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Writers on the Storm Relief Concert features an all-star lineup, including Reverend Conner Tribble, with a toy drive, raffle, Arts Asheville benefit and more at The Foundry on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

Rep. Spencer Frye

city dope

Crowning Prince Avenue Bike Lanes

PLUS, MAKING ATHENS

A ‘SAFE

HAVEN’

FOR LGBTQIA+

AND MORE NEWS

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

The Athens- Clarke County Commission will vote next month on installing concrete barriers to separate Prince Avenue bike lanes from cars, and although some residents feared the current iteration of the commission would reverse course and return Prince to its four-lane configuration, the permanent barriers appear likely to pass.

“It was a terrifying experience before this road diet, this road right- sizing happened,” Commissioner Melissa Link, who represents Boulevard and Normaltown, said at the Nov. 19 agenda- setting meeting. “Now you don’t have to fear for your life when you cross the road.”

Concern about the Prince Avenue vote spread after the commission voted 8–1 earlier this month to keep North Avenue five lanes. County staff had proposed using a $25 million federal grant to remove a southbound car lane and replace it with bike lanes or a multiuse path, among other improvements. Some safe- streets advocates, like members of the Athens in Motion Commission, an advisory board to the mayor and commission, had wanted to go further and shrink North Avenue to three lanes.

sial items the commission passes with one vote—but Commissioner John Culpepper blocked the move. “I’m for it, I don’t have any questions about it, but without having the full commission here, I think we ought to take it off consent and let them comment on it,” Culpepper said.

The initial Prince Avenue road diet and bike lanes passed unanimously, but in the past two years the commission has shifted to the right. Since then Culpepper, Taylor and Dexter Fisher have replaced three more left-leaning commissioners. In addition, Wright, Hamby and Thornton missed the vote to make the bike lanes permanent after a 60-day pilot project using plastic “zippers” as barriers between Pulaski Street and Milledge Avenue in the fall of 2022.

Some speakers tied together the Prince Avenue infrastructure vote and the LGBTQIA+ resolution.

“ I think it would be useful to show some solidarity here.

“I think both of them speak to the kind of city we want to be in Athens, which is a city of safety where people feel welcome and can be part of the community,” Abby Bennett said.

by the resolution, which Houle had a hand in writing, although Girtz said it had been in the works for months. “I’m not saying I won’t support it,” Thornton said, but “I’m OK with pulling it” off the agenda.

A clearly frustrated Houle reminded their colleagues that “my pronouns are they/them.” Houle identifies as queer and nonbinary.

“I don’t think we need to get into petty arguments about whose identity matters more,” they said. “I think we need to stand up for each other, because all of our identities matter. What it means to support diversity is to support each others’ differences.”

Another resolution urges the state legislature to legalize ranked- choice voters, a system where voters rank their options instead of choosing just one candidate. When there are more than two candidates, this eliminates the need for runoffs, which cost money and often see a steep decline in turnout.

Political Fallout From the Laken Riley Trial

“I wish this had come up for a vote before we had our vote on the North Avenue right- sizing,” said Link, who voted for the five-lane plan. “I think we might have had other considerations if we had heard testimony from people who actually experienced this kind of transformation.”

Jesse Houle, the lone commissioner to vote in favor of a road diet for North Avenue, urged other commissioners to reconsider at their December voting meeting.

Dozens of people spoke in favor of the Prince Avenue plan, with many also speaking in favor of a resolution declaring Athens a “safe haven” for the LGBTQIA+ community, and a few supporters of ranked choice voting sprinkled in.

“It’s nice to have people lined up to talk for hours and hours about something we’re doing right for once,” Link said.

One of the speakers was Tony Eubanks, who spearheaded efforts to calm traffic on Prince more than 20 years ago. “It’s night and day, from angry or hostile to friendly,” he said of the change.

Several speakers referenced how patrons at restaurants and coffee shops along Prince feel much safer sitting outside. Tim Moore, who works at The Globe, noted that the downtown bar was recently hit by a pickup truck driver. “It happens to people,” he said. “It happens to businesses, too.”

But the vote is not a certainty. While no commissioner spoke against making the current infrastructure permanent, four of them—Tiffany Taylor, Carol Myers, Ovita Thornton and Mike Hamby—were not present for the discussion. (Thornton attended the meeting but left during a break and did not return for half an hour.)

Link wanted to place the item on the consent agenda—a list of noncontrover-

Surprisingly, the LGBTQIA+ resolution proved more controversial than Prince Avenue bike lanes, which had been a hotbutton issue for two decades. Culpepper questioned why the resolution is necessary when it has no teeth, and the local government already has a Department of People and Belonging (formerly the Inclusion Office).

The resolution states that national political groups spent more than $40 million on anti- trans advertising in the most recent election, and that Georgia legislators proposed 14 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills during the 2024 legislative session.

Fisher spoke about his experiences with racism as a Black man. “If we’re going to do a resolution, include all protected groups,” he said.

Commissioner Patrick Davenport, who is also Black, responded that if African American groups also want a resolution, he would support it, but that it should not stop them from passing the LGBTQIA+ resolution. “I want everybody to feel safe in this community,” he said. “Passing a resolution is a great way to show that this body—10 commissioners and the mayor—supports those individuals.”

Mayor Kelly Girtz reminded commissioners that the board passed a resolution in support of Black Lives Matter in 2020 and a resolution in support of immigrants in 2019. The latter became controversial five years after the fact, when Athens college student Laken Riley was murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Conservatives falsely claimed that the resolution—which is an expression of opinion and not a law or policy—made Athens a sanctuary city.

Houle echoed Davenport’s comments. “I think it would be useful to show some solidarity here,” they said.

Thornton—using the wrong pronoun to refer to Houle—said she was blindsided

As everyone has no doubt heard by now, Jose Ibarra was convicted last week of murdering Athens nursing student Laken Riley. But just because the trial is over, don’t expect Riley’s name to fall out of the headlines. With President-elect Donald Trump planning a mass roundup of undocumented immigrants when he takes office in January, the border will continue to be a political issue leading up to the 2026 elections.

Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard found Ibarra, a Venezuelan seeking asylum in the U.S., guilty of murdering Riley while she was jogging on a UGA Intramural Fields trail in February. Special prosecutor Sheila Moore, appointed by District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez to handle the case, presented surveillance camera and DNA evidence tying Ibarra to Riley’s murder. Haggard sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ibarra’s attorney, public defender John Donnelly, waived his right to a jury trial and requested a bench trial instead.

The death penalty has also resurfaced as an issue. “If there was ever a case where the death penalty was appropriate, this was it,” said Athens state Rep. Houston Gaines, Gonzalez’s longtime nemesis.

While campaigning in 2020, Gonzalez pledged never to seek the death penalty. She has said she made the decision not to seek it against Ibarra in consultation with Riley’s family, who agreed after learning about the expense and lengthy appeals involved.

After the verdict, state Sen. Colton Moore (R-Trenton) criticized state Attorney General Chris Carr for not taking over the case to seek the death penalty. Carr’s office, however, said he didn’t have jurisdiction.

“Laken Riley’s death should never have occurred,” Carr said in a statement. “It was preventable, which only makes this tragedy even more devastating.

“As the father of a daughter who attends UGA, it was absolutely gut- wrenching to hear the evidence that Laken fought for her life and fought for her dignity, and the statements made by her family and friends in court broke my heart.

“We’re grateful to Sheila Ross of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for ensuring a conviction was obtained, and we will continue to pray for all who knew and loved Laken.”

Last week, Carr became the first candidate to formally jump into the race for governor. Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited and reportedly is considering running against Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026 or for president in 2028. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are also likely to run. Rumored names on the Democratic side include 2014 candidate Jason Carter, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath. Carr’s candidacy means the AG race will be wide open, and state Sen. Bill Cowsert (R- Athens) is among those considering running. “I am honored that so many of my Senate colleagues and conservative leaders around the state have encouraged me to run,” Cowsert told the AJC. “I am seriously considering it and will make a decision after the upcoming legislative session.” f

Grover and Donald THE ONLY TWO PRESIDENTS ELECTED TO NON-CONSECUTIVE TERMS

By Ed Tant news@flagpole.com

“Voters want a fraud they can believe in,” said political satirist Will Durst. They got one when Donald J. Trump was reelected to the presidency on Nov. 5.

Trump immediately began staffing his second White House administration with shocking and shabby choices for high government posts, like right-wing “Florida Man” Matt Gaetz for attorney general and anti-vaccination conspiracist Bobby “Brainworm” Kennedy Jr. to oversee this nation’s Health and Human Services Department.

respond to the charge was to tell the truth. Cleveland’s candor served him well during his presidency, drawing praise from Americans on both sides of the political aisle.

Famed writer Mark Twain said of Cleveland, “Your patriotic virtues have won for you the homage of half the nation and the enmity of the other half. This places your character upon a summit as high as Washington’s.”

When the portly 49-year-old Cleveland married the attractive 21-year-old Frances Folsom in 1886, the nation was captivated by the spectacle of the first—and so far the only—wedding of a president in the White House.

On Nov. 19, Trump got good news when his sentencing for 34 felony convictions in New York City was postponed indefinitely. The convictions still stand despite the delay in sentencing, so on Jan. 20 Trump will become the first felon to take the presidential oath to “preserve, protect and defend” the United States Constitution.

Trump will also be the first U.S. president elected to two non-consecutive terms since Democrat Grover Cleveland won the presidency in 1884 and again in 1892. There the similarity ends, since Cleveland’s honesty earned him the nickname “Grover the Good.”

Cleveland first won the presidency during a hard-fought campaign against Republican James G. Blaine. During the campaign, Democrats mocked the GOP candidate as “Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, continental liar from the state of Maine.” When allegations surfaced that Cleveland had fathered an illegitimate child, Republicans asked the jeering question, “Ma! Ma! Where’s my pa?” When Cleveland was elected, Democrats shouted their own rejoinder: “Ma! Ma! Where’s my pa? Gone to the White House! Ha-ha-ha!”

Though Cleveland may or may not have fathered the child, he took responsibility for it and said to a friend that the best way to

After her husband’s defeat in 1888, the young First Lady told servants in the mansion that the couple would return to the residence in four years. She was right.

In the 1892 election, Cleveland won a rematch against Republican Benjamin Harrison, who had bested Cleveland in 1888. In 1891, before his return to the presidency, Cleveland fathered a child that he and his wife named Ruth. Again the eyes of America were focused on the couple, and doting newspaper writers dubbed the infant “Baby Ruth.” The still-popular Baby Ruth candy bar was named for the child, not for the famous baseball player Babe Ruth.

Cleveland’s terms in the White House were marked by labor strife and an economic depression that presaged the Great Depression of the 1930s. Millions of Americans lived in poverty while the few at the top of the economic ladder enjoyed Gilded Age wealth and splendor. The conservative Cleveland opposed the burgeoning labor movement seeking better wages and working conditions in an America of 60 million citizens.

Cleveland used federal troops to curtail striking laborers during his presidency.

“Though the people support the government, the government should not support the people,” he huffed.

Cleveland also opposed the growing movement for women’s suffrage in the United States. “Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote,” he maintained.

In 1886 President Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor while women were barred from voting nationally and eight labor activists awaited jail or the gallows after the infamous Haymarket Riot that happened in Chicago that same year.

When he died in 1908, Cleveland’s last words were, “I have tried so hard to do right.” Historians generally give Cleveland a mediocre rating on their lists of presidential performance and place Trump at the bottom. Today Cleveland’s words still resonate as Trump slouches toward Washington to be reborn: “The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.” f

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president.

Quarry Quashed

By Lee Shearer news@flagpole.com

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners wasted no time Monday night, Nov. 18, in denying a big mining company’s bid to install a granite quarry in a 900-acre tract in the southern part of the county.

After a two-hour public hearing, commissioners rejected Vulcan Materials Company’s request for special permits in a series of eight quick 5-1 votes— one vote for each of the eight land parcels that were to be combined for the quarry operation.

The land now is mainly forested with some wetlands, partly bordered by the North Oconee River, and is designated rural and conservation in Jackson County’s land characterization map. Downstream of the site, the North Oconee is Athens-Clarke County’s main water source.

