Athenscape 2023

To our readers –

In the blink of an eye, summer wraps up once again. Over the course of three months, Athens has seen festivals, concerts and felt the heat glaze over the city once again. But as August arrives and campus roars back to life, we hold onto our summer memories even as the trees fade, and the wind cools.

I am wishing the best for your upcoming fall semester and hope that autumn’s arrival brings upon great evenings, new adventures, blooming friendships, fall romances, Saturday game days, late night trips to Cookout and anything else that keeps your heart going.

Whether you are a new student who has just been given a first shot at independence or a soon-to-be graduate who’s making a final push toward a good grade, I hope the fall semester treats you kindly and that you are able to enjoy the moments that make college special. From the midnight hangouts with friends to the long walks uphill to get to class, keep your head up and savor the moments that come.

The fall semester offers some of the most beautiful moments on the University of Georgia campus as the trees shed their leaves, and the chilly wind scatters them across the North Campus lawn. It’s a time where you can relax and enjoy yourself (if you aren’t too busy studying in the library).

It is also often a time to look forward to the future. Whether you are excited for gamedays at Sanford Stadium, the holiday spirit that livens the Classic City or the graduation day that might be coming sooner than you even realize.

Over the course of the fall semester, The Red & Black will be around to offer Athens independent, credible and free news. You can find our monthly print editions, special issues and special publications in The Red & Black boxes or in local businesses across town. You can also view our daily news digitally on our website or through our app, Red & Black NOW. On the website or app, we can give you the fastest updates on breaking news, events and Georgia sports.

If you are interested in joining our publication, have an idea or just want to share a tip, we would love to hear from you. Just visit our website to find more information on how to reach out.

On behalf of the summer staff at The Red & Black, thank you for picking up our special back-to-school issue. We hope that you are able to enjoy reading through it and learning more about the Classic City.

– Jim Bass, Editor in-Chief

Classic City Origins

How Athens became the Classic City

Allison Mawn

Athens has long been known by its iconic nickname: the Classic City. But where did the nickname come from?

The naming of Athens is tied to the founding of the University of Georgia. UGA became the first state-chartered university in 1785, but did not have a campus for 16 years. The site for UGA was selected in 1801 on a hill above a trading settlement called Cedar Shoals. The settlement was on the banks of the Oconee River, in what was then Jackson County.

In 1805, John Milledge, one of UGA’s trustees and a former Georgia governor, bought 633 acres of land and donated it to the university. He named the newly established town after Athens, Greece — a center of learning in the classical world, home to Plato’s Academy and renowned thinkers including Socrates and Aristotle.

Over the years, Athenians embraced the nickname the Classic City and made it a part of the town’s identity. Several establishments and products have taken on some form of the moniker, including Classic City High School, Classic City News, the Classic Center, Classic City Church, Classic City Lager from Creature Comforts Brewery and more. In

Athens, you can find anything from restaurants to medical offices bearing the label.

The home of the Bulldogs is not the only Athens in the country. In fact, there are 20 namesakes of Athens in the United States, plus a village in New York, a borough in Pennsylvania and a county in Ohio. The other Athens locations, aside from Georgia, are found in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

While Athens, Georgia, is not the first or the only Athens in the country, it is home to some significant history and culture, including a renowned university with back-to-back football national championships.

Athens’ music scene has birthed cultural juggernauts and influenced numerous musical movements. The Classic City is home to iconic performers such as R.E.M., The B-52s, The Primates, the Indigo Girls and many more. Several of these acts are commemorated on the Athens Music Walk of Fame, which was launched in 2020. The city’s love of music has been celebrated each year since 1996 with AthFest, a music and arts festival that fundraises for K-12 music and art education.

According to the Athens-Clarke County government, Athens is home to 41 local historic landmarks. These include the world’s only double-barrel cannon, built during the Civil War, and the Morton Theatre, one of the first and oldest surviving vaudeville theaters in the United States to be owned and operated by a Black owner. From 1954 to 2010, Athens was also the home of the Navy Supply Corps school, where all active-duty Navy supply officers were trained. It is also home to the Georgia Museum of Art, the official state art museum since 1982, which is open to the public with free admission.

Athens also has its fair share of famous natives including singer and actor Titus Burgess, rapper Quavo, photographer Jason Thrasher, aviation pioneer Ben T. Epps, actress and television personality Phaedra Parks, Academy Award winning actress Kim Basinger, actor Jeff Daniels and more.

Athens’ nickname of the Classic City can be traced back to the city’s establishment, but in the over 200 years since, Athens has grown to embrace and live up to the moniker.

The front of the Classic Center, a local event space, on June 23, 2023. JESSICA LIN/STAFF

Finding your niche

Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson

While many consider Athens to be a town for college students, the city offers a number of groups outside of the university catering to all kinds of hobbies. Check out these groups for people of all walks of life and interests.

Arts/Crafts:

Athens Area Plein Air Artists - A group of artists who create outdoors. They meet on the second Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It’s free and open to people of all skill levels.

Athens Fibercraft Guild - A local guild for anyone interested in fiber arts, including weaving, quilting, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, looping, basketry, paper-making and more. Members share their skills with one another, and people of all skill levels are welcome to join. Weekly meetings are held September through June on the second Tuesday of the month at 12:30 pm at the Lyndon House Arts Center.

Revival Yarns - This yarn store has a weekly craft night on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. They also have monthly “knit-a-long” workshops where attendees work on knitting projects together.

Book Clubs:

Avid Bookshop - This local bookstore has a variety of book clubs for whatever genre tickles your fancy, from queer literature to social justice reads to young adult novels. Meetings are typically held in the evening, but the day depends on the specific club. There is no admission charge to any of the book clubs.

Athens Regional Library System - The local library system holds book clubs for all ages at all of its locations. You can view the various clubs on the library’s website and filter by location and age group.

