Rough Draft: #1

My roommate recently showed me the “Rough Draft” newspaper that is “Free…Like the Red and Black, only better.” It is unlike anything I have seen before in Athens.

Featuring sections such as bartender of the week, shout outs, drink specials, even shows at Georgia Theatre, the 1st issue came out on April 10th.

As the front page of the issues states, founder Derek Chin picked UGA over many other campuses around the country, including the SEC. Although it doesn’t cover hard news, the soft beats are entertaining to say the least. If you like “Overheard in Athens,” you might want to check this out.

I would really like to emphasis that some of the topics may cross the line, but others, like the entertainment reviews, two sets of sudoku, and the one hit wonders playlists are any-reader friendly. The things written are utterly ridiculous and, with 10 minutes to spare between classes, it’s sure to keep you amused.

I am still a little confused if “rough draft” is in fact the title. I tried to find a little more information about it but really couldn’t find too much. I found one article about the founders. Apparently, they co-founded "The Booze News" at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The article presents it as “a new weekly newspaper that glorifies the wonders of heavy drinking.”

If any of you know more about it, PLEASE let me know about this paper as it continues to circulation around Athens.


Major Perks: Funny, Good Entertainment Reviews and Downtown weekly specials

Minor Quirks: Probably wouldn’t read some of the articles to mom

Trapeze Pub Athens: You’ll do flips over this place!

Looking for a little diversity in Athens? Perhaps, you want to hangout with a Belgium blonde, a stout Irish, or a pale German? Or maybe you would prefer staying domestic?

Travel down Washington Street, to Trapeze Pub, where you can spend your evening among this new crowd at Athens local tavern. With 30 taps and 200 bottles, Trapeze carries an assortment brews from around the world and domestic breweries.

The crowd is just as diverse as the beer selection. Although you won’t find a “Nati” behind the bar, you may find an undergraduate among the graduate students and the beer connoisseurs.

Most beers range from $5 to $7 and the drafts are served in glasses that correspond to each brew. You can find the small black drink list on the bar top, and rest assure, if you have any questions about which brew to choose, the staff will be happy to help and give you a sample of the beers on draft.

If you want a booth, seat, or even standing room, get there around 9 p.m. on weekends, as it gets pretty packed. Weekdays aren’t so crowded.

Major Perks: Not your typical Athens bar, huge beer selection

Minor Quirks: Crowded on the weekends

Wrong Way: Sublime Tribute Band

Don’t let the name deter you. Walking into Georgia Theatre while these guys are performing is the right way to spend your night.

Last Wednesday, “Wrong Way”, the Sublime tribute band, played familiar favorites – Santeria, Bad Fish, and DJs- well into the night while an enthusiastic crowd sang and jumped along at Georgia Theatre. They even played a little 311 to shake things up a bit.

Check out their promotional video:

The five member band formed back in February of 2005 and has since extended out of the Athens scene, with performances throughout the Southeast. These guys have come along way as some of them were members of the Last Call favorite “Santeria.”

The stage presence and the crowd made the concert. The lead vocals and instruments recreated a feeling of the original Sublime band. Honestly, being a Sublime fan, these guys really do a great show; they’re always a favorite of mine. They're guys that have a good time playing the music and it shows throughout its entirety. Although they were a bit slow to come on, it was worth the wait. The show started about an hour late as they were, um, preparing for the show.

Major Perks: Amazing Cover!

Minor Quirks: Took awhile to start

Part 2: Strange and Unusual Places

Here is the second part of our visit to the strange and unusual places in Athens.

After our visit to the iron petting zoo, we headed over the Elder's Mill Bridge, one of the 15 remaining covered bridges in Georgia. It is located on the way back to Athens city limits about ten minutes up from the horse. The article states that a sign will designate the area; however, I have suspicions about the alleged “sign.” So, don’t count on it and look for the road name Elders Mill Road on your left. Once you find the road, you travel about 2 minutes and then you hit the bridge. It was my favorite place during our escapade. Encompassed by sweet Georgia pines, the bridge sits over a tranquil creek. Standing in the outdoors with the gentle hum of the nature surrounding me was pretty remarkable. If you choose to visit only do one spot, go here!

Next, we back into Athens. We drove to the intersection where Finley meets Dearing Street and immediately found ourselves in front of “The Tree That Owns Itself.” Colonel W.H. Jackson willed the tree to itself back in the late 1800s, and it has remained a landmark of Athens history.
There is a plaque in front of the tree declaring the rights of the tree.

