For many, the Forest Heights neighborhood draws to mind mid-century brick ranches and herds of fearless, wandering deer. But in recent years, the humble blueberry, thanks to the Community Blueberry Project and Blueberry Festival, has come to be a source of pride, symbol of resiliency and opportunity for connection among neighbors.  The Community Blueberry Project was co-founded by Bart King of New Growth Communications and Clyde Yates of Hungry Gnome Gardenscapes in 2021. At the time, King, who has specialized in writing about environmental and sustainability issues for much of his career ..read more

Three years ago the Athens Pride + Queer Collective (APQC) hosted the first annual Athens Pride Parade downtown. What was expected to be a heartfelt gathering of a few hundred people ended up drawing more than 3,000 ecstatic attendees. The main and side streets were flooded with a diverse group of people from Athens and the surrounding areas celebrating themselves and showing support for friends and family. The theme of this year’s Pride Parade is “Here & Queer,” taking place downtown on June 1 with the parade starting at 2 p.m. and ending with a resource fair at the Classic Center Pavilli ..read more

ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) Jason Matherly presents “What Will He Do with It?,” an exhibition of early ink drawings and new paintings emphasizing the relationships between shape and color. Through June 25.  BOGUE GALLERY AT ACC LIBRARY (2025 Baxter St.) The Athens Photography Guild presents 34 prints by 19 APG members. Through June 23. CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) In Classic Gallery I, “Spotlight” features works by painters William Ballard, Jaci Davis and Ella Hopkins. • In Classic Gallery II, Kristin Roberts’ “The Fables” illustrates Aesop’s Fables with detailed works ..read more

The post 2024 Graduation Ads appeared first on Flagpole ..read more

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The cat cafe craze has been long established in Asia, but the attraction—a hangout space, often serving snacks and beverages, where cats can be watched and played with for a fee—didn’t make it to the U.S. until a decade ago. These cat-lover paradises have been popping up more frequently, and the Athens area finally has one to call its own. Entangled Cat Cafe opened in Watkinsville, next door to the Oconee County Courthouse, at the end of March. As a partner of the Athens Area Humane Society and the Circle of Friends Animal Society, the business serves as a foster location with fully vaccinated ..read more

Horses have been the faithful companions of humans for centuries, helping to cultivate food, participate in sport and even enter battle. This treasured human-horse connection has even extended into equine-assisted therapy, an experiential treatment and healing approach that has steadily grown in popularity over recent years.  Because riding a horse moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, it’s thought that this rhythmic, three-dimensional movement can activate core muscles and enhance motor skills. Cognitively speaking, riding can improve concentration, attention span ..read more

The Historic Athens Heritage Walk series brings guests on curated walking tours through historic neighborhoods and locations throughout the city. The walk through the historic Brooklyn Cemetery will be led by Linda Elder Davis, who will explain the location’s origins as one of the first African American cemeteries in Athens. The cemetery was established in 1882 under the name Bethlehem Cemetery and served as the resting place for many people from the Brooklyn/ Hawthorne Avenue area in west Athens. The walk supports efforts being made to preserve the cemetery in the wake of its being overtaken ..read more

“Rescue: Waste & Redemption,” on display through June 15, is an exhibition curated by Lizzie Zucker Saltz that showcases the work of 22 artists connected through the theme of transforming industrial byproducts into art. The upcoming fashion show coincides with this collection, featuring original clothing and jewelry made of objects saved from the landfill. The designs are equally as complex and fascinating as the abstract works shown in the exhibition, embodying the “material alchemy” that Saltz is aiming to explore. Composer John Vogt’s soundtrack orchestration will accompany the models a ..read more

ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) Jason Matherly presents “What Will He Do with It?,” an exhibition of early ink drawings and new paintings emphasizing the relationships between shape and color. Through June 25.  BOGUE GALLERY AT ACC LIBRARY (2025 Baxter St.) The Athens Photography Guild presents a collection of images. Through June 23. CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) In Classic Gallery I, “Spotlight” features works by painters William Ballard, Jaci Davis and Ella Hopkins. • In Classic Gallery II, Kristin Roberts’ “The Fables” illustrates Aesop’s Fables with detailed works that ..read more