In OCAF’s main gallery, the juried exhibition “Southworks” showcases a variety of artists using different mediums. Artist talks will be held on June 25 and June 30 at 6 p.m. For more exhibitions and art events, see Art Around Town on p. 18.
PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Alicia Nickles
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner
ADVERTISING SALES Jonathon Musser, Isabella Williams
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Sam Lipkin
CITY EDITOR Blake Aued
MUSIC EDITOR Sam Lipkin
ARTS & CULTURE COORDINATOR Libba Beaucham
OFFICE MANAGER & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jennifer Keene
CLASSIFIED ADS & CALENDAR COORDINATOR Jennifer Keene
AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson
CONTRIBUTORS Ellie Fivas, Maya Homan, Gordon Lamb, Alander Rocha
CARTOONISTS Missy Kulik, David Mack, Klon Waldrip, Joey Weiser
CIRCULATION Jennifer Bray, Charles Greenleaf, Joe Rowe
EDITORIAL & OFFICE ASSISTANT Mary Beth Bryan
EDITORIAL INTERNS Lily Thomas
PHOTOGRAPHERS CJ Bartunek, Kat Wood, Jake Zerkel
SPECIAL AGENT Pete McCommons
Akademia Brewing Co. has announced that it will be closing after service finishes on Sunday, June 28. Meanwhile downtown, Starland Lounge & Lanes recently closed, too. But construction is underway at the corner of West Dougherty and Pulaski streets for a location of the Mississippi Delta chain Lost Pizza Co. See “Akademia Brewing Co. Set to Close, and More Food News” at flagpole.com.
The flagpole office will be closed Fri. July 3rd & Mon. July 6th. Happy 4th!
Why Did Dexter Fisher Win?
ATHENS’ FIRST BLACK MAYOR BUILT A BROAD COALITION, AND MORE NEWS
By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
“Twenty years ago to the day,” Charlie Maddox told me, reminding me of his race against then-mayor Heidi Davison in 2006.
He was a little bit off—local elections back then were still held in the fall—but a clearly emotional Maddox could be forgiven for misremembering the exact date. He had just seen Dexter Fisher achieve what he did not do back then: become the first Black mayor of Athens.
“We finally got it,” Maddox said. “I feel great.”
He should. His campaign invented the formula for Fisher’s victory—teaming up Black and Republican voters. Four years later, Nancy Denson would add a smattering of moderate white Democrats on top to beat progressive Gwen O’Looney. It didn’t work for Harry Sims in 2018, and nobody really tried it in 2022, but Fisher (along with campaign managers Jennifer Zwirn and Cameron Jay Harrelson) returned to that old Maddox/Denson playbook and ran it to perfection. But for term-limited Mayor Kelly Girtz, it really harkened back to that 2006 race, which was just as divisive as 2026, albeit without the toxicity of social media.
wood, SC, raised by a single mom, would be heading the 6th largest city in Georgia?” Fisher said, reflecting on victory.
It did not look like they would pull it off after the first round of voting May 19, when Fisher finished 11 points behind Denson, who led with 38% of the vote. Generally turnout for a runoff declines by about half, which would mean all Denson had to do was make sure a majority of his supporters came back out June 16. Almost all of them did, but turnout was much higher than expected, so it wasn’t enough. Fisher added about 3,300 votes to his total from May 19, clearly indicating that whichever LaKeisha Gantt or Mara Zuniga voters turned back out gravitated toward Fisher.
Part of this can be explained by the fact that the number of voters who pulled Republican primary ballots on June 16 jumped by five points compared to May 19. It’s still clear, though, that Fisher had a bigger tent. While Republicans were never going to support Denson, some tough conversations are ahead for white progressives about why a platform based on issues like affordable housing and fare- free transit that should have appealed to Black voters
to sway doubters. He has disregarded statistics about Athens’ tight housing market because multifamily property owners told him vacancies are high. The same landlords who donated to his campaign have a vested interest in keeping the housing supply low and rents high. As mayor, will he heed the advice of ACC staff, other experts and numerous studies by easing zoning restrictions and slightly increasing density in some areas, or follow through on attempting to halt new housing construction? Will the relationship skills he touted be enough to convince his friend Jere Morehead—and the Board of Regents, the next chancellor, the Georgia legislature and the next governor—to build more dorms on campus, as Fisher promised?
Michael Thurmond, the first Black state representative from Athens elected since Reconstruction, signs a petition to name a downtown park after Athens’ first two Black state representatives, Alf Richardson and Madison Davis.
“There was probably at least as much focus on Tim and Dexter’s negatives as on their positives,” Girtz said when Flagpole asked him to analyze the race. The right feared a Democratic Socialist mayor, Girtz said, and Denson played into it by “looking like the Tim you’d see at Hi-Lo on a Friday night.” He also cited Fisher’s “fact- free statements,” both behind the rail and during forums, and support from Athens Forward, a mysterious conservative dark-money independent committee that dropped almost $100,000 on mailers in support of Fisher.
Regardless of one’s political affiliation, it was a historic evening for Athens. “Who would have thought a little boy from Green-
apparently did not resonate. (At the same time, Gantt and her supporters are going to have to come to grips with why her message did not attract Denson voters.) The midst of an election, when emotions are running hot, is not the best environment for such soul- searching. Hopefully the discourse can be more productive moving forward, now that we do in fact have a Black mayor.
Fisher, as triumphant candidates often do, invited vanquished foes to join him during an Election Night speech. “I need y’all to jump on the bandwagon, get this thing going, and we’re going to be the Classic City everybody wants us to be,” he said. If he wants to unite Athens, though, he’s going to have some convincing to do
Fisher will enjoy the support of a majority on the commission when he takes office in January. Five of the seven returning commissioners endorsed him, as did Ed Tolley, who will replace John Culpepper in District 7. Tracy Smith upset loose- cannon incumbent Ovita Thornton in District 9, winning by just 29 votes, and Craig Topple defeated Kimberly Bennett to win Fisher’s District 5 seat. The new combination could create what Girtz called “a coalition of the rational,” even if it’s not the progressive commission that swept into office in 2018. “I do think the next iteration of the commission will be more successful,” Girtz said. Progressives should note that there are some things they can agree with Fisher on. For example, why does it take 20 or 30 years to build something as simple as a sidewalk or a bike lane? He promised to complete infrastructure projects more quickly. However, that will require telling people “no.” No, we don’t need a fifth round of public input. No, we don’t need to send this back to staff and have them redesign it again. No, we’re not going to rule out using eminent domain to acquire a small piece of property if it stands in the way of something like Firefly Trail that benefits the public at large. That is not something he’s been wont to do in the past.
Looking at his commission votes over the years reveals that, if there is one thing Fisher cares about, it’s keeping anyone who shows up en masse at the City Hall podium happy. In his words: “Do you want a mayor who’s going to force- feed you what he thinks you should have, or do you want a mayor who will listen to you?” Fisher has promised to be a man of the people. “I will not hide behind a desk,” he said on Election Night.
If Fisher proves to be an open-minded mayor, this constituent-pleasing tendency will give progressives an opportunity to influence policy. As Denson said in an Election Night message to supporters, ”The capacity to make change is not limited to
any one election or office. Progress comes from the people. And I plan to fight with and for the people of Athens- Clarke County for many years to come.”
Petition Seeks to Name Park for Black Lawmakers
Historic Athens formally submitted a petition during a Juneteenth festival to name a new downtown pocket park after Athens’ first two Black state representatives.
The petition seeks to name the space Richardson-Davis Park for Alf Richardson and Madison Davis, two African Americans elected to the Georgia legislature in 1868, after the Civil War and subsequent Constitutional amendments created equal rights for former slaves. Tragically, this era of legal equality ended along with Reconstruction in 1876. With Jim Crow laws suppressing Black voting rights, Athens would not elect another African American for 100 years.
The third Black state representative from Athens, Michael Thurmond, told those gathered for the ceremony that he was inspired to run when he came across a dissertation about Davis and Richardson at the UGA library in the 1970s. He had never heard their story before. Thurmond went on to write a book about Black history in Athens and have a long career in politics, most recently coming up short in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
“Without Juneteenth,” a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when the Union army arrived in Galveston, TX to emancipate the last enslaved people, “there never would have been a right to vote, and they never would have had the opportunity to serve in office,” Thurmond said.
The ceremony featured numerous current and former Black elected officials, including Athens- Clarke County commissioners Patrick Davenport, Ovita Thornton and Tiffany Taylor; former commissioner Alvin Sheats; former Clarke County (before unification) commissioner John Jeffreys, Sheriff John Q. Williams, retired Magistrate Court Judge Patrica Barron; and school board members Linda Elder Davis and Mary P. Bagby.
➤ continued on next page
The coalition Dexter Fisher built to win the mayor’s race gathered at the event space 1055 Barber for an Election Night watch party.
The newly opened park occupies a former parking lot next to the Costa Building at the corner of Washington and Lumpkin streets, in the shadow of a mural by Miami artist Elio Mercado and Athens artist Brodrick Flanigan celebrating local Black musicians and entrepreneurs.
The petition, signed by 1,000 people and counting, is only the first step toward officially naming the park. Ultimately it must be approved by the ACC Commission, which Mayor Kelly Girtz said was all but certain to happen.
ICE Drops Social Circle Plans
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has dropped plans to build a massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in the nearby city of Social Circle.
The city announced that it had received word from U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and confirmed with DHS that it would not move forward with the facility. Although Walton County voters strongly supported President Trump in the 2024 election, many voiced concerns about water and sewer capacity, the impact on tax rolls and safety at an elementary school close by. The detention center would have housed up to 10,000 people, double the city’s population of 5,000.
“From the beginning, the Social Circle community united against this proposal, which risked overwhelming the city’s infrastructure,” U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said in a statement. “This news proves yet again that public pressure and opposition works.
