Was this e-mail shared with you? Sign up here.
Seats are almost sold out for Athens Scoop Dinner Club. We’ve got a couple spots left!
 |  |
How it works:
Take a short personality quiz
Get matched with 5 strangers who match your vibe
We pick the restaurant, handle the details, and you leave with 5 new friends!
You just show up.
The date: May 12th at 7:00 PM
Registration closes: May 10th at 7:00 PM
If you’ve been craving conversations with substance (the kind that remind you why community matters) this is for you. Spots are limited.
“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 reply. See you there.
In today’s Scoop:
🥩 Slater's Steakhouse Is Closing After 3.5 Years In Five Points
🏛️ Mayor Girtz Delivers Final State of the Community Address
🏗️ Mayoral Candidates Spar Over Data Centers and Water Access
🍣 The New Family-Run Sushi Spot with 4.5 Stars and 200+ Reviews
SushiOne & Bobalicious Cafe is run by Julie Nguyen and her family in Watkinsville. Julie immigrated from Vietnam, spent years as a school counselor here in Georgia, and left her career to open this place with her husband.
The menu covers a lot of ground: sushi rolls, pho, bento boxes, poke bowls, bao buns, and one of the biggest boba tea menus in the Athens area. Lunch runs $10–15 a person. Private rooms with karaoke can be booked for parties and birthdays. They offer teachers' discounts and are open 7 days a week. Mention Athens Scoop if you go.
And mark your calendar: SushiOne is hosting an APPI Heritage Month Celebration on May 19, 5–8 PM. Tickets are $20 (includes food + drink) and the night includes a lion dance, a bamboo show, trivia, a karaoke contest, and food and drink. All are welcome.
Stop by the restaurant or get your tickets.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this newsletter possible 🙏
🎓 5 College Savings Moves Most Georgia Families Miss
 |  |
May in Athens means graduations on every corner, and a lot of parents quietly doing the math on what's coming next.
Most families open a 529, hit auto-deposit, and call it done. There's a list of strategies most Georgia parents never hear about: how grandparents can chip in without wrecking financial aid, the Georgia-specific tax angles, and what actually happens to leftover 529 money under the new federal rules.
Zach Ellington at Burney Wealth Management (Athens Scoop's recommended financial advisor) put together a free guide for you walking through the strategies his team uses with their own clients. It's specific and technical, built for families who want to get this right.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this newsletter possible 🙏
🥩 Slater's Steakhouse Is Closing After 3.5 Years In Five Points
The Gist: Owners Jerry and Krista Slater announced on April 20 that Slater's Steakhouse will serve its final dinner on May 17. The space at 1653 South Lumpkin has already been sold to another Athens restaurant owner. The Slaters will keep running The Expat and The Lark and are opening Dovetail Market on Prince Avenue.
Why It Matters: A Five Points staple known for prime cuts and martinis is leaving the neighborhood after three and a half years.
What's Next: Final service is May 17. Reservations are open through graduation season.
Read more here.
🏛️ Mayor Girtz Delivers Final State of the Community Address
The Gist: Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz gave his final State of the Community address this week, capping eight years in office. He'll hand off to whoever wins the May 19 mayoral primary, with no incumbent on the ballot.
Why It Matters: First open mayor's race in nearly a decade, with development, housing, and data centers all on the next mayor's desk.
What's Next: May 19 primary; runoff possible if no candidate clears 50%.
Read more here.
🏗️ Mayoral Candidates Spar Over Data Centers and Water Access
The Gist: Mayoral hopefuls clashed at an environmental forum over Athens-area data center projects and the water draw they'd require, with several candidates calling for stronger limits on industrial water use.
Why It Matters: Data center proposals are the single biggest land-use fight headed for the next commission, and water capacity is the hard ceiling.
What's Next: Watch the May 19 results; data center moratorium proposals are queued for the new commission's first session.
Read more here.
🩺 UGA School of Medicine Sends Out Inaugural Class Admission Offers
The Gist: The new UGA School of Medicine sent out admission offers this week for its inaugural MD class. The school launched after years of state funding fights, with classes set to begin in fall 2026.
Why It Matters: First new medical school in the state in decades; expected to keep more Georgia doctors in Georgia and feed local hospitals.
What's Next: Inaugural class arrives in Athens this fall; clinical rotations begin year three.
Read more here.
We’re making fun, local content for Instagram. Click the image above and follow us for more updates!
🍖 5th Annual Athens Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival | Athentic Brewing Company | Athens | 05/02 | More
Live blues, craft beer, and barbecue from local pitmasters at Athentic.
🛍️ Springtacular — Indie South's 20th Annual Modern Makers' Market | General Time Athens | Athens | 05/02 | More
Indie South's 20-year milestone market with 100+ Southeastern makers.
🌷 May Fest Celebration at Athentic | Athentic Brewing Co. | Athens | 05/01 | More
Outdoor spring festival kickoff with seasonal beers and food trucks.
⚾ Georgia Bulldogs Baseball vs. Missouri Tigers | Foley Field | Athens | 05/02 | More
SEC weekend series at Foley. Cheap seats and afternoon sun.
🧘 Rest & Release: Scorpio Full Moon Yoga & Sound Bath | 940 Prince Ave Suite D | Athens | 05/01 | More
Restorative yoga session with crystal-bowl sound bath under the full moon.
💃 retroProm 2026 featuring Guardians of the Jukebox | Athens Cotton Press | Athens | 05/01 | More
Throwback prom for adults with a 60s/70s/80s cover band, drinks, and dancing.
🎭 Athens Comedy Fest 2026 | Morton Theatre | Athens | 05/01 | More
Multi-night festival featuring touring comedians at the historic Morton.
🍹 Do the Crawl de Mayo | The World Famous + downtown bars | Athens | 05/02 | More
Cinco-themed bar crawl through downtown with drink specials at 8+ stops.
🔥 A Night of Burlesque: Sultry and Seductive | 40 Watt Club | Athens | 05/01 | More
Late-night burlesque revue with rotating performers at the 40 Watt.
🎸 Reverend Triibble + Asymptomatics + Organically Programmed | 40 Watt Club | Athens | 05/02 | More
Three-band psych-rock bill at the 40 Watt; doors 9 PM.
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!
How did you like today's newsletter? |
Want to reach our 8,000+ readers? Sponsor us.