Once we left the tree to itself, we drove downtown for our last stop: the double barrel cannon. A remnant of the civil war, the cannon was an unsuccessful craft built at the Foundry when it was a steam mill. During a test, the two cannon balls ended up going in opposite directions, killing a cow and knocking down a chimney. Today, the cannon rests outside of city hall and faces due north, still protecting the south from the Yankees.

The "Strange and Unusual" sites in Athens: Part 1

Who knew that aside from the bar and music scene of Athens, there exist other historical and, frankly, peculiar sites? Outside the limits of the Broad to Washington Street block, students can explore areas this extraordinary city has to offer.

Inspired by an article published in the Flagpole, my friend and I took a tour of the suggested “strange and unusual” spots. With a full tank of gas and a camera, we left to explore foreign areas of Athens. Our only constraint was time; focusing our travels to the spots along Highway 15 South.

Our first stop was Scull Shoals. Floods struck this once prominent city in 1887, which the town never recovered from. The village fled the city leaving only the remains of dilapidated buildings and an eerie ambiance. Traveling down three jarring miles of dirt Forest Road 1234, questions may arise to if you are actually going to reach the grounds. If you keep going you will hit it. Be forewarned that you may not have phone service so I would definitely recommend going during the daytime, and with a group of people Even though we didn’t see anyone else; we did encounter an abandoned car. I can’t say it was reassuring.

Needless to say, we quickly left and headed to our next destination: the Iron Horse. A previous resident of the Reed Hall Quad, the horse was subjected to vandalism by the students during the late 1950s. Unbeknownst to the ruffians, late one night, the administration had the Iron Horse moved out to an undisclosed cornfield where it currently grazes. After parking, you have to cross the field of broken stalks to pet the horse so avoid sandals.

Since this was a long trip, I am breaking this up into two parts. Anticipate "Part 2" in a couple of days.

Major Perks: Something different to do in Athens

Minor Quirks: A bit of a drive

Terrapin Beer: Tours "in tune with your taste"

The local Athens microbrewery recently opened its doors to give tours and offer a taste of their craft beer. For $7, you receive a souvenir glass and six tokens. One token is the equivalent of a half pint, and it is two tokens for the high gravity. On draft, visitors can sample the Rye Pale Ale, Golden Ale, India Brown Ale, All-American Imperial Pilsner and Rye Squared, the later two from the high gravity collection.

Each has a rich and distinct taste. A little tip from the tour guide: smell the beer before you drink it. As a beer novice, this little tidbit made a huge difference as it activates the olfactory region for an all encompassing experience. The employees are eager to answer any questions and love to suggest a beer to match your taste buds.

The tour also provides insight to the types of hops used and the overall production of the brews. Starting at the grain holder then onto the fermenting tanks, the tour ends at the bottling assembly line.

While staring at the equipment, the tour guide invites guests to come back and volunteer with bottling. While perusing the shirts and signing up to volunteer to bottle, my buddies and I met John Cochran, president and co-founder of Terrapin. Cool Guy with an even cooler story.

It’s a bit drafty, no pun intended, so be sure to wear a jacket during the winter months.

The beer is not the only thing that is “in tune with your taste.” With live music from local Athens bands, Terrapin gives you that full brewery taste. After the tour, you and your brew mates can sit, sip and listen in a designated area.

Tours are offered Monday through Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and the Second Saturday of each month 2-5.

Major Perks: Great Beer, Enthusiastic Employees
Minor Quirks: Cold Building

Abbey Road: Magical Mystery Tour

Let me take you down, ‘cause I’m going to …Georgia Theatre to see Abbey Road

We hope you will enjoy the show. The Beatles famed line resounded at Georgia Theatre last Friday night as the Beatles cover band Abbey Road took stage. Performing for a motley audience that ranged from college students to original Beatles groupies, the band had the show down to a tee. The music, costumes and stage presence allowed the audience to experience eras of old, where peace, love and freedom was the answer.

Opening with music from Sergeant Peppers, the band continued the show with the entire Magical Mystery Tour Album. Despite minor speaker malfunctions in the beginning the crowd, in the usual Georgia Theatre style, swayed to the music in the pit and had a number of stragglers on the bar landing. To the crowds pleasure, the band played a double encore, leaving on a high note.

Major Perks: Great Cover Band!
Minor Quirks: Speaker Problems