia’s reduction in abortions but bemoaned the lack of progress toward further restrictions.

“We remain a swing state with a precarious pro-life majority. While we have many members eager to see every

mifepristone during the pandemic and later made the rule permanent. The Supreme Court in April kept mifepristone available as a lawsuit over its approval works its way through lower courts.

While an upcoming election could spur Republicans to support strengthening abortion restrictions in order to inspire their conservative base, the party is also aware of the unfriendly statewide polling, said state Rep. Shea Roberts (D-Atlanta).

“I do think there are Republicans in rural areas that do understand the issue with getting health care at this point, and medication abortion is not just for abortion, it’s also prescribed for miscarriages as well,” she said. “And so it could possibly impede their constituents’ getting medical care that is legal in the state, so I honestly don’t know the answer on that one.”

Upcoming Ruling

Depending on how the state Supreme Court rules on a challenge to the abortion law, legislators could have more on their plate than refining the current law. A group including the Feminist Women’s Health Center is suing over the law. Its main argument is that, since the law was unconstitutional when it passed before Roe v. Wade was overturned, it should be considered legally void. That would leave it up to the legislature to craft a new law.

The court heard arguments in March, and a decision is scheduled to come any time before their fall session ends in November. A decision could come much sooner, said Anthony Michael Kreis, an associate professor of law at Georgia State University, but the ruling will likely not be the end of the story.

“My assumption is probably within the next few weeks we’ll see some development,” Kreis said.

“But I think the more important thing is that, no matter what happens with the Georgia case right now, we’re going to either be in for another round of legislation or another round of litigation. So this is really an intermediary stop.”

That’s because the decision the court has to make is whether or not the law was validly passed, he said, not about the fundamental question of whether it is consistent with the right to privacy protected by the state Constitution.

life saved, others have a more cautious approach. We also have an electorate across our state that—while aligning closer to the Kemp position on abortion than the Abrams position on abortion—is not supportive of efforts for an outright ban,” Muzio wrote.

In a January Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, 49% of respondents said they want the legislature to make abortion access easier, compared to 21% who said they want it harder and 24% who said keep access the same.

Muzio said the group’s top priority will be pushing for a law requiring an in-person doctor’s visit for women seeking medication abortions. A bill with that goal passed the Senate last year before the Dobbs decision but stalled in the House.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lifted an in-person requirement for a prescription for a drug called

“So if the plaintiffs win, that just simply means that the General Assembly gets to go back and try again,” Kreis said. “And if the plaintiffs lose, that means that [they] go back to the trial court and have the Fulton County Court and Judge [Robert] McBurney decide whether or not a fundamental right to privacy under the state constitution has been violated.”

Jackson said abortion rights supporters are ready for the battle to continue, whether in court or in the legislature. “Our work is to continue to mobilize activists around the state who care very deeply about this issue so that they can make sure that their elected representatives understand what they need and what they want, and that we can push for the kinds of policies that will support the people of Georgia and making sure that they have full bodily autonomy and full ability to self determine,” she said.

“I don’t take for granted that those fights will be difficult and that they will not be easily won, but we believe that reproductive freedom is critical to our liberation, and so we will not give up fighting.” f

Athens residents protested the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade at last year’s AthFest June 26.

SARAH

ANN WHITE

Rowland Retires

LONGTIME PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER STEPS DOWN

By Rebecca McCarthy news@flagpole.com

Ifyou’ve attended a planning commission meeting, chances are you saw Lucy Rowland sitting behind a table next to her fellow commissioners.

She was the slight, serious-looking woman with shoulder-length brown (now mostly gray) hair. She would listen intently to residents wanting zoning changes, to homeowners complaining about irate neighbors, and to three-piece-suited developers demanding variances. She might have asked a pertinent question of the chair or of Planning Director Brad Griffith, but mostly, she listened.

Now, her 35 years as a volunteer commissioner have come to an end. “I decided I’m taking some time off,” she said. “Someone else can do it.”

Planning commission member Alice Kinman said she’ll miss Rowland, who “not only does her homework, but also generally has a font of knowledge. She knows about planning and design and has deep institutional knowledge. She’s just a very natural leader on the board, whether she’s chairing us or not.”

But for Rowland, there’ll be no more contentious meetings, no more reading reams of documents or doing research. Things have changed in the past few years: Athens-Clarke County commissioners seem to dismiss recommendations more often from both the planning commission and the professional staff. People are ruder during public meetings. During her years

moving to the Science Library in 1975. Later, she moved to College Park, MD, to study library science. Armed with another degree, she accepted a job in the Science Library at UGA in 1980. The husband stayed in Texas.

Now retired, librarian Bill Loughner worked with Rowland, suffering together under a micromanaging boss. “Lucy learned how to handle those situations, and she eventually became my boss,” he said. “It worked out fine, I enjoyed working with her. If you were doing your job, she wasn’t going to hassle you.”

of the Society of Friends. In Alexandria, then going by Lucy Minogue, she lived in a neighborhood filled with families whose parents were civil servants. She went to high school with director David Lynch and Jack Fisk, Sissy Spacek’s husband. Other community residents included singers Mama Cass Elliot and Jim Morrison, and Gus King, now Sen. Angus King of Maine. “David was artsy, and kind of out there,” she said. “While everybody else was wearing white socks, he wore red ones. I think he really enjoyed being different.”

In the late 1980s, before unification, city council member Kathy Hoard asked Athens native Charlie Rowland, who owned antique stores, to run for the council, and Lucy to help him. “He wanted to be elected, but he didn’t want to do the work to get elected,” Lucy said. But they bonded over the campaign, and in the fall of 1986, they were married.

Two years later, Athens Mayor Dwain Chambers asked Lucy to serve on the plan-

and crafts style, and grandfather Charles planned the many ponds, bridges, trails and gardens. Capt. John Barnett, then the Athens city engineer, oversaw the construction, undertaken by carpenter Jim Glenn and stonemason Mike Osborne.

Each of the couple’s five children inherited a piece of the original property, which was divided by Atlanta Highway in the 1930s. The county has bought some of the remaining acreage for a nature park. During a recent planning commission meeting, at which Rowland relatives spoke against a proposed rezoning, Lucy Rowland recused herself from voting.

In the 1990s, the couple moved from Beech Haven—“It was like living in the country, in town,” Rowland said—to a historic home in Five Points, close enough for Rowland to walk to the science library and Charlie to his antiques shop on Lumpkin Street. He developed lung cancer in 2005 and died in 2006. Rowland retired from the science library and the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, but then organized the Louis T. Griffith Library for the Georgia Museum of Art, where she currently volunteers as director.

She may have left the planning commission, but she’s not abandoning planning. In the early 1990s, the planning commission paid for members to attend the American Planning Association (APA) conference in Atlanta. Rowland was smitten. In 1992, she was chairing the commission and was sent to the APA conference, but after 1992, she paid her own way to numerous other conferences. After attending the APA conference in San Francisco, she returned with an idea that has since been incorporated into planning commission procedure: At the beginning of every meeting, all submitted documents are incorporated into the minutes.

More conferences followed. She joined

Lucy Rowland outside the Georgia Museum of Art, where she volunteers as director of the museum

EMILY ECKERT

art notes

Camera and Canvas

BABS McDONALD DEMONSTRATES STROKE RECOVERY THROUGH PAINTING

By Jessica Smith arts@flagpole.com

With a headstrong determination to fully recover from a stroke, Babs McDonald turned to the healing art of painting as a therapeutic modality. “Camera and Canvas,” an exhibition she created in collaboration with wildlife photographer Chuck Murphy, opens this weekend at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Her paintings demonstrate firsthand that individuals in recovery can accomplish much more than they might be led to believe.

In 2017, McDonald experienced an ischemic stroke affecting her dominant left side. Following the stroke, she was told by neurologists that she would not improve after three months, and was later told 18 months after she continued to improve. Rejecting such a discouraging prognosis, she switched to seeing a neurologist at Emory University Neurology Clinic for a second opinion.

Atmospheric Hangs

STYLISH POURS AND CUSTOMIZABLE COFFEES

By Hillary Brown food@flagpole.com

ious media to push the boundaries of her physical limitations. As her wrist became more mobile, she was able to pick up a paint brush and give more advanced techniques a go.

Born with a love for animals and nature, she reached out to longtime friend and fellow artist Chuck Murphy to ask if she could use one of his wildlife photographs as a reference. He readily agreed, and by the second collaborative painting, Murphy suggested the idea of presenting an exhibition together.

No stranger to the State Botanical Garden, Murphy has had three prior exhibitions in the Visitors Center gallery and has another booked for January 2025. After retiring from a career in software development in 2007, he became more focused on pursuing nature photography. In addition to having his photographs on view at The Georgia Museum of Art, Lyndon House Arts Center and Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, he’s taught photography courses for OLLI@UGA, UGA Continuing Education and the State Botanical Garden.

One year post-stroke, her left hand was still mostly curled into a loose fist, her wrist was immobile, and big arm movements were difficult. Growing restless with inactivity, she mentioned to her new neurologist that she was thinking about picking up painting as a fun way to pass time. He strongly suggested that she use her left hand to paint as a form of therapy. Since beginning painting, her wrist has almost fully recovered, and she has much better fine motor control.

“After my traditional therapy ended, I began exploring other therapeutic approaches, and I have tried over 35 therapies, most of which have moved my recovery forward in one way or another,” says McDonald. “My personal trainer works with me on strength, balance and cardio, all of which contribute in important ways to support my painting, as surprising as that may seem. My rolfer [a type of massage] has provided therapy to support fine motor movement. Therapy, like everything organic, is interconnected, and it all contributes to recovery. Some of the ways painting is unique is that I paint almost every day— repetition is a key to recovery—and I gain an incredible amount of satisfaction and pleasure from painting. Painting for me is a tangible sign of my progress.”

