UGAzine Summer 2015

ugazine Summer 2015

Vol. 46, Issue 4

X

S N E H T A T E K C U B LIST

.

2

ugazine

Thank you to2015 everyone who participated in our photo booth at our spring release party in April! summer Look for our next issue in the fall!

contents .....................................

Summer 2015

IN PROFILE 6 8 10 12 14

Athens’ Brewing Coffee Scene Great Summer Eats in Athens Rush to Jump Summer Sips The Woman Behind the Hugs

CAMPUS LENS 16

Our Athens Bucket List

LIFESTYLE 24 26 32

Secrets from the Other Side Which Hue Are You? Dream Smaller

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

34 AthFest: Something for Everyone 36 ARTini’s 38 Wooden Worlds

BEYOND THE ARCH 40 42 44 46

The Coolest Hidden Spots in Athens On The Road: Modern Day Kerouacs Summer Sojourns for Student Journalists A Daring Discomfort georgiaugazine.org 3

ugazine editor-in-chief Hayden Field photo editor Brenna Beech design editor Haylee Silverthorne online editor Deegan Mundy copy editor Haylee Silverthorne fashion editors Ersta Ferryanto Surina Harjani contributing editors Amber Boren Frannie Gordon Hannah Kicklighter Emerald Toller Kiersten Willis

4

ugazine

staff writers Jenny Alpaugh Brittany Bowes Iva Dimitrova Kate Foster Tiffany Jaquins Claire Jordan Lauren Leising Molly Pease Catherine Pierson Danielle Profita Melissa Serro Nick Seymour Camren Skelton Katie Story staff illustrator Orlando Pimentel

staff designers Kalah Mingo Mallory Moskovitz Monica Padilla Deja Preuitt Nick Seymour Haylee Silverthorne James White staff photographers Laura Baker David Barnes Brenna Beech Allie Blinder Iva Dimitrova Lauren Leising Casey Lemmings Rachel Nipp

UGAzine is published four times a year with sales from advertising revenue.

For advertising information, please contact Patrick Stansbury, Pentagon Publishing, ps@pentagonusa.com.

summer 2015

contact faculty adviser Joe Dennis, joedennis@uga.edu advertising representative Patrick Stansbury, ps@pentagon-usa.com mailing address Box 271 Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Athens, GA 30605 website www.georgiaugazine.com email ugazine@gmail.com

on the cover PHOTO BY: ERSTA FERRYANTO

“In the Spring 2015 issue of UGAzine, Allie Blinder took the photos for Planting the Seed of a Healthy Life, and Camren Skelton wrote More Than Meets the Eye.�

UGAzine strikes to publish accurate information. When an error occurs, UGAzine policy is to acknowledge the error and issue a correction in its next issue.

LDP

Leadership Developmental Program

The Textron Leadership Development Program (LDP) targets high-potential undergraduate candidates who can meet the challenges of leadership – people with a global mindset, the courage to act, and exceptional intellectual foresight. Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain and develop talent to its fullest potential.

Editor’s Note Athens. It’s a town full of one-of-a-kind art, food, music, landmarks and people, and every way you turn someone’s telling you about a must-do that you can’t see or experience anywhere else. The abandoned railroad truss behind Mama’s Boy. The tunnel under Sanford Stadium. The rooftop of the Georgia Theatre. Most of us spend four whole years in the Classic City, but when the impending time to leave it starts looming on the horizon, we frantically scramble to make the most of the city we’ve held so dear (believe me, I’m speaking from experience here). We panic that we haven’t experienced “the real Athens,” hit enough smalltown restaurants or completed enough traditions.

It’s true that the city is full of musts, but there’s no “right way” to live Athens to its fullest — the most important thing is to commit to everything you do end up experiencing with your whole self so it stays with you much longer than the time you spend here.

This issue of UGAzine is very close to my heart because it’s my last, and our amazing team’s work on it has echoed my experience in getting ready to leave this wonderful city. We’ve compiled a list fueled by suggestions from our staff and readers of Athens’ most extraordinary spots and activities, and we hope it’ll help you, our readers, feel that you started making the most of Athens far before you graduated.

Hayden Field Editor-in-Chief

Each program provides LDP participants with exceptional training, mentoring, learning opportunities and on-thejob resources that will enable them to accelerate their careers with Textron. Assignments are offered throughout business units and functional areas, including Information Technology, Finance, Integrated Supply Chain, Engineering, Human Resources, and Marketing & Sales placing candidates into key roles throughout the enterprise. There is also an LDP-feeder Internship Program for the Information Technology and Finance functions which is designed to accelerate early career development of high performing college students and prepare them to become full time employees with Textron after graduation. For more information and to apply, visit: collegejobs.textron.com

cartoon corner Illustration: Orlando Pimentel

"I have to ask. Why didn't you just get a tattoo in America?"

"I figured I could knock out two birds with one stone while I'm here. Now, could I get 'I heart mom' in French?"

georgiaugazine.org 5

Athens’

Brewing Coffee Scene

By: Melissa Serro | Photography: Lauren Leising

Athens is a city home to companies that brew coffee locally and have mastered the art of the trade in order to provide coffee that is as fresh as possible. It does not take long to hear the popular rumors of caffeineridden espresso shots used to aid in all-night study sessions or quaint coffee lounges nestled between the rustic brick buildings in the downtown area that lie just behind Broad Street. As a coffee enthusiast tiring of the Starbucks variety, venturing out on a Saturday afternoon will result in coffee houses and drinks that are unique strictly to Athens.

Jittery Joe’s, 1480 Baxter St.

Raspberry Latté at Walker’s Pub and Coffee

6

ugazine

summer 2015

To start off a coffee tour, a stop at arguably the most widely popularized, strictly Athens coffee brewer is a must. Jittery Joe’s dedicates itself to making quality coffee available for the city of Athens and has left its trademark throughout the city’s landscape. As a favorite among UGA students, this local coffee hub has a reputation for concocting some of the most highly caffeinated drinks in the area.

Jittery Joe’s menu offers two distinct drinks that an employee would endorse for a student rushing in at 10 p.m. for a night spent in the library with their head shoved between the covers of a textbook.

To begin, let’s look at the “Crackaccino.” It has four shots of espresso and offers a boost of energy without any added flavorings or drip coffee.

For those not familiar with technical coffee terms, drip coffee refers to the typical brewing method where water passes through the coffee grains collecting the essential oils.

The other option, which has one less espresso shot but provides more caffeine, is the “Shot In the Dark.” What this drink lacks in espresso shot, it makes up for in a customers’ ability to customize for their particular coffee-drinking desires.

“I’d really recommend the ‘Shot In the Dark’ for people who like the taste of plain coffee,” says Sydney, a Jittery Joe’s barista. This drink, also known as a Red Eye - a term used for a shot of espresso accompanied by a medium roast coffee - can have either a medium roast blend mixed in for added caffeine or a darker roast that mellows out the bitter taste of the espresso shot.

“Regulars come in after their bar shifts at 6:30 in the morning and get a double shot of espresso,” Sydney says. “You can tell who they are because they look hard-working.”

Shot in the Dark at Jittery Joe’s

Customers can also add flavorings of their choosing to this drink, ranging from popular flavors like vanilla to more unique options like butter pecan. With a medium roast and butter pecan syrup, the drink offers a nutty bite. As far as taste goes, the “Shot in the Dark” really is suited to people who enjoy a bitter taste to their coffee.

Walker’s Pub and Coffee, 128 College Ave. With a right turn from Jittery Joe’s, Walker’s Pub and Coffee is just a straight walk up College Avenue. Even though Walker’s does not specialize specifically in coffee, it deserves an honorable mention nonetheless. The pub’s entrance is disguised through a narrow green hallway with antique mirrors plastered along its length. On the right, the bar and café tables sit nestled amongst the brick walls exhibiting the colorful artwork of painters.

The atmosphere is fun and laidback, and the service is the same. Because of the location, most of the coffee drinks are alcoholic but can be ordered without any alcohol for customers under the legal drinking age.

Lauren Leising, a freshman at UGA, is a fan of Walker’s due to the afternoons she and her friends frequent there. When asked why she preferred Walker’s drinks, Leising replied, “I don’t like strong coffee, but I enjoy flavored coffee. I recommend the raspberry latté because it’s very mild in taste and good for someone who likes a gentler coffee.”

In comparison to Jittery Joe’s caffeine-ridden drinks, this drink is not for anyone looking for a quick energy boost or who prefers black coffee.

The creamy latté comes out with a foamy top and offers enough of a mellow coffee jitteriness from the sugary-sweet raspberry syrup that it would be better suited for recovering after a long night.

Walker’s Pub and Coffee

Iron Works, 295 E. Dougherty St. Iron Works is new to Athens as of this past October, but has succeeded in making a name for itself for local Athenians. Finding Iron Works might be hard for first-timers since this coffee lounge is located inside the Graduate Hotel’s main lobby.

A long line of windows framed by the brick building honors the history of the location. Passing through the door, there is an instant feeling of coziness.