Only retiring Commission Chairman Tom Crow voted in favor of granting the special use permits Vulcan was requesting. District commissioners Jim Hix, Chas Hardy, Ty Clack, Marty Seagraves and Cole Elrod each voted, without comment, to deny. The county’s planning commission had earlier voted to recommend denial, as had the fast-growing county’s professional planning staff.

granite products such as gravel in what is one of the state and nation’s fastest-developing regions.

and Vulcan’s right to due process. “Don’t be governed by the general will, be governed by the rule of law,” he said.

“We believe we have the legal right to approval,” he said at another point in his presentation. Immediately after the votes, Ellison had no comment.

Vulcan launched an informal campaign to gain public and official favor for the project well over a year ago, meeting informally with residents and county leaders, and in September had staged an elaborate open house event outlining the company’s plans

left undisturbed, according to the company proposal.

The proposal ignited widespread and intense public opposition, not only in Jackson County but in neighboring Clarke County, including a letter of opposition from the Athens-Clarke County government. Several conservation groups also went on record in opposition. More than 1,500 people had signed a petition opposing the quarry by the time of Monday’s meeting.

Opponents noted maps that label the area as an important groundwater recharge area, with a significant part of it in floodplain and wetland. The quarry could impact the already impaired North Oconee River with toxins and reduced water flow, would have traffic impacts nearby with hundreds of gravel trucks entering and leaving the quarry six days a week, and the dust it would generate could affect air quality, they said. Property values would decline for the quarry’s neighbors, Sarah Sutherland, another opposition leader, warned commissioners.

“It’s great that we got this result tonight, but we know this is not the end of the fight,” said Jackson County resident Randy Durham, one of the leaders of the opposition movement.

About 100 people attended the meeting, most of them there to oppose the quarry and many wearing lime green T-shirts bearing “Stop the Rock Quarry” slogans. The crowd applauded after each vote.

The commission’s denial might not be the end of Vulcan’s quest, however. The site is favorably positioned for Vulcan to supply

“Vulcan is not going to go away,” he added, predicting the company would challenge the commission’s decision in court.

Lawyer David Ellison, who presented Vulcan’s case, warned commissioners that denying the request based on some of the opponents’ objections, such as environmental concerns, could violate Georgia law

for the quarry and the benefits it would bring to the county, including cash payments to county government. The quarry would provide a buffer between land in industrial use to its south and rural areas above it, according to the company.

Only a small part of the land, just off U.S. Highway 441 north of Athens, was to be used for the actual quarry, and 200 acres nearby would be set aside along nearby Chandler Bridge Road. “We’re preserving the rural character of this area,” Ellison told commissioners. Most of the land would be

“We have the ability to approve a conditional use, but it doesn’t mean we should,” said former Jackson County Planning Commission chair Tim Cornelison, speaking for the opposition. Instead, the commission should be good neighbors and protect area water resources, he said.

“This is a significant groundwater recharge area,” he said.

Another speaker against the quarry proposal, University of Georgia hydrologist Todd Rasmussen, said he was “horrified” at the lack of scientific investigation in the proposal Vulcan submitted to county officials.

Studies conducted by Vulcan showed that the area is not a recharge area because of underlying solid granite, however, according to Ellison. And concerns about dust and toxins possibly entering groundwater and river water are unfounded, based on theory and not facts, he told commissioners.

“Everything you’ve heard is based on conjecture, hearsay or their beliefs,” Ellison said. f

Opponents of a proposed granite quarry turned out in force at a meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, then applauded when commissioners turned down the proposal.

SHEARER

Plan C: Get Rid of Plan B

RIGHT-WING GROUP SEEKS

By Chris Dowd news@flagpole.com

“Plan B” emergency contraceptive pills are a safe and reasonably effective way to prevent pregnancy when other means of birth control have failed, making them an important part of student life at the University of Georgia. Yet, when students involved in reproductive justice efforts pass out free condoms and Plan B pills on campus, they say they regularly face harassment from anti-abortion students who mistakenly believe these pills can cause abortions.

Kinsey has repeated this request multiple times throughout the year, including on Turning Point UGA’s GroupMe chat, according to messages obtained by Flagpole and Athens Politics Nerd.

“We have a lot of pro-life Christians as a chapter and a lot of us are very passionate about fighting against the use of Plan B, not because it’s a contraceptive, but because it causes abortions,” Kinsey told Flagpole. “Plan B does in fact induce abortions in some cases, and that’s why we’re so

Hampton Barrineau, chair of the UGA chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, said he’s been yelled at, called a “baby killer,” monitored, videotaped and regularly harassed while distributing Plan B on campus. “There’s always some kind of weird run-in every fourth or fifth week from folks on the political right,” Barrineau said. “They’re targeting us and trying to impede our efforts. Considering the level of rhetoric around this, I worry for my members sometimes.”

Other volunteers working with Barrineau share his sense of unease at the alleged harassment.

“At one point, I was surrounded by a lot of tall men who were arguing with me [about Plan B] and I did not feel safe,” said one student reproductive justice advocate, who preferred to remain anonymous due to safety concerns.

At least one right-wing group is trying to block the drug from being distributed on campus. UGA student Emily Grace Kinsey, the president of Turning Point UGA, told her members at a recent meeting that they should try and disrupt Plan B distribution on campus through direct action.

“I ask that if you don’t agree with having Plan B on campus, that you should politely ask for one and then throw it in the trash,” Kinsey told the student group on Oct. 29. “I’ll give a prize to the person who throws the most out.”

which there is some evidence (although there is also evidence that it can reduce the likelihood of ovarian cancer). For this reason, she has asked the UGA Office of Student Affairs to prohibit the contraceptives on campus.

“We took it up to the vice president of student affairs, [Michelle Cook], and she took it to the Board of Regents,” Kinsey said. “They formed a committee to try and figure out how we should deal with distributing drugs on campus. It’s something that’s being actively looked at because our Turning Point chapter held it to be of importance.”

Kinsey and other Turning Point UGA members hold some uncompromising political and religious beliefs that increase their motivation to try and block Plan B distribution. For example, Kinsey said that she believes birth control is immoral. Another member of the group expressed support for religiously motivated censorship of the media, including the enforcement of obscenity laws, although most of the group opposes censorship.

Turning Point UGA member Lorenzo Manahan, the speaker at last month’s meeting, regularly made misogynistic posts on X (the website formerly known as Twitter) under the handle “tateenthusiast2.” For example, Manahan posted that women should not be able to vote, along with racist, antisemitic, anti-trans and neo-Nazi content. Manahan’s former social media handle—he recently deleted his account— likely refers to Andrew Tate, a misogynist influencer and alleged human trafficker.

At the meeting on Oct. 29, Manahan expressed his belief that feminism spread in America only because of the suppression of Christian nationalism by the corporate media. Manahan said he prefers “free speech” platforms like X and the video-sharing site Rumble because they have less restrictive content policies than sites like Facebook or YouTube. “X allows all kinds of free speech,” he said. “You see racial slurs everywhere.”

opposed to it. We don’t think that it has a place on campus.”

Plan B does not cause abortions, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Barrineau has refused to give Kinsey the contraceptive since becoming aware of her scheme, but he said he doesn’t know every member of her group. Kinsey instructs group members to avoid stating their true intentions when approaching YDSA volunteers and insists that they have the right to destroy the contraceptive after receiving it.

“You’re handing these things out readily and freely, and if you plan on regulating things after you’ve handed them out, perhaps you’re going about it the wrong way,” Kinsey said. “We hand out a ton of stuff, too, and a lot of our fliers end up on the ground. While it’s disheartening, we don’t take it personally, because it’s their right to do that, in the same way that it’s our right to take what is given to us and throw it out.”

One reproductive justice advocate on campus, who asked to remain anonymous, said that they have become more hesitant to pass out the contraceptive freely after learning about Turning Point UGA’s direct action campaign. “From that point on, I’ve been suspicious of every single person who has come up to our table and asked for some,” they said.

Kinsey believes that Plan B and other forms of hormonal birth control pills can contribute to breast cancer, a belief for

While most group members did not seem to share these racist and misogynistic views, there was no pushback from Turning Point UGA leadership during the meeting.

“We exist in a marketplace of ideas. That’s what we try to promote,” Kinsey told Flagpole. “Even though we don’t support what Lorenzo may be saying or posting online, he is a member of our organization, and he wanted to give a presentation. I’m not in the business of censoring people. He’s been a very loyal club member.”

Barrineau’s organization has been passing out free Plan B on a weekly basis for almost a year as a way of removing the cost barrier for students. He said he will continue these efforts despite the harassment his group receives because he believes it’s an important service in a state that has banned most abortions.

“Georgia is, of course, a six-week ‘heartbeat’ anti-abortion state,” Barrineau said. “Giving out Plan B, giving out condoms is an important step in fighting against that law. And besides, the response with the community at large has been wonderful. This is something that’s incredibly popular with the student body.”

Barrineau says he originally received the pills from the nonprofit Emergency Contraception for Every Campus. He said that he has permission from the university to pass out these contraceptive pills, which are also available over the counter at most drug stores and at the University Health Center. f

Members of UGA’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter distribute free Plan B pills on campus.

Woodhill Artists Market

Mary Rugg

Louise Norrell

Peter Loose

Michael Pierce Greg Krakow

ImaginePossibilities

JOIN THE HUGH HODGSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC THIS SPRING FOR ANOTHER INCREDIBLE SEMESTER OF CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES

“MOSTLY ROMANTIC” Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Piazzolla

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 7:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 7:30 P.M.

Tickets $15-20 for adults, $3 for UGA students with valid ID Performances at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Road unless indicated Give the gift of music this holiday season and save on our twelve ticketed spring performances with our PICK-12 and PICK-6 season options. Upcoming performances include:

THURSDAY SCHOLARSHIP SERIES PERFORMANCE A light-hearted evening of Music and Comedy!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 7:30 P.M.

FRI. & SAT. FEB. 21 AND 22 AT 7:30 P.M. SUN. FEB 23 AT 3 P.M.

FEATURING CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS Winners announced in January AN OPERA BY W. A. MOZART at the FINE ARTS THEATRE, 255 Baldwin St.

For tickets: Scan QR code | music.uga.edu | 706-542-4400

We write 50 issues of flagpole a year, so we’re turning the writing over to you for flagpole’s year-end double issue, published on Dec. 26th. Submit your stories (600 words max), comics (one page), poems, humor, recipes & photos to slackpole@flagpole.com. Deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 3rd!

Iron Horse Makes Its Return

ICONIC SCULPTURE UNDERGOES EXTENSIVE RESTORATION

By Julianne Akers arts@flagpole.com

For two weeks last spring, local artists chiseled away at the concrete base of the renowned Iron Horse sculpture at its home tucked away in a field in Greene County. They loaded the structure onto a truck and carefully drove it back to Athens for a six-month-long restoration project.

On the morning of Nov. 22, the sculpture made its 25-mile trek back home following the completion of the project that was a labor of love for Amy Jones Abbe and Don Cope, the art conservator and metalsmith who spearheaded the restoration. The artists said the steel piece has seen some extensive wear and tear in its 70-year lifespan, including corrosion, scratches, vandalism and missing pieces.

“I think it was in much worse condition even than most people could see or recognize,” Abbe said. The 11-foot-tall sculpture was originally painted black, with rust forming quickly underneath. “If you allow iron oxidation, if you allow corrosion to start underneath a paint layer without addressing it, it just kind of continues and gets worse and worse,” said Abbe.

A new layer of paint and epoxy coating, similar to what is used on ships, was added to protect the piece from its outdoor environment. Because the sculpture stays outside and continues to be exposed to unrelenting weather, cleaning and periodic assessments to repair paint and scratches will be conducted. “As long as it’s maintained, cleaned occasionally and touched up, and if they can prevent graffiti, it will endure for a really long time. Much, much longer than the original,” Cope said. Abbe added, “A sculpture, just like anything built, will deteriorate if it’s not built well and it’s not maintained. I think often the public has the impression that artwork or a sculpture can be made and put outside and you’re just done with it, but no one

would ever do that with their house or their car. Just like anything in the built world, it has to be looked after.”

Abbe and Cope did extensive research on the history of the Iron Horse, originally sculpted and named “Pegasus Without Wings” by Abbott Pattison in 1954. They listened to interviews with Pattison describing the process of working mostly alone in the basement of the University of Georgia Fine Arts Building.