“I congratulate Social Circle Mayor David Keener, City Manager Eric Taylor and the entire community on this achievement, and I will continue fighting alongside Georgia communities against overreach by this administration.”
Collins, a Republican who also represents Athens, is running against Ossoff this fall.
“I’m all for helping DHS, and I’m behind that, to make sure we get rid of these illegal criminals that have been throughout our
country,” Collins told 11Alive in February. “But I also understand Social Circle’s concerns, from not just an infrastructure [standpoint], but resources that may be needed. So it’s nice to see DHS is working with them, talking with them. There’s a lot of communication back and forth to make sure they address the concerns and alleviate any of the concerns they may have.”
As Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock pointed out, though, Social Circle officials only found out about the plan when they read it in the Washington Post. He visited Social Circle in March.
“It was clear to me then, and it’s clear to me now, that this administration viewed Social Circle’s concerns as a thorn in their side,” Warnock said during a call with reporters. “It was not until the story was elevated nationwide that the administration backed down.
“To put it plainly, the officials in the Trump/Vance administration got nervous because the people stood up and began to speak out,” he added.
Last month, Social Circle filed a federal lawsuit against DHS stating that the “mega- center” would strain water and sewer resources and emergency services. “The community is very unified,” Taylor said at the time. “We want them to go away.”
Members of the local progressive groups Indivisible Georgia District 10 and Indivisible Boldly Blue joined with thousands of others in opposition to the facility. “The announcement tonight [June 18] that the Department of Homeland Security is abandoning the Social Circle detention center shows that when citizens come together with courage, integrity, bipartisan determination and mutual respect, we can help a whole community win,” those groups said in a statement.
DHS had paid $129 million—five times the assessed value—for the warehouse and surrounding 235 acres. Now the question is how much, if any, of that money will be recouped by taxpayers.
According to the City of Social Circle, the property will be sold if no other federal agency expresses interest in it. “I’m not sure what will happen to it at this point,” Warnock said. f
Republicans Reconsider Redistricting
GOP BACKS AWAY FROM EFFORT TO ELIMINATE BLACK DISTRICTS
By Maya Homan and Alander Rocha news@flagpole.com
Georgia Republicans abruptly changed course on redistricting last week, retreating from their plans to redraw congressional and state district lines for the 2028 election less than an hour before lawmakers gaveled in for the special session.
In a joint press conference July 17, House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican, and Senate President Pro Tem Larry Walker III, a Perry Republican, told a boisterous crowd that they planned to focus on securing property tax relief and ratifying last month’s gas tax suspension rather than redistricting. Lawmakers must also address a July 1 deadline for QR codes to be removed from Georgia’s ballots.
the apportionment process, especially with the Legislature already convening,” Kemp said in a statement. “Legislative districting, however, is the responsibility of the General Assembly, and it is within their discretion to defer the issue until a later date.”
Earlier this year, Kemp broke with many other Republican-led states in the South when he announced that the state would not pursue redistricting ahead of the 2026 general election. States like Alabama and Tennessee have rushed to break up Black-majority districts since the Supreme Court ruling. In neighboring South Carolina, lawmakers contemplated redistricting but ultimately chose not to pursue it.
majority Black and was among the districts that advocates worried could have been targeted by Republicans during the redistricting process.
“This was a massive victory for the people who organized and protested these maps because they knew the stakes,” Clark said in a statement. “This fight is not over, but I am happy that residents of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District will continue to have the power to elect their representatives.”
Though Democrats celebrated the move, they also urged Georgians to stay vigilant in case of future redistricting efforts. Former Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves said the unforeseen can still happen, and that Georgians need to keep showing up at the Capitol to “make sure that legislators see that we are holding them accountable.”
Rep. Michelle Au, a Johns Creek Democrat, warned that Republican leaders could return for another special session on redistricting after the November election. “Don’t get comfortable,” she said.
Before Georgia Republicans publicly nixed their redistricting plans, demonstrators packed the Capitol to speak out against the plan to redraw district lines. Roughly 200 people attended a march through downtown Atlanta, with protestors calling for lawmakers to preserve Black voters’ electoral power rather than reducing it.
“As we convene today, the Georgia House Republicans are focused on Georgia’s future and the issues that really matter to our neighbors across this state, not partisan gain,” Burns said.
Both lawmakers added that they were waiting to see how pending legal cases played out. “We believe it would be wise to allow the judicial process to further develop in other states and evaluate how courts rule on newly adopted district maps elsewhere,” Walker said. “With this guidance, we are confident that Georgia’s new districts will ultimately withstand legal scrutiny.”
The legal dispute over Georgia’s current political maps is still pending. A federal judge ordered lawmakers to draw new maps in 2023 to create an additional majority Black congressional district in west metro Atlanta and seven additional majority Black legislative districts.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who added redistricting to the agenda when he convened the special session, said he believed that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that diluted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act made Georgia’s current maps unconstitutional. But Kemp, who is term-limited and serving his final year in office, acknowledged that he did not have the authority to force lawmakers to draw new maps. “I do not believe there is reason to delay
Some Republicans, including Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming, who is the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, expressed disapproval about legislative leaders’ decision to pause the redistricting process. “I’ve always been of the opinion we should do it as soon as possible,” Dolezal said. “So, if the legal mechanics put us in the position where we couldn’t do it, I understand that. My preference, though, is we go as fast as we can.”
Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, an Augusta Democrat, argued the widespread pushback from Georgia residents ultimately led Republican lawmakers to abandon their redistricting plans.
“Make no mistake, it was the people of Georgia who put pressure on the General Assembly and let them know they did not appreciate the attempt to steal these elections,” Jones said. “Throughout this process, the people have really been galvanized and energized, and so those who wanted to actually restrict African Americans’ voting power, they saw that, and they decided today it was not in their best interest to go forward.”
State Rep. Jasmine Clark, a Lilburn Democrat and nominee for Congressional District 13, echoed Jones’ sentiment. The district, which includes Rockdale County and parts of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry and Newton counties, is
During a gathering at Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Atlanta ahead of the march, voting rights advocates and faith leaders framed the redistricting push as a resurgence of decades-old efforts to suppress Black voting power across the South. “These maneuvers designed to make it hard for ordinary people to participate in the democratic process are not original, they are not innovative, they are not creative,” said Michael L. Mitchell, an AME bishop. “They are tired reruns of a stale and desperate playbook written in the 1950s and the 1960s.”
The timing of the event may have also favored voting rights activists: Atlanta is hosting eight FIFA World Cup matches throughout June and July, giving protestors the potential to garner international attention.
During the event, activists urged attendees to stay engaged and to help turn out as many voters as possible during the midterms. “Democracy was never meant to be something that happens to us,” said Jackie Killings, the president of the League of Women Voters of Georgia. “Democracy is what we do. It runs on ordinary people, like each one of you here today, who decide that they would not sit down, they would not be quiet, and we would not wait to be seen and not wait to be heard.”
Lawmakers convened for the special session ahead of a weekend when Black Georgians celebrated Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of the last enslaved Black Americans. Despite Republicans opting not to hold a session on Friday, June 19, Democratic state Rep. David Wilkerson from Powder Springs noted that many people in Cobb County celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday.
Republicans scheduled session days only until Monday, although lawmakers could continue to meet beyond then. That led Lithonia Democratic state Rep. Doreen Carter to press House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration about “the significance of not coming Tuesday versus coming on Saturday.”
“It’s extremely disrespectful of the Black community and Father’s Day weekend that you all are going to have us here,” Carter said.
Efstration said it was a “very difficult balance to find” where lawmakers had to consider prior obligations, like funerals and vacations, holidays and “a desire by many members to try to finish as quickly as possible.” f
This article originally appeared at georgiarecorder.com. Georgia Recorder intern Ellie Fivas contributed to this report.
Senate President Larry Walker, joined by House Speaker Jon Burns (right), announced that Republicans would not pursue redistricting during a special session that started June 17.
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feature Downballot Runoffs
WHO WON LAST WEEK’S LESSER-KNOWN RACES?
By Ellie Fivas news@flagpole.com
AsGeorgians headed to the polls on June 16, voters were doing more than just determining Republican nominees for the top of the ticket—both parties also decided nominations for key down-ballot primary races.
Democrats and Republican voters returned to choose their nominees for lieutenant governor and secretary of state. Republican voters also had to settle the race for Public Service Commission District 5 and state school superintendent. Democrats chose between the top two candidates for both labor and insurance commissioners.
These nominees are now turning their focus to the general election in November.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Attorney and state Sen. Josh McLaurin took home the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, beating Nabilah Parkes, a consultant and former state senator. McLaurin, who is from Sandy Springs, earned roughly 54% of the vote, while Parkes, from Duluth, received about
SECRETARY OF STATE: Penny Brown Reynolds, a former judge and previous member of the Biden administration, won about 63% of the vote among Democrats, while Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett earned roughly 36%. Brown Reynolds campaigned on preserving voting rights, ensuring election integrity and empowering small businesses.
“It was an absolute blowout,” Brown Reynolds said in an online video. “You finished what we started, and now we have to take it all the way to November.”
State Rep. Tim Fleming of Covington, who won the Republican nomination for secretary of state, will face Brown Reynolds in November. Fleming faced former Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones, with Fleming earning about 64% of the vote and Jones receiving about 35%.
John King, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.
LABOR COMMISSIONER: Nikki Porcher, an Air Force veteran and nonprofit founder, secured the Democratic nomination for labor commissioner with about 61% of the vote. Porcher beat Michelle “Michi” Sánchez, a community organizer who previously served on the Hall County Board of Elections, who earned about 38% of the vote.
While Sanchez received multiple endorsements from state lawmakers and former and current county commissioners, Porcher won the nomination with priorities focused on affordable childcare, Department of Labor customer service and small business development.
“I’m grateful to every Georgian who made their voice heard in this election. Our democracy is strongest when people participate, and I look forward to bringing people together to build a Georgia where work works for everyone,” Porcher said in a press release.