Initially, McDonald approached the challenge of painting with a “big pointillism” technique of dabbing paint on paper, and eventually began experimenting with var-

A synergetic endeavor, the exhibition “Camera and Canvas” consists of 20 pairs of images: a photograph by Murphy accompanied by a painting by McDonald. Through this collection of paintings, McDonald aims to connect people to other animals by emphasizing the animal’s eyes. Pairs are arranged chronologically so that viewers can not only observe the refinement of McDonald’s artistic development, but reflect on her progression towards recovery as well. Accompanying labels describe her experience behind creating each painting.

“Aside from feeling a connection to animals in general, I hope people will learn that recovery from stroke is possible,” says McDonald. “More specifically, I hope my work demonstrates the therapeutic potential of art. Although every stroke is different, people who have experienced a stroke are told by the health care community that their recovery is limited—by time and by the stroke’s severity. I refused to accept that, and six years later, I still improve a little every day. Stroke recovery is slow to be sure, but if I feel joy at every small step forward, I get to feel that joy every day. I plan to completely recover. I am willing to be patient and keep working on recovery.”

An opening reception for “Camera and Canvas” will be held Sunday, July 9 from 2–4 p.m., and the exhibition will remain on view through Aug. 12. McDonald will offer an artist talk and Q&A about her experience at 2:30 p.m., and Condor Chocolates will provide white and dark chocolates to pair with wine. Signed and numbered prints will be available to purchase, while McDonald’s originals will be donated to Emory University Hospital’s neurology floor, where she hopes they will inspire patients, families and health care workers. f

BAR BRUNO (1664 S. Lumpkin St., 770215-9100, @barbrunoathens): If you’ve been to one of Shea and Ryan Sims’ restaurants before—ZZ & Simone’s or the now departed Dinner Party, which was previously Donna Chang’s—then the vibe at Bar Bruno, which replaced Dinner Party late last year, will be no surprise to you. It’s classy in a way that seems effortless but, in fact, takes a lot of effort, calm, encouraging leisure, suffused with an appreciation for nice things even when they cost money. That noted, Bar Bruno isn’t a restaurant, as its name tells you. It’s more like Krista Slater’s The Lark, on Prince Avenue at Hill Street: a wine bar that’s also a store, with a focus on choices you may not have heard of, and a few lovely snacks to fortify you while you hang out. It’s about as easy to spend $100 at Bar Bruno as it is at a restaurant, especially if there are two of you, and I wouldn’t plan on it for a meal, but the atmosphere is lovely. Greg Smolko runs the place, focusing on Italian offerings, which gives it a different flair from The Lark. The surroundings are both absolutely photographable/ aspirational and, at the same time, actually comfortable, with varieties of seating inside and out that are the opposite of divey while still being livable. Don’t recognize any of the glasses and half glasses on the menu? The folks behind the bar are excellent guides, and the presence of those half pours encourages sampling with less pressure. Think you don’t like orange wine? They have one that will change your mind. Curious about a cream limoncello? Here they are to oblige. Aperitifs and all sorts of spritzes are as sippable as the wine. The bar doesn’t present itself as a store as much as The Lark does, but you can buy bottles to take home in a cute cardboard box with a handle.

What’s there to eat changes semi-regularly but is worth investigating, tending to grown-up flavors: softly bitter, grassy, salty. A plate of Cantabrian anchovies laid out in stripes with roasted sweet peppers and dressed with chili flake is not as sweetly fleshy as you would expect, despite the ingredients. Instead, it has loads of minerality, matching nicely with the kind of white wine that tickles your nasal passages. Baccalà mantecato does the same thing with cod, shredding the salted and dried fish and blending it with enough ricotta, garlic and good olive oil to temper but not remove the sense of a big breath of sea air. Whole caper berries, plated neatly on the side, bust open in your mouth with intense, pleasurable weirdness. Various lovely cured meats and cheeses, including a prosciutto that tasted like butter turned ham, are available singly or in combos. Other things have turned up

as well: little sandwiches, sauteed chicory greens, sausage rolls. Dessert of some sort (a dense, fruity olive oil cake, a pistachio tart) is available on the bar. Not into wine? A Peroni is refreshing. There’s also a selection of coffee drinks and other nonalcoholic beverages.

Bar Bruno is open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 3–9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 3–10 p.m.

@LOCAL (198 College Ave., localonchurch. com): Missing the ’90s? Never experienced them but deeply desire a time when people didn’t have powerful computers in their pockets at all times? This new coffeehouse, an offshoot of a location in Covington, does a decent job recapturing the vibe of that era. Occupying the upstairs and downstairs of a corner location in downtown Athens by what is now a small pedestrian mall, the store is small and cheerful, but not so brightly lit as to feel of the present moment. Art and music paraphernalia

cover about every inch of the walls. A big neon sign quotes Nirvana’s “Come as You Are,” a song about mixed messages that here seems to be encouraging folks to sit down for a while and chill. Hatch Show Prints of the Ramones add a little punk rock. It’s not as neat as Central Perk, a point in its favor. The goal is for people to hang out, and the hours are accordingly long (8 a.m. to midnight, except Friday and Saturday, when it’s open until 2 a.m.). The coffee offerings are much more elaborate than the not particularly well-brewed drip stuff of the actual ’90s in Georgia, with an intense amount of customization provided. Want glitter in your cold-brew with coconut milk, cold foam, light ice, pumpkin spice drizzle, butter pecan syrup and cinnadust? @local will be happy to add that for you. All the foofaraw aside, the basic cup of coffee is totally good, and the fresh-faced staff is happy to steer you in a direction you might like should you find the array of decisions entirely too much. Unremarkable snacks, including a cereal bar, are available for munching. Free live music abounds, and @local bills itself as a great place to study. f

Bar Bruno

Babs McDonald and Chuck Murphy

BAR BRUNO VIA FACEBOOK

Molly Tu Hott

SELF-EXPLORATION THROUGH HIP HOP AND R&B

By Sam Lipkin editorial@flagpole.com

Known to many by her artist name Molly Tu Hott, Arlisha Trotter has one of those beaming and authentic personalities that’s never met a stranger nor been missed in a crowd. She’s a hip-hop artist, can hold her own in a cypher and is now exploring R&B—but she’s also a mother, a self-published author and an aspiring short film director.

“You have to make sure that the people you’re dealing with know how versatile you are, so you can get different gigs, so you can get put in a different category,” says Trotter. “Everybody’s human. We got a million things going in our day. Don’t take your career personally when you’re interacting with other people. It might have been last week that y’all was just shaking hands, but this week they breezed past you. But you don’t change what you do.”

With this hardworking yet empathetic mindset, Trotter has mastered keeping her sights set on her business while leaving the door open to collaboration and opportunity. As a hardcore rapper with a knack for impactful lyricism, Trotter is stepping outside of her comfort zone and releasing her first R&B album, 2Hott P.S. to Love Vol. 1, this month. The lead single “Play” was released in April with an accompanying music video, and in it the “Tu Hott” side of her moniker becomes very clear. Although tapping into that side of her artistry comes across as natural, Trotter says allowing herself to be vulnerable and writing out her feelings on paper is the hardest thing she’s ever done in her music career.

Growing up idolizing 2Pac and Biggie, Trotter recalls something Biggie said that left a lasting impact on her: A female rapping hardcore is cool, but people want to hear something sexy. She’s always drawn on her childhood, lifestyle and hustle as inspiration for her raps, but she also has a sensual side she’s never fully engaged until now.

Surrounded predominantly by men in the hip-hop scene, leaning into sex appeal was something that could cost her being taken seriously and respected. The delicate balance between proving she can do something new as an artist and not have the delivery be taken the wrong way has weighed heavy on Trotter.

“I am sexy. I’m so hardcore on my lyrics because I don’t want people to look at me as just sexy. With R&B, not only am I moving and looking sexy, I’m actually saying it… and that’s my battle,” explains Trotter. “I want to let people know I can do it; it goes back to, you never know who you might reach. As long as you have a background of being respected, you step in there and you do it, and then you bounce out of it with respect.”

Behind Trotter’s writing is the story of her life and where she comes from. The only girl out of six children, Trotter

a music label, Family Fortune Entertainment, and signed a handful of artists. Always freestyling and rapping for fun, Molly Tu Hott the recording artist had yet to be born, and instead Trotter focused on artist management. However, during this time she wrote and self-published her first book, A Hood Love Affair, about growing up in poverty surrounded by criminal activity and what falling in and out love with the streets meant in her life. This led to Trotter stepping into the recording booth for the very first time to record the audiobook version of her memoir.

This experience, plus her signed artists’ commitment not matching up to her goals, was the turning point for Trotter to dissolve Family Fortune Entertainment and begin to take her own music career more seriously. Trotter now raps as part of the collective MBE, Must Bring Energy, that is focused on sharing resources and skill sets between artists. Being able to collaborate with and learn from other artists is high on Trotter’s list of priorities, especially with fellow, like-minded female artists.

Trotter’s renewed vision and dedicated intention has led to an explosion of growth this year, from releasing multiple singles and the hip-hop EP Hood Love Affair Soundtrack to performing at Hot Corner Festival and the Athens Hip Hop Awards. In the month of June, Trotter won Best Female Hip Hop Artist at an Atlanta awards show at The Atrium, won a performance competition in Gainesville for the track “Beat Up The Trap” featuring Mula Meech, and was nominated for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the 2023 Athens Hip Hop Awards.

was born and raised in wintry Michigan. Growing up leaving her family never felt like an option, but after graduating from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, Trotter moved with her ex-husband and children to Santa Monica, CA. After returning to Michigan due to her father’s health issues, Trotter moved again to South Bend, IN, before finally settling in Athens in 2016.

