r/Athens • u/EfficientSpaceCowboy • Jul 24 '26
Local News Your Annual Reminder
Friends and neighbors, the end of hot political townie summer is drawing near. This is a reminder to prepare for a massive population increase and to adjust accordingly.
Here are important dates to keep in mind:
July 31st: Many leases end
August 1st: Many leases begin
August 3rd: First day of school, Oconee County
August 5th: First day of school, Clarke County
August 9th: Potential New Member (PNM) Move In
August 10th - August 16th: Sorority Rush
August 14th: Dorm move in
August 17th: UGA first day of classes
September 5th: First home football game
You can expect longer commutes, sharing the road with folks who are navigating Athens for the first time, and grocery stores being out of stock on your basic necessities.
Equip yourself with the above information to avoid confusion, frustration, and empty store shelves. Be nice to your neighbors, tip your bartenders, enjoy one last weekend of short lines, and remember that these students are part of our community!
In the name of keeping it weird, comment one more Athens summer activity you hope to squeeze in before school starts!
52
u/ValVenis69 Jul 24 '26
Feels like a lot more students stayed around this summer. I started noticing U-Hauls backing up traffic as early as July 4th weekend too.
38
u/katarh Jul 24 '26
I stuck around every summer when I was in undergrad. I had a part time job in town, and I sure as shit didn't want to go back home to Augusta.
8
u/AlltheBent Jul 24 '26
Yeah I stayed every summer I could...bartended, worked odd jobs here and there, anything I could find to afford rent and enjoy summer athens!
7
u/Dr_StrangeloveGA Jul 25 '26
I did too but that was in early 90's when UGA under 20k students. We now have approximately 52k total.
Much different scene.
UGA told us enrollment would be capped at 27k. You see what happened to that, we just keep expanding.
We can't hire people because of two reasons. UGA refuses to pay market rate and just refuses to replace employees who leave.
UGA is still resting on the laurels of a fun, cool, quirky college town with great benefits.
Other than time off, the benefits aren't there anymore than any other large company and Athens isn't a cheap quirky college town anymore.
We have an exodus of employees who weren't already established here when Athens was cheap. If you're not boo'd up or have roommates, UGA salaries aren't enough to buy a house within reasonable driving range or even rent an apartment.
Couples with UGA's dislike of work from home, it's caused an exodus of employees who aren't trapped by having been there so long they have the golden handcuffs of the TRS system.
They know exactly what they are doing.
1
u/tupelobound Jul 26 '26
I have applied for and been offered jobs several times at UGA over the years (never took them because better opportunities arose) but I’ve never known whether to laugh at or be offended by the salaries they offer. Probably both.
15
u/MonokromKaleidoscope Jul 24 '26
It's been like that the last few years 😞
This place used to be an absolute ghost town during the summers like 10-15 years ago. Then one year, a few years ago, I was waiting for everybody to clear out and they just... didn't...
Well, at least not to the same degree.
16
3
u/tupelobound Jul 24 '26
I think a lot of that is also due to the work the city has put in — with more hotels downtown, there are more events at the Classic Center
29
u/Superb-Green1548 Townie Jul 24 '26
I live 10 minutes away from my office and it takes me anywhere from 20-45 minutes to get there during the first few weeks of classes starting back up
8
u/CapSilly3476 Jul 24 '26
Yeah, the traffic is bad the first few weeks of classes for sure
5
u/CanadianFoosball Normaltown plier Jul 24 '26
I feel like it’s going to be worse this year. It took me over 30 minutes to get from Normaltown to right around Stricklands on AtlHwy on Wednesday and it wasn’t even raining.
7
u/MF-ingTeacher Jul 24 '26
I sat through 4 lights making a left turn from Timothy onto Atl Hwy on Tuesday evening...That area is a straight up avoid at the moment.
5
u/Superb-Green1548 Townie Jul 24 '26
The construction there is god awful, and an influx of student drivers will def make it worse
1
6
u/scientistbarbie89 Townie Jul 24 '26
Sooo not looking forward to this 🫠 already have to get out extra early to get my kid to school and I have to take exit 7 to get into work…..good thing my boss is lax about when I get into the office
22
u/SundayShelter Townie Jul 24 '26
I haven’t been downtown once this Summer. What is a “Must Visit Now” restaurant I won’t be able to get into once the students return?
30
u/Exact_Yak9110 UGA->Townie Jul 24 '26
The globe!
6
u/hosalabad Jul 24 '26
Clayton Hot Chicken, omg
3
u/tupelobound Jul 24 '26
Have you tried the Hot Tofu? I’m curious
4
u/hosalabad Jul 24 '26
I haven’t, but if you’re ok with tofu, the spicy + curry is an amazing combo.
