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California dreamin’ your way to L.A. (and the Natty!)

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It’s a given that Bulldog Nation is always up for a good road trip, and Georgia’s pursuit of its second consecutive national championship on Monday is more than enough reason to pack up your tailgating gear and hit the road!

Even better, there aren’t many better places to spend a few days than sunny California. Los Angeles is the nation’s epicenter of glitz and glamor, mixing splashes of Hollywood stardom with the sun and soul of the West Coast.

If you’re planning to cheer on the Dawgs, proudly barking at a few passers-by in the process, it’s important to come up with a game plan. There’s a lot to see and do in L.A., which is why we turned to some fellow Dawgs who call California home for some advice.

Check out these ideas from our friends at the Southern California chapter of the UGA Alumni Association and, if you visit any of them, take a pic and tag us on social using #AlwaysADawg.

 

Looking for a place to stay?

Unlike the Bulldogs’ trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl in 2018, many alumni and fans might be best suited by a stay on the westside of the city. Think crystal blue waters, bodybuilding by the beach and George Strait songs as Ocean Park, Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica and Venice will offer a mix of access and entertainment.

There’s no shortage of glitzy hotels, as well as price-conscious accommodations in that part of town. Here are some of the best ones to consider.

Interested in going sightseeing for celebrities during your time in California? Beverly Hills and Hollywood might be a better fit, and there are a few places worth checking out.

 

Getting hungry?

L.A. is a food lover’s dream, blending cultures and cuisines that will satisfy those with the most daring of culinary palettes, as well as those looking for a less adventurous meal. There’s no shortage of options!

Venice:

Santa Monica:

West Hollywood / Beverly Hills:

 

What’s a Bulldog to do there?

  • If you want the full movie star experience, check out the iconic Chinese Theater which is located adjacent to the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  • The Pirate Tower on beautiful Victoria Beach looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale, and it’s just one magical spot in a place filled with fun activities from kayaking to hiking.
  • The Japanese Garden, located near Encino, is a gorgeous, tranquil space that spans 6.5 acres and features a Zen meditation garden and expansive “wet” garden designed for casual strolling.
  • Yes, we’ve given you a ton of food options here, but you can’t not check out Grand Central Market, which is a European-style food hall that’s been in operation for more than 100 years. It’s as much an experience as a culinary outing.
  • LACMA is the largest art museum in the western U.S., featuring a diverse mixture of contemporary art and ancient cultural offerings. And it’s located right next to the famous La Brea Tar Pits, so you can check off two must-do items off your list in one visit.
  • Our motto is “you’ll never bark alone” and if you visit Barney’s Beanery on N. 1st Street in Burbank, you definitely won’t as the Southern California chapter of the UGA Alumni Association regularly gathers there to cheer on the Dawgs!

Hopefully, this gives you a good idea of what to do and where to go in L.A. before the Dawgs take on Texas Christian University for the title. Check out other ways to call the Dawgs with fellow alumni as our team plays for the championship title for the second time in two years. Be sure to tag @UGAAlumni on social media so we can share photos and videos of another Bulldog Nation town takeover!

Written by Johnathan McGinty (ABJ ’00), Partner, The Trestle Collective

The Jerry Tanner Show – 2023 CFP National Championship: TCU

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When Kirby lost to Vandy in 2016, dudes online had some HOT takes. I’d like to speak with those gentlemen today. Just a few quick words.

Your Georgia Bulldogs have rung the bell all season long, and they’re not slowing down any time soon! Ring the bell alongside your undefeated Dawgs by donating to your favorite school, college, department or campus resource! Give a gift of any amount and receive a spirited, limited-edition sticker sheet as a thank you: give.uga.edu/gloryglory

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

The Jerry Tanner Show – 2022 Peach Bowl: Ohio State

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Vandy > Florida > Utah > Southern Cal, and because of that, UGA plays Ohio State for the second time ever. Also, Vandy > Southern Cal?

Your Georgia Bulldogs have rung the bell all season long, and they’re not slowing down any time soon! Ring the bell alongside your undefeated Dawgs by donating to your favorite school, college, department or campus resource! Give a gift of any amount and receive a spirited, limited-edition sticker sheet as a thank you: give.uga.edu/gloryglory

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

The Jerry Tanner Show – 2022 SEC Championship: LSU

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Brian Kelly turned LSU into SEC West champs in year 1. And I guarantee you that man’s never even had Popeye’s before. Life’s crazy.

Your Georgia Bulldogs have rung the bell all season long, and they’re not slowing down any time soon! Ring the bell alongside your undefeated Dawgs by donating to your favorite school, college, department or campus resource! Give a gift of any amount and receive a spirited, limited-edition sticker sheet as a thank you: give.uga.edu/gloryglory.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 12, 2022: Georgia Tech

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Want to know why we have to always take Georgia Tech seriously? Find a Bulldog who was in Atlanta in 1999 and say the words “Jasper Sanks.”

