FP230906

MUSIC:

MUSIC:

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 Smith

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Sam Lipkin

OFFICE MANAGER & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jennifer Keene

CLASSIFIEDS Jennifer Keene

AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson

CONTRIBUTORS Bonita Applebum, Gordon Lamb, Aaleah McConnell

CIRCULATION Jennifer Bray, Gerald Burris, Charles Greenleaf

EDITORIAL INTERN Analiese Herrin

ADDRESS: 220 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30601

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603

706-549-9523 ·

During a private ceremony on Monday, Aug. 28, the intersection of Broad and Lumpkin streets, where the University of Georgia campus meets downtown Athens, was officially named for Vince Dooley. Dooley, who died last year, retired from coaching in 1988, but continued to serve as athletic director until 2004.

See “Downtown Athens Intersection Named for Vince Dooley” at flagpole.com.

Vision Video is playing a free show at the 40 Watt Club on Sept. 6 for a music video shoot, and the band hopes the community will join in the fun. For more information, visit 40watt.com.

Affordable Housing

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

Barbara Daniel came to the podium at an Athens-Clarke County Commission meeting last month and wanted to know, where are the affordable homes?

“I know y’all can help us. I know you can,” she said. “It seems like you refuse to help. And that’s not fair.”

Daniel is one of dozens, if not hundreds, of Athens residents who were forced out of stable, affordable rental housing when a Florida-based property management company bought Lexington Heights and two other local neighborhoods a year ago, doubled the rent and stopped accepting Section 8 vouchers.

The ACC government has invested tens of millions of dollars in affordable housing over the past few years, but frustration is growing with the pace of construction— just 56 units since 2020. Daniel’s plea was echoed by others at a recent public input session on a consultant’s affordable housing plan held at the ACC Library. “You have so many programs going on, and it’s not working,” one woman told local officials at the Aug. 23 session, attended by about 50 people.

“My comment is there is a lack of urgency around this,” said Fred Smith Sr., executive director of the nonprofit East Athens Development Corp. “People are hurt and desperate. It doesn’t seem to translate to the people in charge.”

ACC currently spends about $1.7 million in federal grants on affordable housing each year, not counting the $44 million in local sales tax revenue that’s going toward the Bethel Midtown Village redevelopment or millions more in one-time American Rescue Plan Act funds that the county commission has earmarked for affordable housing. Those federal grants are distributed by the ACC Housing and Community Development Department, at the commission’s direc-

tion, to local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity, the Athens Land Trust and EADC. Separately, the federally funded Athens Housing Authority builds and maintains public housing.

A new report from consultants HR&A suggests that ACC spend an additional $3.3 million by creating a housing trust fund and contributing $5 million a year to it. The money could be diverted from existing programs, or come from higher taxes, philanthropic foundations or more extensive use of tax allocation districts like the one that is bringing 100 affordable apartments to the Georgia Square Mall redevelopment. With $5 million a year, the local government could triple affordable housing construction from 50 units a year to 150. The money could also go toward down payment assistance, home repairs, or to buy existing developments like Lexington Heights before investors can swoop in and raise rents. ACC could use the housing trust fund to leverage other sources of funding, like Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (used to subsidize the Bethel redevelopment and Columbia Brookside), private capital, donations and federal grants.

The HR&A report touches on other ways to bring down housing costs, like loosening zoning restrictions and expanding the county’s inclusionary zoning program, which offers developers incentives to build affordable housing. It also mentions tenants’ rights and preserving existing affordable housing. But because state law restricts local governments from enacting programs like rent control, the report focuses primarily on subsidies.

“It does come down to a question of money and what our local government is willing to contribute,” Commissioner Carol Myers said at an Aug. 10 work session.

Subsidies for affordable housing are

needed because of a mismatch between the cost of housing and what local workers earn—for example, rent for a three-bedroom apartment averages $1,900, but a family with a $65,000 income can only afford to spend about $1,450, according to federal guidelines. The average home in Athens sells for $290,000, but the same family can only afford $230,000.

Even that amount is high to some. “$230,000 is not very affordable, either,” one attendee at the library public input session said. Daniel defines “affordable” as $800 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. On the other hand, some local Republicans who attended the session were skeptical that an affordable housing shortage even exists or that spending more tax dollars can solve it.

Some commissioners were skeptical at last month’s work session, too. “I was hoping to see something new we hadn’t thought about or talked about,”

Commissioner Mike Hamby said.

He noted that ACC already has an affordable housing trust fund. But the amount is small, consisting of about $100,000 a year from the Athens Housing Authority.

Commissioner Melissa Link said she doubts that a “strike force” to buy rental properties that are put on the market and keep the rent low would work, given that the student rental market is so lucrative. The $160,000 HR&A report details how the market incentivizes developers to build apartments where each bedroom has an en suite bathroom, and to lease them to students by the bedroom.

Next month, the county government will receive another consultant’s report on homelessness. It and the affordable housing study will “talk to each other,”

Commissioner Jesse Houle said. The commission is expected to vote on the reports in October, but that does not mean their recommendations will be implemented. f

EXPERIENCE AT MUSIC UGA

Faculty Artist Series: Evgeny Rivkin, piano

Rivkin studied at the Moscow Conservatory and is a top prize winner of International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Bavarian Radio Competition in Munich, and the Russian National Piano Competition in St. Petersburg. $15-adults, $3 - UGA student ID

Symphony Orchestra: Power of Prokofiev

Featuring Prokofiev’s popular Symphony No. 5.; plus UGA Faculty David Starkweather, cello, performing Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra by Prokofiev, considered to be one of the most challenging pieces in cello repertoire. $20-adults, $3 - UGA student ID

Plus Starkweather’s FREE Lecture Recital focused on Prokofiev’s work on Wed. Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.

Wind Ensemble: A World of Blue

Featuring “Rhapsody in Blue,” with 2022 Concerto Winner Jia Meng as piano soloist; “The Blue Marble” music and film by Julie Giroux; the world premiere of “Alla Rondo World” by recent UGA graduate Jackson Riffle and “Globe and Eagle March” by John Phillip Sousa. $15-adults, $3 - UGA student ID

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Georgia’s Housing Crisis

THOUSANDS GO HOMELESS AS RENTS RISE

By Aaleah McConnell news@flagpole.com

The supply of affordable housing units is at an extreme low in Georgia in the wake of the pandemic, leading to higher rents and greater homelessness among single adults and families. Advocates across the state are calling for action, although some proposed solutions—like calls to repeal Georgia’s long-standing ban on rent control—have proven to be a nonstarter.

Across the state, the number of units with rents below $600 dropped significantly by about 67,000 residences between 2019–2021, according to a report released this year by the Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University. Monthly rent of $600 is considered the maximum amount affordable for households bringing in $24,000 or less a year. Federal guidelines define affordable housing as spending no more than 30% of income for housing.

Georgia is among the states with one of the most severe losses in low-cost rental stock in the country, according to the study. Katie Byers, the director of St. Anne Community Outreach, a nonprofit based in Columbus, that offers assistance with rent and utilities, said part of the reason for the decrease in affordable homes is because many landlords sold their properties after the pandemic.

“The benefit of selling the house really went up right after COVID. Like everybody was putting their house up for sale,” Byers said. “So when the market went really crazy, you know, I think a lot of landlords decided, OK, I’m gonna go ahead and liquidate my properties. And I think across the board, rising prices on everything just followed right along with that.”

Families Face Tough Choices

Since the federal moratorium on evictions ended in 2021 and more than $500 million in federal pandemic rental aid dried up, tenants across the state started to feel the financial squeeze again. A growing number of families are resorting to life in extended-stay hotels long term or temporarily couch surfing from one place to another.

Individuals and families that are not technically homeless—meaning they do not reside outside on the street, in a vehicle or in a shelter—face steeper challenges when seeking assistance for permanent housing.

“That’s a hard group to help because our program, for example, really is to prevent evictions. They’ve already been evicted,” Byers said. “And then the folks that you would think would help them would be the homeless programs, but they don’t qualify because they’re not homeless. So they get kind of caught in between. So I see that as a group that’s really growing.”

Cathy Williams, founding director of NeighborWorks America, a federally funded affordable housing nonprofit with a chapter in Columbus, said this forces families to make some very difficult decisions.

“Either they’re going to live in slum property because that’s all they can afford,”

Williams said, “or they’re going to live in something more than they can afford. And if anything happens in the family unit, if a child gets sick or the car breaks down, they often have to leave.

“The third choice is that you go into a non-traditional housing accommodation, whether it’s moving back home, or moving in with friends, couch surfing or living in your car. Those are basically the decisions that have to be made by our families that don’t get paid enough,” Williams said.

In addition to fewer affordable units and the winding down of pandemic assis -

in families with children accounted for 28% of this sample.

In Atlanta, with one of the highest homeless populations in the state, rents are consistently high. According to an ApartmentList.com report, the median rent in Atlanta is $1,529, making the state capital one of the most expensive large cities in the country, despite the cost of rent going down by about 4.1% the past year. [Editor’s note: The same report listed Athens’ median rent at $1,183, up 5.8% over last August.]

