JOIN US FOR A FULL SEASON OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AT UGA
On stage and in the gallery — over 100 performances, exhibitions and lectures await you this season at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Enjoy a dazzling variety of free events plus explore our ticketed seasons in dance, theatre and music starting at just $15. Students, faculty and guests of UGA fine and performing arts offer Athens premier programming all year round.
LAMAR DODD SCHOOL OF ART | HUGH HODGSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC DEPT. OF DANCE | DEPT. OF THEATRE AND FILM
Alicia Nickles
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner
ADVERTISING SALES Libba Beaucham, Dave Martin
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Sam Lipkin
CITY EDITOR Blake Aued
MUSIC EDITOR Sam Lipkin
ARTS & CULTURE COORDINATOR Lauren Leathers
OFFICE MANAGER & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jennifer Keene
CLASSIFIED ADS & CALENDAR COORDINATOR Jennifer Keene
AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson
CONTRIBUTORS Erin France, Gordon Lamb, Renuka Rasayam, Ed Tant, Sam Whitehead
CARTOONISTS Missy Kulik, David Mack, Klon Waldrip, Joey Weiser
CIRCULATION Jennifer Bray, Charles Greenleaf, Joe Rowe
EDITORIAL & OFFICE INTERN Mary Beth Bryan
PHOTOGRAPHERS CJ Bartunek, Kat Wood, Jake Zerkel
SPECIAL AGENT Pete McCommons
city dope
To MAGA or Not to MAGA
THERE ISN’T MUCH CHOICE FOR COLLINS AND GAINES
By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins’ Senate campaign did not get off to an auspicious start when he misspelled his home state in a video announcing his candidacy: “Georiga, let’s ride,” the video concluded.
Collins, a Republican who represents Athens, was roundly ridiculed in the press and on TV news for the error. “Take it down! Quick,” one MAGA account begged on the social media site formerly known as Twitter. But the terminally online congressman did what any edgelord would do and posted through it. The video remained up days later.
While the error may be embarrassing for many of his constituents, it actually illustrates one of Collins’ strengths: a knack for drawing attention. Much like President Trump or another Georgia representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Collins specializes in “owning the libs,” which in our current outrage economy translates into free publicity and campaign donations—he claimed to have raised $220,000 in just 12 hours after formally entering the race despite getting knocked out of the spelling bee in the first round.
Collins learned his lesson after a failed congressional bid in 2014, when he ran as the pro-business candidate against ultraconservative fundamentalist Jody Hice. The Tea Party movement morphed into MAGA, and when the seat opened up again in 2022, Collins tied himself to Trump, despite Trump endorsing his opponent in the GOP runoff. Another once-establishment Republican candidate, Rep. Buddy Carter of Savannah, has done the same thing, even pulling stunts like introducing a bill to annex Greenland and rename it “Red, White and Blueland.” Meanwhile, Trump frenemy Gov. Brian Kemp is backing childhood friend Derek Dooley, a political cipher from a famous family.
Now state Rep. Houston Gaines (R- Athens) finds himself in the same conundrum. The eighth-generation Northeast Georgian is friends with the Dooley family and allied with Kemp, another Athens native. Like Collins, he comes from a political family—his grandfather Joseph was a local judge, while Collins’ father Mac also served in Congress. Also like Collins and Carter, Gaines has learned that it’s live MAGA or die in the modern Republican Party.
While a freshman at UGA in 2014, he managed Democratic Mayor Nancy Denson’s re-election campaign. Two years later, he was elected president of the student government association, where he helped convince Athens- Clarke County officials to open an early voting site at the Tate Center—not exactly a Republican priority these days. During his first, failed run for state House in 2017, he refused to say whether he’d voted for Trump.
Gaines won the House seat the following year as the protege of the late Speaker David Ralston, who often warned his party’s right flank about the perils of overreaching. He quickly rose through the ranks and moved to the right as the years
went on, sponsoring controversial legislation on hot-button issues like crime and immigration, such as bills requiring cash bail for minor criminal offenses, prohibiting local governments from cutting police budgets, banning sanctuary cities and creating a board to remove progressive district attorneys.
“I’ve been on the front lines in Georgia fighting the far left,” Gaines declared in announcing his congressional campaign.
“Now it’s time to take the fight to D.C. and help President Trump deliver for the American people.”
That evolution is why it’s interesting that Lexy Doherty, the Democratic candidate, reacted to Gaines entering the race by questioning his conservative credentials. “If you squint a little, Mr. Gaines practically looks like a Democrat on some issues. But I don’t think it’s fair when they call him a RINO,” Doherty said.
“Now, we’ll see if his principles hold. He’s an ambitious guy, and he might realize that a sudden shift to MAGA politics provides the only path to victory in a Republican primary. It would be a shame to see him capitulate to MAGA and reinvent himself as a mini-Trump. Voters are so tired of fakery and flip-flopping.”
year, 769 inmates were languishing in Georgia jails awaiting one.
Last September, his lawyer filed a motion to have him declared mentally incompetent to stand trial, and Judge Lawton Stephens wrote a letter to DBHDD ordering the agency to send someone to the Clarke County Jail to evaluate Howard, instead of Howard waiting an “intolerably long” period of time for a bed to open up at the department’s Augusta facility. Ten months later, on July 8, Howard was found dead in his cell at age 36. He had spent 16 months behind bars without a trial—potentially longer than his sentence would have been, had he been convicted.
Howard was one of four inmates who died at the Clarke County Jail between April and July. A fifth died at a local hospital after falling ill at the jail. At a news conference last month, Sheriff John Q. Wil-
problems. “He was in the high max area,” Anthony Howard said. “He had no contact with inmates. He only had contact with the officers.”
As Howard noted, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has yet to release the cause of Boycie’s death. “They can’t say how he died,” Anthony said.
Anthony Howard said he had been in and out of jail himself for most of his life, most recently in 2022. “They left us alone for days on lockdown with no officer,” due to a lack of staff, he said.
The staff shortage is something Williams has long acknowledged in demanding funding for deputy pay raises. The Athens- Clarke County Commission finally granted his request in June as part of the county’s fiscal 2026 budget.
The AADM’s Kendra Kline filed an open records request with the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office and combed through news media archives dating back to 2001, the start of Williams’ predecessor Ira Edwards’ 20- year tenure as sheriff. She found that at least 24 people had died while in custody, with an average age of 39. Usually a cause of death was not given, but if one was, it was most commonly “natural causes.”
liams blamed at least two of the deaths, as well as two nonfatal overdoses, on fentanyl. Williams said arrestees were able to sneak it past guards because even tiny, virtually invisible amounts are enough to cause overdoses.
The AADM announced a new program at the July 29 meeting called “participatory defense.” Created in Silicon Valley in 2007, “it was basically trying to bring a community organizing model to the criminal justice system,” Kline said.
While others may enter the race, with a $900,000 pile of cash already on hand and endorsements from dozens of sheriffs, fellow legislators and other elected officials, Gaines will be the prohibitive favorite, both in the primary and the general election.
A blue wave is most likely coming in next year’s midterms, but it would have to be a tsunami of 1932 proportions for Doherty (or any Democrat) to have a chance in a district that leans to the right by more than 20 points.
Questions Linger About Inmate Deaths
A shoplifting arrest in September 2023 turned into a death sentence for Boycie Howard.
Howard missed an arraignment hearing, which led to a bench warrant, which led to his arrest when he was pulled over for speeding in February 2024. After being booked into jail, Howard—who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, according to family members—had a breakdown and attacked a sheriff’s deputy. That resulted in four additional felony charges, including aggravated assault.
Bond was denied, and in April 2024 Howard’s public defender requested a mental health evaluation from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Such evaluations can take months—at the end of last
Howard’s father, Anthony Howard, questioned that narrative at a recent Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement town hall meeting on jail inmates’ rights. His son, he said, was being kept apart from the general population because of his mental health
The program is not a legal clinic; rather, it brings together people who’ve experienced the criminal justice system firsthand to help defendants and their lawyers. For example, participants could write a “social biography” designed to convince a judge or jury to show leniency, find holes in arrest reports or make a list of overzealous police officers. “We’re going to intervene every step of the way,” Kline said. f
Rep. Houston Gaines
Pathway to Nowhere
NATIONAL MEDICAID CHANGES COPY GEORGIA’S FAILED PROGRAM
By Renuka Rasayam and Sam Whitehead news@flagpole.com
Every time Ashton Alexander sees an ad for Georgia Pathways to Coverage, it feels like a “kick in the face.” Alexander tried signing up for Pathways, the state’s limited Medicaid expansion, multiple times and got denied each time, he said, even though he met the qualifying terms because he’s a full- time student.
Georgia is one of 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid health coverage to a broader pool of low-income adults. Instead, it offers coverage to those who can prove they’re working or completing 80 hours a month of other qualifying activities, like going to school or volunteering. It is the only state currently doing so.
“Why is this marketing out here?” said the 20- year-old, who lives in Conyers. “It’s truly not accessible.”
Each denial used the same boilerplate language, Alexander said, and his calls to caseworkers were not returned. State offices couldn’t connect him with caseworkers assigned to him from the same state agency. And when he requested contact information for a supervisor to appeal his denial, he said, the number rang to a fax machine. “It’s impenetrable,” Alexander said. “I’ve literally tried everything, and there’s no way.”
of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.
Over the past two years, KFF Health News has documented the issues riddling Georgia’s Pathways program, launched in July 2023. More than 100,000 Georgians have applied to the program through March. Just over 8,000 were enrolled at the end of June, though about 300,000 would be eligible if the state fully expanded Medicaid under the terms of the Affordable Care Act.
In April, the state applied to the federal government to renew Pathways. In its application, officials scaled back key elements, such as the requirement that enrollees document work every month. Critics of the program also say the red tape doesn’t help enrollees find jobs.
“Georgia’s experience shows that administrative complexity is the primary outcome, not job readiness,” said Natalie Crawford, executive director of Georgia First, which advocates for fiscal responsibility and access to affordable health care.
Despite the struggles, Garrison Douglas, a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp, defended the program. “Georgia Pathways is doing what it was designed to do: provide free healthcare coverage to low-income, able-bodied Georgians who are willing to engage in one of our many qualifying activities,” he said in an emailed statement.
Millions of Americans trying to access Medicaid benefits could soon find themselves navigating similar byzantine state systems and work rules. Legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4 allocates $200 million to help states that expanded Medicaid create systems by the end of next year to verify whether some enrollees are meeting the requirements.