“Pattison describes building this in a room that was barely bigger than the horse. So he had no way of really getting to back away from it to see it,” Cope said. “It’s pretty clear to me that he changed what he was doing part way through, because the piece doesn’t resemble at all his sketches.”

The horse was originally displayed outside of Reed Hall on UGA’s campus, but students at the time were not fond of the sculpture’s abstract style. This led to vandalism and the work being set on fire, which caused pieces of the sculpture to go missing.

The sculpture was soon removed from campus and, after a few years, made its way to its current home on a farm owned by a then-UGA professor, where it was embedded in concrete in the ground. In its new form, the piece will be elevated on a concrete plinth, its original 1950s style.

In Cope’s restoration work, he used some modern welding techniques that would not have been available to Pattison to add some of those forgotten pieces, while still staying true to the artist’s intent. This required looking at the extremely limited number of old photographs to see what the horse originally looked like.

The sculpture was intended to be returned to the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm in Greene County in August, but rain and other factors led to an extended restoration process. Cope said that, even with

the weather delays and excruciatingly hot summer days spent welding the artwork back to Pattison’s vision, it was all worth it.

“Maybe the most important work I’ve ever done in my life,” he said.

“It’s been a lot of work, difficult and dirty work, but intensely satisfying because the restoration of the damage, to put the thing back together is really satisfying. Especially because it’s such an important part of the art fabric of this town and has a long and storied history,” Cope said. “I can’t think of

many pieces of sculpture here or anywhere else that people feel so passionately about. Everyone, common people, not art appreciators, everyone.”

He hopes to see more respect paid to the artwork as it is put back on display. “It’s been part of the community for so long, people sort of accept the abuse that it is given, climbing on it, scratching it up. In reality, it’s a wonderful piece of fine art. You wouldn’t go to a museum and climb on a sculpture,” Cope said. f

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Welcome to the first edition of flagpole’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

To be included in the Dec. 11th edition, contact the Flagpole Advertising Department at 706-549-0301 or ads@flagpole.com. Deadline is Dec. 3rd.

Athens Community Council On Aging

135 Hoyt St. accaging.org

Help us ensure that all older adults in our community age well. A gift can provide a blanket to keep warm ($20), transportation to the pharmacy, grocery store, or medical appointments ($10), a week’s worth of meals ($50), or 1 day of care at our Adult Day Health Center ($65).

Athens Art and Frame

1021 Pkwy Blvd., Ste. 111 athensartandframe.com

Custom framing is a thoughtful and personal option for gifting, whether it’s any kind of artwork, heirloom, or a photo printed for you via the easy photo uploader at athensartandframe.com! While you’re there, check out their unique selection of Athens/ UGA gifts and local artwork!

See website for Custom Framing cutoff deadlines for the holidays.

Athens

Spirits Co. athensspiritsco.com www.website.com

Athens Bourbon–After years of research, a pre-Prohibition bourbon legend is reborn. A liquid gold double-finished with wood from a century-old pecan tree harvested in Five Points. Deliciously smooth with layers of brown sugar, candied pecans, and dark chocolate. This Limited Edition Bourbon is only available in Athens, Georgia! $39.99/bottle.

Redeeming Christianity by Dr. Alice Rose

ko-fi.com/redeemingchristianity website.com

Redeeming Christianity by Alice Rose, Ph.D., M.T.S., provides a fresh, respectful look at Christianity, dispelling poor theology of “Churchianity” and inviting people back to the church, especially those hurt by fundamentalism. This thoughtful, thoughtprovoking book is available in large print and categorized by topic for easy reference.

Print copies on Amazon and Digital on Ko-Fi.

Athens Cooks

100 Prince Ave., Ste. 103 athenscooks.com

Give the gift of culinary joy with top-quality kitchen essentials like America’s Test Kitchen Winners Ankarsrum Mixers (made in Sweden), Le Creuset Dutch Ovens, and staff personal favorite Peugeot Salt & Pepper Grinders. All available in a variety of colors! The knowledgeable and friendly staff at Athens Cooks will help you find the perfect holiday gifts for all experience levels.

Mon.–Sat. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Big City Bread Cafe

393 N. Finley St. bigcitybreadcafe.com

Treat your loved ones and celebrate your love of Big City Bread with gift certificates in any denomination. Super easy to purchase online or in person. Delicious sweets trays feature assorted mini cookies, sweet bars, and chocolate truffle stars. Call or email bigcitycafe@yahoo.com to order (with 48 hours notice) for your holiday celebration.

Available at package stores throughout Athens Ciné

Holiday Market Dec. 12 & 13, 5 p.m.–9 p.m.

Canopy Studio

160-6 Tracy St. canopystudio.org

Give the gift of aerial dance with kids winter camp, adult workshops, and classes for all ages. Check out the new bungee classes for ages 16 and up! Perfect for all abilities with no experience necessary. Wrap up a Canopy gift certificate and water bottle this holiday season!

234 W. Hancock Ave. athenscine.com

Give the Gift of Ciné! Located in the heart of downtown Athens, Ciné is the premier spot to see the best independent films anywhere in the Classic City! Give a gift certificate or even better, give a membership for perks like discounted ticket prices for every show and free popcorn!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Welcome to the first edition of flagpole’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide To be included in the Dec. 11th edition, contact the Flagpole Advertising Department at 706-549-0301 or ads@flagpole.com. Deadline is Dec. 3rd.

The Classic Center

440 Foundry St. classiccenter.com/iceskating

Athens on Ice public ice skating returns outdoors this season at the 440 Foundry Pavilion at the Classic Center. Lace up your skates and joins us for 75 minutes of holiday fun! Tickets are only $15 and include your skate rental. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for $12 tickets.

Frog Pond Shop

Sandy Creek Nature Center www.website.com

The Frog Pond Shop at Sandy Creek Nature Center has something for everyone! Shop their variety of nature themed ornaments, enjoy challenging puzzles like this 3-D T-Rex, and choose from lots of plush friends like this cuddly Wolf Cub.

Open Tues.–Sat. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., closed Nov. 28–29.

Georgia Museum of Art Museum Shop

90 Carlton St. georgiamuseumshop.myshopify.com

The Museum Shop at the Georgia Museum of Art offers a variety of wonderful gifts, such as puzzles from the Very Good Puzzle Co., Lit Up Candle Co. Candles, and Clay in Motion mugs.

All holiday items 50% off through the end of the year.

Indie South

470 Hawthorne Ave. theindiesouth.com

Indie South has all the unique gifts one needs! Indie carries 150 small brands, selections include nature–inspired mugs, decorative hangings for the home and garden, and beautiful framed insects. Stop in and peruse Indie’s wide range of eclectic finds, or stop by their upcoming market to shop with local and regional artists.

Holiday Hooray event in Bishop Park Dec. 14 & 15

Classic Citiva

2361 W. Broad St., Ste. 10 IG/FB: @classiccitiva

Classic Citiva is here to help you manage cold weather aches and holiday stress! Give the gift of wellness this holiday season with CBD Healing Salve, CBG White Topical Salve, and Lifter CBDA:CBD Gummies. Say “Flagpole Gift Guide” at checkout for 15% off these items through 12/24/2024 (terms and conditions apply).

Open Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m.–5 p.m. Close early at 6 p.m. on Dec. 14 and at 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Closed on Christmas.

Georgia Autographs

georgiaautographs.com

Georgia Autographs offers 100% authentic autographed memorabilia including Vince Dooley autographs and signed photos, jerseys, footballs, helmets, cards, and more. The perfect gift for collectors and fans! GO DAWGS!

Hendershot’s Coffee

237 Prince Ave. hendershotsathens.com

Support your favorite local spot and spoil your family and friends by gifting house-roasted Christmas Coal coffee for the naughty and the nice, the new Hendershot’s 12 oz. mug, Hendershot’s private label Fug Widit hot sauce, and cozy Hendershot’s sweatshirts.

Gift Cards available.

Kristi F. Patrick Travel Advisor

kristipatrick@travelmation.net

Give the gift of treasured memories and unforgettable experiences like Disney Cruises, Spring Break escapes, and all-inclusive summer vacations. Local Travel Advisor Kristi F. Patrick offers free booking and consultation for personalized and hassle-free travel planning for your next big adventure.

Holiday Market Dec. Dec. 12 & 13, 5 p.m.–9 p.m.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Welcome to the first edition of flagpole’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

To be included in the Dec. 11th edition, contact the Flagpole Advertising Department at 706-549-0301 or ads@flagpole.com. Deadline is Dec. 3rd.

Loving Botanicals

269 Hull St., Ste. 200 lovingbotanicals.com

Be the fan favorite gift-giver this year with Loving Botanicals’ “high” quality presents! Their potent 50mg Crescent 9 seltzers pack a punch for experienced users. Got a friend with a sweet tooth? Grab them some Seventh Hill THC Caramels! Or, let them make their own with THC-Infused Olive Oil!

Open Tues.–Sat. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Olive Basket

1791 Oconee Connector, Ste. 745 olivebasketonline.com

Olive Basket gift sets are available in a variety of combinations, including Olive Oils, White or Dark Balsamic Vinegars, or a combination of Oils and Vinegars. Choose one of their pre-made combinations or design your own from over 50 oils and vinegars.

Gift wrapping available.

Plainjane Designs

149 Oneta St., Ste. 6G plainjanedesigns.com

Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation

34 School St., Watkinsville ocaf.com

OCAF presents their annual Artists’ Shoppe, featuring original handmade items by OCAF members. These gifts are perfect for the special people on your holiday gift list, including blown glass ornaments by Loretta Eby, functional ceramics by Glenn Dair and hand-printed tea towels by Megan Weatherford.

Artists’ Shoppe is from Nov. 22–Dec. 20, Tues.,–Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m

Pain and Wonder

285 W. Washington St. painandwonder.com

Pain and Wonder, a long time Athens Favorite, is proud to offer T-shirts, enameled pins, and gift certificates for any amount that can be used at any of their three locations.

Available for appointments and walk-ins throughout the holiday season.

Add a personal touch to gifts with custom embroidered monogramming on luxury items like towels, blankets, and bags. Discover the softness and charm of Jellycat stuffed animals, perfect for all ages. Indulge in relaxation with hand-poured soy candles crafted with care and soothing fragrances. All from Plainjane Designs in Athens!

Open Tues.–Sat. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

State Botanical Garden of GA Gift Shop

2450 S. Milledge Ave. botgarden.uga.edu

The Gift Shop at the State Botanical Garden offers a variety of festive gifts and decorations! Handmade wool ornaments, Santa boot planters for your plant enthusiast, and birdhouse cottages made from birdseed are sure to bring joy this holiday season.

Shop the Winter Market at Winter WonderLights. Gift wrapping available.

Stanfield Air Systems

1130 Mitchell Bridge Rd. stanfieldair.com

Give the gift of clean air this holiday season with a Reme Halo In-Duct Air Purifier. As Athens’s most trusted Heating and Air Conditioning contractor, they’ve seen how these remarkable devices work silently inside your house’s ductwork to remove pollutants and allergens from the air and kill germs and viruses like the flu and COVID.

Installation is included with your purchase.

The Lightroom

355 Oneta St., Ste. D500B thelightroom-ath.com

Spark creativity this Christmas at The Lightroom! Surprise someone special with a gift certificate for studio time or gear rentals in Athens. Whether for podcasting, photography, or filmmaking, The Lightroom offers affordable, inspiring spaces and equipment to bring ideas to life. Book now and make creativity the highlight of the season!

Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Available by reservation outside regular hours.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Welcome to the first edition of flagpole’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide To be included in the Dec. 11th edition, contact the Flagpole Advertising Department at 706-549-0301 or ads@flagpole.com. Deadline is Dec. 3rd.

Town & Gown Players

115 Grady Avenue townandgownplayers.org

Give the gift of Theater with the Town & Gown Flex Pass! Flex pass users receive six Main Stage and four Second Stage tickets. Choose whether to see every show or redeem multiple tickets for the same show. It’s the ideal way to enjoy Town & Gown performances all season long!

Open Tues.–Sat. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

UGA Performing Arts Center

pac.uga.edu

Experience the festive sounds of the season at the Holiday Music Series. Enjoy concerts by the Canadian Brass Dec. 3; The Kingdom Choir, a gospel chorus from London Dec. 5; Kathy Mattea Dec. 11; the Vienna Boys Choir Dec. 18; and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus with Handel’s Messiah Dec. 21.