Porcher will face appointed Republican incumbent Bárbara Rivera Holmes in the general election.
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT:
Incumbent
Richard Woods squeaked by to win the Republican nomination with roughly 51% of the vote, while Fred “Bubba” Longgrear earned about 48%.
The primary and runoff elections were both hotly contested, with many prominent Republican lawmakers endorsing Longgrear over Woods.
During Woods’ primary campaign, he pledged to continue addressing youth literacy. He has faced criticism for low literary scores statewide during his tenure as superintendent, which Longgrear’s campaign capitalized on.
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Fleming was deputy secretary of state under Brian Kemp, while Jones switched parties after the 2020 election and is now a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. Fleming focused his campaign on guarding against election fraud and championing voter ID policies.
Fleming thanked voters in a Facebook video for the “overwhelming support” and expressed enthusiasm for the November general election.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: Voters also decided between two candidates for the Democratic nominee for insurance commissioner in last Tuesday’s runoff election. Former state Rep. Keisha Sean Waites opposed DeAndre Mathis, an insurance agent from South Fulton. Waites, also a former Atlanta City Council member, succeeded against her opponent with roughly 58% of the vote, with Mathis earning about 41%.
“While we have come a long way, our work is not finished,” Waites said in an Instagram statement on Tuesday night. “The finish line is within sight, but this is the time when we must push harder than ever.”
Come November, Waites will face incumbent Republican insurance commissioner
“Despite being outspent $1,500,000 to $50,000, we weren’t outworked. I deeply appreciate the grassroots efforts across the state that delivered a victory on Tuesday. As we look to November, I’m confident we’ll deliver a victory just like we have the past three elections—not just for me, but for the students, parents and educators of Georgia,” Woods said in a statement to the Recorder.
Woods will face Democratic nominee Lydia Powell in November.
PUBLIC
SERVICE COMMISSION:
Voters also settled the GOP race for PSC District 5 in these elections. Josh Tolbert, a mechanical engineer from Cobb County, won the nomination with roughly 59% of the vote, beating out mediator Bobby Mehan.
Tolbert, who pledged to use his technical experience to focus on facts rather than politics, will face Democratic candidate Sheila Edwards, a communications professional and energy advocate. The November race could be a determining factor in whether Republicans can maintain their majority on the commission. f
This article originally appeared at georgiarecorder. com.
Josh McLaurin, who won the Democratic primary runoff for lieutenant governor, visited BLAKE AUED
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Complimentary Dessert with Entrée Purchase OR Complimentary Appetizer with Two Entrées Ask about our $12 lunch menu when you come in
Flagpole’s Guide to AthFest
PLAN AHEAD AND MAP OUT YOUR FESTIVAL WEEKEND
By Libba Beaucham and Sam Lipkin arts@flagpole.com
This weekend, the 28th annual three-day AthFest Music & Arts Festival takes place June 26–28 across several blocks of downtown. With more than 100 performers of various genres and styles filling three outdoor stages and 14 club crawl venues, there’s something for all ages and musical tastes. The free festival also features an artist market, vendors, food trucks, kids’ activities and more.
Proceeds of the festival benefit the nonprofit AthFest Educates, which raised more than $65,000 for arts and music education last year as a direct result of AthFest. More information about the organization’s fundraising and grants can be found at athfesteducates.org. For the past two years, a crowdfunding initiative allows donations to be made to AthFest Educates as votes for participating performers, with the highest fundraising performer securing an evening main stage slot at AthFest. Donations for this year’s participating bands can be made at givebutter.com/ athfest-music-arts- festival-2026.
Affiliated AthFest events begin Thursday, June 25 and continue through the weekend, including a kickoff party at the 40 Watt Club, yoga sessions with M3, Athens Out Loud poetry readings, a late-night screening of the Elephant 6 documentary, It’s Nateball’s Funny Bone comedy show and the Athens Art Book Fair (see p. 15 for details). Find out what you need to know for all things AthFest below, and see p. 12 for Flagpole’s comprehensive performance schedule.
Club Crawl
When the music dies down on the outdoor stages Friday and Saturday evening, the doors of 14 different venues will open for those wishing to keep the party going late night. The easiest way to get the full experience of show-hopping is to purchase a club crawl wristband. For $35 in advance or $40 after the festival begins on June 26, wristbands grant access (subject to capacity and age restrictions) to shows at Ciné, Clarke’s Collective, Dead Beat Club, Duke’s & Dottie’s, Flicker Theatre & Bar, the 40 Watt Club, Georgia Theatre, The Globe, Hendershot’s, Live Wire Athens, Nowhere Bar, Paloma Park, The Roadhouse and Union Fare. A VIP Day Pass ($100) includes access to all Club Crawl venues, a stainless steel keepsake water bottle, three beer vouchers and access to VIP areas near the outdoor main stage, as well as at the Georgia Theatre and 40 Watt Club. A full VIP Weekend Pass ($175) will throw in a commemorative Tshirt and an extra three pours. The VIP Pass also includes access to the Morton Theatre during the afternoon of Saturday and Sunday to cool off in the air conditioning and use the restroom, including handicapped-accessible facilities.
AthFest Gospel Stage
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the AthFest Gospel Brunch, which began as an outreach effort to connect with community members who may not frequently attend the festival. After much success, the event has been moved closer to the downtown AthFest blueprint and eliminated brunch and its associated ticket price. The now free concert will take place on Saturday at Live Wire Athens from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Performers include Moccasin Gap, The Solstice Sisters, Jalen Eberhardt, Reverend Dr. Justin Barbour, Nations Singers, The Shang Hull Event Dancers Youth Group with the Hill Chapel Vision of Praise Dance Youth Group, Marco and Friends, and the YMCA Kids Choir.
AthFest Artist Market
More than 70 artists and makers were selected to participate in the AthFest Artist Market, featuring an expansive variety of original works and hand- crafted products for sale. Vendor booths with paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, clothing, body care items, sculpture
and more will line Washington Street between Hull and Lumpkin streets. The artist market will be open Friday from 5–10 p.m., Saturday from 12–10 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30–8 p.m. A list of all participating artists is available at athfest.com.
AthFest Theme Artist
Each year AthFest selects a local artist to create themed artwork for the festival’s branding from merch and billboards to the cover of Flagpole. This year’s theme artist is Maggie Baxter Dearth, owner of Make Nice Design Co., who is known for both whimsical and hyper-realistic watercolor paintings, prints and stationary. Baxter’s AthFest theme was inspired by local “lubber” grasshoppers that she and her sister saw around town. “My sister, Jackie Baxter Roberts, and I decided these bugs had made such an impression on us as nature’s little works of art that they should be what I submitted as the main idea for the theme art, along with some classic Athens landmarks and a few other supporting creepy crawlers,” said Dearth. The sisters worked together on the design applications. “Jackie has always been my creative collaborator, so it is fitting that she is the graphic artist for this year’s AthFest. She was the one who added the moon, final lettering and other reproducible elements to make it into a logo and a full brand system that makes my designs look cohesive,” she explained. Dearth and her family members moved to Athens in 2010 from a small town in Mississippi. “The Athens art scene is one of the things that led me to Athens… I appreciate the opportunity it gives local artists and the art that can be seen by locals every day and tourists as they come through Athens. I love this town,” says Dearth.
KidsFest
For kid- friendly fun and activities, head to the KidsFest zone where you’ll find free hands-on activities and demonstrations, plus ticketed carnival rides and bounce houses. The KidsFest Stage will feature live music and dance for all ages. Three bands from Full Moon School of Music will perform Friday evening: Rent Free, Pineapple Shoelace and Full Moon Tuesday Band. A family- friendly dance party with DJ Mahogany will take place on Saturday from 1–3 p.m. at the Georgia Theatre. Other performances throughout the weekend include local music academies, choirs, orchestral music, dance performances and other artists. Saturday evening there will be fire spinners set up at 7:45 p.m. near the newly opened Costa Building park. Drinking water and family bathroom units will be open during festival hours on Friday from 6–9 p.m., Saturday from 10:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30–4:30 p.m. An affiliated Kids Yoga Fun Flow will take place Saturday from 8:30 a.m. at M3 Boulevard Moon Studio at 175 Tracy St.
Food Truck Eats and Cool Treats
Located at the surface lot between the Morton Theatre and West Washington Street parking deck is the Union Fare food truck park, which will include eats like La Chancla, Cafe Racer and The Fry Factory. If you’re looking to cool down, treats like King of Pops, Kona Ice, Smoothie King, Pelican Ice and La Michoacana can be found along the main stretch of the festival offering a little something for everyone.
Beer Gardens and Festival Zone Wristbands
Attendees 21 and up can purchase $5 Festival Zone Wristbands to carry purchased beer, wine and other age-
restricted products within the designated Festival Zone. The wristbands are available for sale at the beer tents, merch tent and at participating bars within the Festival Zone labeled on the official AthFest map. You’ll need your ID and a debit or credit card to make your purchase (ApplePay and GooglePay are not currently accepted).
Videos, Photographs and More
Many creative and hardworking Athenians stay on the scene all weekend so you can enjoy the entertainment from the comfort of your own home or relive it again later. Returning as an official affiliated partner, JOKERJOKERtv will provide a livestream of all performances on the Wicked Weed Brewing main stage. The livestream will be aired via YouTube (@JOKERJOKERtvofficial) Friday through Sunday.
Gregory Frederick and Frank Russell of the Athens GA Live Music YouTube channel will be the festival’s official videographers this year, and Flagpole readers can look forward to a giant roundup of videos in the weekly recap at flagpole.com. Their coverage will venture into the Club Crawl shows at night, in addition to the daytime festivities. AthFest’s official photographer, Mike White, will post images to his website deadlydesigns.com, while Flagpole photographers Mary Beth Bryan, Jake Zerkel and Kat Wood plan to share galleries at flagpole.com.
