living in athens in your 40s??? (Atlanta: theater, college, rooftop)

[fromnewmexicotounknown]

i am considering athens ga in addition to a few other cities...honestly, much of it sounds wonderful...the cost of living, proximity to the mountains water, weather, and the music scene, etc...i did have a few questions though...

i am in my mid 40's and being this is a college town, are there places to go for those my age group? I do like live music (and I am a musician in fact) however, my idea of fun is not bar hopping where college students are going to be drunk off their behinds...are there other venues for older people to listen to music...rock blues etc?? are there things to do for those in my age range?? I am aware of Atlanta's proximity however, I am not the type of person who would want to drive an hour each way all the time to be around more mature people..Being a musician, Im not immune to people being drunk at bars and clubs etc...but I just don't want to be amongst the minority in a young crowd and would like older people to do stuff with.

Thanks for the info ;

[JPD]

I'm in my 40s, and I go to Athens fairly regularly for concerts. I've never felt like I was the old guy among a bunch of college kids. There are lots of bars and restaurants that cater to an older crowd mixed in with the college bars and fast food. I don't think you'll have a hard time fitting in.

[fromnewmexicotounknown]

cool thank you

are there places for a single female to go alone that are safe??? (nightlife wise)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by fromnewmexicotounknown

cool thank you

are there places for a single female to go alone that are safe??? (nightlife wise)

I can't speak from first hand experience since I'm male, but I've never felt unsafe anywhere in Athens at any time of day or night. Having said that, I'm sure there are some parts of the city that are worse than others.

The Globe Bar is pretty laid back. It's right across the street from the Georgia Theater, which hosts a lot of bands that draw a mixed crowd. They have a rooftop bar that has a nice view. The 40 Watt music club is right around the corner from those two places. The last time I was in Athens I had a wonderful dinner at Last Resort Grill, which is also just down the street. All of those are must-visits.

Here's a good guide to Athens by Flagpole Magazine (their free weekly newspaper):

https://guide.flagpole.com/

[Michelle DeRepentigny]

I'm 49, female, and have lived near Athens all my life. Truly, one of the best things is the diversity of things to do and places to go. Some places are wall to wall students, but certainly not everywhere!