The Scoop – Summer 2021
Shop Social with Epiphany
Epiphany was opened in August 2014 by Dara Buczynsky and her husband Paul. With no business experience, she did have a few other things, a great love for Jesus, a passion for fashion, and a heart of gold built for giving back.
You can catch Buczynsky and her daughter, Leah – Epiphany’s social media and brand manager – on their Instagram (@epiphanyathens) where they’ve set up their virtual shop. There, the dynamic duo shows off new inventory so that you can see how the piece would look and be paired with other items in your closet.
Since the Buczynsky family has dedicated their lives to giving back, a portion of all of Epiphany’s sales go to helping the poor and underserved in the community and around the world.
Bear Hollow Zoo
Bear Hollow Zoo, located within Memorial Park, is a great summer outing for the whole family. Grab a map and a self-guided tour sheet and explore the Georgia native wildlife!
From bald eagles to North American oitters and American black bears, Bear Hollow has many animals that may otherwise be tucked away from our daily societal lives.
The animals that call Bear Hollow home are ones that cannot be released back into the wild due to physical or behavioral problems and now instead serve as informational ambassadors for their species.
Admission is free and the zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Lyndon House Arts Center
If you read the last issue of Athens Magazine then you remember meeting artist, Will Eskridge. Since we last visited with him, his newest collection BeachPUNX has made its debut. The collection – along with some of his other pieces – have found a temporary spot at the Lyndon House Arts Center until July 24. To accompany Eskridge’s love for animals, his Endless Party exhibition is also accompanied by a scavenger hunt at Bear Hollow Zoo.
Aside from his work, the Lyndon House Arts Center has many exhibitions with occasional Thursday artist talks that change throughout the months. You can also find some featured community collections that range from cookie jars to vintage rhinestone glasses and even collections of trail trash.
Firefly Trail
Take a walk, jog or bike on firefly trail this summer. Though portions of the trail are still in development, Athens-Clarke County has finished a mile of the trail and nine more miles are currently in progress. By the end of construction there will be a total of 39 miles that will stretch from Athens, connecting Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe and Greene counties, to Union Point.
Since the Firefly Trail is near the historic area of the Athens section of Georgia railroad, it’s considered to be a “rail-trail.” Rail Trails are areas that follow abandoned or out-of-use railroads and in turn the trail allows for historic preservation and safe, active foot and bicycle transportation. Not only will this trail create a safer space for adventure recreation, but the Georgia Department of Transportation estimated that the trail “will attract about 1.1 million uses per year with a total economic impact of $14.7 million annually.”
Athens Ciné
If you haven’t been to Ciné, now is the time to go! Athens’ only independent art house, Ciné is a 501(c)3 non-profit cinema. With two cinemas and a full bar in one historic venue, it focuses on featuring small releases and first-run indie movies. Ciné can even accompany up to 125 guests if you’re looking to rent the theater for a seminar, screening, reception or party.
Earlier this month, Ciné had the grand opening for their weekly pop-up, drive-in theater! A new movie will be featured every week with concessions and cocktails available. There will also be a different Athens based food truck on site every week for those on the hungrier side.
Not only does Ciné do theater, but they also partner with ATHICA to bring small art exhibitions to their on-site gallery. If you’re interested in cartooning, Ciné hosts Cartoon Class with Richard Neupert where he delves into the classic art style of characters like Daffy Duck, Betty Boop and more. All class videos and accompanying content can be found on Ciné’s Cartoon Class page.
To find the theater’s movie schedule and drive-in specifications, visit their website at www.athenscine.com.