Silent Book Club Athens - A global organization with a chapter in Athens. This nontraditional book club does not have an assigned book. Instead, attendees meet to chat about whatever book they’re currently reading. Meetups are at various locations and times; updates can be found on their Facebook page.

Theater/Performance:

Flying Squid Comedy - A comedy collective that produces standup and improv shows, featuring Friday workshops,

open improv nights and more.

Queer Arts Athens - A community that offers support for queer artists in the South and provides a safe space to perform.

Athletics, Sports & Fitness:

Athens-Clarke County Adult Sports - The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services offers multiple sports groups for adults including basketball, soccer, general fitness, martial arts and more. Teams are open to people of various ages and experience levels.

GO Kickball - Athens’ local coed GO Kickball chapter. GO Kickball has leagues across the country, with the Athens league offering a place for people to get active in a non-judgemental environment.

Showtime Bowl - Local bowling alley with multiple adult and youth bowling leagues throughout the week.

BikeAthens - A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transportation equity. They also have a Bike Recycling Program that refurbishes bicycles for people in need.

SORBA Athens - A non-profit focused on multi-use bike trails and mountain biking.

Hobby groups that make Athens more than a college town

The Hidden Gems of Athens

Five Athens locations to explore

Lucinda Warnke

Like many other cities, Athens has its famed spots — the 40 Watt Club, the Arch and Sanford Stadium, to name a few — but there’s even more to discover off the beaten path. Here are five hidden gems around Athens that anyone from newcomers to seasoned locals can enjoy.

The Vault in UGA’s Special Collections Library

Located under UGA’s Special Collections library is the vault: a labyrinth of artifacts, documents and rare books. The archives encompass everything from Athens city directories to antique costume sketches from Paris theaters to Georgia Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr.’s baseball card collection. The vault is open to the public, but patrons must have an ID to enter.

The vault located in UGA’s Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Library. JESSICA LIN/STAFF

Dearing Street Historic District

If you’ve exhausted the stately houses lining Milledge and Prince avenues, you might want to venture into the quaint residences found in the Dearing Street Historic District. Built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the district boasts a variety of architectural styles along its quiet, shady lanes. It’s also home to The Tree That Owns Itself, a white oak with property rights.

UGA Trial Gardens

While the State Botanical Garden of Georgia gets a lot of (well-deserved) attention, many overlook UGA’s Horticulture Trial Gardens located near Snelling. Despite its primary use as a research center, the garden’s diverse collection of brilliant flora make it feel more like a scene out of “Alice in Wonderland” than a lab. The garden has free admission and is open year-round.

Oconee Forest Park

Nestled in the woods behind the Intramural Fields, Oconee Forest Park offers 60 acres of lush forest, trails and a stunning view of Lake Herrick. It is operated by UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. In addition to outdoor favorites like hiking and mountain biking trails, the park offers classes on topics like native plants and wildlife identification.

Oconee Hill Cemetery

While a cemetery may seem like a morbid recommendation, the Oconee Hill Cemetery’s terraced hillsides and shady, winding paths prove it to be a great spot to enjoy some fresh air. The cemetery features numerous notable graves — including that of The B-52’s Ricky Wilson and legendary Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley — and a breathtaking (pun not intended) view of the North Oconee River from an iron truss bridge dating back to the 1890s.

The garden’s diverse collection of brillant flora make it feel more like a scene out of ‘‘Alice in Wonderland’’ than a lab.

UGA’s Horticultural Trial Gardens in Athens in 2020. FILE/STAFF

A deluge of debuts

First-year coaches making waves in inaugural season with Bulldogs

Staff Reports

The University of Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks is in the midst of his third year in the role, having taken the job in January 2021. Since then, Brooks has had the responsibility of filling several head coaching vacancies. Last season, Brooks hired head coaches Caryl Smith Gilbert to coach track and field and Tony Baldwin, who replaced long time softball head coach Lu Harris-Champer. For the 2022-2023 season, Brooks hired six total head coaches in four different sports. The incoming coaches are listed below:

Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, women’s basketball: Under new head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, or as she’s known affectionately, “Coach ABE,” the Georgia women’s basketball team finished the regular season with a 20-10 record before losing to the eventual national champion LSU in the second round of the SEC tournament. Georgia qualified for the NCAA tournament where the team defeated Florida State in the first round before bowing out in the second round, this time to NCAA tournament runner-ups Iowa.

The highlight of the Bulldogs’ season

defense all year, leading the SEC in steals per game with 10.4.

— Bo Underwood

Mike White, men’s basketball:

The Georgia men’s basketball team finished with a 16-16 overall record and went 6-12 in the SEC during head coach Mike White’s first season at the helm. White’s debut season did not blow anyone away, nor cause much concern about his future. White inherited a 6-26 team that finished dead last in the SEC and won a single conference game. Despite the situation, White brought several valuable transfers in and helped the team add 10 wins to its total from the year before.

White’s first season had its highs, including stellar home wins against Kentucky and Auburn but featured many lows, including a six-game losing streak to end the year alongside another first round exit in the SEC tournament. White’s ability to take a program in turmoil with many first year additions to the team and show improvement in the win column bodes well for the future of the program. White has added multiple solid recruits in his first full recruiting cycle and has the program moving in the right direction.

— Jacob Stewart

Keidane McAlpine, soccer:

came when they went 7-2 in the final nine games of the regular season, with their only two losses coming on the road to top three ranked teams in LSU and South Carolina. This stretch included a five-game conference winning streak — their best in six seasons. The Bulldogs hounded opponents on

Keidane McAlpine was hired in December 2021 and tasked with turning the Georgia soccer team around after several middling seasons. However, McAlpine is no stranger to success. The former Pac-12 coach of the year won a national championship with the University of Southern California in 2016. In his time with USC, he amassed a total record of 116-32-20. However, McAlpine elected to return much closer to home — being a Huntsville, Alabama native — and found immediate success.