Label and Promoter Showcases
AthFest’s booking committee is committed to representing the genre and style diversity of the Athens music scene, and it strives to bring out crowd favorites while also giving up-and- comers an opportunity to shine. With so many options, it can be overwhelming. The Club Crawl includes some thoughtfully curated showcases presented by labels, show promoters and artist collectives known for cultivating their respective scenes, and they can be a great place to hang out for the night.
On Friday, New West and Strolling Bones Records will take over the Georgia Theatre from top to bottom with performances by Rick Fowler Band, Lilly Hiatt, The Pink Stones and Dash Rip Rock on the main stage, while the rooftop rocks out with Spencer Thomas, Mountain of Youth and Johnny Delaware. Dosed By an Angel is hosting at The Roadhouse with a punk- tinged lineup of Sick Papa, Invisible Machine, Johnny Falloon and Regulator. Classic City Rotary and the Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards will host their annual singer- songwriter-heavy lineup at The Globe on the early side, starting at 7:15 p.m. and wrapping up by 11 p.m.
On Saturday, ATHfactor Entertainment and Volumes Hip Hop host a hip-hop showcase on the Georgia Theatre Rooftop featuring DJ ChiefRocka, Neverjaded, Sxvxnt, Ishues, Alfred Banks, Stella Groove, Kxng Blanco and Quanny Peso. Ashthrone Booking will be at The Roadhouse for a heavy lineup including Spiritless, FieldHockey, Estimated Principles and Intension. The dance party will continue at Union Fare with Dawghouse Productions hosting DJ sets by Jaime, Tribe and Banjo. Over at Dead Beat Club, Normaltown Neighborhood Network presents Priestess Choir, Klezmer Local 42 and Pylon Reenactment Society. f
AthFest Schedule
Thursday 6/25
7–11 p.m. Tank Touring AthFest Kickoff Party with Sweet Tea Pedigree, Florence Cardigan, Ten High and Sunspur (40 Watt Club) $8 (w/ AthFest wristband), $10
Friday 6/26
5–10 p.m. Artist Market (Washington Street between Hull and Lumpkin) FREE!
6–9 p.m. KidsFest (Washington Street between Lumpkin and College) FREE!
Wicked Weed Main Stage (All Ages)
5:00 p.m. Kenosha Kid
5:50 p.m. Viv and the Things
6:40 p.m. Hiding Places
7:45 p.m. superstar
9:00 p.m. Improvement Movement
Hull Street Stage (All Ages)
5:25 p.m. Trycoh
6:15 p.m. Racecar 44
7:15 p.m. Bayou Princess
8:25 p.m. Coma Therapy
9:00 p.m. Silent Disco with Booty Boyz
KidsFest Stage (All Ages)
6:00–8:00 p.m. Full Moon School of Music UpNext Showcase
Ciné (All Ages)
10:00 p.m. Sacred Bull
11:00 p.m. Noise Mountain
12:00 a.m. Writhe
Clarke’s Collective (18+*)
10:15 p.m. Euclid
11:45 p.m. Maupas
Dead Beat Club (All Ages)
10:00 p.m. Woah Nelly
11:00 p.m. Crazier
12:00 a.m. Nicholas Mallis & the Borealis
Duke’s & Dottie’s (18+*)
9:00 p.m. Will Slater & the 53
10:00 p.m. Tristan Tritt
11:15 p.m. Line Dancing with Grace Mercer
11:45 p.m. Late Night DJ
Flicker Theatre & Bar (18+*)
10:00 p.m. Derby
11:00 p.m. Max’s Fable
12:00 a.m. Nightout
1:00 a.m. Obscurity
40 Watt Club (18+*)
10:00 p.m. Louie Larceny & Ben Hackett
10:15 p.m. Heffner
11:10 p.m. Scattrbrain
12:00 a.m. Wieuca
Georgia Theatre (18+*)
8:00 p.m. Rick Fowler Band
9:00 p.m. Lilly Hiatt
10:15 p.m. The Pink Stones 11:45 p.m. Dash Rip Rock
12–10 p.m. Artist Market (Washington Street between Hull and Lumpkin) FREE!
10:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. KidsFest (Washington Street between Lumpkin and College) FREE!
1–3 p.m. KidsFest Dance Party with DJ Mahogany (Georgia Theatre) FREE!
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Gospel Stage Performances with Moccasin Gap, The Solstice Sisters, Jalen Eberhardt, Reverend Dr. Justin Barbour, Nations Singers, The Shang Hull Event Dancers Youth Group with the Hill Chapel Vision of Praise Dance Youth Group, Marco and Friends and YMCA Kids Choir (Live Wire Athens) FREE!
Nate Wright, aka Nateball Y’all, is ringing in AthFest again this year with a show featuring a variety of comedians local to Athens and the surrounding areas. Wright started the show a few years ago as an AthFest-affiliated event with the help of festival board members Troy Aubrey and Mary Joyce. His aim was to fit as many comedians as possible into one show that would highlight multiple levels of experience, as
people the opportunity not only to buy directly from them, but also connect with them in person. This event is open to the public. [MB]
EVENTS
| JUNE 26–28
M3 Yoga & Pilates Events
Locations Vary • Times Vary • FREE!
well as a variety of comedic styles and personalities. The headliner this year is Drew Morgan, and the show will also feature Adam Beahan, Allen Teems, Big Al, Jalen Jones, Lanny Farmer, Miles Bunch, Nancy Heiges, Tyler Roberts, Chad Forehand and Feddun. Nateball and Carmen Finocchio will host. [Mary Beth Bryan]
Tank Touring, the live music services company of former Athens resident Jameson Tankersley (Jameson Tank), is hosting AthFest’s official pre-party, teeing up the city for a weekend full of live music. The show will include four local bands. First on the bill is Southern rock band Sweet Tea Pedigree. Next is indie-rock band Florence Cardigan, whose sound incorporates touches of funk, punk and jazz. Third is Sunspur, the new country-influenced project of Aaron Daugherty that also features other members of local favorite Hotel Fiction. The final act is rock band Ten High. [MB]
ART | JUNE 26–27
Athens Art Book Fair
Athenaeum • 4 p.m. • FREE!
Athens Art Book Fair is returning for its fourth year, adding an element of the visual arts to AthFest. The event is a print and zine fair that will platform the work of dozens of regional book artists, printmakers and publishers. Attendees are welcome to browse and purchase the works on display, which will include artist books, fine art prints, posters/broadsides, zines and more, offering a more affordable way to collect local art in a variety of styles and mediums. Dozens of artists and publishers will be representing their work at the event, giving
Yoga and hot pilates studio M3 is hosting several donations-based classes this AthFest weekend. The first of these is Flow for the Arts, which will be held at the Five Points location June 26 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. This is a hatha yoga class that will emphasize intentional movement, muscle engagement and strong alignment. On June 27 from 8:30–9:30 a.m., the Boulevard Moon Studio will host Kids Yoga Fun Flow, a family- friendly class also taught in the hatha tradition. Finally, the Five Points location will host Sweat with Purpose: Hot Pilates for a Cause on June 28 from 10–11 a.m. This class will be held in a heated room and will teach low-impact, high-intensity movements to build strength, endurance and core stability. AthFest wristband holders get in free, but donations benefiting AthFest Educates are appreciated. Participants are encouraged to create an online M3 Yoga & Hot Pilates account to reserve their spots. [MB]
LITERATURE | SAT, JUNE 27
Athens Out Loud
Live Wire • 4 p.m. • FREE!
Athens Poet Laureate Amanda Dzmianski is hosting a special AthFest event created to champion the literary arts by combining powerful local voices with music. For Athens Out Loud, a variety of local poets will read their works aloud with musical accompaniment from Seth Hendershot and Erik Olson. Participating poets include Dziamanski, Beto Cacao, Alex Johns, ellie swensson, former Athens poet laureate Mikhayla Robinson Smith, J.R. Barner, AJ Steele, da Arsonist, Grey, Amelia Orr and Life the Griot. The event will take place on the outdoor stage of Live Wire. [MB]
FILM
| SAT, JUNE 27
Screen on the Green
Costa Building Park • 11 p.m. • FREE!
Athens Film Festival, an organization created to elevate local films by connecting filmmakers with an engaged audience, is hosting a late-night AthFest screening of The Elephant 6 Recording Co. Released in 2022, this documentary feature film is about the indie-rock music collective of the same name. Elephant 6 was active primarily in the 1990s and included local bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, The Olivia Tremor Control, The Apples in Stereo, Elf Power, of Montreal, Dressy Bessy, Great Lakes and more. Though a “local” collective, Elephant 6 was a key part of the wider alternative and indie rock movement of the ’90s, and its members bonded over their DIY methods and resistance to being defined. This event is open to the public with limited seating. [MB] f
GHOSTWRITER Musical project from Austin, TX that melds influences from country-blues to postpunk and has opened for acts like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and T-Model Ford.
Porterhouse Grill
7 p.m. www.porterhousegrillathens. com
JAZZ NIGHT Longest running jazz gig in Athens performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits.
The Roadhouse
9 p.m. $5. www.instagram.com/road houseathens
CHALICE D-beat/crust punk band from Melbourne, FL. DRES CODE Hardcore punk from Murfreesboro, TN.
CRYING FORM Local hardcore punk trio.
TOMMYGUN Athens punk band. ARMS DEALER Welcome to the gun show punks.
Thursday 25
Athentic Brewing Co. Blues on Tap. 7–9 p.m. www.athentic brewing.com
THE ORIGINAL SCREW TOPS Blues jam for musicians, dancers and music lovers every fourth Thursday.
Dead Beat Club
8:30 p.m. $10. www.deadbeatathens.
com
TRAUMA FAMILY Gothic Americana from Atlanta featuring sidewise honky tonk and upbeat bummers. SKIRR Jazzy post-rock band.
NACKASHI GROUP Improvisational instrumental trio featuring Jay Nackashi, George Davison and Brandon McDearis. Flicker Theatre & Bar
SCHMOOZE Alternative rock band from Athens with a sound blending ’90s grunge with modern punk and indie rock influences.