Trotter arrived in Athens with a plan and a goal to start

Since coming to Athens, Trotter says that she’s seen the effects of the downtown scene welcoming hip hop and being more supportive—“You feel the love a little bit, now you feel wanted.” She points to a proclamation by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz declaring May 18 to be Athens Hip Hop Appreciation Day as a sign of progress. Now what she sees as the next hurdle for Athens hip hop is for artists to reach out and introduce themselves and what they’re capable of without giving up or getting disheartened.

“People get so wrapped up in the limelight. Well, when the sun shines, if you look around, it’s everywhere. So there’s no way that you’re going to be put in the shade if you don’t want to be put in the shade. It’s enough sunlight for everybody to shine,” says Trotter. f

Molly Tu Hott performing during this year’s AthFest club crawl at Live Wire.

SAM LIPKIN

threats & promises ConSec’s Wheel of Pain

PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

STAY SLOPPY: In what I consider to be a very loving act, the friends of our late music scene compatriot and all-around good guy Derek Wiggs will host the 2023 instance of his creation, SlopFest, in his honor and with full permission from his family. This event happens July 27–29 at Little Kings Shuffle Club. Confirmed featured acts already include Bursters, Clavus, Danger Bucket, Donkey Punch, Gorgeous Beast, Hunger Anthem, Infinite Favors, McQQeen, Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes, Multiple Miggs, Naw, Nuclear Tourism, Pervert, Real Wow, Rubber Udder, Small Beige Girl,

tradition. It swings in a nice horn-oriented mid-tempo way that’s perfect for sock-hopping, head bobbing and the like. Actually, these guys are a pretty tight operation all the way around, so if you get the chance to catch them live, go ahead and take that chance. Find this and other singles on Spotify, and find out more information over at cdjband.com.

ART | THU, JULY 6

Marisa Mustard

Opening Reception

The Sporrs, Vincas, Weaponized Flesh, Coma Therapy, DJs Lozo & Lord Bitter, DJ Reindeer Games and DJ Mahogany. Ticket information should be available shortly. You can depend on this space to bring you the information, so keep your eyes peeled for the next couple of weeks. Derek died Oct. 1, 2022.

IT’S A SUNSHINE DAY: A really cool show will happen out at Orange Twin on Saturday, July 22. The Orange Twin ACE Foundation (ACE=Art, Conservation and Education) will host a Summer Jam with Nana Grizol. This is specifically billed as a queer music showcase, and not only features Nana Grizol, but also Nihilist Cheerleader, Dog Person and Durham, NC’s Kym Register & Meltdown Rodeo Tickets are a supremely reasonable $15 in advance. If you’ve never been out to the Orange Twin Conservation Community, located at 255 Noketchee Creek Road, please know that carpooling is extremely encouraged. There are a couple of celebrations in order that day, too: the 40th birthday of Nana Grizol’s Theo Hilton and the 15th anniversary of Nana Grizol’s album Love It, Love It. So, if you’re planning on going, please purchase tickets in advance, and please carpool. See tinyurl.com/nana jam for tickets, and for more information overall, please see orangetwin.com.

SOUL ON A ROLL: The local group with the most comical name, Cam and his Dam Jam Band, have a new single out named “Gypsy Magic Woman.” Far from occupying the land of the band’s name, this is a catchy R&B tune straight out of the Memphis

WHEEL OF PAIN: Hardcore troopers ConSec just released its new album on Norfolk, VA’s Not For The Weak Records. It’s titled Wheel of Pain, features 12 tracks, and is available on vinyl and as a digital download. I admit to a certain level of bias regarding these guys—I mean, I’m literally wearing a ConSec T-shirt as I write this—but good golly, is this a smart, sharp and devastating chunk of classic hardcore punk goodness. While this has a decent amount of thrash-approaching action, it remains generally situated inside the thick, speedy and muscular realm of pure 1980s-style hardcore, complete with occasional breakdowns tailor-made for getting the pit together. The band will celebrate this release Monday, July 10 at Buvez along with Myrtle Beach, SC band Circuit and Atlanta/Birmingham, AL band Dark Vaughn. The show kicks off at 7 p.m., and will run you eight bucks at the door. To listen in on the new record, please see notfortheweakrecords. bandcamp.com.

PULL OUT YOUR CALENDAR: I’ve probably mentioned this before, but did you know that the popular Dark Entries Goth Karaoke at Buvez is scheduled weeks and months in advance? Upcoming dates are Fridays July 7 and July 21, and there most assuredly will be more to come. For now, put these dates in your Palm Pilot so you won’t forget. If you’re unfamiliar with this particular event, know that it offers patrons the opportunity to choose from literally hundreds upon hundreds of songs in the goth, darkwave, punk, post-punk, hardcore and new wave categories, as well as a few other associated genres. I have yet to hear of a single person who has attended but was less than entirely pleased. This event is all ages and runs from 7–10 p.m.

IN FOR THE KILL: The 40 Watt Club will host Dallas, TX death metal band Creeping Death on Tuesday, July 11. Also on the bill this night are Los Angeles band Upon Stone, Atlanta’s Living in Fear and Austin, TX group Saint Peeler. This show is open to those under 18 if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Advance tickets are $21 online, plus associated fees. This show is presented by The Masquerade. Please note that doors open for this show at a nearly unconscionable 6 p.m. Catch up with each band’s music via creepingdeathtx. bandcamp.com, saintpeeler.bandcamp.com, livinginfear.bandcamp.com and uponstone. bandcamp.com. For tickets, please see 40watt.com. f

tiny ATH gallery • 5–8 p.m. • FREE! Marisa Mustard has been creating intricate works of art around her hometown of Athens for years. Many have noticed her art from the vibrant mailboxes she paints to the piano for the public art project “Plan On, Athens!” at the Athens Clarke-County Library. Mustard prides herself on creating functional art and adding color to everyday objects, such as guitars, light switches and mirrors. Her style is a mishmash of various themes as she utilizes intense but lighthearted patterns and vibrant colors to express her art. After creating pieces displayed around the city, such as murals at Paloma Park, Flicker Theatre & Bar, Nuçi’s Space and St. Mary’s Hospital, Mustard has her first gallery display at tiny ATH gallery from July 6–9. The theme of her work in this show is a mix between western, nudie suit flowers, folk art and psychedelic monsters on mirrors and large wood cutouts. A closing reception will be held July 9 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. [Analiese Herrin]

ART | THU, JULY 6

‘Sanctuary’ & ‘The Fables’ Opening Reception

Lyndon House Arts Center • 6 p.m. • FREE! “Sanctuary” and “The Fables” are the latest exhibitions at the Lyndon House Arts Center, and will include a compilation of art by Kristin Roberts, Mary Engel and Cheryl Washburn. “Sanctuary” is a collaboration of artworks focused on both Engel and Washburn’s love of animals. Engel’s art focuses on ornate statues of animals and her own personal interpretation on nature. She has been sculpting animals for 30 years, and her goal is to depict each animal as an individual. Washburn’s work is much softer oil paintings of animals rooted in realism. Her inspiration as an Athens native comes from her volunteer work with the nonprofit rescue organizations around town. “The Fables’’ by Kristin Roberts is another nature-inspired exhibition focused on the visual retelling of classic childhood fables by Aesop. Roberts is originally from Michigan and was taught the art of illustration under New York artist Frank Owen at the University of Vermont. Her goals for her art remain the same: to attract the interest of viewers and readers so that they may be inspired to read, write, draw and explore. Both “Sanctuary” and “The Fables” will remain on display through Oct. 2. [AH]

THEATER | FRI, JULY 7–SUN, JULY 9

A God In The House

Town & Gown Players • 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun) • $5

Theater derives its power as much from confronting uncomfortable subjects (Death of a Salesman, A Streetcar Named Desire) as it does from its infinite ability to entertain (The Music Man). Town & Gown’s A God In the House is the story of a love triangle that forms among a stricken woman who has chosen to end her life due to Alzheimer’s, her devoted husband and a physician who is shunned by the medical profession because

he agrees to help her.

