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Our fourth Dinner Club was so amazing! Thank you to all of the people who came this Tuesday.
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If you have no idea what the event I’m talking about is:
We pair tables of 6 strangers together at a great local restaurant as a way to meet new people in the city specifically tailored to your vibe.
How it works:
Take a short personality quiz
Get matched with 5 compatible guests
We pick the restaurant, handle the details, and provide conversation starters
You just show up.
NEXT DATE: Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 PM
If you've been craving conversations with substance (the kind that remind you why community matters) then this is for you. If you want to reserve your limited spot (or read about it more), just click below:
“I would definitely go again and will highly recommend to my friends!” - Sydney Burd
“I’m looking forward to the next outing!! So fun!!” - Joy Hoyt
Any questions? Just hit reply. See you there.
In today’s Scoop:
🍕 Downtown’s Old DePalma’s New Tenant
☕ How Jittery Joe’s is Helping Save Birds with Coffee
🎬 How Honnie Korngold is developing the Athens Film Scene
🍕 Downtown’s Old DePalma’s New Tenant
After nearly four decades of DePalma’s downtown run, a new Italian restaurant has moved into the longtime Broad Street space. Pompeii recently opened at 401 E. Broad St., taking over the former DePalma’s location with a menu inspired by both classic Italian and Italian-American dishes. The downtown restaurant offers pasta, cocktails, family-style dinners, and happy hour in a space many Athens locals already know.
Read more here.
Want your restaurant included? Reply and let me know!
📦 A New UPS Store Just Opened on Jefferson Road
If you live or work on the west side of Athens, you no longer have to drive across town to ship a package.
The UPS Store on Jefferson Road is brand new, locally owned by Bhaumik Patel, and open 7 days a week. It's a full-service location: packing, shipping, returns, printing, notary, shredding, passport photos, and mailbox rentals all in one spot.
Need to drop off a return? They've got you. Running a small business and need something printed or shipped today? Same place. It's the kind of errand stop you didn't know you needed until it's five minutes from your house. Mention Athens Scoop if you go!
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this newsletter possible 🙏
☕ How Jittery Joe’s is Helping Save Birds with Coffee
The Gist: Jittery Joe’s released Morning Chorus Bird Friendly, a medium roast made with certified organic Nicaragua beans. The coffee is a collaboration with UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and is certified Bird Friendly by the Smithsonian.
Why It Matters: The certification means the coffee is grown on farms that protect bird habitat, rather than bulldozing trees for full-sun coffee production. Smithsonian’s Bird Friendly standard requires organic farming, habitat protection, and separate handling so certified beans stay traceable.
What's Next: Morning Chorus is available now through Jittery Joe’s. The roast, tailored by the Roastmaster Charlie, is bright and clean with sweet fruit notes, which fits the certification story: Smithsonian says shade-grown coffee beans ripen more slowly, creating a richer flavor (I tried it - it’s true).
Read more here.
🎬 How Honnie Korngold is developing the Athens Film Scene
The Gist: Producer Honnie Korngold is building CineVantage, PhilanthroFilms, and Georgia StoryLab out of Athena Studios at 900 Athena Drive. CineVantage develops film and TV projects, while PhilanthroFilms focuses on helping young filmmakers learn the skills and relationships needed to break into the industry.
Why It Matters: Korngold is working on the next layer beyond what Athena Studios provides in Athens: students, schools, local crew, production partners, and Georgia-based stories that can actually be developed here. She imagines an Athens that could become a real pathway for local creative talent into the film industry.
What's Next: CineVantage is developing Northern Lights, a feature based on the Barrow Whalers football team in Alaska that's planned to shoot in Athens itself. Georgia StoryLab's also working to connect new creators with production companies, schools, and industry mentors from its Athena Studios base.
Read more here.
🏛 Coming Soon: Athens First Black History Center
The Athens-Clarke County Center for Racial Justice and Black Futures is set to become Athens’ first dedicated African American history center. The space, planned on The Classic Center campus, will focus on local Black history, including Linnentown, while offering exhibits, educational programming, and community events.
Why It Matters: The center creates a permanent space to preserve African American history and stories often left out of local history.
Read more here.
🎾 NCAA Tennis is Coming to Athens
The University of Georgia women’s tennis team, led by head coach Drake Bernstein, is headed to the NCAA Championships as Athens prepares to host the tournament at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex beginning May 14. Georgia advanced after defeating UCLA in the NCAA Super Regional and enters championship play on home courts.
Why It Matters: Athens will host one of college tennis’ biggest events, bringing teams, visitors, and national attention to the city while giving Georgia a home-court advantage in its title run.
Read more here.
 | If your backyard could solve one problem this year, what would it be? Maybe it’s the garage that’s too full, the mower sitting out in the weather, the dogs needing a better setup, or the garden you keep meaning to start. Georgia Outdoor Products helps local homeowners find the right shed, greenhouse, kennel, chicken coop, or outdoor structure, with free delivery and setup. |
Call or text Holly at 404-819-5841 to see what fits your property. She’s Athens Scoop’s Recommended source for outdoor structures.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this newsletter possible 🙏
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🎭 Shakespeare in the Park | Dudley Park | Athens | 5/16 | More
ACT Presents “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream”; bring your own lawn chair for free outdoor theater!
🎭 “Straight on ‘Til the Morning” | Morton Theatre | Athens | 5/16 | More A family-friendly theater performance, with student and child ticket options.
🌱 Audiobook Hike | Southeast Clarke Park | Athens | 5/16 | More
Bring headphones for a self-paced audiobook walk through nature.
🎻 Sandy Creek Hootenanny | Sandy Creek Park \ Athens | 5/16 | More An evening of acoustic music, campfire vibes, and community sing-alongs.
🎤 Athens’s Got Talent | Terrapin Beer Co. | Athens | 5/16 | More An all-ages talent show with games, food trucks and local performers.
🤼♂️ Classic City Wrestling Live! | 40 Watt Club | Athens | 5/16 | More Watch live wrestling, grab a beer and catch a set from local metal band Lazer/Wulf.
Weaver D’s Food & Entertainment Festival | VFW Post 2872 | Athens | 5/16 | More
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
Thanks for reading Our Newsletter! We’ll have more updates for you next week!
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P.S. — I'm putting together a private dinner on May 21st for 20 established professionals, business owners, and operators in Athens.
Invite only. If you want a seat, reply with your name and your job/business. Or, forward this to your boss who should come.