Conservative lawmakers have long argued that public benefits should go only to those actively working to get off of government assistance. But the nation’s only Medicaid work requirement program shows they can be costly for states to run, frustrating for enrollees to navigate and disruptive to other public benefit systems. Georgia’s budget for marketing is nearly as much as it has spent on health benefits. Meanwhile, most enrollees under the age of 65 are already working or have a barrier that prevents them from doing so. What Georgia shows is “just how costly setting up these administrative systems of red tape can be,” said Joan Alker, executive director
The program has cost more than $100 million, with only $26 million spent on health benefits and more than $20 million allocated to marketing contracts, according to a KFF Health News analysis of state reports. “That was truly a pretty shocking waste of taxpayer dollars,” Alker said.
The Government Accountability Office is investigating the costs of the program after a group of Democratic senators—including both members of the Georgia delegation— asked the government watchdog to look into the program. Findings are expected this fall.
A state report to the federal government from March said Georgia couldn’t effectively determine if applicants meet the qualifying activities criteria. The report also said the state hadn’t suspended anyone for failing to work, a key philosophical pillar of the program. Meanwhile, as of March, more than 5,000 people were waiting to have their eligibility verified for Pathways.
The Pathways program has strained Georgia’s eligibility system for other public benefits, such as food stamps and cash assistance.
New federal requirements in the tax and spending legislation mean that the 40 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that expanded Medicaid will need to prepare technology to process the documentation some Medicaid recipients will now have to regularly file. The federal law includes exemptions for people with disabilities, in addiction treatment or caring for kids under 14, among others.
The Trump administration said other states won’t face a bumpy rollout like Georgia’s.
“We are fully confident that technology already exists that could enable all parties involved to implement work and community engagement requirements,” said Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in an emailed statement.
In a written public comment on Georgia’s application to extend the program, Yvonne Taylor of Austell detailed the difficulties she faced trying to enroll. She said she tried to sign up several times but that her application was not accepted. “Not once, not twice, but three times. With no response from customer service,” she wrote in February. “So now I am without coverage.”
Victoria Helmly of Marietta wrote in a January comment that she and her family members take care of their dad, but the state law doesn’t exempt caregivers of older adults. “Georgia should recognize their sacrifices by supporting them with health insurance,” she wrote. “Let’s simplify this system and in the end, save money and lives.” f
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling and journalism. Learn more at kff.org.
Bombs Away
EIGHTY YEARS OF THE ATOMIC AGE
By Ed Tant news@flagpole.com
“First we got the bomb and that was good/ ’Cause we love peace and motherhood/ Then Russia got the bomb, but that’s OK/ ’Cause the balance of power’s maintained that way/ Who’s next?” So sang musical satirist Tom Lehrer in 1965, blending mordant comedy with the serious threat of nuclear proliferation.
Lehrer died at age 97 on July 26, but his satirical song resonates today as people around the globe commemorate the 80th anniversary of the World War II atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945. The Atomic Age that ended the war ushered in a postwar arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
could result in widespread government surveillance, detention without trial, a national nuclear police force and infiltration of antinuclear organizations. Today, in a time of growing authoritarian trends in America and around the world, Barton’s warning still applies.
Since 1947 the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has maintained its grimly famous “Doomsday Clock” dramatizing the scientists’ assessment of the risk of atomic war, nuclear proliferation, environmental destruction, pandemics and threats from the new technology of artificial intelligence. The hands on the clock are ticking closer to the midnight of Armageddon. Even during the brief but tense Cuban Missile Crisis
By 1949, the USSR had “the bomb” and Cold War tensions escalated. In 1952 American ally Great Britain exploded a bomb of its own. France followed suit in 1960. China debuted its atomic bomb in 1964, an event noted in Lehrer’s sardonic lyrics: “China’s got the bomb, but have no fears/ They can’t wipe us out for at least five years.” The once exclusive “nuclear club” gained new members. India detonated an atomic bomb in 1974, Pakistan did so in 1998 and North Korea joined the club in 2006.
Israel is the ninth member of the nuclear club. Though Israel does not officially acknowledge its atomic arsenal, in 1976 former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan said Israel had nuclear warheads and missiles to deliver them. Again the satiric song by Tom Lehrer seemed prescient: “Israel’s getting tense/ Wants one in self defense/ The Lord’s our shepherd, says the psalm/ But just in case, we better get a bomb.”
Though nine countries possess nuclear weapons, terrorist groups could also crash their way into the club if they stole, bought or built an atomic device or spread radiation with a “dirty bomb” that could spew contamination without a nuclear explosion. In a column that I wrote for The Atlanta Constitution in 1979, I said that theft of high-level radioactive material “could sound the death knell for the Bill of Rights.” I cited Stanford University law professor John Barton’s report to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission saying a nuclear threat by terrorists
of 1962, the clock’s hands were at seven minutes to midnight. After a nuclear test ban treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1963, the symbolic clock’s hands were moved back to 12 minutes to midnight. Today the hands on the Doomsday Clock are set at 89 seconds to midnight— the closest ever.
When the clock was reset on Jan. 28, spokesman Daniel Holz, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago, said in a somber warning that, “The world has not made sufficient progress on existential risks threatening humanity. In setting the clock closer to midnight, we send a stark signal. Every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.”
In 1980 I interviewed Senji Yamaguchi, a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. He told me a horror story of seeing “people scorched black like charcoal, people without arms or legs.” He recalled seeing a wailing woman carrying the headless body of her baby. “No pen, no poet, no genius could put on paper what I saw that day,” he said, remembering the day a single bomb devastated Nagasaki.
Today there are more than 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world’s stockpiles and Albert Einstein’s words written in 1946 are still true in 2025: “The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking, and thus we drift toward unparalleled catastrophe.” f
Fat Man, the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Nagasaki in 1945.
WAR DEPT. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. MANHATTAN ENGINEER DISTRICT.
A Lifetime Behind the Lens
TERRY ALLEN’S ‘PASSENGER SIDE’ PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
By Lauren Leathers arts@flagpole.com
Terry Allen was 19 when he convinced his parents to buy him a Minolta camera for Christmas. Not long after, he stood outside Abbey Road Studios with his sister during a family trip to London, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of The Beatles. To their surprise, Paul McCartney walked up, poking fun at their Southern accents, and stuck around long enough for Allen to tell his wife, Linda McCartney, that her book of candid photographs had inspired him to become a photographer.
“That was it,” Allen says. “I’d seen Linda’s Pictures: A Collection of Photographs shots of The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix just hanging out—and I thought, ‘This is somebody’s job? This is what I want to do.’”
Five decades later, the Athens-based photographer is still doing it. His latest exhibition, “Passenger Side,” is on view in the ACE/FRANCISCO main gallery through Sept. 18, featuring a mix of landscapes, street photography and previously unseen images from his archive of musicians.
Widespread Panic. “I figured I’d practice on my friends so I’d be ready when Bob Dylan called and asked me to shoot his album cover,” he says.
me as a band manager who happened to be a photographer.”
His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin, Covey Rise, Town & Country and Garden & Gun. In the early 2000s, his photography expanded into the sporting world—duck hunts, quail plantations, tweed jackets, cigars—a natural extension of his outdoorsy childhood in Statesboro.
“I grew up near the woods, running around pretending like I was Davy Crockett,” he says. “So I just started photographing that world. Pretty soon I was getting hired to shoot sheep farms in Scotland for
“I’ve never taken a photography course,” he says. “I majored in accounting. But I’ve always loved music, and I always had a camera. The rest just kind of followed.”
Allen’s name is tightly linked to the Athens music scene. In college, he started shooting fraternity and sorority parties for cash. When his friends formed bands, he shot them for practice. Those friends turned out to be R.E.M., the B-52s, Pylon and
What started as a creative side hustle turned into a full career. Allen went on to manage the major-label band Dreams
So Real, which connected him with music executives in New York. Soon, record labels were calling him to shoot publicity photos and album covers for other Southern bands, including Guadalcanal Diary and Michelle Malone.
tweed jacket companies. One thing led to another.”
Still, Allen’s most recent obsession is street photography—candid, fleeting moments in everyday life. “Passenger Side” is named for that perspective: looking out the window while life rolls by.
to walk around the city with my camera.”
Unlike his earlier music- focused shows, “Passenger Side” leans more personal. Allen curated the collection from years of wandering and observing: crumbling shacks on the side of the road, quiet corners of unfamiliar cities, strangers caught mid-gesture.
“There’s a sort of sadness in a lot of them,” he says. “But also a beauty—in the weathered face, in the crumpled building. It shows the passing of time, but it’s beautiful.”
Some images in the exhibition capture quiet moments of firsts—a young Cindy Wilson of the B-52s leans from a car window in 1980, caught in the midst of learning to drive a stick shift. In another, two lovers embrace on a street in Liverpool after a concert, their faces drawn together in what feels like the electricity of a first kiss.
Others carry a deeper stillness. In one image, a boy sits beside a sheep, their heads gently aligned in profile. The symmetry between child and animal evokes a kind of unspoken understanding—tender, watchful and full of innocence.
“In the show, I tried to cover all the bases of my photography career,” he says. “There’s some music in there, but also landscapes, buildings and little moments. I think when you look at them they all kind of fit together.”
A companion event for “Passenger Side” will take place Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. as part of the New Town Revue series, featuring a conversation between Allen and gallery owner and photographer Jason Thrasher, plus a reading and music by David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. Additionally, in the upper gallery, Grace Lang and Mason Pearson’s exhibition “The Nuclear Age: 2018–2025,” a seven- year photographic chronicle of the band Nuclear Tourism, is on view through Oct. 1. f
“I sort of came into the music world through the back door,” he says. “They knew
“I discovered Vivian Maier through a documentary and I was blown away,” Allen says. “Now, whatever job I’m on—whiskey, music, whatever—I book an extra day just
WHAT: New Town Revue WHEN: Thursday, Aug . 14, 5:30 p .m . (doors), 6 p m (event) WHERE: ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery HOW MUCH: FREE!
good growing Shoals Creek Sanctuary
PROTECTED EASTSIDE FOREST ALLOWS FOR EXPERIMENTATION
By Erin France news@flagpole.com
Like many of us, John Pickering looked at the neighboring property and thought about what he would do if he owned it. “If I own it, I can kill the bloody privet,” he said.
