What A Week!
Hey Neighbor,
This past week our living room turned into a stadium. The boys and I crowded onto the couch, wings on the table, and watched the USA open their World Cup run with a 4–1 win over Paraguay — Balogun bagging two, Reyna sealing it late. My youngest jumped so high he nearly took out the ceiling fan.
There's something about watching your country win, with your kids losing their minds next to you, that you just don't forget.
And now we get to do it again.
Friday, the USA plays Australia at 3:00 PM — and trust me, this house will be loud. I've got the whole week mapped out below: where to catch the match, where to take the family, and a couple of spots I can't wait to put in front of you.
Let's get into it. — Gus
A Quick Word for the Dads
Father's Day is this coming Sunday, June 21 — and I want to say it plain: dads, you matter more than you know. Not the perfect-highlight-reel version of you — the real one. The one who shows up tired, coaches the team, flips the burgers, says the corny joke, and quietly carries more than anyone sees. Whether you're a father, a stepdad, a granddad, a coach, or the steady man in a kid's life who isn't his by blood but is by love — this county is better because of you.
And since Sunday's almost here, if you've still got a dad to shop for (aren't they all hard to buy for?), I pulled together a last-minute gift list of local, easy, dad-approved ideas. Late is
still on time when it's from the heart.
📍 This Week in Gwinnett
Eight things worth leaving the house for — spread across the whole week, Tuesday through Saturday, all over the county. A few are built for dads and the kids.
🥕 Sugar Hill Farmers Market — Tue, June 16, 4:00–7:00 PM
The Landing (4985 W. Broad St., Sugar Hill). Kick off the week the easy way — fresh produce, homemade goods, and local vendors in the heart of downtown Sugar Hill. A relaxed afternoon stroll the whole family can enjoy.
→ Details
🎬 Lawrenceville Movie Club: "Space Jam" — Wed, June 17, 7:00 PM 👨👦
Lawrenceville Lawn (210 Luckie St.). Open-air movie night downtown — bring chairs, blankets, and snacks, grab a bite from the food trucks, and let the kids stretch out on the grass for a family classic under the stars. Free.
→ Details
🎭 Aurora Theatre: "In the Heights" — playing this week through Sun, June 21
Aurora Theatre, downtown Lawrenceville. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning, salsa-and-hip-hop block-party of a musical — vibrant, loud, and full of heart. One of the best date nights or girls'-nights you'll find in the county this week. Check the box office for this week's showtimes.
🎧 Beats on the Streets (DJ XL) — Thu, June 18, 6:00–10:00 PM
Crogan Street Plaza, downtown Lawrenceville (beside the Arts Center). The popular Thursday-night DJ series — grab food and drinks to-go, soak up the sunset vibes, and let the music turn an ordinary Thursday into a night out. Free.
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⚽ USA vs. Australia — World Cup — Fri, June 19, 3:00 PM ET (on FOX) 🇺🇸
The big one. With a result Friday afternoon, the USA could punch its ticket to the knockout round. Sneak out of work early, find a screen, and let's make some noise for the red, white, and blue. (Watch spots below 👇)
⚾ Stripers vs. Louisville — Fri, June 19, 7:05 PM 👨👦
Gwinnett Field (Lawrenceville). Watch the World Cup at 3, then head to the ballpark for a Friday-night game. Cheap seats, foul balls to chase, and a hot dog that just tastes better at the park — the easiest family "yes" of the summer.
→ Tickets
🎶 Norcross Summer Concert: "September In The Park" — Fri, June 19, 7:30–9:30 PM
Thrasher Park, downtown Norcross. Free live music under the summer sky — picnic on the lawn or grab dinner from a downtown restaurant and stroll over. Bring a few canned goods, too: each concert doubles as a food-drive drop-off for local pantries.
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🎉 Sugar Hill Juneteenth Celebration — Sat, June 20, 4:00–9:00 PM
The Bowl @ Sugar Hill (5039 W. Broad St.). The Black Women's Association of Sugar Hill and the City host an evening of local vendors, food trucks, family games, and activities for all ages — plus a $1,000 scholarship presented to a local graduating senior. A meaningful, festive way to close the week.
