Explore Gwinnett Magazine 2018

6th

Welcome to Gwinnett

Thank you for planning your visit to Gwinnett County. We’re an easy drive from Atlanta, but offer a distinct, family-friendly vibe. Our tag line, Atlanta’s Playground, is on target, as Gwinnett is full of outdoor recreation options to keep everyone busy. Choose from tubing on the Chattahoochee; watching professional soccer (Atlanta United 2), baseball (Gwinnett Stripers), lacrosse (Georgia Swarm), or hockey (Atlanta Gladiators); biking the Suwanee Creek Greenway, hiking in Stone Mountain Park, exploring our 50 parks, or zipping through the trees on Treetop Quest’s zip line.

As you explore our guide, I’m confident you’ll be delighted by what sets us apart. Start with the fact that Gwinnett is the Southeast’s most diverse county. For our visitors, that means a plethora of

authentic ethnic restaurants to choose from—from Korean and Vietnamese to Jamaican, Chinese, and many others. Our thriving Korean dining district is known as Seoul of the South™, and we offer Korean food tours throughout the year. Food, craft beer, and eating local are kind of a big deal here; our guide shares some of our favorite spots.

Inviting shops, attractions, and eateries are scattered throughout Gwinnett’s downtown neighborhoods, and almost every weekend you’ll find awesome events going on, ranging from beer and wine fests to art festivals to the PGA Tour Champions Mitsubishi Electric Classic in April. And often you’ll find things you can’t find anywhere else in Atlanta, including Georgia’s only Medieval Times and the spectacular BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. A guided tour is a highlight for many of our visitors.

Whether you are here for business, convention travel, leisure, or just visiting friends and family, we promise there is more to do than you’ll find time for. And with multiple new attractions in Atlanta, including Ponce City Market, SunTrust Park, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta BeltLine, the Georgia Aquarium, and others, your vacation will be action packed.

We hope you visit soon to see firsthand what makes Gwinnett extraordinary. We look forward to your visit!

Lisa Anders executive director

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Duluth, Georgia 30097

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PUBLISHED BY

260 Peachtree Street Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30303

404.527.5500

atlantamagazine.com

PUBLISHER

Sean McGinnis

ASSOCIATE

PUBLISHER

Jon Brasher

EDITORIAL

DIRECTOR

Kevin Benefield

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Cristina Villa Hazar

SENIOR EDITOR

Jennifer Coltrin

ART DIRECTOR

Liz Noftle

COPY EDITOR

Hannah Lott-Schwartz

CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS

Wendell Brock

Candice Dyer

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

Scott Freeman

Kelly Jordan

Amy Meadows

Lisa Mowry

Lia Picard

Tony Rehagen

Jennifer Senator

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR

Whitney Tomasino

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kate Awtrey

Jonathan Phillips

ILLUSTRATOR

Kerry Hyndman

Cover and interior photography courtesy of Explore Gwinnett.

This magazine was published in cooperation with Explore Gwinnett by Atlanta Magazine

Custom Media.

All content ©2018.

All rights reserved.

“What do you love most about Gwinnett?”

Explore Gwinnett staffers share their picks.

That it has more than 40 parks and all the recreation options!

Malinda Foster director of sales

Suwanee Wine Fest, and loads of other great events.

Anne Chen sales manager

The Seoul of the South™ food tour and tons of Korean food options.

Maurice Odoms sales manager

So many awesome events throughout the county!

Victoria Hawkins marketing communications director

I love trying all of the international dining options.

Jessica Whittingslow marketing communications manager

I enjoy going to concerts at the Arena.

Cricket

Elliott-Leeper education director

I love all of the theater and public art.

Suzanne Corbin administrative assistant

I love all of the restaurant options, like Local Republic, Frankie’s, Graft, Noble Fin, and Pappadeaux.

Sondra Murrah operations manager

Where Fun Comes Naturally

COME PLAY, STAY AND GET AWAY. As Georgia’s number one attraction, Stone Mountain Park offers a 3,200-acre natural wonderland — full of year-round excitement for every member of the family. The world’s largest piece of exposed granite is just the beginning of the unique attractions you’ll find at Stone Mountain Park. Back by Popular Demand! Check out Dinosaur Explore – an interactive prehistoric creature experience. Featuring more than 20 life-size dinosaurs, moving and roaring just like their ancient ancestors. Join in a dino dig, pet a baby dinosaur or meet a fierce T-rex in training! Located just 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta, our attractions and accommodations options fit every family’s wants and needs. For complete information, including special Marriott vacation packages, please visit stonemountainpark.com or call 770.498.5690.

22 THE TOP 10 REASONS TO LOVE GWINNETT

Whether you’re a hometown tourist or just passing through, don’t skip these unforgettable Gwinnett experiences.

BY LISA MOWRY

24 EAT THIS! 18 CAN’T-MISS DISHES

It’s no secret that Gwinnett is one of the tastiest counties in Atlanta. We share 18 dishes you’ve simply got to try for yourself. BY

LIA PICARD

30 A FAMILY AFFAIR

Jam sessions, bluegrass music, family, and friends make up the story of Everett’s Music Barn, a downhome venue in Suwanee. BY

SCOTT FREEMAN

34 HEART & SEOUL

Gwinnett is home to the fastest-growing Korean community in the U.S. Here’s the ultimate itinerary for exploring its rich offerings. BY JENNIFER BRADLEY FRANKLIN

38 BEER LOVER’S GUIDE TO GWINNETT

Raise a glass to Gwinnett’s burgeoning beer scene, including breweries, pubs, growler stores, and beer festivals. BY WENDELL BROCK

Good Word Brewery (PAGE 38)

HEART SMART

Departments

Attractions

42 Secrets of the Parks Seven unexpected outdoor discoveries

44 Sports Talk Gwinnett scores with baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and hockey

46 Sacred Sanctum Lilburn’s magnificent Hindu Mandir

48 The Height of Fun High-flying adventure at Treetop Quest

50 Gwinnett 200 Seven ways to celebrate Gwinnett’s bicentennial

52 Picture Perfect Spotlight on Gwinnett's film scene

54 Aurora Theatre Lawrenceville’s award-winning theater

Dining

56 Where the Locals Eat Local luminaries share their favorite dining spots

62 Global Gwinnett

The county’s tastiest international cuisine

64 Let’s Brunch Discovering Gwinnett’s best brunch spots

66 Gwinnett Grown Hometown finds that are only in Gwinnett

Shopping

68 Downtown Delights Shop and refuel at these fashion-savvy spots

70 In Style with Lauren Lefevre

The top stylist shares her favorite shops

72 Independent Spirit Shop local at these small, indie stores

[Other]

8 Contributors

10 Who We Are

12 A Place to Call Home

16 Calendar

74 Get Social

76 Resource Guide

80 Map of Gwinnett

See our newest attraction — Puffins! Experience the wonders of the aquatic world in our incredible 10-million gallon playground featuring sea lions, dolphins, beluga whales, manta rays, penguins, sea otters, whale sharks and thousands more. Buy tickets online GeorgiaAquarium.org/gwinnettcvb.

Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and aquatic animals worldwide.

Contributors

Wendell Brock

Wendell Brock has been writing about Atlanta culture for more than two decades. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Saveur, the Bitter Southerner, Cooking Light, Delta Sky, and numerous other publications. He was an Atlanta JournalConstitution editor, staff writer, and critic from 1982 to 2009 and continues to write about theater and food for the AJC. He won a James Beard Award for his profile of Atlanta food critic Christiane Lauterbach.

Lia Picard

Lia Picard has called Atlanta home for nearly five years. She writes about food, travel, and lifestyle. Her work appears in Tasting Table, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Simply Buckhead She’ll drive anywhere for a good meal and prides herself on being a local doughnut expert.

Jennifer Senator

An Atlanta native, Jennifer Senator lived in Norcross until she was 10. Says Senator, who interviewed Gwinnettians about their favorite places to eat, “My favorite restaurant in Gwinnett will always be Dagwood’s Pizza on Spalding Drive because it’s where my dad taught me to play Ms. Pac-Man.” A former senior editor for Atlanta magazine, Senator has contributed to publications such as the New York Post, Food Network magazine, Town & Country, and Frommer’s travel guides.

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

The Atlanta-based writer and editor loved discovering Gwinnett’s Korean food and culture right in her own backyard. Her food, travel, and lifestyle articles have appeared in People, Hospitality Design, Conde Nast Traveler, Delta Sky, and a host of other publications. Most days, she has to pinch herself to believe that she has the good fortune of writing about the topics she loves most. @JennBFranklin

Candice Dyer

Candice Dyer is a freelance writer based in North Georgia. She has been a staff writer for Atlanta magazine, and her work has appeared in Garden & Gun, Paste, Men’s Journal, Country Living, Georgia Trend, and HGTV. She published Street Singers, Soul Shakers, and Rebels With a Cause: Music from Macon by Indigo Press.

Lisa Mowry

In the 25 years she has been writing about homes and neighborhoods for magazines such as Traditional Home and Better Homes & Gardens, Mowry has covered all areas of metro Atlanta—including gorgeous neighborhoods in Gwinnett County. For 20 years she has served as the homes editor for Atlanta magazine and Atlanta Magazine’s HOME Lisa lives on Marietta Square, where she can walk to the historic downtown area, just two blocks away.

Amy Meadows

Amy Meadows is a veteran freelance feature writer and president of Green Meadows Communications, LLC. She has written more than 1,500 articles and contributed to more than a dozen hardcover pictorial books. Her first children’s picture book, Emma’s American Chinese New Year, earned a 2012 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and a 2013 Independent Publisher Book Award.

Scott Freeman

Scott Freeman is the author of four books, including the best-selling Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band and Otis! The Otis Redding Story His work has received numerous journalism awards, and he has written for many local and national publications. Freeman is the managing editor of ArtsATL

Beautiful Golf Course Growing Downtown

Events

Who We Are

Explore Gwinnett

Explore Gwinnett, the marketing brand for the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau (GCVB), is Gwinnett County’s official tourism organization. It is dedicated to strengthening Gwinnett’s economy by marketing the county as a destination for conventions, sporting events, meetings, and leisure travel through sales, marketing, and promotion. Explore Gwinnett also houses the Gwinnett Sports Commission and Camera Ready Film Office, and the GCVB Board of Directors oversees the operations and management of the Infinite Energy Center.

Explore Gwinnett’s website is full of helpful information, including a guide to Gwinnett’s neighborhoods and cities; suggested itineraries and a calendar of events; local stories and interviews with prominent residents; and a directory of attractions, dining, shopping, and hotels. It also features a variety of complimentary services for planning the perfect family reunion or wedding in Gwinnett, including information on meeting planning, convention services, hotel rooms, activities, and transportation. exploregwinnett.org

Explore Gwinnett Initiatives

Seoul of the South™

Explore Gwinnett’s immersive Korean restaurant tour takes place at local restaurants and bakeries (via a trolley no less). You’ll learn about the rise of unique (and delicious) Korean culture in Gwinnett while receiving details about the food you try. Tours are on specific Saturdays and last about four hours. seoulofthesouthtour.com

Burgers + Brews Week What do you get when you pair some of Gwinnett’s best

burgers with the perfect brew? Burgers + Brews Week, of course, and it happens every March at some of Gwinnett’s best restaurants. Chefs pair $7 a la carte burgers with the perfect craft beer (extra charge) for a delightful dining experience. burgersandbrewsweek.com

ARTober

This monthlong, countywide event held every fall celebrates all things related to the arts in Gwinnett. Highlights include special performances, discounts to arts venues, pop-up demos, buskers, and daily public art events. artober.org

Gwinnett Tourism Education Program (GTEP)

Explore Gwinnett’s free yearlong education program for the Gwinnett hospitality community provides information on Gwinnett County’s downtowns, attractions, shopping, parks, history, heritage sites, and educational and civic foundations. exploregwinnett. org/partners/gtep

Gwinnett

Sports Commission (GSC)

The GSC’s mission is to foster economic development through sports events involving youth, collegiate, amateur, and professional organizations. Gwinnett is home to the Infinite Energy Center, Suwanee Sports Academy, Life Time Tennis of Atlanta, SGAA Athletic In-Line Hockey Complex, TPC Sugarloaf, and other top-ranked facilities. gwinnettsportscommission.com

Community Profiles

A Place to Call Home

THESE GWINNETT NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Buford

Bustling Buford was named the New York of Gwinnett County in 1902 by the News-Herald, a reference to its busy downtown and thriving factories. Today, downtown Buford continues to draw visitors with a walkable area of restaurants, stores, and historic homes built by early tycoons. The county’s northernmost city lays claim to the Mall of Georgia—the state’s largest, with 200 stores on three levels of shopping— and Tannery Row Artist Colony, a collective of visual artists, including painters, sculptors, potters, jewelry makers, photographers, and more. cityofbuford.com

Duluth

BY LISA MOWRY

Duluth may be only 10 square miles in size, but it has a lot going on. Residents love the activities that make Duluth special: Howl on the Green, Fall Festival, free concerts at Town Green, and attractions such as the Southeastern Railway Museum and Eddie Owen Presents. Downtown is the place to be for charming stores and restaurants, making it popular with millennials and other age groups. Parsons Alley is a public plaza with 30,000 square feet of restaurants and retail including Good Word Brewing & Public House. The city also features several public art installations. duluthga.net

Lawrenceville

Living up to its status as the oldest city in metro Atlanta, Lawrenceville maintains a charming downtown as its center. Small town appeal can be found everywhere—from the 19th-century courthouse to the Aurora Theatre to the pleasing mix of restaurants and shops. New to the scene is Slow Pour Brewing, the city’s first brewery, which opened in September 2017; a second brewery, Beer Republic Brewing, will soon open down the street. It will be one of the state’s five largest breweries. Meanwhile, Georgia Gwinnett College offers opportunities for students and residents alike. lawrencevillega.org

Lilburn

Lilburn continues to thrive, and the downtown Main Street area is where restaurants, businesses, stores, and community events come together. Southern Living magazine declared Lilburn “one of the prettiest small towns in Georgia” in 2017; other accolades include a reputation for being a pet-frendly place and one of the best places to live and retire. Its diverse attractions include Camp Creek Greenway, a multiuse trail and certified wildlife habitat; BAPS Mandir, a Hindu place of worship; Old Town, with eateries and an antiques market; and Lilburn City Park. cityoflilburn.com

Duluth

Buford

Lilburn

Lawrenceville

Just imagine the possibilities!

Just imagine live music of various genres...strolling around downtown for public art exhibits and gallery receptions...romping, playing or just relaxing in the city’s beautiful parks...or even taking a culinary journey around the world simply by traveling from one eatery to the next in the city’s quaint historic downtown district.