The property went up for sale in 2019, and Pickering, a retired professor of ecology from the University of Georgia, bought it. That space, along with his original parcel, became the more than 250 acres of greenspace in eastern Clarke County named Shoals Creek Sanctuary.
Pickering set about killing the privet— and other invasives—and experimenting with best practices for fostering a healthy, sustainable forest habitat. This retiree has launched several big projects with community help and hopes the sanctuary can inspire more people to go chemical- free when it comes to their lawns.
Roundup used glyphosate as the active ingredient, a chemical used to kill unwanted plants that’s caused an avalanche of litigation and battling scientific studies over its contested carcinogenic effects.
I, too, have had arguments with people I respect about the use of glyphosate. I’ve seen many people with commercial agricultural chemical training treat glyphosate with wariness and the full-use of protective gear. I’ve also seen the rampant and careless use of glyphosate without gloves and even disregard for the instruction to wash hands after handling a dripping spray bottle.
“What’s different about this place, we have a massive amount of science out here,” Pickering said. The area is a hub of activity for University of Georgia researchers, as well as citizen scientists and community members interested in learning more about ecology and the environment. Projects range from Atlanta herpetologists documenting the presence of the native eastern newt to UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry monitoring the site’s ash trees.
“We’re running a giant conservation project out here,” said Shoals Creek Sanctuary manager Tyler Lewis.
Pickering hasn’t slacked in the experimentation department either. He spent years taking photos of the moths attracted to the lights outside his home. He was only recently sidelined from his mothing habit after a bad fall off a ladder. Pickering estimates his 15- year collection of moth photos at more than 650,000, and his bird song recordings clock in at more than 1,000 hours. “It’s a very, very healthy forest bird community I’ve got here,” he said.
Pickering’s next big project focuses on encouraging his neighbors, both near and far, to eliminate herbicide and pesticide use on their yards for cosmetic reasons. “This is an immediate problem; we’ve got to get the word out about it,” he said.
Roundup, a popular weed killer, recently switched formulas. Older iterations of
Users might not have noticed that the active ingredients in many Roundup products changed during the last year. Several of the replacement active ingredients raise toxicity concerns in other countries. For example, diquat is banned in the European Union and China, but is legal in America and an active ingredient in some new Roundup formulas. Commercial applications of Roundup continue to use glyphosate. Pickering’s solution is to change attitudes toward yards. He wants people to ignore weeds and request no- chemical treatments from their lawn services. He wants people to plant native species and remove invasives without relying on herbicides. “The goal is to show people you can manage invasives without chemicals,” he said.
Reintroducing native plants has had a steeper learning curve than removing the privet or installing fences to exclude deer. Pickering said he’s had no luck with broadcasting seed. Instead, he buys large orders from the State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s plant sales and germinates his own seeds to plant in the sanctuary.
If you’re interested in planting more natives for pollinators, I’d suggest trying broadcasting yourself. It’s a technique I’ve used successfully multiple times to plant rye grass and vetch for Bermuda grass control in the garden. I’ve also used it to establish wildflower patches on my property. If you’re looking for more information about planting a garden by broadcasting, I like American Meadows’ seed mixes and instructions.
Shoals Creek Sanctuary is a beautiful area, and if you’re interested in learning more about Georgia’s native ecosystem—or how to manage invasives like privet, yellow flag iris and others—it’s a good place to spend some volunteering hours. For more about Shoals Creek Sanctuary, visit shoal creeksanctuary.org. If you’d like to learn more about mothing in particular, visit discoverlife.org/moth. f
Fathers, Sons and Brothers
DAVID LOWERY RELEASES AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM SET
By Sam Lipkin editorial@flagpole.com
When David Lowery answered the phone to speak with Flagpole about his latest album, he was just finishing up a gas station stop in North Dakota. Currently in the middle of a run of festivals and shows for Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, Lowery has been filling the gaps with solo shows in promotion of Fathers, Sons and Brothers, released at the end of May.
The album combines Lowery’s three previously limited released solo albums—In The Shadow of the Bull, Leaving Key Member
different. I hadn’t really experienced that too much,” says Lowery.
Leaning into emphasizing lyrics over the instrumental aspect was a different process entirely, and the entire concept ended up being different from what Lowery had experienced within his bands.
“This is on an entirely different level, like much more honesty and factual accounting in these songs compared to what I would have normally done on a Cracker or Camper Van Beethoven song,” says Lowery.
Clause and Vending Machine—with four previously unreleased songs and four newly re-recorded tracks. This is all nicely packaged as a three-LP limited edition red, white and blue vinyl gatefold set with a 12-page booklet or as a two- CD set with a 20-page booklet. Although a lot of the material on this album has been previously released in a limited capacity, it has never been available on streaming platforms until now.
Over the years people have told Lowery he should write an autobiography, and after experimenting with writing some chapters, he came to the realization, “It’s an entirely different skill set than, you know, I spent all these years learning to write five-minute songs. So it just seemed like a better idea to do it that way. Essentially, that’s what I did to create this record.”
The collection is certainly autobiographical, but Lowery describes it more as vignettes from his life that were musically inspiring rather than tackling an outline of essential moments. Instead of a linear walkthrough of his life, the listener receives a one- sided but authentic conversation with Lowery. Even though he was much more comfortable telling his story through song than writing it out in book format, it was still a new exercise in songwriting.
“It was a little different in that oftentimes I’m trying to tell a story, and so the words become sort of more dominant, like where they have to override the meter. It’s interesting, sort of the way that you get an extra bar or two in a song so they can finish telling some part of the story. So that was
If you’re a “behind the music” kind of person, you’re in luck. Despite saying he wasn’t going to write a memoir, Lowery has a Substack accompanying the album where he’s been writing more in-depth about the background behind each song. The entries range in length from short descriptions to several pages worth of information. The Substack is linked through Lowery’s website at davidlowerymusic.com.
As Lowery continues on his nationwide tour from the summer into the fall, he’ll be making a stop in Athens on Thursday, Aug. 14 at ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery for an installation of the monthly New Town Revue. The event highlights music and literature, a perfect cross-section for what Lowery has done. He’ll be performing a couple of songs from Fathers, Sons and Brothers as well as reading one of his Substack entries providing more context for the music.
Also that night legendary Athens photographer Terry Allen will be discussing his exhibition on display, “Passenger Side,” with fellow photographer and gallery owner Jason Thrasher. With doors opening at 5:30 p.m., the program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. with free entry. f
WHAT: New Town Revue WHEN: Thursday, Aug . 14, 5:30 p .m . (doors), 6 p m (event) WHERE: ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery HOW MUCH: FREE!
John Pickering talks about removing invasive plants at Shoals Creek Sanctuary.
Trio Improvisation Live
PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP
By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH: Electro-dance outfit Nightout is the first group I’ve ever seen parse its residence as being Athens, Atlanta and Milledgeville. Its debut EP, Temper, came out a few days ago, and the band will celebrate its release at Flicker Theatre and Bar on Friday, Aug. 9. These four tracks—all written and performed by the semi-anonymous Angel A.B. and Jackie W.—are, generally speaking, pretty sweet decent in the recent local pop canon. Opening song “Metal Pill” begins with some tastefully chime- y keys before carrying on with itself and moving its sung- spoken vocal fry lead across a drum-and-bass arrangement that’s full of rich elements. Closing song, “Riviera,” has a laid back vocal across a bouncy beat and a similarly rich arrangement. The two in the middle, “Easyx2” and “Metro,” are in the same vein but, the thing is, each of these is pretty distinct but clearly from the same group. This isn’t an easy accomplishment, and the dance/electropop/garage/EDM space is one in which it’s very difficult to dis-
(Early Draft),” the vocal test version of the first song and the pastoral “The Glacier Mill (Concept).” Find this at televisedbyghosts. bandcamp.com, and follow along at instagram.com/televisedbyghosts.
BOOMERANG: If you missed the album release show but, since you’re a dedicated reader of this column, were intrigued to learn about the new album A Daily Reminder by Check The Signs last week, you can catch ’em this week. The band will play Athentic Brewing Co. Friday, Aug. 8. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, please see facebook.com/CheckTheSigns.
IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME: Propeller Sound Recordings continues to plumb the Kilkenny Cats catalog and, to this end, is on deck to re-release the group’s 1988 EP Hammer. This time around it’s being titled Hammer + Echo because the original release will sit on one side, and the “Echo” side will feature previously unreleased material. There’s also an exclusive bonus track, “Heaven,” on the compact disc and digital download versions. Preorders are being accepted now for both of those plus the vinyl version. The record is slated for release Sept. 26. For more information, and to throw your bucks their way, please see propellersound recordings.com.
Conservation in the Galleries: Joan MitChell’s “Close” August 9______November 2
asinnaJaq: three thousand August 9___________June 28
tinguish oneself. Nightout may not be one hundred percent there yet, but seems like it’s on its way. Find this on major streaming services as well as nightout.blog.
SKETCHBOOK: Televised By Ghosts just released something of a follow-up, but not really, to 2020’s Distance Learning Demo This new collection, which the release notes mention contains “demos, song concepts, and B- sides” is titled “Eigenlicht” and, yes, that includes the quotation marks. The opening instrumental, “See- ya-lailor-boy: Flirty Days of Night,” is an aggressive progressive jazz number. The next, “Lovely Wubbles (Remix),” though, shows how much of a workbook these tracks really are. It’s credited to SaintsXBeasts & TVBG, and is a coolly reclined song with killer electronic underpinning. The whole collection is a neat peek under the hood, and other specific highlights here are “Le Deluge
EBB AND FLOW: OK, this next one is special. It’s a live album simply titled Trio Improvisation
Live from Athens, GA 08/05/2023, and it’s performed by the knockout lineup of LeeAnn Peppers, Lydian Brambila and Rachel Evans It was recorded at performance space BoloBolo, was completely unplanned, and has Brambila on electric cello, Peppers on vocals—which are always manipulated and often barely perceptible—and Evans on synthesizer. This is a single- track, 24minute recording. For those accustomed to improvisational performances and recording, perhaps you’ll be as drawn in by the sympathetic and complimentary playing as I am. Quite often, improv records feel like a battle between the players, but this one feels like a prayer. Just minute after minute of singularly uplifting melody played at a snail’s pace and tethered only by its humanity. This is available as a digital download, a limited edition cassette tape, and a limited edition 3-inch compact disc. Listen in at hooker vision.bandcamp.com. f
Free Admission
Trio Improvisation Live from Athens, GA 08/05/2023
KILLICK HINDS Appalachian Trance Metal made on unusual stringed instruments with an emphasis on unquantifiable rhythms (shaping time), intuitive intonation (shaping pitch) and shamanistic ROYGBIV (shaping color).