While there were plenty of ups and downs, the team finished 13-6-3 — its best record since 2011. McAlpine helped the

Georgia head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson during a game against Kentucky in Athens on Jan. 5, 2023. TONY WALSH/COURTESY UGAAA

team advance for the first time in the SEC tournament since 2014 and reach the semifinals for the first time since 2010. He also coached the team to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014 and advanced in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011. After such a strong season, time will tell if McAlpine can improve even further in year two.

— Owen Warden

this was the first season the swim and dive program was split by gender. Despite many new and unique challenges, Williams Moreno displayed a drive for victory throughout the season. She brought her best attitude to practice and meets to enhance her swimmers’ experience, which for her was of the utmost importance. She carried herself selflessly as she faced a season of adjustments, working to build a strong culture and foundation for the team.

Williams Moreno led her girls to a 16th place finish at the NCAA Championships and helped her swimmers achieve their own personal accomplishments. By the end of the season, several swimmers had set new personal best times, B-cut times and earned all-SEC honors. While not a perfect season, Williams Moreno appears to be on the right path to building a legacy at Georgia.

— Ana Escamilla

Your Local News.

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Neil Versfeld, men’s swim & dive:

It is a near impossible task to replace the legendary work of former Georgia swimming and diving head coach Jack Bauerle, but what Neil Versfeld did in year one as head coach of the men’s team is worth the credit. He utilized the talent remaining on the team from Bauerle’s time, and even got surprising results out of others. He had six swimmers who earned All-SEC honors, two podium finishes at the NCAA Championships and a record-breaking relay team.

The Bulldogs had an up and down year results-wise. They had a shocking dual meet win over Florida in October, but finished fifth at SEC Championships and 12th at the NCAA Championships. Those results were a bit lower than in years past, but Versfeld and the Bulldogs held their own this season. It will be interesting to see if Versfeld can repeat or improve on this success with another next season.

— Michael Doti

Stefanie Williams Moreno, women’s swim & dive:

Stefanie Williams Moreno, like Versfeld, is one of Georgia’s most successful swimmers of all time. Alongside Versfeld, Williams Moreno stepped into a head coach role for the first time. Additionally,

Patrick

Henner, cross country:

Head coach Patrick Henner was a new addition to Georgia’s cross country team after spending the previous two seasons with Arizona State. However, he has ties to Smith Gilbert — the current director of men’s and women’s track — who coached along with Henner for three years at USC. The cross country team performed well but was not among the nation’s best teams this past season. While the Bulldogs were still working the kinks out from the addition of a new head coach, they have plenty of room for improvement in year two. This next offseason, Henner will have the chance to recruit new runners along with another chance to train the current athletes into a position to succeed and rise to the top in the SEC.

— Samuel Higgs

Looking ahead:

Recently, legendary women’s tennis coach Jeff Wallace announced his retirement. In steps another new head coach, former Georgia associate head coach Drake Bernstein.

Additionally, long-time head baseball coach Scott Stricklin was dismissed from the program. Former LSU pitching coach Wes Johnson will now take over for Stricklin.

Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine during a match against Georgia Southern in Athens on Aug. 18, 2022. TONY WALSH/COURTESY UGAAA

Summer 2023 Staff

EDITORIAL 706-433-3027

EDITOR IN CHIEF Jim Bass

MANAGING EDITOR Jayden Henson

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR Allison Mawn

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR AND COPY EDITOR

Lucinda Warnke

SPANISH TRANSLATOR Ana Chirinos

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Owen Warden

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Bo Underwood

CULTURE

CULTURE EDITOR Avni Trivedi

ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR Jesse Wood

OPINION

OPINION EDITOR Morgan Willis

DIGITAL

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Alexis Gardner

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Gabby Gruszynski

PHOTO

PHOTO EDITOR Landen Todd

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Laney Martin

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Lin

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About Us

Publishing online daily at redandblack. com and in print each Thursday of the academic year by The Red & Black Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions: $84. All rights reserved. Reprints by permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributors and not necessarily those of The Red & Black Publishing Company Inc.

The Red & Black has covered the University of Georgia and Athens since 1893. Independent of the university since 1980, The Red & Black is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit company with the dual missions of training students for future careers in journalism and serving our community as an independent news source. We receive no funding from the university and are self-supporting through advertising, events and donations.

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A classic staple in the Classic City

Bo Underwood

On a typical Saturday in Athens, you’d be hard pressed to find a Georgia fan who isn’t decked out in red and black of some sort. Georgia merchandise is a fixture in Athens, especially after two consecutive national championships.

With football season on the horizon, demand for merchandise is set to spike before gamedays begin. There are plenty of destinations in town to shop for merchandise. For those looking for a local alternative to the UGA bookstore or online shopping, The Red Zone located on Clayton Street in downtown Athens is a solid choice.

The Red Zone — founded in 2003 by Scott and Mindy Towe — has functioned as a family-owned business for twenty years. From shirts, jerseys, magnets and even dog toys, The Red Zone sells just about any Bulldogs-related product possible.

However, according to Scott Towe, the store makes its living on the classics like Georgia t-shirts, jerseys and sweatshirts.

“The foundation of The Red Zone is built on the basics,” Towe said in an email to The Red & Black. “Items that were popular 30 years ago will probably still be popular 30 years from now. [national championship] merch has added new and exciting variations on these ‘bread-and-butter’ items, but once the confetti has settled, the triedand-true will continue to be our foundation.”

According to Towe, The Red Zone has taken advantage of a surge in sales thanks to national championship merchandise. However, for a family business run by diehard Georgia fans for two decades, the team’s triumph meant a lot more than just heightened sales.

“There was an accumulated pressure from [Georgia’s] near misses of the past ten to fifteen years,” Towe said. “When [Georgia won in 2021], the valve was opened and the steam was released.”

While the national championships have made life busy for The Red Zone, it wasn’t too long ago that things looked vastly different. Like many local businesses in

Athens, The Red Zone was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and was closed completely from March to May 2020. While it managed to get by from online sales, the pandemic constrained the Towe family’s ability to operate as a brick-and-mortar store.