This cast features the talents of longtime players Julia Wilson, Will Riley and Steve Elliot-Gower, and it is directed by Léland Downs and written by Peter Selgin. The production contains discussions and a depiction of voluntary euthanasia. Elliott-Gower, who lives to act, says, “It’s the most emotionally challenging play I’ve ever done.” This is a Town & Gown Second Stage production, one weekend only. [Pete McCommons]

MUSIC | SAT, JULY 8

Rad Hot Athenian Summer

40 Watt Club • 7 p.m. (doors) • $10

Athenian three-piece pop-punk cover band That’s Rad! is hosting “Rad Hot Athenian Summer” at the 40 Watt as a tribute to classic pop-punk and emo bands. The evening will involve live music sets from That’s Rad!, Murder the Mood and the Dookie Brothers, who will cover Blink 182, My Chemical Romance and Green Day, respectively. The night will also feature drink specials, a best Hawaiian shirt competition, a banana ring toss and a sex toy drive. A giveaway of merchandise will also be featured from some of Athens’ classic establishments such as Franny’s Farmacy, 1000 Faces Coffee, Wonderbar, Little Italy, Athentic Brewing Co., Jittery Joe’s, Punk Rock Paws, Studio Bella, Cillies, Savvy Cakes and erotic adult shop DOT COM. [AH]

MUSIC | TUE, JULY 11

Creeping Death, Upon Stone, Saintpeeler

40 Watt Club • 6 p.m. • $21

Entitled “Boundless Domain Summer,” get ready for a night of death metal at the 40 Watt. Creeping Death, Upon Stone, Saintpeeler and Living in Fear head to Athens to immerse themselves into the metal scene. Hailing from Denton, TX, Creeping Death is a five-piece death metal band fitting into a genre inspired by themes of violence, war, death, insanity, RuneScape and video games. Its career took off with the 2015 single “Meant to Bleed,” and the band is currently touring behind the recently released album Boundless Domain. Upon Stone is a Los Angeles metal band that has released two albums since 2021. It has a melodic death metal sound whose themes include nature, death and the cosmos. Austin, TX native band Saintpeeler will take the stage with its blackened hardcore sound influenced by classic Japanese hardcore and Swedish D-beat hardcore punk. The band’s first single was released in 2021 and entitled “Cicada Swarm.” Saintpeeler will also introduce songs from its EP set to be released this summer. Atlanta crossover thrash act Living in Fear will serve as local support. [AH] f

Marisa Mustard

live music calendar

Wednesday 5

Athentic Brewing Co.

7–9:30 p.m. FREE! www.athentic brewing.com

WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT

Choose from a catalog of over 51,000 songs ranging from pop, rock, musical theater and more. Flicker Theatre & Bar

9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com

DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Featuring pop, rock, indie and more.

Porterhouse Grill

6–8:30 p.m. www.porterhousegrill athens.com

JAZZ NIGHT Captained by drummer Mason Davis and featuring a rotating cast of familiar faces performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits.

Thursday 6

Athentic Brewing Co.

Blues and Brews Residency. 6–8:30 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com

RICK FOWLER ACOUSTIC BAND

Original, guitar-driven local bluesrock group.

Flicker Theatre & Bar

Primordial Void Presents. 8 p.m. (doors). $10. www.flickertheatre andbar.com

SUPERBITCH Anarcha-feminist punk outfit hailing from Florida.

RUBBER UDDER Self-described experimental acid punk/noisegrunge band from Athens.

DARK WALE Solo noise project of Kyle Mackinnel (Oceanic Sound Research).

Gyro Wrap

8 p.m. www.gyrowrap.com

RC OUTLAW COWBOY Country and gospel singer with over four decades of experience.

Southern Brewing Co.

6–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com

KARAOKE NIGHT Every Thursday evening.

Friday 7

40 Watt Club

8 p.m. (doors). $10. www.40watt.com

LOS CANTARES Stoned desert rock and roll band from Athens.

¡EL CHUPASKABRA! Selfdescribed as a “Mexican Gringo

Ska-Core” band with members who hail from Mexico City. Buvez

7–10 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ darkentriesathens

DARK ENTRIES KARAOKE Sing

your favorite song from a curated catalog of classic to modern goth, post-punk, punk and industrial.

Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show). $10. www.flickertheatreandbar.com

SETH BROWN Big baby boy solo debut.

BREZNIK Western gothic postpunk legends from Chattanooga.

ALEX DILLION Athens-based jazz musician playing guitar, singing songs and possibly yodeling.

PHANTOM LIMB Glimmer punk freakshow from Atlanta hot off its Pastoral LP release.

Georgia Theatre Rooftop

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $15. www.georgiatheatre.com

PINKEST Atlanta band bashing keys in a noisy cavalcade of theatrical glory.

MAJIC DUST Fuzzy rock and roll from South Carolina.

NUCLEAR TOURISM Skate punks playing surfy, garage-infused songs.

NU11 Post-punk band from Athens.

VFW Post 2872

8 p.m. $10. www.facebook.com/vfw post2872

CHRIS HAMPTON BAND Athensbased band performing a variety of country, western and rock dance music.

Saturday 8

40 Watt Club Rad Hot Athenian Summer. 7 p.m. (doors). $10. www.40watt.com

THAT’S RAD Pop-punk cover band playing all the classics. They will host the event and focus on covers of Blink 182.

MURDER THE MOOD Alt-rock band from Athens that formed in 2013 and has recently released its first original album. The band will play cover songs by My Chemical Romance.

THE DOOKIE BROTHERS Local Green Day cover band. Athentic Brewing Co.

6–8 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com

JIM COOK High-energy solo blues, classic rock and roots music.

Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. (doors). $10. www.flicker theatreandbar.com

MEGHAN DOWLEN Talented musician and performance artist celebrating the release of her debut album, Wild Abandon!

PATRICK BARRY Local songwriter weaving stories with his baritone voice and intricate fingerstyle.

SEX CELLS Local alternative band influenced by grunge, garage and indie rock.

Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture

5:30 p.m. (doors), 6 p.m. $15. www. facebook.com/MarigoldAuditorium

KLEZMER LOCAL 42 Local sevenpiece klezmer band specializing in Jewish and Romani music. Tonight’s performance will be set to a screening of the silent film Sherlock Jr. (1924).

PICKLED JESTERS Athens-based Americana string band Pickled Holler plugs in with South Georgia’s Palace Jesters for two sets of energetic jams and intertwined melodies.

Terrapin Beer Co.

Dog Days of Summer. 4–8 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/athenshumane

CLASSIC CITY JUKEBOX Local rock and roll cover band. Today’s event is a casual event to connect dog lovers and fundraiser for the Athens Area Humane Society. Dogs welcome! work.shop

12:30–3 p.m. $5 suggested donation. dayclubathensga.wixsite.com/dayclub-athens-ga DAYCLUB No sticky floors. No creeps. No velvet ropes. This is a sober, safe and inclusive dance party. The first DAYCLUB theme

to participate in this open jam, which strives to unite members of the local folk music community.

Every second Sunday.

No. 3 Railroad Street

6 p.m. www.3railroad.org

FESTER HAGOOD’S MOJO

CONFESSIONAL SONGWRITER

SHOWCASE Second Sunday of every month.

Monday 10

Buvez

7 p.m. $8. www.facebook.com/buvez athens

CONSEC Local group with a fast and snotty sound influenced by early ’80s hardcore. Album release show for Wheel of Pain!

CIRCUIT Freaky hardcore punk from Myrtle Beach, SC.

ORGANICALLY PROGRAMMED

Space-themed electronic act using drum machines and synthesizers to create disco-pop, jazz and easy listening inspired compositions.

Tuesday 11

40 Watt Club

6 p.m. (doors). $21. www.40watt.com

CREEPING DEATH Death metal band influenced by Swedish metal and Bay Area thrash.

UPON STONE Melodic death metal band from CA.

SAINTPEELER Austin-based blackened hardcore band influenced by both Swedish D-beat and Japanese hardcore punk.

LIVING IN FEAR Atlanta crossover thrash act.

Ciné

8 p.m. FREE! www.athenscine.com

KARAOKE WITH THE KING Show off your pipes to the world. Every Tuesday.

Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. (doors). $10. www.flicker theatreandbar.com

FRANK & THE HURRICANES

Spiritual mountain psych folk storyteller and former Athenian. Touring in celebration of the new LP River of Love!

ELECTRIC NATURE Experimental improv group that delves equally into psychedelic noise, dark and light ambient, blistering free rock, modular synthesis, formless drone voids and field recording manipulation.

SPACE BROTHER Electronic- and hip-hop-influenced sounds from local musician Donald Whitehead.

Wednesday 12

Flicker Theatre & Bar

9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com

Normal Bar

7 p.m. www.instagram.com/wonder landrangers

WONDERLAND RANGERS Local rabble-rouser Timi Conley performs dance-tastic psych-pop with his allstar backing band. Tonight’s show is in celebration of Ian Kennedy’s birthday!

Nowhere Bar

9 p.m. $10. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens

is “Modern Love is Automatic,” a celebration of ’80s new wave and post-punk music.

Sunday 9

Athentic Brewing Co.

2–5 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com

ATHENTIC BLUEGRASS JAM

Players of all skill levels are invited

DARK VAUGHN Dark and distorted punk out of Atlanta. Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. (doors). $10. www.flicker theatreandbar.com

FLYER CLUB Experimental funkpop from Austin, TX. THE ADMIRAL On tour from NYC.

JOSEY Athens-based indie pop artist, incorporating audience participation and off-kilter comedy into her sets.

DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Featuring a large assortment of pop, rock, indie and more.