Community Profiles

MORE GWINNETT NEIGHBORHOODS

➤ Auburn cityofauburn-ga.org

➤ Berkeley Lake berkeley-lake.com

➤ Braselton braselton.net

➤ Dacula daculaga.gov

➤ Grayson cityofgrayson.org

➤ Loganville loganville-ga.gov

➤ Snellville snellville.org

Norcross

In the 1800s, Norcross was known as Atlanta’s Favorite Summer Resort, and a train ferried downtown Atlanta residents up from the big city to experience this charming slice of small-town life. Today, visitors still flock to historic Norcross to see the well-kept historic homes (don’t miss the Tour of Homes in December) and poke around downtown’s brick buildings filled with a variety of shops and restaurants. Outdoor attractions include the Norcross City Cemetery Walking Tour, the Splash Pad at Lillian Webb Park, the Norcross Community Market, and Discovery Garden Park. norcrossga.net

Peachtree Corners

This newly incorporated city (as of July 2012) is a high-tech hub. Technology Park has been attracting technologybased businesses to its 500-acre campus since the 1970s, including Prototype Prime, a recently opened startup incubator. The new Town Center, scheduled for completion in 2018, will draw people for all sorts of fun, from restaurants and shops to entertainment venues. Since seven miles of the Chattahoochee River extends along Peachtree Corners, residentsowners love exploring riverside trails and grabbing a kayak or river raft for a fun day on the water. peachtreecornersga.gov

Sugar Hill

Lasting memories are made at the Bowl in Sugar Hill, an outdoor amphitheater that seats close to 2,000 people and has featured top acts such as Ben Folds and Travis Tritt. Just as popular is the nearby Splash Park at Sugar Hill, with fountains that are a blast to run through on hot summer days; the 16-mile Sugar Hill Greenway; and Daddy O’Brien’s Irish Ice Cream Pub, an ice cream shop and eatery. The town got its name when a trainload of sugar spilled in the area, and ever since then residents have played off the city’s name by touting the sweet life of Sugar Hill. cityofsugarhill.com

Suwanee

The city lives up to its motto —play hard, live well, smile more—as it expands its popular Town Center Park with even more attractions and events. Last September, more than 50,000 people attended Suwanee Fest, an arts and entertainment festival. Additional activities include Food Truck Fridays, a lantern parade, and a craft beer fest—it might be why Money magazine named Suwanee one of the country’s top small towns. For some outside fun, head to Playtown Suwanee, a climbing facility for kids, or Town Center Park, offering outdoor summer concerts. suwanee.com

Norcross

Sugar Hill

Suwanee

Calendar of Events

THERE’S ALWAYS FUN ON THE CALENDAR IN GWINNETT COUNTY

JANUARY

The Ice Rink at Sugar Hill, Sugar Hill City Hall

Lace up your skates for the simple pleasure of gliding around a tented, outdoor rink. icerinkatsugarhill.com

Snow Mountain, Stone Mountain Park

Build snowmen, shoot snowballs, and go tubing at Atlanta’s official destination for snow-packed fun. stonemountainpark.com

Gwinnett County MLK Parade, Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center

The community honors Martin Luther King Jr. with a parade, voter registration drive, and more. gwinnettmlkparade.com

Georgia Swarm Opener, Infinite Energy Arena

The professional indoor lacrosse team kicks off its season, which runs through April. georgiaswarm.com

FEBRUARY

Family Reunion

Planning Workshop

The Explore Gwinnett staff guides you through the who, what, why, and when of planning your next family reunion. atlantareunion.com

North Atlanta Home Show, Infinite Energy Forum

More than 150 companies display the latest in home improvement products and services. infiniteenergycenter.com/ events

MARCH

Suwanee American Craft

Beer Fest, Town Center Park

St. Patrick's Day weekend brings an epic celebration, including unlimited samples of 300-plus craft brews and a cornhole tournament. Live music, games, local food vendors, and a home brew contest are also on the calendar. suwaneebeerfest.com

with a two-day juried arts festival offering music, food trucks, and works by more than 60 artists. Additional happenings include yoga classes, walks, and more. duluthga.net/artweek

Mitsubishi Electric Classic, TPC Sugarloaf

Legends of the game compete in this premier three-day golf tournament on the PGA Tour Champions. mitsubishielectricclassic.com

Gwinnett Stripers Opening Day, Coolray Field

The Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate got a new name, but you’ll still have the same fun. The team takes to the field through September. gostripers.com

Atlanta United 2 Opening Day, Coolray Field

The reserve team of the Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC kicks into

APRIL

Spring Fun Break, Stone Mountain Park

Celebrate the beauty of spring at Atlanta’s favorite natural wonderland. stonemountainpark.com

Duluth Art Week

Duluth Town Green

Get your creative juices flowing with eight days of art. The event kicks off

action. 2018 is the team’s inaugural season; games continue through October. atlutd.com

Art on the Chattahoochee, Simpsonwood Park, Peachtree Corners

Artists showcase their work on the banks of the Chattahoochee, while kids make crafts and sidewalk chalk art. gwinnettparks.com

Gwinnett Stripers

Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest

BURGERS + BREWS

“When life throws you a burger, eat it.” That’s the motto at Explore Gwinnett, and no time is it more relevant than during the annual Burgers + Brews Week each March. During the weeklong celebration, participating restaurants offer specialty a la carte burgers for just $7 with a suggested beer pairing (extra charge). More than a dozen restaurants participate, offering everything from a houseground turkey burger with smoked Gouda and a sweet red onion–balsamic jam at 1910 Public House to a teriyaki glazed Black Angus burger with grilled pineapple and Gruyere cheese at Parma Tavern. Try one or try them all. burgersandbrewsweek.com

MAY

Memorial Day Celebration, Thrasher Park, Norcross

Enjoy live bands and yummy hot dogs at this annual bash in a historic park. norcrossga.net

Movies on the Lawn, Lawrenceville Lawn

Visit the food trucks before catching a family-friendly flick. The free series, held the second Friday of each month, runs through August. lawrencevillega.org

Suwanee Arts in the Park, Town Center Park

This family-friendly event pairs art in all forms with live music and great food. suwanee.com

Summer Stage Concert Series, Duluth Town Green

Enjoy live tunes from the

Movies Under the Stars Summer Concert Series, Mall of Georgia Friday evenings through July, the Village Amphitheater hosts a live band, bounce houses, and food vendors and screens a family-friendly movie. simon.com

Star 94’s Woofstock, Town Center Park, Suwanee

The pet-friendliest event in town features Frisbee dog demos, animal adoptions, pet-themed vendors, and more. Pets of all kinds are welcome, but must be on a leash. suwanee.com

JUNE

Movie Under the Stars Double Feature, Town Center Park, Suwanee

Bring chairs, blankets, and snacks for double features under the starry sky in Suwanee through August. suwanee.com

fireworks display, live music, inflatables, rides, and more. Blankets, chairs, food, and coolers are welcome. cityofsugarhill.com

Prelude to the 4th, Lawrenceville Lawn

This celebration honors Independence Day with live music and a dazzling fireworks show. Food trucks are on site, and beer and wine are available for purchase. lawrencevillega.org

FAMILY FUN

comfort of your lawn chair in the heart of Duluth through September. duluthga.net

Summer Concert Series, Lawrenceville Lawn

Rollicking live music comes to downtown Lawrenceville the last Friday of each month through September. lawrencevillega.org

Movies in the Park, Lillian Webb Park, Norcross

Bring the family and a comfy blanket for a free, kid-friendly film screening. norcrossga.net

Norcross Summer Concert Series, Thrasher Park

Spend your Friday evenings relaxing—or dancing—as live music drifts through the park through September 1. norcrossga.net

BluesBerry Festival, Downtown Norcross Regional blues artists rock downtown Norcross, while patrons enjoy craft brews and delicious blueberrythemed bites and cocktails from local restaurants. bluesberrybeerfestival.com

JULY

Sparks in the Park, E.E. Robinson Park

Enjoy a spectacular

The Peachtree Corners Festival kicks off with a Friday night concert and continues all weekend long with good food, good music, and plenty of good vibes. Held every June at Corners Office Park, this family-friendly fest includes kids rides, inflatables, and games and more than 140 booths filled with arts and crafts. There’s also food trucks and a classic car show and competition. Bonus: It’s free! peachtreecorners festival.com

Norcross Summer Concert Series

1910

Public House

STICK TO YOUR RIBS

Chow down on some of the South’s best barbecue when Rock’n Ribville returns to the Lawrenceville Lawn in September. Some 50 teams from across the Southeast face off in a competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Alas, only judges can cast votes for official entrants, but everyone is invited to get their fingers dirty and pick their favorite for the coveted People’s Choice Award. There’s also plenty of other great food, along with live music and kids activities. Dig in! rocknribville.com

JULY

Duluth Celebrates America, Duluth Town Green

Celebrate Independence Day a day early with bands, food trucks, kids activities giveaways, and fireworks. duluthga.net

Sparkle in the Park, Lilburn City Park

Lilburn’s biggest annual event features balloon artists, bounce houses,

music, food trucks, and, of course, fireworks. cityoflilburn.com

AUGUST

August Concert & Wing Festival, Town Center Park, Suwanee

This annual bash pairs music with tasty samples from local wing joints, plus there’s a wing-eating contest. suwanee.com

SEPTEMBER

Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta Professional drivers take to the Braselton track for the annual sports car endurance race during the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. roadatlanta.com

Yellow Daisy Festival, Stone Mountain Park

More than 400 artists and crafters display their works during the festival, which

Gwinnett County Fair, Gwinnett County Fairgrounds

Get the best in downhome fun with livestock shows, pageants, BMX stunts, carnival rides, and plenty of sweet treats. gwinnettcountyfair.com

Duluth Fall Festival, Duluth Town Green

This seasonal celebration, which celebrates its 36th year, draws 100,000 visitors for a parade, 5K, concert, carnival, and silent auction. duluthfallfestival.org

OCTOBER

Norcross Art Splash, Historic Downtown, Norcross

Welcome fall by perusing jewelry, photography, folk art, and more from regional artisans while enjoying tasty bites and live music. splashfestivals.com

Atlanta Gladiators Season Opener, Infinite Energy Arena

also includes music, kids activities, and craft demos. stonemountainpark.com

Lilburn Beer Fest, Lilburn City Park

You’ll have it made in the shade while enjoying more than 100 different craft beers, plus music, food, and entertainment. cityoflilburn.com

FALL IS IN THE AIR

Gwinnett’s minor league hockey team kicks off its hard-hitting season, which runs through April. atlantagladiators.com

Lawrenceville Ghost Tours, Lawrenceville Square

Every night in October, guided tours showcase the supernatural forces at play in Gwinnett’s spookiest city. scarystroll.com

The City of Suwanee kicks into high gear during its annual Suwanee Fest, held every year in midSeptember. More than 50,000 people descend on Town Center park for two days of fall fun, including 200 artists and exhibits, 15 entertainment acts, and one amazing parade, which travels one mile down Main Street. Additional highlights include food vendors, a farmers market, street performers, music, and loads of kids activities, including rides and games. Bonus: Free shuttle buses make the weekend truly hassle-free. suwaneefest.com

Yellow Daisy Festival

OCTOBER

Netherworld Haunted House, Stone Mountain

After 20 years in Norcross, this spooky attraction opens in Stone Mountain in September. Walk through a haunted mansion filled with terrifying special effects, spooky monsters, and live actors trying to scare the daylights out of you. fearworld.com

Stone Mountain Highland Games, Stone Mountain Park

The meadows of Stone Mountain transform into the Scottish Highlands, with pipe and drum bands, demonstrations, and athletic challenges. smhg.org

Sugar Rush Festival, The Bowl at Sugar Hill

The city’s annual fall fest features carnival rides, artist stalls, a juried art show, a concert, food vendors, and loads of family fun. cityofsugarhill.com

Country Living Fair, Stone Mountain Park

This traveling fest from Country Living magazine features more than 200 purveyors, plus seminars and demos. stonemountainpark.com

Grayson Blues and Brews, Grayson Community Park

Raise a stein to live blues acts while sampling more than 100 regional craft beers. cityofgrayson.org

Spooktacular on the Square, Lawrenceville Square

Creepy fun includes trickor-treating, drink specials at local restaurants, ghost tours, and more. lawrencevillega.org

NOVEMBER

Suwanee Wine Fest, Town Center Park

Sample more than 100 wines and craft beers while enjoying food and music. suwaneewinefest.com

Diwali & Annakut Celebration, BAPS Shri

Swaminarayan Mandir

Five days of cultural programs, entertainment, and fireworks mark Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, one of the most auspicious days on the Hindu calendar. baps.org/atlanta

Peachtree Corners

Christmas Parade, Peachtree Corners

Floats, marching bands, and more wind through city streets and end at the Forum for a tree lighting ceremony and visit with Santa. glowinthecorners.org

DECEMBER

Hometown Christmas Parade, Historic

Downtown Lawrenceville

This annual holiday event features Santa Claus and his reindeer, a light-up parade of festive floats, local marching bands, and other activities. lawrencevillega.org

Norcross Carriage Rides, Downtown Norcross Ride through charming downtown Norcross in a horse-drawn carriage and take in the holiday lights. Rides are free, but you can get your photo taken with Santa for a small fee. aplacetoimagine.com

For a complete list of events, visit exploregwinnett.org

FAR EAST, CLOSE BY

See martial arts demonstrations, enjoy Bunraku puppetry shows, try on an authentic kimono, and sample Japanese street food during JapanFest, September 15 and 16 at the Infinite Energy Center. Additional highlights at the largest Japanese festival in the Southeast include a market with Japanese goods—like tea, dolls, clothing, ceramics, toys, and Bonsai trees— and products and technologies from some of the 500-plus Japanese companies based in Georgia. Kids can play water yo-yo, ring toss, and other games and make Japanese kites and tops. japanfest.org

Netherworld Haunted House

10

THE TOP REASONS TO LOVE GWINNETT

BY LISA MOWRY

Jones Bridge Park

Southeastern Railway Museum

BAPS Mandir

The Fountain in Duluth

1

SUWANEE SCULPTOUR

Art alfresco for all ages

Prepare to be entertained and uplifted by the 19 pieces of art in this outdoor sculpture exhibit, SculpTour, located in Suwanee’s Town Center Park. New this year: Visitors can download the Otocast app and hear about the pieces directly from the artists themselves. Subjects range from whimsical (half-eaten Popsicles) to touching (three friends cuddled together in support).

2MEDIEVAL TIMES

History and hearty fare

Now playing at a castle near you: A chance to dine like royalty and be entertained as if living in the Middle Ages. This clever dinner theater in Lawrenceville gives you a glimpse into jousting, falconry, and majestic horse play true to the time period, all while enjoying a four-course meal.

3HUDGENS CENTER FOR ART AND LEARNING

Creativity in our backyard

This busy Duluth non-profit has something for everyone, including art classes and workshops for all ages, from photography and painting to soap making, as well as exhibitions that showcase local and national artists. The popular gift shop offers one-of-a-kind handmade items such as pottery and jewelry.

4 PARKS GALORE

Outdoor destinations

Did you know Gwinnett County has more than 40 parks to explore? Here are four: Dacula’s Little Mulberry Park attracts visitors with trails, a disc golf course, and a fishing pier. Loganville’s Bay Creek Park

caters to athletes with basketball courts, baseball fields, a football field, a walking track, tennis courts, and a skate complex. Tribble Mill Park, near Grayson, boasts trails, a lake, and picturesque views. Jones Bridge Park has a sand volleyball court and walking trails along the Chattahoochee River, with a spot for fishing.

5 FOUNTAINS AROUND GWINNETT

Water features making a splash

There’s water, water everywhere to cool us off. Big Splash Fountain in Suwanee’s Town Center Park has 43 jets squirting thousands of gallons of water a day, while Splash Park in Sugar Hill offers splash zones, jets, lights, and choreographed shows. The Fountain at downtown Duluth is also part fun, part focal point for the community, and be sure to check out the water features at Mall of Georgia and Lillian Webb Park in Norcross.

6

STONE MOUNTAIN PARK

A massive monument

Georgia’s most popular attraction offers 3,200 acres of family fun year-round, from kayaking and camping in warmer months to tubing and snowball fights in winter. Hike up the granite mountain for great views of Atlanta, or stay down below and enjoy fishing, shopping, or dining at one of the home-style Southern restaurants.

7 SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM

Trains to get your wheels turning

All aboard for a fascinating journey through the history of locomotives. Visitors to this Duluth treasure can tour old

Pullman cars and relive the golden age of transportation in restored cabooses and passenger cars. Historic artifacts and railroad memorabilia show day-to-day train life in its glory.

8 BAPS MANDIR

A spiritual sanctuary

For more than 10 years, this Hindu place of worship in Lilburn has provided a place to marvel, thanks to its incredible architecture on 30 acres of landscaped grounds. Italian marble, sandstone, and limestone make up the sprawling structure, while colorful lighting accentuates the intricacies of the sculptures, which depict lotus flowers and Hindu deities.

9 SPORTS MECCA

Where fans get their thrills

With so many teams calling Gwinnett home base, you can support your favorite sport or learn about a new one. Georgia Swarm plays box lacrosse at the Infinite Energy Arena, which is also where you’ll find ice hockey pros the Atlanta Gladiators. The Gwinnett Stripers are a triple-A baseball team that is part of the Atlanta Braves family. New on the scene is Atlanta United 2, a soccer team associated with the popular downtown Atlanta United.

10INTERNATIONAL DINING

Cuisine from around the world

Foodies have flocked to Gwinnett for decades to experience authentic delicacies from other countries served up in quaint mom-and-pop establishments. From pho to beef curry to Southern barbecue, there’s something to delight all taste buds.

Suwanee SculpTour

Hudgens Center for Art and Learning

Medieval Times

EATTHIS! EATTHIS!

Local Republic SHRIMP & GRITS

Do you wish you could have brunch anytime, any day of the week? You’re in luck, because Local Republic, in the heart of downtown Lawrenceville, has some of the best shrimp and grits around—and it’s available at lunch and dinner. The grits are creamy and topped with wild-caught shrimp, housemade andouille sausage, and a light roux. Zesty and flavorful!