“The fallout from COVID created supply chain issues that interrupted our ability to receive merchandise,” Towe said. “We are only now digging ourselves out from under that fiasco.”

That success revitalized The Red Zone and the store returned to the hectic gamedays and droves of fans that it’s grown accustomed to.

“Regardless of the opponent, we are absolutely slammed at The Red Zone on gamedays. It’s a scene that you would need to experience firsthand to believe,” Towe said. “Some might be surprised to know how busy we are from January to August. Much of that time is spent preparing for September through December.”

The Red Zone’s status as a family-owned, local business with a true love for UGA has carved out a unique place for it in the Athens community. While the national championships and the packed gamedays are nice, Towe stressed that the smiling faces who keep coming back to the store are the true reward.

“The relationships that we have developed over the decades are rewarding,” Towe said. “[Former] students that we employed 20 years ago come back to visit us with their families, and that is special. We have gained financial rewards, but it was not without blood, sweat, and a few tears.”

The Red Zone’s success through family, football and the Athens community

The foundation of The Red Zone is built on the basics.”

SCOTT TOWE

Georgia Athletics’ major makeover

A rundown on UGAAA’s efforts to renovate facilities

William Daughtry

Construction is an ongoing occurrence at the University of Georgia, which, in partnership with the University of Georgia Athletic Association, has ramped up projects for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Big renovations and repairs across football, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis and track and field are underway.

The funding is largely in part due to the success that Georgia experienced on the field as of late, which has made the Bulldogs a hot commodity to investors. There has also been an increase in projects being done due to the backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would say we probably have an uptick going on right now due to the pause during the COVID year and the 18 to 20 months following it,” said associate athletic director of facilities and capital projects Tanner Stines. “Some of it is a little bit of the backlog and some of it is we’re having blessings on and off the field in most of our sports right now.”

Increased interest in Georgia athletics — partly due to back-to-back national championships — allows for expenses that otherwise would not be there, like postseason travel, food and hotels. These extra costs

can add up quickly, eating into the budget.

UGAAA’s Board of Directors approved a $175.2 million budget for the fiscal year. The funding for these projects is not taken from this pool of funds, however. According to Stines, funding for Georgia’s projects generally comes in the forms of donors, bonds and money from reserves.

The university can take out bonds, guaranteeing that investors will see a return. These aid in the array of projects in Athens and give Georgia a loan from the market instead of a single entity.

The Bulldogs will commission a new look for Sanford Stadium, Foley Field, the Jack Turner Softball Stadium, Stegeman Coliseum, the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis Facility and the new indoor track and field facility.

The total cost is over $170 million, excluding the indoor track and field facility and Stegeman Coliseum renovations. The new indoor track and field facility is still in the preliminary phases with no price tag in place yet, and no cost estimate is available for Stegeman’s repairs either.

“All of our funds are being put towards things that help develop our student-athletes better,” Stines said.

The construction is expected to last

Foley Field undergoes construction in Athens on June 22, 2023. LANEY MARTIN/STAFF

until November 2024 for Sanford Stadium, January 2024 for Foley Field’s first phase and January 2025 for its second phase.

Phase one of the nearly $70 million endeavor includes a new connection to Sanford Drive for easier fan access, a widening

of the 100 level concourse and restroom upgrades. This will be complete before the start of the 2023 season. Phase two includes a vertical expansion of the southwest corner of the stadium, a new press box, six premium suites and additional

restrooms at the 300 level. This will take place in the summer and will be finished before the Bulldogs kickoff the 2024 season.

The indoor tennis facility looks to finish in February 2024. Stegeman Coliseum will be repaired by November with more renovations to come after the season. According to Stines, Stegeman will also get renovations after the completion of the 2023-24 season. The Jack Turner Softball Stadium will start construction this summer, and it will be ongoing until 2025.

The track and field indoor facility, dubbed Spec Towns Track, will allow Georgia student-athletes to have a place to train all year, according to Stines.

“This project will continue to elevate our track and field programs to compete in SEC and NCAA championships,” head track and field coach Carly Smith-Gilbert said. “Our own dedicated space off South Milledge will provide an area for our athletes to train all year long.”

The new Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis Facility was announced officially in November of 2022. It will add, among many other

things, two courts to allow Georgia to host NCAA tournaments.

Stegeman needed repairs after a portion of the roof fell, forcing cancellations of events. These repairs will be done in time for the basketball season, but volleyball will have to relocate temporarily as its season begins earlier. Upon the conclusion of these upgrades, a renovation will begin following the basketball season.

Georgia is also spending $83.5 million on baseball and softball. The Jack Turner Softball Stadium will include a new 27,500-square-foot facility to be built past the left field wall that will feature a clubhouse with a locker room, a training room and a lounge.

Foley Field will see a 41,000-square-foot addition along the third base line. This area will boast batting cages, a pitching lab, a players lounge and coaches offices among other amenities.

“With the new age of college athletics, our biggest focus is on giving every student-athlete the same experience and also maximize their performance and their training,” Stines said.

Project

The Jack Turner Softball Stadium in Athens in 2020. FILE/STAFF

Everybody talks

Communication is key to a successful roommate relationship

Maggie Abboud

This year, I experienced living with a complete stranger for the first time. Before moving into my dorm for my freshman year, I asked myself what it means to be a good roommate and how to foster the best possible relationship. After spending an entire year with my roommate, I think I’ve cracked the code to success.

The most important part of being a good roommate and maintaining a healthy relationship is communication. I know the saying “communication is key” can be cliche, but communication is the way in which two roommates set boundaries. It allows you all to be attentive and maintain a peaceful, healthy relationship.

Talking to your roommate about their day can help build your relationship. My roommate and I asked each other about our days, how we were feeling and checked in on

each other. This allowed us to know when we were feeling bad and support each other through it.

