If you saw day one of our trip to Athens, you began to get a feel for how much we have fallen for this place, located just an hour outside Atlanta.  In two short days, we set out to capture the magic of this small town, all while we enjoyed the most gracious southern hospitality from a handful of new great friends. 

Our second day was one for the books.  We started our morning on The Hill with the boys from Epting Events.  The Hill is 20+ acres where all of Lee’s, the matriarch of the Epting family, homes sit.  Yes, I said homes.  You see, Lee collects homes.  Extremely old, historic homes he restores to their former glory.  And glorious, they are.  

As we turned up the tree-lined dirt road that led to The Hill, I immediately felt transported back in time.  From the smaller cottages, the grand homes and to the soft yellow plantation style Donald-Epting home, it was all pure magic.  A vintage Chevrolet sat in the drive, and a large white tent was still standing from an event the night before.  The boys, Lee, Ashley, Daniel and their video crew Grit Tree Productions for Black Tie & BBQ, greeted us with the definition of Southern Hospitality: mimosas, a four-course brunch, and a candlelit table set with the china that Lee’s collected over the years.  I don’t know why I would have expected less, I mean Epting has been catering and throwing events for the creme de la creme for the past 40 years.

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Just an hour outside of Atlanta lies a city that feels a whole world away, Athens.  Best known as the home of the University of Georgia Bull Dawgs, but as I was about to quickly find out Athens is not just about Saturday football games.  Athens is a community, a tightly knit one at that.  Athens is a community filled with local proprietors that have been open for generations, food that rivals that of any metro market, emerging artists in every shape and form, and families where parents do the daily commute to Atlanta just to raise their children in a place they feel is home.  This I all knew from hearing friends speak passionately about the town, but I was excited to experience it for myself and see the things to do in Athens, Georgia. 

First stop (per everyone’s suggestions on Instagram),  Last Resort.  A restaurant that has been serving locals for decades.  The food was fantastic and better yet cheap.  I noshed on a southwestern salad and the best grilled okra I’d had since being down south, Kathryn the grilled vegetable pasta a staple from her days as a Dawg.  We washed it all down with some rose of course and cake which was worth the hype.  A quick walk up the street we met Cheri and friends at Heery’s Closet to do a little shopping and attend the Empire State Finery trunk show.  From Tibi (a local Athens girl herself) to Tory, Joie and Theodosia I quickly understood why Heery’s was your best bet when it came to shopping local.  I snagged another ESF piece for my collection and even though the temperatures were in the 90’s I couldn’t resist this perfect Vince cashmere for fall.

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