Prince Happenings

At Jackson Spalding, we're proud to be a part of the Bottleworks community on Prince Avenue. Our location offers a lot of benefits -- we're in a great old mixed-use complex, it's in a beautiful and historic neighborhood, we can walk downtown relatively easily, sidewalks abound, the neighbors are great, parking is easy and we have a lot of wonderful dining choices (Big City Bread, The Grit, 237 Prince, and Siri Thai to name a few).

However, some positive changes are afoot on the Prince Avenue corridor that will make it an even better area. Since Athens loves to talk about Prince, we thought we would post an update here.

First of all, McChesney Capital, the company that owns the Foundry Park Inn and is involved with several other local real estate projects, recently acquired most of the Bottleworks (several homes and offices are individually owned). Several changes are already underway or complete, including a new website, newly landscaped and renovated internal courtyard (pictured above) and improved landscaping. Plans were also recently approved by Athens Historic Preservation Commission that will allow the owners to install dramatic new signage, lighting, and landscaping throughout. Parking will also be improved, traffic flow adjusted and better directional signage installed.

According to the building's new managers, the goal is to make the Bottleworks a destination in Athens and to raise its profile. Potential new tenants being targeted include a 75+ seat upscale American restaurant concept, a new coffee shop facing Prince, a pub with outdoor dining in the new courtyard, and a variety of retail and office space users.

Across the street, Taqueria del Sol is rehabbing an old service station into one of its wonderful fast casual Mexican offerings (see picture). For all of us Atlanta ex-pats, this is exciting news. Taqueria is well known for the food-that-makes-waiting-in-a-line-out-the-door-worth-it at its three Atlanta locations, where it offers a mix of fresh mex and wonderful cuisine. While this has been reported minimally locally, in the Inbox's opinion, this could significantly alter the dining dynamic of Prince and bring more young professionals, families and students onto Prince for their evening meals, which is a good thing.

At any rate, that's the latest from 237 Prince Avenue -- anything else going on that we should know about?

Shut up and Ride

It seems like all the talk on the news, in the papers, within industries, at work and in communities is about tackling gas prices.

Americans have come up with the most inventive ways of getting to work without driving their car. In fact, I saw a story this morning on Good Morning America about a man in Portland, Ore. who paraglides to work.

While you probably won't see a paraglider flying over Broad Street, Athens Transit is trying to get everyone's heads focused on bus riding.

This Wednesday, July 16, Athens Transit is going to make all bus rides FREE for all who come aboard.

As a UGA student, I have ridden the Athens Transit bus many times. The No. 14 bus stops right in front of my apartment, and it is extremely efficient. If the schedule says it's going to stop at 8:42 a.m., by golly, it's there at 8:42 a.m.- MUCH more reliable than waiting for 30 minutes for a Milledge Avenue bus.

Since I've been in Athens this summer, I have been able to observe the "real people" who live here instead of college kids all the time. I've noticed that a LOT of people ride the bus. Every time I ride or walk by one, there is usually at least one person waiting on the bus.

Free Transit Day, as it is to be called, is Athens' way of honoring National Alternative Transportation Day. Free rides will be available to everyone, not just Athens residents. If you live in Watkinsville, you can park at he Lexington Road Wal-Mart, Georgia Square Mall, North Plaza Shopping Center or The Shops at South Milledge and take a bus the rest of the way.

Moral of this post: give Athens Transit it a try sometime if you never have.

If you want to see what bus comes to a stop near you, visit the Athens Transit Web site, www.athenstransit.com.

There's a poll on the right side of the page asking if you've ever ridden Athens Transit. We'd be interested to know, so your answer would be greatly appreciated. We'd also like to read your comments on this post. Feel free to talk about your experience with Athens Transit- good or bad.

For the Fourth: Fire and Flavor

Ah, yes. The Fourth of July...otherwise known as the Day of American Grilling.

In preparation for the holiday, I decided to venture out to Commerce Boulevard to visit with Davis and Gena Knox, co-owners of Fire and Flavor, a local Athens company that manufactures and sells cedar grilling planks, spices, rubs, brines, skewers and a cookbook- all for under $10. Beat that, Williams-Sonoma.

"Grilling doesn't have to be like Bubba Barbeque," said Davis.

I think that was my favorite part of my visit with he and his wife, Gena (pronounced JEN-uh, not GEE-nuh).

When I went and met them on Thursday morning, July 3, the warehouse and office were already in full swing. Music was playing; lights were on, and everyone was there- including their two precious dogs.

One of the first questions I asked Davis was who came up with the idea of selling wood for cooking. He said Gena originally discovered cooking with cedar planks is an ancient tradition of Native Americans, mainly in the Pacific Northwest.

When Gena first tried cooking with a cedar plank, she thought it was fabulous. Smoky, hearty and healthy- what more could you ask for? The more she looked around, she realized hardly anyone sold cedar planks in the South. That's when the wheels started turning.