For my roommate and I, it was a priority to express any uncertainties we had about our living situations. Through communication, my roommate and I learned about each others’ habits and found common ground. We are both very studious, prefer not to have visitors during the week and talk to our families in the evenings. We also built routines — such as taking turns vacuuming each week — to keep our living situation tolerable.

We respected each other by setting boundaries. We discussed when we typically went to bed during the week and then decided when to turn the lights out. We also always asked if it was okay to have a visitor, to borrow personal belongings or to call family. Our constant conversation allowed us to start off our college dorm experience seamlessly, as we both agreed to be honest with each other.

Never assume that sharing a room means you can use your roomie’s stuff whenever you please. Don’t eat your roommate’s snacks without asking. Don’t use their towels, plates or mugs without making sure it’s fine. Communicate, show respect, have fun, form connections and enjoy the time you spend with a roommate. I will never forget the time I spent with my amazing roommate because I gained a best friend for life through the experience. If you go about it the right way, you can too.

Black-Diallo-Miller Hall dorm room at the University of Georgia in Athens in 2022. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF

Staff Picks: Coffee first, everything else second

The Red & Black staff picks their favorite coffee shops in Athens

Morgan Willis

For coffee drinkers, it is not dramatic to say that the quality of your coffee can make or break your day. Whether it be the first cup of coffee that gets you out of bed or the afternoon coffee that gets you through the day, The Red & Black staff knows the importance of coffee all too well. Here are some of our picks for when you need a cup of coffee to make it through your day.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Alexis Gardner, Social Media Editor

1000 Faces, 510 N. Thomas St.

“I’m not a huge coffee drinker, but I really like 1000 Faces. The vibes are great for studying. It’s downtown so it’s close to campus, but it’s usually not too busy. They also have really good pastries!”

Jayden Henson, Managing Editor

Sips Espresso Cafe, 1390 Prince Ave.

“Sips has a great indoor-outdoor covered seating area as

The coffee shop Jittery Joe’s in downtown Athens in 2021. FILE/STAFF

well as a great outdoor patio. It has an aesthetic environment with its decorations, such as the string lights on the outdoor patio. The coffee is consistent and tasty, and the prices are reasonable. The pastry selection varies which I enjoy; it’s never the same old, same old. Also, the items are unique and often incorporate nutritious ingredients, such as its zucchini bread.”

Jesse Wood, Assistant Culture Editor

@Local Coffeehouse & Lounge, 198 College Ave.

“My favorite coffee shop is @Local. I love all of the new drinks they are constantly coming out with; they’re super on-trend and creative. The vibes inside the coffee shop are the perfect amount of chaotic and fun, and the staff is always super welcoming. The space is the perfect place for collaboration or a late-night study sesh. It is a super convenient location downtown, I always stop in to grab a coffee before a late-night bartending shift or if I’m downtown to shop.”

Jim Bass, Editor-in-Chief Buvez, 585 Barber St. Suite A

“I love plenty of coffee shops in Athens, but no coffee shop matches the atmosphere I enjoy more than Buvez. It sits outside of town and has out -

door seating that sits next to the train tracks, which often add some spice to the experience. Along with that, there is a friendly atmosphere and tasty menu options outside of coffee including sandwiches, gummy bears, soda and snow cones.”

Laney Martin, Assistant Photo Editor

Jittery Joes, 297 E. Broad St.

“Jittery Joe’s in downtown Athens. I love how close to campus it is and they have the best chai ever!”

Lucinda Warnke, Assistant News Editor

Walker’s Coffee Shop & Pub, 128 College Ave.

“I really like Walker’s because it’s in a convenient location and it also has a really good atmosphere, especially compared to a lot of the chains that are downtown.”

Morgan Willis, Opinion Editor

Poindexter Coffee, 295 E. Dougherty St.

“Poindexter is my favorite coffee shop to take a break and have a cup of coffee or tea with a friend. They have a large, open space with plenty of seating spread out enough to allow distance from other groups.”

Walker’s Coffee Shop & Pub located on College Avenue in downtown Athens in 2018. FILE/STAFF

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Historic Athens Walk of Fame

Athens’ music scene immortalized on its streets

Jesse Wood

Bands such as R.E.M., Love Tractor, the B-52s and others have left a permanent mark on Athens history, as well as on the streets of downtown via the Music Walk of Fame.

The Walk of Fame is a two-square block area bounded by Pulaski, West Washington, North Lumpkin and West Clayton streets. It passes several renowned downtown music venues, including the Morton Theatre, the 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre.

The first ten plaques were installed in 2020, honoring the B-52s, Danger Mouse, Hall Johnson, R.E.M., Vic Chesnutt and other acts. In 2021 and 2022, ten more acts were inducted with five being inducted each year.

Love Tractor was inducted into the Music Walk of Fame in 2022 by a local resident committee appointed by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz, according to the ACC government website. During the selection process, committee members considered candidates’ contributions to the identity of Athens, their established careers, diverse representation in cultural and racial identity, distinct musical styles and historical context.

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Mark Cline, the founder of Love Tractor, felt as if his band — as well as the other musical entrepreneurs in the 1980s — kickstarted the movement to create a music scene in Athens. Prior to its illustrious reputation as a center for music and arts, Cline said that Athens was a “slow-paced town with nothing to do,” so his clique turned to music to light a spark in their lives.

“You could literally lay down in the middle of Clayton Street on a Saturday night and not get hit by a car,” Cline said. “So the art students all banded together and would have huge house parties. We were all friends and we all started bands just to entertain each other.”

Love Tractor accelerated in the world of music and took long weekends after a week of classes to road trip to New York City to appear in shows. They made headlines in The New York Times in 1983, furthering Athens’ influence.

Love Tractor’s plaque, as well as the 19 others, were designed by Allen Sutton, an Athens-based multidisciplinary designer. Sutton entered his vision for the plaques into a competitive process in which a panel of community members selected a design for the Music Walk of Fame.

“I designed the whole Walk of Fame from the library in my spare time,” Sutton said.

