Sophie Loghman: Recessionista, Intern, and Artist

Athens is not only home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs but also has an eclectic and vibrant culture of music, art, film, fashion, and style. This quintessential college town really does have something to offer everyone. Sophie Loghman, a junior at the University of Georgia, chose to go off to college in Athens like so many other metro Atlanta teenagers but has found a niche that perfectly suits her along the way. Sophie, 20 years old and a magazines major in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is an intern at Athens’ Blvd Magazine and a truly original soul.

Sophie applied for an internship at Athens’ Blvd Magazine in hopes to gain as much journalistic experience as she could and to have pieces for her portfolio. She leads the home décor section at Blvd Magazine and interns as a junior stylist as well. Sophie creates and designs a full page spread on home décor for each issue of the magazine and writes for Blvd’s newly revived website. When she is working as a junior stylist, she gets to put her own personal fashion sense and artistic eye to good use in order to style the models for photo shoots. One of Sophie’s achievements so far this year as an intern was styling for Blvd Magazine’s Fashion’s Night Out, a fashion show fundraiser and trunk show to benefit the Junior League of Athens.

Sophie explains Blvd Magazine’s significance to the Athens community, “It's a great magazine for college students and young professionals who want fashion, beauty, home décor and styling tips on a budget. And everything is local so it's kind of like an Athens ‘what's around town and in style’ magazine.” The downward spiral of the economy has affected everyone in some way or another. Even though fashion, music, and art may be the interests negatively affected by the lack of disposable income, Athens culture is still thriving. UGA students are still interested in the fashion world and striving to find ways to be involved and maintain their style on a budget. For the recessionistas out there, Sophie advises, “Check the sale racks. Things are always going on sale now and try to visit more thrift shops. You'd be surprised how much you can find there with a good eye.”

Not only does Sophie bring her unique sense of style to Blvd Magazine, but she also creates artwork of her own. She started experimenting by drawing and mimicking paintings she would find in a store. Sophie’s friends began asking her to create special paintings for them, and she finally realized, “Maybe I do have something unique about me.” Some of her do-it-yourself home décor tips on a budget include creating curtains from recycled fabric, decorating and refurbishing furniture found at flea markets or thrift stores, or even upholstering an old piece of furniture to give it a fresh new look.

Despite the deflated economy, Sophie plans to continue finding internships and follow her passion to eventually work for a home décor or fashion magazine. Sophie explains, “No matter the state of the economy, the fashion and art worlds will always remain and keep their significance.” She inspires everyone around her with her authentic, one-of-a-kind style and draws inspiration from local Athens culture, but Sophie also explains how the people of Athens influence her ingenuity and flair, “I get inspired by the people around me. If I see a cute outfit on someone, I think ‘Hey, maybe I could rock that.’”

One of my friends who is a Blvd Magazine intern introduced me to this fabulous blog, The Recessionista. Blvd Magazine tries to bring fashion and style on a budget to Athens. This blog has gained national recognition due to the need to budget and save during the recession. The post about ways to save during the holidays is helpful here in Athens or anywhere you may be traveling.

A fellow PRSSA blogger posts about a speaker who visited UGA from Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Check out what she had to say to the UGA community about how the fight for the cure is being progressed with public relations.

Are UGA fans doing everything they can to keep the campus green and clean during home games? This post discusses the much talked about trash left behind from tailgaters.

It's the time of year when we start thinking about how blessed and thankful we are for everything and everyone in our lives. Take the time to help those who aren't as fortunate by donating to Timothy Baptist Church's Thanksgiving Day Feast for the Homeless and Hungry.

This post from another Athens blog discusses how a UGA organization, Forgotten Friends, is helping animals get through cold winter months.

Recently, a Georgia Supreme Court overturned an Atlanta decision that will now allow people 18 to 20 years old to be a bar employee. As a result, this may overturn the Athens ordinance. This post is from an anonymous Athens bar employee about the rules or lack there of governing bars and drinking in Athens.