John O’Callaghan, president and CEO of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, a nonprofit that develops and finances affordable housing, said Atlanta remained an affordable city, especially for Black and brown families, even through decades of growth. But, after the foreclosure crisis in 2008, many investors bought up properties and drove housing costs up when the economy recovered, pricing many families of color out of their neighborhoods.

opers that might not otherwise be able to build affordable housing to help with supply. So rent control clearly could be one of those solutions, but there are other things a state could do.”

State lawmakers have made attempts to address the state’s housing affordability shortage, but many of those efforts, largely focused on curbing local housing regulations over the objections of city and county officials, have fallen flat.

Supply and Demand

One bill targeting quality rental housing gained traction this year but stalled in the Georgia Senate, remaining alive for next year. Rep. Kasey Carpenter, a Dalton Republican, sponsored the Safe at Home Act that would require landlords to maintain rental properties, ensuring a safe living environment for tenants throughout the duration of their lease. Carpenter said that, as someone who grew up in rental properties, he understands that this is an important issue to address. However, Carpenter said that the solution could be as cut-anddried as just putting more housing properties on the market.

“Just get them to build some housing. And then it’ll trickle down,” Carpenter said. “So, let’s say they’re building two bedroom apartments, and they’re $2,500 a month, boy, if somebody moves into that, they’re moving out of something. So that frees up whatever they moved out of. If they’re moving out of a $1,500 a month unit, then that opens it up to somebody else.”

tance, the dynamic between landlords and tenants plays a significant role. Byers and other nonprofit leaders said even though most landlords do their best to be flexible with their tenants, having to front property expenses when renters cannot afford payments makes many landlords reluctant to renew leases. As a result, many landlords are letting tenants’ leases convert to a month-to-month status, which leaves tenants paying sometimes $300 above the amount listed on their lease.

On top of paying higher rents, utility rates are rising, too, Byers said. Already this summer Georgia Power’s customers have been hit with a 12% rate increase, with more hikes expected as the company flips the switch on its budget-busting Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion. About 30% of people requesting assistance from St. Anne are on a fixed income from either disability or Social Security income. Many of them are living on less than $800 a month, and raising utility prices by $50 could be enough to send someone into eviction status, she said.

The loss of affordable housing in Georgia is an important trend to watch, said Tom Murphy, the director of communications for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The rate of unsheltered homelessness has been climbing since 2017, and the pandemic exacerbated the growth, he said. According to data in the most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report, 18 out of every 10,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S.; people living

Advocacy groups for affordable housing, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Housing Justice League and the Georgia For All Coalition, seek to lift the 39-year-old state ban on rent control as a possible solution. Rent control is a government policy that would cap the amount landlords can charge for rent, but efforts to get rent control through the Georgia legislature have historically failed. A bill filed this year by Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) went nowhere.

“A lot of times when politicians are running for office, when they’re running in elections, they often run on the platform of affordable housing,” said PSL community organizer Satya Vatti. “We’ve seen it time and time again. But when it actually comes down to it, they have done little to nothing to alleviate this crisis of high rents and evictions for the majority of the people that live in the state.

“That’s why we have little to no protections, but when it comes to protecting the rights of the landlords, you know, they’re there. They’re front and center to do that,” Vatti said.

O’Callaghan and Williams both said though rent control seems like a viable option for many tenants, nonprofit CEOs, advocates and local officials must seek immediate ways to build capital.

“The state does run the whole income housing tax credit program for Georgia, but those are federal dollars,” O’Callaghan said. “We’re able to use that to get it to devel-

“But, you got to address the speed in which people can build houses,” he said. “[And address] the loopholes that they have to jump through to do stuff that may not be that necessary, from a regulation standpoint, and then just make sure people if they’re not paying their rent, they’re not in there so that it doesn’t affect the people that are paying.”

Studies show that simply building more housing alone will not solve the problem. “The rising cost of land, labor, and building materials has emerged as a key challenge for homebuilders and developers. The price of inputs to new residential construction has increased 35 percent since the start of the pandemic,” according to the 2023 Harvard report. To Vatti and other affordable housing advocates, the trickle-down approach is not enough when families have to decide between paying their rent to avoid eviction or buying groceries.

Some of Georgia’s local officials are starting to take on the housing shortage, like Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who recently announced a new Rapid Housing initiative, that allocates $4 million to the city’s Continuum of Care for the installation of Rapid Housing units on city-owned properties. And recently ANDP received a $5 million grant from Truist Bank to help develop affordable housing for low-income families and individuals. And other nonprofit leaders are taking notice.

“It’s not that there’s not an interest in [affordable housing],” NeighborWorks’ Williams said. “Because I will say that for the first time, in a long time, there does appear to be an acknowledgement and interest in affecting the affordable housing crisis.” f

This article originally appeared at georgiarecorder. com.

A tent city near the state capitol in Atlanta.

JOSH MCCOSH / GEORGIA RECORDER

hey,

Butting In The Friend Trip

By Bonita Applebum advice@flagpole.com

Hey Bonita, OK, so right before summer a few of my friends and I planned a fun beach trip for one of our breaks this fall. I just got settled back in Athens and had a night out with everyone, and our trip came up. Over the summer one of the friends started dating someone new that they’re honestly obsessed with, and the person seems nice and like a good fit, but they live kind of far away. They’re supposed to come hang out soon and meet everyone. Well, our friend wants them to come on the beach trip and is pressuring everyone to say OK like really soon. Some of us feel kind of uncomfortable with not knowing this person at all. We’ll get to meet them soon, but we won’t

you to feel baffled by a man walking his dog on the beach in penny loafers and khakis (seriously, my guy?), and I want you to tell him that his dog is beautiful, too. Your trip should be as worry-free as possible, and your friend is really throwing a monkey wrench into things by pushing y’all to invite their new boo on a bucket list group trip. One of my lifelong friends did bring his husband along, but we’ve known him since they got together in college, and he is absolutely not a stranger to any of us. He’s as much of a friend to the crew now as anyone else. They also brought along a good friend that they made when they moved out west, but several of us had

really get to know them before the trip. I feel like we made this plan as a friend group and no one else is bringing partners, but it is a mixed gender friend group, not like a girls-only trip. Am I being dramatic? How do we tell our friend no we don’t want this person to come?

Anonymous Fun In The Sun

Hey there Anon, Oh hun, you are speaking my language! I went on a big group trip this summer myself with old friends that I’ve known since elementary school, and believe me, it was some “bucket list” type stuff. We went to a very chic beach town riddled with “the coastal elite” and rude grocery store cashiers who literally turned into jerks as soon as they discerned our Southern accents. We laughed at yachts and ate lobster rolls and made our servers very uncomfortable with our very country-assed questions about their menus. I actually went to a goop store—yes, Gwyneth’s lifestyle “brand” actually has physical storefronts—and I have to say, the shop girls were overly attentive but still very helpful and friendly.

OK, now I’m just reminiscing about my amazing vacation—and I want you to have an amazing vacation, too! I want you and your friends to spend too much on dinner and to twerk by the pool and pour Casamigos down each other’s gullets. I want

already, so it

same case with her. Your friend is asking for an amount of charity and goodwill that can only be extended after a solid foundation of trust and familiarity has been laid. I wouldn’t want someone I barely knew joining my crew on our next trip—what if this person turns out to be controlling and attempts to make decisions for your friend? I can see a declaration of “you can’t wear that” or “you’re not going there” turning into a shouty freefor-all when the crew decides to defend their friend against that type of behavior. That’s just one hypothetical example of chud behavior that could cause issues, but a vacation is not where you want to find out someone has stupid political views or prejudices that you’re not prepared to confront or deal with. The simple fact is that y’all don’t know this person well enough to assume that they’ll mesh perfectly with your large group on vacation. If anything, it’s your friend that’s being inappropriate by pushing this person’s inclusion where it’s not truly appropriate. If they want to go on a trip with their new boo, then they need to plan a couple’s trip, not try to shoehorn a stranger into your already agreed-upon plans. f

Need advice? Email advice@flagpole.com, or use our anonymous online form at flagpole.com/getadvice.

event calendar

Tuesday 5

EVENTS: West Broad Farmers Market and Garden (Athentic Brewing Co.) Vendors will be on site with fresh produce, local fare, rare plants, artisan goods and more. Tuesdays, 5–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenticbrewing.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

LECTURES & LIT: Author Talk (ACC Library) Sally Bethea will discuss her book Keeping the Chattahoochee: Reviving and Defending a Great Southern River and sign books. 7 p.m. FREE! www.avidbookshop.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

Wednesday 6

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: Athens Farmers Market (Creature Comforts Brewery) Markets offer fresh produce, flowers, eggs, meats, prepared foods and a variety of arts and crafts. 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: A Savage Beast Goes Mad (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of the 1976 film about a former racecar driver who finds the bus he’s riding hijacked by bank robbers. 7 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.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

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici at The Falls) Test your knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens

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: Afternoon Play Group (reBlossom Mama & Baby Shop) Meet new friends and build current relationships with indoor and outdoor play for little ones. Ages 1–4. 3–5 p.m. FREE! www.reblossomathens.com

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: Monthly Book Swap (Athentic Brewing Co.) Presented by Avid Bookshop, browse free books to take home or settle in to read in the front lounge. Donating books is encouraged but not required. First Wednesdays, 5–10 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com

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

Thursday 7

ART: Opening Reception (Athens Chamber of Commerce) The exhibition “BLOOM,” hosted by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, features works by artist Courtney Khail. 5–7 p.m. FREE! marissa@ athensga.com

ART: Artist Talk (Georgia Museum of Art) Athens photographer Jim Fiscus will discuss his recent work in the exhibition “Where Shadows Cross.” 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org

CLASSES: How To Buy A Home (ACC Library) This presentation is for anyone who wants to find out more about the ins and outs of buying a home, including understanding credit and closing on a house. 5:45 p.m. FREE! www. careytheealtor.com

COMEDY: Secret Comedy Show (Onward Reserve) From standup to improv and alternative comedy, every week will feature something unique. Thursdays, 8 p.m. $5–7. www.athenscomedy.ticketleap.com

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

EVENTS: Ladies Night Out (Boutier Winery & Inn) Enjoy a night of dancing with wine, beer and a buffet. First Thursdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m. $20. www.boutierwinery.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

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (The Foundry) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Thursdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddog athens

KIDSTUFF: Open Playtime (Oconee County Library) Drop in for activities that help build brain function and encourage early literacy. Ages 5 & under. 11 a.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

KIDSTUFF: LEGO Club (Oconee County Library) Drop in and build your own unique LEGO creations. Ages 5–12. 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

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

MEETINGS: Dungeons & Dragons (Bogart Library) Volunteer-led gaming session for teens of all skill levels. Grades 6–12. 6–7 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

MEETINGS: Oconee Rivers Audubon Society Fall Kickoff Meeting (Odum School of Ecology Auditorium) There will be a pot-luck style reception and silent auction followed by a presentation by Bob Sargent about the recovery of Bald Eagle populations in Georgia. 6:30–8 p.m. FREE! www.oconee riversaudubon.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

SPORTS: Throwback Thursday Watch Party (Creature Comforts Brewery) Watch a thorback UGA game while UGA’s own Aaron Murray provides commentary. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www.creaturecomfortsbeer. com

Friday 8

ART: Open Studio (ATHICA) Artistin-ATHICA Mickey Oscar Boyd will hold open studio hours while working on a new installation. 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.athica.org

ART: “Legacy: Vince Dooley, 1932-2022” (UGA Special Collections Library) Each home football game weekend, fans can take a free tour of the exhibition “Legacy: Vince Dooley” displaying original artifacts and rarely seen photos of the late UGA head coach. 3 p.m. FREE! hasty@uga.edu

COMEDY: Actor’s Worst Nightmare (work.shop) A team of two actors and one improviser must create a script with a hitch: the only lines the actors are allowed to say are recited from two separate plays, in order. $10. 8-9:30 p.m. www. flyingsquidcomedy.com

COMEDY: A$$$$CAT (Work.Shop)

Members of Gorgeous George’s Improv League perform longform improvised scenes inspired by a guest monologist. 9:30 p.m. $10. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

EVENTS: Fish Fry (Soldier of the Sea Distillery) KJ’s Fish Joint will popup to bring customers a traditional southern fish fry dinner. Second and fourth Fridays, 5–9 p.m. www. soswhiskey.com

EVENTS: Charity Crochet (Oconee County Library) Come help make wash/dishcloths for the Athens Area Homeless Shelter’s “going home” kits. 6:30 p.m. Ages 18 & up. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

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: All Ages Playgroup (reBlossom Mama & Baby Shop) Join caregivers with their little ones (typically ages 1–5) in play clothes for indoor and outdoor activities. 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.reblossom athens.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

MEETINGS: Celebrate Recovery Free Dinner (Living Hope Church) Christ-centered 12-step program to help anyone with heart hurt, hangup or habit. Free childcare, and bus route accessible. FREE! 5:30 p.m. (dinner), 6:30 p.m. (large group). 706-207-2396

OUTDOORS: Bat Night (Sandy Creek Nature Center) An interactive program with a seminar on bat biology and a demonstration of various survey techniques. Registration required. Ages 18 & up. 7–9 p.m. $3 ACC residents. $5 non-residents. www.accgov.com/myrec

Saturday 9

ART: Open Gallery (Southern Star Studio) Browse the studio’s collection of local artist-made pots for sale. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! www. southernstarstudioathens.com

CLASSES: Conversations With Friends (Bogart Library) Ms. Donna hosts a family-friendly ESL class with a focus on activities, games and fun. Snacks provided. All ages. 11 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart

EVENTS: Athens Farmers Market (Bishop Park) Markets offer locally grown groceries and handmade goods. Attendees can enjoy free live music and children’s activities. AFM doubles SNAP dollars spent at the market. Every Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. www.athensfarmers market.net

EVENTS: Athens Water Festival (Sandy Creek Park) The theme for this year’s festival is Elemental, Disney and Pixar’s new movie about fire, water, air and earth. Attendees can expect water trucks, a magic show, bubble art, games and more. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $2 (park entry). www.accgov.com/1239/athenswater-festival

EVENTS: West Broad Farmers Market (West Broad Farmers Market) The market offers fresh produce, locally raised meat and eggs, baked goods, flowers, artisan goods and more. Online ordering is available Sundays–Thursdays for drivethru pick up. Saturdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. www.wbfm.locallygrown.net

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

EVENTS: Groovy Nights (VFW Post 2872) Dust off the disco ball, grab a dancing partner and enjoy tunes from the ’70s and ’80s as well as an epic lipsync battle. Proceeds benefit Project Safe. 8 p.m. $35–55. www.project-safe.org

KIDSTUFF: Grandparents’ Day Brunch (Oconee County Library) Bring your family or special friend to enjoy a light breakfast and fun activities. Registration required. 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee

MEETINGS: Mama Speed Dating (reBlossom Mama & Baby Shop) Gather together with other mothers to create new friendships and enjoy conversation. Registration required.

12:30–1:45 p.m. FREE! www. reblossomathens.com

SPORTS: Watch Party: UGA vs. Ball State (Athentic Brewing Co.) Grab a beer and cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs against the Ball State Cardinals with food on the patio. 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com

SPORTS: Watch Party: UGA vs Ball State (Creature Comforts Brewery) Cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs against the Ball State Cardinals with a food truck and music by djbobfish. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. FREE! www. creaturecomfortsbeer.com

SPORTS: Georgia vs. Ball State (Sanford Stadium) Cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs football team as they face the Ball State Cardinals. 12 p.m. www.georgiadogs.com

Sunday 10

CLASSES: Cuban Salsa (UGA Memorial Hall) Join UGA Salsa Club for lessons that meet a variety of dance abilities, including those who have never danced before. 4–6 p.m. FREE! www.ugasalsaclub.com

EVENTS: Rabbit Hole Sunday Market (Rabbit Hole Studios) Small businesses, artists, farmers, musicians and creative entrepreneurs will be showcased. A drumming and song circle will be held for the last three hours. Every Sunday, 1–5 p.m. FREE! www.rabbitholdstudios. org/markets

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Southern Brewing Co.) Test your knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Sundays, 4 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddog athens

LECTURES & LIT: History Lecture Series (Oconee County Library) UGA PhD student Maya Brooks will present on “From Slavery to the Stars: Examining the Lives and Legacies of Harriet Jacobs and Katharine Johnson.” FREE! 2 p.m. www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

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

Monday 11

CLASSES: Vietnamese Classes (Oconee County Library) Instructor Martine Thy Nguyen teaches the basics of Vietnamese to learners of all levels. 6 p.m. 18 & up. FREE!

www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

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

EVENTS: Charity Crochet (Oconee County Library) Come help make wash/dishcloths for the Athens Area Homeless Shelter’s “going home” kits. 6:30 p.m. Ages 18 & up. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

FILM: Blood Everywhere (Flicker Theatre & Bar) A successful actor has a dark past that may be coming back to haunt him as people around him begin dying in Riccardo Freda’s Murder Obsession. 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/blood everywhere.athens

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

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

KIDSTUFF: Monday Funday (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for songs, fingerplays, storytelling and STEAM activities. Ages 3–7 years. Registration suggested. 10 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Beginner Guitar Club (Lay Park) Learn the basic fundamentals of the guitar. Registration required. Every Monday. Ages 8-11, 5:30-6:20 p.m. Ages 12-17, 6:307:20 p.m. FREE! www.accgovga. myrec.com

Tuesday 12

EVENTS: West Broad Farmers Market and Garden (Athentic Brewing Co.) Vendors will be on site with fresh produce, local fare, rare plants, artisan goods and more. Tuesdays, 5–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenticbrewing.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

