Georgia artist continues her freak folk sound with new album

"Released by Neurotic Yell Records, the album is a cacophony of alt-country, psychedelic madness. Saxophone, organ, violin and trumpet join keyboard, guitar and percussion in sonic combinations that are sometimes dissonant and often unsettling."

Hope for Agoldensummer accentuates folk in Americana festival

"An otherwise ethereal performance was interrupted by Claire’s blunt humor — each instrument change allowed a dirty joke or droll anecdote, as if songs about malt liquor and collard greens weren’t already enough to keep the audience in high spirits."

Now Showing!: 'Castle in the Sky' authentic tale of friendship

"Comical street brawls, flaring gunfire and fiery explosions – including one that suspiciously resembles the H-bomb — ridicule senseless violence and militarism. However, the only dead bodies to be seen are those of robots."

'And I Feel Fine' rebels against the end of the world

"Tiny rice paper caves litter the floor in an arrangement that looks like the remnants of a small-scale apocalypse. The caves stand defiantly in the middle of the gallery floor, demanding recognition and daring passersby to take one wrong step."

What It's Like to Be Transgender in Athens

"It’s not an easy journey. Cruze says some acquaintances continue using feminine pronouns around him. Every day brings new challenges to living the life he was meant to live."

Athens Pagans Face Many Misconceptions

"Paganism is pretty DIY. Followers of the various paths freely modify and combine various pieces of them to create their own religions, meaning nary a pair of Pagans believes the same thing. One thing everyone agrees on, though, is a belief in and respect for the divine in nature."

Lifelines: The life cycle of a psychic, from 'talented' kid to clairvoyant life coach

"Marks’ business location, which doubles as her home, has been in her family for 50 years; her mother marketed psychic services there before her. In her reading room, Catholic images and Bible verses surround the glass case that contains her crystals and tarot cards."

On the Mind: Stigma of seeking mental health counseling challenging in college atmosphere

"Students readily confess to the physical exhaustion and malnutrition of a coffee-and-Ramen-fueled college existence — there is no shame in sleep deprivation and excessive sodium intake. But many are reluctant to acknowledge the prevalence of an equally physical and more serious issue — mental illness." goes here

Should Daily Groceries Co-op Start Selling Meat?

After 20 years as a (mostly) vegetarian establishment, Daily Groceries Co-op is talking about selling meat. Historically, the co-op has always offered little in the way of animal flesh. Exceptions included cat food, some fish and local turkeys at Thanksgiving. Now, its board of directors is talking about bringing in the red stuff."

The Push for a Plastic Bag Fee Is Picking Up in Athens

"It’s no secret that plastic bags are, well, terrible. They’re made from nonrenewable petroleum; they’re non-biodegradable, and they take up valuable space in landfills. They kill sea turtles, clog drains and fly off garbage trucks to settle in tree canopies and water sources for eternity."

UGA Employees Fight for Domestic Partner Benefits

"Georgia doesn't recognize same sex-marriages and prohibits spending state funds on benefits for unmarried employees' partners. Kirin and other UGA employees say they feel targeted by that policy, which they say discriminates against gay employees and hurts faculty and staff recruitment and retention."

Hendershot's forced to move shop

"After two and a half years of bringing bands, beer and caffeine to the western reaches of Athens, Hendershot’s Coffee Bar must vacate its Oglethorpe Avenue location. Owner Seth Hendershot said the decision to move arose last week after six months of negotiation between the Hendershot’s and Transmetropolitan owners ended without compromise."

Chattanooga Dreaming: Coming Home to Southern Sandstone

"I’d felt true terror atop boulders and on lead, but moving to Quito was scarier by far. I had to navigate a new city and culture in my second language, far from my support systems. A world away from the only town I’d ever lived in, climbing connected me to my new home and my old one."

Destination Review: Rock climbing at Little River Canyon

"These days the Canyon is clear of the cars, fridges, and washing machines that once marred its beauty. It is instead one of the most pristine nature preserves in the Southeast, known for its hiking trails and whitewater rapids. Equally impressive, however, are its striking sandstone cliffs."

The Organic Growth of Del and Marte's Lilly Pad Campground

"When Del and Marte Scruggs bought Obed land in 1997, they didn’t know they’d soon share a home with hundreds of dirty climbers and their dogs.“There wasn’t really a business plan or an idea to have a campground,” Del says. “It pretty much just happened.”But when the couple’s friends realized the new property sat in the middle of one of Tennessee’s rock climbing meccas, they didn’t wait long to start staking tents."

Women On Lead: Q&A with Ecuadorian climber Andrea Castillo

"The Andes Mountains run through the center of Ecuador, and volcanic rock abounds. The government has supported the bolting of routes throughout the sierra during the last decade, but the country isn’t quite on the climbing tourism map yet."

Destination Review: Del and Marte's Lilly Pad Campground

"Over the years, Del and Marte Scruggs have let Obed climbers transform their property into an idyllic campground, complete with cooking tables, a general store, and a communal fire pit. You’ll love it, your dog will love it, and you’ll never want to leave."