Hey Neighbor,
Last week one of my boys asked me why we always end up at the same park. “Fair question, my guy. Fair question.”
So this week I went a little overboard. I mapped out splash pads across five different cities, priced out two full date nights down to the dollar, found events for the grandparents AND the 21-and-over crowd, and even tracked down two book clubs that have nothing to do with the library (you asked, I delivered).
This might be the most jam-packed edition I've ever sent. Somebody in your house is going to find their thing in here.
Before we get into it: Download GwinnetBest Park Trail Tracker.
Let's go.
TL;DR
FOR FAMILIES
Summer Break Magic Show — Lawrenceville (Wednesday, July 15, 11:30am, Lawrenceville Arts Center)
Magician Arthur Atsma takes the Grand Stage at Aurora Children's Playhouse for a 40-ish minute show built for kids — audience participation, big reactions, and a free coloring table before it starts. Seven bucks. That's cheaper than the snacks you'd buy anywhere else.
Summer Concert Series: Guardians of the Jukebox — Norcross (Friday, July 17, 7:30–9:30pm, Thrasher Park)
An '80s tribute band with full costumes and visuals, free, under the trees in downtown Norcross. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and let the kids dance while you pretend you don't know every word to "Take On Me." (You do.) Bonus: they're collecting for the CAN-Do Food Drive, so grab a couple cans on the way out the door.
Grown-Ups Only (21+)
No car seats. No juice boxes. This section is for you.
Karaoke Night at Slow Pour Brewing — Lawrenceville (Friday, July 17, 8pm–midnight)
Gwinnett's first brewery turns its taproom into a 21-and-up karaoke stage every Friday night. It's free, Da'Neutral Ground food truck is parked outside, and yes — somebody WILL do a nine-minute rock ballad. It might be me.
Tipsy Trivia at Slow Pour — Lawrenceville (Thursday, July 16, 7pm)
Same brewery, totally different energy. Thursday night trivia with house cash on the line and Senpai Noodle Supply handling dinner. Grab your smartest friends — or your funniest ones, honestly they're more fun to lose with.
👉 Details
FOR OUR SENIORS (55+)
I get emails asking for more for our older neighbors — heard you loud and clear. Both of these are specifically for the 55+ crowd.
The Good Timers — Suwanee (Tuesday, July 14 — that's TODAY — 11am, George Pierce Park)
A social club of about 150 neighbors, all 55 and older, that meets the second Tuesday of every month at Prime Timers Pointe inside George Pierce Park. Short meeting, lunch, usually some entertainment — and they welcome new faces. If you (or your mom or dad) have been wanting more community, this is the easiest first step in the county. Call 770-822-5414 to confirm details before heading over.
Yoga for Seniors — Duluth (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10–11am, Bunten Road Park)
Gentle, chair-supported yoga built for seniors — strength, flexibility, breathing, no pretzel poses required. $10 to drop in, so you can try it this Tuesday or Thursday without committing to anything. Part of Duluth's Active Adult Programs (770-814-6981).
BOOK CLUBS (For you Chris)
You'd be surprised how many of you have asked for this. Both of these are open to the public and totally independent.
Read It Again Bookstore — Suwanee
Our county's beloved indie bookstore (3630 Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 314) runs SEVEN of its own book clubs — general fiction, non-fiction, romance, speculative fiction, and more. Pick your genre, show up, make friends who read. Call the store at (770) 232-9331 to find your club's next meeting.
A Novel Bunch — Snellville
A member-run club (no library, no bookstore, just neighbors) that's been meeting for years — 185 members strong, gathering monthly at the Panera on Scenic Highway. They vote on each month's book together, and joining is free through Meetup. They just met this past Saturday, so now's the perfect time to jump in before the next pick.
THE SPLASH PAD 5
It's mid-July in Georgia. You don't need a reason. Here are five FREE splash pads across five cities — save this list.
Big Splash Interactive Fountain — Suwanee Town Center Park · 📍 330 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee · 43 jets, open daily roughly 9:30am–9:30pm through October. 👉 Details
Splash Park — Sugar Hill · 📍 5009 West Broad Street, Sugar Hill (downtown, behind City Hall) · A 60-foot pad with 21 water zones — officially open for the season. Heads up: it closes on concert days at The Bowl. 👉 Details
Splash Pad at Lilburn City Park — Lilburn · 📍 76 Main Street, Lilburn · Open through September 20. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays for maintenance, open 10am–7pm most days and until 9pm Friday–Saturday. 👉 Details
Town Green Splash Pad — Peachtree Corners · 📍 5140 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners · Runs 9am–7pm daily, right next to two playgrounds — this one's a full-morning outing. 👉 Details
Splash Pad @ The Grove at Towne Center — Snellville · 📍 At Oak Road & Wisteria Drive, next to City Hall (2342 Oak Road), Snellville · The newest one on the list — open daily 9am–9pm all summer. 👉 Details
THE $20 DATE NIGHT (YES, REALLY!)
New thing I'm trying: I plan the whole date, you just show up. $20 per person, all locally-owned, and I did the math so you don't have to. Two editions this week:
Duluth Edition — Friday, July 17
6:00pm — Good Word Brewing & Public House (3085 Main St): split an order of wings ($8.50) and their famous fries with a couple of the 13 sauces ($6ish), add a drink each. Roughly $12–14 per person.
7:00pm — Rock The Block on the Town Green: free live music, 6–9pm, every Friday all summer. Bring a blanket. $0.
8:30pm — Crave Pie Studio (3107 Main St): split a mini pie from the Today Show-winning pie shop. About $5 per person.
Total: right around $20 a person. And if you time it right, you're eating pie on a blanket while a live band plays. You're welcome.
Lawrenceville Edition — Thursday, July 16
6:00pm — Beats on the Streets (Crogan Street Plaza by the Arts Center): free DJ night on the square, 6–10pm. DJ Cozy Shawn is on this week. $0.
7:00pm — Universal Joint (181 W Pike St): grab the arugula & mushroom quesadilla ($8) or split a couple of burgers on the covered patio — and their free trivia starts at 7pm if you're feeling competitive. $8–12 per person.
8:30pm — Berens Frozen Custard (156 E Crogan St, right on the square): a 40-year Atlanta legend, now in Lawrenceville. Fresh custard, daily flavor. About $5–6 per person.
Total: $18–20 a person, and you hit a DJ set, dinner, trivia, AND dessert. Beat that, Buckhead.
Prices are close estimates from current menus — worst case you're a dollar or two off. Reply and tell me how it went. Seriously. I want photos.
Before You Go
Here's what hit me putting this one together: there is something in this email for a 6-year-old, a 26-year-old on a date, and an 86-year-old looking for lunch friends. All within about 15 minutes of your front door. We don't live in a county — we live in a gift. Go unwrap some of it this week.
"This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." — Psalm 118:24
See you out there.
— Gus
Your neighbor at Gwinnett Best