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

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

KIDSTUFF: New Parents, Infants and Crawlers Play Group (reBlossom Mama & Baby Shop) Meet other parents and their babies to discuss how you’re feeling and what’s new. Ages 1 & under. 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.reblossomathens. com

KIDSTUFF: Toddler Tuesday: Animals A–Z (Georgia Museum of Art) Enjoy art and storytime together in the galleries, then complete an art activity. Ages 18 months to 3 years. RSVP by email. 10 a.m. FREE! gmoa-tours@uga.edu

KIDSTUFF: Storytime (Oconee County Library) Drop in for songs, stories and crafts. Ages 5 & under. 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee

KIDSTUFF: Crafternoon (Oconee County Library) Drop in for a craft or two. Supplies provided. 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee

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 f

threats & promises

Garett Hatch Releases The Remover

PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING: Just like death, taxes and new residents driving the wrong way on Clayton Street, you can always count on a new batch of releases from the Hooker Vision label. Due to space limitations, I can only concentrate on one of these this week, and that winner is the new release Labyrinth from Grant Evans (Quiet Evenings, Ornamental Hairpin, et al). This two-track release runs nearly 30 minutes, and opens with the buzz and gurgle of “The Idiot (‘a giant is hiding behind the bed. tell that giant to come out, come out.’),” which is a large drone number that makes the walls feel like they’re inching inward. Next up is “Storm (‘and that tree was his house. and then no one found him.’),” which opens up from its predecessor only slightly, and is populated by tape hiss and manipulations. Between the pair, this is probably the most enjoyable, but please keep in mind that such a descriptor means something, perhaps, entirely different when it comes to these types of experimental noise compositions. Even so, I dug it. Figure it out on your own at hookervision.bandcamp.com.

WORTH THE WAIT: After what has seemed like a really long time—actually two years—the new full-length album from Garett Hatch is finally out. As mentioned in these pages a few weeks ago, it’s titled The Remover,

cities and a major label deal with his old band The Lounge Flounders (Nashville, TN), he now calls Athens home and has a new album named Stare Down Stare Down that he released under the name Jones Murphy and the Indefinite Rest. Players on the record include members of old Athens band Michael, as well as members of current Athens bands Nanocar, Nuclear Tourism and Telemarket. This 11-song album does have a distinctly 1990s indie rock DNA even if it doesn’t show through on all songs. Perhaps the most readily recognizable of this sort are the album opener “Time” as well as “It’s A Drag.” Jones actually moves around quite a bit within the parameters of mid-tempo pop-rock and flexes some ’60s folk styling on “Nosebleed,” softer singer-songwriter acoustic playing on “Always Blue” and even a Vic Chesnutt-ish waltz tune with “Persephone.” He celebrated this release with a live show last week. Find it on all major streaming services.

GET INSIDE: Hendershot’s is hosting a special pop-up event Saturday, Sept. 9. The popular coffee shop and performance space will host a visit from Chattanooga’s record store and label Yellow Racket Records It includes performances from two Yellow Racket artists: the “90s alt-rock and shoegaze” influenced El Rocko and experimental pop band Telemonster

A pop-up record store will be open all night. Doors open at 7 p.m. and El Rocko plays at 8 p.m. followed by Telemonster at 9:30 p.m. The cover charge this night is $10.

feature

Athens in Harmony

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THROUGH SONG

By Jessica Smith music@flagpole.com

Working to bring disparate music scenes closer together, Athens in Harmony is a social and sonic experiment that demonstrates how positive change can happen through song. Musicians representing various genres— gospel, R&B, soul, hip hop, rock, folk, goth and even klezmer—are paired into duos across perceived barriers of race and culture, and assigned the challenge of performing together on stage. Back for the event’s sixth year following a pandemic-induced break, producer Pat Priest and Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement founders Mokah Jasmine Johnson and Knowa Johnson are ready for a new round of musical matchmaking.

“The impact I’m proudest of is the relationships built between people who might otherwise never have met,” says Priest. “I’ve thought in the past of our town’s music scenes— Black and white—as two separate turntables. Finally—and other people in town have been working to make this happen, too—there is more cross-fertilization and new friendships, too.”

Athens in Harmony challenges musicians to step outside of their comfort zones, both socially and creatively. Most importantly, the event creates a unique opportunity for pairs to bond over a shared experience and support each other’s endeavors into the future.

looking forward to seeing Rabbi Eric Linder perform with the soul and R&B singer IAMTIKICA. But I’m also really excited about a special trio—Gracie Huffman of lighthearted with gospel greats Dierdra Stroud and Marco Hull—and the quartet of Adam Poulin, Knowa Johnson, a South African student named Freedom Zungu, and my husband Neal. They’re going to rock Jon Batiste’s joyous song ‘Freedom.’”

and it stretches out what we’ve come to expect from Hatch. For example, the slithery title track easily falls somewhere right in the middle between Prince and INXS with its steady pacing, heavy bass line and seductively menacing vocals. The rapid fire vocals of “Rabbit Heart” are well-matched for its similarly moody instrumentation that is fleshed out with some groovy psychsurf solos. Of course, Hatch is known for being such a reliable rocker you could set your watch by him. He delivers plenty of his signature material here, too, including “Bones,” “Nobody” and “Ego Death.” It’s just an all-around really solid and creative release, so if you’re inclined go check it out at garetthatch.bandcamp.com. While you’re there, dig into his back catalog, too. Hatch will play live at Star Community Bar in Atlanta on Oct. 12 and at Nowhere bar here in town on Oct. 13.

PERSISTENCE PAYS: Songwriter and musician Kevin Murphy has certainly put the decades into his craft. Across a handful of

FIFTY CENTS A WORD: Athens band Swear Jar released a new EP a couple of weeks back named What’s Your Problem?. And, honestly, most of my problems with this have to do with this awful band name. Outside of that, 80% of this record is 100% killer. The only songs that didn’t really do anything for me are the seemingly uncharacteristic heavy songs at the very end (the bluesy-grungy “Hypocrisy” and bar rocker “Deal With The Devil”). The first four tracks are a nearly perfect set of modern new wave (“Haunted,” “Unlikely Duo,” “Run”) and alt-folk (“Eyes Wide Open”). These songs are supported largely by a thoughtful bass guitar and, as such, provide an emotional underpinning that would be missing from other groups. Swear Jar’s lineup is Evan Ayers (guitar), Jon Ngo (bass), Ethan Houseman (drums) and Emilee Campbell Harden (vocals). A few weeks back, I mentioned Harden in relation to her vocalist duties in Way Past Cool. She shines here just as brightly and, while I’ve no doubt she’s committed to her groups, there’s just a feeling I get that eventually there’s going to be a long line of musicians whose main claim to fame will be having once played with her. In any case, this is worth a listen, so if you wanna take the plunge head to swearjartheband.bandcamp.com. f

In previous years, many duos have maintained friendships, and some have even continued to collaborate together in various capacities. These new friendships can serve as bridges between seemingly separate scenes, helping to make the larger music community more integrated and less fragmented by social circles. Events with multiple genres represented can in turn broaden audience members’ musical preferences.

This year, Mokah Johnson will co-host with David Bradley, president and CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, while actress Lisa Mende emcees. Jazmin Janay, an R&B singer and actress who recently appeared on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” will partner with Tommy Jordan, the longtime director of the North Georgia Folk Festival and half of the rootsy duo MrJordanMrTonks. Hip-hop artist Nony1 will collaborate with Bart King, a pianist, children’s book author and organizer of the Forest Heights Blueberry Festival.

John Tsao, a singer in the Athens Master Chorale, will join Debra Brenner, a former assistant director of UGA’s Center for Disability Services who will perform using sign language.

“This year it’s going to be especially fun to hear the goth-pop singer Dusty Gannon of Vision Video performing ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ with Jalen Stroud of the great family Splitz Band,” says Priest. “And I’m

The program consists of a total of 10 pairs, each of which will be accompanied by a backing band led by Michael Wegner. The full lineup also includes Ron Da Don and Laura Valentine, Heli Montgomery Dunn and Jaclyn Brown, Tracy Brown and Sherry Joyce, Shirlepa Howard and Alys Willman (Athens Mountain Singers), and Katie Collins and Knowa Johnson (Aquatic Soul Band).

Throughout the evening, participants will have the opportunity to share personal stories about times they’ve observed or directly experienced racism. As per tradition, the night will culminate with a finale performance of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance,” this year spotlighting guest hip-hop artists Mack2Tone and P.O. the Priceless One.

“I think what’s hard to describe is the goodwill generated—the reminder that there are so many good people who want to reach across differences and work to end discrimination in its many forms,” Priest said.

