Hey Neighbor!
Happy Tuesday! I've got a packed edition for you this week — and I have to be honest, this one's coming straight from the heart.
This past week I had one of those Gwinnett moments that reminded me exactly why I started GwinnettBest. I was walking through downtown Lawrenceville, popped into Liberty Books, and ended up meeting a local publisher and his 7-year-old son who — get this — has already written his own book. I'm not making that up. It stopped me in my tracks.
That's the magic of this county. You never know who you're going to bump into, or what story is going to inspire you. That's exactly why I keep showing up for you every week — because Gwinnett is FULL of those moments.
So let's get into it. Events, coffee, family fun, date nights, and a local spotlight you won't want to miss. Let's go!
— Gus
This Week's Top 3 Gwinnett Events
15th Annual Suwanee Beer Fest
Saturday, March 21 (coming up fast — mark it now!)
📍 Suwanee Town Center Park, Suwanee, GA
The Suwanee Beer Fest has been voted the #1 Beer Fest in the country by USA Today, and this year marks the 15th anniversary. We're talking 400+ craft beers, live music, food trucks, cornhole, giant Jenga, and even mobile axe throwing. VIP opens at noon, General Admission at 1 PM. Ages 21+.
Grab your tickets early — this one always sells out! suwaneebeerfest.com
Sensory Swim Night
This week — check Gwinnett County Parks for time
📍 Gwinnett County Aquatic Center
A private pool night designed for individuals with sensory sensitivities and their families. Water features off, lights dimmed, gentle underwater lighting. A truly thoughtful community event.
Astronomy Night: A Starry Eve
March 20 — Free (registration required) | 📍 Gwinnett County Parks
Bring a blanket and look up. Registration required at gwinnettcounty.com.
Local Coffee Shops Worth Your Morning
Blue Rooster Bake Shop & Eatery — Downtown Lawrenceville
📍 169 W Pike St, Lawrenceville | Mon–Sat, 9am–4pm
Right on the square in Downtown Lawrenceville — a Best of Gwinnett winner. Legendary chicken salad sandwich, elite pimento cheese on a croissant, and a rotating coffee menu.
Grayson Coffee House — Downtown Grayson
📍 502 Grayson Pkwy, Grayson, GA | Mon–Fri 6am–8pm | Sat 8am–8pm
A historic 1940s house turned beloved community hub. The only independent coffee shop in Grayson — and it earns that title every day.
Café Rothem — Duluth
📍 3585 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Ste 128, Duluth, GA | 🕐on–Fri 10am–9pm | Sat 11:30am–9pm
Books. Music. Coffee. Nitro-infused specialty drinks, live music nights, free Wi-Fi. Faith, art, and community meet here.
Wise Coffee — Suwanee
📍 1095 Old Peachtree Rd NW, Ste 100, Suwanee, GA | Mon–Fri 7am–5pm | Sat–Sun 9am+
Specialty coffee blending culture with community. Flavors sourced from Kenya, Tanzania, and beyond. Try the lavender vanilla latte.
2 Family Outings This Week
Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary — Lilburn
📍 4525 Highway 78, Lilburn, GA
Hands-on outdoor experience with a petting zoo and all kinds of animals. Pack a picnic and make a morning of it — one of Gwinnett's most underrated family gems.
Lunar Mini Golf at Sugarloaf Mills — Lawrenceville
📍 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville | 💰 $11/child
Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf. The kids love it, the adults have just as much fun, and at $11 a person, it's one of the best value outings in Gwinnett.
Shamrock Shenanigans at George Pierce Park Friday, March 6, 2026 | 11am–1pm 📍 George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center — Meeting Room, 55 Buford Hwy, Suwanee, GA 30024 Ages 2–5 | $5 Resident Max 12 kids P: 678.277.0910
Get ready for a little luck and a lot of laughter! This St. Patrick's Day celebration is designed just for little ones — hands-on crafts, a leprechaun hide-and-seek adventure, story time, light refreshments, and plenty of time to play and make new friends. The perfect midday outing for your toddler this week!
Register: secure.rec1.com | Registration open through 3/4
2 Date Night Spots to Consider
1Kurt's Euro Bistro — Duluth
📍 3456 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Duluth, GA | kurtsrestaurant.com
European charm since 1985. Intimate, family-owned neighborhood bistro. Fresh ingredients, beautiful wine selection, full bar. Make a reservation — this space fills up.
Luciano's Ristorante Italiano — Duluth 📍 Duluth, GA | https://www.lucianositaly.com/
A Gwinnett staple since 2004 — classic Italian dishes inspired by Naples and Northern Italy, handmade pastas, housemade sauces, an extensive wine list, and custom cocktails. The atmosphere is rustic and elegant without being stuffy. Beautiful, intimate, and the kind of place that feels like a date night from the moment you walk in.
Local Business & Family Spotlight
Prominence Publishers — Where Stories Are Born
I have to share this one because it genuinely moved me.
Last week, I was exploring downtown Lawrenceville and ducked into Liberty Books — one of my favorite spots in the county. That's where I met the owner of Prominence Publishers Ken Thomas and his young son Ken Thomas Jr. And when I say young, I mean it: this little guy is 7 years old. Seven. And he has already written and published his own book.
Ken Jr. Signing my Book
I stood there talking to his dad — a local author and publisher right here in Gwinnett — and I thought: this is exactly what Gwinnett is made of. Parents raising kids who dream big and actually do something about it. An entrepreneur building a publishing house to help other authors bring their stories to life. A 7-year-old who believes he has something worth saying — because his dad showed him he does.
Prominence Publishers is a locally owned publishing company dedicated to helping authors find their voice and bring their stories to the world. Whether you've been sitting on a manuscript for years or you've got a dream of writing your first book, these are the people to connect with.
Visit prominencepublishers.com — support local stories, support local authors. This is Gwinnett at its best.
3 Locally Owned Bookstores in Gwinnett
Shopping with two of my four boys
Liberty Books — Downtown Lawrenceville ⭐
📍 176 W Crogan St, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 | 📞 (770) 945-9288
Mon–Thu 10am–8pm | Fri–Sat 10am–9pm | libertybooks.us
Over 50,000 gently used books, story time and craft time for kids, and multiple Best of Gwinnett wins. They buy books, they sell books, and they build community.
Rejoice Christian Books & Gift Shop — Snellville
📍 Snellville, GA | https://www.shoprejoice.com/
For faith-centered families looking for books, devotionals, gifts, and resources that align with their values. A wonderful locally owned option.
That's a Wrap!
From a 7-year-old author at Liberty Books to jazz and crab cakes at The Velvet Note — this county continues to show up in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.
If you got something out of this edition, do me a favor: forward it to one neighbor, one friend, one family member who lives in or around Gwinnett. That's how we grow this thing together.
Know someone who'd love GwinnettBest? Share the link: GwinnettBest.com
See you Thursday,
Gus Ruballo
Creator and Local Enthusiast of GwinnettBest.com
Helping you discover the best of where you live.