Porterhouse Grill

6–8:30 p.m. www.porterhousegrill athens.com

JAZZ NIGHT Longest running jazz gig in Athens captained by drummer Mason Davis and featuring a rotating cast of familiar faces performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits. f

Frank & The Hurricanes celebrate the release of River of Love on Tuesday, July 11 at Flicker Theatre & Bar.

event calendar

Wednesday 5

CLASSES: Writing Workshop (ATHICA) Tracy Coley and Bowen Craig present the workshop “Preserving a Delicate History–Writing About Family.” Registration encouraged. 1–3 p.m. $25. www.athica.org

COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Homegrown townie improv that invites you to bring some interesting suggestions to help create improv magic on the spot. Every Wednesday, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

EVENTS: Athens Farmers Market (Creature Comforts Brewery) Markets offer fresh produce, flowers, eggs, meats, prepared foods and more. Live music begins at 6 p.m. AFM doubles SNAP dollars spent at the market. Every Wednesday, 5–8 p.m. www.athensfarmersmarket.net

GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and play Shadowfist. New players welcome. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (The Local 706) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/

ClassicCityTriviaCo

KIDSTUFF: Busy Bee Toddler Time (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for rhymes, songs, puppets and a simple story. 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: LEGO & Builder’s Club (Bogart Library) Young engineers can drop in to use LEGOs and other building materials. All ages. 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/bogart

MEETINGS: Sewing Circle (Bogart Library) Bring your own sewing and crafting projects for dedicated time to work and discuss. First Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m; Wednesdays at 6 p.m. www. athenspetanque.org

THEATER: Plays in Progress Series (ATHICA) There will be a staged reading of Summer of Light, a new screenplay by Gloria Perkins, with opportunities for feedback and conversation afterward. 7 p.m. FREE! www.athica.org

Thursday 6

ART: Opening Reception (tiny ATH gallery) Celebrate the opening of an art show by local artist Marisa Mustard. 5–8 p.m. FREE! www. tinyathgallery.com

ART: Opening Reception (Lyndon House Arts Center) Celebrate the opening of “The Fables,” an exhibition by artist and illustrator Kristin Roberts, and “Sanctuary: Works by Mary Engel and Cheryl Washburn,” an exhibition combining the work of two artists with a passion for animals.. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. accgov.com/exhibits

CLASSES: Writing Workshop (ATHICA) Tracy Coley presents the workshop “Grief Journaling and Writing Through Loss.” Registration encouraged. 1–3 p.m. $25. www. athica.org

EVENTS: Diamond Hill Farm Stand (Athentic Brewing Co.) Vegetables and fresh flowers are available on hand and pre-ordered. Every Thursday, 4–6 p.m. www.diamondhill farmathens.com

GAMES: Thursday Trivia (Johnny’s New York Style Pizza) Test your trivia knowledge with host Jon Head. 7–9 p.m. www.johnnyspizza.com

KIDSTUFF: Animal Friends from Bear Hollow (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Megan for crafts and time with some cool animal friends. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Choose Your Own Adventure (Bogart Library) Stop by the library for an evening with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” series from R.H. Montgomery. Ages 9–12. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart

MEETINGS: KnitLits Knitting Group (Bogart Library) Knitters of all levels are invited to have fun, share craft ideas and knit to their hearts’ content. Every Thursday, 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m; Wednesdays at 6 p.m. www. athenspetanque.org

Friday 7

CLASSES: Writing Workshop (ATHICA) Bowen Craig presents the workshop “Everyone Has a Story to Tell—Personal Memoir Writing.” Registration encouraged. 1–3 p.m. $25. www.athica.org

COMEDY: Comedy Open Mic (MaiKai Kava Lounge) Open mic hosted by Miles Bunch with a featured comedian for the night, Sean Banissi. 7 p.m. (sign-ups), 7:30 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/ bulaatmaikai

COMEDY: BIT-BOP (Work.Shop) Matt House and libbaloops will perform a unique blend of improvised spoken word and improvised music. 8 p.m. $5. www. flyingsquid comedy.com

GAMES: Friday Night Initiative (Online: Tyche’s Games) Learn how to play a new RPG game with others on Discord. New players welcome. 7 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames. com

KIDSTUFF: Meet & Play (Bogart Library) Drop in for facilitated open play with age-appropriate toys. Best for ages 6 & under. Every Friday, 10:30 a.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Art & A Movie (Bogart Library) Enjoy drawing, popcorn and an animated comedy superhero film screening. 4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Grand Slam (Lay Park)

This summertime program includes games, giveaways, guest speakers, life enrichment activities, music, refreshments, sports and more. Registration required. Ages 11–17. 6–9 p.m. FREE! www.accgov.com/ grandslam

THEATER: A God in the House (Town & Gown Players) Follow the story of a love triangle that forms between a woman who has chosen to end her life due to her terminal illness, her devoted husband and a physician shunned from his medical profession who agrees to help

her. July 7 & 8, 8–10 p.m. July 9, 2–4 p.m. $5. www.townandgown players.org

Saturday 8

CLASSES: Pointed Dip Pen Calligraphy (K.A. Artist Shop) Artist Kristen MacCarthy will teach attendees how to use traditional tools to create purposeful strokes and beautiful letterforms. 1–3 p.m. $55. www.kaartist.com

by crafts and puppet play. 2 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

OUTDOORS: Walk Into Wellness (Dudley Park) Each walk in this summer series will focus on a different health topic, inviting people to meet up and get moving together. Registration required. 9 a.m. FREE! www.accgov.com/myrec

THEATER: A God in the House (Town & Gown Players) Follow the story of a love triangle that forms between a woman who has chosen to end her life due to her terminal

Aging) McKenzie Raymond from Feel Free Yoga leads this class. All skill levels welcome. Mondays, 1–2 p.m. $5 (CAL members), $10 (non-members). abarefoot@ accaging.org

CLASSES: Demystifying Sex Toys (Revolution Therapy and Yoga)

Whether you have never owned a sex toy or are an avid collector, learn how to shop for, care for and use a variety of sex toys. 6:30 p.m. $15. www.revolutiontherapyand

yoga.com

EVENTS: Monday Marigold Market (100 North Church Street) The market features fresh produce, preserves, snacks and meat with a lunch special available (until 2 p.m.). 11 a.m.–6 p.m. FREE! www. facebook.com/marigoldmarket

winterville

GAMES: Monday Trivia with Erin (Athentic Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host Erin. 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com

GAMES: Game Night (Rabbit Hole Studios) Play board games like chess and Catan, systems like Wii and PlayStation, and outdoor sports. Every Monday, 7–11 p.m. FREE! www.rabbitholestudios.org

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Dooley’s Bar and Grill) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/

ClassicCityTriviaCo

7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici Athens) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens

MEETINGS: Memoir Writing Group (Bogart Library) During this monthly group, hear memoirs from others and learn tips on how to write your own. 5:30–6:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m; Wednesdays at 6 p.m. www. athenspetanque.org

Wednesday 12

ART: Tour at Two (Georgia Museum of Art) These drop-in public tours feature highlights of the permanent collection and are led by museum docents. 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgia museum.org

COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Homegrown townie improv that invites you to bring some interesting suggestions to help create improv magic on the spot. Every Wednesday, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

EVENTS: Annual Cottage Classic Golf Tournament (UGA Golf Course) Enjoy breakfast, beverages on the course and a catered lunch. All skill levels welcome. All proceeds benefit The Cottage Sexual Assault Center & Children’s Advocacy Center. 7:30 a.m. (registration), 8:15 a.m. (tee-off). $125. www.northgeorgiacottage.org/golftournament

EVENTS: 2023 Youth Explosion Family Engagement (Heard Park) Join The D.L. Handy Foundation and Iris Chandler Ministries for a community event discussing mental health awareness and the opioid crisis with food and giveaways. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. FREE! info@dlhandy foundation.org

EVENTS: Really, Really Free Market (Reese and Pope Park) Just like a yard sale, but everything is free. Bring what you can, take what you need. Second Saturday of every month. 12–1:30 p.m. reallyreally freemarketathens@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/RRFMAthens

FILM: Sherlock Jr. (Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture) Showing of the 1924 film starring Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire and Ward Crane with live orchestral accompaniment by Klezmer Local 42. 5:30 p.m. (doors), 6 p.m. $15. www. facebook.com/MarigoldFestival

GAMES: Day of Board Game Demonstrations (Tyche’s Games) Bring your pals and try some new games. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tyches games.com

KIDSTUFF: Family Day: Fourth Grade Project (UGA Special Collections Library) The traveling exhibition “The Fourth Grade Project” featuring 72 photographs by Judy Gelles will be on display with crafts, storytime, performances and more. 1–4 p.m. FREE! www.libs.uga.edu

KIDSTUFF: Family Puppet Show & Crafts (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for a puppet show followed

illness, her devoted husband and a physician shunned from his medical profession who agrees to help her. July 7 & 8, 8–10 p.m. July 9, 2–4 p.m. $5. www.townandgown players.org

Sunday 9

ART: Closing Reception (tiny ATH gallery) Celebrate with local artist Marisa Mustard as she brings her art show to a close. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.tinyathgallery.com

ART: Opening Reception (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Babs McDonald and Chuck Murphy’s exhibition “Camera and Canvas” will be on view with an artist talk and Q&A plus refreshments. 2–4 p.m. FREE! botgarden.uga.edu

CLASSES: Pet Portraits in Acrylic (K.A. Artist Shop) Local artist Lauren Adams will lead a class learning about tips and techniques for creating an expressive painting of your pet. 1–5 p.m. $55. www. kaartist.com

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m; Wednesdays at 6 p.m. www. athenspetanque.org

THEATER: A God in the House (Town & Gown Players) Follow the story of a love triangle that forms between a woman who has chosen to end her life due to her terminal illness, her devoted husband and a physician shunned from his medical profession who agrees to help her. July 7 & 8, 8–10 p.m. July 9, 2–4 p.m. $5. www.townandgown players.org

Monday 10

CLASSES: Gentle Hatha Yoga (Athens Community Council on

KIDSTUFF: Monday Funday (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for songs, fingerplays, storytelling and STEAM activities. Ages 3–6 years. Registration suggested. 10 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: STEM Baseball (Bogart Library) MLB Players STEM League is a baseball-inspired program that brings to life the energy of the sport through a board game. For upper elementary and middle school. 5 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ bogart

Tuesday 11

EVENTS: Tiki Taco Tuesday (Live Wire) Enjoy craft rum, delicious tacos and fine cigars with live music by Kinky Waikiki. Every Tuesday, 5–10 p.m. FREE! www. livewireathens.com

EVENTS: No Phone Party (Hendershot’s) Disconnect to connect with a phone-free, laptop-free happy hour. Every Tuesday, 6–9 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

FILM: OLLI Summer Film Festival (Ciné) This weekly film festival sponsored by OLLI presents Sweet Bird of Youth. Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. FREE! (OLLI members), $6.50 (general public). www.athenscine. com

FILM: Tuesday Night Film Seminar

(ATHICA) The four-part seminar “The Rise of Documentary Filmmaking from the 1960s to the Present Day” will focus this night on clips from the film Don’t Look Back facilitated by Bill Cody. 7:30 p.m. FREE! www.athica.org

GAMES: Lunch and Learn New Games (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and try out some new games. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Akademia Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox.