SAMUEL BURT Composer, bass clarinetist, electronic musician and daxophone builder from Baltimore. Hendershot’s
6 p.m. (doors). $10. www.hendershots athens.com
KENOSHA KID The brainchild of guitarist Dan Nettles performs two sets of adventurous new music each week from his ever-expanding catalog that exists “somewhere in the Schrödinger’s nexus of jazz, post-rock and improvised music.”
AHLEUCHATISTAS Instrumental avant-rock trio composed of Shane Parish, Trevor Dunn and Danny Piechocki.
MAIKAI OPEN MIC Share your music, comedy and poetry every Wednesday. Porterhouse Grill
7 p.m. www.porterhousegrillathens. com
JAZZ NIGHT Longest running jazz gig in Athens featuring a rotating cast of familiar faces performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits.
Thursday 7
The Globe
7:30–10 p.m. www.facebook.com/ globe.athens
MARY & THE HOT HOTTY-HOTS
Hot jazz and swing band offering music from the 1910s, ’20s and ’30s.
Hendershot’s
8 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com
KARAOKE WITH DJ GREGORY
Enjoy singing and dancing for all.
Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture
Aubrey Entertainment Presents. 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). SOLD OUT! bit.ly/ToddSniderWinterville
TODD SNIDER A fixture of the Americana, alt-country and folk scenes whose talent for songwriting has been touted by other greats including John Prine and Emmylou Harris.
RACHEL COLE Breakout Americana/bootgaze artist from Nashville.
Friday 8
Athentic Brewing Co.
6 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com
CHECK THE SIGNS Uplifting local family band with a talent for melody, harmony and hooks. Buvez
8 p.m. www.instagram.com/buvez_ athens
DJ CHARLIEFLOWER Eclectic
DJ into trance, ambient, synth pop, new wave, deep house and much more leads the Universe Dance Party.
BEAUTIFUL SOLIDARITY Queer joy dance party for mutual aid benefiting Athens Immigrants Rights Coalition featuring sets from Nightout, Organic Compound, DJ Stupid & DJ Chooch and GP Collective.
BLUEGRASS JAM SESSION Players of all skill levels are invited to
Hendershot’s 8 p.m. $15. www.hendershotsathens. com
SCHMOOZE Athens alternative rock trio.
SKATING POLLY Oklahoma sibling band fusing alt rock with DIY punk and indie pop. No. 3 Railroad Street 6 p.m. $10 suggested donation. www.3railroad.org
FESTER HAGOOD’S MOJO
CONFESSIONAL SONGWRITER
SHOWCASE Every second Sunday. Bring a dish to share at the potluck. Oak House Distillery 4–6:30 p.m. www.oakhousedistillery. com
TRIO METRO This piano, sax and drums trio plays jazz standards
Hendershot’s
7 p.m. $10. www.hendershotsathens. com
SHOCK TEA Sitar rock from Atlanta. CAFÉ BLEU Sophisticated pop from Atlanta.
WOMEN IN STEM Musicians Ella, Finn and Sam developed their striking sound with an indie rock influence and a call from science herself.
Morton Theatre
7 p.m. $23–49. www.mortontheatre. com
INVISIBLE TOUCH The Ultimate Phil Collins and Genesis Experience
participate in this open jam, which strives to unite members of the local folk music community.
Boutier Winery & Inn Wine Down. 3–5 p.m. www.boutier winery.com
RAIL TOWN Americana duo.
Five Bar 11 a.m.–2 p.m. www.five-bar.com
SWING THEORY Local jazz trio playing brunch every Sunday. The Globe 4–7 p.m. www.facebook.com/globe. athens
TRADITIONAL IRISH SESSION Easy listening traditional Irish music.
cast of familiar faces performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits.
Tuesday 12
Normal Bar 8–11 p.m. FREE! booking@rudy montayremusic.com OPEN MIC All musicians welcome. Every Tuesday.
7:30 p.m. (sign-ups). FREE! www. instagram.com/bulaatmaikai MAIKAI OPEN MIC Share your music, comedy and poetry every Wednesday. Porterhouse Grill 7 p.m. www.porterhousegrillathens. com
JAZZ NIGHT Longest running jazz gig in Athens featuring a rotating cast of familiar faces performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits.
Down the Line
8/14 Bennie and the Jones (Athentic Brewing Co.)
8/14 AJJ, Pacing (40 Watt Club)
8/14 The Jazz Legacy Project (Festival Hall)
8/15 Hibbs Family Band (Athentic Brewing Co.)
8/15 Happiness Is (Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture)
8/16 Dave Forker, Benny St. Peixe (Bishop Park)
8/16 Happiness Is (Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture)
8/16 Ordinary Boys, New Dawn Fades (The Foundry)
and an array of more contemporary covers.
White Tiger Gourmet Sundance Party. 7–9 p.m. www.instagram.com/whitetigerathens
LIBBALOOPS Electronic musician who loves to get “loopy doopy.”
Monday 11
Porterhouse Grill
7 p.m. www.porterhousegrillathens. com
JAZZ NIGHT Longest running jazz gig in Athens featuring a rotating
8/16 Good Gosh Fest Night 3 (Normal Bar)
8/16 Hotline TNT, Sour Widows (Hendershot’s)
8/17 Traditional Irish Session (The Globe)
8/17 Sallow Friend, Racecar 44, Chairs (Buvez)
8/19 Kinky Waikiki (Live Wire)
8/19 Abbey Road LIVE! (State Botanical Garden of Georgia)
8/20 Dire Wolf (Creature Comforts Brewery)
8/21 Mary & The Hot Hotty-Hots (The Globe)
8/22 RiffNotes (Athentic Brewing Co.) f
Hambear will perform at Ciné on Saturday, Aug. 9.
ASHLEY HAUFF
event calendar
Tuesday 5
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
COMEDY: Flying Squid Open Improv Jam (150 Fritz Mar Lane) Improvisors of all skill levels are invited to practice and play together. 8 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com
EVENTS: Tiki Taco Tuesday (Live Wire) Enjoy craft cocktails and a taco pop-up from Don Carne with themed weeks, live music and dancing. Tuesdays, 5–10 p.m. www.livewireathens.com
FILM: Death Race 2000 (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of the 1975 action sci-fi film. 9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar. com
GAMES: Lunch & Learn (Tyche’s Games) Bring your lunch and learn new games. 11:30 a.m. FREE! www. tychesgames.com
GAMES: UnPhiltered Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Test your trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www. facebook.com/MellowMushroom Athens
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici at The Falls) Test your trivia knowledge with host Miles Bunch. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/ baddogathens
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Paloma Park) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens
GAMES: Singo! (Beef O’Brady’s) Win gift certificates and prizes at this music bingo night. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. www.beefobradys.com/athens
LECTURES & LIT: Historic Athens History Hour (Lyndon House Arts Center) Learn about the history of the UGA President’s House and what might come next. 12–1 p.m. FREE! www.historicathens.com
LECTURES & LIT: Bogart Bookies (Bogart Library) Pick up a copy of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and discuss it with the group. 2 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart
SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. info@athenspetanque.org, www.athenspetanque.org
Wednesday 6
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: Pétanque Class (Lay Park) Learn the basics of the lawn game pétanque. RSVP required. 10 a.m. FREE! athenspetanqueclub@ gmail.com, www.athenspetanque club.wixsite.com/play
CLASSES: Archery Basics (Bogart Library) Learn about archery through the ages as well as safety tips, and then practice with kidfriendly bow and arrows. Youthfocused, but for all ages. 5 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart
COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Townie improv that invites you to bring
EVENTS: The Athens Farmers Market (Creature Comforts Brewery) Markets offer fresh produce, flowers, eggs, meats, prepared foods, arts and crafts. Live music at 6 p.m. AFM double SNAP dollars spent. Wednesdays, 5–8 p.m. www. athensfarmersmarket.net
FILM: Blood Everywhere (Flicker Theatre & Bar) After police discover a dead schoolgirl, a motorcycle helmet wearing maniac begins killing witnesses in What Have They Done to Your Daughters? 7 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/blood everywhere.athens
GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and play Shadowfist. New players welcome. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (South Main Brewing) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzu nottrivia
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Locos Grill and Pub Eastside) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. www.instagram.com/ shihtzunottrivia
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
LECTURES & LIT: Word of Mouth (The Globe) Athens’ longest-running spoken word open mic, with this month’s featured reader Mark Flanigan. 7 p.m. (sign-ups), 8 p.m. (poetry). FREE! www.facebook.com/ athenswordofmouth
MEETINGS: Greater Athens Libertarian Party (Akademia Brewing Co.) Fellowship with others of likeminded politics. First Wednesdays, 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.athenslp. square.site
Thursday 7
ART: Artist Talk (Lyndon House Arts Center) Tom Schram will discuss his exhibition “Controlled Burn” using post-consumer materials. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.accgov.com/ lyndonhouse
EVENTS: Athentic Farmers Market (Athentic Brewing Co.) Weekly market featuring vendors Diamond Hill Farms, Normaltown Bread Company, Katie Bee Honey, Flossie May Forage and Grand Designs Woodworking. Thursdays, 4–7 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com
EVENTS: Ladies Night Out (Boutier Winery & Inn) Enjoy a night of dancing with wine, beer and a buffet. First Thursdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m. $20. www.boutierwinery.com
FILM: Behind the Slate Presents: GODZILLA (Ciné) Live podcast experience with a brief intro before a screening of the 1954 classic, followed by a discussion with the audience. 8 p.m. $15. www.athens cine.com
GAMES: BINGO (VFW Post 2872) Join in to play this weekly game of chance. Thursdays, 5 p.m. (doors). FREE! www.facebook.com/vfw2872
GAMES: Thursday Trivia (Johnny’s New York Style Pizza) Test your trivia knowledge with host Todd Henderson. 6:30 p.m. www.johnnys pizza.com
GAMES: Love.Craft Bingo Night (Athentic Brewing Co.) A bingo event benefiting the nonprofit organization Love.Craft Athens. 6:30–8 p.m. $3–5. www.lovecraftathens. org
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Terrapin Beer Co.) Test your general trivia knowledge. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzu nottrivia
KIDSTUFF: Toddler Thursday (OCAF) Drop in for grab-and-go crafting, storytime or to look at art. Ages 2–5. 10 a.m. FREE! (mem-
days, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. www.athenspetanque.org
Friday 8
COMEDY: HAM (Flying Squid Comedy) A night of character-driven improv with off the wall antics surrounding over-the-top personalities. 8 p.m. $10. www.flyingsquid comedy.com
EVENTS: Wine Tasting (Tonique Bottle Co.) Drop in to try four chillable red wines. 5–7 p.m. $10. www.shoptonique.com
GAMES: Friday Night Initiative (Tyche’s Games) Learn how to play a new roleplaying game. New players welcome. 7 p.m. FREE! www. tychesgames.com
KIDSTUFF: Meet & Play (Bogart Library) Drop in for facilitated open play with age-appropriate toys. Best
EVENTS: Rock & Run 5K (VFW Post 2872) Join the 2nd annual fundraiser for the Athens Tech Foundation and VFW Post 2872 Auxilary with a 5K run and 3K walk. 9 a.m. $35 & up. www.rockandrun5k.com
EVENTS: Ag Fest (Farmview Market) The 3rd annual festival celebrates Georgia’s agriculture and the “History of the Peach” with live music, a petting zoo and more. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.farmviewmarket.com
EVENTS: Museum Open House (T.R.R. Cobb House) Enjoy a self-
bers), $5 (non-members). www. ocaf.com
KIDSTUFF: Teens Dungeons & Dragons (Bogart Library) Join the volunteer led role-playing adventure where you can fight dragons, join an army, go on a quest in distant lands and more. 6 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart
MEETINGS: Coffee Hour (Oconee County Library) Drop in to drink some coffee, while supplies last. Thursdays, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee
MEETINGS: KnitLits Knitting Group (Bogart Library) Knitters of all levels are invited to have fun, share craft ideas and knit to their hearts’ content. Thursdays, 6 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart
MEETINGS: Oconee Rivers Audubon Society (Sandy Creek Nature Center) UGA master’s student Nicole Kemon will speak about proper cleaning and disease risks of bird feeders. 7 p.m. FREE! www. oconeeriversaudubon.org
PERFORMANCE: Puppet Film & Live Show (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of The Spooky Girls: A Retrospect short puppet films and music videos by Jason Thibodeaux followed by a live shadow puppet deth rock opera, WHITE KNIVEZ. 8 p.m. $5. www.instagram.com/ thehandandtheshadow
SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tues-
THEATER: Puffs (Elberton Arts Center) Encore Productions presents the play that reimagines the classic story of the boy wizard and his companions. Aug. 8–9 & 15–16, 7 p.m. Aug. 10 & 17, 2 p.m. $12 (adv.), $17. tking@cityofelberton.net
THEATER: Urinetown the Musical (Oconee Youth Theater) Oconee Youth Playhouse presents this musical featuring dark humor and satire to explore a dystopian future. Aug. 8–9, 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 3 p.m. $15–20. www.oconeeyouthplay house.com
THEATER: Rumors (Town & Gown Players) A comedic tale based on Neil Simon’s classic almost-murder mystery. Aug. 8–9 & 14–16, 8 p.m. Aug. 10 & 17, 2 p.m. $18–24. www.townandgownplayers.org
Saturday 9
EVENTS: The Athens Farmers Market (Bishop Park) Markets offer locally grown groceries and handmade goods with live music and children’s activities. AFM doubles
EVENTS: The Magic of Home (Athens Country Club) An evening of food, drink and the magic of Kevin Dawson with all proceeds benefitting Family Promise of Athens. 5–7 p.m. $50. www.familypromise athens.org/events
FILM: Tokusatsu Club (ACC Library) Screening of episodes from various “Super Sentai” series. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org
KIDSTUFF: Teen Anime Club (Oconee County Library) Join other fans of manga and anime to discover books, play games, snack and watch anime. Grades 6–12. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee
KIDSTUFF: Family Day Book Reading (Lyndon House Arts Center) Learn about the magical world of ancient West African mythology in conjunction with the exhibition “Orisa! Orisha! Orixa!,” then do an art activity. 12–2 p.m. FREE! www. facebook.com/LyndonHouseArts
OUTDOORS: 5K Walk (Thomas Farm Preserve) Southeast Striders Walking Club hosts a guided walk through the preserve along pastures, woodlands and a creek. 8 a.m. $4. www.southeaststriders walkingclub.org
THEATER: Puffs (Elberton Arts Center) Encore Productions presents the play that reimagines the classic story of the boy wizard and his companions. Aug. 8–9 & 15–16, 7 p.m. Aug. 10 & 17, 2 p.m. $12 (adv.), $17. tking@cityofelberton.net
THEATER: Urinetown the Musical (Oconee Youth Theater) Oconee Youth Playhouse presents this musical featuring dark humor and satire to explore a dystopian future. Aug. 8–9, 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 3 p.m. $15–20. www.oconeeyouthplay house.com
guided experience of the historic house museum as well as staff-led tours. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! www. trrcobbhouse.org
EVENTS: Take This! Open House (Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture) Join local improv group Take This! for an artists market, silent auction, classes, an improv show and more. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/takethis comedy
EVENTS: Really, Really Free Market (Reese and Pope Park) Just like a yard sale, but everything is free. Bring what you can, take what you need. Second Saturday of every month. 12–1:30 p.m. reallyreally freemarketathens@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/RRFMAthens
EVENTS: Back-to-Old School Vintage Market (Athentic Brewing Co.) Browse vintage pieces, art and more. 1–6 p.m. www.athentic brewing.com
EVENTS: Foodie Saturdays (Little Kings Shuffle Club) This market offers free fresh produce, local vendors, bartenders and samples from a themed cooking competition. This week’s theme is summer sandwiches. 2–5 p.m. theckofathens@ gmail.com
EVENTS: Queer Clothing Swap (Chaparral Salon) Bring your gently used clothing to swap at this event focusing on sustainability and gender expression. 2–5 p.m. FREE! www.chaparralsalon.com
THEATER: Rumors (Town & Gown Players) A comedic tale based on Neil Simon’s classic almost-murder mystery. Aug. 8–9 & 14–16, 8 p.m. Aug. 10 & 17, 2 p.m. $18–24. www.townandgownplayers.org
Sunday 10
CLASSES: Mah Jongg (Oconee County Library) Adults of all skill levels are invited to learn and play American Mah Jonng. Every Sunday. 2–4 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/oconee
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: Off the Clock Comedy (The Globe) Athens Comedy presents a lineup of local and touring comedians. 8:30 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show). www.facebook.com/ athenscomedy
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (The Globe) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Sundays, 6 p.m. www. facebook.com/baddogathens
MEETINGS: NE Georgia Civil War History Roundtable (Oconee County Library) This roundtable hosts guest speakers that discuss topics relating to Civil War history. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee
Tom Schram will give an artist talk on his exhibition “Controlled Burn” at Lyndon House on Thursday, Aug. 7.
and show). www.athensshowgirl cabaret.com
SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. info@athenspetanque.org, www.athenspetanque.org
THEATER: Puffs (Elberton Arts Center) Encore Productions presents the play that reimagines the classic story of the boy wizard and his companions. Aug. 8–9 & 15–16, 7 p.m. Aug. 10 & 17, 2 p.m. $12 (adv.), $17. tking@cityofelberton.net
THEATER: Rumors (Town & Gown Players) A comedic tale based on Neil Simon’s classic almost-murder mystery. Aug. 8–9 & 14–16, 8 p.m. Aug. 10 & 17, 2 p.m. $18–24. www.townandgownplayers.org
THEATER: Urinetown the Musical (Oconee Youth Theater) Oconee Youth Playhouse presents this musical featuring dark humor and satire to explore a dystopian future. Aug. 8–9, 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 3 p.m. $15–20. www.oconeeyouthplay house.com
Monday 11
CLASSES: Vietnamese Class (Oconee County Library) Instructor Martine Thy Nguyen will lead a class on the basics of Vietnamese. 6–7 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee
EVENTS: Marigold Farmers Market (100 North Church Street) Vendors offer organic produce, prepared foods, agricultural products and artisanal goods. Mondays, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. www.marigoldcollective winterville.com
EVENTS: Pop-Up Plant Sale (Hendershot’s) Browse potted indoor succulents and outdoor plants. 5–7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com
EVENTS: Second Monday Line Dancing Lessons (Ciné) Learn two to three line dances. All ages, no experience required. 6:30–7:30 p.m. (beginner lesson), 7:30–9 p.m. (social dancing). $10. www. athenscine.com
FILM: Pachinko Pop (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of the 1968 comedy film Mexican Free-for-All 7 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com
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
MEETINGS: Pen Pals Writing Group (Oconee County Library) Meet other writers, share your writing experiences and get feedback on your work. Second & fourth Mondays, 5 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/oconee
Tuesday 12
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
COMEDY: Flying Squid Open
Improv Jam (150 Fritz Mar Lane) Improvisors of all skill levels are invited to practice and play together. 8 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flyingsquidcomedy. com
EVENTS: Tiki Taco Tuesday (Live Wire) Enjoy craft cocktails and a taco pop-up from Don Carne with
themed weeks, live music and dancing. Tuesdays, 5–10 p.m. www.livewireathens.com
FILM: Athentic Movie Night (Athentic Brewing Co.) Screening of the family-friendly classic Muppet Treasure Island. 7:30 p.m. www. athenticbrewing.com
GAMES: Lunch & Learn (Tyche’s Games) Bring your lunch and learn new games. 11:30 a.m. FREE! www. tychesgames.com
GAMES: Rock ’n Roll Trivia (Athentic Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host The Music Man. Second Tuesdays, 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com
GAMES: UnPhiltered Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Test your trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www. facebook.com/MellowMushroom Athens
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici at The Falls) Test your trivia knowledge with host Miles Bunch. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/ baddogathens
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Paloma Park) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens
GAMES: Singo! (Beef O’Brady’s) Win gift certificates and prizes at this music bingo night. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. www.beefobradys.com/athens
KIDSTUFF: Toddler Tuesday: Brilliant Faces (Georgia Museum of Art) Enjoy art and storytime in the galleries, then complete an art activity. Ages 18 months to 3 years. RSVP by email. 10 a.m. FREE! gmoa-tours@uga.edu
SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. info@athenspetanque.org, www.athenspetanque.org
Wednesday 13
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: Pétanque Class (Lay Park) Learn the basics of the lawn game pétanque. RSVP required. 10 a.m. FREE! athenspetanqueclub@ gmail.com, www.athenspetanque club.wixsite.com/play
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: The Athens Farmers Market (Creature Comforts Brewery) Markets offer fresh produce, flowers, eggs, meats, prepared foods, arts and crafts. Live music at 6 p.m. AFM double SNAP dollars spent. Wednesdays, 5–8 p.m. www. athensfarmersmarket.net
GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and play Shadowfist. New players welcome. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (South Main Brewing) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzu nottrivia
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Locos Grill and Pub Eastside) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. www.instagram.com/ shihtzunottrivia
MEETINGS: C3 to End Homelessness (Hendershot’s) A roundtable discussion regarding housing and homelessness to educate, identify issue and plan steps to solutions. Second Wednesdays, 5–7 p.m. FREE! www.athenshc.org/coc f
calendar picks arts & culture
THEATER | AUG. 8–10
Urinetown the Musical
Oconee Youth Theater • Times Vary • $15–20
The Oconee Youth Players are putting on their production of the Tony Award- winning musical Urinetown, a satire exploring a dystopian future where people must pay to use public toilets run by megacorporation Urine Good Company. Through dark humor, it touches on topics like the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility and bureaucracy while parodying popular Broadway musicals like The Threepenny Opera, The Cradle Will Rock and Les Misérables. The musical debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2001 before a nearly 1,000show stint on Broadway, during which it was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning three. This production’s cast is composed primarily of local high school students and is directed by UGA graduate and OYP founder Terra Hannon. The shows on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 will be at 7 p.m., and the show on Aug. 10 will be at 3 p.m. [Mary Beth Bryan]
EVENT | SAT, AUG. 9
Ag Fest
Farmview Market • 9 a.m.–2 p.m. • FREE!