The carpet resembles the mix-and-match patches of a quilt, while the room décor resembles the dream finds of any antique collector. The coffee bar is situated in the corner, with pastries and buns showcased inside glass stands and domes.

“The homemade pastries change regularly,” says Amanda Caskey, Graduate Athens representative.

“The café makes their own special mocha base for coffee drinks and their signature hot chocolate.” This signature base, freshly homemade with vanilla and bittersweet chocolate, gives the coffee a creamy chocolate flavor. The base used Mocha at Iron Works in making Iron Work’s mochas results in the drink having a very mild coffee taste, the flavor resembling something closer to hot chocolate.

The mochas are presented in a cute white porcelain mug atop a plate with chocolate shreds floating on the surface and topped off with a dollop of whipped cream.

Iron Work’s mocha really is the dream cup of coffee for people who do not usually drink coffee at all. For the rest of us, it is a unique spin on a popular café item.

Regardless of the choice of venue, what visitors and locals alike can be sure of is that the city is equipped with enough specialty brewers and one-of-a-kind lounges that the preferences of any coffee enthusiast can be accommodated. Athens’ rich diversity is reflected in the different interpretations of the café experience and what it takes to really provide customers with the best-brewed coffee. With this many possibilities, Athenians have the whole world of coffee just in their hands.

georgiaugazine.org 7

Great Summer Eats in Athens By: Danielle Profita | Illustrator: Orlando Pimentel

Sometimes searching for the right place to grab a bite to eat in the Classic City can be difficult especially when there are so many options to choose from and all the best places are crowded. As the warm weather rolls in, our search for the best eatery in Athens continues. Here are a few choices with both indoor and outdoor dining options for the summer.

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Mama’s Boy

Cali N Tito’s

When asking around for the best breakfast hub in Athens, Mama’s Boy receives a vote from the overwhelming majority. Open at the crack of dawn, this venue is the best brunch you can find in the city.

Although it stays packed all day, Mama’s Boy isn’t the most popular dining establishment around for nothing.

It’s worth the long line. Its brunch crowd, usually late risers waking up after a night out on the town, is the largest. “The chicken biscuit with homemade jelly and the biscuit with bacon, eggs and cheese are both delicious,” says Jenna Beals, a freshman advertising major from Milton. “The biscuits are as big as you face!”

For something a little sweeter, Mama’s Boy makes a chocolate cake for breakfast and offers up fresh and juicy fruit plates as a side to any meal. To wash it all down, the strawberry lemonade is a must-have on a warm summer morning.

Location: 197 Oak Street, Athens, GA Hours: Monday-Thursday: Breakfast 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.,

Brunch 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Friday-Sunday: Brunch 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Ike and Jane

This café and bakery offers the most unique doughnuts in Athens. Built on the site of an old gas station, the fresh, antique feel gives customers a one-of-a-kind experience. It is even named after the owner’s Nana Jane, who had a bakery of her own. Now they carry on the tradition in Athens. Aside from the 20 different types of donuts, the bakery makes fresh lemon bars, brownies, banana bread, vegan zucchini bread, yogurt parfaits with homemade granola and more. To make this possible, bakers work at wee hours of the night to have the lot ready for the morning rush.

Location: 307 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA Hours: Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

8

ugazine

summer 2015

For a fun, relaxing and interesting lunch spot, Cali N Tito’s never fails. With indoor and outdoor seating and walls covered by a motley grouping of decorations, this Latin American cuisine is sure to impress. In fact, Cali N Tito’s received a 95% approval on UrbanSpoon. Some of their most popular dishes are the maduros (fried sweet plantains), the fish tacos, the Cubano sandwich and the avocado salad. On the sweeter side, Cali N Tito’s offers a banana smoothie, which is very refreshing after a spicy chorizo taco. For the 21 and over crowd, there is also a BYOB option. Lindsey Broscher, a sophomore public relations major from Suwanee, says, “Cali N Tito’s is authentic to Athens, but don’t forget to bring cash!”

Location: 1427 South Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Pouch

Pouch is a new family-owned restaurant in downtown Athens that offers savory pies with a culinary influence from countries around the world including Ireland, India, Australia and more. There are also vegetarian pie options filled with assortment of vegetables and cheeses.

Menu items can also be paired with side items including beer-battered fries, slaw or mashed potatoes to make a dinner out of it. Dessert pies are also available. All savory pies, desserts and side items are made fresh in the shop everyday. Pies are $5.50 each, and side items are $2.50 each. Pouch’s warm atmosphere is complete with dim lighting, wooden furniture and a full bar offering imported and domestic beers as well as brews from Athens’ own Terrapin and Creature Comforts.

Location: 151 E. Broad Street, Athens, GA Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m

Sunday: Closed

Snack:

Dinner:

The King of Pops

Five Bar

The King of Pops natural fruit ice pop stand can usually be found at the intersection of College Avenue and Broad Street in front of Starbucks. It’s are a great way to cool down after exploring the Classic City in the hot Georgia heat. Fan favorites and daily specials are listed on the board in front of the stand and usually sell out the fastest. It offer original flavors such as Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Covered Banana and Arnold Palmer. The getit-and-go nature of these pops is great for a walk through North Campus or a picnic.

Location: Downtown Hours: 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Athens’ Five Bar is a unique restaurant and bar that only has five options for appetizers and five options for dinner. Camren Skelton, a sophomore journalism major from Greenville, SC, is a frequent customer. “Since they only have a few things on the menu, everything is very ornate,” Skelton says. “Everything I’ve ever ordered from there has been delicious.” The menu written up on the wall with chalk gives the bar a hip feel. The bar is always offering a happy hour special, like Wine Down Wednesdays and Ladies’ Night Thursdays.

Location: 269 North Hull Street Suite 100, Athens, GA Hours: TuesdayThursday, Sunday: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Arden’s Garden

Arden’s Garden offers fresh juices and smoothies to drink, fruit bars, sweet, salty and spicy packs of nuts and various other snack bites to nom on. It also offers juice cleanses. Situated at the intersection of College Avenue and East Clayton Street below Subway, it draws a crowd looking for a pure, healthy, all-natural fruit or vegetable libation. It has fruit and vegetable ingredients on the side of the juice bottles that tell you exactly how much of each fruit or vegetable is in the drink. Just by drinking one juice you get a huge portion of your fruit and vegetable intake for one day. Fresh, refreshing and not super expensive at less than $4.00 a drink, Arden’s Garden is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. “Arden’s Garden is really filling and a good post-workout snack,” says Tina Banjo, a sophomore finance major from Sandy Springs.

The Place

New to Athens, The Place was opened this spring by two UGA alums, Alan and Ryan Pope. Located next to Starbucks on Broad Street, The Place has quickly lived up to its name. Inside, the restaurant is quaint, and the decorations are eclectic. All of the salt and pepper shakers are old-fashioned and mismatched. The use of rustic wood elements and traditional tiled floors give the restaurant a down-home feeling, which correlates with its comfort food. Ansley Manness, a sophomore marketing major from Johns Creek, is a particular fan of the mac ‘n’ cheese and the lemon cake. “It was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had,” Manness says. Lunch meals range from $8-$10 and entrees from $12-$25.

Location: 229 Broad Street, Athens, GA Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. for lunch and dinner

After dinner service, the full bar opens.

Location: 184 College Ave, Athens, GA Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

georgiaugazine.org 9

Rush to Jump By: Jenny Alpaugh | Photography: David Barnes

The trampoline craze has finally come to Athens. Sky Zone, which has three locations in Georgia, was the world’s first indoor trampoline park, and the idea that combines fitness and fun has spread all across the world.

Rush is Athens first indoor trampoline park and opened on February 10. The facility has trampoline grids, tumble tracks (longer stretches of trampoline), dodgeball, extreme dodgeball, a foam pit and a ninja course. Owner Alexandru Muresan, who previously owned Aerofit, a much smaller trampoline facility in Athens, says he had been looking to transition to a larger space since May 2014.

“I thought I was just going to expand Aerofit, keep the name and just expand to a bigger location,” Muresan says. But after talking to the trampoline manufacturer

who mentioned wanting partners to open parks called Rush, he decided to go with the new name.

Rush is located at 10 Huntington Road and fills a space that was previously a TJ Maxx and a Shoe Carnival. The building process began in October 2014.

“We had nothing in here,” Muresan says. “The only thing that was in here was the sprinkler system which was lowered and then the trashed AC.” Muresan says he worked with a trampoline manufacturer to design the trampolines for Rush.

Some of the trampolines are curved, like the ones in the extreme dodgeball court, while others are flat. The ninja course will be one-of-a-kind and is an obstacle course that will incorporate trampolines and foam pits.

According to Muresan, Rush can accommodate up to 100 people.

“Believe it or not, we’ve been at capacity probably a couple times now, and it doesn’t look that intimidating, and I thought it would be packed,” Muresan says. “At Aerofit, you had 16 people which was capacity, and it looked just crazy,” Although Aerofit was more focused on fitness, Rush will have less fitness classes and more opportunities for open jump, which is an hour of time that customers can choose to do whatever they want.