"New Moon", the second film in the cult favorite "Twilight" saga, is released at midnight. Most girls I know have had their midnight showing tickets ordered for weeks. This post talks about the "Twilight" series and even the "Gossip Girl" series influence on Athens' young adult reading.

The Exhibitionists feature Mercury Art Works, Hotel Indigo's full service fine art gallery, and how Mercury Art Works is infusing art into Athens through this eco-friendly hotel.

Check out how young philanthropists from UGA and the Athens community are raising awareness and funds for organizations like AIDS Athens and the Ugandan Orphanage Relief Fund. Innovative minds are promoting events like bar percentage nights, princess pageants, and dance parties to benefit great causes.

This post can be found on Flagpole's art/culture blog and features two influential films about strong women. "Coco Before Chanel" and "Rachel Corrie: An American Conscience" have been showing at Ciné.

New Earth Music Hall Making Its Way in Athens

The void of the Georgia Theatre may now be filled by a new music venue, New Earth Music Hall. New Earth took the place of the former dance club, Blur. Mark Bell, the owner of Blur, made some changes to better the venue for a larger concert capacity. Blur could only accommodate 300 people, where as New Earth Music Hall can now accommodate 400-500 people.

Blur has closed its doors because of changes in the cultural scene of Athens as well. Before, Blur catered to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clients with dance parties and drag shows. Now, this population feels comfortable stepping into other traditional downtown establishments free of any discriminatory concerns.

New Earth Music Hall, having opened its doors on Aug. 28, now has a sprinkler system, sound system, and expanded stage to accommodate a larger audience. This fresh venue continues to host drag shows but also hosts a variety of concerts from all genres of music. Comedy is planned to mix up the scene, as well as daytime events for all ages. This addition to downtown Athens hopefully will liven up the music scene stunted by the absence of the Georgia Theatre.

Hotel Indigo Enhances Green Scene in Athens

Athens is now home to a brand new, eco-friendly hotel, Hotel Indigo. This sustainable endeavor molds together Southern charm and progressive ideas. Hotel Indigo is registered to become the first LEED Gold Certified hotel of InterContinental Hotel Groups, which has 4,100 hotels worldwide.

Hotel Indigo was built with recycled materials on a previously developed site. Energy efficient equipment as well as low flow plumbing was used throughout the building. The builders strategically situated the hotel to allow for maximum sun exposure and also designed an outdoor water feature that collects condensation from the HVAC system allowing the landscape to be irrigated. Hotel Indigo’s rooms and suites are even decorated with wood furnishings. Visitors driving hybrids or carpool vehicles are also rewarded with preferred parking at the hotel.

Not only is Hotel Indigo eco-conscious and chic, but it also meshes right in with Athens’ vibrant culture. The hotel is home to The Rialto Room, which is scheduled to host concerts of varied genres. Hotel Indigo, being a work of art in and of itself, also has a full service, fine art gallery, Mercury Art Works, which changes its exhibitions seasonally. Other innovative events being held at this new addition to Athens is Canine Cocktail Hour, where pet owners can bring their furry friends for a drink and meet other local dog owners.

Hotel Indigo is sure to be the up and coming place to stay for UGA gamedays and other popular Athens events as well as bringing attention to Athens’ growing eco-friendly culture. To make reservations, visit here.

The Huffington Post wrote a segment on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This post gives more insight into the significance of this historical event that Athens' Ciné and UGA commemorated.

Ciné and UGA Commemorate the Fall of the Berlin Wall

On Nov. 9, people around the world remembered the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. The 20^th anniversary of this significant event in history brought together some of the world’s most powerful leaders to recognize the collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe. In Germany, memorial services, speeches, and events commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall. To symbolize the fall of the Berlin Wall, 1,000 dominoes along a mile route were knocked over as a finale to its 20^th anniversary.

