Good morning, Athens.

Marcus “Nony” Lawrence rebranded his Athens cheesecake business from Cheesecake Topia, which closed in 2020 during the pandemic, to Nony’s Cheesecakes as he raises funds via GoFundMe for a food truck—while mentoring his family and local entrepreneurs against capital challenges.

Caribou Coffee opened its Athens location at 2198 W.

Broad St. on Friday, June 13, 2025, with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce + customers lined up outside to pick up coffee, use the drive-through, and spin a prize wheel for lanyards, air fresheners, and tote bags + as the shop has no indoor seating.

Prince Market at 100 Prince Ave in Athens opened in October 2023 by the Patel family and now features Yossi Kitchen, a restaurant serving Indian food.

This summer the store will begin renovations to expand the kitchen and possibly add a bar—steps made to keep local customers coming back.

Benhur Tesfai (21) was indicted on charges of DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide and hit-and-run after he fatally struck Michael Kitchen (34) on April 4 on West Broad Street in Athens, and he is scheduled for arraignment on July 15.

On June 12, the Clarke County School District Board approved the final FY26 budget of $254.9 million—an increase of $13.2 million—and an agreement with the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government to add three certified and 14 non-certified, unarmed school resource officers at elementary schools. The board also approved new Chromebooks for second graders and recognized leadership program graduates while Superintendent Robbie Hooker prepared to retire on June 30.

The Athens-Clarke County Elections Department will conduct a risk-limiting audit of the June 17 Special Primary Election starting on June 26 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the County Facilities Management Building on Lexington Road, and the audit will continue on June 27 if additional ballots need counting—open to the public.

The ACCGov Public Utilities Department will host five open houses and an online survey through August 31 to gather input on the 2025 Service Delivery Plan — which outlines 50 capital improvement projects addressing water and sewer needs over the next 20 years.

Residents can attend the open houses on June 26, July 10, July 23, August 7, and August 16 to learn more and provide their feedback.

The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department will suspend compost, garbage, recycling, and leaf and limb collections on Thursday, June 19th in honor of Juneteenth for residential & commercial customers outside the downtown district, while downtown service remains unchanged.

Customers should have their roll-carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled pick-up day, and normal service will resume on Monday, June 23rd.

This summer, many in Athens will enjoy the outdoors but must watch for six dangerous plants including poison ivy, oak, sumac, elephant ear, poison hemlock, and water hemlock—experts say to avoid contact and rinse any exposed items.

They warn against burning these plants because the toxic oils can cause skin rashes and breathing issues.

Flo Pilates offers Athens residents an at-home fitness option with app-based classes, competitions, and Pilates gear—including reformers and accessories—designed to suit beginners and seasoned practitioners.

A subscription costs $9.99 per month after a 14-day free trial.

Bad Movie Night

8-10 p.m. — Ciné — Free entry — Enjoy a quirky film about love and suspicion with a twist of bad movie charm.

Athfest 2025

Various times — Downtown Athens — Free entry — Celebrate an unforgettable weekend of live music, art, and community in the vibrant city of Athens, GA.

Country River Band Performance

7-11 p.m. — VFW Post 2872 — $10 — Enjoy classic western and honky-tonk music with line dancing during band breaks.

pondgorl at Athfest Club Crawl 2025

7-11 p.m. — Hendershot's — Fundraiser for local music and arts education — Enjoy live music while supporting K-12 education in Athens.

Classic City Trail Ride

12 p.m. – 6 p.m. — Athens Fairgrounds — Family-friendly activities — Saddle up for a delightful four-day trail ride event full of fun for everyone.

Motown, R&B & Soul Night with The Original Splitz Band

7-10 p.m. — The Foundry — $10 adv (+tax/fees) — Dance the night away to the iconic sounds of Motown, R&B, and Soul classics.

Homebuyer Education Workshop

9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Athens Land Trust — $10 — Learn essential home-buying skills through this HUD-certified course for first-time homeowners in Georgia.

Band of Horses Concert

6-10 p.m. — Georgia Theatre — $40+ — Experience the emotionally charged sound of Band of Horses as they perform their latest album and classic hits.

Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop

10 a.m. — SpringHill Suites Athens Downtown/University Area — Book Now on Eventbrite! — Explore ancient techniques to create stunning mosaic lamps while enjoying Turkish delights.

Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze

9:30 p.m. — Nowhere Bar — Check for entry cost — Enjoy captivating hooks and stellar songwriting from Vern Daysel and his band.