EVENTS: Athens Farmers Market (Creature Comforts Brewery) Markets offer fresh produce, flowers, eggs, meats, prepared foods and more. Live music begins at 6 p.m. AFM doubles SNAP dollars spent at the market. Every Wednesday, 5–8 p.m. www.athensfarmersmarket.net

FILM: Blood Everywhere (Flicker Theatre & Bar) A psychosexual maniac is murdering unfaithful wives and leaving compromising photos at the crime scenes in the sleaze-filled So Sweet, So Dead 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.instagram. com/bloodeverywhere.athens

GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and play Shadowfist. New players welcome. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

GAMES: Music Bingo (Athentic Brewing Co.) Win prizes at this music bingo night with host Mari. 7–9:30 p.m. FREE! www.athentic brewing.com

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (The Local 706) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

KIDSTUFF: Busy Bee Toddler Time (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for rhymes, songs, puppets and a simple story. 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: LEGO & Builder’s Club (Bogart Library) Young engineers can drop in to use LEGOs and other building materials. All ages. 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/bogart

LECTURES & LIT: Theatrical Costuming Presentation (ATHICA) Eva Elarbee leads a discussion on “Dressing for the Stage vs. Historical Accuracy.” 7 p.m. Donations encouraged. www.athica.org

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m; Wednesdays at 6 p.m. www. athenspetanque.org f

The UGA Special Collections Library is hosting a family day on July 8 with the traveling exhibition “The Fourth Grade Project” on view.

bulletin board

Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

ArtATHENS CREATIVE DIRECTORY

(Athens, GA) The ACD is a platform to connect creatives with patrons. Visual artists, musicians, actors, writers and other creatives are encouraged to create a free listing. athenscreatives@gmail.com, www. athenscreatives.directory

CALL FOR ARTISTS (Lyndon House Arts Center) The upcoming exhibition “Rescue: Waste and Redemption” seeks artists who transform industrial byproducts into artworks or craft objects. Artists whose practice involves the use of environmentally conscious processes or materials are encouraged to apply. Fill out online form. Deadline Sept. 20. Exhibition runs Apr. 6–June 1, 2024. www.accgov.com/7345/

Call-for-Artists

CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOS-

ALS (Lyndon House Arts Center)

Artists, artist groups and curators can submit proposals for original exhibition ideas. Artists can also submit images of their work for consideration in larger group or themed shows organized by the center. Proposals will be reviewed Sept. 20, 11:59 p.m. www.accgov. com/6657/Exhibition-ProposalForm

JOKERJOKERTV CALL FOR ART-

ISTS (Online) JOKERJOKERtv is open to ideas and actively accepting proposals for collaboration from visual/musical/video artists and curators living in Athens. Artists worldwide can also submit music videos, short films, skits and ideas to share with a weekly livestream

audience. www.jokerjokertv.com/ submit

MUSEUM MADNESS (Georgia Museum of Art) As part of the museum’s 75th anniversary celebration, an art competition pits 64 works from its collection against one another to see which will emerge as the people’s favorite. Voting runs weekly on Instagram (@georgiamuseum) until July 11, when voting for the top eight will shift to in-person. Winner announced Nov. 5. www.georgiamuseum.org

OPEN STUDIOS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Studio members have access to spaces for painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber and woodworking. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $65/month. www. accgov.com/7350/Open-StudioMembership

Classes

AQUA AEROBICS (Memorial Park)

Aqua aerobics is a low impact exercise that includes a variety of stretching, limbering and weight routines set to music. Classes are offered through July 29 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. $5/class. 706-613-3580

ART CLASSES (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) “Beginning & Intermediate Acrylic Painting with Lauren Adams.” Mondays, July 10–Aug. 17, 6–8 p.m. $160–210. “Watercolor Exploration with Lauren Adams.” Tuesdays, July 11–Aug. 8, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. $160–210.

art around town

ARTWALL@HOTEL INDIGO ATHENS (500 College Ave.) Nancy Everett’s solo show “Classic Inspirations” includes paintings that celebrate Athens and the Southeast. Through July.

ATHENS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: ATHICA (675 Pulaski St.) Artist-in-ATHICA presents a month-long residency by the Georgia Fine Arts Academy. Activities include workshops, presentations, performances and more. Through July.

ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) “Exhibit A” features paintings by Teresa Abel, an Athens-based artist who works with oils and cold wax to create abstracted views of the natural world. Through Aug. 25.

CARTER-COILE COUNTRY DOCTORS MUSEUM (111 Marigold Lane, Winterville) The Charles and Kim Burch Medicine Garden contains 19 non-toxic plants which were cultivated for medicinal use in Georgia between 1870–1940. The inaugural rotating exhibit “I’m Not a Doctor But I Play One on TV” takes a look at the most famous country doctor roles from TV, film and print media through artifacts and archival material. Through July 15.

CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) Classic Gallery 1 shares “Flourish,” an exhibition of artists inspired by the botanical world including Dallis Foshee, Mary Mason Sams, Marisa Mustard and Zahria Cook. Classic Gallery 2 shares “Works by Bess Carter,” a series of brightly painted interior spaces.

FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) Spaceball

Entertainment presents artwork by affiliated members in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Through July.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) In “Sky Hopinka: Lore,” the artist layers imagery, sound and text to center personal perceptions of Native homelands. Through Sept. 24. • “Southern/Modern” explores themes of social issues, urbanization, religion, the environment and artists’ colonies through the artwork of Southern artists working between 1913–1955.

Through Dec. 10. • “In Dialogue: Power Couple: Pierre and Louise Daura in Paris.” Through Feb. 11. • “Decade of Tradition: Highlights from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection.” Through July 3, 2024.

“Joy of Metalsmithing: Spinner Rings with Sylvia Dawe.” July 25–27, 1–4 p.m. $170-220.

“From the Heart and Soul: Collage with Eileen Driscoll.” Mondays, Sept. 11–Oct. 2, 12:30–3 p.m. $160–210. “Beginning & Intermediate Pastels with Ann Dodys.” Tuesdays, Sept. 12–Oct. 17, 1–4 p.m. $160–210. “Intuitive Painting with Eileen Driscoll.” Wednesdays, Sept. 13–Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. $160–210. www.ocaf.com/courses

COMMUNITY DANCE IMPROV (work.shop) No experience necessary. Vaccines and boosters required. Sundays, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Donations accepted. lisayaconelli@gmail.com

DEDICATED MINDFULNESS PRACTITIONERS (Online) Weekly Zoom meditations are offered every Saturday at 8:30–9:30 a.m. Email for details. richardshoe@gmail.com

FRACTIONS OF A SECOND (K.A. Artist Shop) Chase Brantley leads a two-week class for teens and adults on the essential foundations of analog black and white photography. July 11 & July 18, 6-8 p.m. $100. www.kaartist.com

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE EVENINGS (Online) Discuss and practice how to change your relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions. Email for the Zoom link. Second Friday of the month, 6–7 p.m. FREE! mfhealy@bellsouth.net

OPEN/COMMUNITY MEDITATION (Sangha Yoga Studio at Healing Arts Centre) Uma Rose leads a meditation designed to guide participants into stillness and silence. Mondays, 4–5 p.m. Donations encouraged. www.healingartscentre.net

“Myth, Magic & Mystery” is currently on view at the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation through July 28. Pictured above is “Inquisition” by Lauren Adams

PUBLIC DANCE (The Studio Athens)

Beginner Rumba lessons followed by DJ’d waltz, swing, salsa, tango etc. Every fourth Saturday. 7:30–10 p.m. $5 (students), $10 (non-students). www.gmdance.com

QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION

TRAINING (Nuçi’s Space) Learn the basics of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention. The next training session is July 26. Nuçi’s also offers free trainings for businesses and organizations. www. nuci.org

SALSA DANCE CLASSES (Starland Lounge & Lanes) Join SALSAthens for Cuban style salsa dance classes. No partner necessary. Beginners welcome. Every Wednesday, 7:30–8:30 p.m. $10. gwyneth. moody@abby-kacen

GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) Zane Cochran presents “Aurora,” a sculptural interpretation of the aurora borealis using 3D geometric figures and lights.

HENDERSHOT’S (237 Prince Ave.) Nirvinyl Album Art presents “A Brief History of Nirvinyl 2015–2023.” Through late August.

JUST PHO… AND MORE (1063 Baxter St.) Artwork by Maribeth Schmeltzer and Sunny Supensky. Through July 16.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (211 Hoyt St.) “Resilient Civic and Musical Life: Ware-Lyndon House Enslaved and Descendant Stories” includes a film; reading room of books relevant to the African-American experience in art, music and heritage; and a visual timeline relating a fuller and more truthful story of the property and its inhabitants. On view Thursdays–Saturdays. • Collections from our Community presents Nena Gilreath’s collection of toe shoes. Through Oct. 7. • “Love.Craft Athens” is a two-part exhibition of artworks created by the crew of Love.Craft Athens, a nonprofit organization that serves adults with developmental disabilities. Ceramics are on view through Oct. 7. • “Story as Jewel: Metalworks by Charles Pinckney” shares jewelry and small sculptures made from metal, stones, bone and wood. Through Sept. 1. • “Paradigm Shift” by Margaret Morrison is a suite of seven large oil paintings exploring Caravaggio’s dramatic staging and lighting. Artist talk Aug. 24, 6 p.m. Through Sept.

