Around Athens

Dawg Fest: Draba’s vintage market was held on March 23 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 440 Foundry St., providing a unique, exciting shopping experience.

After trying burgers at several fast food restaurants around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers determined that new addition Whataburger offers the best fast food burger.

Variety Staffer Cesia Martinez writes about her experience working at longtime Athens staple Cali N Tito’s for an afternoon.

The League of Step gives children a way to connect with their history through dance.

Jefferey Clarke, an Athens historian, expresses his love of history and ghost stories through his ghost tour.

After eating at several Asian restaurants around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers concluded that New Red Bowl offers the best beef lo mein.

Though different studios approach dance differently, one thing unites Athens’ thriving dance scene: an unwavering dedication to the art.

After trying cold treats around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers conclude that Essential Bowls and Pelican’s SnoBalls are the best options to cool down in the summer heat.

Local Athens chef Peter Dale discusses his passion for food and his plans for the future of restaurant Five and Ten as the new owner.

Clarke Central High School’s iliad Literary-Art Magazine editors will host a Q&A with Pulitzer Prize winner Hua Hsu.

CCHS alumnae Allie Miller and Shayne McBride, co-owners of Washington Square Studio, built a hair salon focused on inclusivity and client relationships.

Each of the many murals adding color to the Athens community present a unique message with different motivations and purposes.

Local business owner Lindsay Short opened vintage store Mother Lode in July as a safe space for customers in the Athens community.

Mike Bradshaw, owner of The Grill, reflects on how The Grill has lasted so long in the Athens Community.

Author and retired Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Sally Bethea will be visiting the Athens Public Library on Sept. 5 to share her journey as a conservationist as well as one of the first female Riverkeepers in the United States.

Rising Sports Editor Cadence Schapker ventured to downtown Athens to report on the annual AthFest festival on June 24.

As the nation celebrates Black History Month, “Now Is The Time: Shouting Fire in a Crowded Theater”, a collaborative album featuring Athens hip hop artists, is putting a spotlight on Black trailblazers.

The University of Georgia Bulldogs won the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship for the second consecutive year and commemorated their achievement with a parade and celebration in Athens.

The National Endowment for the Arts approved a grant of $10,000 for Canopy Studio, which will allow the company to make itself more accessible to the Athens community.

After sampling fries from a variety of fast food restaurants across Athens, members of the ODYSSEY Media Group staff conclude that Chick-fil-A and Cookout offer the best fries in town.

CCHS Class of 2015 alumnus and Cozybear Nursery owner and founder Deijhon Yearby has pursued his passion for plants through his business.

The AthHalf Half Marathon, an annual event produced by AthFest Educates, experienced its largest turnout in its 13-year history on Oct. 23.

The public was invited to the Lyndon House Art Center’s Student Art Exhibition Opening Reception on Oct. 18, where 217 works of art from K-12 artists across the Clarke County School District were showcased.

CCSD students and teachers came together with HEART Music faculty to perform music at HEART Music’s Hispanic Heritage Month event, which took place on Oct. 16 at Hendershot’s.

The radio show “Education Matters” is hosted and produced by teenagers and strives to show the Athens-Clarke County community the importance of education.

After sampling from different local restaurants, members of the Variety Staff conclude that Thai Spoon and D92 Korean BBQ provide the best noodle soup dishes in Athens.

The local Athens festival AthFest took place from June 24 to June 26, and contained live music, local business sales and more.

Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace’s family focus and community connections set it
apart from other businesses in Athens.

The 2022 Athens Orthopedic Clinic Women’s Pro Twilight 1/2/3 Criterium took place on April 29 and April 30, including bike races, parades and a five-kilometer race.

After sampling burritos from a variety of fast-food Mexican restaurants across Athens, members of the Variety staff rank them based on a variety of criteria.