In Athens, the fall of the Berlin Wall was not forgotten either. Ciné hosted a film festival with the UGA Department of Germanic & Slavic Studies called, Wendekino: Cinema of Political Transformation: The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Revolutions of 1989 in German and Eastern European Film. The festival included foreign films, “Kolya”, “Winter Adé”, “Berlin is in Germany”, “12:08 East of Bucharest”, “The Legend of Rita”, and “Silent Country.” An art exhibit, Halt! Hier Grenze- Stop Here! Border, featuring photographs of 1985 Germany accompanied the commemorative film festival as well. These unique photographs and notes were taken by Christof Rieken and Martin Kagel when they explored and observed the divided German border in 1985.

No matter where or how the fall of the Berlin Wall was celebrated, German President Horst Koehler puts it best, "Looking back, we can see many causes that led to the peaceful revolution, but it still remains a miracle.”

This post showcases one of Athens' delicious cafés and bakeries, Ike & Jane. Their scrumptious Elvis Donut is featured in Jessica Amason and Richard Blakeley's new book, "This Is Why You're Fat." This post has the clip from "The Today Show" about the book.

"Nothing illustrates our nation's bipolar attitude toward eating more hilariously than this visual coronary. A stomach-turning delight." -Entertainment Weekly

Most UGA students live in a bubble free from real world troubles and worries. Often times, we may forget UGA is nestled in the center of our nation's fifth poorest city. This post from athens georgia music&arts features Washington Street Liberation Army's efforts to help the homeless with their Coat + Blanket Drive for Athens' Homeless Camp Out.

Verbatim's post about an Athens songwriter, Vic Chesnutt, discusses his influence on the local music scene but also his experience with the state of health care and how that's affecting his music in turn.

Another blog, Verbatim, features an Athens band, Nana Grizol, rocking out at a house show in New York City. This post provides insight into the house show culture that's also popular in Athens. Vegan friendly food, loud music, bands setting up in kitchens, and permanent hearing loss is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

I've been a part of Creative Consultants, a not-for-profit student-run public relations firm, for two years now. Last year, I was the junior account executive for the Ciné account and had the pleasure of working with Alyssa De Hayes, the account executive. Her blog, phonographs, is about the music and photography that inspires her. She also happens to be a music publicist for Team Clermont here in Athens. She posted some staggering pictures she took of the aftermath of the Georgia Theatre fire.

"I'm totally going to unfriend him after what he did last night!" How many of us use that term "unfriend" on a daily basis? I've heard plenty of friends say this after many nights out in downtown Athens. Apparently, the term has found its way into everyday conversation so much that it has been chosen as the Oxford Word of the Year for 2009. This blog lists other social networking terms that almost made the cut for the current year. Senior lexicographer for Oxford's dictionary program explains, "Unfriend has real lex-appeal." Love it.

A classmate's blog, Jackson Goes Green, explores the environmentally friendly world and how to start living green. I liked her posts about how to "green" your wedding and Alicia Silverstone's new book, "The Kind Diet". Athens has a large number of "greenies" and keeps evolving to become an eco-conscious community. More to come about local farmer's markets and Athens' efforts to go green!

Local Athens artist, Jennifer Schildknecht, is the creative mind behind Georgia Theatre's art quilt project for restoration funds. Her blog, Mama In The Moon, showcases her artwork and projects, perhaps another source of inspiration.

I have to do some shameless promotion of one of my best friends. Her blog, Sunny Peaches, covers art, fashion, home designs, and what she finds creatively inspirational. She also happens to be one of the most creative, one-of-a-kind people I know, and you can read her work in the Red & Black and Blvd Magazine. Check it out for a smile!

Music to Sift Through the Ashes Again

I'll never forget driving to my summer school class on June 19 and wondering why there was so much traffic and black clouds of smoke rising from downtown Athens. When I finally arrived at my class, everyone was abuzz with the news of the Georgia Theatre being in flames. For the next couple of days, a steady stream of black smoke rose from the charred ashes of one of Athens' most beloved landmarks. It was an integral part of downtown Athens and had hosted concerts from every music genre possible. The Georgia Theatre had to be rebuilt.