1. • “Indigo Prayers: Works by Charmaine Minniefield” are large painted works contemplating ancestral memories of resistance in response to both contemporary and historic acts of erasure. Through Sept. 1. • “Legendary Georgia Musicians in Watercolor” by Jackie Dorsey honors the legacies of musicians such as Big Boi, Emily Saliers, Mike Mills and Vanessa Briscoe Hay. Through Sept. 1. • “Mythical Reality: Paintings by Lois ThomasEwings” depicts dancers and Black mythology. Through Sept. 1. • “Georgia Theaters: A Ballad Surrounding the Proscenium” features photographs by Brandon Narsing of empty theaters during the pandemic. Through Sept. 1. • “The Fables” by Kristin Roberts consists of illustrations inspired by Aesop’s Fables. Reception July 6, 6–8 p.m. Through Oct. 7. • “Sanctuary: Works by Mary Engel and Cheryl Washburn” combines works by two artists who share a passion for animals. Reception July 6, 6–8 p.m. Through Oct. 7.

MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 S. Main St., Madison)

SKETCH WRITING WORKSHOP (work.shop) This six-week course will culminate in a staged reading or performance of student sketches. Begins July 6, 6–8 p.m. $160. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

SUMMER SCENE WORKOUT (work. shop) In this series of classes, participants will work on building scenes based in reality, believable characters, listening and reacting. Tuesdays, 6–8 p.m. $30/week. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS

CLASSES (Live Oak Martial Arts) Traditional and modern-style Taekwondo, self-defense, grappling and weapons classes are offered for all ages. Classes in Jodo, the art of the Japanese staff and sword, are held Mondays, Wednesdays

and Fridays at 7 p.m. Visit the website for a full schedule. liveoakmartialarts@gmail.com, www. liveoakmartialarts.com

YOGA AND MORE (Revolution Therapy and Yoga) Revolution is a multipurpose mind-body wellness studio offering yoga and therapy with an emphasis on trauma-informed practices. Check website for upcoming classes and programs. www.revolutiontherapyandyoga.com

YOGA CLASSES (Let It Be Yoga Studio, Watkinsville) Classes are offered in Hatha, Vinyasa, Kundalini, beginner, gentle and other styles. Check online calendar for weekly offerings. www.letitbeyoga.org

ZOOM YOGA (Online) Rev. Elizabeth Alder offers “Off the Floor Yoga”

“Menaboni’s Birds” is a collection of paintings by Georgia artist Athos Menaboni. Curator’s talk with Russell Clayton on July 15, 11 a.m. Through July 29.

MASON-SCHARFENSTEIN MUSEUM OF ART (567 Georgia St., Demorest)

“Bud Lee Picture Maker: Photographs from 1967 to 1972” spotlights the Florida-based photojournalist and artist through his work for national publications. Closing reception Aug. 24, 4–6:30 p.m.

OCONEE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION (34 School St., Watkinsville)

“Myth, Magic & Mystery” features 40 works interpreting the theme by 33 artists including Barbara Odil, Rich Panico, Sylvia Dawe, Claire Clements, Margaret Agner, Cheryl Washburn, Susan Pelham and more. The annual “Members Exhibition” highlights artists who support the gallery through 125 works in a variety of media. Through July 28.

TIF SIGFRIDS (393 N. Finley St.) “Cash 4 Life” presents works by Al Freeman, Tyson Reeder, Jennifer Rochlin and Adrianne Rubenstein. Closing reception July 30, 5–7 p.m.

TINY ATH GALLERY (174 Cleveland Ave.) Marisa Mustard presents a collection of colorfully painted mirrors and large wood cut outs inspired by folk art, psychedelic monsters and nudie suit flowers. Opening reception July 6, 5–8 p.m. Closing reception July 9, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “Freemasonry in Georgia: Ideals, Imagery and Impact” presents items that demonstrate the ambitions and tensions that existed within the secret society. Through July 7. • “It Goes to the People: 75 Years of Free Inspiration at the Georgia Museum of Art” includes historical records, photographs and other memorabilia that traces the growth of the official state art museum. Through Aug. 26. • “The Fourth Grade Project” is a sample of photographs by Judy Gelles, who interviewed and photographed over 300 fourth-grade students all over the world. Through August. • “HBO at 50: The Rise of Prestige Television” highlights some of the groundbreaking programming created by and aired on HBO with items selected from the Peabody Awards Archive. Through May 2024.

WINTERVILLE LIBRARY (115 Marigold Ln., Winterville) Emma Torrence shares prints depicting the natural world. Amy Jackson uses acrylics to paint diverse subjects from sleeping cats to sailing ships. Through July.

(chair and standing) on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and “Easy on the Mat” yoga classes on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Ongoing classes are $5/class or $18/month. 706-612-8077, ommmever@yahoo.com

Help Out

MULTIPLE CHOICES BOARD MEMBERS (Athens, GA) Seeking a new board member for Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living, a nonprofit agency of disability advocates serving individuals throughout a 10-county area of Northeastern Georgia. Call for information. 706850-4025

SEEKING MENTORS (Athens, GA)

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s End School to Prison Pipeline Program seeks community members to support and mentor students who are experiencing bullying, have been suspended/ expelled, or need to complete court-ordered service hours. www. aadmovement.org

Kidstuff

KIDS IMPROV WEEKEND (work. shop) During this two-day improv camp, students will learn the fundamentals of improv comedy. Activities include lessons on scene work, games and a graduation performance. For ages 10–14. July 29–30, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $120. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

OCEAN DISCOVERY CAMP AT UGA (Georgia Center) Campers will brainstorm creative ways to address real world issues in the ocean ecosystems. Day-only or residential overnight options are available. Weekly sessions run through July 17. Check website for dates and to register. $350/day camp, $1000/ residential. www.georgiacenter. uga.edu

REPORT CARDS REWARDS PROGRAM (Athens, GA) Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade who reside in Athens-Clarke County can take a copy of their final report cards to a Leisure Services pool or splash pad during aquatics season for rewards. All A’s or E’s guarantees a free summer pool pass. All A’s and B’s or E’s and M’s is good for 10 free swims. 706-613-3589

SUMMER ART CAMPS (K.A. Artist Shop) A variety of half-day or fullday camps are available for preteens and teens. Subjects include drawing, painting, calligraphy, creative journaling, printmaking, collage and more. Weekly camps run through July 17, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or 1:30–5:30 p.m. $250/week of half days, $450/week of full days. www.kaartist.com

SUMMER ART CAMPS (Oconee

Cultural Arts Foundation) Six oneweek camps for grades 6–8 run Mondays–Fridays through July, 12:30–3:30 p.m. $190–240/week.

“Pottery Summer Camp for Teens” is offered for ages 14–17 in weekly sessions currently running through July 21. $210–260/week. Check website for activities and grade breakdowns. www.ocaf.com

SUMMER CAMPS (Athens, GA) ACC Leisure Services is now registering for summer camps. www.accgov. com/myrec

SUMMER CAMPS (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Camps are offered a variety of themes including digital design and illustration, Halloween, apothecary and flora, glow in the dark and blacklight, food trucks, slime and more. Check website for dates and descriptions. www.treehousekidandcraft.com

SUMMER ROCK CAMPS (Full Moon

School of Music, Watkinsville)

Camps are available for true beginners to advanced musicians. Beginner Camp runs July 10–14 ($350) and Rock Camp runs July 17–23 ($450). www.thefullmoonschool. com/summer-camp

SWIM LESSONS (Athens, GA)

Swim lessons for children ages 3 and older are offered at Heard Park, Lay Park, Memorial Park and Rocksprings Park pools. $33–50/ session. The ACC Leisure Services’ Kinderswim program for 5-year-old children is free. www.accgov.com/

myrec

TEEN SOCIAL JUSTICE YOUTH

JOB & TRAVEL SUMMER CAMP (Athens, GA) Ages 13–16 will participate in professional development, field trips, career mentorship, activism, financial literacy, investment lessons, college preparation and more. Students will be paid $10/hour for 5–10 hours a week. Program runs through July 29. www.aadmovement.org

WILD EARTH CAMP (Piedmont Preserve) Weekly adventure camps are offered through July 21 in the forest for ages 4–13. Register online. www.wildearthcamp.org

WINTERVILLE CULTURAL CENTER

CAMPS (Winterville Cultural Center) In “STEAM Robotics Camp,” children will learn software, firmware and hardware for robots using scratch.mit.edu and codecombat. com. Participants must have their own smartphone or iPad. For grades 4–7. July 17–21, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. $125. www.wintervillecenter.com

Support Groups

ACA ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AND DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES (Holy Cross Lutheran Church) This support group meets weekly. Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. annetteanelson@gmail.com

ATHENS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (Athens, GA) Open to people of all ages with vision impairments, their families and friends. Topics include adaptive equipment, recreational and social opportunities, and advocacy. 706-424-2794, dlwahlers@ gmail.com

LGBTQIA+ VIRTUAL ALPHABET

FAMILY GATHERING (Online)

This is a safe space for anyone on the LGBTQIA+/TGQNB spectrum. Fourth Sunday of every month, 6–8 p.m. uuathensga.org/justice/ welcoming-congregation

MENTAL HEALTH PEER RECOVERY GROUP (Nuçi’s Space) Participants support each other through life’s challenges by sharing from their skills, experiences and proven coping mechanisms. Newcomers welcome. First Tuesday of the month, 4–6 p.m. pr@nuci.org, www.nuci.org

NEW PARENTS AND INFANT FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP (BYL Family Resource Center) Come as you are for community, snacks and feeding advice from professionals. Babies and children of all ages are welcome. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.byyourleave.org

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (24th Street Clubhouse) Learn to stop unwanted food-related behaviors.