Gift cards available. Order 3 or more concerts and receive 10% off.

Visit Athens shop.visitathensga.com

Getwww.website.com your fresh Athens gear for the holidays. Whether you’re a proud native Athenian or came later for the education, music or arts scene, Visit Athens have the perfect items to celebrate your love for the Classic City. Discover their great selection of Athens shirts, hoodies, hats, dog accessories, baby onesies, and more!

Purchase your Visit Athens gear in person at the Akins Ford Arena Community Event on Dec. 15.

TREEHOUSE Kid & Craft

585 Barber St., Studio G treehousekidandcraft.com

Gifts for teens, kids, and kids at heart! Treehouse is your local place for fun collectable toys like Smiski and Jellycats. Visit Treehouse to see the biggest assortment of lovable Jellycats in Athens. The best gifts to give to all ages! Hours: Sun.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Free wrapping. Ice cream and candy shop TREATHOUSE now open. Visit online calendar for arts markets, classes, and events.

Urban Sanctuary

810 N. Chase St. • 1348 Jordan Dr. urbansanctuaryspa.com

Give the gift of self-care with a gift certificate to Urban Sanctuary Spa, Athens’ Favorite Spa! Providing massages, facials, HydraFacial, Glo2Facial, spa days, and luxurious gifts for your loved ones, since 2005. Eco-friendly, organic, cruelty free, and natural. Be kind to yourself, be kind to others, unwind at Urban Sanctuary.

Now with two locations!

Woodhill Artists Market

4745 Bob Godfrey Rd. barbaraodil.com/woodhillartshow2024

Woodhill Artists Market features local artists (pictured) Barbara Odil, found fallen wood sculpture; Mary Rugg, handwoven wrap; Stephanie Astalos-Jones, batik on eggshell earrings. Also featured: Ansley Williams, Greg Krakow, Jenny DeRevere, Leigh Ellis, Louise Norrell, Michael Pierce, Peter Loose.

Opening Reception Dec. 6, 3 p.m.–8 p.m. Market: Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Eshniner Forest’s CarnivalofCosmicLight

PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

Hey y’all,

Before we get into it this week, I just wanted to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. Here’s to a wonderful holiday! And, now, let’s jump in…

EVERYBODY GET TOGETHER: JOKERJOKERtv and CreativeSpace are hosting a very cool Content Creators Meetup event at ATHICA on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. Creators of all types (podcasters, influencers, filmmakers, producers, etc.) and folks who are just interested in getting started on their creative journey are invited. The organizers note that, “This will be a night of networking and discussions with local content creators and producers as they share their experiences, knowledge, strategies, successes and challenges.” Featured speakers include Mux Blank (JOKERJOKERtv, AthensGATV), BlackNerdNinja (CreativeSpace), London Taj (Classic Conversations), Savalas Colbert (HeartBeatFam), Libbaloops (Loopy Doopy Lounge) and more. This event is free and open to the public, but please RSVP to athensgatv.com. For all other information regarding JOKERJOKERtv, please see JOKER JOKERtv.com.

PRE-PANDEMIC POPULAR PRICES!: Danny Cotter (Time Toy) and Spencer Rich (Wickets, et al.) will bring their act Splinter Group/Danny The Looper to Gyro Wrap downtown Saturday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Cotter plays guitar, bass and loops while Rich handles the drums. Also on the bill this night are the solid rockers Victor Charlie, whom we’ve not seen hide nor

program’s playoffs. An avid churchgoer known among his peers and neighbors as “the little music man,” Jaukeem hasn’t had the easiest life but is making a real go of it, and I tip my hat to him 100%. For more information, please see nbc.com/ the- voice/credits/contestant/season-26/ jaukeem- fortson.

TRY IT: Athens rapper Sajaad released his new Georgia Bulldogs hype track recently, and it’s named “Sic ’Em.” The beat was produced by 808 Ash, who is associated with Atlanta’s 808 Mafia production team. The track itself is bouncy and almost symphonic. From the lyrics I can’t tell what this has to do with football at all, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Find it on all major streaming services now.

SWEAT LODGE: Longtime Athens rocker

Phelan La Velle (Shade, Pervert, Crunchy, PPP&G) will host another instance of her Bruisefest this year at the 40 Watt Club. It’s now a two-night event happening Dec. 6–7. Doors open at 8 p.m. both nights, and music starts at 9 p.m. Each night costs $10. This is a swelter of a bill, so hold on. On Friday, featured acts are Snuki, Delta 8, Allergic (Atlanta), Identity Shock (Atlanta), Pervert and Big Trouble. Saturday night will feature Rubber Udder, Beer Piss, Regulator, Ralph, Coma Therapy and Centipede. Advance tickets are available at 40watt. com now, but why not just take cash like a proper rock and roller?

RELATEDLY: While you may have missed out on grabbing an actual, physical cassette copy of A Means To An End, the newly released collection by Snuki, the Hard Tack label has still got you covered. This originally came out back in July, but the label produced a limited run of tapes available exclusively on the band’s recent eight-date tour, which wrapped up at the World Famous last week. I feel like I’ve mentioned Snuki’s absolutely rock- solid hardcore punk bona fides here a decent amount, so I’m just going to point you toward hardtackk.bandcamp.com and let you go about things on your own.

Organically Programmed Orchestra

SPACE DISCO AT CLOUD RECORDINGS FESTIVAL

By Patrick Barry music@flagpole.com

For Oliver Domingo, the world is alive with possibilities.

At only 18 years old, Domingo has done things that most musicians envy. He’s put together the Organically Programmed Orchestra, an eclectic ensemble of Athens musical luminaries. He has scored three films, played both solo and in ensemble across the Southeast, and released two EP/ demo tapes.

Domingo is originally from Covington, a town whose music scene extended to “the occasional bluegrass band,” according to Domingo. While in high school, he would venture into Atlanta to catch shows, but found the music scene to be insular. “The jazz heads aren’t connected with the rock musicians or anything. There’s a division,” Domingo said.

It wasn’t until Domingo moved to Athens that he performed his first show, spurred on by Elephant 6 member and owner of local label Cloud Recordings John Kiran Fernandes. “I’ve gotta thank John for this,” Domingo said. “I don’t think I would have realized that I would have had potential to be making music without him booking me.”

hair of in a very long time, so it makes perfect sense that this is the first of two shows they’ll play in that seven-day period. I suppose you could call this whole bill something of a throwback considering the lineup and venue, but the most classic thing about it is its five dollar price tag! So don’t delay.

GREAT JOB: Congratulations are due to the young performer Jaukeem Fortson, who lives in Elberton, for his success in being selected for Team Bublé on NBC’s “The Voice.” According to his publicist, Fortson, who is 13 years old, will now compete with the full deck of 20 top artists in the

WITHIN YOU AND WITHOUT YOU: It’s been just over a year since musician Ryan Bousquet (The Spookie Moon) released any new music under his Eshniner Forest project name. He’s just recently released the six- song Carnival Of Cosmic Light. It’s an indie-psych collection that, loosely speaking, has more in common with the 1990s psych revival, such as the Elephant 6 collective, than any actual 1960s psych heyday influences. There’s a multitude of instruments here, but I think I’m drawn mostly to Bousquet’s keyboard and piano work such as that displayed on “The Badgers Here” and the cheekily titled and performed “Norwegian Woof.” Find this over at moonworldrecordings.bandcamp. com, and follow along at facebook.com/ TheeSpookyMoon. f

how repetitive or complex, to try to reflect what is needed for a soundtrack.”

The group’s debut album will embody all of the sounds that the Organically Programmed Orchestra has become known for on stages around town: danceable space disco with European flavor and influence from the early days of electronic music.

Following the release of the album, Domingo will go on a hiatus from the Organically Programmed project. That doesn’t mean he won’t be busy, though; he plans to use the time to offer his services to other musician’s projects, as well as begin preparations for a second album. The second album will necessitate assembling a “DIY chamber orchestra,” complete with violins, violas, contrabass, and a brass, woodwind and rhythm section. Expanding the scope of the Organically Programmed Orchestra had been a long-time ambition for Domingo, and one that will help to beef out the sound of the proposed second album.

The two met for the first time at Wuxtry, the downtown record store where Fernandes had been an employee since 1999. “He saw me messing around with keyboards, and asked me to play a show with him. That was the first Organically Programmed show, going on three years ago now,” Domingo said.

With the debut Organically Programmed record set to release around January of 2025 on Fernandes’ Cloud Recordings label, it’s clear Domingo has found a home for his music in a place where the divisions disappear, and the support across genres is mutual.

Domingo’s sound is primarily inspired by 20th century library music, as well as Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra and French jazz band Cortex. Library music, also known as production or stock music, is music composed for licensing in film, television and other media. Though the intent is almost always utilitarian in nature, library composers have experienced a secondary resurgence in avant-garde circles, often due to their close ties to film and willingness to experiment with sound in the name of setting a tone.

Domingo has been a fan of library music since he first discovered the genre at 14, and has since amassed a collection of forgotten releases that is so impressive it was displayed at the Lyndon House Arts Center in 2022. “When I’m composing, I want to think like a library music composer,” Domingo said. “They have charts in front of them with words to describe what they need for a composition. I’ll try to churn out as many ideas as I possibly can, no matter

He also plans to incorporate more performance art elements into the group’s live shows. In the past, Organically Programmed shows have involved the on-stage use of home appliances, as well as homemade food items handed out to audience members. “It’s almost too much to say, but I have a lot of things planned, and I’m very excited to execute all of these ambitious plans,” Domingo said.

The Organically Programmed Orchestra will be playing on Nov. 29 at the 12th annual Cloud Recordings Festival at Flicker Theatre and Bar. Fernandes has put on the festival since 2012 as a platform to showcase and celebrate Cloud Recordings musicians and affiliated acts.

This year will feature Athens psych-folk collective The Rishis, garage punk band Telemarket and local songwriter Patrick Barry [Editor’s Note: Barry, this story’s author, was asked to perform after being assigned to the story], with Organically Programmed Orchestra closing out the night. Organically Programmed is also set to play a show on Dec. 4 at Atlanta venue 529, as well as one Dec. 20 at Ciné. f

WHO: Cloud Recordings Festival

WHEN: Nov . 29, 8 p m (doors), 9 p m (show)

WHERE: Flicker Theatre & Bar HOW MUCH: $12

live music calendar

Tuesday 26

Hendershot’s

No Phone Party. 7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

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

Normal Bar

8–11 p.m. FREE! booking@rudy montayremusic.com

OPEN MIC All musicians welcome. Every Tuesday.

Wednesday 27

Athentic Brewing Co.

7–10 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com

KARAOKE WITH DJ GREGORY Every Wednesday. Flicker Theatre & Bar

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

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

The Foundry Aubrey Entertainment Presents. 6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). $15 (adv.), $20. bit.ly/WritersOnTheStorm WRITERS ON THE STORM

RELIEF CONCERT In addition to a toy drive, raffle, art show and live painting by Leana Gable, the event includes songs by Randall Bramblett, Caroline Aiken, Rick Fowler & Mike Doke, Fester Hagood, Rev Conner Tribble, Levi Lowrey, Julie Gribble, David Kirslis (Cicada Rhythm) and more. Proceeds benefit Arts Asheville and the James Brown Family Foundation.

Hendershot’s

Give Thanks 8k Pre-Race Party. 6–10 p.m. FREE! www.givethanks8k.com

NEAL ANTHONY Classical guitarist and UGA music school graduate. DAVE FORKER & HIS CUSTOM CONCERN Originals and covers.

Thursday 28

VFW Post 3910

7–11 p.m. Donations accepted. terryj 6344@yahoo.com

KARAOKE AT THE VFW Enjoy singing and dancing. All levels welcome. Every Thursday.

Friday 29

Flicker Theatre & Bar

12th Annual Cloud Recordings Festival. 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show). $12. www.flickertheatreandbar.com

ORGANICALLY PROGRAMMED

ORCHESTRA A large ensemble utilizing electronic and orchestral instrumentation to perform psychedelic space-themed electronic arrangements influenced by disco, jazz, easy listening and library music.

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

TELEMARKET Driving, angular indie-rock band from Athens. THE RISHIS Elephant 6 psych-folk featuring a member of The Olivia Tremor Control.

Nowhere Bar 8 p.m. www.facebook.com/Nowhere BarAthens

ABBY BRYANT BAND Blue Ridge soul and rock and roll from Asheville, NC.