18 CAN’T-MISS DISHES YOU’LL FIND ONLY IN GWINNETT

BY LIA PICARD

It’s no secret that Gwinnett is one of the tastiest counties in metro Atlanta. Thanks to a melting pot of different people and backgrounds, there’s a restaurant for nearly anything your taste buds desire. If you’re having a hard time narrowing your choices down, don’t worry— we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to see what the 18 must-try dishes are in Gwinnett.

Aqua Terra Bistro SEARED SCALLOPS

A chic Italian restaurant in downtown Buford, Aqua Terra Bistro has been making regulars of diners since 1999. Although there are numerous mainstays on the menu, the one that would cause a riot if it were taken off is the seared scallops. Plump scallops are served atop orecchiette pasta tossed in a truffle-mushroom cream sauce. Rich and oh-so good!

Mojitos CLASSIC PAELLA

Norcross is home to Mojitos, a restaurant specializing in Cuban cuisine. Bring your appetite and order the paella. One serving of the classic Spanish dish is huge! Yellow rice is cooked in a fish broth and combined with scallops, mussels, squid, chicken, and pork pieces. It’s served in a piping hot cast-iron dish, making for a meal that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Ba Bellies FISH SAUCE CARAMEL WINGS

Casual and convivial, Ba Bellies is an Asian gastropub with a heavy Vietnamese influence. Each dish packs bold flavors, but the Fish Sauce Caramel Wings are in a league of their own. A unique blend of fish sauce, garlic, chili flakes, and palm sugar makes for wings that are sticky, spicy, and tangy. They might sound funky, but one bite and you’ll be unable to resist that umami.

O4W Pizza GRANDMA PIE

Once an ITP darling (that’s inside the Perimeter to you Atlanta newbies), O4W Pizza now resides in downtown Duluth and lures people from all over for its Grandma Pie. A thin crust and a square shape make the base for this cult favorite, which is topped with housemade marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and Pecorino Romano cheese. Note: You can order it by the slice at lunch.

Parkside District

ATLANTA HOT CHICKEN SANDWICH

A hip spot in Lawrenceville that’s not even a year old, Parkside District offers a comfortable, casual atmosphere. The dinner menu is chockfull of great choices, but the best dish is found on the lunch menu. The Atlanta Hot Chicken Sandwich pays tribute to a Nashville classic with country-fried chicken breast, garlic-chili soy sauce, green goddess coleslaw, dill pickles, and a side of herbseasoned fries.

Good Word Brewing & Public House AMERICANO HAMBURGESA

One of the newest spots in downtown Duluth, Good Word is part restaurant and part brewery. The menu blends Latin and American flavors, but the standout dish here is the Americano Hamburgesa. Two grass-fed beef patties are smothered in cheese, sauteed onions, lettuce, tomato, and housemade burger sauce. Wash it down with one of the restaurant’s own beers, like the Golden Moose, a German pilsner.

Edee’s Place Bar-B-Que RIB TIP PLATE

What started as a food truck has evolved into a cozy family restaurant in Dacula. An amalgam of the founders’ names, Edmund and Dee, Edee’s wants everyone who comes in to feel at home. Order the rib tip plate: Succulent, seasoned rib tips are served with two sides (we suggest the garlic-Parmesan fries and housemade mac and cheese). You can also pick your sauce, with hot and mild options.

Frankie’s the Steakhouse BONE-IN-FILET

When you walk into Frankie’s, located on the third floor of the Gwinnett Chamber building, you may feel as though you’ve stepped back in time to Old Hollywood. The decor is dark and plush, and on weekends you’ll find a live band paying tributes to the greats. Frankie’s delivers more than just style, however. The 16-ounce bone-in filet is a mouthwatering cut of meat cooked to your liking. Frankie’s uses Black Angus meat from corn-fed cows raised in Omaha, Nebraska. The filet is delicious by itself but is even better with a side of lobster mac and cheese.

Bare Bones Steakhouse BATTERED & FRIED ONION RINGS

People flock to Bare Bones in Buford and it’s no wonder why: The elegant atmosphere and inviting booths make for a lovely evening out and, of course, there’s plenty of delectable steak. The real surprise here, though, is the onion ring appetizer. A mountain of battered and fried onion rings is covered in honey, cheese, and chili. It kind of looks like a plate of doughnuts at first glance and is absolutely addicting.

Simply Done Donuts MAN BAIT

Don’t be fooled: There’s nothing simple about Simply Done’s doughnuts. Each of the 25 doughnuts is a mini, cakebased treat made to order with toppings of your choice. Our favorite is the Man Bait doughnut with a maple glaze and bacon crumbles. It’s a sweet and savory combination that reminds you of lazy Sunday mornings. If you like a warm beverage with your doughnut, there’s a full coffee program with espresso beverages.

Uncle Jack’s Meat House

OOEY GOOEY MOOEY BURGER

Tucked away in an unassuming Duluth strip mall, Uncle Jack’s Meat House is a sneakily highend joint. Of course, there are plenty of cuts to choose from, but the star of the show is actually found in the burger section of the menu. The Ooey Gooey Mooey Burger is a mouthful to say and even more so to eat. It’s a blend of prime beef smothered in secret sauce, onion jam, maple-pepper bacon, and buttermilk-blue cheese fondue. You may need a fork and knife for this one!

Ten Bistro MANHATTAN FLAT IRON STEAK

Laidback and colorful, Ten Bistro is the type of place that makes you want to hang out for a bit. It specializes in New American cuisine and uses local ingredients as much as possible. Go big and treat yourself to the Manhattan Flat Iron Steak, grilled and thinly sliced. It’s served with truffle mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, caramelized onions, and sherry gastrique, making it one extremely crave-worthy combination.

Cinco Mexican Cantina STEAK

FAJITAS

The brightly colored decor and mouthwatering Mexican cuisine make Cinco a can’tmiss spot in Suwanee. And steak fajitas is the dish to order. Sizzling, marinated grilled steak is served alongside guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, charro beans, and flour tortillas. ¡Delicioso!

The

Blaxican Mexican Soul Food COLLARD

GREEN QUESADILLA

After losing his job at a church, Will Turner found his true calling: a food truck he called the Blaxican (“Blaxican” is a slang word used to describe people of Mexican and African American descent, and Turner says it perfectly describes his Mexican soul food.) And Turner now has a restaurant, too. It serves tacos and sides, but the true star is the Collard Green Quesadilla, featuring collards cooked in a smoked turkey broth with a side of Mexsoul sauce.

Rico’s World Kitchen ROYAL ROOSTER

Another Buford charmer, Rico’s is an inviting restaurant offering retro vibes and comfort food. If you have room in your belly for only one dish, make it the Royal Rooster sandwich. It’s a zesty treat, with chicken fried in a habanero sauce, topped with baby Swiss cheese, and served on a potato bun. It comes with crunchy and delicious housefried potato chips .

1910 Public House GRILLED PIMENTO CHEESE

Located on Main Street in downtown Lilburn, 1910 Public House is modern and cool. Don’t let the modernity fool you, though, because the restaurant does classic Southern oh-so well. Case in point: The team makes their own pimento cheese from scratch. You can order it by itself as an appetizer, but indulging in the grilled pimento cheese sandwich is the way to go. Pimento cheese, fried green tomato, and bacon on grilled sourdough make for a heavenly sandwich indeed.

When Jay Swift opened his Peachtree Corners seafood restaurant in 2016, it was an instant delight. The atmosphere is elegant and open, especially when the sun streams through during the day. There’s a raw bar, several types of fish, and steak options, but the must-order dish is the Maryland Crab Cake. It’s chunky with big pieces of crab and served with crackers, tartar sauce, and Bibb lettuce.

Noble Fin MARYLAND CRAB CAKE

A Family A≠air

Jam sessions, bluegrass, family, and sweets make up the story of Everett’s Music Barn.

By Scott Freeman

EDGAR LOUDERMILK’S VOICE RISES HIGH and lonesome, soaring above the guitar, Dobro, banjo, and his own stand-up bass that collectively chime a traditional melody behind him. Two other voices join in with a sweet mountain harmony that is almost comforting in its tranquil power. Loudermilk and his five-piece band are set up in an empty room in an old two-bedroom frame house in Suwanee on a rainy February night, preparing for that evening’s concert next door at Everett’s Music Barn, where

bluegrass fans have faithfully gathered every Saturday night for more than 48 years.

In two other rooms of the house, there are bluegrass jam sessions going on with musicians young and old, male and female. Many of these folks will never step foot inside the Music Barn to hear tonight’s show; they came to pick and grin or to test out their chops. Both Loudermilk and his guitarist, Jeff Autry, grew up playing in these rooms. “I’ve been coming here 30 years, since I was a kid,” Loudermilk says, standing in

Everett’s Family Band

“If you’re a bluegrass player, you’ve probably been in this house.”

the kitchen after his pre-concert rehearsal. “If you’re a bluegrass player, you’ve probably been in this house.”

Autry, who has performed with such bluegrass stars as Sam Bush, the John Cowan Band, and Vassar Clements, grew up in Decatur and began his career playing in this very house. His father was a bassist with the Everett Brothers, the Music Barn’s house band, for 40 years and began bringing his son to the Everett family home before he was big enough to hold a guitar.

At first, Autry resented being forced to go listen to his father’s music. But once he got a guitar at the age of 10, he couldn’t get

enough of it. “We’d come here and play until we couldn’t play any longer, and then sit here in the kitchen around this very table and talk and drink coffee,” Autry says. “This house is a training ground for young musicians and gives them a place to pick with other people.”

The jam house is one of the things that makes Everett’s Music Barn so critical to the bluegrass ecosystem. Like its Southern cousin, blues music, bluegrass is a once popular and now faded art form. And with elders such as Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley having passed on, bluegrass must rely on the influx of new generations of

practitioners such as Loudermilk and Autry in order to survive. “Young players need somewhere to go to cut their teeth, and a lot of people have done that here,” says Loudermilk. Everett’s Music Barn serves as both a paean to bluegrass music’s past and a pipeline to its future.

The modest house and concert room, nestled in a residential neighborhood on Stonecypher Road a few minutes from Interstate 85, are unlikely spots for a nurturing ground of modern bluegrass music. The Everett family musical legacy began in the house long before the Music Barn was ever raised. Three musician brothers—

More Notable Music Venues

Red Clay Music Foundry

The 260-seat theater in downtown Duluth is operated by Eddie Owens, who founded the legendary Eddie’s Attic in Decatur and helped nurture the careers of the Indigo Girls, John Mayer, and Sugarland.

The Train Depot

Located in an annex of the Gwinnett School of Music in Lawrenceville, the Depot plays host to such roots music acts as Caroline Aiken and Ralph Rodenberry.

Atlanta Coliseum

Formerly Wild Bill’s country music club, the Coliseum continues its Western tradition but adds a new twist with its focus on Spanish-language bands. It is located in Duluth.

The Music Barn

Russell, Tommy, and Rena Everett

The Bowl at Sugar Hill

Leroy, Randall, and Roger Everett—had their own local radio shows in the 1960s and began to host Saturday jam sessions in their family home. The jams grew to the point that the brothers built an addition to the house that included a small stage (a banister was later added to prevent young children from rushing the stage and bumping into the instruments). The house, furnished only with assorted couches and chairs, is now unoccupied except on Saturday nights.

In 1970, Leroy Everett decided to build a music venue in the backyard of the family homestead. Someone donated an eight-room duplex in Norcross, and it was

The Bowl at Sugar Hill

This 1,750-seat outdoor amphitheater in northern Gwinnett leans on a mix of classic performers, such as Boz Scaggs and Ben Folds, along with up-andcoming acts, such as Von Grey.

dismantled and moved to Suwanee and used to construct Everett’s Music Barn. The modest, homey room has a large stage on one end faced by 10 double rows of church pews for the audience. Leroy died shortly after the barn was completed, and the last of the three musical brothers passed away in 2010. The Music Barn is now operated by Leroy’s children: Rena Everett McDaniel, Russell Everett, and Tommy Everett.

Every Saturday night, Rena and Russell station themselves behind the front counter to greet each person who enters and tempt them to try one of the half-dozen desserts laid out before them. That’s another tradition here: Some of the sweet temptations are made by the siblings, while others are brought in by regular patrons. There are no tickets to be sold or collected; instead, guests are asked to place a donation into a large coffee can. And that’s how they pay the bands and keep up maintenance, along with fundraisers every April and October that invite 100 pickers to jam sessions that take place all over the backyard and inside the house. “This is our family,” explains Rena. “My grandmother opened up our home to strangers, and that’s what we still

do. We want everyone to feel at home here.” Feeling at home is easy when you settle into one of the cushioned pews then hear a Dobro intro lead into a fast, toe-tapping song driven by Autry’s acoustic guitar, with a mandolin played by Autry’s son, Zack, darting in and out with lightning quick notes. For the next couple of hours, it’s easy to imagine that you’ve been transported back 50 years in time. “This place used to be taken for granted,” says Tommy Everett, who runs the sound system and introduces the bands. “But that’s changed. It’s such a gem and such a rarity. I don’t know where else you can get an experience like this.”

Loudermilk and Autry play the national circuit of clubs, festivals, and even a bluegrass cruise, but they always make room for two annual stops at Everett’s Music Barn. One stop is for a regular show where, like every other band, they are paid through the donation can. But they also perform at one of the annual fundraisers. “We always want to come back because we have an identity here,” says Loudermilk. “We play 90 to 100 shows a year, but this is always a stop for us. I grew up in Toccoa, and this will always be home for us.”

Jammin’ at Everett’s

Heart Seoul

GWINNETT’S DYNAMIC KOREAN POPULATION OFFERS RESTAURANTS , SHOPPING, SPAS, KARAOKE, AND FUN

By Jennifer Bradley Franklin

A plane ticket to Seoul from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will set you back about $1,400, with 15 hours in the air as you travel more than 7,100 miles. Thanks to Gwinnett County’s ever-growing Korean population (it is the third largest after Los Angeles’s and New York City’s), Atlanta-area visitors and residents can experience Korea’s top cultural exports, such as delicious fare and innovative beauty products, without taking a transcontinental trip. Intimidated? Don’t be. “Koreans are known for their hospitality, just like Southerners,” says Korean-born Gwinnett resident Sarah Park, who heads up Explore Gwinnett’s Seoul of the South tours (see sidebar). Consider this your guide to exploring Gwinnett’s Little Korea.

PAMPER YOURSELF

Beauty is big in Korea, and there’s no better place to experience a day of beauty than at JeJu Sauna. The 35,000-square-foot jjimjilbang, or bathhouse, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you arrive, you’ll be given shorts and a T-shirt to wear while exploring the co-ed areas. Rotate between nine saunas, each with distinct benefits. For instance, the heated pink salt sauna helps flush out impurities and increase circulation, while the Korean jade stones lining another sauna’s walls are thought to soothe arthritis and give a metabolic boost.

Next, step into the gender-segregated areas and strip down to your birthday suit (it’s more comfortable than you’d think since everyone’s doing it!) before showering and soaking in one of the warm jetted pools or steam saunas. Spring for a demandi, or vigorous scrub, during which a mature swimsuit-clad tech uses elbow grease and exfoliating mitts to remove more layers of dead skin than you thought possible. You’ll be in good company: Celebrity chef and Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern has visited with comedian Margaret Cho.

To leverage the world of K-beauty products at home, visit one of the three Aritaum shops scattered throughout Duluth and Suwanee. Korean brands like Laneige, Mamonde, and Iope offer efficacy-based skincare (think sheet masks, peeling serums, collagen eye patches, scrubs, jelly cleansers, and more) and innovative cosmetics. The knowledgeable bilingual staff can answer questions and help clients choose the right fix for their unique needs.

Similarly, though W1sh Beauty also stocks women’s and children’s apparel, accessories, and jewelry, Korean and Japanese beauty supplies and makeup are the main draws. The warehouse-style store is no-frills, but treasures for beauty seekers abound.