This year’s Ag Fest marks the third annual celebration of Georgia agriculture, local food and community. Georgia peaches are the star of the show this year, with the festival promising a day full of peach- themed games, food, contests and educational opportunities. A farmers market with local vendors and plenty of peach products will be open for the duration of the festival, accompanied by live music from Kevin Alexander and Andy Leichty. There will be lawn games, face painting and crafts for kids to enjoy, as well as peach eating contests at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Apalachee Farms will be providing a petting zoo, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be offering up- close wildlife demonstrations. Other learning opportunities include a “History of the Peach” hay ride all about Georgia’s agricultural history and a mobile agriculture classroom from the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. [MB]
EVENT | SAT, AUG. 9
Take This! Open House
Marigold Auditorium • 11 a.m. • FREE!
preparing their interpretation of a sandwich that’s perfect for a hot day. In addition to the opportunity to sample the competing dishes, the food bank brings fresh produce each week that attendees can take home for free. Other Foodie Saturday themes for the rest of the month include a cookout/grilled foods contest on Aug. 16 and a soup and chili cookoff on Aug. 23. Visit culinarykitchenathens.com/ foodie- saturdays to sign up to compete or to RSVP to be a taster and judge. [MB]
Community theater company Take This! recently expanded in collaboration with Marigold Auditorium to start offering classes and original theatrical productions this fall. To usher in this new development, Take This! is hosting an open house that will feature mini improv and acting classes, performances, an outdoor artist market, a silent auction and a cake walk. Attendees will also get the chance to learn about the upcoming classes that will be offered. The mini classes are open to all ages and will run every 30 minutes beginning at 11 a.m. The artist market will also open at 11 a.m., followed by the silent auction and cake walk at 11:30 a.m. and an improv performance at 1 p.m. Money raised from the cake walk will benefit the Take This! Scholarship fund. The event will end with a “Meet the Team” presentation at 1:30 p.m. [MB]
EVENT | SAT, AUG. 9
Foodie Saturdays
Little Kings Shuffle Club • 2 p.m. • FREE!
Every Saturday this month, Rashe’s Cuisine and The Culinary Kitchen of Athens are hosting a cooking competition featuring dishes by local chefs. The community is also invited to taste the dishes and vote for their favorites. This week’s theme is summer sandwiches, with each chef
Beautiful Solidarity is a benefit show with the goal of local queer musicians creating solidarity with the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition and Dignidad Inmigrante to show support for immigrant families in crisis. All proceeds will benefit the two organizations. In addition to raising awareness of challenges local immigrant families are facing, the event will create a space that celebrates the artistic contributions of Athens’ queer community. The night will open with a debut performance by Nightout, described as saccharine Eurodance/i-pop inspired tracks to make your heart sweat and sing. Organic Compound will perform house and Latin grooves, with DJ Stupid & DJ Chooch spinning melodramatic femme noisey/electro/techno rhythm. Queer punk band Girl Porn will close out the night. [Sam Lipkin]
MUSIC | WED, AUG. 13
The WannaBeatles
The Foundry • 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show) • $15 (students and children), $20 (adv.), $25
Few bands in music history have as many tribute acts as the Beatles, and even fewer of these bands have Grammy Award-nominated tribute acts. The WannaBeatles staked their claim as one of the most prominent Beatles cover bands with their nomination for Fab Fan Memories – The Beatles Bond, a collection of songs, recollections and stories narrated by George Harrison’s older sister, Louise Harrison. Claiming to “go where no Beatles band has gone before,” The WannaBeatles’ show will deliver not only the Fab Four classics, but also mashups of other ‘60s and ‘70s hits, musical parodies and audience interactions. Bandleader Dennis Scott, himself a two- time Grammy and Emmy award- winning composer and producer, says of The WannaBeatles’ motivation for performing: “Watching fans reliving memories while making new ones—that’s what it’s all about.” [MB] f
Urinetown the Musical
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. www. athensarts.org/support
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM (Lyndon House Arts Center) The AIR Program provides participants with a workspace, access and a stipend. 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. www.athenscreatives.directory
BIPOC ARTIST/CURATOR PROJ-
ECT 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. www.accgov.com/9799/ ArtistCurator
CALL FOR ART (Amici at The Falls) Amici is seeking artists to share artwork in monthly exhibitions. Email an introduction and a few examples of work. careywelsh20@gmail.com
CALL FOR ART (Oconee County Library) The library is seeking local artists to share their artwork in monthly exhibitions. adial@athens library.org
CALL FOR ART (Winterville Library) Apply to be a featured local artist in the Front Room Gallery. The library accepts all 2D mediums such as watercolor, collage, textile and more. swatson@athenslibrary.org
CALL FOR ARTISTS (Athens Cultural Affairs Commission) Athens-area artists are invited to submit public art proposals for a community
center improvements project. The selected artist(s) will work with stakeholders and government staff to create public art for a mural design on the exterior of Lay Park and Heard Park Community Centers. Application deadline Sept. 19, 5 p.m. Contact tatiana.veneruso@ accgov.com with any questions. www.accgov.com/acac
CALL FOR ARTISTS (Athica) Artists are invited to submit up to three contemporary works in any media for 2025 juried exhibition “Radical Imperfection.” Artwork must be original and created within last two years. No reprints, multi-pieces or previous submissions. Online submission deadline Aug. 31. Winners notified Sept. 19. www.athica.org
CALL FOR ARTISTS (Hotel Abacus) Seeking painters, sculptors or ceramicists to participate in the Live Art & Jam Session event on Aug. 28. Artists will create an item live during the event. tjordan@hotel abacusathens.com
CALL FOR ARTISTS (MAGallery)
Now accepting artist applications for gallery exhibits. MAGallery is a nonprofit cooperative gallery. Gallery Artists work one day a month and participate on a committee. www.themadisonartistsguild.org/ call-for-artists
CALL FOR ARTISTS (Online) JOKERJOKERtv is actively accepting proposals for collaboration from artists and curators living in Athens. Artists worldwide can also submit films, skits and ideas to share with a weekly livestream audience. www. jokerjokertv.com/submit
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. shelby.little@accgov.com
art around town
ACE/FRANCISCO GALLERY (675 Pulaski St., Suite 500) Photographer Terry Allen presents “Passenger Side,” a collection that ranges from street photography to landscapes. In the Upper Gallery, Grace Lang and Mason Pearson showcase “The Nuclear Age: 2018–2025,” a seven-year photographic chronicle of the band Nuclear Tourism. Through Sept. 18. Music and literature series New Town Revue returns Aug. 14, 5:30 p.m. (doors), 6 p.m. (event).
AKINS FORD ARENA (300 N. Thomas St.) Local photographers Jason Thrasher’s “Murmur Trestle” and Marco Battezzati’s “The Silence Beyond the Window” are on view through September. • The Georgia Music Collection’s rotating gallery recently swapped out The B-52s’ attire and wigs. A tour of the collection will take place Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m.
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY LIBRARY BOGUE GALLERY (2025 Baxter St.)
Margaret Agner’s “Silk in Motion” presents dyed silk wall hangings, scarves and educational items along with samples, sources and brushes. Through Aug. 31.
ATHENTIC BREWING CO. (108 Park Ave.) Works by artist Tara Tanner will be on view through Aug. 31. Reception Aug. 17, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) In “upstage / downstage” photographer Chase Brantley observes his fellow performers in their inbetween moments, capturing their unguarded transitions between stage and backstage, upstage and down. Through Aug. 25.
AURUM STUDIOS (125 E. Clayton St.) Twenty landscape paintings by Greg Benson are on display through August.
DONDEROS’ KITCHEN (590 N. Milledge Ave.) Susan Pelham’s collages, oil and acrylic works are on view through Sept. 30.
CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS
(AthFest Educates) Applications for the 2025-2026 grant cycle are now available. Applicants planning to use music and/or arts as a teaching and learning mechanism for core education are encouraged to apply. Certain criteria must be met. Deadline Aug. 25 and grantees announced sometime in September. www.athfesteducates.org/ grants/apply-for-a-grant
CALL FOR PERFORMERS (Wild Rumpus Parade & Spectacle) Opportunities include musical acts as well as spaces for performances such as dance, fire, puppetry and creative displays of other kinds. Deadline for online application submission is Aug. 14. www.wild rumpus.org
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS (Athens Homeless Coalition) Seeking submissions for upcoming street newspaper. Poetry, short stories, visual art, song lyrics and more are welcome. enagementcoordinator@ athenshc.org
OPEN STUDIOS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Studio members have access to spaces for photography, ceramics and more. www.acc gov.com/7350/Open-StudioMembership
OPEN STUDIOS (Nuçi’s Space) Four sound-treated, climate-controlled rooms available for rental by the half hour. All rooms come equipped with a full PA system, drumkit and Wi-Fi. www.nuci.org
OPEN STUDIO LIFE DRAWING
(Winterville Cultural Center) Limited registrations available for monthly Life Drawing Open Studio with nude model beginning Aug. 20. $20. Adult artists only. www.drawathens. org
PUBLIC ART SELECTION PANELS
(Athens, GA) The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission is seeking
community members to participate in upcoming public art selection panels. www.accgov.com/9656/ Public-Art-Selection-Panels
Auditions
CASTING CALL (Zombie Farms Haunted Trail) An open call for actors and support staff for the 2025 season. No experience required. Ages 18 & up preferred. Aug. 9 for returning cast members only, 5–8 p.m. at Sandy Creek Nature Center. Aug. 16 & 23 for new or returning cast members, 7–10:30 p.m. at Zombie Farms. www.zombiefarms
OPEN AUDITIONS (Athens Master Chorale) Seeking new members in all voice parts including high sopranos, tenors and basses. Scheduled auditions held Aug. 25, 5-7 p.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church. athmcdirector@gmail.com
OPEN AUDITIONS (Athens Symphony) Auditions and membership open to qualified musicians able to attend rehearsals and maintain preparation of music. www.athens symphony.org/openings
SHADOWBOX (Town & Gown Players) Auditions for this maturethemed production will be held Aug. 11–12. Performances held Oct. 3–13. info@townandgown players.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. www.unityathens.com
ACCENT REDUCTION CLASS (Covenant Presbyterian Church) Improve your American English pronunciation skills. For ages 18 & up. Tuesdays, 12 p.m. marjoriemiller@ gmail.com
ART CLASSES (K.A. Artist Shop) The shop offers a range of fine art classes and workshops for adults,
FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) Artwork by Caitlyn Riesinger will be on view through August.
GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) In “Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939,” 65 portraits in various mediums show how American women in Paris reshaped modern womanhood and used portraiture to express a new sense of self. Through Nov. 2. • Typically part of the permanent collection, “Close” will undergo conservation in full view to the public. Watch as conservator Larry Shutts touches up the work Tuesdays and Thursdays Aug. 9 –Nov. 2. • Filmmaker, video artist, photographer and curator asinnajaq’s “Three Thousand” combines archival videos from the National Film Board of Canada with animations, soundscapes and contemporary video footage. On view Aug. 9–June 28, 2026.
GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) Atlanta artist Paul Leroy’s installation “Tree of Life” will begin growing for its six-month exhibition. HENDERSHOT’S (237 Prince Ave.) Nirvinyl Album Art’s “Summer Set ’25” is on view through August.
LAST RESORT GRILL (174-184 W. Clayton St.) A collection of Susan Pelham’s collages, oil and acrylic works is on view through August.
LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (211 Hoyt St.) The summer series features seven artists across six new exhibitions. On view through Aug. 30. “Peach Fuzz” artist talk with Victoria Dugger Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m. • In the Lukasiewicz Gallery, Chris Moss and Sue Fox’s “Habit” offers parallel explorations of form and color, playing with the viewer’s perception, concealing and revealing forms of common imagery amongst a camouflage of multifaceted hues. The two have not met prior to the opening of this exhibition. Through Oct. 11. • An exhibition by Cuban-born artist Victor Francisco Hernandez Mora features vivid illustrations of Orishas—West African deities tied to nature and daily life—found in belief systems across Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. On view in the North Gallery through Oct. 11. Family day book reading Aug. 9, 12–2 p.m. • Inspired by memories and
private classes and parties, and more. 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
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS (Athens, GA) The Athens Land Trust hosts a variety of virtual and in-person classes. Topics include “Affordable Housing Info” and “Homebuyer Education Course.” www.athenslandtrust.org/classesevents
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) OCAF offers a number of classes for all ages and skill levels. Selections include basic and advanced painting, ceramics, textile dying, fashion design and more. ocaf.com/courses
COOKING CLASSES (Athens Cooks) Seasonal classes for all ages offered multiple times a year. www. athenscooks.com
CUBAN SALSA LESSONS (El Carretonero) SALSAthens offers multiple classes for different skill levels. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. (advanced) and 7:30 p.m. (beginner/intermediate). $10 drop-in. www.SALS AthensDancing@gmail.com
DANCE CLASSES (East Athens Educational Dance Center) The center offers classes in ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern and more for all ages and skills. www.accgov.com/myrec
PILATES MAT CLASSES (work. shop) Drop-in pilates mat classes every Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. 706-247-4513
SQUARE DANCE CLUB (Jug Tavern, Winder) Jug Tavern Square Dance Club is recruiting new members. Lively square dancing and line dancing. Classes are generally held the second and fourth Fridays of each month. Couples and singles are invited to the next class on Aug. 14, 7–8:30 p.m. oak.street.park@ gmail.com, 706-254-2320
TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS
CLASSES (Live Oak Martial Arts) Taekwondo, self-defense and more are offered for all ages. www.liveoak martialarts.com
YOGA AND MORE (Revolution Therapy and Yoga) Offering yoga and therapy with an emphasis on trauma-informed practices. www. revolutiontherapyandyoga.com
YOGA CLASSES (Grateful Head Yoga) Classes are offered in beginner, gentle and other styles of yoga. www.gratefulheadyoga.com
YOGA CLASSES (Healing Arts Center Sangha Studio) A variety of yoga styles offered weekly. www.healing artscentre.net/sangha
YOGA CLASSES (Highland Yoga) Classes are offered seven days a week. www.highland-yoga.com
YOGA CLASSES (Let It Be Yoga Studio, Watkinsville) Classes are offered in Hatha, Vinyasa, gentle and other styles. www.letitbeyoga. org
YOGA CLASSES (Shakti Yoga Athens) A variety of yoga styles offered weekly. www.shaktiyogaathens.com
Help Out
ANIMAL SERVICES VOLUNTEER (Animal Services Adoption Center) Volunteers needed for daily interactions with the shelter dogs. Sessions run Monday through Friday, training session required. Individuals under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. www.tidycal.com/animalservices volunteer
ATHENS REPAIR CAFE (Solid Waste Office) The repair cafe is seeking volunteers comfortable fixing a variety of items including: clothing, small appliances, tools and more. Fourth Sunday of every month. reuse@accgov.com, www.accgov. com/RepairCafe
ATHENS SKATEPARK PROJECT (Athens Skate Park) Seeking volunteers and community input. Every third Sunday of the month. www. athensskateparkproject.org
BRAS FOR A CAUSE (Grail Bra Specialists) Seeking donations of gently-used bras for distribution to local shelters, recovery centers and communities in need. Contact Athens Area Bra Bank at 706-8500387. support@grailbras.com
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. 706-850-4025, dmyers@ multiplechoices.us
PET FOOD PANTRY (Animal Services Adoption Center) The Animal Services community pet food pantry
the literature of Latin America, María Korol’s “Playing Ball Without a Ball” explores the connection between human and non-human through drawings, paintings, sculptures and more. On view in the lobby case through Sept. 27. OCONEE LIBRARY (1925 Electric Ave.) Exhibition “Women of Courage Portrait Exhibit” honors the achievements, resilience and lasting impact of remarkable women who have shaped our history and society. Through Aug. 29. UGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER LOBBY GALLERY (230 River Rd.) Benjamin Britton, an associate professor at the Lamar Dodd School of Art, presents “surface potential,” a collection of four abstract paintings over 7 feet tall. Through Aug. 8.
UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “From Farms to Fast Fashion: Unraveling the Need for Sustainable Style” explores the rise of fast fashion and who pays for the cost of its convenience. Through December. • David Zeiger’s photography project “Displaced in the New South” explores the cultural collision between Asian and Hispanic immigrants and the suburban Atlanta communities in the 1990s. Through December. Screening of Zeiger’s documentary by the same name will take place Sept. 18, 5:15 p.m. at Cine. • “The Golden Age of Broadway” provides a glimpse into Broadway’s Golden Age through musical posters, playbills and artifacts. Through August. • “Captain Planet: The Power Is Yours” explores the origins and impact of the TV series, which inspired young people to care for the environment. Through May 2026.
WILLSON CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES AND ARTS (1260 S Lumpkin St) A new series of landscape photographs by Michael Lachowski, alongside a photo series of clouds, is on view through summer.
WINTERVILLE CULTURAL CENTER GALLERY (371 N. Church St., Winterville) Two exhibitions are currently on view at the gallery: “The Art of the Mixtape” by Karen S. Campbell and “Cloudland” by Elyse Mazanti, Eli Saragoussi and Emily Tatum. Through Sept. 13. Reception Aug. 23, 4–6 p.m.
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
SCHOOL SUPPLIES (Car Craft of Athens) Car Craft of Athens is hosting a “Back to School Drive” to help the students at Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School. Drop off supplies Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. through Sept.
1. Supplies needed include Lysol wipes, pencils, crayons, school uniforms and more. 706-546-6695.
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 biggervisionshelter@gmail.com, www.bvoa.org/boardmember
SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS (Moms
Adopting Moms) Local nonprofit seeks board members, including a chair and treasurer, to support foster children and families through mentorship and reunification. moms adoptingmoms@gmail.com
SEEKING DONATIONS (ACC Human Relations Commission) Currently accepting donations for sealed any brand, quantity or size of menstrual hygiene products. Morgan.lyle@ accgov.com
SEEKING FOOD DONATIONS (The Cottage) Seeking donations of single-serving, non-perishable snacks to help children and adults navigating interviews, therapy sessions and court hearings. To arrange a drop-off please call 706546-1133, ext 223.