Oak House Distillery 7 p.m. FREE! www.oakhousedistillery. com

OPEN MIC Every Friday. Paloma Park

Aubrey Entertainment Presents. 1:30 p.m. (doors), 2:30 p.m. (show). $25 (adv.), $30. bit.ly/KinchafooneeCowboysNov29 KINCHAFOONEE COWBOYS

Long-running country band from South Georgia that was established in 1991.

HOLMAN AUTRY BAND Longrunning local band blending rock and country.

MARTY WEATHERFORD Singersongwriter and guitarist of Dirtroad Revival.

Saturday 30

Athentic Brewing Co.

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

TRIO METRO Formerly named Take3, this trio of piano, saxophone and drums plays jazz standards and an array of more contemporary covers with a jazz twist.

Flicker Theatre & Bar Attaboy Tapes Presents. 8 p.m. (doors). $10. www.flickertheatre andbar.com

CONNER VLIESTRA Old-time country musician from Chattanooga, TN.

CREEKBED Coyote-folk and cedar smoke.

COMER STRING COLLECTIVE

Live string music.

Flying Squid Comedy

7:30 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $12. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com

CICADA RHYTHM Captivating Athens group playing melodic, roots-influenced folk-rock.

TURTLE GRENADE Local musician and visual artist offering a raw playfulness and an ethereal melancholy.

The Foundry

Aubrey Entertainment Presents. 6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). $15 (adv.), $20. bit.ly/CosmicCharlieNov30

COSMIC CHARLIE Grateful Dead cover band that adds its own flair to the classics. An acoustic set followed by an electric set.

CAROLINE AIKEN This guitarist and singer’s bluesy voice and mas-

in Athens in 2001.

Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall

7:30 p.m. $3 (w/ UGA ID), $20. music.uga.edu

CONCERTO COMPETITION

WINNERS The soloists performing in this concert are selected after advancing through a rigorous competition process judged by faculty within the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

UGA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

One of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s premier performing ensembles, showcasing some of the university’s finest players performing traditional orchestral repertoire in a series of dynamic concerts.

Live Wire

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $15 (adv.), $20. www.livewireathens. com

SKYDOG GYPSY Funkadelic rock quintet formed in 1999 in Columbus that blends original grooves,

Sunday 1

ACC Library

Live at the Library. 3 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org

CELTIC CHRISTMAS Kick off the season with traditional Celtic tunes. Terrapin Beer Co.

3 p.m. FREE! www.terrapinbeer.com

JIM COOK High-energy solo acoustic blues, rock and country.

Monday 2

Dancz Center for New Music

7:30 p.m. FREE! music.uga.edu

UGA SOUL MUSIC ENSEMBLE Students perform soul standards. Madison-Morgan Cultural Center

The Hall on Foster. 7 p.m. FREE! (performers), $5. www.mmcc-arts.org

OPEN MIC NIGHT New open mic series for music, spoken word,

terful technique guarantee a hypnotic performance. Joined by Trina Meade and Michael Wegner.

Gyro Wrap

8 p.m. (doors). $5. www.gyrowrap. com

SPLINTER GROUP/DANNY THE LOOPER Funky, danceable rock featuring Danny Cottar (Time Toy) on guitar, bass and loops and Spencer Rich (Wickets) on drums.

VICTOR CHARLIE Original threepiece grunge rock band that formed

jams and rock fusion. Celebrating the release of a new EP!

ALLEN AUCOIN Funk-rock fusion quartet led by Disco Biscuits drummer.

Winterville Cultural Center

Aubrey Entertainment Presents. 8 p.m. $20–30. www.facebook.com/ AubreyEntertainmentAthensGA STREET CHOIR Van Morrison cover band led by Atlanta singer Greg Hester.

Tuesday 3

Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall

7:30 p.m. $10 (w/ UGA ID), $39–59. pac.uga.edu

CANADIAN BRASS Brass quintet formed in Toronto in 1970 by tuba legend Chuck Daellenbach performs holiday classics. Hugh Hodgson School of Music

Edge Hall. 4:30 p.m. FREE! music. uga.edu

STRING AREA CHAMBER

RECITAL String ensemble performs selections it has been working on recently.

Normal Bar

8–11 p.m. FREE! booking@rudy montayremusic.com

OPEN MIC All musicians welcome. Every Tuesday.

Wednesday 4

40 Watt Club

7 p.m. (doors). $26 (adv.), $31. www.40watt.com

PETER MCPOLAND Musician whose finespun folk-pop is inspired by artists like John Prine and Gregory Alan Isakov. Known for hits like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sally Forth.”

Athentic Brewing Co.

7–10 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com

KARAOKE WITH DJ GREGORY Every Wednesday. Flicker Theatre & Bar

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

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

Hendershot’s 7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

comedy, poetry and everything in between. Held the first Monday of each month.

Ramsey Hall

3:30 p.m. FREE! music.uga.edu

REPERTORY SINGERS A mixed chamber choir directed by graduate student conductors.

Ramsey Hall

7:30 p.m. FREE! music.uga.edu

HODGSON STRING QUARTET

UGA’s premier student string quartet.

HENDERSHOT’S OPEN MIC NIGHT Discover new Athens musical talent. Hosted by Liz Farrell.

Down the Line

12/05 The Kingdom Choir (Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall)

12/05 A Thousand Horses (Georgia Theatre)

12/05 Stephen Steinbrink, Isra and the Paisleys, Zach Ritter and the Eternal Soup (Flicker Theatre & Bar) f

Canadian Brass will kick off the UGA Presents Holiday Music Series on Dec. 3 at Hodgson Concert Hall.

event calendar

Tuesday 26

CLASSES: MS PowerPoint Basics (ACC Library) Learn how to create slides, enter content, change layouts and use styles and themes. 10 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org

CLASSES: ESOL (Bogart Library) Learn or polish your English skills using Mango languages online and in-person conversation. 12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

EVENTS: Thanksgiving Dinner (El Paso Tacos & Tequila) A hot meal from the restaurant’s Thanksgiving dinner table. 4–8 p.m. FREE! www. instagram.com/elpasoathenss

EVENTS: Thanksgiving Market (Farmer’s Market Building) Comer Farmers Market offers locally grown produce, eggs, foods, pottery, jewelry and Christmas trees. 4–7 p.m. www.facebook.com/ComerFM

EVENTS: Wizarding Beasts and Bingo (Bogart Library) Play Harry Potter bingo followed by a screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 5–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

EVENTS: Ballroom and Brews (Athentic Brewing Co.) Learn a new ballroom dance style each month, then dance the night away. Fourth Tuesdays, 6–7 p.m. (lesson). 7–9 p.m. (open dance). www.athentic brewing.com

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

GAMES: Singo! (Beef O’Brady’s) Win gift certificates and prizes at this music bingo night. Tuesdays, 7–9 p.m. www.beefobradys.com/athens

GAMES: UnPhiltered Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Test your trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www. facebook.com/MellowMushroom

Athens

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Eddie’s Calzones) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddog athens

GAMES: Trivia Night (Hi-Lo Lounge) Test your trivia knowledge. 8 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ hilolounge

KIDSTUFF: Storytime (Oconee County Library) Drop in and join Ms. Jera for rhymes, songs, movement, a story and a craft. Ages 5 & under. 11 a.m. & 12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

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

LECTURES & LIT: Mystery Book Club (Bogart Library) Pick up a copy of Sinister Graves by Marcie Rendon and discuss it with the group. 5:30–6:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

Wednesday 27

CLASSES: Salsa Dancing (El Carretonero) Join SALSAthens for Cuban salsa lessons meeting a variety of dance abilities. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. (advanced), 7:30 p.m. (beginner/intermediate). $10. SALS AthensDancing@gmail.com

COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Townie

improv that invites you to bring suggestions. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flying squidcomedy.com

EVENTS: Thanksgiving Feed the Hungry (The Sparrow’s Nest) Enjoy a buffet-style lunch and receive one bag of hygiene products per person. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.sparrowsnestathens.org

EVENTS: Beersgiving (Normaltown Brewing) Join in pre-holiday shenanigans and hang with friends; it’s too late to defrost your turkey. 4–9 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/ normaltownbrewingco

EVENTS: Harvest Market (Buvez) Athens Farmers Market offers fresh produce, flowers, eggs, meats, prepared foods, art and crafts. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. www.facebook.com/ AthensFarmersMarket

EVENTS: Give Thanks 8K Pre-Race Party (Hendershot’s) Enjoy live music and pre-holiday camaraderie in benefit of Athens Community Council on Aging. 6–10 p.m. FREE! www.givethanks8k.com

FILM: Curio Cinema (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of the 1965 horror drama film Repulsion. 7 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar.com

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

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Eddie’s Calzones) Test your trivia knowledge with host Nickalous Benson. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook. com/baddogathens

GAMES: Trivia Night (Normal Bar) Test your trivia knowledge. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/normal. bar.7

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

KIDSTUFF: LEGO Mania (Bogart Library) Drop in to free build and create. All ages. 3–5 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Teen Friendsgiving Potluck (Oconee County Library) Bring a dish or stop by to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal provided by YA librarians. 6 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

MEETINGS: Film Athens (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Meet and network with others in the filmmaking community (actors, directors, etc.) during happy hour. 5 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar.com

OUTDOORS: ‘Normal’ Run (Athentic Brewing Co.) Join the Athens Road Runners for a 1–3 mile run that starts and ends at Athentic Brewing. Second and fourth Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. FREE! www.athentic brewing.com

Thursday 28

EVENTS: Give Thanks 8k (Hendershots) Start your day with a race around the downtown Athens area with a kids fun run and refreshments afterwards, in benefit of ACCA. Registration required. 8:30 a.m. $40. www.givethanks8k.com

EVENTS: Feed the Hungry Dinner (Weaver D’s) A gospel celebration followed by a hot meal. 12 p.m. (gospel), 2 p.m. (dinner). FREE! www.facebook.com/WeaverDs

Friday 29

CLASSES: Black Friday Free Yoga (Fuel Hot Yoga) Enjoy community yoga classes suitable for all levels. Registration required. 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.fuelhotyoga.com

FILM: Silent Films and Cocktails (Hendershot’s) Settle in with a drink for a night of silent film showings. 7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens. com

GAMES: Chess Club (Winterville Cultural Center) Join others for a weekly chess competition. Fridays, 6–10 p.m. FREE! www.winterville center.com

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Soldier of the Sea Distillery) Test your trivia knowledge with host Miles Bunch. Fridays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/ baddogathens

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

SPORTS: UGA vs. Yellow Jackets (Sanford Stadium) Cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs football team as they face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 7:30 p.m www.georgia dogs.com

Saturday 30

EVENTS: Holiday Artists Market (Bishop Park) Browse handmade gifts, prepared foods and local produce from more than 90 vendors at the Athens Farmers Market. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. www.athensfarmers market.net

EVENTS: Marigold Farmers Market (Pittard Park) Vendors offer organic produce, prepared foods, agricultural products and artisanal goods. MFM doubles SNAP dollars spent. Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. www. marigoldcollectivewinterville.com

EVENTS: West Broad Farmers Market (Rocksprings Park Pavilion) Vendors will be on site with fresh produce, local fare, rare plants, artisan goods and more. Saturdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.athens landtrust.org/wbfm

EVENTS: Beechwood’s Holiday Market (Beechwood Shopping Center) Celebrate the Beechwood Center’s tree lighting with live music, face painting, food trucks, s’mores, photos with Santa and more. 6–9 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/beechwoodathens

GAMES: Board Games (Bogart Library) Meet friends or make new ones while playing a variety of games. 2–4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: STEAM Saturday (Bogart Library) Drop in to learn about a variety of artists through hands-on activities, games and museum websites. 11 a.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart

Sunday 1

ART: QP Party (Steffen Thomas Museum of Art) Celebrate the exhibition “Queer Perspectives” with gallery talks, a line up of poets and performances from Southern Fried Queer Pride. 2–6 p.m. $20. www. steffenthomas.org

COMEDY: Comedy Open Mic (MaiKai Kava Lounge) Show up and go up with your stand-up material. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www.instagram. com/bulaatmaikai

COMEDY: Classic Comedy Showcase (The Globe) Athens Comedy presents a lineup of local comedians hosted by Lanny Farmer. First Sundays, 9 p.m. $7. www.athens comedy.com