CHOW DOWN

If you’ve worked up an appetite, you’re in luck: About one-third of Georgia’s Korean population (estimated to be between 120,000 and 150,000 residents) lives in Gwinnett, so the standard of Korean cuisine is ultra-high. One of Park’s long-established favorites for a traditional family-style experience is Jang Su Jang, where you’ll find bi bim guksu (cold

Seoul of the South

If you’d prefer to explore Gwinnett’s myriad Korean treasures with a knowledgeable guide, sign up for a Seoul of the South tour with Park as your guide. The tours, offered to the public since 2016, run on select dates throughout the year and leave the Explore Gwinnett offices in a chauffeur-driven trolley. During the four-hour tour, Park introduces guests to four unique restaurants for a progressive feast of sorts— a bargain for $50 per guest. Along the way, she provides engaging commentary and tidbits about Korean culture. Bonus: Each guest walks away with a robust swag bag full of foodie finds and beauty products to try at home. Learn more at exploregwinnett.org/ seoulofthesouth.

noodles), bossam (pork belly), bulgogi (beef barbecue), and much more. The friendly staff is happy to share their passion for Korea’s cuisine and offer recommendations based on your taste preferences.

With Korean food, the first thing that may come to mind is barbecue. Honey Pig opened in 2007 as one of the first restaurants in the area to leverage the ssot-dduk-kung method of cooking deliciously tender Kurobuta pork and other proteins. The meat is cooked on a bowl-shaped grill (like an upside-down wok) at the table and piled with bean sprouts and kimchi. The ever-popular restaurant has even been featured on the Cooking Channel’s Unique Eats.

To sample the snacks Park grew up loving in South Korea, visit Harue Food & Cafe for comfort food like kimbap, a rolled rice dish that resembles sushi, and donkatsu, breaded pork cutlets fried to golden brown.

The big draw is something Park calls “the other KFC,” or Korean fried chicken: ultra-tender, crispy chicken that comes in regular, spicy, or sweet and spicy varieties. Cafe culture is big in Korea, Park says, since historically, people had courtyards to welcome friends and family to catch up over a cup of tea. As populations boomed and single-family homes were less common, people began to congregate at coffee and tea shops, so in big cities such as Seoul, it’s rare to find a block without one. Gwinnett is similar, with such favorites as Tree Story Bakery & Cafe, Cafe Rothem, and Arte 3 Cafe. Each has its own specialty, such as housemade pastries or drinks such as sweet potato lattes, iced plum tea, and misugaru, a hot or cold drink made with toasted multigrain powder, milk, and honey.

If you find yourself craving a bite even at an odd hour, Duluth’s Seo Ra Beol serves Korean favorites like naengmyeon (cold noodles), galbi (spicy tofu stew), and bibimbap (warm white rice with seasoned vegetables) 24 hours a day. Meanwhile, if you’d prefer to enjoy such delicacies in the comfort of your own home, JS Kitchen by Jang Su Jang offers ready-to-serve dishes and cooking classes in its state-of-the-art kitchen.

BELT IT OUT

For those looking for evening fun, unleash your inner K-pop star at karaoke. Unlike American karaoke, where you’re expected to sing in a room full of strangers, Korean establishments rent group rooms by the hour—think of them as your own private recording studio. Choose your favorite songs in English or Korean, order snacks and drinks, and sing your heart out into the wee hours of the morning.

At DoReMi Karaoke, guests will find private rooms with plush leather sofas, 52inch plasma flatscreen TVs, and more than 20,000 songs. Also in Duluth, Agit Karaoke attracts a hip crowd with its graffiti- and pop art-lined walls. Additional spots include Sound of Music Karaoke, Luxor Karaoke, and Karaoke Melody 2.

Now when you drive down any number of main Gwinnett thoroughfares and see as many signs in Korean as English, you can feel confident enough to start building your own bucket list for exploration.

BREWS in the

NIGHT

BY WENDELL BROCK

Good Word Brewing (upper and bottom left), Slow Pour Brewing Company (upper right), Suwanee Beer Festival (lower right)

A beer lover's guide to Gwinnett

It would hardly be “beer-say” to note that Gwinnett has a deep thirst for craft brews. You know that’s a true statement when you consider the ever-growing lineup of brewers, restaurants, bars, and festivals that focus so lovingly on suds. Let’s raise a mug, then, to these guys.

Craft Breweries

Craft

beer destinations

that are big on taste and fun.

GOOD WORD BREWING & PUBLIC HOUSE

When the team behind Decatur’s venerated Brick Store Pub created the menu at this handsomely designed new craft brewery and restaurant, they wanted something more ambitious than wings and burgers to go with their delicious pale ales, IPAs, blondes, and sours. So they looked to partner Todd DiMatteo’s Puerto Rican grandmother for inspiration. The result is a mashup of Puerto Rican and Southern flavors: tacos, empanadas, hangar steak with chimichuri sauce, Key lime pie, and flan. The resulting food pairings are treated with the same care and respect as the brews. goodwordbrewing.com

SLOW POUR BREWING COMPANY

The liquid gold flowing out of this new Lawrenceville craft brewery comes with a heaping dose of Southern charm. Peachin’ to the Choir is a blonde beer infused with Georgia’s most famous fruit. Cotillion is a blonde ale with the smooth sass of a Southern belle. Southernality is a session IPA synonymous with both hops and hospitality. Watch for game-day events and concerts that spill out of this converted 1910 trouser factory into the adjacent beer garden. Stop by for tours Thursday through Sunday, or take home a six-pack or 32-ounce “crowler” of your favorite juice anytime. slowpourbrewing.com

Food, Suds, or Both

Spots with good beer (and often the food to match).

TANNERY ROW ALE HOUSE

Housed in an old tanning factory in downtown Buford, this saloon is a swell spot for sipping brews and chowing down on porkrind nachos, shrimp and pimento cheese grits, and a full menu of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and salads. On tap are brews from near (Terrapin, Creature Comforts, Sweetwater) and far (Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic). tanneryrowalehouse.com

1910 PUBLIC HOUSE

At this farm-to-foam restaurant in Lilburn, you’ll find more than two dozen craft brews on tap, including plenty of surprises. Sample

the Old 41 oatmeal stout from Dry County Brewing in Kennesaw, Midnight SliverPecan Pie Nut Brown Ale from Pontoon Brewing in Sandy Springs, and Lappland Blonde from Left Nut Brewing in Gainesville. Wet your whistle then move on to the fried bird with green beans, and pimento mac and cheese. 1910publichouse.com

THREE BLIND MICE

Lilburn’s favorite local spot is known for its great cocktails, bottomless mimosa brunches, and classic inflected menu offering everything from steak to scallops. It also celebrates beer, with special Sunday-night tastings and guest appearances by local craft brewers on the last Tuesday of the month. Still thirsty? All of the beer and wine options are available for retail purchase to take home. tbmrestaurant.com

EXHIBIT A(LE)

Owner Jesse Hatchat is a lawyer with a sly sense of humor. That you can surmise from

1910 Public House

the name of his joint, which stocks some 30 craft beers for the growler-filling crowd. The beer docket changes frequently, but rest assured, you can find all types of light, dark, hoppy, malty, and exotic offerings to take home and hold court with family and friends. exhibitalegrowler.com

ARTBAR

Tucked inside the Sonesta Gwinnett Place hotel is a stylish lair with a solid selection of draft and bottle beers, craft cocktails and an impressive whiskey list. Nosh on deviled

eggs with truffle salt, yakatori, oysters, killer burgers, and other dandy eats until midnight seven days a week. sonesta.com

RESTAURANT 4-7-5

Located in the Marriott Atlanta Peachtree Corners hotel, this spot offers a Southerninspired menu with dishes highlighting local ingredients. You can’t go wrong with fried shrimp po’ boys, grouper sandwiches, and crispy calamari, especially when washed down with a selection from the solid and varied beer menu. marriott.com/atlcp

Hope Springs Distillery

Festivals

Fun festivals focusing on craft brewskis.

SUWANEE AMERICAN CRAFT BEER FEST

Billed as one of the Southeast’s largest craft beer hootenannies, this fest promises unlimited samples of more than 350 different brews, plus bagpipe music, Irish dancers, games of cornhole and giant Jenga, and even wine. Mid-March at Suwanee Town Center Park; suwaneebeerfest.com

GWINNETT BEER FEST

The Lawrenceville satellite of the Suwanee fest features 150-plus beers at the home of the Gwinnett Stripers triple-A affiliate baseball team. There’s nothing minor league about it, though. Early May at Coolray Field; gwinnettbeerfest.com

LILBURN BEER & WINE FEST

This event focuses on Georgia craft beer and cider, with more than 100 pours represented. You can also sample beers from around the country, try 25 different wines, and nosh on food truck fare. Mid-May at Lilburn City Park; lilburnbeerfest.com

GRAYSON BLUES & BREWS

Innovative beer and traditional music are the hallmarks of this lively small-town fest, coming up on its ninth year. Check the festival website for this year’s lineup. October at Grayson Community Park; grayson-bluesandbrews.com

After some permitting and technical delays, Gwinnett’s first legal distillery since Prohibition started production in July 2017. Sometime in the near future, owners Betsey Dahlberg and Paul R. Allen plan to open a tasting room at their Lilburn operation. Meanwhile, look for Hope Springs’s Top Hat Vodka and Jetty Absinthe in liquor stores near you. The vodka is 100 percent wheat-based and distilled at least three times, sometimes more if the distillers think it needs it. The absinthe is truly micro batch: Only three gallons are made at a time. In the future, these booze makers want to try their hand at gin. hopespringsdistillery.com

Gwinnett Beer Festival

Exhibit A(le)

1910 Public House

Secrets of Gwinnett County Parks

From a grist mill to a girls school, 7 unexpected discoveries

BY LIA PICARD

Gwinnett’s parks are filled with surprises. They offer a chance to interact with history, enjoy a moment of solitude, or even have a ghostly encounter. From a model train to a historic farm, there’s a secret spot for you.

1. Not the usual grind Freeman’s Mill Park, in Lawrenceville, is a piece of agricultural history. The park’s namesake, Freeman’s Mill, was built after the Civil War and used by local farmers to grind grain into flour. Powered by the Alcovy River, the mill

was in use until 1996. The 12-acre park is a photographer’s dream, with amazing photo opportunities at the mill and the stone dam behind it. Little ones can play on a mock version of the mill at the playground, and there are multi-purpose trails that run along the water as well.

Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center

Lawrenceville Female Seminary

2. McDaniel had a farm

Step foot onto McDaniel Farm Park, and you’ll forget that you’re in present-day Duluth. The 134-acre park used to be a working farm of the same name. There are three miles of trails to help you get your exercise, but there’s also much more to explore, like the charming farmhouse built in the 1930s. Besides the house, there are stables, tenant homes, and cotton fields.

3. Partners in fun

The Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center is a partnership between Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, the Gwinnett County Board of Education, the University of Georgia, and the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center Foundation. The facility sits on 234 acres of forest and is stunning. With plenty of hands-on activities, from a planetarium to a zip line, there’s fun to be had for

all ages. There’s also event space if you’re looking to host a meeting, luncheon, or gala in a sustainable environment.

4. You’ve got mail

Although the park is on the smaller side at five-acres, it packs quite the historical punch. Hudson-Nash Farm was built in 1840 and served as a general store and post office (now known as the Yellow River Post Office). People traveled through Lilburn on their way to Lawrenceville, and this farm was a stopping point. The property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, also has a building that was used as slave quarters.

5. A haunting tale

The Lawrenceville Female Seminary was built in 1854. This beautiful Greek-style building was a girls finishing school from the 1830s through the mid-1850s. If you like ghost stories, this place

has one for you. In 1873, a thunderstorm rolled in during recess, and the yard was struck by lightning. One girl died immediately, and two other girls died two years later—it’s rumored that all three haunt the place. Now the building is home to the Gwinnett Museum of History, which contains artifacts and records.

6. Field of dreams

The namesake of this Duluth park, J. T. “Shorty” Howell, was a World War II vet who also worked at General Motors. In 1955, he volunteered to be a little league coach for the Dixie Youth League in Duluth, and he took it upon himself to take care of the baseball fields. When a new ballpark was built in 1978, Shorty Howell Park was dedicated to him. Howell continued to take care of the fields until he died at 99. So deep was his impact on the local little league community that when he died, the funeral procession was three miles long.

7. Secret gardens

Escape the hustle and bustle and get lost among the flora at Vines Park. The 79-acre park is peaceful, with a trail around the lake and pavilions to pause at for some reflection. There are also gardens with different themes, such as the rose garden with white columns. Throughout the park are Greek statues and charming footbridges, but the coolest gem here is the model train. It runs May through September on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, so catch it while you can.

McDaniel Farm Park

Vines Park

Shorty Howell Park

Calling all sports fans: Gwinnett has you covered.

BY TONY REHAGEN

G Sports Talk

winnett County is an increasingly diverse place, and that is reflected in its professional sports teams. Fans would be hard-pressed to find a wider range of top-tier athletes, organizations, and venues packed into another 437 square miles.

Start with the traditional American pastime: baseball. Coolray Field, home of the triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, has long been a place where baseball fans can get an up-close look at the stars of tomorrow on their way up the ranks to SunTrust Park, as well as injured all-stars working their way back on a rehab assignment. But this year, Gwinnett’s baseball team is trying to land its own identity, having shed the moniker of its big-league affiliate and adopted a new mascot and name: the Gwinnett Stripers. “We’re still giving everybody the feel of a baseball game,” says North Johnson, team general manager. “Now we’ve got a new name we can have some fun with.”

The fun will be fish themed, from between-inning Go Fish games with giant playing cards to a menu of fish sticks and sandwiches to the colorful new merchandise sold out of Bobby’s Tackle Shop. It’s all based on the striped bass that are commonly pulled from nearby Lake Lanier. “We needed our own identity,” says Johnson. “We feel like we’ve hit a home run.”

When it came time to name Gwinnett’s newest sports attraction, Atlanta’s Major League Soccer reserve (or minor league) squad, owners chose a simpler route. Atlanta United 2 is Gwinnett’s window into the most popular sport in the world, turning the grass at Coolray Field into a pitch showcase for some of the globe’s best up-and-coming fútbol-ers as they try to break into the big time in front of 10,000 scarf-waving soccer fans. The season runs from March into October.

The action doesn’t slow down for winter. The Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth is always warm, even when ice is on the floor for the Atlanta Gladiators. The best hockey ticket in Georgia, this East Coast Hockey League double-A team prides itself on affordable family entertainment. “Watching hockey is unlike any other sport,” says Scott Henrichsen, team president. “There’s so much back and forth. The puck changes hands very quickly, and there’s a lot more going on.” The extras include events like a teddy bear toss onto the ice and post-game country music concerts. “People come here and have a good time,” says Henrichsen.

Of course, what could be more fun than winning? Title-starved Georgia sports fans need look no further than the Georgia Swarm, the 2017 champions of the National Lacrosse League. Box lacrosse is the faster, indoor version of the sport, played on turf at Infinite Energy Arena. A cross between soccer, hockey, and basketball strategies, the riveting on-field action is only part of the appeal. Families dance to music playing throughout the game, including occasional live performances from bands and even such A-list superstars as 2Chainz and Ludacris. Players are also extremely accessible, talking with fans over the P.A. system during the game and sitting for autograph sessions before and after. “We keep fans engaged,” says Swarm spokesman Alec Schimke. “It’s very important for us to make that personal connection with the fans.”

Atlanta Gladiators

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CLASSIC

Gwinnett County is a haven for exciting minor league sports—but there’s nothing small-time about the Mitsubishi Electric Classic golf tournament. Started as the Greater Gwinnett Championship in 2013, this three-day event in April is now an annual stop on the PGA Tour Champions, featuring some of the greatest golfers to ever pick up a club. Previous winners include Bernhard Langer and Steve Flesch, but the true star is North Georgia’s natural beauty and the lush greenery, towering pines, and rolling fairways of TPC Sugarloaf Country Club, a course designed by World Golf hall of famer Greg Norman.

Georgia Swarm Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Gwinnett Stripers

E Sacred Sanctum

Experience Lilburn’s magnificent BAPS

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

BY KELLY JORDAN

ven when you’re seeking out the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the building’s opulent silhouette still comes as a shock. Regally placed above a reflective pool and perched atop a podium, the mandir (the Hindu word for temple) is the crown jewel of the 29-acre complex, which also features a cafe, family activity center, welcome center, and residence housing for several swamis.

“The mandir itself is a place of individual worship and meditation for Hindus,” says Mitesh Patel, spokesperson for the site. “But it’s also for people wanting to experience peace.” He notes that the word mandir combines the Hindu words man (mind) and dir (spirit).