Every Tuesday, 12 p.m. FREE! Text: 678-736-3697

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

(First Baptist Church) This group is to encourage, support and share information with fellow sojourners who manage the challenges of Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders. Second Friday of every month, 1 p.m. gpnoblet@ bellsouth.net

PROJECT SAFE (Family Protection Center) Project Safe hosts a support group for survivors of domestic violence. Mondays, 6:30–8 p.m. www. project-safe.org

RECREATE JOY (Sunny Days Therapeutics) Nuçi’s Space hosts a recreational therapy support group. Improve coping skills and self esteem while reducing depression and anxiety through adaptive yoga, games and leisure education. Sixweek sessions. Wednesdays, 5–6 p.m. tinyurl.com/rnvuhesa

RECOVERY DHARMA (Athens

Addiction Recovery Center) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Visit the website for details. Thursdays, 7 p.m. FREE! www.athensrecoverydharma.org

SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) Athens Downtown SAA offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from a compulsive sexual behavior. Contact for location. athensdowntownsaa@gmail.com

SOCIAL ANXIETY SUPPORT

GROUP (Oconee County Library)

Created by and for socially anxious young adults. Meets every other Sunday. Contact for meeting information. Jake@avoidendsnow.org, www.avoidendsnow.org

SUPPORT GROUPS (Integrity

Counseling & Personal Development) ICPD offers several support groups. “LGBTQIA+ Young Adults Group” is offered for ages 18–30. “Survivors of Suicide Loss Group” is offered the first Wednesday of every month, 7–8 p.m. “Veterans, Dependents & Caregivers Benefits Resource & Claim Assistance Group” is offered the first Saturday of every month, 9–10 a.m. www. integrityofjefferson.com

Word on the Street

ATHENS BEER TRAIL TROLLEY

TOURS (Athens, GA) A new trolly tour will provide transportation between six local breweries: Akademia, Athentic, Creature Comforts, Southern Brewing, Terrapin Beer and Normaltown Brewing. Tours run every Thursday and Friday from 3–9 p.m. www.athenstrolleytours.com/ beer-trolley-tour

MARGO METAPHYSICAL EVENTS

(Margo Metaphysical) Monday Tarot Readings offered 1–5 p.m. ($6 per card). Tuesday Tarot with Davita offered 4–6 p.m. ($5 per card). Wednesday Night Sound Healing with Joey held 6–7:30 p.m. ($35). Thursday Tarot with Courtney is offered 12–5 p.m. ($10–45).

Friday Henna Party with Aiyanna ($10–75). 706-372-1462

PUBLIC POOLS (Multiple Locations)

ACC Leisure Services operates four public pools at Heard Park, Lay Park, Memorial Park and Rocksprings Park. Bishop Park is closed this season for renovations. Pools are open through July 30. Check website for hours. www.accgov.com/pools

RABBIT HOLE EVENTS (Rabbit Hole Studios) Weekly events include Open Mic (Tuesdays, 7–11 p.m.), Acoustic Song Circle (Thursdays, 7–11 p.m.), Seventh Generation Native American Church services and community potlucks (Sundays, 11 a.m.), and Drumming and Song Circle (Sundays, 3–5 p.m.).

Wednesday Yoga (5 p.m.) is followed by Meditation and Integration (6 p.m.). Events are free or donation based. www.rabbitholestudios.org/ calendar

WORK.SHOP (160 Winston Dr.)

Open rehearsal and performance space for theater, comedy, dance, classes and events. $10/hour. lisayaconelli@gmail.com f

Take Your PTO Or Walk

ADVICE FOR ATHENS’ LOOSE AND LOVELORN

By Bonita Applebum advice@flagpole.com

Hey Bonita,

I’m feeling “eff that job,” and need an outside perspective. My family has a trip planned that will require me to take two days off. I put the PTO request in early March for this July trip and initially, without looking at the calendar, my boss said sure, that should work. The rest of my family got the time approved and booked the trip. Well, my boss just told me too many people in the company are off that day (two people), but since the store has been particularly slow lately they might be able to make it work. BUT they won’t know until a week before I’m supposed to leave

cover for their failure. You did everything you were supposed to do, and now the ball is in their court.

Sorry if you were expecting me to encourage you to stay at that workplace and make excuses for this kind of poor management. I am absolutely the wrong person to turn to when it comes to managing situations that don’t serve you, because I will tell you to dump him, I will tell you to give notice, I will tell you to take your ball and go home. Making memories with loved ones can never take a backseat to your job, because it is the nature of capitalism to

not be in those days, and stick by it no matter what. Does it seem like an over-exaggeration to say “eff that job” and take my family trip? I don’t actually know what the worst case is here, aside from being fired, obviously, but I’m not sure if they would do that right now.

Anonymous

drilled into us

Hey there Anon,

I tend to answer questions in chronological order, so it’s been some weeks since you sent this to me, and now July is here. I hope you’ve bought yourself some fresh new vacation fits and have made all kinds of reservations. You did exactly what you were supposed to do by giving your workplace plenty of advanced notice and putting in your PTO request months in advance. At this point, your absence is their problem and not yours. Your managers know how PTO works—requests submitted in a timely fashion are supposed to be honored, and they are making the choice to exploit your need for work by dangling your PTO over your head. You gave them plenty of time to do their job, which was to adjust the schedule for your absence and keep business going as usual, but they didn’t. That’s their fault, not yours, and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice a long-planned family vacation to

workplaces will exploit that guilt by trying to paint a worker as a bad person for having a life outside of work. You’re supposed to feel emotionally beholden to the point that you will overcommit or even work for free. Some workers do this because they expect a reward for giving too much, and we all know you can’t rely on any workplace to truly recognize your labor and compensate you fairly for it. They’ll just add more to the load until you break. The fact is that work won’t love you back, so you should just update your resume and enjoy your vacation. You’re allowed to seek out a workplace that isn’t exploitative and disorganized like that, and maybe this is a sign for you to pursue a career dream instead of just staying afloat.

This doesn’t sound like a job you enjoy or find fulfilling. I don’t think that you necessarily have to feel fulfilled from your work, and that it’s perfectly valid to seek work just to get paid, but that doesn’t mean that you have to abide by this kind of treatment. There are other workplaces out there that won’t treat you this way. Eff that job! f Need advice? Email advice@flagpole.com, or use our anonymous online form at flagpole.com/getadvice.

REAL ESTATE HOUSES FOR RENT

2BR/1BA, 900 sq. ft. W/D, lawn care. $1700/month. 285 Savannah Ave. Athens, GA 30601. Call for more information: 678-698-7613

House, 3BR/2BA in Normaltown. Central air. Apartment, 2BR/1BA. Furnished. Washer/dryer. Wi-Fi. No smokers, pets. Calls only! 706-372-1505

ROOMMATES

College student may live rent-free w/ former teacher/ Christian missionary in exchange for assistance w/ packing/organizing missionary supplies. No smoking, drinking or drugs. References req. 706-2966957

Flagpole ♥s our advertisers, readers and donors!

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Athens School of Music. Now offering in-person and online instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin and more. From beginner to expert, all styles. Visit www.athens schoolofmusic.com, 706543-5800.

VOICE LESSONS : Specializing in older (50+) beginners and intermediates. Gift certificates available. Contact stacie.court@ gmail.com or 706-424-9516.

MUSIC SERVICES

Instant cash is now being paid for good vinyl records & CDs in fine condition. Wuxtry Records, at corner of Clayton & College Dwntn. 706-369-9428.

Sell your music gear here!

JOBS

FULL-TIME

UberPrints is now hiring for multiple positions! Both full and part-time positions available. For more information and applications, go to uberprints.com/company/ jobs

PART-TIME

Join a diverse, inclusive workplace and get paid to type! 16–40 hours, M–F. NEVER be called in for a shift you didn’t sign up for. Must type 65+ wpm. Make your own schedule and work independently with no customer interaction. Starts at $13 with automatic increases. www.ctscribes. com

NOTICES

MESSAGES

All Georgians ages 6 months & up are eligible for COVID vaccines, and ages 5+ are eligible for boosters! Call 706-3400996 or visit www.public healthathens.com for info.

COVID testing available in West Athens (3500 Atlanta Hwy. Mon–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. & Sat., 8 a.m.–12 p.m. At the old Fire Station on the corner of Atlanta Hwy. & Mitchell Bridge Rd. near Aldi and Publix.) Pre-registration is highly encouraged! Visit www. publichealthathens.com for more information.

FLAGPOLE HAS NEW MERCH. We have a new rainbow design & a cassette design, and both can be bought as a sticker, too! Shirts = $20, Rainbow stickers = $2, Cassette stickers = $3. Stop by and get yours today!

Get Flagpole delivered straight to your mailbox! It can be for you or a pal who just moved out of town. $55 for six months or $100 for one year . Call 706-5490301 or email frontdesk@ flagpole.com.

Find employees by advertising in the Flagpole Classifieds! Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com today!

Need old newspapers for your garden? An art project? How about a new puppy? No matter your need, we have plenty here at Flagpole! Call ahead and we’ll have a crate ready for you. Please leave current issues on stands. 706-5490301

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