Proceeds from Athens in Harmony will help support AADM youth programs that offer mentorships, internships and other enrichment opportunities. So far this year, the AADM has hosted two dozen students in a Teen Social Justice Apprenticeship & Travel Program, and additionally mentored 10 students through the End School to Prison Pipeline Program. Later this month, Mokah will lead My Black is Beautiful, a four-week empowerment and self-confidence building workshop. f

WHO: Athens in Harmony

WHEN: Sunday, Sept 10, 7 p m

WHERE: The Foundry

HOW MUCH: $20

Garett Hatch

LINDA MACBETH

Hip Hop Celebrates 50 Years

LOOKING BACK AT THE ATHENS CULTURE DURING THE ’80S AND ’90S

By Sam Lipkin editorial@flagpole.com

Itwas Aug. 11, 1973, in The Bronx borough of New York City. In the rec room of an apartment building on Sedgwick Avenue, Clive Campbell, better known as DJ Kool Herc, threw a back-to-school party with his younger sister Cindy. From behind two turntables, Campbell played two copies of the same record in a way that interchangeably looped the instrumental portion emphasizing the drum beat—referred to as the “break”—and elongating it. The dancers, whom he called “break-boys” and “break-girls,” were egged on by Campbell’s announcements and exhortations, skills of the emcee (MC) whose job was to “move the crowd.” The rhythmic vocal accompaniment to the beat laid a path for what would become known as rapping.

This is the moment widely considered to be the birth of hip hop.

However, hip hop is more than just a genre of music or a style of dance, and it’s more than the work of just one man. DJ Afrika Bambaataa, of the hip-hop awareness group Universal Zulu Nation, is credited with establishing the five pillars of the hip-hop culture: the MC, the DJ, breakdancing, graffiti and knowledge. It’s a way of life—one full of artistic expression and personal agency. Regardless of the exact defining moment of “hip hop,” the culture has been growing and evolving for 50 years.

Hip hop was born within marginalized communities, pioneered by African Americans, and its development and history is intrinsically linked with racism. By the mid-1990s, hip hop had become one of the best-selling music genres, yet Athens hip-hop artists struggled to perform in downtown venues while the alternative rock music scene was on fire.

In the present, strides are being made to recognize and rectify the struggles and treatment of the African-American community. In honor of hip hop’s 50th anniversary this year, Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz declared May 18 to be Athens Hip Hop Appreciation Day.

“This has always been a creative community, but it has not always been a community that equally recognized the diversity of creativity present in Athens. Noting the strength and quality of a Black-rooted art form like hip hop makes it explicit that Athens is a place that honors all residents for their contributions,” Girtz said in an email to Flagpole about his proclamation.

In recent years, hip hop has become a permanent fixture in the downtown streets of Athens with the addition of Athens Music Walk of Fame plaques dedicated to legendary hip-hop artists Lo Down & Duddy and Ishues. Hip-hop performances and showcases started to gain traction downtown in the early 2000s. Before that, there weren’t many hip-hop shows in the way that we think of them now, but there was a growing pocket of the culture that found places to thrive in the ’80s and ’90s.

Poet and spoken-word artist Angela Phinazee, known by the stage name Angela the Arsonist and as the “mother of Athens hip hop,” spent the late ’80s and early ’90s

dancing at Athens Skate Inn’s “soul night.” At that time, she says there was nothing like that happening downtown, and a lot of people had to venture to Atlanta for performance opportunities. At Athens Skate Inn, a monthly soul night turned into a bi-monthly event, but the primary focus was on DJs and dancing. However, Phinazee notes there were talent shows where people could show off their different art forms.

A few of the scene regulars Phinazee recalls are her DJing and dancing cousin Sean Lindsey, known as DJ Sean Swift; breakdancer Willie Wester; hip-hop artist Cedric Huff, known as Amun-Ra; and dancer Rollin’ Joel. The Krystal’s on Prince Avenue was the designated hangout spot for after the events, where everyone would refuel and continue dancing and having a good time.

events at Bishop Park and talent shows in Oglethorpe County, Monroe and Winder.

As for Phinazee’s own personal craft, she turned to poetry as her focus and began frequenting the Athens open mics downtown by herself. Breaking into the industry, both as a woman and an Athens artist, was a difficult task with a lot of challenges. So Phinazee returned to the root of it all as “poetry and rhythm gave birth to rap, which evolved into hip hop,” she says. Facing similar struggles was Athens’ first female emcee, Shannon Smith, whom Lindsey says would “really go toe to toe” with the male emcee rappers.

In the ’80s and early ’90s, Smith poured herself into being a rapper and recorded in closets, basements and event facilities in downtown Athens while performing in surrounding cities like Monroe and Eatonton. As she made her way to Atlanta for more opportunities, she says she was “die hard solo” with a manager who believed in her, but as a woman she felt she had to fight. Some of the same struggles still facing women artists today, like being overly sexualized or expected to exchange favors for fame, were prevalent. But through Smith’s hard work, she opened for artists like Freak Nasty, Raheem the Dream and Kizzy Rock while in Atlanta.

still remain seemingly more open to collaborating with hip hop in Athens.

“The first band we put together wasn’t a very good band—our bassist couldn’t even play bass,” laughs Walton, but having a rapper with a live band afforded more opportunities in the Athens scene. While creatives like Walton were busy making opportunities and finding ways to bring the growing national success of hip hop to Athens, they were also encouraging and inspiring the second-wave generation of hip-hop enthusiasts.

“It’s a big deal when you see someone that looks like you doing something you love doing,” says Walton.

As a teenager in the ’90s, writer, emcee and culture aficionado Jabrell Winfrey, known as Billy D. Brell and the Talented Mr. Winfrey, was at the center of hip-hop culture—despite his mother’s disapproval. During his senior year in 1997, K. P. & Envyi performed at the Clarke Central gymnasium with him and a few other students opening for the group. He recalls during the ’80s and ’90s that a lot of people in the South didn’t think it was possible to be an emcee, so they took to the other elements of hip hop. But in Athens, Lo Down and Duddy were the first rappers he points to as showing people it was possible to be successful in that way. Personally inspiring to Winfrey was Ken Bloodsaw, who took him under his wing and guided him into the studio.

It wasn’t until 2001–2002 that Winfrey saw local hip-hop artists putting on their own shows, especially downtown, which was prompted by William Montu Miller and the campus group he started, Dreaded Mindz. Tasty World and Miller’s “Tasty Tuesday” hip-hop showcases are still often talked about in regards to hip hop breaking into downtown, but before that, Miller hosted events in 2000 at his apartment, dubbed The Lounge. There were poetry Thursdays and hip-hop Fridays—from which flyers are currently on view in the “House Party” exhibit at UGA’s Special Collections Library.

Before Phinazee’s cousin became DJ Sean Swift, Lindsey was also on the scene as a breakdancer in the ’80s. The skating rink was the go-to spot, but the house party scene was also large, and Lindsey would participate in breaking events outside of the city between Athens and Atlanta. Webster and Bruce Chambers were two of the breaking pioneers, says Lindsey, who taught him the ins-and-outs of the culture and dress code.

“For me, breakdancing was a way to express yourself,” says Lindsey. “You was showcasing your talent. But if we had a little small beef or something like that, we would go to the skating rink and we’d battle it out. It was the outlet for us to where we also had fun doing it.”

For Lindsey, in the late ’80s and early ’90s, “dancing was where it was at.” At that time the YEEK! movement, a style of dance, was growing in Atlanta. Lindsey and his friends would frequent clubs in Atlanta, and they quickly picked up on this new dance, which they brought back to Athens. The crew practiced the routines and got the preppy dress code together, from hair to shoes, then participated in summer

Facing these challenges when women were fighting for respect in hip hop has left Smith critical of modern female rappers who seem preoccupied with keeping up with their male counterparts instead of carving their own lane. “What’s popular is not the people telling their stories. That’s not hip hop,” says Smith, when reflecting on the golden age of hip hop that valued telling stories from life, your hood, police brutality and other politics. Even so, Smith is still a “cheerleader” for the “authentic” and “real.”

“If people would just understand how important that is when we open the door, then other people can get their foot in. Instead of just hating on the one person that has arrived, support them,” says Smith.

In the late ’90s, Athens hip hop was knocking on doors and building momentum that began to finally breach the downtown music scene. Multi-talented dancer, rapper, poet and comedian Showyn Walton, affectionately known as Buddah, reminisces on performing with hip hop-based bands that were welcomed onto mixed-genre bills at downtown venues. Walton specifically mentions performing alongside punk rock and jam-based bands, which are two genres that

During that time period, Winfrey names three other individuals that were responsible for pushing the hip-hop scene forward musically. Ishues Cuthbertson brought “the real emcee essence to a Southern scene.” Tony Bradford was respected by both the downtown and street scenes, says Winfrey, and was one of the first people to bring big artists to Athens, like Nicki Minaj before she blew up. Winfrey highlights Eugene Willis, who performs as BlackNerdNinja, as someone he watched while still in high school working jobs to pay for studio time and record projects when that wasn’t a norm, and he pushed the boundaries of live performance in the city.

