It's the middle of May, and there are icicles hanging off the trees. Snow covers the city's rooftops, and a thick sheet of Black Ice discretely blankets the streets. El Niño has nothing to do with it.
Don't worry, Athens isn't about to be hit by more freaky weather; it's only those ice cold brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. preparing for Alpha Week.
Starting with yesterday's three-on-three basketball tournament and cookout, the Alphas began their festivities with a slam. University Basketball player and Alpha Ray Harrison organized this event for all the ballers who think that they got game.
The fraternity was established in 1906 at Cornell University, and Alpha Week is somewhat of a celebration of that fact.
According to Alpha and English major, Tavares Stephens, a 23-year-old senior from Dawson, Alpha Week is the fraternity's chance to thank those who have helped and supported them throughout the year.
"The proceeds of our events go to help raise tuition money for high school seniors trying to get into campus," he said.
Unfortunately for many fans interested in the art of stepping, today's Ken Allgood Invitational Stepshow has been canceled.
Saturday is when all of the fun begins. Starting at noon, Brumby Beach is hosting yet another Alpha barbeque.
The highlight of Alpha Week is the nationwide famous University Alpha Pajama Jam. People from all around Georgia and even surrounding states have made plans to attend this event.
This year, an estimated 2,000 half-naked party people will converge on Stegeman Coliseum in their best looking lingerie and cotton underwear to shake what what their mommas gave them.
From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., WVEE-FM (V-103) disc jockeys Supa Dave and Jaycee are set to turn the Jircuzzi into the largest dance floor in Athens.
As was the case with Freaknik sharing its weekend with Daytona's Black College Reunion, the Pajama Jam must share its weekend with Georgia Southern's Player's Ball, a mini-Freaknik located on the Statesboro campus.
"We expect things to even out for both of us," Stephens said. "Some people will go to the Ball, while people at GSU, who have experienced several Balls, will come up here for the PJ party. We just wanted everyone to come out and have a good time."
When it comes to an Alpha PJ party, expect nothing less from those subzero steppers and show-stoppers.
– Arvell Poe is an entertainment staff writer for The Red and Black.