The local paper after opening game day
In case you haven’t heard, the Princeton Review named the University of Georgia the #1 Party School in the Country. For some reason, Georgians have become insanely proud of this title. I was told my school was a party school and I resented that, but also did nothing to disprove the assumption.
Clarke County Courthouse
I grew up about an hour and a half from there and have only been twice: once with my friend Sarah for a football game in high school (I remember being very bored during the game) and for a quick visit to my friend Katie in college. I never really explored the town before. We decided to go on Sunday to show Rachel the campus.
The famous Arches
I guess I sort of resented this place because I thought it was the easy way out. Most of my graduating class went there and I never understood why they would want to stay so close to home. I also wasn’t into football, so the big state school thing never appealed to me.
Uga rocking his toga
But there’s something to be said for this place. It may be in the middle of nowhere, but it’s got cute stores, a vibrant music scene and good restaurants. Athens is known secondly for its music, producing artists such as REM and the B-52s, as well as frattie-rock artist Corey Smith.
The Grill, where I ate my first Athens meal almost 10 years ago
We ate lunch at The Grill, an Athens institution. Another local favorite is an outpost of The Varsity.
I laugh because its true. A lot of people have been know to take a year or two extra.
The Athens music scene centers around a few clubs, including the 40 Watt and the recently destroyed Georgia Theatre, which caught fire last year. They are slowly rebuilding it.
There’s plenty to do that I didn’t have time for. Here are a few links for your viewing pleasure:
- The Tree That Owned Itself, Roadside America: This Athens legend was written into a deed in the 1800s by a UGA professor. The original tree was destroyed by a storm, but the local garden club brought it back to life with an acorn in the 1940s.
- Subdivision Stonehenge, Roadside America: Just how it sounds. A bizarre Stonehenge replica in a random neighborhood in Athens.
- Double-Barrelled Canon, Roadside America: This canon was supposed to be able to fire two cannonballs at once, but now serves as a kitschy tourist spot. It is one of two remaining in the United States.
- REM Murmur Trestle: The band featured this trestle on the cover of their 1983 album. It was threatened to be torn down, but was saved by fans.
If you want to check out the rest of my pictures, see my Athens, GA album.
Leave a Reply