OUTSIDE DOG Punk rock from Nashville, TN.
WOMEN IN STEM Indie rock girl trio with a power complex and lots of love.
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. $10. www.hendershotsathens. com
BIG BAND ATHENS 18-member Athens band whose swinging tunes consist of cover music from the ’40s to the ’70s.
Nowhere Bar
9:30 p.m. www.instagram.com/ nowherebarathensga
BLUES JAM Bring an instrument and join host Big C and The Moonshynes for an open blues jam. The house band includes Scott Nicholson, Derek Warren, Brent Davenport and Bo Hembree.
The Roadhouse
10 p.m. www.instagram.com/road houseathens
POLAR WAVES Alternative and punk rock band led by singer-songwriter Julio Duran.
Friday 26
Amici at The Falls
6 p.m. www.facebook.com/amiciat thefalls
CAM NORTON Covers and originals in the vein of rock, folk, bluegrass and country.
Athentic Brewing Co.
6–8:30 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com
THE LENDERS Local folk band. Southern Drawl Bar & Grille 5–10 p.m. www.southerndrawlbarand grille.com
KARAOKE Every Friday night. VFW Post 2872
7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $10. www.facebook.com/vfwpost2872 RAMBLIN’ COUNTRY BAND Georgia-based band playing country, western and rock classics.
Saturday 27
Athentic Brewing Co.
6–8 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com
ETHAN MULLINAX Local indie singer-songwriter. Hendershot’s Slush Fund 17th Annual Day Party. 12:30 p.m. www.hendershots athens.com
PEACE AT HOME Ryan Flanagan’s alt-rock/Americana one-man band.
PARKER GISPERT Hometown solo performance from the frontman of Nashville-based rock trio The Whigs.
THAYER SARRANO Hazy shoegaze-inspired songwriter whose sound is described as a “Southern-psych dreamland.”
THE LADIES OF… Glam and power pop-infused rock and roll featuring singer James Hall. Low Yo Yo Hooker Vision Presents. 10 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/lowyoyo stuffathensga NIGHT SKY BODY Ambient experimental project based in Murfreesboro, TN.
LEA LEA Athens-based secret bedroom pop.
SPACE BROTHER Electronic- and hip-hop-influenced producer. No. 3 Railroad Street 6 p.m. www.3railroad.org
MARION MONTGOMERY & GLYN DENHAM Bluesy local acoustic folk duo.
The Root 10 p.m. FREE! www.therootathens. com
SILENT DISCO Grab a pair of headphones, choose a music channel and dance the night away.
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.”
Wednesday 1
Athentic Brewing Co.
6:30–8:30 p.m. www.athenticbrewing. com
SONGWRITERS ANONYMOUS Featuring several songwriters in the round.
Flicker Theatre & Bar
9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com
DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Featuring a large assortment of pop, rock, indie and more.
7/03 Cody White and the Easy Ride, Larry’s Homework (Dead Beat Club) f
event calendar
Tuesday 23
CLASSES: Boots & Brews Line Dancing (Athentic Brewing Co.) Learn the line dancing basics from host Lindsay before the floor opens for social dancing. Fourth Tuesdays, 7–9 p.m. www.athentic brewing.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: Love Island Watch Party (Athentic Brewing Co.) Chaotic Good Podcast hosts a watch party with a pre-show podcast, games and special drinks. 8 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici at The Falls) Test your trivia knowledge with host Miles Bunch. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/ baddogathens
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Paloma Park) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/baddogathens
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Winghouse Grill Hull) Test your general trivia knowledge. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Akademia Brewing Co.) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Garrett. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: Bingo & Sip (MaiKai Kava Lounge) Play BINGO with a chance to win prizes. Every other Tuesday, 7 p.m. FREE! www.athenskava.com
GAMES: UnPhiltered Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Test your trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www. facebook.com/MellowMushroom
Athens
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
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Magnolias of Athens) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Benjamin. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. www. instagram.com/classiccitytriviaco
KIDSTUFF: Who Would Win? (Bogart Library) Learn about dinosaurs and polar bears, enjoy an indoor “snow” fight and watch a creature feature film. 2 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart
MEETINGS: Athens Photography Guild (Lyndon House Arts Center) Several photographers will provide live demonstrations of photographic equipment and software applications. 6 p.m. FREE! www. athensphotographyguild.wordpress. com
SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. www.athenspetanque.org
Wednesday 24
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: Hiking Basics Presentation (REI) Learn how to prepare for a day hike including what items to pack, where to explore local trails and how to practice Leave NO Trace principles. 6 p.m. FREE! www.rei. 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
FILM: The Birdcage (Athentic Brewing Co.) Screening of the 1996 comedy drama film. 8 p.m. www. athenticbrewing.com
GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Drop in and play Shadowfist. All skill levels. 11:30 a.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: Classic City Trivia (Hotel Indigo) Test your general trivia
art around town
ATHENAEUM (287 W. Broad St.) Prompting artists to create the “wildest bathrooms in Athens,” artists Amanda Burk and Elinor Saragoussi designed installations for the Athenaeum bathrooms. Burk’s installation is titled “Mars: a color study,” and Saragoussi’s is titled “threshold (true): finding comfort in hidden worlds.”
ATHICA (675 Pulaski St. Ste. 1200) “Mutual Grit” features works within the theme of Georgia’s ecology and human impact on the environment. Through June 30.
ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) “Piecemeal” features collages by Brian George built piece by piece over two years. Through June 25.
AURUM STUDIOS (125 E. Clayton St.) “The Silk Show ’26” features painted silks by Margaret Agner. Through July.
DONDEROS’ KITCHEN (590 N. Milledge Ave.) Whimsical artworks by Susan Pelham will be on display through August.
FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) Works by Jeremy Long celebrate his 30 year anniversary in this exhibition. Through June.
GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) Drawing on Ada Limón’s poem “In Praise of Mystery,” “We, Too, Are Made of Wonders” explores humanity’s fascination with the cosmos through poetry, science and visual art from the museum’s collection. Through June 28. • asinnajaq’s “Three Thousand” combines archival videos from the National Film Board of Canada with animations, soundscapes and contemporary video footage. Through June 28. • “Seeing the News in Harper’s Weekly, 1860–80” features Civil War-era and Reconstruction-era illustrations by Thomas Nast
knowledge with host Ian. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. www.instagram.com/ classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Normal Bar) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (The Local 706) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Garrett. Wednesdays, 7:06 p.m. www.instagram.com/classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Cafe Racer (Oak St.)) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/ baddogathens
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Locos Grill and Pub Eastside) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. www.instagram.com/ shihtzunottrivia
KIDSTUFF: Mermaid Meet & Greet (Oconee County Library) Enjoy a sea themed party, crafts and a visit from the mermaid Ariel. 11 a.m. & 12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee
LECTURES & LIT: RIP Book Club (Hendershot’s) Casual discussions about horror-themed books, comics and graphic novels with rotating monthly picks. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.instagram.com/ripbookclub athens
MEETINGS: Film Athens (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Meet and network with others in the filmmaking community (actors, directors, etc.) during happy hour. 5 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/FilmAthens
Thursday 25
ART: Closing Reception (tiny ATH gallery) Artist Tatiana Kiselyova’s exhibition “Inner Possum” will be on view. 6–9 p.m. FREE! www.tiny athgallery.com
ART: Artist Talk (OCAF) Artists featured in the “Southworks” juried exhibition will discuss their works. 6 p.m. FREE! www.ocaf.com
CLASSES: Improv for Dementia Care Partners (Flying Squid Comedy) Use improv to boost your communication skills, relieve stress
and connect with others. 2 p.m. $33. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com
CLASSES: Ladies Only Line Dancing (Boutier Winery) Learn how to line dance with Amy. All skill levels welcome. 6:30–9 p.m. $5. www. boutierwinery.com
COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Flying Squid Comedy) Bring a loose funny bone to some home-grown townie improv. 6:30 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (short-form), 8 p.m. (long-form). $5. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com
COMEDY: It’s Nateball’s Funny Bone (Live Wire) Standup showcase of local and regional comedians. 7 p.m. www.athfest.com/ athfest-affiliate-events
GAMES: Dino Bingo (Bogart Library) Enjoy an afternoon of fun games and prizes with dinosaur themed games. All ages. 4 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart
GAMES: Bad Dog BINGO (Amici at The Falls) Play BINGO with host TJ Wayt. Thursdays, 6 p.m. www. instagram.com/baddogathens
GAMES: Adult TTRPG (Bogart Library) All skill levels can join for Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role playing games. Ages 18 & up. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Terrapin Beer Co.) Test your general trivia knowledge. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzu nottrivia
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Terrapin Beer Co.) Test your general trivia knowledge. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzu nottrivia
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Butt Hutt) Test your general trivia knowledge. Thursdays, 7 p.m. www. instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Athens’ Hardest Trivia Night (Nighthawks Lounge) Test your trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www.nighthawkslounge.com
KIDSTUFF: LEGO Builder’s Challenge (Oconee County Library) Drop in to complete challenges and earn prizes. Ages 5–12. Fourth Thursdays, 3:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee
and Winslow Homer, curated by students in UGA’s Hands-on Public History course. Through July 12. • On loan from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art are 377 painted ceramic plates from Julie Green’s “The Last Supper” series inspired by death row inmates’ final meal requests. Through Aug. 16. • “Looking Through a Sewn Sky: Rachel B. Hayes” is a commissioned installation in the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden that blends sculpture, painting and craft. Through Jul. 30, 2027. LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (211 Hoyt St.) “AIR Group 2” features narrative printmaking works by Jo Anderson and jewelry pieces by Jordan Blackwell. Through June 27. • “Surface Tension” features artwork by Erika Diamond and prosthetics by Chelsa Lillo that explore protection, identity and the fragility of the human body. Through June 27. • “Somethings” features small sculpture works by Ivy Laurel Anderson made from discarded mass-produced objects. Through July 18. • “Speaking in Tongues” features multi-media works by local and regional artists inspired by language and text across mediums and eras. Poetry/spoken word event Aug. 27, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Through Aug. 29. • A Pet Portrait Exhibition features works submitted by the public. Through Aug. 29. • “Excursions in Ukraine” features photographs Through Aug. 29. • “Son of a Griff” features paintings by self-taught Black and Indigenous American artist Rial Rye that explore race and identity through saturated color and found objects. Through Aug. 29. • “BEE CITY OF NOW” is a 24-foot model community for bees by Swannatopia and Experimental Art Club, installed on the Arts Center’s second-floor outdoor patio. Through May 1, 2027. MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 South Main Street, Madison) In celebration of the center’s 50th anniversary, the exhibition “experience and intersection” features works by John Cleaveland and the late Richard Olsen. Through October.