Fast forward five months and fortunately progress can be seen from the rebuilding of the Georgia Theatre. Insurance covered the replacement costs, but in order for the Georgia Theatre to be built according to modern building codes, they have had to raise $3 million. The theatre has partnered with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, a not-for-profit organization who restores historically and culturally significant landmarks, and created a tax-deductible donation fund. In addition to donations, local artist Jennifer Schildknecht has invited artists, musicians, businesses, and individuals to take part in creating an art quilt to be auctioned later for rebuilding funds. Schildknecht explains of the unconventional art piece, "this ain't your granny's quilt!" No sewing or fabric is required. Each of these quilt blocks will be an individual piece of art and can be made from a variety of materials, such as canvas, fiberfill, cardboard, paint, glue, or ink. All blocks must be turned in by Nov. 30. For more information on the Georgia Theatre art quilt, visit here. To donate to Georgia Theatre’s restoration fund, visit here.

UGA Fashionistas Rising Above the Economy

Despite the recession and the increasing need of student budget reforms and lifestyle changes over college campuses, the world of fashion is still revolving and flourishing at the University of Georgia. Fashion may seem like the last thing on a student’s mind during these difficult economic times, but UGA style and interest in the fashion world is thriving. Blvd Magazine, a quarterly publication from Athens Magazine about fashion and trends, manages to pique students’ attention for fashion in spite of more serious concerns about today’s economic woes. UGA students and local Athenians can take an evening away from the monotonous, everyday worries to come celebrate one of the fashion world’s most influential designers and trendsetters at Blvd’s Coco After Dark event at Athens Ciné on Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Blvd in conjunction with Ciné and UGA Creative Consultants are hosting the Coco After Dark event where they will be screening the film, “Coco Before Chanel.” This French film provides a glimpse into Coco’s elusive life before she became the renowned Chanel. Kamala Lyons, Ciné’s public relations director, explains the draw of this popular event, “It’s a good representation of a very independent woman breaking boundaries. The times Coco Chanel lived in are relevant to our times now. She’s an inspiration for young women.” Fashionistas and art lovers can enjoy a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres from local Athens restaurant, The National, and an exclusive vintage Chanel collection from the local vintage store, Agora. After the special screening of “Coco Before Chanel”, attendees can participate in French culture and fashion trivia for a chance to win door prizes. Sonny Got Blue will provide music at the cocktail party.

Along with creating events like Coco After Dark, UGA students are continuing their involvement with fashion in many other ways. On Oct. 1, Blvd Magazine presented Fashion’s Night Out, a fashion show and trunk show from various Athens boutiques that benefited The Junior League of Athens. This event combined Blvd Magazine’s love of fashion with a philanthropic cause. Other students are involved with UGAStyle, a satirical blog devoted to the do’s and don’ts of Athens style. Students’ spending habits have also been influenced by the deflated economy. Savannah Weeks, a junior who helped organize the Coco After Dark event, explains, “Current economic times have definitely influenced students’ interest in fashion in a negative way. People have less disposable income than they did before to spend on things such as clothes, art, or music.” Despite less disposable income to spend on unnecessary expenses, some students still engage in the fashion world by finding creative and inexpensive ways to be trendy.

“One of our team’s goals is to find unique, affordable items to display in our magazine. We try and show people that you can still dress cute on a budget. The vast majority of thrift stores around Athens are great go-to places to find trendy, funky clothes,” explains Sophie Loghman, a junior and intern at Blvd Magazine. Mollie Rosenberg, a junior who hopes to have a career as a fashion stylist, says, “Fashion may be experiencing changes because of the economy, but I’m still going to try to have a career as a stylist. Fashion is a form of art, and I think it will always have a significant place in the world.”

Even though the deflated economy has changed the way students engage in fashion or trends, they still find creative ways to indulge their interest and keep fashion ingenuity and inspiration alive around UGA and the Athens community. Whether it’s finding clever, inventive ways to spice up a wardrobe without going over budget, interning at a fashion publication, or spending an evening watching the famous Coco Chanel rise above her hard economic times, fashion and style always remain.