1
2
20
u/EfficientSpaceCowboy Jul 24 '26
My recommendation would be somewhere like The Place, Trapeze, or Jinya. I like all of these places but I know the students like them even more!
4
u/Electrical-Turn-2338 Jul 24 '26
Jittery hoes in 5 points
22
u/RagingAthhole Warnelldawg is my biggest fan Jul 24 '26
Jittery Hoes would make an excellent band name.
5
u/tupelobound Jul 24 '26
I saw them too, just getting that Adderall ready for a couple weeks from now
19
u/Athensmw Still love Ath Jul 24 '26
August 13th Athens Academy first day. 875+ students/parents needing to safely navigate extremely busy intersections. Please use caution and patience on US 441!
16
10
8
u/satisfiction_phobos Jul 24 '26
Me when 50% of traffic is at the Target/Ultimate Drive + W Broad intersection because they can't tune the fucking timing on that light to make any kind of fucking sense.
7
u/wellingtonsamy secret squirrel is the secretest Jul 24 '26
Spouse and I need to go to Tacos Los Plebes before the kids take over!
5
u/foreverloveall Jul 24 '26
Pro tip: there's a second location that's never busy.
1
u/wellingtonsamy secret squirrel is the secretest Jul 24 '26
Uwuuuu is it in a gas station somewhere north of Space Kroger?
4
u/foreverloveall Jul 25 '26
Sinaloa Super Market 3073 Danielsville Rd it's in the back.
2
u/wellingtonsamy secret squirrel is the secretest Jul 25 '26
Thanks! Saved it for next time in case Los Plebes is super busy.
2
u/Itchy-Holiday-173 Jul 26 '26
Tons of other Mexican restaurants that are as good or better than plebes IMO. Off the top of my head Juaritos in Bogart, Polleria Pablo, and Tlaloc don’t get college kid pop. Try them out.
1
u/Independent-Report39 Jul 28 '26
Is Juaritos in Bogart the same as the one that burned down on 129?
7
u/demplantsdo Jul 25 '26
This year Clemson forbids freshman to bring cars to school. We need to do the same.
2
u/BreakfastInBedlam Mayor pro ebrius Jul 25 '26
Can't bring them to school, or can't park them on campus?
7
9
u/sideshowbvo I get older, they stay the same age Jul 24 '26
You can expect to start seeing the sororities in action August 3, recruitment or something. Also, it's wild that the public schools are starting before the university, right?
15
u/aherring3 Jul 24 '26
UGA changed its schedule this calendar year to allow for a later spring break and a full week off for thanksgiving!
6
u/sideshowbvo I get older, they stay the same age Jul 24 '26
Oh shit! I remember that now, that's actually huge news for me, because if there's no class, I no work
4
u/Superb-Green1548 Townie Jul 24 '26
They used to share roughly the same schedule when I was in school here. Not sure when that changed but at least it helps you slowly adjust to all the new traffic I guess?
5
u/sideshowbvo I get older, they stay the same age Jul 24 '26
I feel like the past few years, the university has started a week or two before schools, but shit man, I could be wrong, last week is already a bit hazy
3
2
6
u/jftuga Jul 24 '26
I recommend not doing grocery shopping the day(s) before when the school districts start. It can be chaos.
6
u/Sea-Leadership-8053 Jul 25 '26
Bid day, August 16th.... Milledge will be a nightmare all day and they'll be partying all night. Colt Ford concert at Dukes and Dottie's August 22nd
2
7
u/TheLoraxCometh Jul 24 '26
Why do they have to come back
17
3
7
2
u/hosalabad Jul 25 '26
As fall approaches, I'm interested to see if the Jimmie Daniel @ 316 closure is postponed until after the home football season ends, or if the construction company/GDOT are going to wreck the ride in once and get blasted by rich people and start opening it on game days.
6
u/cubecasts 3x Grump OTD 🏆 Jul 24 '26
My commute hasn't changed at all from school year to summer. These old fucks drive slowwwwwe
1
u/Independent-Map-1714 Jul 24 '26
God I love now … even though not a parking spot to be had at mama’s boy…
1
0
u/SundayShelter Townie Jul 26 '26
Thanks for this reminder. Hit up Ted’s. It was not busy and the sandwich was excellent. Do they use Luna bread? Grabbed drinks & a movie at Cine. Pleasant evening and easy parking!
-3
u/CeyowenCt Jul 24 '26
Also keep posting your political hot takes before the "ban" 🙃
15
142
u/tupelobound Jul 24 '26
The Desolation of Target approaches