This Week in Athens: May 16th - May 23rd

Hey guys,

First off, I know it's week 8 and everyone is super busy, so good luck with all of your studies! I know it's hard when the sun is shining and the birds are singing, and virtually the rest of the college world is on summer break, but you can do it! We're all in this together.

Second, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been keeping up with my posts over the past few weeks of this project. It has really meant a lot to me! I've had a really fun time with this blog, and I'm thinking of keeping it going through my last year here in Athens... what do you guys think? I would love to take any suggestions anyone has out there, and definitely keep the posts coming! I really do look forward to reading them each week. This will be my last post for awhile, but I always have my eye out for good deals in the area, and I look forward to letting you know about what I find in the future! Thanks again for everything, and keep checking back here because I still have plenty of ideas! Here's what I plan on tackling sometime soon....

* Places in Athens you've probably never been: The Purple Chopsticks, Dela Zona & Indian Star
* Fine dining experiences... which has the most worth for your money?
* The cutest (and most affordable) accessories on Court St.
* Coffeehouses... quality vs. price
* Online college dining resources Campusmenus.com and Eatcollege.com: Coupons, deals and more

But for now, I will leave you with a compilation of events taking place this week. So if you do have time to take a study break, you'll be able to have fun - as always - on a budget :)


Monday:
* Study day!

Tuesday:

*2010 Graphic Design BFA Exhibition Opening:
7pm to 9pm Seigfred Hall, Ohio University Art Gallery

Free show featuring projects designed and created by the graduating Graphic Design class of 2010. Check out their website if you're interested in viewing the artwork before the show!

The exhibition will remain open until Saturday, May 29th. Gallery hours are 10:00am-4:00pm.

(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124669447548145&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=119785678045728&ref=ts)


* Ohio Men's Baseball vs. Xavier

Last home game of the 2010 season, 6pm Bob Wren Stadium
Tickets free for all Ohio University students, and $5 dollars for any single ticket!
(For more pictures of the team, go to my post Take Me Out to the Ball Game.)

* Sushi Tuesday's at Lui Lui Restaurant

* Retro Night at PigSkin: .50 cent drafts and DJ Aroc
Also, check out their online coupons here. Pigskin is known for having great deals!


Wednesday:
* $5 dollar Liquor Pitchers: Lucky's Sports Tavern

* .50 cent slice night at Courtside Pizza and Sports Bar, plus $1.00 shots & $1.50 wells; 9:00pm - Close


Thursday:

*First Annual Bark Fest, 2010: Hosted by OU's Association for Women in Communication; 3-7pm, Howard Hall Site

A philanthropy event for the Athens Humane Society. There will be raffles from local businesses, and dogs from the Humane Society will be present through the afternoon, so bring your dogs too!
(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124669447548145&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=120318157985835&ref=ts)

Free Food. Cute Dogs. Sweet Prizes.
Can't get any better then that!

* Free Canoeing and Swimming trip: Outdoor Pursuits
Every Thursday in May 5:30pm-8:30pm

Trips depart from the Outdoor Pursuits Rental Center.

No registration is required, just show up! Transportation, instruction and all required gear will be provided at no cost.

(http://www.ohio.edu/recreation/op/SCHEDULETripsSpr10.html)

Next Week: May 27, Canoeing and Swimming at Dow Lake

* May Day OU 2010: 5 pm, McCracken Field
Featuring free performances by hip hop artists Clipse and Consequence

Check out the videos below for a sample of their music...


(Caution: may include explicit material)



Hosted by OU organizations: Backdrop Magazine, BSCPB, UPC, ImPRessions, SAC, and Vision Ohio.

* School of Dance Concert: Shirley Wimmer Theatre, Putnam Hall
Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm

The Ohio University School of Dance presents their School of Dance Spring Concert. Come see performances by the Senior Class 2010, guest artists and students alike. I go to these performances every quarter, and they are always great! (Free ticket with a valid student Id)

* $2 Mega Mug Night at Red Brick Tavern; one of the most popular, and best, deals of the week.