Following their win against the University of Alabama on Jan. 10 to gain the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship title, the University of Georgia held a parade and celebration in Athens on Jan. 15.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement held a vigil and libation ceremony at the University of Georgia’s Baldwin Hall on May 4 to honor the enslaved people buried in unmarked graves beneath them and celebrate the Athens Day of Jubilee. During a reconstruction project, it was discovered that Baldwin Hall was built over top African-American remains from the Jackson Street Cemetery.

The Taco Stand, an iconic local restaurant, reopened in 2021 with a new co-owner Mark Opel, on Jan. 1, reminding some Athenians of their memories of the original restaurant.

Ideal Bagel Company is a local Athens business that has had to adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Athens African American Self-guided Tour compiled by the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation provides community members with a guide to explore key Black history sites around town varying from businesses to schools. Here are five sites that stand out from the tour.

The block of College Avenue between East Clayton Street and East Broad Street was closed off on Oct. 8 to implement a pedestrian and dining space called College Square Plaza.

The Soldiers’ Monument in Downtown Athens, which was first erected in 1872, has now been moved after years of controversy.

More than 50 years after the Athens Linnentown community was displaced through gentrification, former residents are seeking support from the city of Athens to gain redress.

International Grill and Bar recently opened at 1155 Mitchell Bridge Road, bringing Persian, Iranian and Turkish flavors to Athens.

Built around core values of sustainability, Eden’s Café is a newly-opened plant-based addition to Athens, Georgia at 1660 W. Broad St. The café offers a changing menu sprinkled with locally-sourced and organic ingredients.

The ODYSSEY Media Group Variety Staff continues their journey across the Classic City in search of the best tacos Athens has to offer.

Local music and mental health outlet Nuçi’s Space has been helping members of the Athens community since its opening in 2000.

In the spring of 2015, Saphir Grici started the Holy Crepe food truck in hopes of providing Athens with a unique food option and changing the culture of food trucks in the community. Since opening, the business has undergone tremendous changes.

News Editor Jurnee Louder and Viewpoints Writer Sam Mattern-Parkes seek out the best burger joint in Athens in this edition of Quest for Athens’ Best. idea filmed by Aneesa Conine-Nakano. Video edited by Zoe Peterson.

Bill Berry, former drummer of alternative rock band R.E.M, never planned on going into the music business until he moved to Athens, Georgia and fell in love with its vibrant music scene.

On Oct. 22, the final performance for the fall session of Camp Amped took place at Nuçi’s Space, featuring several Clarke Central High School students.

For 65 years, Wilson’s His and Hers Styling Shop has witnessed drastic changes over the past 65 years it’s been open that Hot Corner and all of Athens has undergone.

Variety writer Emma Ramsay continues the journey across the Classic City in search for the best sushi Athens has to offer.

Sophomore staff writer Bria Echols writes about her first experience with trapeze at Canopy Studio.

Staff writer Elena Gilbertson Hall and Web Master Katie Grace Upchurch talk to author Annie Hartnett who stopped at Avid Bookshop on April 6 during her book tour for her novel, “Rabbit Cake”.

Author Annie Hartnett will be visiting Avid Bookshop on April 6, to speak on the release of her first novel, “Rabbit Cake”, which came out on March 7.

UberEATS is a new food delivery service in Athens, but will it rise above existing delivery providers?

ODTV Reporter Lorena Limongi goes to various bagel restaurants around the downtown Athens area in a Quest to find Athens’ Best Bagels.

The print variety staff searches for the best pizza in Athens, trying slices from two pizza places close to Clarke Central High School, Hungry Howie’s Pizza and Domino’s Pizza.

In light of President Donald Trump’s recent actions, which have been considered to be discriminatory to Muslims by many, members of the Athens community reflect on the impact of Islamophobia.

Clarke Central High School sophomore Coles Ehlers and a group from Emmanuel Episcopal Church went and served dinner at the Bigger Vision Homeless Shelter. While there, they met with the people and gained a new perspective on the less fortunate residents.

Although there were largely positive responses to the “A Day Without Immigrants” boycott, the hateful responses to the protest were extremely disconcerting.

Four freshman boys come together to establish the band, Cheese Dream.

