Together with Beacon Link Insurance Services

Confession: being a dad to four boys is the loudest, most chaotic, most ridiculous joy I know — and I wouldn't trade a single second of it.

This week our house has been all elbows and energy: four boys, one tired-but-grateful dad, and a Father's Day coming up that I'm genuinely excited about. I don't need a fancy gift. I just want what I already have — a backyard, a ball, and four little guys who still think I'm the coolest man alive (give it a few years 😅).

So as we roll into Father's Day weekend — which is ALSO Juneteenth weekend — I went and found five brand-new things for us to get out and do. Fresh spots, fresh events, none of the same-old. Let's get into it. — Gus

History in the making. Peachtree Corners hosts its inaugural Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 19 — the first time the city has formally marked this day of freedom, and they're doing it with real intention. Not a parade, but a day of recognition and reflection that unfolds in three parts:

It's free, it's meaningful, and it's the kind of "first" you'll want to say you were part of. Bring the family and come celebrate freedom the all-American way.

→ Learn more

Four more brand-new things worth leaving the house for, Friday through Saturday.

🎸 The Big 150 Decades Experience Pop-Up — Sat, June 20 (Duluth)
Parsons Alley, Downtown Duluth, 6–9 PM. Here's the twist: come dressed as the decade that matches your current age. It's a throwback celebration of music, style, and Duluth's 150-year history turned into a living timeline. Goofy, nostalgic, and a blast with the family. FREE.
→ Details

🚗 Duluth Rotary Car Show — Sat, June 20 (Duluth)
Downtown Duluth, 10 AM–2 PM. The 15th annual show rolls back in with exotic cars, antique classics, and head-turners parked all over downtown. Bring the kids, grab lunch on Main Street, and let them dream about their first set of wheels. FREE to walk around.
→ Details

🎶 Global Stage: Pipo Romero, Bia Ferreira & Telmary Diaz — Sat, June 20 (Lawrenceville)
Lawrenceville Arts Center, 7–10 PM. One unforgettable night blending Spanish guitar, Brazilian music, and Afro-Cuban rhythm — three world-class artists on one stage. This is Gwinnett's beautiful diversity turned into sound. An incredible date night or a night out with friends.
→ Tickets & info

🎤 Norcross Juneteenth — "THE FESTIVAL" — Sat, June 20 (Norcross)
Historic Selden Park, 12–4 PM. The City of Norcross brings the celebration to the park with music, community, and family fun — all free. (There's also a Juneteenth Ball Friday night, June 19, at the Chapman Event Center for those who want to dress up.)
→ Details

Because the kids' calendar shouldn't get all the fun — here are three brand-new picks across the budget range.

Fun & affordable: StillFire Brewing — Suwanee
Right across from Suwanee Town Center, StillFire is a 20-barrel brewery and taproom with 18 beers on tap, food trucks, trivia, live music, and an easy, welcoming patio vibe. Grab a flight, play a game, and let the evening go where it goes. ($$, and a guaranteed good time.)
→ Visit

A little more fun: LR Burger — Duluth
Creative smashburgers and a rooftop bar with downtown views. Split the wild "Bandolera" (a smashburger topped with a stuffed quesadilla — yes, really), grab a cocktail upstairs, and watch the sun go down over downtown. Playful, tasty, and just elevated enough to feel like a real night out.
→ Visit

The pricier-but-worth-it pick: 9292 Korean BBQ — Duluth
Want a date with some energy? 9292 grills over real charcoal (not gas) for that authentic, smoky Korean BBQ experience — all-you-can-eat premium meats, classic sides, and the fun of cooking together right at your table. Pricier, interactive, and a blast. Loser grills the next round. ($$$)
→ Visit

(And no — you still won't catch me sending you to the same old steakhouse.)

Every week I find one Gwinnett spot that deserves more love. This week it's 45 South "A Coffee Kitchen" in Historic Norcross.

Tucked into downtown Norcross, 45 South is Gwinnett's oldest independent coffee shop — locally owned, with locally roasted beans freshly ground every day and a from-scratch kitchen that goes way beyond a quick cup. It's the kind of place where the baristas know the regulars, the patio invites you to slow down, and a "fast coffee run" turns into an hour you didn't plan but don't regret.

One thing to do: grab a fresh-ground pour, post up on the patio, and let Historic Norcross do its charming thing around you.

→ Find them

Since I can never stick to just one — here's a café-meets-roastery I love: Break Coffee Roasters in Downtown Lawrenceville (235 N Perry St).

Break is a small-batch roaster and a cozy café built "for those who care about origin, roast, and craft." Think slow mornings, a killer matcha latte, fresh croissants, and the kind of warm, plant-filled space that's perfect for a study date, a work session, or just catching up with someone over really good coffee. Open early all week (and Sundays, 11–4).

→ Visit

Something useful to keep in your back pocket — and this one's free.

Did you know your Gwinnett County Public Library card gets you FREE Parks & Museum Passes? With a free library card, you can check out a one-week pass to places like the Chattahoochee Nature Center and Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites — at no cost. Just place a hold online, pick it up, and bring the pass plus your checkout receipt for admission.

It's one of the best-kept secrets in the county: a free way to give your family a day of adventure without spending a dime on admission. Perfect for summer break.

→ Get your passes

This week I want to put a great neighbor in front of you — someone worth knowing whether you need him today or not.

Alfredo Herrera is a bilingual licensed agent with Beacon Link Insurance Services, and his heart is in helping Hispanic and Spanish-speaking families find the right healthcare coverage — explained clearly, in their language, with the time and care the decision deserves.

In his own words: "I don't sell insurance — I help people find the best value in health insurance for their money." He works with families who take their health seriously and want someone in their corner to walk them through the options.

What Alfredo can help with:

📅 Book a free meeting (English or Spanish — haga una cita aquí): calendly.com/aherrerausha/30min
📞 Call/text: 470.315.4949 · Direct: 678.315.9046
Licensed in GA, plus AR, CA, CO, FL, NC, SC · Lic. #3525450 · NPN: 20354416 · Covered California Certified Agent

So here's my ask, neighbor: even if you don't need this today, save it and pass it along. Forward this to a friend or family member who's been putting off figuring out their coverage. Good help in your own language is a gift — and now you've got one to hand out.

Rapid fire — six more things worth knowing this weekend:

Still shopping? Here's my quick, last-minute, dad-approved list — easy wins, every one:

To every dad, granddad, stepdad, and steady man in a kid's life reading this — happy Father's Day. You matter more than you know. Keep showing up.

And to all my neighbors: do me two favors this week.

Gwinnett is ours. Get out there this Juneteenth + Father's Day weekend and make the most of it. — Gus