When getting ink done, some chose to simply go tit for tat. But with so many parlors to chose from, why not get the best for your buck? Reporter Katie Andrew finds who’s the best artist for your next permanent piece. RON AT MIDNIGHT IGUANA What: full service Where: 800 Oglethorpe Avenue Phone: 706-549-0190 Ron Hendon, 42, is the owner of Athens’ oldest tattoo parlor, Midnight Iguana.

When talking to a non-Athenian about music, it is not uncommon for Athens residents to name drop. R.E.M., Widespread Panic, Of Montreal, The Whigs – the list goes on. Classic City residents live in a music mecca, and they know it. Perhaps even more delightful is the realization that name-dropping goes both ways.

Athens is well-known for its music scene, but the visual arts have a strong presence as well. Many shops in downtown Athens and the surrounding area double as art galleries. Aurum Studios on Clayton Street has been open since 1975 and combines a jewelry store and an art gallery.

Back away from the pizza, burgers, fries and hot wings. Don’t even think about the dessert barn. Eating healthy in the dining hall may seem difficult, but it’s possible with a few adjustments to daily diets.

For starters, try following this University Health Center guidelines:
Breakfast – grain, fruit, dairy
Lunch – 2 grain, protein, veggies, dairy, fruit
Dinner – 2-3 grains, protein, veggies, fruit
Snacks – fruit/dairy, grain/ dairy, grain/fruit, veggies

Check out some more tips below:
- Pick a heart-healthy meal with less than 30 percent fat, denoted with a red heart.

Apartment dwellers, take heart. Just because you lack a yard doesn’t mean a garden is completely out of the question. For root vegetables such as carrots and radishes, 12-inch circle pots allow roots to grow to full size without taking up floor space. Tomato plants and fruit trees, such as mandarin and lime, can be planted in the same type of tall, round pots but take up more space due to branches.

Sharing a dorm room is taxing enough without having to share a kitchen, toilets, showers and sinks with the whole floor.

Yet, students who live in dorms share more than the community bathroom: they share a host of germs that seem to make mischief for more people than just that one sick resident.

Everyone knows that Athens offers an array of options for staying fit, such as the Ramsey Center or other local gyms. “I work out at Ramsey and I use the elliptical and weights,” said Shaina Forman, a junior from Austin, Tex. But many of us easily become bored with traditional workout.

Having a car in college appears to be convenient, but finding a place to park is a daunting task.

The hunt for space isn’t getting easier, and students are finding other resources to accommodate this luxury.

The parking system at the University is a viable option for students and by far the most popular.

For many University students, getting a first apartment or house is an important step toward adulthood. But signing a lease can be intimidating, and there are many things students should know before they sign. Here are some steps to take: Visit the apartment or house.

Pets may be intoxicatingly cute to students who miss cats and dogs from home or want a new furry and loyal roommate, but his first piddle-puddle accident on the carpet could end up costing owners up to $800. Many apartment complexes do not allow pets at all, and the ones that do have strict policies that could end up being very expensive before a resident even introduces the little furball to his new home.