Whether you’re a Bulldog in Butte or a Dawg in Dallas, you can show your state pride and Bulldog spirit with UGA state decals. These decals include all 50 states and D.C., so you can show off just how big the Bulldog family is. And when you buy, a portion of your purchase will go on to help students. Get yours today at alumni.uga.edu/statedecals!

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

A Dawg’s guide to Lexington

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The journey to Lexington, Kentucky, is the last road trip of the regular season for the Bulldogs. For some fans, Calling the Dawgs in the Bluegrass State is a new experience, but there’s no need to fret–UGA’s own Lexington Alumni Chapter knows their way around and shared some of their favorite restaurants and classic Kentucky activities.

Dawgs in Lexington frequent restaurants like Josie’s, Drake’s, Malone’s, Winchell’s, and Ramsey’s. If you’re interested in taking a brewery tour, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. is offering UGA fans 50 percent off tours with the online coupon code 2022GAKYGAME.

Keeneland is a great stop if you want to learn more about the history of racing and Thoroughbred horses in Lexington. The city is the Horse Capital of the World, so there are plenty of farms that offer tours. You can find others on the City of Lexington’s website.

Not making the trip to Lexington and looking to connect with Dawgs in your own area? Find your local UGA alumni chapter and cheer on the Dawgs with fellow alumni at a game-watching party near you.

Find Your Chapter

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 11, 2022: Kentucky

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Danny Nantahala, coach counselor, can help you rekindle the spark between you and your school. And if not, hey, Arizona State is open.

The postseason is starting to take shape, so it’s time to make sure you know where to go to watch Georgia’s biggest games of the season. Go to alumni.uga.edu/gamewatching to find a UGA Alumni game-watching party near you—the best places to Call The Dawgs outside of Sanford Stadium!

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

Tasty Tailgating: Amanda Wilbanks’ Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies

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Up next in our Tasty Tailgating series is Amanda Wilbanks (BBA ’09), founder and owner of Southern Baked Pies. She’s sharing her recipe for Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies.

“These football hand pies are my favorite thing to make for tailgates! Not only are they delicious and sure to impress, they’re also easy as, you guessed it, pie! Talk about a dream team–the hardy, savory flavor of sloppy joes and flaky, buttery pie crust are a game-winning duo that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe,” says Amanda. “You can also check out the Southern Baked Pie blog for some other great tailgate recipes, including Pimento Cheese Pie Bites and Berry Slab Pie, or grab a copy of my cookbook Celebrating Life with Pie for an entire tailgate menu!”

Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck

1 onion, chopped

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

½ cup ketchup

2 recipes Southern Baked Pie Dough (directions below)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the meat and onion in a large skillet. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon until it is no longer pink and the onions are softened. Drain excess grease from meat. Add the mustard, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Roll out dough into 2 (12-inch) circles. Cut 5 hand-size football shapes out of each circle for a total of 10 footballs. Reroll the scraps if needed to get all the football shapes. Place 5 football shapes on parchment. Spoon Sloppy Joe mix evenly onto each shape. Place remaining 5 football shapes over the mixture and press around the edges to seal closed. Using a sharp knife, cut slits in the top of each football to look like the laces. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies

 

Southern Baked Pie Dough

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon granulated sugar

¼ cup water

Instructions

Makes dough for 1 single-crust 9-inch pie

Cut the butter into small cubes. Combine butter and flour in a mixing bowl. Using a pastry blender, work the butter into the flour. Add the salt and sugar. Continue to work the butter into the flour until the mixture has a consistency of coarse-ground cornmeal. The cubes of butter should now be smaller than the size of a green pea.

Add the water all at once. Continue to work the dough until the dough begins to come together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and press into the shape of a disk. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to chill.

Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out to desired size on a lightly floured surface.

If you’re looking for more Tasty Tailgating recipes, be sure to check out Ivy Odom’s recipe for Bacon Jam.

 

Bacon Jam

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 10, 2022: Mississippi State

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MSU’s season: a little good (Arkansas 😄), a little bad (LSU 😩), but definite improvement! (beat Memphis 😐)

We want to know what you’re up to! Keep UGA Alumni updated on the latest with you, and we’ll make sure you’re in the know on everything happening at UGA. Go to alumni.uga.edu/update to fill us in.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 9, 2022: Tennessee

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The Vols are still figuring out how to be winners. Case in point: the Bama goal post is sitting at the bottom of the Tennessee River.

Whether you’re loading up for the holidays or you want to get yourself something nice, Alumni Night at the Bookstore is the perfect time to grab some new UGA gear. On Friday, November 4 from 5 to 7 PM, UGA alumni receive an additional 10% off on top of their usual 10% off of bookstore purchases. Check alumni.uga.edu/football for more.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.