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Athens Farmer Market) Seeking volunteers for the 2025 season to help with weekly markets, special events and more. Submit applications online. www.athensfarmersmarket.net/ volunteer
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Historic Athens) Registration for the 2025 Historic Athens Porchfest is now open. In need of porch hosts, performers, volunteers and sponsor support. www.historicathens.com/ porchfest
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (KACCB) Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful has volunteer opportunities that include roadside cleanups, adopt-a-ramp and more. www. keepathensbeautiful.org
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Shoal Creek Sanctuary) Local environmental nonprofit seeking volunteers for a variety of events including invasive plant removal, plant adoptions and more. Hands-on opportunities to help plant 3,000 native varieties are available every first Sunday, 1–3:30 p.m. www. shoalcreeksanctuary.org/volunteer
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Wild Rumpus Parade & Spectacle) A variety of volunteer, donor and sponsor opportunities available. Saturday, Oct. 26. www.wildrumpus.org
TEACHER SUPPLIES (Teacher Reuse Store) Educators can access free creative supplies at the store. Please bring credentials. www. accgov.com/trs
TOWELS FOR ANIMALS (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 after hours. www.accgov.com/ animalservices
QUILT RAFFLE (Friends of the Madison County Library) Madison County Library’s Summer Reading Program “Color Our World” hosts a raffle for a handmade quilt to benefit various programs. $2 per ticket. The winning ticket will be drawn in September to kick off Library Card Sign-up Month. www.athenslibrary. org/madison
Kidstuff
BRELLA ACTIVITIES (‘Brella Studio) A variety of after-school art lessons available for all ages. Other events and programs include “Art Truck,” art camps, “Mommy & Me” mornings and more. www.brellastudio. com/events
CAMP PROGRAMS (ACC Leisure Services) A variety of programs, classes and camps for all ages are available at local parks and community centers. www.accgov.com/ myrecs, 706-613-3800
CAMP PROGRAMS (Wild Earth Forest School) Fall registration for nature-based learning programs now open for ages 3–8. Sessions begin Aug. 18. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. school.wildearthcamp@gmail.com, wildearthcamp.org
CREATIVE CLASSES (K.A. Artist Shop) Variety of classes including “Art Card Club” for teens and preteens. www.kaartist.com
CREATIVE CLASSES (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Treehouse offers a variety of art-centric activities such as “Art School,” “Saturday Morning Crafts” and more. www.treehousekidand craft.com
GROUPS AT REBLOSSOM (ReBlossom) A variety of classes, playgroups and support groups are offered. Topics include birth and breastfeeding, prenatal and parent-baby yoga and more. www. reblossomathens.com
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (ACC Gov) Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Mayor’s Youth Council
for students in grades 10-12. The council is designed to provide an opportunity for youth to learn more about the workings of ACCGov while interacting directly with staff. Deadline for applications is Aug. 19 with the first council meeting to be held in September. Meetings are monthly. www.accgov.com/ youthcouncil
Support Groups
ACA ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AND DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES (Holy Cross Lutheran Church) This support group meets weekly. Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. annetteanelson@gmail.com
ADVANCED CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (University Cancer and Blood Center) A support group for those living with advanced/ terminal
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 info about resources and opportunities for advocacy. Every third Monday, 4:30–6 p.m. floretta.johnson@ stmarysathens.org
NAMI CONNECTION SUPPORT GROUP (Multiple Locations) Peerled support group for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. First and third Friday of the month, 5:30–7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church Athens. Second Monday of the month, 6:30–8 p.m. at Oconee Presbyterian Church, Watkinsville. www.namiga.org
NEW PARENTS AND INFANT FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP (BYL Family Resource Center) Come as
cancer with the goal to find comfort, encouragement and valuable resources. First Monday of every month, 5:30–7 p.m. www.university cancer.com
AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else’s drinking. Free daytime and evening meetings are held several times throughout the week in Athens. www.ga-al-anon. org/meetings
ATHENS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (Athens, GA) Open to people of all ages with vision impairments, their families and friends. Topics include adaptive equipment, recreational and social opportunities, and advocacy. 706-424-2794, dlwahlers@ gmail.com
you are for community, snacks and feeding advice from professionals. Babies and children of all ages are welcome. Second and fourth Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. www.byyourleave.org
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (Multiple Locations) Do you worry about the way you eat? OA may have the answer for you. Meetings held Tuesdays, 12 p.m. at 24th Street, Inc. and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Text 678-736-3697 about Tuesdays or 706-224-4919 about Saturdays. www.oa.org
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP (First Baptist Church) This group is to encourage, support and share info 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
PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP (Chase Park Warehouses)
A peer-led support group of people who understand the depth of love and grief for animal companions. Meets every second and fourth Wednesday, 6:30–8 p.m. www. vibrantbeing.net/grief-support
POLYAMORY SUPPORT GROUP (Revolution Therapy and Yoga) An open support group for adults practicing or considering polyamory or nonmonogamy. Thursdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. $10 donation. www. revolutiontherapyandyoga.com
PREVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP FOR WOMEN (Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support) Women ages 18–50 who have been diagnosed with a genetic mutation for breast cancer (but not diagnosed with cancer) can gather for peer support and share unique challenges. Third Thursdays, 5:30–7:30 p.m. 706465-4900, loransmithcenter@ piedmont.org
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
RECOVERY DHARMA (Athens Addiction Recovery Center) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Thursdays, 7 p.m. www.athensrecoverydharma. org
RECOVERY DHARMA (work.shop)
Help for those suffering with addictions and self-destructive habits. Peer-led and open to all. Meets every Monday, 6:30 p.m. www. recoverydharma.org
SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) SAA offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from compulsive sexual behavior. athens downtownsaa@gmail.com
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
ATHENS ZEN GROUP (work.shop) Sangha sits every Sunday morning 8:30–10 a.m. followed by a discussion of Zen teachings 10:00–10:50 a.m. Newcomers’ orientation is the second Sunday of every month at 11 a.m. www.athenszen.org
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. www.accgov.com/10584/ Bike-Repair-Stations CALL FOR STORYTELLERS (Rabbit Box) Rabbit Box presents true short stories shared by community members. Submit story ideas for upcoming shows. www.rabbitbox. org/tell
COMMUNITY RUNNING GROUPS (Athens Road Runners) Weekly community runs for all skill levels including “Speed Workout” (Wednesdays, 5:30 a.m.) and “Fun Runs” (Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. & Saturdays, 7:15 a.m.). www.athens roadrunners.org
FALL REGISTRATION (ACC Leisure Services) A diverse selection of programs for both adults and children are open for registration. Scholarships available. www.acc gov.com/scholarship, www.accgov. com/myrec, 706-613-3800
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. www.athensga filmoffice.com
FRIDAY EVENTS (Multiplechoices Center for Independent Living) The organization hosts ongoing Friday gatherings. Tech discussions, support groups, movies and games. www.multiplechoices.us/youreinvited
GUIDED GARDEN TOURS (UGA Botanical Garden) Learn about various plants at this guided walk. Available for groups of less than 10. Every Tuesday–Friday, 11 a.m. $5 per person. botgarden.uga.edu NETWORKING AND MEETINGS (Integrative Medicine Initiative) Monthly meetings and open networking opportunities for those in the local wellness sector seeking support and who have interest in educating the community. admin@integrativemedicine initiative.org
SEVENTH GENERATION (Various Locations) Seventh Generation Native American Church hosts gatherings on Sundays at 11 a.m. at Feel Free Yoga and Men’s Group on Tuesdays at 6 p.m at St. Gregory’s Church. 706-340-7134
VHS DIGITIZATION (Athens, GA) Seeking previously recorded concerts and events on VHS, VHSC, Hi8, MiniDV and DVDs to digitize and archive on YouTube channel, @vhsordie3030, and the Athens GA Live Music channel. bradley. staples88@gmail.com, vhsordie. com f
Paintings by Tara Tanner are on view at Athentic Brewing Co. A reception will be held on Sunday, Aug. 17 from 2:30–4:30 p.m.
classifieds
REAL ESTATE
HOUSES FOR RENT
Tiny living in the country. 30’ RV camper on small farm 30 miles east of Athens. All utilities furnished, wi- fi, 2 TVs, trash service, private, secure, large covered porch, nice setting. Security deposit and references required. Text 706- 4010880.
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
MUSIC
INSTRUCTION
Athens School of Music. Now offering in-person and online instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin and more. From beginner to expert, all styles. Visit www.athens schoolofmusic.com. 706543-5800
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
Nuçi’s Space has soundtreated, climate- controlled rooms available for rental by the half hour. All rooms come equipped with full PA system, drumkit and Wi- Fi. nuci.org
SERVICES
CHILD CARE
Wild Earth Forest School Now enrolling for Fall! Ages 3–8. Mondays & Wednesdays | 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Hands-on, naturebased learning in the forest near Downtown Athens. Fall session begins August 18. Email school.wild earth camp@gmail.com for info or visit wildearthcamp.org
Need old newspapers? We have plenty here at Flagpole! Call ahead and we’ll get some ready for you. Please leave current issues on the stands. 706-549-0301
CLASSES
Learn French with native French speaker with 15 years of professional experience. $40/h. Contact Jonathan @ jonathanbaille hache@gmail.com, call 347 360 9022 or visit www.jonathanbaillehache.com/t-en.
HOME AND GARDEN
Happy Summer! WomanRun Gardening Services: We offer garden maintenance, invasive plant removal, personalized edible & native focused gardens for your school, home or business! For more info call/text: 706-395-5321
Hi! I’m Pablo, an expert gardener offering personalized care for your landscape. I specialize in low- maintenance, native gardens that support pollinators and biodiversity. Find me @pablo fromseed, email pkozatch@ gmail.com or call 631-9034365.
Advertise your service in the Flagpole Classifieds. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com to place an ad.
MISC. SERVICES
Hotel Abacus offers six unique and historic venues for your special event. hotelabacusathens.com
PETS
Pamper your pup at Bark Dog Spa, Athens’ premiere dog grooming facility! Book online at barkdogspa.com
NOW HIRING – BEER EXPERT (EVENINGS). ABC Package is looking for someone who knows their beer! Must be familiar with domestic and craft brands. Evening shifts available. Pay is negotiable. Apply in person at ABC Package. Cheers to a new job!
Flagpole ♥s our advertisers!
PART-TIME
Join a diverse, inclusive workplace and get paid to type! 12–40 hours, Mon–Fri. NEVER be called in for a shift you didn’t sign up for. Must type 65+ wpm. Make your own schedule and work independently with no customer interaction. Starts at $13 with automatic increases. www.ctscribes. com
NOTICES
ORGANIZATIONS
Flagpole ♥s our readers!
Become a Juvenile Offender Advocate to compassionately and effectively transform the lives of young people in need of mentorship and rehabilitation. juvenileoffenderadvocateinc.org
If you are in crisis due to domestic violence, Project Safe is here to help. Call 706- 543- 3331 or visit project-safe.org.
Northeast Health District offers free or low-cost services to all people within our area and to promote healthy lifestyles among all members. northeasthealthdistrict. org