The design, according to Sutton, is the silhouette of a guitar pick and a location pin. His vision was to create something that represented the locality of the Athens music scene, as well as a nod to music itself.

“I’ve been a designer for 15 years, and sometimes when you’re not even thinking that hard, the idea comes together on its own,” Sutton said.

The plaques were installed in the sidewalks by the Athens-Clarke County Transportation and Public Works Department’s Streets and Drainage Division in September 2020, permanently cementing the legacy of each artist.

“My hope is that some of these people that might have slipped through the cracks, people will listen to their music,” Sutton said. “I just put together a nice design, but without them being famous in the first place, there wouldn’t have been a vehicle for it.”

In January 2023, some of the most prominent names in Athens music enjoyed a reunion when The B-52s performed their final show at the Classic Center Theatre on their farewell tour with Love Tractor as the opener. Cline finally saw his band honored on the sidewalks of Athens in person.

“Being on the Walk of Fame is great,” Cline said. “It’s like seeing family. I feel like it was our generation of bands that put Athens on the map…It’s really raw. It’s really real and it’s really Athens.”

At the AthFest Music and Arts Festival in June 2023, the five newest additions to the Walk of Fame were announced. These five additions were Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton, Normaltown Flyers, Jackie Payne, Calvin Orlando Smith and WUOG.

Movie Night!

A list of movie theaters around Athens

Emery Pikel

As the school year rolls around, it’s important to find ways to take healthy breaks between your studying. A great way to recuperate is by grabbing a bucket of buttery popcorn and catching a movie with friends at one of Athens’ many movie theaters.

University Cinema 16

Located within Epps Bridge Centre, University Cinema 16 offers a variety of movies for viewers in 2D and 3D. This theater includes an Outtakes Kitchen + Bar and deals on tickets for matinees and college students. It is handicap accessible and offers assisted listening that includes closed captions and descriptive audio.

It is home to the Georgia Theater Xtreme, which offers a clear picture on large format screen, Dolby Atmos surround sound and reserved luxury seating, according to its website.

Promotionals include ‘‘Bargain Tuesdays’’ where tickets cost $6 at any GTC location all day and free admission to watch University of Georgia football games on the big screen on a first-come, first-serve basis.The theater is also hosting the 2023 Studio Ghibli Fest, which runs until November.

Beechwood Cinema

Located in the Beechwood Shopping Center, this theater offers a variety of deals for moviegoers. This GTC theater location also has an Outtakes Kitchen + Bar, luxury seats, deals on tickets for matinees and college students, is handicap accessible and offers assisted listening. This location also offers “Bargain Tuesdays.”

“Flashback Cinema” happens each Sunday and Wednesday where a classic film is played. Tickets for the matinee premier are $6. For the night showings, tickets are $6 for children and seniors and $9 for adults.

B&B Theatres Athens 12

B&B Theatres Athens 12, located on Lexington Road, is the newest addition to Ath-

ens, opening in 2022. It offers viewers food and drinks beyond popcorn and candy including burgers, flatbreads and hot dogs.

Ticket prices vary based on age and showtime. On Tuesdays it offers “Treat Yourself Tuesday!” where ticket costs are reduced to $6 per person with possible amenity upcharges upon request.

At least once a month, Retro Night allows viewers to watch classic films on the big screen for a standard admission fee of $7. If you are a Backstage Pass member, it costs $5.

The location has various types of theaters within its facility. ScreenPLAY! is a movie theater and a playground combined. Catered to children ages two through eight, this theater is designed to allow younger kids to experience the “magic of the movies,” according to its website.

The Lyric auditorium is a tribute to the first B&B Theatres location, complete with richly colored wall curtains, wood grain floors and tray tables affixed to each of the heated leather recliners. Lyric has indie showings, art house films and award winning movies.

The Max Relax auditorium provides comfort with its heated, electric leather lounge chairs, allowing guests to get cozy while watching the film.

The theater is available for birthday parties and private event hosting.

Ciné

Located on Hancock Avenue in downtown Athens, Ciné fosters an intimate atmosphere for moviegoers with it smaller facility and smaller auditoriums. This theater is often known for screening new indie and art house films alongside major blockbuster releases.

Ciné offers a local take on entertainment as it offers movies by independent filmmakers, film festival discoveries and local productions. The facility also hosts concerts in its Ciné Lab. At The BarCafé, it serves many locally-made beverages and snacks.

Ciné announced season three of its drivein theater, which will be on Friday nights. Cost of admission is $50 for one vehicle with four or more people, $30 for one vehicle with up to three people and $12 for one bicycle.

Hours of operation for Ciné differ from larger chain theaters, as they are not open until later in the day.

A diner’s delight A guide to the University of Georgia’s dining halls

to-order deli sandwiches, wraps and burgers, as well as a meatless option.

The power bowls at Snelling are one of its main draws. The customizable bowls have ever-changing options for students to enjoy a variety of healthy foods. They have complete proteins, heart healthy fats and antioxidants.

Bolton Dining Commons

Bolton Dining Commons is the largest dining hall on campus, standing two stories tall and situated at the intersection of Baxter and South Lumpkin streets.There are 11 stations within Bolton.

Breakfast is served from 7 to 10:30 a.m. every weekday and start students’ day off with made-to-order pancakes and omelets.

Jesse Wood

Navigating the University of Georgia dining halls can be daunting for new students. With several locations and options, knowing where to go can be hard to figure out. Here is a complete guide to UGA’s dining halls.

Village Summit Dining Commons

On East Campus, it is hard to miss the Joe Frank Harris Commons. You can find the Village Summit Dining Commons on the second floor. This dining hall, commonly referred to as “Joe Frank” or “ECV,” an ode to the surrounding East Campus Village.

The Village Summit has seven stations, offering food of all varieties.

Breakfast is served every weekday from 7 to 10:30 a.m. On the weekends, breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. and includes bacon, eggs, sausage and other rotating options. Additionally, an omelet station allows for students to customize their breakfast.