However, participants will still experience the benefits of trampoline exercise even without an instructor.

“The best benefit is that you strengthen the back part of your core that you never get to work,” Muresan says. “It just gets weaker Neal Thacker, Morgan Fermin, Robert Willequer and Michael Quinton get ready for a game of dodgeball at Rush Athens.

10

ugazine

summer 2015

Above: Rush Athens is the first indoor trampoline park located in Athens, Ga.

and weaker, and you get old, and you fall apart. So trampoline involuntarily has to stabilize the front and the back, so that’s why a lot of time it hurts people’s back - really it’s just their muscles getting tight.”

Emily Giambalvo, a freshman marketing major from South Carolina, was a level-10 gymnast in high school and was excited when she heard about Rush. “One of my friends saw something on Twitter and retweeted it and tagged me in it, and I replied and said, ‘Let’s go now,’ and we went the next day,” Giambalvo says.

In addition to enjoying the opportunity to do exercise similar to gymnastics again, Giambalvo says she was impressed by the staff of Rush and wanted to go back again the next day. “For 15 years, every single day I was flipping,” Giambalvo says. “Just to have a little taste of that again - it made me want to do it even more, and I really enjoyed it.”

Giambalvo encourages all students to try Rush, even if they are not a level-10 gymnast. “The fun block foam pits give you a lot of freedom,” Giambalvo says. “Obviously you don’t want to go into it head first, but it really does make it to where you can try stuff that you maybe never got to try before. Go YouTube a little bit of gymnastics and that should motivate you. Overall, the atmosphere in there was really laidback, obviously safe, but it was a nice comfortable feeling.”

Come teach in Henry County Schools, McDonough, GA. The 7th largest school system in the state! We are a short drive from Hartsfield Jackson Airport and Downtown Atlanta. We are in need of Math, Science and Spanish teachers, as well as Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs).

Please visit www.henry.k12.ga.us to apply for current vacancies.

Above: Robert Willequer crosses cylinder bridge at Rush Athens.

georgiaugazine.org 11

Katie Beauchamp, office manager at Creature Comforts, pours a beer for a visitor.

Summer Sips By: Brittany Bowes | Photography: Brenna Beech

Warm weather is finally here, and what better way to spend spring and summer than relaxing with a cold beer in hand? But not just any beer - beer made right here in Athens. One of the many advantages of living in the Classic City is the availability of fresh local brews right at your fingertips. Among these breweries are Copper Creek, Creature Comforts and Terrapin.

At Copper Creek, Brewmaster Matt Buley is proud of the fact that he makes the beer himself, and that’s what makes it so special. “We don’t like moving liquids – it’s difficult – so we produce our beer here,” Buley says. “We like to use as many different yeast strains as possible. We want all our beers to be different from each other.” Variety is value at this brewery. For that reason, they don’t carry the same summer beers each year because it’s important to bring something new to the table (or the bar).

However, the most popular beers during the warm weather tend to be fruitier, drier and lighter. A visitors’ favorite is the Belgian Red. Made locally, it’s spiced

12

ugazine

summer 2015

with ginger, oak and raspberries. Another popular sip is Pilsner, a crisp and dry concoction. Copper Creek offers specials every day of the week. Cherish your delicate summer nights with $2 pints on Tuesdays, Trivia on Wednesdays and Wing Night on Thursdays.

In addition to brew, Copper Creek also serves food and new unveilings in preparation for the summer.

Sunday brunch will be offered at Copper Creek, so hop on over for some chicken and waffles or fried grit cakes.

Pairings will be emphasized.

“The major promotion we are looking to start getting underway this summer is trying to get into more pairings,” says Andy Hale, general manager at Copper Creek. “I love pairing food with beer, and the trend has really taken off over the last several years around town, so we are going to start doing regular food pairings at Copper Creek over the summer.”

Terrapin Beer Company, the largest brewery in Athens, is a favorite for many of its dwellers.

The brewery produces 22 to 24 different beers

per year, mainly focusing on IPA-style beers (“Hopsecutioner”), with special seasonal offerings.

Why is it that Terrapin specializes in IPA? “It’s the fastest growing style of beer, and it’s an alternative to mainstream lagers,” says John Cochran, co-founder of Terrapin.

Popular during the warm weather is Terrapin’s RecreationAle. “It has the taste of an IPA but is lighter,” Cochran says. Another summer offering is the Maggie’s Farmhouse, which is made with farmhouse ale and peaches (1,000 pounds per 100 bbl batch, to be exact).

Creature Comforts offers student discounts on Thursdays and live music on Saturdays.

Each year, Terrapin partakes in a Hops refreshment while working in the fields,” Beauchamp Selection. “The brewmaster goes to the Hops Selection to choose a Hops we have never used before,” says. “Oftentimes this style is accented with wild yeast Cochran says. This takes place in the spring, and the new and bacteria that offer lots of interesting aromas and flavors. For this one, we decided to keep it clean by only ale becomes popular in the summer. using a traditional brewer’s yeast.”

The newest addition to the Atehns brewery scene In addition to the one-of-a-kind local brews Creature is Creature Comforts. The brews at Creature Comforts Comforts has to offer, is host the Athens Farmers are unique and perfected down to the last detail. “We Market every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the will never release a beer that we are not fully proud of,” says Adam Beauchamp, the co-brewmaster. “Sometimes summer. This coincides with its public tastings, so you can pair fresh beer with fresh produce. Secondly, every that means dumping out beer that doesn’t meet our Tuesday is “Curious Tuesday” in which they introduce a standards. That doesn’t happen often, but you can rest new beer for that day. Lastly, it offers student discounts assured that bad-tasting beer will not make it to your on Thursdays and host live music on Saturdays. glass.”

There’s always a way to celebrate the season at one Best for hot summer days include a tart Berliner of your local breweries, so take advantage of the quieter Weisse, such as Creature Comforts’ refreshing and much less crowded bar scene during the summer and popular Athena, which is a light but flavorful and head downtown for some craft beer tasting. concoction. You could also try Tropicália if you are in the mood for an IPA. Tropicália originated from the desire to create a less bitter IPA. “It has lots of beautiful tropical fruit aroma and flavor, without the mouth-puckering aftertaste,” Beauchamp says.

Adam notes that a summer saison will be featured at Creature Comforts this summer. “This style was traditionally drank

by Belgian farmhands for nourishment and Creature Comforts beer is handcrafted right here in Athens.

In Profile: Ms. Sandra

The Woman Behind the Hugs By: Claire Jordan | Photography: Casey Lemmings

The hustle and bustle of UGA sings with a chorus of chattering students, chirping birds and the Chapel Bell - but perhaps the most comforting sound on campus is the resounding, “Hi Honey!” from Ms. Sandra Patterson, a cashier at Snelling Dining Commons.

Students love her spunky spirit and genuine smile. She has doled out her famous hugs for 27 years with no sign of stopping.

Ms. Sandra hails from South Carolina but has lived in Athens since the age of six. She grew up with nine sisters and still gets together with them frequently.

Ms. Sandra and her sisters suffered the loss of their mother at a young age, but their father and grandmother stepped in as primary caregivers. This loss created a strong bond that has lasted for many years. “We like to have big family gatherings, cook for each other and watch sports together,” Patterson says. “That’s my

favorite thing, being with family.” Ms. Sandra has three children of her own as well as six grandchildren. She spends most of her free time attending various school or sporting events that her family is involved in.

Growing up, she loved sports and modestly admits, “I used to play a little basketball.” Her passion for athletics lives on today in the way she cares for UGA student athletes. She is intentional about getting to know and encourage them daily. In her time at Snelling, she has hugged hundreds of ball players, including Herschel Walker. She genuinely loves interacting with all students.

“I enjoy that part more than anything,” Patterson says.

“I get all my dreams at once: a good job and working with young people.”

During breaks, Ms. Sandra enjoys her favorite Snelling meal with friends, the classic cheeseburger. She also loves reading on her time off and is always looking for another book to add to her list. “Unveiled,” by Francine Rivers, is her latest find. As far as entertainment goes, she is a fan of all scary movies as well as the classic sitcom, such as Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. She loves anything with Denzel Washington in it, but she believes his best work is the award-winning thriller John Q. In the past, Ms. Sandra worked at a laundromat and day care center but found her place early on with UGA Food Services. She vividly remembers her first day at Sandra Patterson, cashier at Snelling Dining Commons at Snelling. “I was so young the University of Georgia, has stars for exellent customer and afraid, but an older lady service on her official Food Services nametag.

14

ugazine

summer 2015

Above: Ms. Sandra is known for her cheerful character and daily hugs at the University of Georgia.

took me in as her daughter and showed me around,” Patterson says. “I started out on the main line as a food server and salad maker,” Patterson says. Over the years, she has seen a lot of good times at Snelling, but her favorite day was her surprise 40th birthday party thrown by staff and students. “I am really loved by ya’ll, and that makes me feel so good,” Patterson says in reflection on this day. “I’ve been blessed – not in fortune, but in love. Not many people have been loved like I have.”

