Receta More than meets the eye: a Yankee falls in love with a southern city #athens #FUZENation
When people ask me where I’m from, I have to ask if they want to hear the long or the short version of the story. If it’s the long version, I have to explain that I was born in Manhattan. I spent my childhood on the Jersey Shore. Then I lived in Southern California in my teens and 20s. Then I moved to Colorado and lived there for nearly two decades except for a few year’s detour to the Chicago area, where my son was born. Then I moved to the Athens, Georgia area where I’ve lived for a year now.
Am I a Jersey Girl/Colorado Gal/Chicago Super Fan/Southerner? I don’t know, but I can tell you is that these days I’m a Yankee who’s fallen in love with a southern city – Athens, Georgia.
To most people Athens is a college town with a football problem. It’s also a politically conservative town with a church on every corner. Yet many people want to “keep Athens weird” by supporting the Classic City Girls roller derby team, the Human Rights Festival, and cheering the drag queens and the local Star Wars club in the holiday parade. In addition, since Athens is home to R.E.M. and the B-52s, , there’s a huge alternative music scene here, but people in the “Classic City” like their old time bluegrass and classic music, too.
For me, what I love best about Athens is the lively food scene from the farmers’ markets, to Top Chef Master winner Hugh Acheson’s two restaurants in town (The National and 5&10), to the smaller ethnic eateries, like Kelly’s. Even with the fantastic foodie scene, people here in Athens went nuts when Steak N Shake came to town. Sigh.
So what’s this Brunswick stew, country ham, and grits loving Yankee gal supposed to do but embrace it all?
Pictures from around Athens
The folks at FUZE and Glam asked me to highlight some of the unique facets of our hometowns on Instagram using the hashtag #FUZENation. Here are a few of my favorite shots:
Kelly’s for awesome jerk chicken or pork.
Best date night in Athens – movie at the Cine and dinner at The National.
Farm 225 – Local/Seasonal/Sustainable. Wonderful.
Thanks to FUZE for sponsoring my photo journey of Athens!
FUZE is a refreshing combination of Iced tea, natural fruit flavors and vitamins B6 and B12. It’s a perfect mix of ingredients, just like you.
FUZE. Never just one thing.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by FUZE via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of FUZE.