The rest of the stations are open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for lunch and dinner. Made-to-order meals, such as sandwiches, wraps and grill favorites are available, as well as pizzas, pasta and a three week

rotating menu of entrees and sides at Headliners.

A smoothie station with daily fresh smoothies helps Village Summit stand out from the other dining halls. The dining hall also provides sushi prepared by FujiSan, a UGA sushi market that offers grab-and-go options in UGA markets.

Oglethorpe Dining Commons

The Oglethorpe Dining Commons, dubbed “O-House,” is one of the most accessible dining options for freshmen. It is home to nine food stations.

Breakfast is served from 7 to 10:30 a.m. every weekday. Hot breakfast staples include scrambled eggs, sausage, a variety of cereals and more. Joe at the O’ is a self-serve coffee and espresso bar and is a unique asset of O-House. It offers espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and other coffee creations.

Lunch starts at 10:30 a.m. and transitions into dinner at 4 p.m.

Chef’s Choice provides a rotating menu of entrees and sides. Oishii offers ramen and rice bowls with a selection of proteins. Deliciously Southern provides a rotating menu of southern classics, including the revered O-House chicken tenders.

O-Hacienda, a taco, burrito, nacho and quesadilla bar is similar to ordering at a Chipotle. These Mexican favorites are customizable and favored by many students on campus.

O-House accommodates vegetarians and vegans with Veggie Harvest, a station that solely serves meatless entrees and sides.

Snelling Dining Commons

Snelling Dining Commons is the place to satisfy any late night cravings. Built in 1939, Snelling is the oldest dining hall still in operation. It sits in the heart of South Campus and is the only dining hall where you can enjoy 24-hour dining.

Late night dining is served Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Late night breakfast is available Tuesday through Friday from midnight to 7 a.m., complete with waffles, biscuits and gravy and other breakfast favorites.

During Snelling’s normal operating hours, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., there are seven stations serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Its breakfast is comparable to the other dining halls on campus, offering hot breakfast staples and a yogurt bar.

Lunch and dinner features pizza, made-

Lunch and dinner, available from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, offer a wide selection of foods. Bolton thrives with many made-to-order meals, such as pasta, burgers and pho.

Bolton has the option to make your own salads, sandwiches, yogurt bowls and tacos. Additionally, there is a three-week rotating menu at Classic Cuisine, as well as stir-fry with daily specials at Lemon Grass Kitchen.

The Special Selections station is a line free of the eight most common food allergens and gluten and has a gluten free pantry to accommodate students with dietary restrictions.

The Niche

One of UGA’s lesser known dining halls is The Niche, a dining hall tucked away in UGA’s Health Sciences Campus. The Niche is home to five food stations.

Diners can enjoy breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. with options like pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage and other breakfast classics.

Lunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The stations serve up made-to-order sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and calzones. A fully stocked salad bar and a station to grab premade entrees, sides and salads complete the selection for a mid-day meal.

The Niche is not open for dinner.

Bolton Dining Commons, the largest dining hall on UGA’s campus, on June 17, 2023. LANEY MARTIN/STAFF

A Fresh Taste in Athens

Athens’ farmers markets and farms

Staff Reports

On the outskirts of Athens lies a vast amount of farmland that supplies food to farmers markets in Athens. For fresh produce, flowers and other goodies, check out these farmers markets and local farms in the Athens area.

Athens Farmers Market

This market offers two times and locations. The bigger market operates on Saturdays at Bishop Park from 8 a.m. to noon. It hosts over 40 vendors each week with a selection of locally grown produce, eggs, meats, baked goods, handmade art, fresh flowers and more.

On Wednesdays, a smaller version of the market is hosted at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. from 5 to 8 p.m. This market includes 15 vendors ranging from farms, artists and prepared foods.

West Broad Farmers Market

This market is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Athens Housing Authority. Customers can either shop the market online or browse in person.

The market hosts events each month, such as Dawg Days of Summer in July and Youth Day in September. It aims to provide a community-driven, education-oriented weekly farmers market that supports local economic development and community wellness, according to its website.

The Culinary Kitchen of Athens

This non-profit culinary kitchen aims to support the local food industry in town. From farmers and vendors to entrepreneurs, the Culinary Kitchen of Athens provides a market open to small, local food businesses.

Local farms

Diamond Hill Farm

This small scale local farm, located outside of Athens, has operated since 2012 by Carter Dodd. It provides produce to the Athens Farmers Market, markets in Atlanta and restaurants in Athens. Patrons can purchase produce directly from the farm on its website.

Washington Farms

In Oconee County, Washington Farms has been a popular place to visit year round. Founded in 1993, the farm offers strawberry picking in the spring, and a pumpkin patch, corn maze and a sunflower field in the fall.

Community Meat Co.

Community Meat Co. comprises of three Athens-area farms. Riverview Farms supplies pasture-raised pork, Grateful Pastures supplies organic pasture-raised poultry and Five Arrow Farms supplies grass-fed and finished beef.

Authors of Athens

A list of accomplished authors based in Athens

Avni Trivedi

The music and arts scene is a major part of Athens’ iconic culture, and the city’s vast writing community is a part of that culture. Athens is home to a large, diverse group of writers who fill nearly every genre on the bookshelves. Here are a few Athens authors to look out for next time you stop at a bookstore.

Hattie Thomas Whitehead

Hattie Thomas Whitehead is a former resident of Linnentown and co-chair of the Linnentown Project. She wrote the memoir “Giving Voice to Linnentown in 2021.”

The book focuses on her experiences living in Linnentown and the impact the Linnentown community had before an urban renewal project displaced it to make space for the University of Georgia.

Howard Tate Scott

Howard Tate Scott, a retired criminal defense attorney in Athens, wrote his first book in 2021.

“Rascal on the Run,” a murder-suspense novel, follows the story of attorney August “Critter” Stillwell and his father, defense attorney Guy Stillwell. The story, set in Athens, shifts between 1963 and 1988 as Stillwell uncovers some of his father’s hidden past.

