University of Georgia - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Athens, the "Classic City," is the quintessential college town. Downtown offers amazing nightlife, with numerous clubs, bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops on every corner. Music is a cornerstone of downtown Athens, with plenty of opportunities for students to see local and nationally recognized bands. Every night, there are at least six concerts playing at various venues around town, whether they be indie rock at the 40 Watt, jam music at the Georgia Theatre, or metal at Caledonia Lounge. Athens also has a famed history of hosting super secret shows at underground music venues and house shows. A friend once said you couldn’t toss a stone in Athens without hitting a musician, and this is true—if you are looking to start a band, definitely come here. R.E.M., the B-52s, Widespread Panic, Of Montreal, MGMT, and Neutral Milk Hotel all got their start in Athens. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a town with a stronger music scene.

Students agree that bars are the place to be. They’re always packed from Thursday night to the wee hours of Sunday morning. Unlike some towns, Athens actually has enough bars to accommodate the number of partygoers living here. There are freshman bars that are a little less selective as far as fake IDs go, as well as sports bars, outdoor bars, and sophisticated, ritzy bars. Downtown is located within walking distance from the dorms, so walking to and from parties is not a problem, and no one has to drive. Taxis and student-sponsored organizations also provide transportation to and from various hotspots. Plus, if you get tired of being in a smaller town, Atlanta is about an hour away. Anything Athens doesn’t have, Atlanta definitely does.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

If I had to guess, I would say... If I had to guess, I would say local Athenians probably get tired of seeing college kids all the time. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There is almost too much to do in... There is almost too much to do in Athens. I have had to call home to ask for money many times because I go out and do so many things. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Athens is a small town when you... Athens is a small town when you take out the student population, and if you’re here over the summer it can be really boring, but once the students get back in the fall, there’s lots to do—definitely more than any other small town in Georgia. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I love living in Athens because... I love living in Athens because there always seems to be something for people my age to do. Where I’m from, it’s usually so boring. Since I’ve lived here, though, I have rarely been bored. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere constantly reminds... The atmosphere constantly reminds students that they are in a college town. While it is a residential town, as well, students make up the most abundant population here. Overall, the community and the University work well together. Athens Tech is very close by as well. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Athens:
1. John Mayer’s “No Such Thing” video was filmed in downtown Athens at the Georgia Theater.
2. Road Trip, starring Tom Green and Breckin Myer, was filmed in Athens around UGA.
3. Ben Affleck bought a house in Athens, GA. He supposedly eats at Five and Ten in Five Points when in town.
4. The Athens Transit public transportation bus is actually called The Bus.
5. On game days, Athens becomes one of the largest cities in Georgia. Sell-out crowds guarantee over 92,000 people will be in Athens.

Famous People from Athens:
Michael Stipe, and Katie from MTV’s Surf Girls

Local Slang:
BrewFest – An annual tasting of national brand beers
Coke – Any kind of carbonated beverage
Twilight – A bike race every spring that runs through downtown

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Name: Christopher Joshua Benton
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
Major: English/Magzine Print Journalism/New Media

When Christopher grows up, he wants to be a forester, run through the moss on high heels.

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