When asked why she cares so passionately, she says, “I just see the kids, and I know they’re away from home, and I feel for them.” Thank you, Ms. Sandra, for consistently making UGA students feel at home with the simplicity of a genuine hug and kind word.

Right: Ms. Sandra poses by flowers at Joe Frank Harris Dining Commons.

14. Take a class at ARTini’s

52. Visit the Iron Horse

Our Athens Bucket List Photography: Laura Baker, David Barnes, Brenna Beech, Allie Blinder, Lauren Leising and Rachel Nipp

6. Take a picture in the fountain

16

ugazine

summer 2015

25. Smell the roses at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia

43. Buy something at the Athens Farmers Market

37. Pet the animals at Bear Hollow Zoo

78. Catch a film at CinĂŠ

89. See the Georgia Railway Trestle

georgiaugazine.org 17

61. Grab a burger from Clocked

47. See how Athens looks from a rooftop

35. Sip on coffee and read a paper in a coffeeshop

12. Drink a smoothie from Arden’s Garden

23. Try a margarita from Fuzzy’s

18

ugazine

summer 2015

54. Eat a pizza from Transmetropolitan

71. View a gallery at the Georgia Museum of Art 68. Watch a show at the Georgia Theatre

9. Ring the Chapel Bell

georgiaugazine.org 19

53. Make pottery at Good Dirt

46. Cross the Elder Bridge

38. Get ice cream at the Creamery

22. Eat a donut at Ike & Jane’s

17. Complete the beer card at Pauley’s

20

ugazine

summer 2015

64. Take pictures with all of the Bulldog statues in Athens

76. Graduate from UGA and walk under the Arch

georgiaugazine.org 21

Our Athens Bucket List 1. visit the Tree Room on Chase street 2. Play Frisbee Golf on North Campus 3. Have coffee at Walker’s/Jittery Joe’s/Two Story 4. Peruse Wuxtry Records, Bizarro-Wuxtry (for comic books) and Jackson St. Bookstore 5. Eat at Mama’s Boy after a long night 6. Take a picture in the fountain on North Campus 7. Go to a WUOG Dance 8. Hike around Ben Burton Park 9. Ring the Chapel Bell 10. Sing karaoke at Walker’s/Hi-Lo/GoBar

31. Go to at least one of every sporting event 32. See a Show at the 40 Watt 33. Visit Hotel Indigo 34. Attend Taste of Athens 35. Sip on coffee and read a paper in a coffeeshop 36. Participate in Senior Signature 37. Pet the animals at Bear Hollow Zoo 38. Get ice cream at the Creamery 39. Satisfy late-night cravings at the Grill 40. Complete the G Book traditions

11. Play at “redneck beach” on macon highway 12. Drink a smoothie from Arden’s Garden 13. Attend the Boybutante Ball 14. Take a class at ARTini’s 15. Go floating/kayaking on the Broad River 16. Go on a UGA ghost tour 17. Complete the beer card at Pauley’s 18. See the stars at the UGA observatory 19. Hang out on the Georgia Theatre rooftop 20. Go to AthFest 21. Go to an Improv Athens Show

41. Pet/hug UGA IX 42. Take part in an Athens Food Tour 43. Buy something at the Athens Farmers Market 44. Visit every downtown bar at least once 45. Go to the Pope on Prince thrift store 46. Cross the Elder Bridge 47. See how Athens looks from a rooftop 48. See a Classic City Rollergirls jam 49. Taste the brews at Terrapin and Creature Comforts 50. Take a photo with the Tree That Owns Itself

22. Eat a donut at Ike & Jane’s 23. Try a margarita from Fuzzy’s 24. Go to a Gym Dogs meet 25. Smell the roses at the State Botanical Garden 26. Pick up late-night Insomnia cookies 27. Get fried dough from Always Baked 28. Go to a performance at the Hodgson School of Music 29. Get onto as many UGA rooftops as you can 30. Try every dining hall

51. Go to the Wild Rumpus Parade 52. Visit the Iron Horse 53. Make pottery at Good Dirt 54. Eat a pizza at Transmetropolitan 55. Watch the Twilight Bicycle Race 56. Take a daycation to Sandy Creek Park 57. Participate in the Dawg Walk at a football game 58. See a drag show at GoBar 59. Watch the World Cup at the Globe

60. Dance at 9d’s bar 61. Grab a burger from Clocked 62. Read a book (and donate one!) from one of Athens’ little free libraries housed in boxes around downtown 63. Visit every building on UGA’s campus 64. Take pictures with all of the Bulldog statues in Athens 65. Play pool at Nowhere Bar 66. Get popcorn & beer floats at Flicker Bar 68. Watch a show at the Georgia Theatre

85. Tailgate before a football game 86. Order fries with raspberry ketchup at Trappeze Pub 87. Go to the free art show at the Lamar Dodd School of Art 88. Visit the Founder’s Garden 89. See the Georgia Railway Trestle 90. Longboard on one of the parking decks 91. Visit Athica (and everything) at the Chase Street warehouses

67. take a photo with Hairy dawg 69. Read the letters of encouragement hidden in an upstairs desk at Two Story Coffeehouse and leave your own 70. Take a class at Rubber Soul Yoga 71. View a gallery at the Georgia Museum of Art 72. See a University Theatre production 73. Grab some fresh produce from the UGA agriculture fields 74. Have dinner with your parents at the Last Resort Bar & Grill 75. Order a brindle at Highwire Lounge

92. Do the Blackout Bucket challenge at Sandbar 93. Swing by the railroad tracks at the end of Pulaski Street 94. Watch a $1 movie at the Tate Theater 95. Visit the Jittery Joe’s Roaster 96. Go on a group outdoor trip through Ramsey 97. Do a night of lessons with Ballroom Performance Group 98. Reminisce about R.E.M. while eating at Weaver D’s 99. Climb the rock wall and do the ropes course at Ramsey

76. graduate from uga and walk under the arch 77. Treat yourself at the National 78. Catch a film at Ciné 79. Buy a pumpkin from the patch at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church 80. Experience Zombie Farms 81. Find your way through the Washington Farms Corn Maze

82. Snellebrate 83. Go to UGA Night at Six Flags 84. Take a tour of the weird things housed in the Special Collections Library

100. Try the best vegetarian food around at the Grit 101. Visit the Jittery Joe’s roaster on Barber Street

If you have other bucket list items to add, email them to ugazine@gmail.com

Secrets From the Other Side By: Tiffany Jaquins | Photography: Brenna Beech

August rolls around each year, and thousands of students journey back to Athens from all across the country, eager to experience everything this little city has to offer. For almost every student, the year begins with an inaugural trip to Mama’s Boy and other Athens classics. The food, shopping, classes and warm summer nights spent at Terrapin are all in anticipation of spending yet another Saturday between the hedges. The year closes with a pattern almost identical to that of the start, and as finals come and go, so do the students.

Yet as the students return to wherever they call home, the professors stay. The Classic City is their home. They appreciate the Athens benchmarks: spending time on North Campus and enjoying crisp fall afternoons getting lunch at Cali N Tito’s. These places have not become classics without reason, but think about the last time you saw your coffee-obsessed professors hanging out at Walker’s Pub. It probably has not happened.

One aspect of Athens that often goes unrecognized is its abundance of green spaces. Annie Wendel, a Spanish professor at UGA, has a favorite spot on

campus that most students know and love: the Founder’s Memorial Garden. “Tucked right off of Lumpkin Street, the serenity and beauty of the gardens is captivating,” Wendel says.”It is a huge part of UGA history.”

Wendel first visited the garden about ten years ago during her time as a graduate student at UGA. “I used to take a nap on a bench or read outside on warm days,” Wendel says. “I’ve seen it in every season of the year – with the pond frozen over in winter and with an ever-evolving arrangement of gorgeous plants. It changes throughout each year, but in some ways stays the same.” Like many other UGA students, Wendel and her husband spent their first date in the garden and later got engaged there.

The Founder’s Memorial Garden is a staple of the university, however Wendel also shared other locations within Athens where she likes to spend a free afternoon.

“I love nature, plants and animals. Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail at Memorial Park is a close second [to the Founder’s Memorial Garden],” Wendel says.

Other off-the-radar places Wendel recommends are the Sandy Creek Nature Center and the Broad River Outpost. The Sandy Creek Nature Center is a 225acre haven of woodlands and wetlands with more than four miles of trails. There is an Education and Visitor Center with live reptiles, amphibians, aquariums and natural history exhibits for visitors of the green space.

The Broad River Outpost is a kayak and canoe rental service operating on the Broad River from mid-March to October. The river is mainly free-flowing but has some small rapids, perfect for beginners or children.

There is also a campground available for boaters with a $1 donation.

Kim Landrum, lecturer at the Grady College of Professor Annie Wendel, Spanish professor at UGA, says that the Founder’s Garden is one of her favorite places on campus. She was even engaged at the koi pond, where she had her first date with her now husband.