Katherine Cerulean

Katherine Cerulean, an Athens native, has been writing for 24 years. She started with screenplays, moved onto novels and now writes a mix of both with film scripts and teleplays. Her most recent novel, “Society and Civility,” is set in the Regency era and follows the story of Ann Marshal, a young woman questioning love and her identity.

Cerulean is one of the founders of the Athens Writer Association, which was active from 2013 to 2019.

André Joseph Gallant

André Joseph Gallant is a freelance journalist and Athens local. He used to be a part-time faculty member at UGA, teaching multimedia journalism and writing. He currently serves as the director of communications for the Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach at UGA.

Gallant’s book, “The High Low Tide: The Revival of a Southern Oyster,” was published by the UGA Press in 2018. This narrative non-fiction story covers the oyster industry in Georgia, along with its environmental and economic impacts.

Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor

Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, professor of language and literary education at UGA, is the author of five books about education, poetry and the arts.

Her most recent book, “Enlivening Instruction with Drama & Improv: A guide for Second Language and World Language Teachers,” was published in 2021. The book provides readers with resources and instruction about a different approach to teaching languages and highlights the techniques of drama and theater to teach language effectively.

Cahnmann-Taylor also published a book of poems in 2016 titled “Imperfect Tense,” which is a meditation on language.

Amy Bonnaffons

Amy Bonnaffons, a New York City native who now lives in Athens, is the author of “The Wrong Heaven,” a collection of stories, and the novel “The Regrets.” She is also the founding editor of “7x7,” a literary journal focused on collaborations between writers and visual artists.

In “The Wrong Heaven,” Bonnaffons straddles the line between the real and the fantastical in her compiled short stories, according to fellow author Kevin Wilson in a review of her work. “The Regrets” follows Rachel, a woman who has fallen in love with a ghost named Thomas.

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Athens terms to know Iconic terms to know from the city of Athens

Hot Corner

Situated around the intersection of Hull Street and Washington Street in downtown Athens, “Hot Corner” has a rich history of Black-owned businesses including the Morton Theatre and Wilson’s Styling Shop. This location hosts a festival to celebrate its lengthy history each year.

MLC

Whether it be for Jittery Joe’s coffee, last minute study cramming or a big lecture class, at one point or another UGA students cross paths with the Zell B. Miller Learning Center, or the MLC.

The Greenway

Short for the Oconee Rivers Greenway, this trails system and linear park spans approximately three miles of natural surface trails and eight miles of paved walking paths. Its scenery offers a momentary escape from typical Athens.

The Steg

The Loop

Much like how Atlanta has I-285 as its perimeter, Athens has the Georgia State Route 10 Loop — or “The Loop” — ringing Athens. The 19.1 mile loop takes drivers around the outside of the city and often serves as an efficient way to get around in Athens.

The Arch

This iconic spot marking the entrance to UGA’s campus is a bucket list item for many coming to visit. Hundreds of students avoid walking through its iron columns each day, and it racks up a long line in the spring as grads await their long-awaited photo-op.

Million Dollar Staircase

While walking up this daunting staircase located at the top of the Sanford Drive and Baldwin Street, you might want one million dollars for the effort. These notorious stairs connecting the center of campus to North Campus have gained an iconic status among students over the years.

The Tree that Owns Itself

Residing at the top of the hill where Dearing and Finley Streets intersect, this historic white oak owns itself and the land within eight feet around it on all sides. It lives stress free, as it doesn’t pay taxes and receives protection from locals.

Normaltown

This hip neighborhood is named after the old State Nor-

mal School, but is now home to UGA’s Health Sciences Campus. Find classic Athens eateries and bars here including Marti’s at Midday and The Old Pal.

Five Points

At the intersection of South Milledge Avenue and South Lumpkin Street, explore this area’s quaint atmosphere of old school shops, diverse restaurants and more. A true gem for Athenians and non-Athenians alike.

IM Fields

Located on Lake Herrick Drive, the UGA Intramural Fields — coined “IM fields” — are home to friendly competition and offer a desirable location for a stroll with its wooded paths and small lake.

Between The Hedges

Found in the center of UGA’s campus, Sanford Stadium holds UGA’s college football games and many graduation ceremonies. With the stadium itself seating 92,746 people, the term “Between The Hedges” refers to the field itself due to it being surrounded by trimmed hedges.

East Side

Just beyond the Loop encircling Athens, this area contains a mix of established subdivisions, new developments and apartment complexes. Convenience to campus and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital makes this area popular with UGA students and faculty alike.

Sitting below the center of campus on Smith Street, Stegeman Coliseum, or “The Steg,” is where many ceremonies, events and UGA basketball games are held. Originally built in 1964, the coliseum has remained a major part of UGA’s campus ever since.

The Botanical Garden

Spanning 313 acres, the UGA State Botanical Garden is home to unique flower species, diverse displays and trails. The staff’s conservation efforts make it possible to share the beauty of the Discovery and Inspiration Garden, Heritage Garden, Flower Garden and other attractions with participants, free of charge.

316

If you are cruising down State Route 316, also known as University Parkway or Georgia 316, you know you are headed home to the Classic City. This 38.9-mile-long state highway links the Atlanta metropolitan area to the home of the Bulldogs.

Wild Rumpus

Want to see downtown Athens turn into a Halloween costume party? Every year on Halloween weekend, the city of Athens throws a Halloween parade known as Wild Rumpus. The annual festivities feature plenty of music, costumes and family activities.

Twilight Criterium

Cyclists from all over flock to the Classic City for the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium presented by Michelob Ultra. The best part? You don’t have to be a pro-cyclist to get in on the fun. It hosts kids races, a 5K, live music, artist markets and more.

The Arch and Holmes-Hunter Academic Building on North Campus at the University of Georgia in 2019. FILE/STAFF Jim Bass, Jayden Henson