LECTURES & LIT: Across The Board Book Club (Oconee County Library) Discuss books chosen by the group. New members welcome. Fourth Thursdays, 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee
LECTURES & LIT: Mystery Book Club (Bogart Library) Discuss Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz with the group. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart
MEETINGS: Pencil Pushers Drink & Draw (Hendershot’s) Hang out and draw on the paper-covered tables or bring your own sketchbook. 5–7 p.m. FREE! www.hendershotsathens.com
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
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
SPORTS: World Cup Pregame (Terrapin Beer Co.) There will be BINGO and merch raffles. 3–9 p.m. www. terrapinbeer.com
Friday 26
ART: Free Sketch Friday (Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum) Artists of all ages and skills can tour the museum then sketch items from the collections. All materials provided. 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. FREE! botgarden.uga.edu
CLASSES: Flow for the Arts (M3Yoga Five Points) A hatha class emphasizing intentional movement, muscle engagement and strong alignment in benefit of AthFest Educates. 5:30 p.m. Donation suggested. www.athfest.com/athfestaffiliate-events
EVENTS: 10th Annual Athens Rock, Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show (The Classic Center) Browse the wares of over two dozen independent dealers of all things geologic. June 26–27, 10
EVENTS: Athens Art Book Fair (The Athenaeum) Showcase of a variety of works on paper produced by dozens of artists and presses from the Southeast. June 26–27, 4–7 p.m. FREE! www.athfest.com/athfestaffiliate-events
FILM: Movie Night (ACC Library) Screening of The Good Dinosaur as part of the summer reading series. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Oak House Distillery) Test your general trivia knowledge. Fridays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
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: Wondrous World of Polymers (Oconee County Library) Join Dr. Maurice Snook for a lesson on polymers. 11 a.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee
KIDSTUFF: Kids Club Dog Training (Pet Supplies Plus) Learn how to foster better relationships with dogs through games, activities and play with stuffed dogs. Registration required. 2 p.m. FREE! Find Pet Supplies Plus Athens on Eventbrite
KIDSTUFF: Escape from Jurassic Park (Bogart Library) Crack the code on a dinosaur themed escape room. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart
PERFORMANCE: Open Mic Night (Canopy Studio) A scaled-down performance opportunity for creative expression. Sign-up required. 8 p.m. www.canopystudio.org
Saturday 27
CLASSES: Animal Communication Workshop (Work.Shop) Find out what your animals hope to share as you learn how to send and receive messages telepathically. 11 a.m. $45. www.ancientsunsacademy.com COMEDY: Rapture Comedy Show (Sister Louisa’s Church Bar) Lineup of Southern-based comedians. Last
OCAF (34 School St. Watkinsville) “Before the End of Time” features oil paintings by Terry Rowlett. Through June 26. • In the Main Gallery, “Southworks” showcases a variety of mediums juried by Beth Malone and Rachel Waldrop. Artist talks June 25 & 30, 6 p.m. Through July 31. • “Art in the Family” presents multi-medium works by OCAF members and volunteers. July 3–31. THE OLD PAL (1320 Prince Ave.) “Flowers in India Ink” features framed original India ink works on paper by Michele Dross. Through June.
TINY ATH GALLERY (174 Cleveland Ave.) “Inner ’Possum” features works by Tatiana Kiselyova. Artist talk June 26, 6–9 p.m. Through June 28. STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA (2450 S. Milledge Ave.) Athens printmaker Amanda Burk displays works combining traditional printmaking techniques with hand-drawn and painted elements. Through June 28.
UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “Fashioning the Classic Bride: The Life and Career of Anne Barge” features 33 dresses from the UGA alumna. Through July. • “Beyond the ’96 Games: Atlanta’s Olympic Legacy” features an original torch from the opening relay and other authentic memorabilia. Through October.
UGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (230 River Rd.) In the Lobby Gallery on the mezzanine level outside Ramsey Concert Hall are large-scale paintings by Christopher Hocking with themes of pop culture, history, literature and more.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP (780 Timothy Rd.) The Athens Fibercraft Guild’s exhibition “Celebrating Fiber” is on view in the Claire and Robert Clements Gallery. Through June.
WINTERVILLE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER (371 N. Church St., Winterville) Artworks by Jack Burk will be on display through September 15. • In honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary, “Rebellious Art, Treasonous Artists” is on view in Room 103. Through December.
EVENTS: The Athens Farmers Market (Bishop Park) Markets offer locally grown groceries and handmade goods with live music and children’s activities. AFM doubles SNAP dollars spent. Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. www.athensfarmers market.net
EVENTS: Comer Community Market (The Perch) Browse flower and vegetable plant starts, baked goods, vegetables, honey, pottery, eggs, mushrooms and handmade items. 9 a.m.–12 p.m. www.theperchcomer. com/farmers-market
EVENTS: Marigold Farmers Market (Pittard Park) Vendors offer organic produce, prepared foods, agricultural products and artisanal goods with live music, kids activities and more. Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. www.marigoldcollectivewinterville.com
EVENTS: Art & Craft Supply Swap (ACC Library) Bring excess or no-longer-needed craft supplies and get new (to you) supplies. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org
EVENTS: 10th Annual Athens Rock, Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show (The Classic Center) Browse the wares of over two dozen independent dealers of all things geologic. June 26–27, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. June 28, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $10 (adults), FREE! (12 & under). www.classiccenter.com
EVENTS: Athens Out Loud (Live Wire) Poetry readings hosted by Athens’ Poet Laureate accompanied by live music. 4–6 p.m. FREE! www.athfest.com/athfest-affiliateevents
EVENTS: Athens Art Book Fair (The Athenaeum) Showcase of a variety of works on paper produced by dozens of artists and presses from the Southeast. June 26–27, 4–7 p.m. FREE! www.athfest.com/athfestaffiliate-events
EVENTS: Star Spangled Classic (Southeast Clarke Park) There will be carnival rides, food trucks and music by The Original Splitz Band. Fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m. from the ACC Tennis Center. 6–10 p.m. FREE! www.accgov.com/fireworks
FILM: Screen on the Green (Costa Building Park) Athens Film Festival presents a screening of the documentary The Elephant 6 Recording Co. 11 p.m. FREE! www.athfest. com/athfest-affiliate-events
KIDSTUFF: Kids Yoga Fun Flow (M3Yoga Boulevard Moon) A hatha class focusing on simple, intentional poses in benefit of AthFest Educates. 8:30 a.m. Donation suggested. www.athfest.com/athfestaffiliate-events
KIDSTUFF: The Big Blue, Red, White & BBQ (Big Blue Marble Academy) The pre-Fourth of July celebration will include a complimentary barbecue lunch, splash pad, high-energy foam cannon, themed crafts and a photo booth. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www. bbmacademy.com/location/athens
KIDSTUFF: Family Day: Extra Ordinary (Georgia Museum of Art) Play gallery games, enjoy interactive storytime and create your own takehome project. 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org
KIDSTUFF: Chess Club (Oconee County Library) Drop in for open chess play to learn the game, challenge skills and engage with other enthusiasts. 3 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee
KIDSTUFF: Escape from Jurassic Park (Bogart Library) Crack the code on a dinosaur themed escape room. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart
Sunday 28
ART: Together We Dazzle (Hendershot’s) Benefit for the EhlersDanlos Society featuring live music, original artwork and archival prints for sale. 3–7 p.m. www.christinajoy studio.com
CLASSES: Sweat with Purpose (M3Yoga Five Points) A hatha class emphasizing intentional movement, muscle engagement and strong alignment in benefit of AthFest Educates. 10 a.m. Donation suggested. www.athfest.com/athfest-affiliateevents
COMEDY: Funny Femmes (The Globe) An all-femme showcase featuring comedians from Athens and Atlanta. Fourth Sundays, 9 p.m. $10. www.globetavern.com
your desktop and keep important documents easy to find. 10 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org
EVENTS: American Red Cross Blood Drive (ACC Library) Donors of all blood types are encouraged to contribute. Registration required. 2–6 p.m. FREE! www.redcross blood.org
FILM: Secret Spaced Out Movie Marathon (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of space-themed movies from open to close. 4 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar.com
GAMES: Chess and Community (ACC Library) Drop in for open chess play to learn the game, challenge skills and engage with other enthusiasts. Mondays, 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Fully Loaded Pizza Kitchen (Nor-
EVENTS: 10th Annual Athens Rock, Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show (The Classic Center) Browse the wares of over two dozen independent dealers of all things geologic. June 26–27, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. June 28, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $10 (adults), FREE! (12 & under). www.classiccenter.com
GAMES: Summer Scrabble Club (ACC Library) Family-friendly gathering for Scrabble lover to play and win prizes. 3–5 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (The Globe) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Sundays, 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. www.instagram.com/baddogathens
PERFORMANCE: Afternoon Tea: A Drag Brunch (Athentic Brewing Co.) A high tea themed afternoon of drag entertainment. 12 p.m. $10 (show only). www.athenticbrewing. com
SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. www.athenspetanque.org
Monday 29
ART: Mandala Workshop (Winterville Cultural Center) Nicole Bechill guides participants as they explore creativity and self-discovery through mandala art. 10 a.m. $35. www.wintervillecenter.com
CLASSES: Organizing Your Digital Space (ACC Library) Learn simple ways to sort your files, clean up
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