EVENTS: Historic Athens Heritage Walk (Contact for Location) Learn about the history and evolution of Prince Avenue exploring the architectural gems and significant landmarks. Registration required. 2 p.m. $25. www.historicathens.com

LECTURES & LIT: Bogart Bookies (Bogart Library) Pick up a copy of Summer Island by Kristin Hannah and discuss it with the group. 1–2 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ bogart

LECTURES & LIT: Unknown Battle of Midway (Oconee County Library) Local Historian Rod Davis will present on one of the U.S. Navy’s greatest victories and the near annihilation behind it. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

LECTURES & LIT: How Religion Happens Book Club (ACC Library) Discuss William James’ non-fiction book The Varieties of Religious Experience. 3:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org

MEETINGS: Crafternoon (Athentic Brewing Co.) Bring your crafting project to work on and connect with other artists in the community. 1:30–3 p.m. FREE! www.athentic brewing.com

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. info@petanque.org, www.athenspetanque.org

Monday 2

CLASSES: Free Play Improv Workshop (ACC Library) Learn improv and comedy acting skills with Matt House, no experience needed. Ages 16 & up. 6:30 p.m. FREE! xmatt house@gmail.com

COMEDY: Queer Comedy (Gyro Wrap) Local comedians perform with surprise guests. The Upstairs Bar and Comedy Club. First Mondays, 8 p.m. $7 (adv.), $10. www. instagram.com/theup_stairsbar EVENTS: Christmas Pictionary & a Movie (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Play Christmas movie themed Pictionary followed by a screening of Christmas Evil. 7 p.m. FREE! www. flickertheatreandbar.com

FILM: Athentic Movie Night (Athentic Brewing Co.) Screening of the classic action film Die Hard. 7 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com

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

GAMES: General Trivia (Athentic Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge. Mondays, 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com

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

KIDSTUFF: Monday Funday (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for songs,

fingerplays, storytelling and STEAM activities. Ages 3–7 years. Registration suggested. 10:30 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

MEETINGS: Classic City Rotary (1430 N Chase St) The local chapter meets weekly. Mondays, 11:30 a.m. FREE! www.classiccityrotary.org

Tuesday 3

CLASSES: ESOL (Bogart Library)

Learn or polish your English skills using Mango languages online and in-person conversation. 12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

EVENTS: World AIDS Day Testing (Clarke County Health Department) Get tested and get a $10 gift card. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. FREE! www.northeast healthdistrict.org

EVENTS: Frame Sale (Georgia Museum of Art) The museum has a large selection of high-quality frames for sale in all sizes. Dec. 3–4 & 6–7, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Dec. 8, 1–5 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org

EVENTS: American Red Cross Blood Drive (ACC Library) Donors of all blood types are encouraged to contribute. Registration required. 2–6 p.m. FREE! www.redcross blood.org

EVENTS: Holly Jolly Holiday Party (Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center) Enjoy crafts, holiday music, refreshments, face painting, a visit with Santa and more. 4–7 p.m. FREE! Find Piedmont Athens Regional Auxiliary on Facebook

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

GAMES: Singo! (Beef O’Brady’s) Win gift certificates and prizes at this music bingo night. Tuesdays, 7–9 p.m. www.beefobradys.com/athens

GAMES: UnPhiltered Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Test your 2000s pop culture trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/ MellowMushroomAthens

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Eddie’s Calzones) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddog athens

GAMES: Trivia Night (Hi-Lo Lounge) Test your trivia knowledge. 8 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/hilo lounge

KIDSTUFF: Fine Motor Monday (Oconee County Library) Work one-on-one with your child using a selection of educational items that contain small parts. Registration required. 12 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/oconee

KIDSTUFF: Storytime (Oconee County Library) Drop in and join Ms. Jera for rhymes, songs, movement, a story and a craft. Ages 5 & under. 11 a.m. & 12 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

LECTURES & LIT: Industrial Athens (ACC Library) Dr. Jane McPherson will take the audience on a virtual tour of industrial East Athens. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org

Wednesday 4

ART: Tour At Two (Georgia Museum of Art) These drop-in public tours feature highlights of the permanent

collection. 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org

CLASSES: Shapes and Grapes (Tapped Athens Wine Market) In this workshop learn how to use various watercolor tools and methods with self-serve wines on tap. 6 p.m. $28. www.kaartist.com

CLASSES: Salsa Dancing (El Carretonero) Join SALSAthens for Cuban salsa lessons meeting a variety of dance abilities. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. (advanced), 7:30 p.m. (beginner/intermediate). $10. SALS AthensDancing@gmail.com

COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Townie improv that invites you to bring suggestions. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flying squidcomedy.com

EVENTS: Frame Sale (Georgia Museum of Art) The museum has a large selection of high-quality frames for sale in all sizes. Dec. 3–4 & 6–7, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Dec. 8, 1–5 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org

EVENTS: Auction (VFW Post 2872) Bid on general merchandise, antiques, folk art and more with concessions. 3–9 p.m. www.estate georgia.com

FILM: Blood Everywhere (Flicker Theatre & Bar) An actor witnesses a murder through a telescope and is quickly pulled into the seedy underbelly of the porn industry in Body Double. 7 p.m. FREE! www. instagram.com/bloodeverywhere. athens

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

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Eddie’s Calzones) Test your trivia knowledge with host Nickalous Benson. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook. com/baddogathens

GAMES: Trivia Night (Normal Bar) Test your trivia knowledge. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/normal. bar.7

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

KIDSTUFF: LEGO Mania (Bogart Library) Drop in to free build and create. All ages. 3–5 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Teen Prism Club (Oconee County Library) Hang out in the library to play games, do crafts and build friendships in an inclusive and welcoming space. Grades 6–12. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

MEETINGS: Avid Writers’ Collective (Avid Bookshop) Members critique each others’ pre-submitted writing of all forms. First Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. FREE! events@ avidbookshop.com

MEETINGS: Greater Athens Libertarian Party Meet and Greet (Akademia Brewing Co.) The local affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Georgia hosts a monthly gathering. First Wednesdays, 7 p.m. FREE! greaterathenslp@lpgeorgia.com

Down the Line

12/05 Downtown Parade of Lights (Downtown Athens) f

bulletin board

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

AAAC QUARTERLY GRANT (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Arts Council offers $500 grants to visual and performing artists in any medium to support specific projects that enrich the culture of Athens. Rolling deadlines are Dec. 15, Mar. 15, June 15 and Sept. 15. Apply online. www. athensarts.org/support

ART MART CALL FOR ARTISTS AND VENDORS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Applications are now open for fine artists and craftspeople to participate in the indoor 2025 Art Market. All mediums welcome. Free to apply. $60 (vendor fee). Deadline Jan. 15. Event held May 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.lyndon houseartsfoundation.com

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

(Lyndon House Arts Center) The AIR Program provides participants with a semi-private workspace, access to the center’s seven open studios and a $250 stipend. Rising professional and studio-based artists are invited to apply. Artists will be expected to present their work in a workshop or artist talk and will be invited to take part in a group exhibition with other AIR Program alumni. Applications are reviewed Apr. 20 for residencies beginning July 1 and Sept. 20 for residencies beginning Jan. 1. www. accgov.com/lyndonhouse

ATHENS CREATIVE DIRECTORY

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

BIPOC ARTIST/CURATOR PROJECT OPEN CALL (Lyndon House Arts Center) Seeking BIPOC individuals residing in Georgia to develop an art exhibition to be on display for 6–8 weeks at the LHAC. A stipend of $1,500 is provided. www.accgov. com/9799/ArtistCurator CALL FOR ARTISTS (ATHICA) JOKERJOKERtv and CreativeSpace invite livestreamers, podcasters, content creators, influencers and others to attend for the first “Creator Content Meetup” on Dec. 3. www. jokerjokertv.com

CALL FOR ARTISTS (Winterville, GA) The 2025 Winterville Marigold Festival is seeking theme artwork to be featured on posters, T-shirts and more. Marigold or Wintervillethemed artwork preferred. Deadline to apply Jan. 1, 5 p.m. www.marigoldfestival.com

CALL FOR COLLECTORS (Lyndon House Arts Center) The LHAC’s “Collections from our Community” series features unique collections of objects found in the closets, cabinets and shelves of Athenians. Email if interested in displaying

art around town

1000 FACES (510 N. Thomas St.) Recent abstract paintings by Hannah Jones. Through November.

ACE/FRANCISCO GALLERY (675 Pulaski St., Suite 1500) “Murmur Trestle: Photographs by Jason Thrasher” shares images from a new book of photos taken during different seasons over the course of six years. • “Grit Portraits: Paintings by Tobiah Cole” includes portraits of some of the artist’s friends from his many years at The Grit.

ARTS + ATHLETICS (Contact for Address) “Raised Bed” features works on paper and sculptural works by Sara Hess, co-founder of printmaking studio Two Parts Press. Closing Reception Feb. 22, 4–6 p.m. Open by appointment through Feb. 22.

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY LIBRARY (2025 Baxter St.) “Americans and the Holocaust” is a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and ’40s. Through Dec. 19. • On view in the Bogue Gallery, Will Eskridge presents “Beach Bums,” a series of paintings that combine shorelines, animals and sweet treats. Through Dec. 29.

ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) “Game Day” by Vivian Liddell features an immersive diptych painting depicting an infamous celebration in downtown Athens. Through Dec. 25.

CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) On view in Classic Gallery I, “Legendary Georgia Musicians in Watercolor” is Jackie Dorsey’s homage to musicians who have called Georgia their home. • In Classic Gallery II, “Linnentown Then and Now: The Johnsons” includes portraits by Caroline Ford Coleman.

DODD GALLERIES (270 River Rd.) “NOTHING GOLD: Fall 2024 BFA Capstone Exhibition” presents the works of 17 graduating BFA students working in ceramics, painting, metalwork, photography and more. Through Dec. 5.

FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) Artwork by printmaker and muralist Amanda Burk. Through November.

FOYER (135 Park Ave.) Brooklyn-based artist Baker Overstreet’s “Goblin Gazebo” features sculptures that bring to mind puppets, dolls and French clowns, and are made with canvas and bits and bobbles like wood, push pins and found materials. On view through Jan. 18 by appointment.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “A Perfect Model: Prints after Anthony van Dyck’s Portraits” presents prints that attest to Van Dyck’s

your collection. shelby.little@ accgov.com

CALL FOR PUBLIC ART: LINNENTOWN (Athens, GA) Professional artists are invited to submit qualifications for consideration for public art on Linnentown Lane. A suitable public art installation will be a sculpture of landmark-scale, viewable from the road, and will serve as a visual icon of the injustice that occurred at the site of the Linnentown community in the name of urban renewal. Deadline to apply Dec. 6, 5 p.m. accgov.com/10597/ Call-for-Public-Art-LinnentownLane

CIGAR BOX CHALLENGE (ATHICA)

Seeking artists to decorate cigar boxes for a creative fundraiser benefiting ATHICA. Cigar boxes will be sold for $60 each. Participating artists will be eligible for cash prizes and an artist perk package. Deadline Dec. 8–9. Event held Dec. 14. bit. ly/cigarboxchallenge

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

OPEN STUDIOS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Studio members have

access to spaces for painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber and woodworking. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $65/month. www. accgov.com/7350/Open-StudioMembership

PUBLIC ART SELECTION PANELS (Athens GA) The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission is seeking community members to participate in upcoming public art selection panels. Panels review, evaluate and select from submitted proposals for ACC-funded public art commissions. www.accgov.com/9656/ Public-Art-Selection-Panels

Auditions

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES (The Cottage Sexual Assault Center & Children’s Advocacy Center) Auditions for the Feb. 6–8 performances of The Vagina Monologues are open to all ages and backgrounds who identify as women. No experience required. Auditions held Dec. 3, 4 and 12, 5:30–7:30 p.m. and Dec. 8, 2–5 p.m. linnea@north georgiacottage.org

Classes

A COURSE OF LOVE (Unity Athens Church) Learn a positive path for spiritual living based on A Course in Miracles. Wednesdays, 10–11:30 a.m. FREE! www.unity athens.com

ACCENT REDUCTION CLASS (Covenant Presbyterian Church)

lasting impact as a printmaker and portraitist. Through Dec. 1. • Organized in conjunction with the American Liszt Festival at UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music in October 2024, “Saint Petersburg as Franz Liszt Saw It” features works on paper that show Russia at the time of the Hungarian composer and pianist’s visits in the 1840s. Through Dec. 1. • Shot through the windows from inside Waffle House restaurants across the Southeast, Micah Cash’s photographs in “Waffle House Vistas” contemplate the built and natural environments. Through June 1. • “Mind the Gap: Selections from the Permanent Collection” explores the spaces between tradition and innovation in art. Through Dec. 1. • “Joel Sternfeld: When It Changed” includes portraits taken at the 2005 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Through Dec. 1. • “The Artist as Witness” includes works from the museum’s permanent collection that serve as visual responses to Joel Sternfeld’s exhibition. Through Dec. 1. • “On Wonder and Witnessing at Tallulah Falls” places a 1841 painting by George Cooke alongside contemporary photographs by Caitlin Peterson. Through Jan. 12.