By no means is this an exhaustive list of movers and shakers in the early Athens hip-hop scene, nor does it name every place within Athens that hip hop was happening. It’s merely a reflection on how the scene has grown, and some of the people responsible for it. Likewise, hip hop as a culture and as a musical genre has seen a lot of growth, and change is not always viewed positively by all. But it’s still a sign of progression. Winfrey leaves us with this:

“I feel like that’s the best way to love the culture: It’s just like a child. You love a child to death, but it gets to a certain point you can’t control what that child does. How can you still expect it to be the same at 50 years old?” f

The Athens hip-hop community celebrated the culture with an anniversary event on May 18.

BRASHER MEDIA

live music calendar

Tuesday 5

Flicker Theatre & Bar

Attaboy Tapes Presents. 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (music). $10. www. flickertheatreandbar.com

LEBO JENKINS Alien Appalachian, old time tunes and American primitive compositions on banjo and scordatura guitar.

KIRAN FERNANDES Multi-instrumentalist and visual artist crafting psych folk with influences ranging from American primitive guitar to Saharan desert rock.

PETER WEBB Musician playing meditative, jazz-influenced experimental folk.

Georgia Theatre Rooftop

7:30 p.m. (doors), 8:30 p.m. (show). $15. www.georgiatheatre.com

CARVER COMMODORE Alabama indie-pop rockers with autobiographical lyrics.

RECESS PARTY Up-and-coming local Athens alternative rock band with an energetic and upbeat sound. Hendershot’s No Phone Party. 7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

KENOSHA KID Instrumental adventure-jazz group centered around the rollicking compositions of Dan Nettles and featuring Josh Allen, Seth Hendershot and various guests.

Rabbit Hole Studios

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

OPEN MIC Open to any artist!

Wednesday 6

40 Watt Club

7:30 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). FREE! www.40watt.com

VISION VIDEO Catchy goth-pop and post-punk act based in Athens. Tonight’s performance will be a music video shoot.

Creature Comforts

Brewery

Athens Farmers Market. 5–8 p.m. www.athensfarmersmarket.net

RED OAK STRING BAND Local band playing a feel-good blend of bluegrass, blues, folk, rock and classic country. (6 p.m.)

Edge Hall

6 p.m. FREE! music.uga.edu

PROKOFIEV LECTURE RECITAL

David Starkweather and Anatoly Sheludyakov present a component piece to the UGA Symphony Orchestra’s Sept. 14 performance of works by Sergei Prokofiev.

Georgia Theatre

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $20. www.georgiatheatre.com

ZOSO One of the longest-tenured Led Zeppelin tribute bands returns to Athens.

Georgia Theatre Rooftop

6 p.m. FREE! www.georgiatheatre.com

DREAMLILY Lily Herne and her dream rock band honor the one year anniversary of the death of Art Rosenbaum. “Days of 1974” and “Baker Island” bring back what Rosenbaum called “The Time Flow.”

Hendershot’s

8 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

HENDERSHOT’S OPEN MIC

NIGHT Discover new Athens musical talent. Hosted by Liz Farrell.

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.

Thursday 7

40 Watt Club

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

EREMOS College band based in Athens whose sound is a mixture between indie folk, Southern rock and blues.

LAWLESS Five-peice classic rock band with a modern twist.

CAM SMITH Folk and country solo musician from Forsyth, GA. Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. (doors). $12. www.flicker theatre.com

ROSE HOTEL “Bedroom-rock” alter ego of Kentucky songwriter Jordan Reynolds.

AIRPARK Nashville-based duo creating a mellow, lo-fi alternative sound.

Georgia Theatre

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $39.50. www.georgiatheatre.com

JOHNNY SWIM Los Angeles, CA-based band made of a couple whose alternative pop rock sound takes the audience through their life of love.

Georgia Theatre

Rooftop

7 p.m. FREE! www.georgiatheatre.com

KIND HEARTED STRANGERS

American folk band from Denver with a rock and roll edge.

Hendershot’s

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

JAZZ JAM Seth Hendershot and the house band Unstarched host an open jazz jam. Bring an instrument or your voice.

Nowhere Bar

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

NowhereBarAthens

FRANKENFUNK’S CINNAMON

JAM The longtime Athens staple returns with live freeform funk to dance to and a rotating crew of musicians. Feel free to bring an instrument and join in.

Ramsey Hall Faculty Artist Series. 7:30 p.m. $3 (w/ UGA ID), $15. pac.uga.edu

EVGENY RIVKIN Pianist Rivkin studied at the Moscow Conservatory and is a top prize winner of International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Bavarian Radio Competition in Munich and others. Southern Brewing Co.

6–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com

KARAOKE NIGHT Every Thursday evening.

Friday 8

40 Watt Club 7 p.m. (doors). $20. www.40watt.com

THE BAD ENDS New supergroup featuring Mike Mantione (Five Eight) and Bill Berry (R.E.M.) that hit the ground running with its debut album, The Power and The Glory

CHICKASAW MUDD PUPPIES

The legendary local “swamp-rock” band reunited earlier this year to

release its first album in over 30 years.

Athentic Brewing Co.

6 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com

LEVI RANSOM Atlanta-based singer-songwriter with a love for pop music.

Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. (doors). $12. www.flicker theatre.com

HUNGER ANTHEM Indie garage rock trio from Athens with head banging energy.

TIGER BEACH Raleigh, NC-based indie-alternative rock artist with an upbeat and passionate edge.

LUNG Powerhouse art-punk cellorock duo from Cincinnati.

ALL GODS Soft yet commanding lo-fi indie rock project by Santa Fe artist Tim Platz.

PYLON REENACTMENT SOCIETY

Vanessa Briscoe Hay and an all-star cast of locals play the music of Pylon, plus new originals.

VFW Post 2872

8 p.m. $10. www.facebook.com/ vfwpost2872

CHRIS HAMPTON BAND A variety of rock, country and western dance music. Line dancing during the band breaks.

Saturday 9

40 Watt Club

9 p.m. $13. www.40watt.com

C’MON BARBIE! A DANCE PARTY Bray-k47 spins tracks from Britney, Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Slayyyter, Charli XCX, Tove Lo and more.

CLAVUS Four-piece screamo band from Athens.

The Foundry

6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). $12 (adv.), $15. bit.ly/TheCoreSept9

THE CORE Atlanta act recreating the sounds of the 1990s H.O.R.D.E. Tour through songs by the Allman Brothers, Band, Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band, Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Phish and more.

THE DOWNSTAIRS Four-piece indie rock band from Athens.

Front Porch Bookstore

6 p.m. FREE! jmazzucc@uga.edu

THE WELFARE LINERS Fivepiece local bluegrass unit blending classic tunes with melodic, highlonesome originals.

Georgia Theatre

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $22. www.georgiatheatre.com

DURAND BERNARR Singer-songwriter and runner-up on BET’s “The Next Big Thing” who has provided background vocals for Erykah Badu, The Internet and Kaytranada.

JERONELLE Omaha-born R&B singer-songwriter who rose to fame on the reality show “The Four: Battle for Stardom.”

Hendershot’s Yellow Racket Records Presents. 8 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

TELEMONSTER Chattanooga indie rock band formed in 2010.

EL ROCKO Singer-songwriter Chase Waller is heavily influenced by ’90s alt-rock and shoegaze, combining ragged guitars and mellow vocals with honest lyrics.

Red Line Athens

7 p.m. $7 suggested donation.

NO ASYLUM Thrashy political punk with some hardcore breakdowns from Alabama.

man Autry Band whose lyrics focus on the simple things in life. Oak House Distillery

3:30–6 p.m. www.oakhousedistillery. com

THE DIXIELAND FIVE PLUS TWO New Orleans style jazz band with trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, sousaphone, drums and featured vocalist Liam Parke.

Southern Brewing Co. 6 p.m. FREE! www.sobrewco.com

KARAOKE NIGHT Night of karaoke with friends and free to all!

Monday 11

Georgia Theatre

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $22. www.georgiatheatre.com

CUT WORMS Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Max Clarke explores “pop essentialism” by mining the golden hits of yesteryear to create a timeless new sound of his own.

Tuesday 12

Georgia Theatre

6:30 p.m. (doors), 7:30 p.m. (show). $15. www.georgiatheatre.com

JOSH BENNETT BAND Local fivepiece band blending Southern rock, bluegrass and funk.

CHRISTINA VANE Songwriter, singer, slide guitar and clawhammer banjo player based in Nashville.

ELI CAIN Young country singersongwriter from Watkinsville.

Wednesday 13

Georgia Theatre

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $30. www.georgiatheatre.com

COREY SMITH A native of Jefferson, GA, this country music artist is touring for his 10th album.

Georgia Theatre Rooftop

6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). FREE! www.georgiatheatre.com

KYLER WESTON Eatonton, GAbased singer-songwriter whose sound is a mixture of country, blues and classic rock and roll.

Hendershot’s

8 p.m. $10. www.hendershotsathens. com

BICHOS VIVOS Local band playing forró, accordion and triangle-driven country music from Brazil.

Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall

7:30 p.m. (doors). SOLD OUT! pac. uga.edu

NICKEL CREEK Grammy Awardwinning bluegrass and folk music band.

AOIFE O’DONOVAN Grammy Award-winning vocalist who is one third of the group I’m With Her.