→ Details
Where to Watch USA vs. Australia (Friday, 3 PM)
If you're not catching the match at home, here are two Gwinnett spots with the screens and the energy to make every goal feel like the whole county roared. Call ahead — a USA World Cup match on a Friday afternoon will draw a crowd.
🍺 Marlow's Tavern — Duluth
A polished neighborhood tavern with flat screens throughout the dining room, so you can catch the match no matter where you're seated. Solid scratch-made food and a full bar — a comfortable, family-friendly place to take in the game without the rowdy-bar chaos.
→ Visit
🍻 Slow Pour Brewing — Lawrenceville
Gwinnett's original craft brewery, with a big, welcoming taproom, a rotating lineup of house beers, and the kind of community crowd that turns a match into an event. A great pick if you want a local-brewery vibe for the afternoon.
→ Visit
☕ Gus' Pick of the Week: One of My Faves
Every week I put one Gwinnett place in front of you that deserves more love. This week I'm going back to one of my faves in case you missed it before — Warm Waves Coffee Roasters in Suwanee.
Tucked at 500 Buford Highway, Warm Waves is a family-owned roaster with one of those interiors that just makes you want to stay a while — bright, calm, and a peaceful patio out back.
They pull seriously good iced lattes, partner with St. Germain Bakery for the pastry case, and rotate fun seasonal drinks (the Irish Cream Latte and Strawberry Matcha get all the love — and the 4.7-star rating backs it up).
They're open early, 7 AM on weekdays and 8 AM on weekends, so it's an easy morning stop before the farmers market or a Saturday with the family.
One thing to try: an iced seasonal latte and a fresh pastry — grab a seat on the patio and let the morning slow down.
💑 Date Night Alert: Bring the Fun
Because the kids' calendar shouldn't get all the fun — and the best date nights get you laughing, not just sitting across a table.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games — Buford
Want a date that actually has some energy to it? Andretti at The Exchange at Gwinnett is the move. Race each other on high-speed electric karts, talk trash over the arcade and racing sims, try the immersive VR, then grab cocktails and scratch-made bites at the bar (there's even a 15-foot screen if you want to catch the match between rounds). It's playful, a little competitive, and a guaranteed good time — loser buys dessert. Mid-budget, high fun.
(And no — you still won't catch me sending you to the same old pricey steakhouse. These are spots worth a fresh look.)
Coming Soon: The Gwinnett Best Dinner Club
Okay, I'm letting you in on something early. In the coming weeks, we're launching a Gwinnett Best Dinner Club — a brand-new way to make real friends right here in the county. Here's how it works, plain and simple:
📝 You sign up and take a quick quiz — just a few fun questions about who you are.
👥 We match you with a small group — usually about six friendly neighbors who'll click with you.
🍝 You show up for dinner at a great local spot — that's it. You don't plan or book a thing; we handle all of it.
🤝 You leave with new friends — actual people from right here in Gwinnett. (Making friends as a grown-up is harder than it should be — this fixes that.)
🎉 No awkward icebreakers, no pressure — just good food and good people in your own community.
It's coming in the next few weeks, and I'll share exactly how to join. Keep your eyes on this newsletter so you don't miss the first round. 👀
Before You Go: A Night at Level Up Games
I have to brag on a little family night we had. I took the boys over to Level Up Games at the Mall of Georgia Village in Buford — the new gaming spot that just opened — and man, we had a blast.
Dice rolling, minis everywhere, the boys lighting up over games I didn't even understand, all of us just being together with no screens between us. It's the kind of place where a dad and his kids can lose a couple of hours and call it one of the best evenings of the week.
Here's what I keep coming back to: the best parts of Gwinnett don't come find you. You go find them — at the ballpark, on the couch cheering for the USA, around a dinner table with neighbors, or rolling dice with your kids on a random weeknight.
God puts us in communities on purpose. Gwinnett is ours. Get out there this week and make the most of it. And to every dad reading this — keep showing up. It matters more than you'll ever know.
See you out there. — Gus
P.S. — Follow @gwinnettbest on Instagram if you haven't yet. New posts every day this week.
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