From a garage in Atlanta to a brand new warehouse in Athens, Fire and Flavor has grown exponentially. I got a special tour of the warehouse from Davis, and it was fascinating. Assembly lines, shrinkwrap machines, boxes, platforms, huge shelves (I know I sound like I grew up under a rock...) I had a blast learning about the process.

I took a video of the planks going through the shrinkwrap machine. Check it out!



While I was sitting in the office with Davis and Gena, I asked them what sets Fire and Flavor apart from all the other cooking companies. What's going to keep them going for a long time? They confidently said, "We sell products at the highest quality for a low price. That's our goal. If we can continue to show people grilling can be healthy, tasty and cheap, we've done our job."

I thought that was a pretty good answer.

So far, they distribute their products to Publix, Kroger, Lowes, EarthFare, Whole Foods- basically any store that has cooking or grilling equipment. Click here to find a seller near you.

One main focus of their business is education. They teach people about their products and how to use them. I bet your average Joe doesn't know what a brine is, or how to use a cedar paper.

These are new concepts, but they have some delish results.

I was very curious to know where they get their recipes for the new cookbook, Gourmet Made Simple. Gena said her Mom was a caterer, so she grew up around food. All the recipes are Gena originals.

"I just trust my instincts," she said.

Gena is also the artist behind the food displays in the cookbooks. She cooks the food herself and then arranges all the accents and pretty herbs on them for the picture.

I think you can see how Davis and Gena Knox are involved in every aspect of their business. It's pretty amazing.

So, if you're looking for a way to spiffy-up your Fourth of July grill, head to your local grocery store and buy one of their products. I'm pretty excited about my new set of cedar planks I'll be cooking with.

The Train -- Is it (finally) coming?

Here at the Inbox, we've never been shy about cheering for the Brain Train. As an office full of people who make almost weekly trips back and forth to meet with associates at Jackson Spalding or clients in Atlanta, we will be dedicated users of the train the day it arrives. There is no question in our mind that when completed the "Brain Train" will have enormous economic benefits for Athens and the surrounding communities.

In the past two weeks, several events have occurred that make the Brain Train a much more likely occurrence.

First and foremost, Governor Sonny Perdue finally got on board with rail and transit, citing high gas prices and increasing use of GRTA buses. While he is focusing on a well-funded southern line first, many -- including myself -- believe that the Athens line (also known as the Brain Train) will ultimately be the more successful option given the fact that there is a destination at both ends that people will want to visit for work and play.

Second, in a move that received scant notice locally, Bill Kuhlke was named Chair of the Georgia Department of Transportation and strongly endorsed rail. Who is Mr. Kuhlke? He is our district's GDOT representative, and given his embrace of rail and the fact that he represents our congressional district, this has to be a positive for our area. It will certainly be a positive to have the Chair of GDOT looking in Northeast Georgia's direction a little more often.

This story at the Atlanta Business Chronicle offers a good idea of the many positive effects of the line will have. For Athens and its anti-poverty drive, I can't imagine anything that would be better for the local workforce than having a rail line to Gwinnett, which seems to generate just the type of skilled labor jobs we want here for the poor but can't get. The other potential benefits are enormous -- less traffic on 316; more productive commutes for anyone working at CDC, in Lawrenceville, at Emory, or in downtown or Midtown Atlanta; and a great option for tourists or those wanting to visit any of the communities along the route. From an economic development standpoint, having a strong, tangible, reliable link between all the institutions of higher education included in the map above will give us a strong advantage over many other communities.

If money buys happiness...

…then our close neighbor Atlanta may be the place for you.

Business Week just released its findings of the best and worst cities for the top 20 careers. Along with Payscale.com, the study adjusted the jobs to fit the cost of living in the 25 big city metros, Atlanta among them. You may consider moving to Houston, Dallas and Charlotte, N.C.—the most affordable cities with equally competitive salaries.

But since we’re so close to Atlanta, maybe a simple change of career is more convenient. Following are five jobs for your consideration based on the Business Week report:

1. Executive Director of a Nonprofit Organization—Atlanta ranks third behind Houston and Dallas with an average salary of $73,200.
2. Financial Analyst—Atlanta is second only to Houston with an average salary of $62,500.
3. Legal Assistant—Atlanta’s average: $46,000
4. Graphic Designer—Atlanta’s average: $45,700
5. Of course, there’s more to a job than compensation, so why not check out one of the companies Atlanta Magazine named as the Best Places to Work in the upcoming July issue. We, the Inbox Crew, have the privilege of working at No. 9 on the list. We've got the best of both worlds, Athens and the Atlanta-based Jackson Spalding. JS is in the good company of a number of our clients: Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover, Kaiser Permanente and The Condo Store. Also on the list: The Buckhead Community Bank, Spanx, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Atlanta Medical Center, among others.
   

Photo: seanmorgan

Peabodys

Question: what is the most prestigious honor for broadcast journalists?

Answer: It's not a Grammy. It's not an Emmy. And of course it's not a Tony. It's a Peabody, and many don't realize that the Peabody Awards are headquartered at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication here in Athens. The list of past Peabody winners includes most of the legends of broadcast journalism and some of America's most well known television programming, including everything from Sesame Street to the Sopranos.