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

HOTEL INDIGO (500 College Ave.) Vivian Liddell shares “Athens Landscapes,” a series of monotypes based on photographs taken around town over the past several years. Cocktail Hour with the Artist Dec. 1, 4–6 p.m. JUST PHO… AND MORE (1063 Baxter St.) Susie Criswell presents a collection of bold nature paintings. Through November.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (211 Hoyt St.) “Inspired: Artworks by Students of the Clarke County School District Inspired by Athens Creatives” was envisioned as a way to foster a connection between local artists and students. Through Jan. 18. • In “We Are All Kinda Floating,” Atlantabased artist Jamele Wright Sr. creates monumental textiles that center the traditions of Black American vernacular experience and merge sculpture, painting, fiber and techniques applied from graffiti and quilting. Through Dec. 28. • “Self-Preservation” is a solo exhibition spotlighting the works of Jaci Davis, the recipient of the 49th Juried Exhibition Arts Center Choice Award. Through Dec. 28. • Collections from Our Community hosts John Stephenson’s vintage radio collection. Through Jan. 11. • “fast tracks, ski masks, plaid slacks” by Tim Root includes playful wooden constructions drawn from a comic book aesthetic and DIY ethos. Artist event held Jan. 30, 6–8 p.m. Currently on view through Feb. 8. • The Window Works series presents a site-specific artwork by Atlanta artist Michael Reese that questions the perception of the Black Body against cyanotype photography popular with architectural blueprints. Through spring 2025. MAGALLERY (125 W. Jefferson St., Madison) The 2024 MAGallery Artists

Improve your American English pronunciation skills. For ages 18 and up. Tuesdays, 12 p.m. FREE! marjoriemiller@gmail.com

ART CLASSES (K.A. Artist Shop) The shop offers a range of fine art classes and workshops for adults, private classes and parties, summer camps, and art clubs for youth. Topics include watercolor (Dec. 1), drawing (Dec. 1), pet portraits in acrylic (Dec. 4 and Dec. 11) and holiday postcards in watercolor (Dec. 10 or Dec. 12) and gouache (Dec. 14). Register online. www. kaartist.com

CANOPY CLASSES & SCHOLARSHIPS (Canopy Studio) Canopy offers a variety of trapeze and aerial arts classes for children and adults. Scholarships and financial aid are available. outreach@canopystudio. org, www.canopystudio.org/outreach/scholarships

DANCE CLASSES (East Athens Educational Dance Center) The center offers classes in ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern and tap. Lunch time classes are available for adults including “Pilates & Dance Conditioning” on Wednesdays at noon. www.accgov.com/myrec

PÉTANQUE CLUB OF ATHENS (5 Alumni Dr.) Learn to play Pétanque. RSVP for a free Wednesday introduction. athenspetanqueclub@ gmail.com, www.athenspetanque club.wixsite.com/play

QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING (Nuçi’s Space) Nuçi’s hosts free monthly QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention sessions for anyone interested, not just mental health professionals. Nuçi’s also offers free training for businesses and organizations. Session held Dec. 11, 9–11:30 a.m. qpr@nuci.org, www.nuci.org/qpr

TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS

CLASSES (Live Oak Martial Arts) Traditional and modern-style Taekwondo, self-defense, grappling and weapons classes are offered

for all ages. Classes in Jodo, the art of the Japanese staff and sword, are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. Visit the website for a full schedule. liveoak martialarts@gmail.com, www.live oakmartialarts.com

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

YOGA CLASSES (Highland Yoga) Classes are offered seven days a week. Intro offer includes 30 days for $30. www.highland-yoga.com

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

YOGA CLASSES (Shakti Yoga Athens) This body-neutral and traumainformed space in Normaltown offers heated and unheated classes. Classes are offered in Power Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Yin and Restorative Yoga. New student offer: four weeks of unlimited yoga for $40. shakti yogaathens.com

Help Out

ADOPT AN ANIMAL (Bear Hollow Zoo) Different sponsorship levels are available to “adopt” a zoo resident. Donations are used for exhibits, food and wildlife education.

706-613-3580

ATHENS REPAIR CAFE (Solid Waste Office) The repair cafe is seeking volunteers comfortable fixing any of the following: clothing, pillows, small appliances, lamps, electronics, computers, bikes, small engines, clocks, knives, tools. The repair cafe is held the fourth Sunday

Exhibition, “RED,” presents an array of original works by 16 gallery artists in styles, subjects and media ranging from contemporary to traditional. Through Dec. 28.

OCONEE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION (34 School St., Watkinsville) The annual Artists Shoppe features artwork and craft items made by members of OCAF. Through Dec. 20.

OX FINE ART (675 Pulaski St., Suite 1700) Artwork by the late Art Rosenbaum, a painter, muralist, professor, and collector and performer of traditional American folk music.

PORCELAIN AND DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM (2450 S. Milledge Ave.)

Two new collections celebrating the connection between art and nature include a complete Jasperware tea set from Wedgewood in England and a series of hand-carved coconut vessels.

STEFFEN THOMAS MUSEUM OF ART (4200 Bethany Rd., Buckhead) “Queer Perspectives” is a juried exhibition featuring work by 13 Georgiabased artists including Yousef Bousheri, Perrine Gaudry, Rial Rye, Ezra Witkowski and Clint Zeagler. QP Party Dec. 1, 2–6 p.m. Through Jan. 4.

UGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER LOBBY GALLERY (230 River Rd.) In “Low Anchored Cloud/Spring Hoax,” Joseph Peragine, director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at UGA, explores themes of life and death through two distinct bodies of work. Through Dec. 21.

UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “Athens Potluck” revisits Jason Thrasher’s 2017 book that includes portraits of 33 musicians at home or in the studio.The exhibition includes photographs, stories, loaned items from the featured musicians and items from the music collections of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Through December. • “Bulldog Olympians” celebrates over 200 UGA athletes who have competed for Team USA or their home countries through photographs and artifacts. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF ATHENS CLEMENTS GALLERY (780 Timothy Rd.) Lori Hammer presents “Enhanced Paintings from Photos.” Through Jan. 2.

WINTERVILLE CULTURAL CENTER GALLERY (371 N. Church St., Winterville) “Small Works” is a group exhibition of works measuring 13”x13” or smaller and priced under $250 for the holidays. Through Jan. 3. • “Of Wood and Water” presents the found wooden sculptures of Barbara Odil and landscape paintings by Laura Floyd. Through Jan. 3. • “Fading Light in 30624” captures rural life in the ’70s and ’80s through the photographs of Jason Machen. Through Jan. 3.

WINTERVILLE LIBRARY (115 Marigold Ln., Winterville) Vicky Tavernier and Jenifer Borg present “Tide Pools, Rainforests, Deserts, and Fields: Selected Works from What Hides in the Tides and Stay a While with a Reptile.” Through Dec. 27.

of every month. reuse@accgov. com, www.accgov.com/RepairCafe

BLOOD DRIVE (ACC Library) Donate a pint of blood to the American Red Cross. Dec. 3, 2–6 p.m. www. redcrossblood.org

FALL COAT DRIVE (3 Ravens Tattoo and Piercing) Bring lightly used adult or children’s coats or jackets to any appointment and receive a free small tattoo or piercing aftercare product. Items will be donated to the Athens Area Homeless Shelter and Project Safe. Deadline Dec. 8. 3ravenstattoo@gmail.com

HOLIDAY TREE (Athens, GA) ACC Landscape Division is seeking a donated tree to place in front of City Hall for the holiday season. Must be at least 35 feet high and 20 feet wide. 706-613-3561

MULTIPLE CHOICES VOLUNTEERS

(Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living) Seeking volunteers to assist a nonprofit agency that serves individuals living with disabilities throughout a 10-country area of Northeastern Georgia. Contact Daniel Myers at 706-850-4025 or dmyers@multiplechoices.us

PET FOOD PANTRY (Animal Services Adoption Center) The Animal Services community pet food pantry provides pet food to ACC residents at no cost. Donations always welcome. Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sundays, 12–3 p.m. www.accgov.com/adoptioncenter

SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS (Bigger Vision of Athens) The nonprofit homeless shelter Bigger Vision of Athens, Inc. is seeking new members for its board of directors. The application is available online. the biggervisionshelter@gmail.com, www.bvoa.org/boardmember

SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS (Morton Theatre Corporation) The Morton Theatre Corporation is seeking new members for its board of directors and volunteers. The application is available online. board@morton theatre.com, www.mortontheatre. com/join-the-board

TOWELS FOR ANIMALS (ACCGov Animal Services Adoption Center) Seeking donations of gently used bath towels and hand rags for bathing animals and cleaning kennels. Donations can be dropped off at the door if it’s after hours. www.accgov. com/animalservices

TOY DRIVE (Aaron Heard Community Center and Park) Multiple Choices

Center for Independent Living Disabled Veterans Division is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys for ages 5–15. Donations due Dec. 9. Giveaway held Dec. 13, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. keylime577@gmail. com, www.multiplechoices.us

TRAIL GUIDING (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Volunteers lead small groups of children on hikes around the nature center trails and emphasize the lesson for the day by incorporating things found on the hike. Register online. accgov. givepulse.com/event/379177-TrailGuides-Training VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (Cobbham Historic District) Historic Athens is seeking volunteers to be docents, auction assistants and trolley stop assistants during the Cobbham by Candlelight Holiday Gala on Dec. 8, 3–9:30 p.m. michelle@historic athens.com, bit.ly/volunteergala24

Kidstuff

ART CARD CLUB FOR PRE-TEENS AND TEENS (K.A. Artist Shop) Draw, paint, collage and create your own collection of art cards. Materials provided. Fridays, 6–7:30 p.m. $28/drop-in, $200 (10 classes). www.kaartist.com

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

BRELLA ACTIVITIES (’BRELLA STUDIO) After-school art lessons for ages 6–11 include drawing and mixed media activities and are held Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Family Playgroups are for ages 0–5 and their caregivers. Check website for descriptions and meeting times. www.brellastudio.com/events

FALL CLASSES (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Treehouse offers a variety of art-centric activities for children, such as “Art School,” “Toddler/ Baby Process Art,” “Digital Art Designer,” “Open Studio,” “Art School Junior,” “Saturday Morning Crafts” and more. Check website for schedule and details. www. treehousekidandcraft.com

GROUPS AT REBLOSSOM

(ReBlossom) A variety of classes, playgroups and support groups

are offered for parents and young children. Topics include birth and breastfeeding, prenatal and parent-baby yoga, instrument play, maternal mental health and more. Check website for a schedule. www. reblossomathens.com

HOLIDAY CAMPS (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) Winter Camp is offered Dec. 27, 28, 30 and 31. For

for advocacy. Every third Monday, 4:30–6 p.m. Contact Floretta Johnson, 706-353-1892, floretta. johnson@stmarysathens.org

NEW PARENTS AND INFANT

FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP (BYL Family Resource Center) Come as you are for community, snacks and feeding advice from professionals. Babies and children of all ages

ages 7–14. Camps run 10 a.m.–3 p.m. www.ocaf.com/ocafkids

LIBRARY STORYTIMES (ACC Library) Storytime for preschool aged children and their caregivers is offered every Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. www.athens library.org

Support Groups

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

(St. Mary’s Hospital, 5th Floor Therapy Room) This support group for survivors of traumatic head injury, their families, friends and caregivers offers friendship, information about resources and opportunities

are welcome. Second and fourth Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.byyourleave.org