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici at The Falls) Test your trivia knowledge with host Miles Bunch. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/ baddogathens
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Paloma Park) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/baddogathens
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Winghouse Grill Hull) Test your general trivia knowledge. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Akademia Brewing Co.) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Garrett. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: UnPhiltered Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Test your trivia knowledge with host Phil. 7 p.m. www. facebook.com/MellowMushroom
Athens
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
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Magnolias of Athens) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Benjamin. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. www. instagram.com/classiccitytriviaco
KIDSTUFF: Volcano Madness (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Harli to learn how to craft an active volcano. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. 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 1
maltown)) Test your general trivia knowledge. Mondays, 7 p.m. www. instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Dooley’s Bar and Grill) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Garrett. Mondays, 7 p.m. www.instagram. com/classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: General Trivia (Athentic Brewing Co.) Test your general trivia knowledge. Mondays, 7 p.m. www.athenticbrewing.com
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Pancho’s Tacos & Tequila) Test your general trivia knowledge. Mondays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzu nottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Grindhouse Killer Burgers) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Benjamin. Mondays, 7:30 p.m. www.instagram.com/classiccity triviaco
KIDSTUFF: Superhero Meet and Greet (Bogart Library) Drop in to meet Black Panther, learn about Wakanda and create crafts. 1 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart
KIDSTUFF: Midsommar Celebration (The Meadow Montessori Play Studio) Enjoy themed crafts, games, activities and snacks. Ages 5 & under. 3 p.m. $19. www. themeadowplaystudio.com
Tuesday 30
ART: Artist Talk (OCAF) Artists featured in the “Southworks” juried exhibition will discuss their works. 6 p.m. FREE! www.ocaf.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH • DOORS 7:00 PM
ATHFEST PRE-PARTY
TANK TOURING PRESENTS: SWEET TEA PEDIGREE • FLORENCE CARDIGAN • TEN HIGH • SUN SPUR
FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH • DOORS 9:00 PM
ATHFEST NIGHT ONE
10 PM – LOUIE LARCENY & BEN HACKETT 10:15 PM – HEFFNER 11:10 PM- SCATTRBRAIN 12 AM – WIEUCA
SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH • DOORS 9:00 PM
ATHFEST NIGHT TWO
10 PM – ELF POWER 10:45 PM – KEVN KINNEY 12 AM – SLIGHTLY FAMOUS SOMEBODIES
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) Drop in and play Shadowfist. All skill levels. 11:30 a.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (South Main Brewing) Test your trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Hotel Indigo) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Ian. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. www.instagram.com/ classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Normal Bar) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/shihtzunottrivia
GAMES: Classic City Trivia (The Local 706) Test your general trivia knowledge with host Garrett. Wednesdays, 7:06 p.m. www.instagram.com/classiccitytriviaco
GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Cafe Racer (Oak St.)) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. www.instagram.com/ baddogathens
GAMES: Shih Tzu Not Trivia (Locos Grill and Pub Eastside) Test your general trivia knowledge. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. www.instagram.com/ shihtzunottrivia
KIDSTUFF: Meet & Greet Ms. Rachel (Oconee County Library) Enjoy storytime, dino themed crafts, photo ops and a dance party. 11 a.m. & 12 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/oconee f
The Star Spangled Classic will be held at Southeast Clarke Park on Saturday, June 27 from 6–10 p.m.
bulletin board & classifieds
Classifieds
HELP WANTED (Part-Time) Video
Editor & Content Creator for new 4x4 offgrid DIY camping YouTube channel. Around 10 hours per week at $30/hr. Read more at milesog. com/editor
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.athensschoolof music.com. 706-543-5800
MUSIC (Services) Instant cash is now being paid for good vinyl records & CDs in fine condition. Wuxtry Records at corner of Clayton and College Dwntn. 706-612-4926
REAL ESTATE (Commercial) Space For Rent. Glass frontage, Approx. 1750 Sq. Ft. 2812 Atlanta Hwy across from McDonalds. $2500. Call or email Dale at 706-2248933 or ddun265@aol.com for info.
REAL ESTATE (For Rent) Apartment, 5 Points. Daylighted, 1BR/1BA, basement apartment in home on quiet street. Separate entrance. Non-smoker. No pets. Utils. included. $875/mon. Available. Text 706-363-2412.
REAL ESTATE (For Rent) Hair salon in Normaltown area. One chair only.
Contact jujujr0000@gmail.com for more information.
REAL ESTATE (Room for Rent) Room for rent w/private BA. Located in Watkinsville. $800/mon all inclusive. Graduate student preferred. Call 706-286-0138 for more information.
REAL ESTATE (Room for Rent) Room for rent in a unique house near Boulevard. $600/mon starting in August. 3 roommates in the alt/ music scene. All identities welcome. Text 317-519-4790. SERVICES (Classes) SUMMER CAMPS at Merit Music Academy are now open! Songwriting, Rock ’n Roll, Piano, and even Puppetry and Comedy camps. 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or 9 a.m.–5 p.m. options available. Read more at MeritMusicAcademy. com/camps.
SERVICES (Financial) Bookkeeping for Athens nonprofits, small businesses & makers. QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, now booking 2026. Locally kept. Text Sam 706386-0281. www.beeskneesbook keeping.com
SERVICES (Health) HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHING: Integrating herbalism, mindfulness and movement for a whole body approach. 706-343-3576, connect@cora rosewellness.com, www.corarose wellness.com
SERVICES (Health) JAMES HILTON HYPNOSIS: Smoking, vaping, exam
preparation and athletic performance enhancement. 678-8954278, www.hiltonhypnosis.org
SERVICES (Home & Garden)
Scratching your head with all this poison ivy? We can help! WomanRun Gardening Services: We offer garden maintenance, invasive plant removal, personalized edible and native gardens for your school, home or business! 706-395-5321
SERVICES (Home & Garden) Hi!
I’m Pablo, an expert gardener offering personalized care for your landscape. I specialize in lowmaintenance, native gardens that support pollinators and biodiversity. Find me @pablofromseed, email pkozatch@gmail.com or call 631903-4365.
Arts
ATHENS CREATIVE DIRECTORY (Athens, GA) The ACD is a free platform to connect creatives with patrons. www.athenscreatives. directory
CALL FOR ART (Various Locations) Visit www.flagpole.com/bulletin board for ongoing open art calls.
CALL FOR ART (ACCGov) Professional artists are invited to submit qualifications to create a sculpture for Memorial Park pond. Art will be placed in or around the lower pond, one large sculpture or a series
of smaller sculptures. Deadline to apply is Friday, July 24. www. accgov.com, tatiana.veneruso@ accgov.com
CALL FOR MURAL LOCATION (Double Helix) Students from the Double Helix Steam School are offering to paint a free mural for a local business/organization. kquinn@doublehelixschool.com
CALL FOR STORYTELLERS (Rabbit Box) Rabbit Box seeks story ideas for upcoming shows. www.rabbit box.org/tell
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS (Athens Homeless Coalition) Seeking submissions for street newspaper. Poetry, short stories, visual art, song lyrics. enagementcoordinator @athenshc.org
COMMUNITY TOURS (Georgia Museum of Art) A variety of tours open to the public including “Student Perspectives” which runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays throughout the month. www.georgia museum.org
LIFE DRAWING (Winterville Cultural Center) Monthly afternoon life drawing sessions, every fourth Tuesday. Models scheduled represent the full spectrum of age, color, race and genders. Artists 18+ only. Registration and prepayment required. $20. 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
SEEKING DONATIONS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Accepting art paper, canvas, paint, tools and more for various community programs. www.accgov.com/lyndon house
SEEKING INSTRUCTORS (OCAF) Currently seeking instructors to teach children’s art classes in any medium for the upcoming school year. Submit a course proposal at www.ocaf.com/courses
Auditions
OPEN AUDITIONS (Georgia Children’s Choir) GCC serves singers in grades 2–12. Auditions for placement across five ensembles currently available for all skill levels. www.georgiachildrenschorus. org/about/audition
OPEN AUDITIONS (Athens Master Chorale) Seeking new members in all voice parts including high sopranos, tenors and basses. Scheduled auditions held at St. Gregory the Great Church. athmcdirector@ gmail.com
OPEN AUDITIONS (Athens Symphony) The Athens Symphony is holding auditions for qualified musicians. www.athenssymphony. org/openings
SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL (Athens Creative Theatre) Seeking individuals for this comedy musical based on the classic cartoon. Auditions will include cold readings, a short prepared vocal selection and a movement section. Auditions held Aug. 26–28 at the Morton Theatre. act@accgov.com
Classes
A COURSE IN MIRACLES (580 Tallassee Rd.) Heal your psychology and your life using simple instruction of high vibrational thought. Sundays, 10–11:30 a.m. 770-2372354, 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
CLASSES, HIKES & PADDLES (Watson Mill State Park, Comer) The park offers a variety of events including firebuilding classes, various educational hikes including “Bridge History,” “Tree ID,” “Historic Mills” and more. Parking fee/ pass required for all events. www. gastateparks.org/WatsonMillBridge 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 & PROGRAMS (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.athens landtrust.org/classes-events
CLASSES & PROGRAMS (Bogart Library) Various ongoing weekly events including ESL (Tuesdays and Thursdays), Knit Lits Knitting (Thursdays) and more.
CLASSES & PROGRAMS (Oconee Library) Various ongoing weekly events including Drop-In Painting (Tuesdays), Open Chess Play (Saturdays), Mixed Media Meetup (Mondays) and more.