On Monday, Eric O'Brien and I had the opportunity to represent Jackson Spalding at the Peabody Awards Gala at the Waldorf=Astoria in Manhattan. It was a remarkable event for a number of reasons.

First of all, the diversity of the honorees. Everyone from 30 Rock to Project Runway to NPR were among the 30+ award winners. We heard acceptance speeches from television anchors who covered the Virginia Tech tragedy with calm, skill and dignity. We heard a moving tribute from Bob Woodruff after he was honored for his production about injured veterans of the Iraq war. And we had the pleasure of hearing from Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Heidi Klum (although, I must say, she had an unusual new look going on). While the winners came from across the electronic media spectrum, they all had one thing in common: absolute excellence with their craft.

The event was a first class production in every way with the glitz and glamour of your typical televised award show. It made me proud to be a supporter of the University of Georgia to see the respect and honor given to our flagship institution in New York City.

A sample of some of the media coverage is below (note my closest brush ever with Perez Hilton); notably the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Athens Banner-Herald (fair disclosure: the ABH did highlight the winners back in the spring when they were announced) have no mention of the event or its honorees. My former employer the Rome News-Tribune did a wonderful locally driven story on the event, as they typically do.

--L.A. Times
--Washington Times
--Perez Hilton
--Media Bistro story and a good summary of winners

Overall, this is a great example of another one of "those things" that the University of Georgia does that it gets very little credit for in the local community that help establish it (and by association, Athens) as a national leader.

TCBY: Athens' best hidden secret

I used to work at TCBY in high school. Coming from a small town, it was THE place to hang out (and still is). Boy, could I swirl those cones with the best of 'em.

When I moved to Athens, I thought this town has everything- except a TCBY. Yes, I like Marble Slab and Cold Stone (may it rest in peace), but my heart still lies with the institution that made White Chocolate Mousse and Strawberry Swirl sound appetizing.

I would complain to my friends and other Athens locals about the lack of delicious frozen yogurt (Jason's Deli doesn't cut it. They don't have sprinkles.), and they all would say, "Well you know there used to be a TCBY in the Beechwood Shopping Center. It's where Larry's Giant Subs is now." I love Larry's, but after I discovered that fact, my sandwich didn't taste so good anymore.

Until this year, I did not know what had been within 15 miles of my reach. This spring, I was putting something in the trash at my apartment, and I saw a TCBY cup in there. I immediately ran through my apartment asking my two roommates where that cup came from. Long story short, it was from Athens- sort of.

If you drive up the loop, past the Milledge Ave., College Station and Lexington exits, past Olympic Drive, all the way until the loop "ends," keep going. You'll pass Athens Tech., and then, a couple of miles later, you'll see a little gas station/Blimpie/TCBY conglomerate. Heaven.

Even with gas prices as high as they are, I still make it a point to go up there at least once a month. I must admit, it's not as nice as the one in Morristown, but the yogurt tastes the same.

This discovery made me happy, and I hope it makes you happy, too. Athens seems a little brighter now.

Dawg Food Gives the Right Bark for Eats

Ever since I started school at UGA in fall 2005, my favorite characteristic of Athens has been its wide array of restaurants. Really. You can order anything in this town.

It took me a little over two years to figure out how I could thank the Athens restaurant business, and I finally found a way. In my social media class this past fall, I created Dawg Food, a blog about my dining experiences in Athens.

I thought Dawg Food would be an appropriate title, given the demographic and the area-wide obsession with Georgia athletics, and it has been quite the learning experience.

When I first started Dawg Food, I searched and searched for a Web site that mentions and reviews Athens restaurants from a real perspective. Of course, the Flagpole and the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau contribute their fair share of restaurant information, but I didn’t find exactly what I wanted.

This told me it was my time to step up and give back to the culinary community that had filled my tummy so many times. Originally, I started Dawg Food for the UGA community, but I have slowly developed an older, more “townie” following.

People ask me, “So what do you do with it? Do you just eat and then write about it?”

I could answer with a simple “yes,” but I tend to want to make my job sound more important.

In addition to just “writing about it,” I also try to take pictures, video and interview employees. Blogs are an effective way of bringing a business off the page, and that’s what I’ve tried to do.

Wouldn’t it make you want to go to Jot ‘Em Down Barbeque if you could see an interview with one of their cooks? What about a detailed picture of blackened salmon from The Basil Press? Did you know the Bluebird Cafe serves apple butter?

I get a lot of criticism for my “too niceness.” People say I need to be more critical in my reviews. So, I have desperately tried to provide a more well-rounded view of my dining experiences- good and bad.

Just like Athens Inbox, I believe the Athens community has some qualities that set it apart from any other small town, and I want others to know about it.

So, the next time you’re hungry or are feeling indecisive about where to eat, check out Dawg Food! If you go to one of my restaurants, go back to the Web site, and write about your experience. I always welcome user comments.

Since I’m interning at Jackson Spalding this summer, you will most likely see posts from lunches with the JS crew. Stay tuned for some great reviews!