Built in 2007, the 30,000-square-foot mandir was constructed in just 17 months—thanks in large part to the hundreds (if not thousands) of volunteers who put in 1.3 million hours to help build it.

While there are hundreds of BAPS mandirs across the country,

QUICK TIPS BEFORE YOU GO

➤ The mandir is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. No fee or prior booking is required.

➤ While formal attire isn’t required, make yourself presentable. Shoulders and knees must be covered.

➤ You can take as many pictures as you like outside the mandir, but once inside, turn off your cell phone and put your camera away.

➤ You’ll need to take off your shoes when you enter the mandir (socks are fine). A shoe room on the lower level provides cubbies for footwear.

➤ Stop at the visitor center for the optional audio tour ($5), plus gifts and snacks.

there are only five of this size or caliber in the United States (the other four are located in Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Robbinsville, New Jersey). So, how did a mandir of this magnitude land in Lilburn?

Gwinnett County’s Gem

During the 1980s, Atlanta’s population of Swaminarayan devotees was growing quickly. When it became evident that they needed a place of worship, the group banded together and purchased an old skating rink in Clarkston, Georgia, to repurpose as a mandir. However, as membership continued to grow, it became clear that Atlanta—and the South—needed a traditional mandir. Given the large proportion of followers based in Gwinnett County and the area’s accessibility to major thoroughfares, the Lilburn location just made sense. The construction site was blessed by guru and BAPS

President Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and the project broke ground in September 2005.

This mandir’s design was modeled after another BAPS mandir in Gadhada, India, and was crafted from Turkish limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone—all sourced from their countries of origin and carved in India. While the exterior is certainly awe-inspiring, the real treat awaits within.

How to Experience the Mandir

The complex is open to everyone, regardless of faith. On your first visit, pay the $5 for the audio tour at the welcome center so you can glean a greater understanding of the mandir’s architectural features, the depictions featured in its marble carvings (the mandir boasts 34,000 hand-carved pieces), and the significance of the murtis (or sculptures of sacred deities) housed within. Remember that you’re entering a reverent place: Show respect by turning off your phone and being quiet.

Take a look at the schedule online before you go, and try to plan your visit around the Nilkanth Varni Abhishek Mandapam ritual or arti ceremony. The abhishek ritual involves pouring water over the deities while prayers and mantras are chanted. During the arti ceremony, lighted wicks are waved before the deities, offering love, energy, and blessings as music plays.

After exploring the mandir, stop inside the Shayona Cafe for a tasty and inexpensive Indian lunch. Keep in mind that the menu is vegetarian and that the portion sizes are substantial.

ABOUT BAPS

Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) is a religious and civic organization within the Swaminarayn branch of Hinduism. Worshippers adhere to Hindu beliefs and practices and place a strong emphasis on community service. The organization has more than 100 mandirs in the United States. The majority of those are brick-and-mortar constructions (unlike the traditional, stone-crafted, spired mandir in Lilburn).

The Height of Fun

Enjoy high-flying adventure at Treetop Quest Gwinnett

BY AMY MEADOWS

Treetop Quest Gwinnett takes outdoor adventure to new heights with an experience designed to delight the entire family. Boasting an array of self-guided, elevated obstacle courses for different age groups and skill levels, as well as zip lines and additional features, the facility invites you to swing through the trees and become one with the natural beauty that permeates the county.

Located on the property of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford, Treetop Quest begins with the easy Chick’ Pea course for children ages four to six, which requires adult supervision from the ground. On the course, little ones traverse monkey bridges and swing through Tarzan-style jumps that make them feel like they’re flying—all while safely harnessed with the latest and best equipment available.

From there, the courses rise higher through the canopy of trees and become more difficult as you work your way up through five levels of medium, challenging, and very challenging suspended

EYE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Situated on a stunning 700-acre campus in the heart of the county, the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center provides the perfect setting to learn about science and history. Inside the 66,000square-foot, state-ofthe-art, LEED-certified building is a host of fascinating hands-on science exhibits, information about Gwinnett’s rich environmental heritage and the area’s natural resources, and an array of program ming that will inspire you to be steward of the world around you. Take time to traverse the eight-mile trail system along the Ivy Creek Greenway, which welcomes walkers, runners, and cyclists to enjoy paved, mulched, and slated pathways designed to promote healthy living.

trails. You’ll encounter 10 to 15 elements per level, from hamster wheels to climbing walls to an Amazonian net, and travel down a giant zip line back to the ground.

To keep things interesting, the courses are updated often, so you can always expect the unexpected. For instance, according to Sara Baggett, regional director of operations, a new route with all new zip lines recently was installed for level three course Fly Through the Trees. Additionally, the level five course, also known as Your Place in the Sun, has been completely redesigned to include a series of new features, making it Treetop Quest’s ultimate challenge for brave individuals ages 12 and older.

If you are truly fearless, the new Spider Quest attraction is perfect for you. The first of its kind in the United States, the course is completely harness-free and resides over a giant safety net. For an additional fee, adventurers can spend one hour exploring Spider Quest’s two treetop obstacle courses, fantastic tree houses, and a huge slide that provides an exit.

Treetop Quest serves as not only an excellent day of extreme family fun but also one of the best birthday party venues in Gwinnett County. Besides providing party attendees as young as age four with more than two hours of climbing, swinging, and zipping through treetop obstacle courses, the park features picnic tables (available on a first-come-first-serve basis) and exclusive reserved spaces to enjoy cake and birthday fun. Goody bags are available for purchase as well, allowing everyone to take home a souvenir from what’s sure to be the best birthday party ever.

Treetop Quest opens each spring for the season. When you arrive for your reserved time, you’ll be taught how to operate the safety equipment before being introduced to the courses. And because all of the eco-friendly structures have been constructed to have minimal impact on the natural surroundings, you can feel particularly good about the adventure that lies ahead. So get ready for some high-flying fun in one of Gwinnett’s most unique outdoor entertainment attractions.

Gwinnett 200

7 ways to celebrate Gwinnett’s bicentennial

BY TONY REHAGE N

Gwinnett County turns 200 years old in 2018, and what better way to commemorate the bicentennial—dubbed Gwinnett 200—than getting out and experiencing all the beautiful and historic county has to offer. Here are a lucky seven suggestions on where to start.

1

Breath in the fresh air at all 50 Gwinnett County parks.

From the skate complex and baseball fields of Mountain Park to the wet and wild fun of the Bethesda Park Aquatic Center to the restored 19th-century gristmill at Freeman’s Mill Park, there’s something for everyone at each of these treasured greenspaces.

2 Celebrate at some of the Gwinnett 200 events.

This birthday party is a year-round extravaganza with special presentations of perennial events, such as the Juneteenth Celebration, and the introduction of new celebrations, such as May’s Camp Out, where campers can eat, sleep, and sing around a campfire just as Gwinnett’s first European settlers did.

3

Time travel using Gwinnett200.com’s historic site locator.

Before hitting the road to see the sites, map out your journey using this easy interactive locator tool on the bicentennial website. The application is loaded with descriptions of and directions to the area’s historic churches, cemeteries, and monuments, as well as old stagecoach routes and American Indian trails dotting the county.

4 Pay your respects at Lawrenceville’s Veterans Museum.

One of your first stops should be the Veterans Museum, located on the first floor of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in downtown Lawrenceville. The museum contains artifacts from and stories about the brave men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives in every conflict from the Civil War through Vietnam, Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

5 Complete the Gwinnett Historical Society’s tour of historic homes. There are 17 stops on the Gwinnett Historical Society’s

Veterans Museum

Veterans Museum

self-guided driving tour of historic homes and buildings, starting and ending at the historic courthouse in Lawrenceville. In between, motorists will steer through time, past the 1818 log house of settler John Bowman to a grand 1820s plantation known as the Promised Land. gwinnetths.org

6 Take a selfie at one (or more) of 19 locations on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the places marked by photo-op-ready metal markers that fill in the historical details. From the mysterious Little Mulberry Indian Mounds in the Parks-Strickland Archaeological Complex in Dacula to the Superb, a railroad car once used by President Warren G. Harding that now idles in Duluth, Gwinnett is dotted with significant places.

7 Ready the next generation.

Kids love birthday parties. Go to Gwinnett200.com, print out the Flat Button (a cutout of county namesake Button Gwinnett), color him any way you want, and then take him on your journey. Be sure to tag photos of your kids and Button at all the parks and historic places with the hashtag #Gwinnett200, and follow Button’s adventures on Facebook and Instagram.

Gwinnett Historic Courthouse

Freeman's Mill Park

C Picture Perfect

The film industry puts Gwinnett County in the spotlight

BY AMY MEADOWS

inestage Atlanta, a film studio designed with independent filmmakers in mind, opened its doors in Peachtree Corners in December 2017. The 10,000-square-foot facility boasts a 40-by-40-foot lighting grid, a huge green screen, acoustic sound paneling, and an on-site mill for building sets. It has already been used by such clients as Bed Head Media, 3rd Leg Productions, and Afterlight Pictures, as well as for the IFC Network sitcom

and fan films

And although Cinestage Atlanta maybe be the newest studio on Gwinnett’s block, it’s certainly not the largest. Eagle Rock Studios Atlanta, opened in 2015, holds that title. The studio has locations in Norcross and Stone Mountain; the Norcross site is located in the former Kraft warehouse space, home to Eagle Rock’s beer distribution center. Today, it is the country’s largest production studio under one roof, with 465,000 square feet of space, four 30,000- square-foot stages, production offices, and more.

Just a few blocks away is another massive movie studio campus, OFS. Owned by the Japanese Furukawa Co., the fiber optics company opened its doors to studios in 2012. It boasts two buildings, the largest of which is 280,000 square feet. “We’re an ideal niche for tentpole films,” says Mike Reams, interim studio manager. By that he means big-budget films that use a lot of special effects and bluescreen work and need to build multiple sets under one roof. The studio has been the shooting location for a number of Hollywood blockbusters, including Black Panther, Fast and Furious 7, American Made, and portions of The Hunger Games

Brockmire

Star Trek: First Frontier and Star Wars: Sakoru

Dynasty

GWINNETT ON SCREEN

The impressive list of productions filmed in Gwinnett County continues to grow, so be on the lookout for some of your favorite local spots while watching. Here are a few to get you started.

➤ Black Panther, the smash superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan

➤ Boy Erased, a Joel Edgerton-directed feature film starring Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, and Lucas Hedges

➤ Dynasty, the CW’s reboot of the 1980s primetime soap opera

➤ Good Girls, an NBC comedy featuring Mae Whitman, Christina Hendricks, and Retta

➤ Kevin (Probably)

Saves the World, an ABC comedy with Jason Ritter and JoAnna Garcia Swisher

➤ MacGyver, an CBS reboot of the actionadventure series starring Lucas Till

➤ Ozark, a Netflix drama starring Jason Bateman as a financial advisor who relocates his family to the Missouri Ozarks when his dealings with a drug cartel go awry

➤ Sleepy Hollow, FOX’s hit drama featuring Tom Mison and Lyndie Greenwood

➤ Star, a FOX drama starring Queen Latifah, Jude Demorest, and Brittany O’Grady

➤ Venom, the highly anticipated superhero film featuring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, and Riz Ahmed

➤ Marvel Avengers, the smash movie with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johannson

Extra, Extra!

Abby Wilkerson, public information officer for the City of Suwanee, saw an opportunity and knew she had to take it. Film crews had arrived in town to begin filming the reboot of CBS’s 1980s television phenomenon Dynasty, and Wilkerson was tasked with coordinating their work in city parks and buildings. When the crews landed at City Hall to shoot scenes, she took action.

“My interactions with scouts, directors, and managers emboldened me to ask if I could be a background extra,” Wilkerson says. She soon found herself on set, performing a brief scene with a main character in which she nods and “looks very concerned about budget issues.” While she shot the scene 250 times over four hours, the actual on-air time was less than a minute. But she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “Everyone has one very specific job to do, and they are absolutely amazing at that one very specific thing,” she says.

While she doesn’t have plans to pursue a career as an extra, one thing might change her mind. “The television pilot for The Passage, one of my all-time favorite trilogies, is filming in Atlanta and starring Mark-Paul Gosselar, so I would certainly come out of retirement for an opportunity with them,” she says. In the meantime, she’s happy to send screen shots of her Dynasty scene to family and friends and offer advice to those wanting to get their own shot at screen time.

It’s really no surprise that these studios have found a home in Gwinnett. For the last several years, the county’s reputation as a go-to locale for filming has been on the rise, with major movie and television productions pumping millions of dollars into the economy (Atlanta, Ozark, The Originals, Baby Driver, and I, Tonya, just to name a few). The Gwinnett Camera Ready Film Office has expedited the process of filming within the county, facilitating permits, providing assistance to location managers, and offering assistance with resources, public safety, and accommodations, among other services. Making Gwinnett even more inviting is the fact that the area is replete with incredible settings for film backdrops, such as Stone Mountain, the Gwinnett County Detention Center, and Vines Botanical Gardens, among others. And because the costs associated with filming are less than even nearby Atlanta—which also has exploded thanks to Georgia’s Film, Television, and Digital Entertainment tax credit—working in Gwinnett is simply more economical. Add that to an experienced workforce and programs like the Georgia Film Academy, and Gwinnett County has transformed itself into a major player, bringing Hollywood right into the neighborhood.

Sleepy Hollow

Filming in Gwinnett

Take a Bow

A look behind the curtain at Lawrenceville’s award-winning Aurora Theatre

BY CANDICE DYER

It’s a few hours before showtime for the preview of Mamma Mia! at the Aurora Theatre, and the lead actress is understandably nervous.

“I know I have to be at the top of my game just to keep up with everyone else,” says Kristin Markiton, who plays the matriarch at the center of the ABBA-driven blockbuster. “It’s truly a team effort at the Aurora, with everyone committed to bringing a beautiful vision to life.”

Indeed, lengthy standing ovations are the norm at the Aurora, a Lawrenceville mainstay that functions as much more than just a regional theater. The venue, housed in a historic church, boasts two performance spaces and 4,600 season ticket holders, produces more than 800 events annually, and entertains 70,000 visitors a year, including 15,000 schoolchildren. You can catch an award-

winning play or a standup comedy act on almost any given night, and, like a benevolent diva, the Aurora has also outpaced older theaters in racking up a mantel full of Suzi Bass awards, the Atlanta equivalent of the Tony.

“We offer programming for every age group and every walk of life,” says Anthony Rodriguez, one of the organization’s cofounders. “We are an integral part of our community, but we are also a nationally recognized, world-class destination for the arts.”

Now in its 20th season, the Aurora has become the largest arts organization in Gwinnett County and the fastest-growing professional theater in Georgia, with even bigger plans on the horizon. The organization aims to break ground this year on an expansion that will add an additional 500-seat theater and a 150-seat cabaret space.

LET GWINNETT ENTERTAIN YOU

➤ The 250-seat Atlanta Comedy Theater in Norcross is a step above typical comedy clubs. Here, patrons dress to impress and sample fare from a chef-driven menu.

➤ See your favorite rock and country headliners at the Atlanta Coliseum in Duluth. The lighting, sound engineering, and production value are high tech, but the tickets are affordably priced.

➤ Looking for a special spring break? Get an all-day pass to play laser tag, climb rocks, swing from gravity ropes, and shoot billiards, all at the Main Event in Suwanee.

➤ Are you booking a team-building corporate event? Or maybe you’d like to join a bowling league? Stars and Strikes, with multiple Gwinnett locations, offers lanes of fun and an extensive arcade for the entire family.

All of this growth—and all of this big-picture ambition—has paid off in far-reaching Broadway connections, including permission to produce Mamma Mia! “I realized we had really turned the tide when we were the only theater in Georgia to acquire the rights to Les Miserables, not once, but twice,” Rodriguez says.

He notes that Gwinnett is the most diverse county in Georgia— and one of the most diverse in the Southeast. The theater has embraced multiculturalism with Teatro Aurora, which offers programming in Spanish with English supertitles. “You can see flamenco dancing, eat Latin American food, hear poetry recited in Spanish—we reach out to all of our neighbors with consistently first-class experiences,” he says.

The only hassle at the Aurora? Making your reservations early enough to get a seat.

EAT LIKE A LOCAL

Four notable Gwinnetians share their favorite restaurants.