The Root

9 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/ therootathens

CLASSIC CITY JUKEBOX Local rock and roll cover band.

Southern Brewing Co.

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $20 (adv.), $25. bit.ly/DrivinNCryinSept8 DRIVIN’ N CRYIN’ Legendary Atlanta band playing hard-charging, Southern-inspired rock.

Athentic Brewing Co.

6–8 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com

WRECKING ROSES Acoustic trio with harmonized singing playing a mix of country and classic rock with a soulful twist.

Bishop Park

Athens Farmers Market. 8 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.athensfarmers market.net

MARK PLEMMONS Talented local pianist. (8 a.m.)

ACOUSTIC JAM Bring an acoustic instrument and join in. (10 a.m.)

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. Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

UGA Watch Party. 11 a.m. www.creaturecomfortsbeer.com

DJBOBFISH Setting the stadium vibes before, during and after the Georgia Bulldogs versus Ball State Cardinals game.

Flicker Theatre & Bar Shadebeast Presents. 9 p.m. (doors). $12. www.flickertheatreandbar.com

APATHETIC DISCHARGE Athens act offering “an unhealthy dose of progressive blackened brutal deathcore grind.”

BLIND TIGER Florida-based metal band with a raw brand of versatile hardcore accompanied by honest and poetic lyricism.

SMALL Punk rock trio from Atlanta. BEAT UP Passionate punk rock influenced by old school anarcho. Celebrating the digital release of You are beautiful…but this place sucks.

Sunday 10

Athentic Brewing Co.

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

ATHENTIC BLUEGRASS JAM

Players of all skill levels are invited to participate in this open jam, which strives to unite members of the local folk music community. Every second Sunday.

Creature Comforts

Brewery

3–5 p.m. www.creaturecomfortsbeer. com

LIVE JAZZ Every Sunday afternoon. The Foundry 7 p.m. $20. www.aadmovement.org

ATHENS IN HARMONY Pat Priest, Knowa Johnson and Mokah Jasmine Johnson present the return of an annual event in which performers representing various genres and perceived barriers of race and culture are paired into duos to perform together.

Hendershot’s

6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). www. hendershotsathens.com

ADAM HOOD Singer-songwriter with a Southern sound that’s equal parts country, soul and American roots music.

JOSHUA WALKER Country singersongwriter and member of the Hol-

Athentic Brewing Co.

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

WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT

Choose from a large catalog of more than 51,000 songs ranging from pop, rock, musical theater and more.

Creature Comforts Brewery

Athens Farmers Market. 5–8 p.m. FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket. net

MARY & THE HOT HOTTY-HOTS

Hot jazz and swing band offering music from the 1910s, ’20s and ’30s. (6 p.m.)

Georgia Theatre

Rooftop

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $30. www.georgiatheatre.com

COLONY HOUSE Landlocked surf rock band playing hopeful, light rock and roll.

LUNAR VACATION Atlanta band with dream-pop and surf-rock influences.

Georgia Theatre Rooftop

11 p.m. FREE! www.georgiatheatre. com

THE ECHOLOCATIONS Local rock band embracing a retro, ’60sinspired sound.

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

Nickel Creek will kick off the Performing Arts Center’s new season with a sold out show at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall on Friday, Sept. 8.

JOSH GOLEMAN

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/exhibits

CALL FOR ARTISTS (Winterville Cultural Center) Submit up to three images by email that interpret the theme “anticipation” for a chance to win an award of $200. Deadline Sept. 11. Reception held Sept. 28. Exhibition runs through Nov. 20. $15 entry fee. wacartshows@ gmail.com

CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOSALS (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-Proposal-Form

CALL FOR PHOTOS (Athens, GA)

Seeking water and nature-themed photos taken in Athens-Clarke County for the 2024 Stormwater Calendar. www.accgov.com/1764/ Stormwater-Management-Program

JOKERJOKERTV CALL FOR ARTISTS (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. Vote 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

Auditions

A GIFT TO REMEMBER (Elberton Arts Center) Encore Productions hosts auditions for a holiday production. Drop in either evening and

art around town

ATHENAEUM (287 W. Broad St.) Paul Pfeiffer’s video work “Red Green Blue” edits audio and visual recordings of the UGA Redcoat Marching Band to investigate the stadium as a site of ritual. Artist Talk Sept. 28, 6 p.m. Curator

Tour Oct. 8, 4 p.m. Currently on view through Nov. 18.

ATHENS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (246 W. Hancock Ave.)

“BLOOM” features select works by local artist Courtney Khail. Opening reception Sept. 7, 5–7 p.m. Through Oct. 6.

ATHENS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: ATHICA (675 Pulaski St.) Artist-in-ATHICA Mickey Oscar Boyd will develop an installation entitled “The Vernacular of Placeless Architecture; or Stairs and Portals to the Same Place.” Open studio hours Sept. 8, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Reception Sept. 21, 6–8 p.m. Finished exhibition on view Sept. 15–Oct. 12.

ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) Curated by Jason Thrasher in conjunction with a co-exhibition at the ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery, “80s Skate Photography” shares images by J. Grant Brittain. Artist talk and book signing Sept. 30, 6 p.m. Currently on view through Oct. 25.

CIRCLE GALLERY AT UGA COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENT & DESIGN (Jackson Street Building) “With Rapture & Astonishment: Reimagining the Bartram Trail” presents photographs by a dozen artists who documented their observations while following in Bartram’s footsteps. Through Sept. 12.

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.

DODD GALLERIES (270 River Rd.) In “Wall Works: Kathryn Réfi,” the artist uses her own hair as a foundational image to weave organic and irregular material into the familiar pattern of a chain link fence, creating a tension between softness and rigidity. Through Nov. 15.

FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) Vibrant artwork by multi-media Philadelphia artist Angela Rio. Through September.

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. • “Where Shadows Cross: Photography

be prepared to read excerpts from the script. Auditions held Sept. 18–19, 6–8 p.m. Performances Dec. 1–3, 8–10. 706-213-3109, tking@cityofelberton.net

Classes

ART CLASSES (K.A. Artist Shop)

A variety of classes are taught in acrylic painting, watercolor painting, brush pen calligraphy, digital editing, photographing artwork, analog black-and-white photography, aqua oil painting, pet portraits and more. Visit the website for dates and to register. www.kaartistshop.com

ART CLASSES (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) “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

BLACKSMITHING CLASSES (Greenhow Handmade Ironworks, Washington) A variety of classes include “Basic Blacksmithing” (Sept. 9 or Oct. 7), “The Art of Chain Making” (Sept. 16), “Forge a Firepoker” (Sept. 23), “Forge a Tomahawk” (Oct. 21) and “Forge a Bottle Opener” (Oct. 28). Classes run 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.greenhowhand made.com/blacksmith-classes

COLLAGE FROM THE HEART & SOUL (Oconee Cultural Arts

Foundation) Use a variety of colors, textures, images, photos and mediums to express yourself. Participants will learn the fundamentals of composition, line, color and more.

Mondays, Sept. 11–Oct. 2, 12:30–3 p.m. $160 (members), $210 (nonmembers). www.ocaf.com/ courses

COMMUNITY DANCE

“Wall Works: Kathryn Réfi” is currently on view at the Dodd Galleries through Nov. 15.

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

FLYING SQUID COMEDY CLASSES (work.shop) Weekly improv comedy classes are held for four different levels of experience. Classes begin in October. $160 (six weeks), $215 (eight weeks). Flying Squid Comedy also hosts improv performances Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Buvez and Fridays at 8 p.m. at work.shop. www.flyingsquid comedy.com

INNOVATION BOOTCAMP (UGA Delta Innovation Hub) Entrepreneurs in hospitality can learn the fundamentals of building successful startup teams, funding sources, effective branding and marketing strategies, and more. Sept. 18–Oct. 30. research.uga.edu

INTUITIVE PAINTING (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) Explore your inner creative voice through painting. Wednesdays, Sept. 13–Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. $160 (members), $210 (non-members). www.ocaf.com/courses

by Jim Fiscus. Through Oct. 8. • “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” features paintings by Louise, engravings by Pierre and several objects that appear in their images. Through Feb. 11. • “Decade of Tradition: Highlights from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection.” Through July 3, 2024.

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

JUST PHO… AND MORE (1063 Baxter St.) Local watercolorist Mary Ellen Vogel presents “Home and Abroad,” scenes from the Bahamas, Italy, Europe, Thailand, Japan and the U.S. executed in her realistic, impressionistic style. Through Oct. 14.

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. • “The Fables” by Kristin Roberts consists of illustrations inspired by Aesop’s Fables. Through Oct. 7. • “Sanctuary: Works by Mary Engel and Cheryl Washburn” combines works by two artists who share a passion for animals. Through Oct. 7.

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

Teresa Bramlette Reeves presents “she didn’t really follow a rabbit down the hole, but she thought it was a good story.” Opening reception Sept. 7, 6–8 p.m.