24

ugazine

summer 2015

Trails and gardens at the Botanical Gardens.

Journalism and Mass Communication, talks about how her family enjoys running at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, located off South Milledge Avenue. “It’s the most technical trail,” Landrum says. “If you are a trail runner, or if you just want a more challenging hike, it would be the best place to go.”

Landrum shares that outside Athens, “Watkinsville has become a fun, little destination point. Its downtown is pretty quaint with local shops and restaurants.”

One of her favorite restaurants in the area is Chops & Hops, a place with a diverse menu and an art gallery on the second floor of its downtown Watkinsville location. “It’s great; they’ve got a big beer selection with beers on tap, craft beers and stuff like that,” Landrum says. “They’ve got a great burger too.”

Although Landrum and her family have moved outside the central Athens area, they still visit different

places easily accessible to students. “We do frequent the Athens Farmers Market on the weekends at Bishop Park,” Landrum says. “They have breakfast items that you can get, organic produce, soaps and all sorts of things to buy. You can make a morning out of it.”

5&10 and The National are two classic Athens restaurants that Landrum and her family enjoy, but Landrum shares that they also seek out hidden gems within the spectrum of classic Athens outings.

“We try to seek out certain things,” Landrum says.

“Big City Bread has the best burger and these flourless chocolate stars. You kind of figure out where these little nooks and crannies are and these little hidden treasures – there’s a lot of that to be had in Athens.”

One of Athens’ leading strengths is becoming a home to a diverse student body for a majority of the year. Yet it is more than a temporary home base for four short years. To many of the University of Georgia staff members, four years is nothing but a hint of their time here. Their insight is unique in a way that cannot be imitated because of its permanence. This city has a voice and a feel that can be artsy, preppy, simple, opulent, consistently versatile, and most famously, classic.

Big City Bread’s chocolate stars in Athens, Ga.

W

A r e e u H Y o t u a ? h Photography: Ersta Ferryanto

PRODUCT: Top, Pitaya, $29 Shorts, Pitaya, $32 Jacket, Atomic, $32

26

ugazine

summer 2015

Surina Harjani

-Major: Biology and Psychology -Year: Junior I’m a science major and a fashion editor on the side. I don’t see myself as someone innovative or crazy unique, I just love fashion. I like that fashion does not have to mean keeping up with latest trends, it can be taking what you’ve got and making it your own.

There’s a quote by Rumi that goes, “Let the beauty we love be what we do.” I think everyone needs a outlet where they can be expressive, even if they don’t think they are creative.

PRODUCT: Jumpsuit, Pitaya, $34 Stone Necklace, Pitaya, $16 Shoes, Model’s own

georgiaugazine.org 27

PRODUCT: Top, Pitaya, $29 Skirt, Pitaya, $49 Purse, Pitaya, $34

28

ugazine

summer 2015

Ashley Biscan

-Major: Journalism -Minor: Fashion Merchandising -Year: Sophomore I am a patron, participant and pupil of fashion. I believe that you never need an excuse to dress up and that it is a disservice to hold yourself back.

Try out a trend, start your own or stay true to the classics. Whatever you do… don’t miss an opportunity to inspire others, or even yourself!

PRODUCT: Top, Pitaya, $32 Skirt, Atomic, $14 Shoes, Model’s own Cuffs, Atomic, $10 each

georgiaugazine.org 29

PRODUCT: Top, Pitaya, $29 Shorts, Pitaya, $26 Hat, Model’s own

30

ugazine

summer 2015

Olivia Rawlings

-Major: Public Relations -Minor: Fashion Merchandising -Year: Sophomore I think that style is a great way to show your personality, which is why it is so important to me. I love expressing myself with an outfit and trying new trends. Rachel Zoe described my feelings perfectly when she said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”

PRODUCT: Dress, Model’s own Necklaces, Pitaya, $8

georgiaugazine.org 31

Dream Smaller: Following Through with College Bucket Lists

By: Katie Story | Photos Contributed by: Morgan Balsam, Caroline Caldwell and Emily Henderson

Whether you believe in the idea of a bucket list or not, everyone has things they want to do before they die. It’s a fairly straightforward concept that conjures up images of one day scaling Mt. Everest or skydiving from an altitude of 30,000 feet. However, this is a fairly recent notion. According to an article on Slate.com, the phrase “bucket list” was not popularized by the media until 2007 when the movie of the same name, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as terminal cancer patients, debuted.

Although the phrase “kicking the bucket” has been around since the late 18th century, why is it now so popular to have a fantastical list of things to do before you die?

“Now we have advance means to do crazy things,” says Laurel Haislip, a sophomore communications studies major from Decatur. Haislip is about to check one item off her bucket list in a few weeks — studying abroad.

“Study abroad was just something that I didn’t want to graduate college without doing,” Haislip says.

“I believe college is so much more than what happens in the classroom or on the campus.” While some items on her list has her taking far-off adventures and maybe learning a new language, she also has more realistic (although still difficult) goals, like running a full marathon.

But for most people, it seems these lists feature items that are more lofty than achievable. Popular culture has made it seem that bucket lists must take you to far-off places or consist of extremely dangerous things for them to be worthwhile.

“This is the YOLO-ization of cultural experience, Left: UGA Theatre Studies Abroad in Cortona, Italy on a weekend trip to Rome.

Emily Henderson and Casey Ohman ride an elephant in South Africa during a Global Lead study abroad with UGA in 2012.

32

ugazine

summer 2015

Morgan Balsam went to Chattanooga Skydiving Company to cross skydiving off her bucket list and end her freshman year with something fun.

whereby the pursuit of fleeting novelty is granted greater value than a patient dedication to an enduring attention,” says Rebecca Mead, a staff writer for The New Yorker, in an article titled “Kicking the Bucket List.”

“For a lot of people it has to do with goal setting,” says Carly Shortland, a sophomore social work major from Marietta. “[They] love setting goals and meeting goals and crossing things off of a list.” Shortland has already crossed an item off her bucket list—getting a tattoo. “I just felt like ‘This is what I want to do,’ and I got to do it.”

However, neither Shortland nor Haislip has an actual bucket list written out. All the ideas they have are just fantastical ideas in their heads. There are two camps in the “bucket list” scenario — one side believes that writing down your hopes will help you to better achieve them, and the other side thinks life isn’t just about checking things off of a list. “[The bucket list] partakes of a commodification of cultural experience, in which every expedition made, and every artwork encountered, is reduced to an item on a checklist to be got through, rather than being worthy of

repeated or extended engagement,” Mead says.

Whether you have an actual list written out or just ideas in your head, college is a great time to take advantage of experiences you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to partake in and to do things out of your comfort zone. You might find a new passion or hobby, or you might never want to do it again, but at least you’ll have a good story to tell.

Morgan Balsam was able to go skydiving at Chattanooga Skydiving Company for cheaper because she used a Groupon.

georgiaugazine.org 33

athfest: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE By: Lauren Leising | Photos Contributed by: AthFest

What comes to mind when you think of Athens, Ga? The ever-expanding, bustling, beautiful city we call home is known for great food and drink, an incredibly diverse population, a tight-knit community and, of course, music. One of the most defining characteristics of Athens is its booming music and art scene. It it known for producing and hosting up-and-coming artists from around the country in its iconic venues, such as the 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre. The profound emphasis on music and art is felt throughout the city and has given rise to concerts and festivals yearround, including the annual AthFest festival that takes place each June and draws the community together to celebrate after the school year has come to a close.

According to Jill Helme, the current AthFest Executive Director, “[AthFest] started 19 years ago as a small festival on the steps of the courthouse with a few hundred people in attendance,” and has since “grown to a multi-day festival that spans four blocks and welcomes over 30,000 people to the city of Athens.” The festival celebrates musical and artistic talent from people across the country and includes several days of live music,

34

ugazine

summer 2015

artist booths and a two-night Club Crawl around Athens.

AthFest is organized and put on

by AthFest Educates, which is dedicated to supporting music and art education for youth in the Athens area and to encouraging students to pursue their creative passions. All proceeds from the festival go directly to providing schools and organizations, such as Barrow Elementary School and the Lyndon House Arts Center, with funding for arts programs for young students and children.

At Barrow Elementary School, Leslie Sokal-Berg was able to purchase new instruments for her students and says that the school is “able to completely transform what [they] offer [their] students.” At the Lyndon House Arts Center, Didi Dunphy, the program supervisor, says that the arts center is using their first grant from AthFest Educates to purchase the equipment needed for a stopmotion animation program for fourth- and fifth-graders and to expand their program offerings.

Each year the Lyndon House Arts Center organizes

week-long summer camps for the youth of Athens and is dedicated to showcasing the talent of young artists and to showing students the joys of art. The value that AthFest Educates places on the arts resonates with both Sokal-Berg and Dunphy, who believe that the arts offer students opportunities to excel in life by seeing the beauty and possibilities in art.