BY JENNIFER SENATOR

RACHEL PILLOW

MANAGING EDITOR, SUWANEE MAGAZINE

A Gwinnett resident for seven years, Rachel Pillow says the county has really grown in that time. “I have seen a lot of positive change,” she says. Pillow says one of the best parts of her job is trying Gwinnett’s many restaurants. She enjoys discovering new spots and has more than a few favorites that keep her coming back as a regular.

Best tacos: I used to live in San Diego, and when I moved here, I missed being able to find authentic street tacos. Thanks to El Taco Jalisco, my dreams

of soft corn tortillas, tender meat, onions, cilantro, salsa, and limes have come true. I recommend the carnitas, carne asada, and al pastor tacos.

LENDL TRIEU LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT/ LAND PLANNER, REECE, HOOPES, & FINCHER INC.; OWNER, FORTH OUTFITTERS

Lendl Trieu, who lived in Lilburn for six years, says he most enjoys Gwinnett’s many ethnic restaurants, and the fact that many of them are so convenient. One of his favorite pastimes is restaurant hopping with family and friends.

Favorite restaurant: It’s always crowded and has limited seating, but the food at 678 Korean BBQ is awesome. I order beef tartare and seasoned short ribs, and I love the cooked eggs.

Favorite ethnic restaurant: I enjoy going to Las Costas Nayaritas for delicious Spanish seafood and large drinks. The place is always blasting with music by a mariachi band, and the entrees are large and come with the best rice.

Best cocktail: The Kicking Mango Mule at Pappadeaux is delicious.

Best-kept secret: Tanner’s is not known for its ambience. But if you are looking for an amazing burger, do yourself a favor and stop by for their pimento cheeseburger with Cajun bacon and candied jalapeños.

Best breakfast: Hands down, Maple Street Biscuit Company in downtown Duluth has the best breakfast. Their Maple Tap coffee is infused with maple syrup during the roasting process, adding just a touch of sweetness. Coffee is serve-yourself with unlimited

refills. My go-to dish is the Squawking Goat: a flaky biscuit topped with fried chicken, a fried goat cheese medallion, and housemade pepper jelly.

Best margarita: Pure Taqueria does not disappoint. I love the Texas Margarita, on the rocks with salt, of course. But beware: It is strong!

Best place to take out-oftown guests: I like Local Republic because it has a great atmosphere and a solid, rotating selection of Georgia beers—and it works with local

Kremo's

Best date spot: I like to take my fiancee to eat sushi at Sushi Niko Niko across from Mall of Georgia. The sushi there is amazing. Favorite lunch spot: My friends and I usually go to our favorite ramen spot, Roku, on weekends for calamari, potstickers, and tonkotsu ramen.

Best brewpub: Good Word Brewing & Public House has a fun vibe, awesome burgers, and attentive staff. It’s a gem.

Best dessert: There’s something about Kremo’s ice cream rolls and how they melt

in your mouth that is so addicting. Best on a budget: Choo Choo Express is my go-to spot when I’m craving Asian food on a budget. The portions are very generous, and I usually come out with leftovers for the next day. I like the L.A. Ribs entree with fried rice.

Best patio: Pure Taqueria has a great open patio and an amazingly sneaky margarita pitcher.

Best place to take out-of-town guests: I take them to eat Korean barbecue. 678

farmers and producers to create the Southern-inspired menu. I recommend the shrimp and grits with a beer flight.

Best Korean: If you want an authentic experience, stop by Jang Su Jang in Duluth. I love the soondubu (tofu soup), the

Korean Barbecue, 9292 Korean BBQ, Breakers Korean BBQ, and Iron Age Korean Steak House are my top picks. Best-kept secret: Thank U Chicken has awesome chicken and waffles as well as tasty rice balls.

Best family spot: Nam Phuong is an amazing place to eat a family-style Vietnamese meal. I love their spring rolls, papaya salad, clay pot catfish, shaking beef, and Vietnamese pineapple soup with a bowl of steamed rice.

galbijjim (Korean braised beef short ribs), and bibimpap (a traditional meal of rice, veggies, meat, sesame sauce, and an egg).

Best family spot: Tannery Row Ale House in Buford is super accommodating, has a good kids menu, a great drink selection, arcade-style games, and a huge TV screen where they show family-friendly movies every Monday night.

Best casual date night: I have to give Parma Tavern in Buford a shout-out because it’s where my husband and I met over six years ago, during $1 beer night. The food is great for lunch or dinner, and I like the wood-fired pizza.

Good Word Brewing & Public House Breakers Korean BBQ

Local Republic

Jang Su Jang

Nam Phuong

Spectacular VenueS, unforgettable MeMorieS

Come experience the Buford Community Center, Town Park & Theatre where the arts abound, wedding dreams come true, history is showcased, and entertainment is endless.

Spanning across four distinct venues, this beautiful facility can accommodate large banquets, elegant weddings, corporate meetings and seminars, as well as live arts performances and large-scale concerts. Exquisite planning and guest services make every event an experience to remember.

Seating up to 274 patrons, the stunning Sylvia Beard Theatre hosts a wide array of performances and shows throughout the year. From Tony Award winners to Grammy Award winners, the Sylvia Beard Theatre has presented numerous world renowned entertainers and performers. The entertainment options are endless at the Buford Community Center’s Sylvia Beard Theatre.

With lawn seating up to 1,800, the Town Park Amphitheater provides a beautiful setting for small concerts and outdoor movies while our larger, Town Park Lawn, seats up to 10,000 for our annual concert series.

The grandeur of our facility, comprehensive guidance of our staff and partners, and our world-class performances make the Buford Community Center the ultimate destination for any and every event.

ANITA SHEGOG

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Suwanee resident Anita Shegog says she enjoys living in Gwinnett because of the county’s greenspaces and diversity. She also appreciates the diversity of Gwinnett’s restaurant scene. “Because we have such a diverse population, we also have great diversity in restaurants. Within a few miles you can have Indian, Korean, Mexican, Thai, Greek, or Italian. We are very lucky to have so many choices.”

Favorite restaurant: MJ’s Korean Tacos and Wings is where I tell everyone to go. The tacos are great, but the best are the nachos. They’re piled high with sweet chicken, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. And you have to get their cheesy garlicParmesan fries, which are crispy and doused with a generous amount of tangy Parmesan cheese. They also have wonderful Parmesanranch wings.

Favorite comfort food: When I first moved to Georgia from Oklahoma, I thought there would be a country restaurant on every corner, but good ones are actually hard to find. The Green Tomato Buffet offers all of my favorite comfort foods, such as fried green tomatoes,

meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and the Southern vegetable of choice—mac and cheese— at reasonable prices.

Favorite ethnic restaurant: The Curry Pot has all my Indian favorites every day at lunch. I especially love the pakoras, or crispy chickpeabattered vegetable fritters. Favorite snacks: I like Antoinette’s Cafe in Buford. Be sure to get a hot chai latte and a scone. And their peanut-butter smoothie is really satisfying. It’s in a strip mall but the interior is very farmhouse chic and the drinks are served in sweet Mason jars.

Favorite Thai: Green Basil has the biggest spring rolls I have ever seen. Sometimes I’ll just pop in there for a Thai tea to

go—they have the best I’ve tried. Best tacos: Strange Taco Bar has some tasty combinations. My favorites are the steak and cheese with caramelized onions and the buffalo chicken, fried crispy with loads of blue cheese crumbles and spicy wing sauce.

Favorite lunch spots: Bleu House in Old Norcross is in a sweet, old house that is brightly painted inside. It has great sandwiches; my favorite is the

spinach sun-dried tomato quiche and chocolate raspberry bar for dessert. I also love Rico’s World Kitchen, located in a cool, old gas station. Owner Rico Cunnington has wonderful, fresh, daily specials. My favorites are his fried green tomatoes with a creole remoulade and the apricot, ham, and Brie sandwich. His mother makes yummy, unusual desserts, like watermelon cake.

Rico's World Kitchen

Antoinette's Cafe

Strange Taco Bar

ATLANTA PEACHTREE CORNERS

DISCOVER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, IN BEAUTIFUL TECHNOLOGY PARK

The Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners hotel is just a short drive away from Atlanta attractions and a variety of activities that you’ll surely enjoy on your next family getaway. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, or planning a meeting or event the Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners is suited to meet your every need.

• Restaurant 475 and Bar – American cuisine with a distinctly Southern flair

• 5,000 square feet of event space, 3,000 square foot ballroom

• Starbucks Café

475 Technology Parkway

Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

T: 770.263.8558 | F: 770.263.8145

Toll-free: 1.800.228.9290 Marriott.com/ATLCP

• Courtyard event space with fire pit

• Garden trellis for wedding ceremonies

• Close proximity to historic downtown Norcross and many shopping and dining options at The Forum on Peachtree Parkway

• Complimentary parking

• Complimentary shuttle within a 5 mile radius including the MARTA station (with easy access to downtown Atlanta and the airport) facebook.com/ATLCP

BRUCE JOHNSON

GENERAL MANAGER, HILTON ATLANTA NORTHEAST

A Gwinnett resident for more than 27 years, Bruce Johnson sees a renaissance happening in Gwinnett. He and his wife, Lisa, recently moved into a townhome in downtown Lawrenceville; they love the area’s excellent restaurants and its walkability.

“We go out all the time,” Johnson says.

Best breakfast: Peachtree Cafe has phenomenal waffles; I like the strawberry or mixed fruit. The restaurant has such a welcoming vibe—you can’t help but be in a good mood when you’re there.

Best patio: The rooftop patio at McCray’s Tavern, overlooking Lawrenceville Square, is a great place to get a drink or have a meal. It’s just so high up—the view is amazing. Best place to take out-oftown guests: Local Republic has such great local flavor. The food is amazing, and it’s an excellent place to have a meal or sit at one of the bars and have a

drink. I like the small outdoor balcony on the second floor, where you can enjoy a cocktail overlooking Lawrenceville Square.

Best date spot: Epicurean Cafe, on Duluth Town Green, has a romantic atmosphere, along with high-quality food. The historic feel of the house and the small rooms give a sense of intimacy and charm.

Best-kept secret: Owned and operated by a local couple, Graft, in Grayson, is a one-of-a-kind dining experience. It’s a small, farm-to-table restaurant housed in a renovated, early 1900s home.

Best family spot: The food at Frida’s Mexican Restaurant is consistently good and reasonably priced. Service is friendly and fast, and they do a good job of accommodating large parties.

Best on a budget: Don’t let the affordable prices fool you—the tacos at Strange Taco Bar are very high quality. My favorite tacos are the jerk fried chicken and steak and cheese. Best indulgence: Go for the poached lobster tail appetizer followed by a bone-in fillet at Frankie’s the Steakhouse, which has a classic, upscale

steakhouse atmosphere. Favorite coffee shop: Boulder Creek Coffee, which recently moved from Buford to an early-1900s house next to the Aurora Theatre. The house provides a cozy atmosphere, while the knowledgeable staff is happy to give you an education on coffee done right.

Favorite dish: The surf and turf for two at Local Republic is typically offered as a special. It’s served on a large wooden cutting board, and the entire meal is chef’s choice (as far as the sides and some of the seafood). The meal never disappoints.

Peachtree Cafe

Strange Taco Bar

Graft

McCray's Tavern

GLOBAL GWINNETT

The county has an astonishing variety of international restaurants. Here’s a brief look at some of the best.

BY WENDELL BROCK

CHINESE

➤ Masterpiece

Chef Rui Liu’s fiery Sichuan cooking has drawn national acclaim to his Buford Highway restaurant, a James Beard Award semifinalist for two years running.

➤ J’s Mini Hot Pot

Duluth’s fun, modern take on a Chinese hot-pot restaurant lets you pick and choose from a vast

variety of broths, proteins, veggies, and condiments.

➤ Pleasant BBQ Garden

This tiny Pleasant Hill Road spot is a reliable, reasonably priced choice for Hong Kong– and Cantonese-style barbecue, congee, roast duck, and other regional dishes.

➤ Ming’s BBQ

Authentic Cantonese barbecue is the star of this Duluth destination. Roast duck, crispy pork, soy chicken, and ribs may be enjoyed as rice plates, noodle soups, and stir-fries.

CUBAN

➤ D’Cuban Cafe

This homey Norcross establishment offers Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, croquetas, ropa vieja, lechon asado, and numerous other Caribbean island specialties.

➤ Havana South Cuban Restaurant & Bar

While Cuban standards are the heart and soul of owner Carmen Molina’s Buford restaurant, you will also find fare from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Molina’s native Dominican Republic.

➤ Mojito’s Cuban American Bistro

This gem in historic Norcross delivers Cuban food with style and panache. Sip rum cocktails, enjoy paella for two, and end the night with flan.

EUROPEAN/ GERMAN

➤ Adriatic Grill

The owners of this six-year-old restaurant in downtown Lawrenceville describe their food as whimsical Mediterranean. In addition to offering Eastern European sausage, stuffed phyllo pastries, and gyro sandwiches on Serbian

Masterpiece

flatbread, the menu features salads, coffee, and sweets.

➤ Euro Gourmet Grill and Cafe

Where else can you discover cevapcici (grilled sausage on pita), pljeskavica (hamburger on pita), or sudzukice (spicy beef sausage)? This restaurant brings the best of Bosnian food to Lawrenceville.

➤ Kurt’s Euro Bistro

This Duluth icon is the place for old-school German fare (spaetzle, schnitzel, potato pancakes), plus serious steaks, chops, and sausage.

INDIAN

➤ Ashiana

Northern Indian cuisine is showcased at this elaborate Norcross banquet hall, where you may choose kormas and curries from the daily buffet or order off the menu.

JAPANESE

➤ Umaido

This Japanese noodle shop in Suwanee is known for its flavorful ramen, 10 different kinds in all.

MEXICAN

➤ Pure Taqueria

At the Duluth outpost of this Atlanta chain, you can build a meal around tacos, burritos, and margaritas or dine on fancier fare, such as fajitas, pescado Veracruz, or braised lamb shanks with chipotle mashed potatoes.

MIDDLE EASTERN

➤ Al Madina

Inside this Halal meat market in Norcross is a restaurant that serves kebabs, shawarma, hummus, falafel, and many other Middle Eastern classics.

A bakery sells baklava, pita, and flatbread.

➤ Café Raik

Chef Faiq Usman cooked for years in Israel before bringing his exquisite tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, hummus, and other healthy Middle Eastern fare to Duluth.

➤ Turkish Kitchen

At this Buford restaurant, you can start with hot and cold meze and move on to kebabs, lamb chops, and moussaka. There’s also a full bar and hookah lounge.

PERUVIAN

➤ Costa Verde

For nearly 20 years, this Norcross dining room has been a mainstay of South American cuisine classics with cool ceviches, heady soups, mixed seafood, and an abundance of corn and potatoes.

THAI

➤ SriThai

With locations in Duluth and Snellville, SriThai offers an appealing lineup of Thai curry,

noodle, and rice dishes. There’s also a sushi bar.

➤ Thai Star

This family-owned Norcross restaurant is known for the level of authenticity it brings to Thai classics.

VIETNAMESE

➤ Nam Phuong

This expansive Norcross dining room shows considerable more breadth than your typical Vietnamese pho parlor with shaking beef, egg crepes, and beef rolled in la lot leaves.

Mojito’s Cuban American Bistro

Nam Phuong

Kurt’s Euro Bistro

LET’S BRUNCH

Gwinnett’s best spots to find mouthwatering mid-morning meals

BY AMY MEADOWS

There’s nothing like enjoying a relaxing, slow-paced, extended brunch with family and friends. The food, drinks, and atmosphere can both feed and soothe the soul. Fortunately, Gwinnett County is replete with wonderful establishments that provide the perfect meal in the perfect environment, taking your brunch experience to an entirely new level. Be sure to check out these local treasures for a truly mouthwatering mid-morning meal.

Fresh ingredients take center stage at an array of local restaurants, including the casual and comfortable Parkside District in Lawrenceville. The restaurant features a farm-to-table brunch menu with delectable upscale American dishes, such as crab cake Benedict, shrimp and grits, smothered chicken biscuits, and bananas Foster French toast.

Three Blind Mice, located in Lilburn, also showcases a seasonal menu that changes based on the availability of ingredients. The relaxed neighborhood eatery offers a Sunday brunch menu featuring everything from a sunrise scramble and pancakes to huevos rancheros and French toast, as well as $12 bottomless mimosas and $7 bellinis.

More classic American brunch fare can be found at Marlow’s Tavern, which has locations in Duluth and at Mall of Georgia.

