Los Angeles Times: Visit Athens, Ga. in 2009
April 8, 2009 at 12:08 pm by Debbie Michaud in NewsForget Dong Hoi, Vietnam, Vanuatu and East Timor. The Classic City made the paper’s list of “29 destinations to visit in 2009.” According to the article, Athens made the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations list. But :
… don’t think Athens is sleepy and all musty history. Athens touts itself as a great mix of hip — home of the B-52s and R.E.M. — and history, with 15 neighborhoods on the historic preservation list.
I’m all for pimping Athens in the national spotlight (Go Dawgs!), but the B-52s and R.E.M.? Why must every reference to present day Athens reference a 20-year-old music scene? What about the incredible restaurants (ahem, the National, the Grit)? Current music (Cough, cough, Venice is Sinking, Of Montreal, We Versus the Shark)? Or badass events (Twilight Criterium, AthFest)?
Definitely visit Athens, but please don’t expect the Michael Stipe Welcome Wagon when you arrive.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Yes, yes, yes to everything in this post!
April 8th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Look a little more closely in the mouth of that gift horse, why dontcha? If that article brings one additional tourist dollar to Athens, it’s a good thing, IMHO.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Gift horse?
The R.E.M./B-52’s reference is lazy and suggests the people responsible for writing and editing the piece aren’t very familiar with 21st century Athens.
What happened in 1983 in Athens is great, but Athens is a great place to visit precisely because it’s not stuck in 1983.