“Kids that struggle with reading, math or general studies can find success in the arts,”Sokal-Berg says.

Didi Dunphy believes that art “is integrated into life” and that creativity is necessary for success in the future.

Studying the arts allows students to fully express themselves and take pride in the things they have made, and that is something to be valued.

When discussing AthFest, one cannot forget the outstanding and diverse range of musical performances featured on the festivals’ stages. The festival has played host to local, regional and national performers and has offered many up-and-coming bands the opportunity to gain traction and expand their fan base. One such band is Seven Handle Circus. Shawn Spencer, a member of the band, has performed in three AthFest celebrations and will be opening the festival on the main stage this

year. He explained that he enjoys coming back to the festival because of the enthusiastic audience, diverse crowds and the overall “culture of it.”

Noah Adams, member of Dirty Bourbon River Show, will also be returning to the festival this year and says that he enjoys playing AthFest because “they host a great range of acts in a wonderful setting.” He says that one of the best things about the festival from the perspective of a performer is “looking out from the stage and not being able to tell where the crowd stops.”

Ryan Price, a junior at UGA, was standing in the crowd at last year’s festival and loved it. “There was a very diverse crowd,” Price says. “Everyone finds their place and enjoys themselves.” He agrees that the festival truly offers something for everyone and that “AthFest epitomizes the college and music scene [Athens] has. It is a true Classic City event.”

Whether you stay in Athens for summer or not, coming downtown for AthFest is truly worth it, and you will be sure to leave enthused and excited. By fusing the art, music and culture of Athens, AthFest makes the crowd come alive. The festival offers each person something that stirs them, makes their heart beat fast and brings them into community with those around them. With the intention of furthering music and art education for students, AthFest succeeds in bringing people together to celebrate and educates us all on how to have a good time.

georgiaugazine.org 35

ARTini’s:

The Most Creative Summer You Will Ever Have By: Catherine Pierson | Photography: Laura Baker

Are you looking for a unique place to hang out with friends over the summer? Maybe you think the bar scene of downtown Athens has become overrated with a nasty smell of old Burnett’s shots scattered across the floor. The pool is always a fun atmosphere, but rain is a frequent occurance throughout the summer, so why not try something new and creative?

ARTini’s is the place you want to be. Its location on West Broad Street allows you to continue to experience the popular nightlife of downtown Athens without the crowds. ARTini’s is exactly what it sounds like and a business that specializes in art and alcohol.

Right: Paints and brushes are splattered throughout the classroom at ARTini’s.

Numerous easels are set up for large classes, parties, and events at ARTini’s Studio and Lounge.

36

ugazine

summer 2015

“It’s time to do something I love every day, and it’s time to use the gift I was given to give back,” says Kate Cook, ARTini’s owner/artist instructor. “It excites me to share art and bring it to everyone.”

ARTini’s is not just a business, but also a passion.

Once you step inside, you will realize the hard work that

ARTini’s instructor Katherine E. Schuber teaches her class how to paint the “Rainbow Rooster.”

Cook puts in for everyone to feel the same way as she does about art.

“I thought ARTini’s was a great combination of fun and chill with a side of cat[s],” says Ridley Griggs, a graduate student majoring in health policy and management from Cornelia.

ARTini’s is not just filled with paintbrushes, canvases and a lounge. Cats roam the place too. Penelope is one of the two cats that meet you at the door as you walk in. The cats are friendly and enjoy helping you paint, putting their little paws into the paint water. It is the perfect place to make some new furry friends.

The instructors are all very encouraging and take you step by step with every stroke and color of paint.

The paint, brushes and canvases are all included in

the cost. You don’t even have to clean up before leaving.

The instructors use acrylic paint that dries very quickly, so you can take your painting home that same night.

Then, when your beautiful painting is hanging on the wall, all of your friends will wonder, “How did you do that?” ARTini’s is a great place to show off your skills and abilities to everyone at home.

“I felt like I really did learn something,” says Sarah Ellen Williams, a junior biology major from Macon. “I would definitely go back and bring my mom because she would love it because it has her two favorite things: painting and wine.”

ARTini’s is great for when your parents and siblings make a visit. The atmosphere is better with a group because it is fun comparing each other’s paintings as the process goes along. People of all ages can enjoy painting and the process takes about two hours, which can then turn into a full night of fun. A girl’s night is definitely recommended at ARTini’s.

“If you’re looking for a chill place with cool beer and air conditioning, it’s the right place,” says Sami Netherton, a junior biology major from Alpharetta.

“Plus, the free cups at the end were awesome for bringing to the pool.”

So next time you and your friends are bored or just looking for something new and fun to do, go check ARTini’s out, play with some adorable cats and even get a souvenir. Your time will not be wasted and you will be wondering why you hadn’t visited this place sooner.

ARTini’s teaches hundreds of unique pieces for each student to individually create as their own.

georgiaugazine.org 37

Wooden Worlds A Fundraiser for MEDLIFE Mobile Clinic Trips By: Nick Seymour | Photography: David Barnes

Drilling holes in wood for three to four hours doesn’t sound like anybody’s typical weekend, especially when it’s not for profit, but for Ojaswa “Oj” Prasad, it’s a reality. Prasad, a junior biochemistry major from Johns Creek, makes two to three world maps made of different sized holes drilled into wood every weekend he goes home.

The sculptures are no small feat. They require hours of work and heaps of ingenuity from the design to the finished product. “So I can only make them at home at my parents’ place because I don’t have the tools here, and I’m pretty sure all my neighbors here would get annoyed if they constantly heard drilling, so I do it when I go home on the weekends,” Prasad says. He can’t go home every weekend, however, so there’s even less time to make each sculpture. That’s why the production has “protracted a bit.”

Prasad can only make about three or four at a time.

“The first time I didn’t have a template board, so it took a bit longer,” Prasad says. “But I created a template board that’s about 32 inches by 48 inches. So I gridded it out, and I also had to have a projection for the population and landmass base.” The projection he used is called the Kavrayskiy VII projection, which is one of 60 ways in which cartographers have tried to flatten our spherical world onto a rectangle. It basically comes out as squares and is based on population relative to land Prasad and Benedit, along with many other volunteers, helped at least 2,860 people through their MEDLIFE trip to Peru.

38

ugazine

summer 2015

mass and location. “I had to use that to figure out four different hole sizes.”

Making the maps is incredibly time-consuming and detailed work. Prasad has to buy special drill bits so that the wood doesn’t tear and so he doesn’t have to re-sand it all after he’s done. He buys his wood at Home Depot, but it doesn’t come in the right size, so he has to buy larger pieces and then cut them into thirds. Creating the actual holes takes the most time, though. “The holes take forever - at least three to four hours for the holes,” Prasad says. And since he has to make sure each hole is lined up exactly, he can’t use a work bench; he has to lean into every single hole he drills, causing his arm and shoulder to hurt. To counter this, he takes a break after he finishes each continent. “With the breaks, it’s doable.”

With the template Prasad has made, the work is considerably easier. By making the board, he has cut his work down from five hours per board to just three

because it’s easier to see where the holes are and what sizes they need to be. “I have the template board and then I have two boards underneath. That makes it easier in terms of strain and whatnot, and then I have to sand down the wood. Sometimes I have to sand down the front because it does tear on the front and it needs to be smooth. I stain the front so it looks a bit nicer, and for that it needs to be a smooth surface.

And then I add a trim to it, so it doesn’t look like plywood - it looks kind of fancy.”

Prasad gives a map its shadow-box effect by attaching four separate blocks of wood onto the back that hold the board off by four inches. Then he puts the wire across the top for hanging. As a bonus, he can add LED lights behind the board as well.

All of that is a lot of work for something that doesn’t make any profit for Prasad, but he’s not doing it for profit. He’s making and selling these sculptures to raise money for a second service trip with MEDLIFE (Medicine, Education and Development for Low-Income Families Everywhere). For his 2014 spring break, Prasad went with about 30 other UGA students to Peru. Each day they were there, they traveled one or two hours outside of Lima, where there are millions of people living in shacks. While there, they built an enormous staircase to help the people climb up and down an extremely steep hillside. They built a house for a single mother, and they set up a mobile clinic, which offered a variety of medical services from dentistry to gynecology.

And MEDLIFE wasn’t just “sticking a BandAid on it” like other volunteer organizations might.

Even though the volunteers from UGA and other American universities have to leave after a week, there are permanent interns and doctors that stay in Peru to perform follow-ups on the patients. That’s what makes MEDLIFE different from other organizations and

Prasad’s wooden template.

creates lasting and impactful change in the area.

Prasad’s experience at with MEDLIFE is by no means singular. “It’s inexplicable,” says Veronica Benedit, a senior biology major from Loganville and current Service Chair for MEDLIFE. “I’ve been to a handful of places, but this was the best kind of vacation for me, because you spend the day helping people with their lives, and then you have the evening to spend with friends seeing this beautiful country. And then the next day, you do it all over again. There was so much worth in a single day - it’s overwhelming.”