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

POLYAMORY SUPPORT GROUP (Revolution Therapy and Yoga) This open support group for adults practicing or considering polyamory or nonmonogamy discusses navigating jealousy, polysaturation, relationships with metamours and

polyamorous parenting. Thursdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. $10 donation. www.revolutiontherapyandyoga.com

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

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

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

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE (Nuçi’s Space) SOS is a support group for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide. Meets the third Wednesday of every month, 5:30–7:30 p.m. www.nuci.org

Word on the Street

AMERICAN PICKERS (Athens, GA)

Seeking collectors in Georgia with fascinating items for an episode of “American Pickers” on the History Channel. Email your name, location, number and a description of your items. Must be a private collection. No shops, flea markets, auctions, etc. 646-493-2184, american pickers@cineflix.com

BIKE REPAIR STATIONS (Multiple Locations) Over 15 free bike repair stations are located across Athens with tools, an air pump and a QR code for quick guides on basic bike repairs. Visit the website for participating locations. www.accgov. com/10584/Bike-Repair-Stations

FILM LOCATION DIRECTORY (Athens, GA) The Athens Film Office, part of the ACCGov Communications Department, recently launched a new database to showcase potential local sites that could be considered for film, TV or other production projects. Residents and business owners can add photos and information. www.athensgafilmoffice.com

FREE MEDICAL CLINICS (Nuçi’s Space) Free medical clinics are

available to people without insurance through the AU/UGA Medical Partnership. Call to reserve a spot. Translators available. Dec. 2. 706-227-1515, www.nuci.org/ additional-health-services

RABBIT HOLE EVENTS (Rabbit Hole Studios) Weekly events include Open Mic (Tuesdays, 7–11 p.m.), Acoustic Song Circle (Thursdays, 7–11 p.m.) and Drumming and Song Circle (Sundays, 3–5 p.m.). Wednesday Yoga (5 p.m.) is followed by Meditation and Integration (6 p.m.). Events are free or donation based. www.rabbitholestudios.org/ calendar

SEEKING MUSIC (Athens, GA) Seeking music submissions for the third season of “View Finders,” a locally produced TV series that will air on national PBS. Music can vary from electronic, ambient, hip hop, folk, Americana, rock, country, blues, classical and beyond. Contact for submission form. chrisgreer photography@gmail.com, www. viewfindersontv.com

SEVENTH GENERATION (Healing Path Farm) Seventh Generation Native American Church hosts gatherings on Sundays at 11 a.m., Men’s Group on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., and Women’s Circle every second and fourth Wednesday at 6 p.m. www.seventhgeneration nativeamericanchurch.org

STORMWATER CALENDARS (Athens, GA) The 2025 ACCGov Stormwater calendar can be reserved by filling out the online request form. www.accgov.com/stormwater VHS DIGITIZATION (Athens, GA) Brad Staples (of the Athens GA Live Music crew) is seeking previously recorded concerts and events on VHS, VHSC or DVDs to digitize and archive on his YouTube channel, vhsordie (@vhsordie3030). Original recordings will be returned, and credits and dates will be included in the online video description. Digitization services are free. Contact for details and to coordinate shipping. bradley.staples88@gmail.com

WINTER PROGRAM REGISTRATION (Athens, GA) The Leisure Services Department offers a diverse selection of activities highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports and holiday events for both adults and children. Now registering. www.accgov.com/ myrec f

“Tide Pools, Rainforests, Deserts, and Fields: Selected Works from What Hides in the Tides and Stay a While with a Reptile,” an exhibition by Vicky Tavernier and Jenifer Borg, is currently on view at the Winterville Library through Dec. 27.

good growing

A Healthy Thanksgiving

HOW TO REPLACE SUGAR AND FAT WITH LOCAL PRODUCE AND SEASONINGS

By Erin France news@flagpole.com

Plenty of traditional Thanksgiving sides tote “salad” in the title with nary a veggie in sight. You don’t have to nix Granny’s ambrosia or Watergate salad this year. But if you’re looking to eat slightly healthier, move those sugar bombs where they should be: the dessert table. Instead, fill your family’s holiday smorgasbord with local produce for a healthier, more sustainable feast.

SWAP INGREDIENTS: If you love your family’s traditional dishes, consider switching the ingredients from grocery store deals to tastier, locally grown produce.

healthier.

I use miso, a fermented soybean paste, to add a salty-umami taste to my collards instead of the traditional pork fat. It’s a useful switch if you’re worried about saturated fats, or if someone at your Thanksgiving table doesn’t eat pork. I still eat lard, but generally prefer it baked in fluffy biscuits and flaky pie crust where it really shines.

Fresh citrus is another trick for cutting out a little extra fat at the Thanksgiving table. While delicious, my tendency to add cheese to nearly everything isn’t the healthiest option. For me, the mac and cheese stays, but the broccoli gets sauteed with lemon juice, then topped with orange zest and sesame oil, instead of covered in a layer of cheddar cheese.

The celery used in many dressing and stuffing recipes could benefit from such a makeover. Generally bland and unnoticed, grocery store celery—long, light green and watery tasting—seems a different variety than what you’ll find at a farmers market. Southern-grown celery generally isn’t as tall, grows a darker green and tastes like a concentrated form of its commercially produced cousin.

“It’s smaller, but it’s so much more flavorful,” says Carolyn Schew, lead farmer and communications manager for Diamond Hill Farm. You’ll be less likely to reach for the salt shaker if your taste buds get a flavor wallop.

Fresh brassicas, like broccoli and brussel sprouts, are another good investment. Older broccoli, or heads stored in fluctuating temperatures, tend to emit more of the typical sulfur smell when cooked. So keep the cheesy broccoli casserole, but suffer less while cooking it by buying local.

COOK THOSE TOPS: If bought at the market, you’ll notice many farmers sell root vegetables with the greens still attached. Instead of pitching the leaves into the compost, you could use them to cook up another side dish. “You basically get a two-for-one when you get those,” Schew said.

Turnip greens can be cooked like collards without taking nearly as long. Beet greens can add a splash of color to an otherwise green-leafed salad. Even carrot tops can become a fun and spicy addition to a meal. I’ve used carrot tops in place of parsley for several recipes, including falafel and dressing.

TRY NEW SEASONINGS: Sometimes switching the seasonings can help make a dish

FIND NEW RECIPES:

New recipes can be tricky, and instructions found on the internet often are chancy. For solid recipes that folks actually cook, try Diamond Hill Farm’s recipe section on their website, diamondhillfarmathens.com/recipes. Sorted by vegetable, many of the selected recipes are beginner-friendly and run the gamut from Asian-inspired to Mediterranean to Southern.

One of my favorite produce-forward cookbooks is Six Seasons den. He arranges the recipes by season first, then by vegetable. Many dishes feature the kind of crunchy textures and citrus-bright flavors I prefer.

If you’ve found an interesting but untested internet recipe, be sure to think critically about the directions. Do you actu ally need 1 cup of sugar to cover 8 ounces of shishito peppers? That ratio strikes me as a dish of sugar with a little pepper flavor added. I cut the sugar down to a tablespoon and thought the result was wonderful.

GIVE THANKS: It might be hard to reconcile recent political and meteorological events with the gratitude we’re supposed to feel on Thanksgiving. But for farmers like Carter Dodd, owner of Diamond Hill Farm, he takes this season to consider progress made in the last year and to start looking forward to next year’s new projects. “Thanksgiving, for me, it’s an exciting time of year,” Dodd says. “We’ve gotten through the grueling summer.”

Thanksgiving is a time for visiting with family and friends, and a pause to celebrate the bounty of the harvest, he says. If you’d like to pick up some local produce or ask for cooking tips, the Athens Farmers’ Market will hold a Wednesday, Nov. 27 market at Buvez (585 Barber St.) from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. for any last-minute Thanksgiving shopping. f

Anna Paul harvests radishes at Diamond Hill Farm.

classifieds

REAL ESTATE

HOUSES FOR RENT

3BR/2BA house in Normaltown, quiet interior street. Central heat/air. Furnished. Hwd floors. Washer/dryer. Driveway/on-street parking. No smokers, pets. Calls only! 706-372-1505

HOUSES FOR SALE

Looking for a house or a home? Condo or land? Call Daniel Peiken. REALTOR 5Market Realty. Selling in and around Athens for over 20 years. 706-296-2941

WANTING TO RENT

Artist wants to share your space. Need approx. 300 sq/ ft working space and comfortable living situation. Work in wax/clay. Chad Bunnell 706-206-8285. Call anytime.

Get Flagpole delivered straight to your mailbox! Weekly delivery straight from the source. Makes a great gift! Only $65 for six months or $125 for one year. Purchase at www.flagpole.bigcartel.com, call 706- 549- 0301 or email frontdesk@flagpole.com.

FOR SALE

MISCELLANEOUS

Business Water Solutions offers the cleanest drinking water available through innovative bottle-less water coolers and ice machines. 706-248-6761 or business watersolutions.com to set up a consultation.

MUSIC

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bid on exclusive music memorabilia and local bundles in Nuçi’s Space’s Athens Uncovered Online Auction! Ends Dec. 13. Proceeds support suicide prevention. Visit: https://www.32 auctions.com/au2024

INSTRUCTION

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

MUSIC SERVICES

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

MUSICIANS WANTED

Singer-songwriters guitarist and keyboardist looking for a drummer for their girl band! Text 404-376-5164 if you wanna jam!

SERVICES

HOME AND GARDEN

Woman-Run Gardening Services: Prep for Winter! We offer garden clean-up/ maintenance, invasive plant removal, raised beds, personalized native/edible gardens for home/business and more! Call/Text: 706-3955321.

Need old papers for your garden? We have plenty here at Flagpole! Call ahead and we’ll have a crate ready. Please leave current issues on the stands. 706-549-0301

JOBS

FULL-TIME

Taste of India is now hiring (Busser, host, to-go specialist, floater). Paid weekly, employee meals, flexible schedules, fulltime or part-time $15–$20. APPLY IN PERSON.

JOBS WANTED

Mildly autistic woman seeks part-time clerical work in quiet environment. Normal town area preferred. Please call Emily Newton 706-316-3990. Afternoon calls preferable.

VEHICLES

AUTOS

1970 Mercury Cougar. Original, never restored. 351 Cleveland engine. Project car. Best offer. 706-546-8405 Leave name/number.

TRUCKS

For Sale: 2005 Toyota Tundra. 2 wheel drive w towing package. 198,000 miles, new brakes, new limited slip differential, LineX bed liner, comes with a Trac Rac ladder rack. $13,500. Text 706-340-4434.

NOTICES

LOST AND FOUND

$2000 REWARD. Cherished gift! Small ladies ring. Bezel set ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds in yellow gold band. Lost during early voting, Oct. 21. Area: tax office to back entrance of Courthouse, down Jackson St. to Lyndon House Arts Center voting area. Contact: 706-612-4516.

ORGANIZATIONS

Big City Bread’s Holiday Market Dec. 12 & 13 featuring local artists and craftspeople from around the region. Enjoy food, live music, and handmade treasures.

Follow ACC Solid Waste on Instagram/Facebook @ accsolidwaste for tips and resources for recycling, composting, repairs, and more or visit accgov.com/solidwaste.

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia accepts food donations between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Fri. Volunteer opportunities available! foodbank nega.org

If you are in crisis due to domestic violence, call Project Safe for help 706543-3331. project-safe.org

Juvenile Offender Advocates. Seeking volunteer advocates and interns to make a difference in a juvenile offender’s life. juvenileoffenderadvocate inc.org

Join the ACCA’s Give Thanks 8K on Nov. 28 at 8:30 a.m. Kids Fun Run at 10 a.m. Details at givethanks8k.com.

The Lightroom Athens offers affordable professional studio and equipment rentals for photo, video, podcasting, and more! Right next to Puma Yu’s. thelightroom-ath.com

Mark your calendar for OCAF’s Holiday Market & Artists’ Shoppe beginning Nov. 2! Details at ocaf.com.

Registration is open for the Classic City Marathon, Athena Half Marathon, and the Marathon Relay on Jan. 25, 2025. classiccity marathon.squarespace.com Woodhill Artists Market. Opening reception: Fri, Dec. 6 from 3-8 p.m. Market: Sat/ Sun Dec. 7-8 and 14-15, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. 4745 Bob Godfrey Rd.