The a la carte Sunday brunch menu, available until 3 p.m., features such favorites as chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, crab cake Benedict, and lemon ricotta pancakes. Plus, everything is served in a modern atmosphere that undoubtedly will help you cap off a great weekend.

Be sure not to miss a trip to Graft in Grayson, where brunch is enjoyed in a rustic European-style space whose goal is to inspire community togetherness. Here, fresh, seasonal ingredients are used to create such impeccable dishes as fish and grits, gravy biscuit sandwiches, oatmeal pancakes, kale Benedict, and a breakfast burger that is served on a buttermilk biscuit and topped with a fried farm egg.

Casual comfort is at the heart of Black Walnut Cafe in Peachtree Corners, where breakfast is served seven days a week. There’s something for everyone—from kolaches (warm, delicious, slightly sweet fresh-baked pastries traditionally filled with

The Brunch Apothecary

sausage, cheese, or fruit) to seven different kinds of eggs Benedict to a griddle that yields such delights as Texas-cut challah French toast. Even those following a gluten-free diet can enjoy an array of options, including pancakes and omelets.

Equally charming is The Brunch Apothecary, which is located in a cozy home across the street from Dacula Elementary in Dacula. The restaurant is known for its Southern comfort food, including chicken and churro waffles, pork belly Benedict, and a biscuit topped with lightly fried chicken tenderloin tossed in a signature habanero sauce with white cheddar cheese. Diners can also opt to build their own biscuits, choosing from a list of options such as jelly, sausage gravy, bacon, and pork tenderloin.

Comfort food and coffee come together at 45 South Cafe & Coffeehouse in historic downtown Norcross. In addition to its outstanding coffee brewed from locally roasted coffee beans, the cafe serves a delicious brunch on Saturday and Sunday, including such classics as a three-egg omelet with up to four ingredients, a breakfast burrito, granola, challah French toast, and eggs your way, among others.

The items available on the all-day brunch menu at Sugar Hill Bakery & Cafe are crowd pleasers as well, with diners clamoring for their French brioche bread with Greek yogurt, strawberry puree, and whipped topping; crème brûlée French toast, Western omelets, and a host of delicious sandwiches. Making the experience even more special are the scrapbook menus themselves, which are designed and decorated by employees.

No matter which restaurant you choose, your brunch experience will be one to remember. So kick back and get ready to savor the flavor of Saturdays and Sundays (and weekdays, too) in Gwinnett County. Happy brunching!

Sugar Hill Bakery & Cafe

Marlow’s Tavern

Parkside District

GWINNETT GROWN

These one-of-a-kind businesses capture the spirit of hometown enterprise

BY LISA MOWRY

VSOP OLIVE OIL & VINEGAR TAPROOM

This tasting room in historic Norcross offers customers a chance to spice up their cuisine with specialty oils and vinegars found from all over the world. Quite a few flavors perk up your taste buds, be it the chipotle extra virgin olive oil or cinnamon-pear dark balsamic vinegar. Customers can sample potential favorites on the spot and pick up handy gifts, such as gourmet sea salt, sampler kits, pour spouts, and tasty tapenade.

CRAVE PIE

Owner Briana Carson, an artisan pie baker, feels that a fresh-baked pie is a small, affordable indulgence everyone

can enjoy, so she offers up versions both savory and sweet. Popular choices include peanut-butter fudge, chicken pot pie, and seasonal favorites, such as sweet potato and pumpkin. She chose downtown Duluth as her location, saying, “I wanted to capture the nostalgic, Americana vibe that pie evokes, so I felt it was important to be located on Main Street in a town center instead of a generic strip mall.” Check out her Bake-It-Your-Own class to take home your own creation.

THE CHOCOLATERIE

“We have crystal chandeliers and may look fancy, but we’re as downhome family-friendly as it gets,” says The Chocolaterie owner Elizabeth Ashworth, who sells chocolates at all price points and loves to help customers pick out a special treat. Homemade truffles, candy by the pound, and gourmet ice cream satisfy every kind of sweet tooth, and the setting on Duluth’s Main Street just adds to the charm.

Social media aficionados can stop in to get a selfie in front of the colorful mural.

PHOENIX ROASTERS

This online coffee company is all about great-tasting java, but its mission goes beyond that: Phoenix Roasters seeks out fair-trade coffee growers around the world and empowers them to give back to their local communities. Based in Duluth, Phoenix Roasters sells everything from tumblers to coffee toffee and a variety of ground or whole-bean coffees that represent a number of countries and include decaf and espresso.

THE OIL BAR

Treat yourself to some fabulous skin care products, candles, essential oils, and diffusers at The Oil Bar. This specialty store in Sugarloaf Mills has a wide variety of soaps, lotions, and men’s products, some of which you can customize with your own fragrance. If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry: Recommended blends such as lavender and sweet orange or peppermint-grapefruit help you get started.

APPLE OF MY EYE

Homegrown food is always the best option, so we’re proud of White Street Orchard, a volunteer-run park in Suwanee where delicious fruit is grown on trees for everyone to see. It’s the Southeast’s first public orchard, and a place where families can learn about the growing process (and play in the pavilion). The orchard is part of Harvest Farm, Georgia’s largest organic garden with 76 beds full of vegetables, many of which are donated to local food banks.

Crave Pie

VSOP Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom

The Chocolaterie

RETAIL DETAILS

Shopping and eating local is a pleasure at these quaint city spots

BY JENNIFER BRADLEY FRANKLIN

Gwinnett County is packed with interesting cities, each with its own unique character, independently owned retailers, and walkable streets. Discover your favorite—and give your bank account a little workout while you’re at it.

BUFORD

This historic downtown near Lake Lanier has become a destination for artists and artisans to showcase their wares.

DON’T MISS: Created in the historic Allen Theater building, West Main Trade features 25

curated booths selling everything from artwork to antiques. An on-site espresso bar will recharge your batteries.

FAVORITE FIND: Find fashionforward women’s clothing at Marisa Jill’s Boutique, which offers complimentary style

consultations to help you find the best pieces for your style, shape, and budget. Venture upstairs to the $10 Fashion Attic where nothing costs more than a 10-spot.

REFUEL AT: Family-owned Aqua Terra Bistro, a Buford

Anna Balkan

favorite since it opened nearly 20 years ago, offers creative, high-end fare in a comfortable, rustic atmosphere.

DULUTH

While greater Duluth has enjoyed tremendous growth, the charming downtown retains its small-town feel.

DON’T MISS: Anyone can take advantage of shopping at Peace Love & Decorating thanks to its robust e-commerce presence, but those who wish to shop for luxe furniture, art, home decor, and stylish gifts in person can visit their brick-and-mortar showroom downtown.

FAVORITE FIND: Pick up a treasure at Uni’k Hand Creations, which specializes in limited-run beaded bracelets for men and women.

REFUEL AT: If you shop up an appetite, Noona Steakhouse & Oyster Bar serves hearty steaks cooked over an expansive wood-burning hearth.

LAWRENCEVILLE

Downtown is a revitalized hub with antique shops and

stylish boutiques.

DON’T MISS: Go beyond shopping and actually create pieces for your home at AR Workshop studio. Here, you’ll get hands-on instruction to craft bespoke art, wood plank signs, serving trays, and more.

Nearby NV Bath Body Bar sells bath and body indulgences for your home spa, including local soaps and gift baskets.

FAVORITE FIND: Cotton Lace Market aims to be a one-stop shop for everything from women’s clothing to rustic refinished furniture and locally made jewelry.

REFUEL AT: The refuel directive is especially appropriate for Universal Joint, the service station–turned-pub serving up custom burgers and brews from an ever-changing draft beer selection.

NORCROSS

This delightful downtown was the first city in Gwinnett to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

DON’T MISS: Farmhouse 17 is a feast for the senses, offering a

combination of retail gift boutique and wine bar. Wander over to neighboring Anna Balkan’s gallery to discover elegant gemstone jewelry.

FAVORITE FIND: For a unique treat from across the pond, visit Taste of Britain, where the British owner stocks gourmet items, gifts, serving pieces, and more from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

REFUEL AT: Paizanos offers handcrafted New York–style pizza and classic Italian entrees. There are even gluten-free selections.

PEACHTREE CORNERS

Gwinnett’s newest city is packed full of shopping opportunities to give your pocketbook a workout.

DON’T MISS: Family-owned pet boutique Pooch N’ Paws carries a robust selection of apparel, dog and cat food, bath accessories, toys, and much more. Celebrating a four-legged best friend’s birthday? Order a human-grade, pet-safe cake or cookie from the on-site bakery.

FAVORITE FIND: Score locally

made gifts, jewelry, and home decor items at Crafted Westside, a long-term pop-up shop located at the Forum at Peachtree Parkway.

REFUEL AT: Black Walnut Cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, with fresh dishes that range from healthy to decadent.

SUWANEE

This north Gwinnett city has a vibrant mix of old and new.

DON’T MISS: Find up-to-theminute women’s fashion at affordable prices at Dress Up Here you’ll find clothing, jewelry, shoes, and handbags in a friendly environment.

FAVORITE FIND: Find national brands like Pandora, Lilly Pulitzer, and Brighton at Parsons Gifts & Cards. While there, check out the selection of Georgia-themed graphic tees.

REFUEL AT: Recharge with a meal—and a margarita!—at Cinco Mexican Cantina, where the made-from-scratch tacos, salsa, and guacamole will give you a second wind to continue your shopping.

AR Workshop

Noona Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

IN STYLE WITH LAUREN LEFEVRE

The popular blogger and stylist shares her favorite Gwinnett shops

BY JENNIFER BRADLEY FRANKLIN

With nearly 100,000 Instagram followers, Lauren Lefevre has cultivated a loyal following that spans the country. “My styling business, Edit by Lauren, was born out of the desire to help everyday men and women mix and match what they already owned,” the petite blonde says of the brand she launched 11 years ago. “Then the Edit by Lauren blog was created as an extension. I like to mix high and low, old and new.”

Here, the 10-year Gwinnett resident, who says she and her husband love Suwanee’s small-town feel as a backdrop to raise their seven-year-old twins, Jack and Lily, takes us shopping for women’s style, clothes for the kiddos, and fashionable home decor.

Fab'rik

Personify Shop

Lauren Lefevre

WOMEN’S FINDS

➤ “Personify in Duluth is my new favorite,” Lefevre says. “It’s my go-to place to find a unique blouse or sundress that you won’t see on anybody else. It’s very boho-chic. Plus, the service is amazing. You can always walk away with a really nice wrapped gift. The store stocks a variety of merchandise, including paper goods, accessories, children’s clothes, home decor, women’s clothing, and more. It’s worth the drive, even if you’re not in the area.”

➤ “Fab’rik has been just a staple for me over the years, and I was excited when they opened in Suwanee,” Lefevre says. “It’s a great place to get affordable yet trendy pieces, whether you need something for a night out or an everyday T-shirt. It’s fun to be able to pick up a great, new piece for under $50. I also love their accessories.”

➤ Lefevre is thrilled that Bella Bags, an Atlanta-based company, has opened a location in the Forum in Peachtree Corners [there also is a store at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta]. The popular store sells certified, previously owned, luxury handbags from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and other top-tier designers. “They have such a good reputation,” she says. “It’s a great way to score legitimate designer pieces at a more affordable price.”

PINT-SIZED STYLE

➤ “I love Once Again Kids, a consignment store in Suwanee. They’re known for getting a lot of gently used items from Matilda Jane, Crew Cuts, Polo, Lilly Pulitzer, and other high-end lines,” says the

mother of twins, who has to buy two of pretty much everything. “When my kids were smaller and went through sizes so quickly, it was great to get barely worn, quality name brand items for a fraction of the cost.”

➤ “Bella Blue is right by my house in Suwanee,” says Lefevre, ever a connoisseur of adorable children’s clothes. “They stock brand names like Livie & Luca and Deux par Deux, and they even have story and snack time.”

FASHION-FORWARD HOME DECOR

➤ The stylist has fond memories of shopping at Outrageous Interiors with her mother. Now that she’s in the middle of remodeling her home, it’s one of her favorite haunts. “You can get everything from quality furniture to lighting. They offer design help as well,” she says of the Suwanee location. “You can always find fun, new seasonal accessories.”

➤ “West Main Trade is decor and furniture consignment with booths located in historic Buford. For those who like the variety of booth shopping, it has cute antiques as well,” says the blogger, who recently did a several room overhaul here, which she chronicled for the Home Depot website. Here you’ll find a large variety of gifts, home accents, furniture, collectibles, and personalized gifts. Bonus: There’s an on-site gourmet coffee shop, so you can sip and shop.

For more style tips from Lefevre, follow along at editbylauren.com.

CELEBRITY SHOPKEEP NENE LEAKES’ SWAGG BOUTIQUE

Real Housewives of Atlanta’s most colorful—and quotable—TV star, NeNe Leakes can now add boutique owner to her resume. She’s the driving force behind Swagg Boutique, opened in 2017 at the Shoppes on Sugarloaf development in Duluth. The woman who once dubbed herself a “glam-mother” (sounds much more fabulous than “grandmother,” wouldn’t you agree?) stocks posh clothing, handbags, denim, jewelry, and shoes worthy of an appearance on the reality franchise. Women of all sizes will find something to suit, since the shop offers everything from single digit sizes to plus-sized garments. swaggboutique.com

West Main Trade

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

Forget the chain gang and shop local. Here, some of Gwinnett’s favorite indie spots.

BY CANDICE DYER

Personify Shop

THREE FOR ONE

Why run all over town when you can do all your shopping at The Shops of Antique Traditions in downtown Norcross? The space actually houses three shops under one roof, including Antique Traditions (the original store, which opened in 1997), Detail Boutique, and rem-i-nisce. Here you’ll find a combination of hand-picked antiques, furnishings, home decor, and gifts, including linens, china, artwork, books, and jewelry.

COMIC RELIEF

Tap into your inner superhero at Galactic Quest, the ultimate destination for comic book enthusiasts and card game collectors. The store offers games and tournaments and even hosts the popular Free Comic Book Day, when fans come in costume. Galactic Quest’s two locations in Buford and Lawrenceville have recently expanded to keep up with demand. Staffers offer guidance to newbies, while longtime collectors can leaf through plenty of Silver Age volumes.

DESIGNING WOMEN

A mother-daughter team with impeccable taste curates the wide variety of items at

Personify Shop, where the focus is on handmade, artistdriven pieces, from clothing to pottery. An apothecary section also carries specialty soap and fragrant emollients. The offbeat store opened last year and has become a destination for shoppers with a discerning eye. The owners draw inspiration from what is trending on Pinterest and Instagram, and also scour buying shows for up-to-the-minute fashion.

PUT A RECORD ON

The vibe is laid-back, exploratory, and cheerfully hoarder-ish at Depot Records, which has one

of the area’s largest selections of vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, eight-tracks, reel-to-reels, VHS tapes, DVDs, laser discs, and music memorabilia. Shoppers often observe that they find obscure albums they did not even know they wanted, and at bargain-basement prices. Don’t be overwhelmed by the sheer volume—the staff knows the inventory and can guide you to your soundtrack.

DOGGIE HEAVEN

Pooch N Paws Pet Boutique in Suwanee offers everything you need to pamper your pet, from glitzy, gem-studded collars and harnesses to spa products and holistic, nutritious food. Grooming services include basic brush, deluxe groom, nail polish, and a spritz of fresh cologne. An on-call trainer is available for gentle obedience lessons. Does your fur baby have an upcoming birthday? Grab a “barkday” cake, some “pupcakes,” and party hats for your little friend.

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

Feel like poking around the

past? Check out the extensive collection of retro collectibles at Antiques in Old Town, a wonderful antique store in Lilburn. Here you’ll find a delightful hodgepodge of items such as vintage clothing, tea sets, and classic books. This shop also rents out space to collectors, tailors, and artisans from around the country, so some of the pieces, such as handmade jewelry, are contemporary. If you need a quirky venue for a special occasion, you can rent out the back, which features a kitchen.

SWEET SPOT

Mac Lab Bakery & Cafe in Duluth has baking down to a science. Here, the gleaming kitchen is regarded as a laboratory, and the chefs specialize in macarons. Among the mouth-watering flavors: Oreo, rose and lychee, and Nutella. The chefs also cultivate their own yeast for fresh breads and viennoiserie, which is made from a yeast-leavened dough with sweet added ingredients.