After the program was over, Prasad, Benedit and their fellow volunteers got an email that showed how many people they helped over the course of just one week. “We helped 2,860 people, but to me, that wasn’t enough,” Prasad says. He says that the best way that he could help those in need was to become a doctor so that he could stay there and give them all the time that they needed.

Prasad says that he wants to raise about $2,400 in revenue for his next trip, which would either be in Peru again or possibly in Ecuador. So far, he’s raised $600 selling his pieces to students for $100 each. He posted on various UGA Facebook groups in January saying that he was selling his sculptures, and he’s been working on them ever since.

Prasad poses with his artwork.

georgiaugazine.org 39

The Coolest Hidden Spots in Athens By: Camren Skelton | Photography: Lauren Leising

Athens: a college town unlike any other. Where on football Saturdays, everyone’s blood bleeds red and black. Where Monday through Friday, campus is buzzing with students learning in the classroom, and Thursday through Saturday, the streets of downtown come alive with students looking for a night out on the town. Athens has something for every taste whether you’re a music junkie, a foodie or engrossed in the art scene, it is guaranteed you will find something to fit your needs.

But with all that Athens has to offer, it can be difficult to get a taste of everything. If you’ve been around Athens long enough then you’ve probably seen a show at the Georgia Theatre, had a crêpe at Pauley’s and had a breakfast or two at Mama’s Boy. But there is so much more to Athens than the typical bucket list spots.

If you’re looking for an adventure, then check out the coolest hidden spots that Athens has to offer.

1

The Tree Room This is a building with a live tree growing inside of it. Different, right? The Tree Room is part of the Chase Park Warehouses on Tracy Street. In the 1900s, a fire burned the roof of the building and years later, a tree started growing inside of it. The onceabandoned building is now rented out for events, parties and weddings and is a frequent stop for students looking for a new adventure.

Pastries at Iron Works

2

1000 Faces Coffee This is a coffee shop founded in 2006 by former Peace Corps volunteer Benjamin Myers.

The name for the shop comes from a quote by Joseph Campbell in the book, “The Hero With A Thousand Faces”: “Wherever the hero may wander, whatever he may do, he is ever in the presence of his own essence - for he has the perfected eye to see. There is no separateness.” The coffee shop on Barber Street features blends from around the world, offering a new variety to the coffee connoisseur.

3

Ike & Jane Located on Prince Avenue, Ike & Jane is a locally owned and operated café and bakery.

Their specialty? Doughnuts made from scratch. “It’s definitely a mom-and-pop kind of restaurant. It’s very quaint. And they have the best chicken salad ever,” says Alexandra Falcucci, a sophomore fashion merchandising major from New Jersey. Named after the owner’s family, a bite to eat at Ike & Jane will make you feel like you’re right back in grandma’s kitchen.

4

Iron Works Coffee Want a cool place to study but tired of the usual spots like Starbucks and Jittery Joe's? Check out Iron Works Coffee, located in the lobby of the Graduate Hotel. The rustic brick and eclectic local artwork will make you feel like you’re more than just a few steps away from downtown.

If you’re always on the lookout for new places to study or grab a delicious hot drink, then add Iron Works to the top of your list.

The Tree Room, located in the Chase Park Warehouses on Tracy Street

40

ugazine

summer 2015

5

Observatory On top of the UGA physics building sits the observatory. It’s open to the public once a month. If the skies are clear, you can look into the night sky through the department’s telescope. If it’s on the cloudy side, then there is a lecture held in the auditorium by one of the physics professors.

6

The Hill No, it’s not the residence hall. The Hill is a collection of historic homes on the outskirts of Athens that date back as early as the antebellum period. All of the homes on the Hill are numbered by their address according to the year they were built, and they are available to rent for events and weekends.

If you crave a little hands-on history outside of your classes, then make your next adventure to the Hill. It’s history in your backyard.

7

Independent Baking Company A small bakery located in Five Points, Independent Baking Co. is noteworthy because their bread is served at many local Athens restaurants including Ted’s Most Best, SeaBear Oyster Bar and the National. In addition to these locations, Independent Baking Co. also has indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy a pastry or croissant on warm spring days.

10

Independent Baking Company bakes their bread daily.

Hip Pops The Popsicle joint’s main location is in the Chase Park Warehouses on Tracy Street. But you might have seen its Popsicle carts around town. There is a cart next to Daily Groceries Co-Op on Prince Avenue Monday through Friday. Hip Pops are handmade frozen popsicles created with simple ingredients and named after popular hip-hop artists and songs. Some titles include “MC Slammer,” “Kanye Zest,” “Fifty Mint” and “Green LaTeaFa.”

8

Caledonia Lounge If you’re heavily into the music scene in Athens, then the Caledonia might be familiar.

“Performing at the Caledonia is a rite of passage for artists starting out,” says Lauren Cerny, a senior mass media arts major from Roswell. “And it’s the perfect place for them to create a name for themselves in Athens.” If you’re looking to discover new music, the Caledonia is a place to check out. You never know when you could stumble upon the next big thing.

9

Heirloom Café Heirloom Café on Chase Street specializes in serving ingredients from local farmers, producers and artisans. Their mission is “to celebrate local farmers and our community by crafting a fresh take on heritage dishes.” “It’s healthy and away from downtown so parking is easy,” says Savannah Young, a senior health promotions major from Atlanta.

Restaurants like these make Athens a unique place to live.

Arnold Palmer Popsicle from Hip Pops

georgiaugazine.org 41

On The Road: Modern-Day Kerouacs

By: Molly Pease | Photos Contributed by: Sina Iranikhah

Like most college students, I have attempted to read Jack Kerouac's “On the Road.” The process is a lot like eating a package of marshmallow Peeps. At first you get the sugar rush, speeding through the unbroken stream of words, no paragraph indentation in sight. Then the excitement of unbound freedom swells in your brain and sinks to your throat. Eventually, you have ingested too much and have to put the book down, hoping to try again next Easter.

I do hope to read most of Kerouac's work at some point, if only to understand what all the “free-spirited” college freshmen are talking about. In the mean time, I found an easier way to educate myself on themes of freedom, America, travel and art: a shortcut through others' experiences. I got the CliffsNotes on travel from students who are country-crossers and art-makers. First I sat down with spoken word poet Maddie Huffman and then-photographer Sina Iranikhah.

I had the pleasure of talking with Huffman, a junior English major from Marietta, on the morning of a mutual hangover. When she is not reading books that are twice the size of the first Harry Potter, Maddie writes and performs poetry around town. Before entering college, she traveled around the country for three months by living out of her car. She says that her experience instilled her need to write.

“That summer is when I started journaling. I was

42

ugazine

summer 2015

writing almost every single day, which I miss dearly.

It gave me stuff to write about, so the people I met became the characters in my stories. I'm not much of a picture taker, so I tend to just write and describe things,” Huffman says.

Huffman described her adventures with stories rich in detail and character: a patchwork of people who stitched together a better understanding of this country.

Before she even left for the trip, waiting at the bus stop, Huffman ended up giving all her money to a woman whose leg had been burnt by her husband. The woman desperately needed to escape, so without hesitation, Huffman handed her half of her savings. As the trip became more frugal, the help of strangers became more important.

“I was freezing on the bus, and this little old African-American lady came over with a blanket. We shared it for a few hours, talking. And then she left,” Huffman says.

“Short-term interactions help you be more compassionate. If you're able to lend yourself to a stranger and give them what they need in that moment – whether it's a blanket or someone to listen – than you've made a connection,” Huffman says.

In some ways, this can be the hardest part of traveling: learning to let go. Each step of the traveling process is moving further into the unknown. First,

you must let go of everything that is holding you back from leaving. In the act of traveling, you must let go of plans, of expectations, of partners, of love affairs, of instantaneous friendships, of places... and money. There is a lot of letting go of money.

“I've always had a harder time leaving places and then leaving people. Like it'd be hard for me to leave my campsite cause I'd felt like I made such a home for myself there,” Huffman says.

Iranikhah is a junior marketing major from Johnson Ferry and an ingenious photographer. Iranikhah and two friends spent 95 hours in the car over spring break driving from Athens to California, passing through sixteen states. Iranikhah says he cannot quite remember how the idea originated, but he knew that spring breaks are finite and so he rented a car and left. As a photographer, traveling through the most gorgeous, diverse landscapes of this state irrevocably altered his view of a camera's ability to capture a moment.

“I have been looking at this desert for 50 miles now, how can I take a different perspective? To me, photography is a way to convey a message and evoke emotion in the viewer. It allowed me to add depth to the landscape,” Iranikhah says.

Iranikhah not only documented his trip but also better understood it through the lens of his camera.

The photos he took were beautiful and deliberate.

They captured both a focused physical aspect and the emotional energy of the moment. You could feel the energy of each movement that led to the actual shot: the fear and palpable awe of a photo taken two feet away from a Roosevelt elk after a morning of searching for them or the magnitude of the Redwood forest evoking the reality of our own smallness in this world.