CLASSES & PROGRAMS (Winterville Cultural Center, Winterville) Flow Yoga & Pilates (Monday), Yoga in the Gallery (Wednesdays), Chair Yoga & Creative Cafe (Thursdays) and more. www.winterville center.com
CLASSES, PROGRAMS & TOURS (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Various ongoing weekly events including Guided Plant Walk (Tuesdays–Fridays), Porcelain and Decorative Arts Tour (Tuesdays), Free Sketch (Fridays) and more. botgarden.uga.edu
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 (The Studio) TIMB Athens & Bachata Conexión host a 9-week workshop series for salsa and bachata dancers of all levels. Through Aug. 9, 4:30 p.m. No class July 5. Registration required. www. timbathens.com/events.
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
FREE CLASSES (The Athens Free School) Learning network for community centered around compassion, autonomy and playfulness. Visit @athensfreeschool on Instagram.
Help Out
ATHENS SKATEPARK PROJECT
(Athens Skate Park) Seeking volunteers and community input. Third Sundays. www.athensskatepark project.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. 706-8500387 or support@grailbras.com
DIAPER DONATIONS (Athens Area Diaper Bank) Diaper donations needed for local infants. All sizes and open packs/boxes are accepted. www.athensareadiaper bank.com
FIRE PIT RAFFLE (Friends of the Madison County Library) Madison County Library hosts a raffle for an outdoor gas fire pit to benefit various programs. $1 per ticket, unlimited entries. The winning ticket will be drawn in November after the Madison County Harvest Festival.
www.athenslibrary.org/madison
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) Free home medical equipment provided to those in need. Athens locations for pickup at Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging and Multiple Choices. Donations also accepted. www.fodac.org
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE
(Silver Lace) Open registration for consideration for free mobility and daily living medical items. Donations also accepted. www.silverlace inc.org, info@silverlace.org
MICROCHIP SCANNING STATIONS
(Multiple Locations) Connect lost pets with their owners. Available 24 hours. Located at ACC Animals Services, Memorial Park Dog Park and Southeast Clarke Park. Instructions provided at each location.
SEEKING 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 706-546-1133, ext 223.
SEEKING DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS (Animal Services Adoption Center) Animal service sessions run Monday through Friday; training session required. Seeking donations of gently used bath towels and rags. Donations can be dropped off at the door after hours. www. accgov.com/animalservices
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (ACC Solid Waste) Seeking Zero Waste Volunteers for AthFest. Volunteers will help event attendees sort waste and help with waste diversion. www. givepulse.com/event/880273
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Marigold Collective, Winterville) Volunteers needed for community food distribution events including weekly food kitchen, meal deliveries and more. Also accepting donations of canned and dry goods. wwwmarigold collectivewinterville.com
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Meals on Wheels) Currently recruiting volunteers to deliver meals, engage in safety checks and more. eschley@ accaging.org
volunteer families to host global exchange students. www.pax.org, 800-555-6211
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (Shoal Creek Sanctuary) Volunteers needed for variety of events including invasive plant removal, plant adoptions and more. First Sundays, 1–3:30 p.m. www.shoalcreek sanctuary.org/volunteer
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS (St. Mary’s Home Health & Hospice) Seeking volunteers to provide companionship or to help with simple tasks for those in hospice care. Training provided. 706-389-2273
TEACHER SUPPLIES (Teacher Reuse Store) Educators can access free creative supplies at the store. Please bring credentials. www.acc gov.com/trs
VOLUNTEER NETWORK (Community Works, Watkinsville) A nonprofit organization that connects volunteers of all ages to events, resources and training opportunities. CWorksOC@gmail.com
Kidstuff
CLASSES & PROGRAMS (ACC Leisure Services Department) Various ongoing weekly and monthly events including Jumping Gym, 123 Toddler & Me!, Fantastic Friday, Storytime and more. www.accgov. com/myrec
CLASSES & PROGRAMS (Bogart Library) Various ongoing weekly events including LEGO Mania (Wednesdays), Storytime with Miss Harli (Mondays), Sensory Open Play (Tuesdays) and more. www. athenslibrary.org/bogart
CLASSES & PROGRAMS (Oconee Library) Various ongoing weekly events including Kids Yoga and Open Play (Tuesdays), Story Time and Cocoa Club (Wednesdays), and more. www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee
LEARN TO SWIM (ACC Leisure Services Department) Registration open for variety of lessons for ages over 3 years old including Swim School, Parent/Tot Swim School and Adult Swim Lessons. $33 per session. Additionally, a free Kinderswim program is offered for 5-yearold children. Registration required for all events. www.accgov.com/ aquatics
SPRING & SUMMER CAMP (Canopy Studios) Registration for a variety of day camp dates for grades K-12 is now available. www.canopy studio.org/class-schedule/camps
SUMMER CAMP (Athens Area Humane Society) Registration is now open for “Humane Heroes” and “Junior Vet” summer camps in June & July. Ages 6–14. www.athens humanesociety.org/summer-camp
SUMMER CAMP (OCAF, Watkinsville) Registration now open for a variety of summer camp opportunities including improv, puppet making, mixed media art and more. Ages 7–14. www.ocaf.com/kids
SUMMER CAMP (Nowhere Archery) Traditional archery and outdoor education day/sleep away camps in the Beloved Land. Learn camping skills, canoeing, woodcraft, and more. Registration now open. Scholarships available. www. nowherearchery.com/summer-camp
SUMMER CAMP (Nuçi’s Space) A production, engineering, mixing and live sound curriculum added to the two week summer Camp Amped sessions. Registration now open.
Financial aid available. www.nuci. org/camp
SUMMER CAMP (Sweet Olive Farm, Winterville) Registration is now open for a variety of summer camps in June & July including overnight stays. Ages 5–12. www.sweetolive farm.org/collections/2026-summer-camps
SUMMER PROGRAMS (ACC Leisure Services Department) Registration open for diverse selection of activities highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports and special events. www.accgov. com/myrec
Word on the Street
CALL FOR VENDORS (Historic Athens Welcome Center) Applications now open for Market Days featuring fresh foods, baked goods and specialty items. Every second Saturday beginning in June. $25 per market or $80 for the full four-market series. www.athenswelcomecenter. com
CALL FOR MUSICAL DIRECTOR
(Athens Creative Theater) Seeking a musical director for an upcoming production. Email act@accgov. com for information.
CITY TOURS (Historic Athens Welcome Center) A variety of guided tours available including a daily shuttle tour, walking tour of the downtown area and local music tour. Schedule in advance. www. athenswelcomecenter.com
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
FRIDAY EVENTS (Multiplechoices Center for Independent Living) The organization hosts ongoing Friday gatherings. Tech discussions, support groups and more. www. multiplechoices.us/youre-invited
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (Nuçi’s Space) Direct connections to mental healthcare like counseling and psychiatry, medical care for physical concerns and more. www. nuci.org, 706-227-1515
MINDFUL BREATH SANGHA MEETING (Healing Lodge) In the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Sundays, 1–2:30 p.m. Newcomers welcome. Free. www.mindfulbreathsangha.org
SEVENTH GENERATION (No. 3 Railroad Street, Arnoldsville) Seventh Generation Native American Church hosts various gatherings on Sundays, 11 a.m. 706-340-7134
VHS DIGITIZATION (Athens, GA)
Seeking previously recorded concerts and events on VHS, VHSC, Hi8, MiniDV and DVDs to digitize and archive. www.vhsordie.com
VOTER REGISTRATION
RESOURCES (ACC Library Atrium) Economic Justice Coalition community volunteers assist Georgia residents with registration, confirm prior registration and update voter registration information as needed. www.economicjusticecoalition.org
WEAVER D’S FIRST FRIDAYS (VFW Post 2872) Pop-up from Weaver D’s serving plates for $20 donations in benefit of the VFW. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. www.facebook.com/vfwpost2872
Missing Something?
MORE LISTINGS (Online) Find the Bulletin Board at www.flagpole. com/bulletinboard for ongoing open art calls, support group information and other resources that are available on a continuous basis. f
streaming services, and for more information, please see kitmusicathens.com.
immediately contemplative than their other work, which is often more propulsive and beat-grounded. Of particular interest is the semi-mournful “Ice Cream Chrome” and the guitar-underscored “Of AMist Mirage.” Find this at exchains.bandcamp.com.
SET SAIL FOR THE SUN: Seven Fangs, the recording project of composer and musician Myles Carlyle, has a new song out and, I swear, he’s reached a new stage of grandeur. This song, “Into Molecules,” is intense and anthemic from its first notes. It mostly follows the same melody over and over with no bridges, pre- choruses, or, hell, even choruses for that reason. In this way its structure is very reminiscent of some of Neutral Milk Hotel’s most compelling songs (e.g. “My Dream Girl Don’t Exist,” “Communist Daughter,” et al.). But that’s also a little reductive and pigeon-holey because this is a hymn of a song and deserves to be heard on its own with no baggage attached. So do that, and find it on all major streaming services. For more information, please see instagram.com/seven_fangs_.
WALK ON: By the time you’re neck deep into the weekend, rapper Bryant Perez will have released his newest single “Realign and Continue.” The music is a collaboration between Perez and Athens comedian and musician Nancy Heiges, who both sings
PAVILLION OF DREAMS: A 25- track self- titled debut album is certainly an ambitious undertaking, and that’s exactly what Marian Aura Migraine did. I’ve no clue who this person actually is, but this record caught me unaware and grabbed me immediately. This reminds me most of those nonconforming experimental releases that an indie rock label awash in cash might have released back when labels could actually be awash in cash. At its most basic level this could all be classified as experimental ambient music, but the particular ambience shifts across this broad collection. There’s the creaky sound check of opening track “Lawn Rows as Field,” the minimally sprightly lilt of “Porch Threat,” the thematic “The Hopeulikit Dance Hall” and the airfilled “The Cloisters.” I’d encourage you to take some time with this and just let it play and surprise you. Find it at marianaura migraine.bandcamp.com. f
Edited by Margie E. Burke
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