How I Went To Athens And Met Michael Stipe (Nearly)

Mark Damon Puckett|June 22, 2018 3:25 pm EST

Condor Chocolates

1658 S Lumpkin St

Athens, GA 30606

It was a morning of sun in Asheville, North Carolina, so I filled up a thermos with Black Widow from Bean Werks, and drove three hours down to Athens, Georgia, with my bike in the back of my ride.

As I headed south on an empty 25 and then picked up 85 with the 70 mph speed limit, I found myself in front of Avid Bookshop on Prince Ave in Athens in no time, thermos empty and ready for a day of coffee and whatever food came my way.

Avid used to serve coffee and didn't anymore, but I received some literate directions and suggestions from the ladies in the bookstore about where to go in this college town, University of Georgia just around the corner.

I unloaded my bike and headed up Prince to my first stop, Ike & Jane, for the gluten-free peanut butter brownie (massive) and a double shot of espresso. Outside, I was transfixed by the sign, which looked like an old gas station one repainted. I couldn't stop staring at it.

I crossed the street and ducked into the remarkable Normal Books, also on Prince, then meandered down by the fraternity houses after I turned on N Milledge St, massive square magnolia trees rising in some of the yards.

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I ended up doing a loop of town, not realizing how steep the hill was up through University of Georgia on S Lumpkin St. By the time I had returned to Avid, back on Prince, I realized that I missed their other location right in Five Points. I had passed right by it. Had to go back.

First, though, I was directed to the very cool Daily Groceries Co-op next door to Avid, a structure that looked as if it could exist in the French Quarter. Inside, I was told by a manager that Michael Stipe owned the building. So, well, I didn't meet Michael, but I was in his, you know, building. Turns out he actually does live a few miles away.

On my way out of town is when I would discover the truffles at bean-to-bar Condor Chocolates. As it turned out this chocolate-making café was right by Avid Bookshop's Five Points location.

I had a glistening cherry truffle, quite extraordinary. Now, I use that word "extraordinary" here for a reason, for in Samuel Johnson's original first dictionary, he speaks about how the "a is liquified into the o," and this is exactly what happened to my tongue.

Is this article mostly about the finale cherry truffle at Condor? Or Ike & Jane's peanut butter brownie that sustained on my bike travels? Or about nearly meeting Michael Stipe at the co-op? Not sure, but it's definitely about Athens.

I ordered one of Condor's lattes for the road.

Georgia red peach of sun bright behind me, all the way home.

Disclaimer: Travel and food/drink expenses for this article were paid for by Mark Damon Puckett.

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