“The first time we walked into the Redwood Forest and saw some of the bigger trees, it felt like we were on another planet. They've been there for four to five hundred years. If a tree can get through the bad times so can you if you dig really deep. If something can stay upright for that long, so can you,” Iranikhah says.

“Driving these 95 hours, I thought of our ancestors who made this same trek on horseback. The sheer determination that must have taken is nuts. If you truly believe

in something and think it's worth it, you can move mountains,” Iranikhah says.

Both Huffman and Iranikhah’s experiences show that going across the country inherently imbues you with a sense of connection to this country and its past.

Iranikhah admitted that it is easy to get caught up in the negative of this country with the overwhelming heartbreak broadcasted on the news each day. He says that this is why traveling is so therapeutic. It reminds you that there is a unique beauty to this country.

“Traveling made me love the country a lot more.

My dad emigrated here from Iran and worked his way up. I appreciate living here. Seeing the West Coast makes you feel lucky to be living in the country with so many things to see, so many different cultures. It's an incredibly diverse country. We were built upon a culture of acceptance and love. You hear the different accents and slang but at the end of the day if you're from the states, you're from the states,” Iranikhah says.

It seems important to artists to find both that diverse sameness. Artists have the urge to explore their art through different landscapes and to use art as a record of their surroundings and feelings within a finite time and space. Once they have captured it, they move on.

When asked for any advice to give to others interested in traveling, Iranikhah gave a solid piece of advice: “Just do it, you only get one shot, you gain an appreciation for who you are and where you come from.

It's easy to [get] clouded by the negativity coming from news about this state and country, but when you go out and see the beauty and scenery, you remember the good in the country.”

Summer Sojourns

for Student Journalists

By: Kate Foster | Photos Contributed by: Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

At the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, students are reminded that outside learning experiences are often more essential than course work. Even the college’s dean, Charles Davis, agrees that there is nothing quite like real-world journalism experience to encourage a student’s talent. “[Internships] are at least as important as class, maybe more important than class, frankly,” he says. “I’ve always looked at class as the gateway to the experiential stuff.”

Perhaps the two most respected and immersive ways to gain that “experiential stuff ” are studying abroad and completing internships, through which thousands of students over the years have reaped numerous journalistic career benefits.

Students looking to both broaden their journalistic horizons and explore the world for a much cheaper rate than usual should consider studying abroad. Grady offers a number of study abroad experiences for those interested. On an international level, one can visit China,

44

ugazine

summer 2015

Prague, Cannes, Costa Rica or London, but there are a number of domestic options as well: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington D.C. “I think it is so important for us to remove ourselves from the local, to understand people, religion, culture, politics in a global context,” says Kelly Meyer, Grady’s Study Abroad and Distance Learning Program Coordinator.

Cody Schmelter, a spring 2013 Grady graduate who completed the Grady @ Oxford program, is a big proponent of the study abroad experience. “To take a kid from South Georgia – letting me go to Oxford for six weeks – was just an incredible experience,” he says.

“The biggest takeaway for me was being able to tour some of the ad agencies, the BBC and keeping an eye out for how different cultures approach advertising.”

Clearly, Schmelter’s experience was both enlightening and worthwhile: he is now a staff photographer at the Marietta Daily Journal.

A number of Grady students have found internship

experiences equally eye-opening, the ideal way to gain first-hand knowledge about the industry from reallife editors and writers at some of the world’s most prestigious publications. Ryan Carty, the university’s Director of Experiential Programs and a Grady alumnus, stands behind the internship experience. “It’s one thing to learn about the industry and different methods and theories,” he says. “But [internships] are a way of adding experiential learning so that you can be prepared for challenges in the real world that you couldn’t necessarily learn in a classroom.”

Meredith Dean, a spring 2014 graduate now living in New York City, is one of Grady’s best internship success stories. As a result of internships at media outlets such as CNN International, she scored a job at Inside Edition after graduation. Now that she’s on the other side, she fully understands the value of internships. “I would say [having at least one internship] is mandatory,” she says. “I personally wouldn’t want to hire anyone that had never had an internship, had never had to report to a boss, didn’t have the initiative or motivation to want to be in the working world after four years in college. To me, that shows something about the student.”

Other students value internships as a means of figuring out what they don’t want to do after graduation.

Allison Morrow, a senior graduating in May, was thrilled when she was offered an internship at the Today Show last summer. Ever since she was little, she had watched the program, dreaming of one day becoming Katie Couric. And while the internship was certainly an exciting experience, it ultimately wasn’t the right

work environment for her. “I decided morning television just wasn’t the place for me,” she says. “I realized I’m more of a hard news girl.”

Whether students choose to study abroad or complete an internship – or, if they’re really lucky, both – one thing is for certain: getting out of the classroom and into a working journalistic environment is an essential part of the Grady experience. It doesn’t matter if it’s a study abroad advertising experience in Hong Kong or an internship at Vogue in New York City. It doesn’t even really matter if the student enjoyed the experience or not. At the end of the day, it’s about receiving a global education and figuring out what kind of career trajectory will fully satisfy the student later in life. “I learned so much more about myself as a journalist,” says Morrow. “Now, I just need to start blazing a trail and let the pieces fall as they may.”

georgiaugazine.org 45

A Daring Discomfort: How to embrace the joy of dancing By: Iva Dimitrova| Illustration: Orlando Pimentel Photography: Iva Dimitrova

46

ugazine

summer 2015

Summer descends over Athens like delicious possibility, offering the chance for some homegrown adventure and exploration. If you’ve ever been curious about the dance groups that rent out space in the bars and studios downtown, then the summer months are the time to see what they’re all about. Every week, the dance groups Athens Swung and SALSAthens host events for social dancing.

Swung hosts Athens swing night every Tuesday at DanceFX downtown. Beginner lessons start at 8 p.m., followed by social dancing from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. The entrance cost is $3 for students and $5 for non-students.

You get a free class on your first visit and every time you invite someone new. SALSAthens meets on Wednesday nights at Little Kings Shuffle Club downtown. The advanced lesson starts at 6:30 p.m., and mixed level lessons start at 7:30 p.m. The entrance cost is $10, which includes a free drink.

Passersby at Little Kings Shuffle Club may note the lively salsa music spilling out from the side doors, as it intermingles with the sounds of voices and moving feet.

Inside, the space is low-lit and warm-toned.

“It’s very warm and welcoming,” says Sarah Harrison, a freshman marine science graduate student from Fort Pierce, FL. “No one’s judging you or watching you.” It was Harrison’s first time at SALSAthens.

But building up the courage to go is the first step.

“Don’t feel like you have to take lessons outside of the group before you come for the first time,” says Melissa Gogo, president of Swung.

How the dancers got their starts varies. Gogo tried swing dancing after recovering from a major health problem.

“Maybe it was the exercise endorphins I hadn’t felt in a year, but I was hooked on swing before the first lesson was even over,” Gogo says. “And in the 5-plus years since, I’ve only missed out on Tuesday’s Swing Night a handful of times.”

Though you don’t need a partner in order to go dancing, visiting Swung can be a great way to meet new people.

“A question or a complement is an easy way to start a conversation,” says Justyna Szymonik, a junior biology major from Buford.

Beyond meeting new people, learning new steps is also a challenge. But the willingness to try is key.

“I think we get stuck with telling ourselves we’re not a person who does something. Like ‘I’m not good at math’ or ‘I can’t cook,’” says Bradley Walker, a senior

People partner dance after the dance lessons finish.

information systems major from Blue Ridge. “I think you should never go around saying you’re one certain type of person. You should go around saying, I can do anything, and with anything, dance is definitely one of those things.”

In the case of twin sisters Justyna Szymonik and Joanna Szymonik, neither had a dance background before going to college.

Yet, they both joined the Ballroom Performance Group and now participate in a variety of dance events on campus and in Athens.

“The more you dance, the more rewarding it becomes,” says Joanna Szymonik, a junior exercise and sport science major from Buford.

It’s a self-reinforcing practice. By going every week, beginners can improve and enjoy dancing more. “From a beginner’s perspective, I was admiring everyone else,” Harrison says. “But I knew I’d get there one day.”

Dancing is a creative outlet but leading, initiating and guiding a partner through different dance steps

is an even greater creative challenge. “As a lead, it is very intimidating because you’re limited to what you know,” Walker says. “It forces you to be creative and be persistent and humble.”

But beyond these things, people come back for the sense of community. “It’s interesting to see such a diverse group coming together and having common ground,” Walker says.

“But there’s a connection still, beyond the dance portion. You really get to know people lives more and more through it.”

Gogo can attest to that. “I have met almost all of my closest friends in Athens through social dancing,” Gogo says. “It wasn’t until I began dancing that I felt I had really found my place in Athens.”

From a hobby to a passion to a way of life, dancing is something that everyone can take part in. The statement, “I don’t dance,” simply doesn’t apply. Once you dare to embrace the unknown, you’ll find that you’ll grow in unimaginable ways.

“The more you dance, the more rewarding it becomes.”

georgiaugazine.org 47