Friday:

* Relay for Life at the Athens County Fairgrounds, 286 West Union Street!

Whether you camp out with a team, or just come out and walk around the track, you'll be helping a great cause.

Takes place 5p.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday.



Saturday:

* If you have the extra money to splurge ($20)... 7 Fest, the seventh installment of the premier college campus outdoor music festival is taking place at 7755 Williams Road from 11am to 11pm Saturday, May 22nd. Tickets can be purchased uptown at Courtside, Yannis or Sundries.



(http://www.athens6fest.com/SixFest.WeRunOU/images/stories/5fest030.jpg)

Set list includes: Bourbon Kings, iPhonic, The Forties, Fam Fresh, DJ Edski, Mt Carmel, The One Eyed Show, Downplay, L.e, Jesty Beatz, B. YONEST, Mike Posner.

For more information go to the 7 Fest site.


Sunday

Take a day to relax :)


By the way, if you're interested in more restaurant and bar promotions, check out campusmenus.com for a full list of nightly and monthly specials, and happy hour promotions.

I tend to check this daily. They have so many great deals!



Anyway, that's all for now Athens. Thanks for everything!


Julie

This Moms Weekend, Don't Forget Mother Nature

With the recent Earth Day events on campus, and the annual Athens Beautification Day coming up this Sunday, I've definitely had the "great outdoors" on my mind. And as the cherry blossoms bloom and the tulips unfold, shaking off the last cold from winter, Athens gets more and more beautiful with every spring day. With the weather so nice, who wants to waste the day indoors?

Unfortunately, on the cusp of midterms, I've felt so overloaded with school, work and life, that I'm rarely able to sit back and enjoy my surroundings. In short, this makes me really sad. So, I've compiled a map of all-things-outdoors in Athens County. And with this in mind, I promise to set aside some time to read a book on my balcony, or sit by the pool this weekend. I plan on going to the Mom's Walk for a Cure with my roommates and our moms, to the Athens Farmers Market (which, I've never been to) and to just sit and relax with an ice, cold beer.

And Athens, I wish for you the same. Take a break from the books and hit the beach at Strouds Run. Go order an iced chai or coffee at one of Athens many coffee shops, and actually sit outside and enjoy the day. With predicted temperatures in the 70's and 80's, you're definitely gonna want to be outside this weekend. So whether your mom is coming down, or you just want to spend some quality time with Mother Nature, here's everything you'll need to know. Take a glace at the map, check the weather and plan your weekend accordingly. Because the best part about being outside is that it's almost always free, and you get to work on your tan :)


View Athens Outdoors in a larger map

By the way, to anyone out there who has suggestions on the blog, or any questions, feel free to let me know! It would be great to get some feedback from what you, as the reader, would like to see posted here each week. Thanks, and looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

Julie

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Looking for something fun to do on a Sunday afternoon? My roommate Laura and I usually lie around the apartment watching the same movies we've seen a hundred times, or various reruns on TV. But, now that the weather is so nice, it's a shame to waste away such beautiful Athens afternoons being couch potatoes!

Something to consider, is going out to Bob Wren Stadium and watching an Ohio Men's Baseball game. Admission is free for all Ohio University students, and only 5 dollars for any single ticket. This weekend Ohio takes on Bowling Green Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and in two weeks they'll be back in Athens to face Buffalo.



The great thing about the games is that you can get a hot dog, peanuts and a soda for under 10 bucks! And sometimes, they even have free hot dog or pizza giveaways! Because what's a baseball game without the food and the ballpark atmosphere? So come out, buy some peanuts and crackerjacks, and support the bobcats at the ballpark. Gates open two hours before the game, and they even have corn hole and a bouncy castle set up for the kiddies :)

Final Score:
BGSU - 12
OU - 5

Check here for a complete season schedule Ohio Baseball and Softball teams.