Ken Manring turned a 111-year old building into White Tiger Gourmet: a symbol for local artwork, events and most importantly, barbecue.

The print variety staff searches for the best donuts in Athens, testing treats from Ike & Janes Cafe and Bakery and Zombie Donuts and Coffee.

Staff writer Lorena Limongi reflects on her experience engaging in a week of activities hosted by Athens Running Company that were low to no cost in an attempt to learn more about living a healthy lifestyle.

The Athens Fashion Collective held three days of fashion-related events around Athens. One event, called Georgia Sewn, was a new roster addition.

On Jan. 18, Athens community members marched through the streets of downtown Athens to push for a discrimination free community.

On Jan. 18, Athens community members marched through the streets of downtown Athens to push for a discrimination free community.

Local business owner Angie Tillman fulfilled her dream with the opening of her new storefront Phickles Phun Foods earlier this year.

The print variety staff began their journey across the Classic City in search for the best Athens has to offer with stops at four Latin American restaurants.

Every year, Wild Rumpus, a Halloween parade, hits the streets of downtown Athens.

On August 17, 2015, global clothing corporation Urban Outfitters opened in Athens, GA.

Barbara Archibald reflects on her journey to becoming a teacher.

AthFest, a music and art festival in Downtown Athens, took place on June 24-28.

Above: RUN THEM JEWELS FAST: Jamie “El-P” Meline, and Michael “Killer Mike” Render performs…

Robert Smith, a homeless man in Athens, found that missing work one day in prison would change his life forever.

Etienne De Rocher and Jacob Morris, Kenosha Kid, Cicada Rhythm and Nana Grizol perform in Athens, GA at the Slingshot Festival.

Southerners enjoy the power of the oral tradition and the magic of nature in “Tales from the Wild,” a storytelling event hosted by the Institute of Wild Intelligence in Athens.

Local musician Kishi Bashi performed at David C. Barrow Elementary School on Thurs., March 26, as the school’s Cool Composer of the Month.

A number of sophomores are in the process of completing the International Baccalaureate Personal Project. With the help of their assigned project advisers, students have the opportunity to extend their learning.

Condor Chocolates, located at 1658 S Lumpkin St, ensures their chocolate comes from specific…

American rapper Waka Flocka Flame stunned concertgoers during his Feb. 25 show at the Georgia Theatre in downtown Athens.

Love Notes for Lukas is a charity event hosted in Athens that goals are to inform the community about the needs of infants and the neonatal intensive care units.

Dictionary.com defines passion as “A strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything,”. One’s passion can be anything. For me, that something is collecting and learning instruments.

Sophomore Grace Walker at age six on tour with mother Shelley Olin in 2005.…

In response to an impending development, the Jittery Joe’s Roaster was forced to move from its historic downtown location.

In a storefront that used to specialize in french braids, now stands a bakery that specializes in french breads.

The issue of water conservation, a key component to the ongoing environmentalist movement, was brought to the attention of residents in Athens, Ga. on March 22 by way of the EcoFocus Film Festival.

On January 11, Clarke Central High School senior Grace Byrne was hit by a car on Milledge Ave. while running with two other friends, and was taken immediately to the Intensive Care Unit at Athens Regional Medical Center suffering from various serious head injuries.

In all its chaotic mess, Valentine’s Day can be both incredibly stressful yet very romantic. Many people continue to wonder aimlessly in and out of stores wondering what to get their special someone, so here are some affordable tips, all under $25, to follow to get past the stressful times and get to the romantic times.

On Feb. 2, a myriad of unusual bands took the stage at the 40-Watt Club for the second night of the three-night benefit concert for Nuci’s’ Space.

Rows of pickled carrots, okra and green beans sit on Phickles Pickles owner Angie Tillman’s porch. Little do passersby know, those pickles have saved Angie’s large family and have supported the local economy.

Sit back, relax and enjoy meeting students starring in the upcoming musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

At the corner of East Broad Street and Wilkerson Street stands Weaver D’s, a small brick building that has seen generations of Athenians pass through its doors.