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

“Tommye Scanlin: Because of Memory” features handwoven tapestries alongside works on paper based on the artist’s experiences of the Lillian E. Smith Center in Clayton, GA. Through Sept. 28.

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

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.healingarts centre.net

PETANQUE CLUB OF ATHENS

(Athens, GA) Weekly games are held every Wednesday. Email to participate. RSVP to attend a free Monday intro class, 10–11:30 a.m. athenspetanqueclub@gmail.com, www.athenspetanqueclub.wixsite. com/play

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) Nuçi’s hosts free monthly QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention sessions for anyone interested, not just mental health professionals. Nuçi’s also offers free training for businesses and organizations.

qpr@nuci.org, www.nuci.org/blog/ qpr-upcoming-dates

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

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. liveoak martialarts@gmail.com, www.live oakmartialarts.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.revolutiontherapy andyoga.com

21st annual “Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational” presents upwards of 4,000 pieces by 49 artists from across the state. “Sandy Culp: Sculptural Journey in Clay” spotlights a ceramicist specializing in trompe l’oeil. Through Sept. 10.

STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA (2450 S. Milledge Ave)

Margaret Agner presents “Six-Legged Symmetry,” a collection of 17 painted silk hangings depicting insects. Insectival held Sept. 30. Currently on view through Oct. 9.

STEFFEN THOMAS MUSEUM OF ART (4200 Bethany Rd., Buckhead)

“Something to Declare/Algo para Declarar” represents nine Latin American countries through the works of Jorge Arcos, Yehimi Cambron, Marisa Cerban, Franklin Delgado, Pedro Fuertes, Catalina Gomez-Beuth, Dora Lopez, Morgan Lugo, Paula Reynaldi, Maria Sarmiento, Carlos Solis and Melvin Toledo. Through Jan. 6.

THE ROOK & PAWN (294 W. Washington St.) “Full Circle” is a group exhibition of works by 26 Athens artists including Keith P. Rein, J Anderssen, Sierra Kirsche, Gaby Delliponti and Wiliam Ballard. Through Oct. 21.

UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “House Party” explores Athens’ house show history through photos and artifacts from The Green House on Milledge across from Taco Stand, The Landfill, Spillage, The Lounge, Saint Mary’s Church, The Ultramod Compound and others. Through December. • “Exploring St. Catherines Island” lays out centuries of American history found in artifacts dating back to the 16th century, tracing the island’s history from the establishment of indigenous towns through Spanish and English colonialism. Lecture held Sept. 14. Family Day held Sept. 30. Through December. • “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. • “Legacy: Vince Dooley, 1932-2022” celebrates the life and career of the late UGA football head coach and athletic director through photographs and artifacts. Tours held before home games on Fridays at 3 p.m. Through spring 2024.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF ATHENS (780 Timothy Rd.)

“Encounters” features artwork in different media by Linda Gilbert and Hilda Kurtz.

WINTERVILLE LIBRARY (115 Marigold Lane, Winterville) Acrylic paintings by Laura Floyd. Through Sept. 22.

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” (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

Kidstuff

ART CLUBS (K.A. Artist Shop) Draw, paint, collage and create during weekly Art Card and Button Club meet-ups. Fridays, 6:30–8 p.m. Drawing Club, taught by local artist Holly Hutchinson, is held Wednesdays, Sept. 13–Nov. 15, 5–6:30 p.m. For ages 10–17. $25/drop-in, $200 (10-session pass). www.ka artist.com

ATHENS FOREST KINDERGARTEN

(Sandy Creek Park) Now enrolling children ages 3-6 for fall. AFK is a cooperative preschool that aims to develop initiative, persistence, interdependence and empathy. www.athensforestkindergarten.org

GROUPS AT REBLOSSOM (ReBlossom) All Ages Play Group is for children (typically 1–5 years old) and their caregivers to play outdoors. Fridays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. New Parents, Infants and Crawlers Play Group is for babies ages 0-12 months and their caregivers to discuss parenthood. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Afternoon Play Group is for children (typically 1–4 years old) and their caregivers to meet each other and build relationships. Wednesdays, 3–5 p.m. www. reblossomathens.com

MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL (Contact for Location) Mokah Jasmine Johnson leads an empowerment and self-confidence building workshop for Black and brown girls ages 13–16. Scholarships available. Saturdays, Sept. 23–Oct. 14, 12:30–2 p.m. $50. www.aadmovement.org

READ MAKE PLAY (’Brella Studio) Various art activities for ages 0–5 are offered weekday mornings at 9 a.m. Check website for upcoming programs. Story time is also held every Friday at 10 a.m. www.brella studio.com

SPARK: WEEKEND ACADEMY (Georgia Center for Continuing Education) Spark invites middle and high school students to attend weekend-long academic courses in American Sign Language or 3D animation. For ages 13–16. Oct. 21–22, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $120. www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/youth/ spark

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

AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else’s drinking. Free meetings at lunchtime and evenings throughout the week in Athens and Watkinsville. www.ga-al-anon.org

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,7–9 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 eating compulsively or curb other 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

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

RIVERS ALIVE (Dudley Park) Wade into local rivers, lakes and streams as part of a statewide campaign to clean and preserve over 70,000 miles of Georgia’s rivers and streams. The annual cleanup event will happen Oct. 21. accgov.com/ riversalive

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

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

FALL ACTIVITIES (Athens, GA) ACC Leisure Services will offer a variety of arts, environmental science, recreation, sports and holiday events this fall for all ages. Now registering. www.accgov.com/myrec

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

MEMORIAL PARK PUBLIC INPUT

SESSIONS (Online) The Leisure Services Department is seeking public comment on upcoming improvements to Memorial Park’s pedestrian and vehicle access, stormwater structures and pond area. Through Sept. 3. www.accgov. com/memorial

NATIONAL DIAPER NEED AWARENESS WEEK (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Diaper Bank encourages volunteers to host diaper drives, serve as drop-off locations, support fundraising initiatives and more. Awareness week runs Sept. 18–24. A reception will be held Sept. 24, 2–3 p.m. at 130 Conway Dr., Suite E. www.athensareadiaper bank.com

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

VHS DIGITIZATION (Athens, GA)

Brad Staples (of the Athens GA Live Music crew) is seeking previously recorded concerts and events on VHS, VHSC or DVDs to digitize and archive on his YouTube channel, vhsordie (@vhsordie3030). Original recordings will be returned, and credits and dates will be included in the online video description. Digitization services are free. Contact for details and to coordinate shipping. bradley.staples88@gmail.com

WORK.SHOP (160 Winston Dr.) Open rehearsal and performance space. $10/hour. lisayaconelli@ gmail.com f

2023 Pottery

PERSPECTIVES

SHOW & SALE

AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 10

OPEN DAILY 10 A M - 5 P M

Upwards of 4,000 pieces of pottery created by 49 of Georgia's most gifted ceramic artists will be for sale Free admission and parking

ULTURAL ARTSFO

www.ocaf.com

(706) 769-4565

Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation 34 School Street, OCAF Center Watkinsville, Georgia

Parking available in our lot and behind City Hall.

REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Basement apt. 2BR/1BA

spacious entertainment area AC/WiFi. Ideal for visiting faculty, graduate students, or roommates looking for short-term lease. Furnished. Non-smokers, no pets. 1750.00 /mo.

Lease 2023 Fall semester. Located on quiet Timothy Rd/loop neighborhood. Also available for weekend visitors to UGA games reserve now and rent entire 3-5 bd. house. Contact: mikemange36@gmail.com

HOUSES FOR RENT

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

Flagpole ♥s our advertisers!



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

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

Advertise your musical service in the Flagpole Classifieds! Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com today!

SERVICES CLASSES

REIKI I & II CERTIFICATION TRAINING: Feel Free Yoga + Wellness Studio. Athens, GA. 9/30 & 10/1. 9-4 p.m. $399. Register online www.feelfree yogawellness.com.

HEALTH

HYPNOSIS : Smoking, stress, weight, motivation. Harvard-trained, nationally certified. 678-895-4278, jimhilton911@yahoo.com, www.hiltonhypnosis.webs. com

JOBS

FULL-TIME

Athens digital marketing agency seeks organized, detail-oriented Social Media Intern . More info at: lightmarkmedia.com/job.

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

Needed: Ecological landscape and garden technicians. Clean driving record required. On the job training for installation and maintenance, our projects range from heavy machinery installation to hand-weeding pollinator gardens. Email us! office@royallandscape design.com

PART-TIME

Part-time line cook needed for dinner service at Puma Yu’s. Send resume to pumayusbaby@gmail.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 more information.

Get Flagpole delivered 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 706-549-0301 or email front desk@flagpole.com.

COVID self-testing kiosk available in West Athens (3500 Atlanta Hwy. At the old Fire Station on the corner of Atlanta Hwy. & Mitchell Bridge Rd. near Aldi and Publix.) Pre-registration is required! Visit www. register.testandgo.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 or order online www.flagpole.bigcartel.com.

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

Advertise in the Flagpole Classifieds! Call 706-5490301 or email class@flagpole.com today!

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