Galactic Quest

Mac Lab Bakery

Gwinnett’s dynamic food scene, jamming music venues, and inspiring cultural attractions have people all abuzz

u instagram.com/exploregwinnett

u twitter.com/gwinnettevents

u facebook.com/exploregwinnett

u pinterest.com/exploregwinnnett

@BernieDawg Congrats @Slow PourBrewing on the @suwaneebeerfest Brew Battle win! Cheers y’all!

@KingJamesboys

Had a great time at Everett’s Music Barn in Suwanee, GA. today! #bluegrasslife #bluegrassgospel

@MacKidDuluthGA

Have an awesome birthday party in the trees at @Treetop Quest, easy for parents and tons of fun for kids!

@Eaternallyhappy Conveyor Belt HotPot, anyone? #conveyerbelt #food #foodie #eaternally happy #iluvhotpot #vietfood

@loneredwolf3

Jetty Green Absinthe is a very good, concentrated, herbal aperitif/cordial by the Hope Springs Distillery in Lilburn, Georgia; products used in the distilling process highlight the diversity of Georgia's agricultural production, with their first batch of 540 bottles.

Maple Street Biscuit Company @appetizing_atl

Norcross @brucejohnsonphotos

Daddy O’Brien’s @exploregwinnett

Masterpiece @edibleatlanta

Resources

ATTRACTIONS

Aurora Theatre

128 East Pike Street, Lawrenceville, 678.226.6222, auroratheatre.com

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta

460 Rockbridge Road, Lilburn, 678.906.2277, baps.org/atlanta

Cinestage Atlanta

6420 Atlantic Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, 470.767.8932, cinestage-atl.com

Coolray Field

2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, 678.277.0340, coolrayfield.com

Eagle Rock Studios

6205 Best Friend Road, Norcross, 404.939.9600, eaglerockstudiosatl.com

Gwinnett Historic Courthouse 185 Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 770.822.5450, gwinnettparks.com

Gwinnett History Museum; Lawrenceville Female Seminary 455 South Perry Street, Lawrenceville, 770.904.3500, gwinnettparks.com

Gwinnett Veterans Memorial Museum

Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 770.822.5450, vetmemorialmuseum.tripod.com

Hudgens Center for Art and Learning Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 770.623.6002, thehudgens.org

Hudson-Nash Farm; Yellow River Post Office

3519 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lilburn, 770.904.3500, gwinnettparks.com

Infinite Energy Center 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 770.626.2464, infiniteenergycenter.com

Medieval Times 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, 888.935.6878, medievaltimes.com

Netherworld Haunted House 2076 West Park Place, Stone Mountain, 404.608.2884, fearworld.com

Southeastern Railway Museum 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth, 770.476.2013, srmduluth.org

Suwanee SculpTour Town Center Park, 330 Town Center Avenue, suwanee.com

White Street Orchard 752 White Street, Suwannee, 770.945.8996, harvestfarmsuwanee.com

DINING

45 South Cafe 45 South Peachtree Street, Norcross, 770.409.4009, 45southcafe.com

678 Korean BBQ 3880 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 678.417.6780, 678kbbq.com

1910 Public House

107 Main Street, Lilburn, 770.564.6911, 1910publichouse.com

9292 Korean BBQ

3360 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 470.227.1431, facebook.com/9292KBBQ/ Adriatic Grill

396 West Pike Street, Lawrenceville, 770.299.1115, theadriaticgrill.com

Al Madina Halal Market 5345 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, 770.300.0772, almadina-halal-market.com

Aqua Terra Bistro 55 East Main Street, Buford, 770.271.3000, aquaterrabistro.com

Antoinette’s Cafe 1630 Buford Highway, Buford, 678.765.6446, antoinettescafe.com

Arte 3 Cafe

3705 Old Norcross Road, Duluth, 770.622.3903; 1291 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee, 770.623.5200

Ashiana Banquet Hall & Restaurant

5675 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, 770.446.8081, theashiana.com

Ba Bellies

6025 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.710.0565, babellies.com

Bare Bones Steakhouse

115 E. Main Street, Buford, 470.266.1890, barebonessteakhouse.com

Black Walnut Cafe

5242 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.604.1700, blackwalnutcafe.com

The Blaxican 5260 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, 404.606.3737, blaxicanfood.com

Bleu House 23 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, 770.209.0016, bleuhousecafe.com

Boulder Creek Coffee

233 E. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 678.765.7985, bouldercreekcoffee.com

Breakers Korean Barbecue 3505 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth, 770.946.1000, breakersbbq.com

The Brunch Apothecary 2595 Fence Road, Dacula, 678.731.7338, thebrunchapothecary.com

Cafe Raik

1160 Old Peachtree Road, Duluth, 770.476.7595, caferaik.com

Choo Choo Express 3492 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 678.691.7385, choochoorestaurants.com

Cinco Mexican Cantina 2851 Akers Mill Road, 770.952.5550, cincorestaurants.com

Costa Verde Restaurant 6200 Buford Highway, Norcross, 770.449.3221, costaverdeatlanta.com

Crave Pie Studio 3107-B Main Street, Duluth, 678.485.7198, cravepie.com

The Curry Pot 3370 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suwanee, 470.266.1520, thecurrypotsuwanee.com

D’Cuban Cafe 6200 Buford Highway, Norcross, 770.447.0877, dcubancafe.com

Edee’s Place Bar-B-Q 2300 Liam Avenue, Dacula, 770.882.9999, edeesplacebbq.com

El Taco Jalisco

4545 S. Lee Street, Buford, 678.482.4685, facebook.com/Jaliscoeltaco/

Epicurean Cafe

3579 W. Lawrenceville Street, Duluth, 770.476.2989, epicureancafeatl.com

Euro Gourmet Grill and Cafe 488 Gwinnett Drive, Lawrenceville, 770.513.7788

Frankie’s the Steakhouse 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 678.395.6447, frankiesthesteakhouse.com

Frida’s Mexican Restaurant 706 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville, 770.513.3150, fridas-restaurant.com

Graft 516 Grayson Parkway, Grayson, 770.338.9001, graftrestaurant.net

Grapevine 1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770.923.1775, sonesta.com/us/ georgia/duluth/sonestagwinnett-place-atlanta/dining

Green Basil 855 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suwanee, 470.589.1314, greenbasilsuwanee.com

The Green Tomato Buffet 3446 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, 678.620.3868, thegreentomatobuffet.com

Harue Food & Cafe

3585 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Duluth, 770.497.9412, loveharue.com

Havana South Cuban Restaurant & Bar

4060 Buford Drive, Buford, 678.546.2252, havanasouthcubanrestaurant.com

O4W Pizza

Honey Pig

3473 Old Norcross Road, Duluth, 770.476.9292, honeypigatl.com

I Luv Hot Pot

500 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 888.749.6089

J’s Mini HotPot

2174 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 678.417.8888

JS Kitchen by Jang Su Jang

3492 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 470.268.8435, js-kitchenby-jang-su-jang.business.site

Jang Su Jang

3645 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 678.475.9170, jangsujangatlanta.com

Kremo Ice Cream

2180 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 470.375.8185, kremoicecream.com

Kurt’s Euro Bistro

3305 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Duluth, 770.623.4128, kurtsrestaurant.com

Las Costas Nayaritas

1555 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 678.788.8888, lascostasnayaritas.com

Local Republic

139 North Perry Street, Lawrenceville, 678.205.4782, thelocalrepublic.com

MJ’s Korean Tacos and Wings

3473 Old Norcross Road, Duluth, 770.680.5474, mjkoreantacos.com

Mac Lab Bakery & Cafe

2131 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 678.580.1985, maclabbakery.com

Maple Street Biscuit Company

3540 W. Lawrenceville Street, Duluth, 678.404.5625, maplestreetbiscuits.com

Marlow’s Tavern

1950 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 770.622.2033; Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford, 678.765.8689, marlowstavern.com

Masterpiece

3940 Buford Highway, Duluth, 770.622.1191

McCray’s Tavern

100 North Perry Street, Lawrenceville, 770.407.6754, mccraystavern.com

Ming’s BBQ

2131 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770.623.9996, mingsbbqatl.com

Mojitos

35 S. Peachtree Street, Norcross, 770.441.2599

Nam Phuong

5495 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, 770.409.8686

Noble Fin

5260 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.599.7979, noblefinrestaurant.com

Noona Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

3550 West Lawrenceville Street, Duluth, 678.404.5001, noonaduluth.com

O4W Pizza

3117 Main Street, Duluth, 678.587.5420, o4wpizza.com

Paizanos

7 Jones Street, Norcross, 770.300.0250, paizanos.com

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen 5635 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, 770.849.0600, pappadeaux.com

Parkside District

909 Parkside Walk Lane, Lawrenceville, 770.910.9601, parksidedistrict.com

Parma Tavern 3350 Buford Drive, Buford, 678.541.0908, parmarustictavern.com

The Peachtree Cafe

50 South Clayton Street, Lawrenceville, 678.377.8745; 3975 Holcomb Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners, 470.395.7936, peachtree-cafe.com

Phoenix Roasters 2650 Main Street, Duluth, 770.884.1496, phoenixroasters.coffee

Pleasant BBQ Garden 1630 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 678.579.5596

Pure Taqueria

3108 Main Street, Duluth, 770.609.2630, puretaqueria.com/duluth

Rico’s World Kitchen

306 W. Main Street, Buford, 678.765.7518, ricosworldkitchen.com

Restaurant 4-7-5

Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, 475 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.263.8558, marriott.com/atlcp

Seo Ra Beol 3040 Steve Reynolds Boulevard, Duluth, 770.497.1155, seorabeolduluth.com

Simply Done Donuts 3550 West Lawrenceville Street, Duluth, 678.772.0523, simplydonedonuts.com

SriThai

4500 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 770.837.2723, srithaikitchen.com

Strange Taco Bar

225 W. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 678.869.5220, strangetacobar.com

Sugar Hill Bakery and Cafe

4969 W. Broad Street, Sugar Hill, 678.765.8008, sugarhilltowne.com

Super Pho

3330 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 770.232.3003, superpho.menu

Sushi Niko Niko 3260 Buford Drive, Buford, 770.614.3442, sushinikoniko.com

Tanner’s

525 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suwanee, 770.614.1335, tannerstogo.com

Ten Bistro

5005 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.375.8330, tenlocalflavors.com

Thai Star Restaurant 5370 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross, 770.326.9991, thaistarga.us

Thank U Chicken

3473 Old Norcross Road, Duluth, 470.875.9000

Three Blind Mice 1066 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn, 770.696.4139, tbmrestaurant.com

Tree Story Bakery & Cafe 2550 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 678.584.0000

Turkish Kitchen

2720 Mall of Georgia Boulevard, Buford, 770.945.3888, turkishkitchenatl.com

Umaido

2790 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suwanee, 678.318.8568, umaido.net

Uncle Jack’s Meat House 6590 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 770.497.2400, unclejacksmeathouse.com

Universal Joint 181 East W. Pike Street, Lawrenceville, 770.299.1898, ujlawrenceville.com

NIGHTLIFE

Agit Lounge & Karaoke 3492 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 678.469.7370, agitlounge.com

ArtBar

1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. 770.923.1775, sonesta.com/us/ georgia/duluth/sonestagwinnett-place-atlanta/artbar

Atlanta Coliseum 2075 Market Street, Duluth, 678.473.1000, atlantacoliseum.com

Atlanta Comedy Theater 4650 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, 770.724.6400, atlcomedytheater.com

Do Re Me Karaoke 2550 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770.497.0070

Everett’s Music Barn 4055 Stonecypher Road, Suwanee, 770.945.5628, everettsmusicbarn.net

Exhibit A(le) 202 W. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. 678.869.5499, exhibitalegrowler.com

Good Word Brewing & Public House 3085 Main Street, Duluth. 404.973.2077, goodwordbrewing.com

Hope Springs Distillery 4839 Railroad Avenue, Lilburn, 678.591.6334, hopespringsdistillery.com

Karaoke Melody 2 7130 Buford Highway, Doraville, 770.825.0088, karaokemelody.com

Luxor Karaoke

2472 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770.622.9487

Main Event Entertainment 471 Northolt Parkway, Suwanee, 770.945.71111, mainevent.com

Slow Pour Brewing Company 407 North Clayton Street, Lawrenceville. 678.629.3767, slowpourbrewing.com

Sound of Music Karaoke 3525 Mall Boulevard, Duluth, 470.270.2018

Stars and Strikes Mall of Georgia, 1601 Horizon Parkway, Buford, 678.965.5707; 1741 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, 678.965.5707; 1700 Winder Highway, Dacula, 678.965.5707, starsandstrikes.com

Mac Lab Bakery

Resources

NIGHTLIFE

Tannery Row Ale House

554 W. Main Street, Buford, 678.765.8979, tanneryrowalehouse.com

Three Blind Mice 1066 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn, 770.696.4139, tbmrestaurant.com

SHOPS

AR Workshop

178 E. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 770.751.8157, arworkshop.com

Anna Balkan Jewelry

51 S. Peachtree Street, Norcross, 678.527.1180, annabalkan.com

Antiques in Old Town 93 Main Street NW, Lilburn, 770.279.1300, antiquesinoldtown.blogspot.com

Aritaum

2550 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770.418.0203; 3875 Venture Drive, Duluth, 770.680.5536; 1295 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee, 770.882.2463, aritaum.com

Bella Bag

5135 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 877.623.5522, bellabag.com

Bella Blue

1500 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suwanee, 678.765.8820

The Chocolaterie 3099 Main Street, Duluth, 678.585.3338, thechocolaterie.com

Cotton Lace Market

162 E. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 470.326.0272

Crafted Westside

5151 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners; 3333 Buford Drive, Buford, 404.736.7098, craftedwestside.com

Depot Records

470 North Clayton Street, Lawrenceville, 678.982.4353, depotrecords.business.site

Dress Up

5155 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.368.0108; 320 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee, 678.482.4539, shopdressup.com

Fab’rik

5161 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross, 770.446.3122; 3333 Buford Drive, Buford, 678.765.8955; 340 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee, 678.765.6235, fabrikstyle.com

Farmhouse 17

141 South Peachtree Street, Norcross, 770.409.1717

Galactic Quest

116 E. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 770.339.3001; 4264 Sudderth Road, Buford, 770.614.4804, galacticquest.com

Jeju Sauna

3555 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth, 678.336.7414, jejusauna.com

Mall of Georgia

3333 Buford Drive, Buford, 770.271.9458, simon.com/mall/mall-of-georgia

Marisa Jill’s Boutique 101 E. Main Street, Buford, 678.714.3253, marisajill.com

NV Bath Body Bar 117 N. Perry Street, Lawrenceville, 678.243.5518, facebook.com/NVBathBodyBar/ The Oil Bar 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, 678.847.5894, theoilbar.com

Once Again Kids

4140 Moore Road, Suwanee, 678.765.2214, onceagainkids.org

Outrageous Interiors 335 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suwanee, 770.831.4723, outrageousinteriors.com

Parsons Gifts & Cards 1500 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suwanee, 770.271.7735, parsons-suwanee-ga.com

Peace Love & Decorating 3129 Main Street, Duluth, 770.622.9619, peaceloveanddecorating.com

Personify Shop 3550 W. Lawrenceville Street, Duluth, 770.776.5812, personifyshop.com

Pooch N’ Paws

320 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee, 770.932.7040; 5185 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, 770.446.6672, poochnpaws.com

The Shops of Antique Traditions 109 Peachtree Street, Norcross, 770.263.7761, theshopsofantiquetraditions.com

Swagg Boutique

6590 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 678.731.7924, swaggboutiqueonline.com

Taste of Britain

73 S. Peachtree Street, Norcross, 770.242.8585, tasteofbritain.com

Uni’k Hand Creations 3131 Main Street, Duluth, 678.226.9393, unikhandcreations.com

VSOP Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom

81 S. Peachtree Street, Norcross, 678.795.2002, vsoptaproom.com

West Main Trade 123 W. Main Street, Buford, 678.765.6826, westmaintrade.com

W1sh Beauty

3450 Steve Reynolds Boulevard, Duluth, 770.232.3012, w1shbeauty.com

SPORTS & RECREATION

Atlanta Gladiators

Infinite Energy Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 770.497.5100, atlantagladiators.com

Atlanta United 2 470.341.1500, atlutd.com/2

Bay Creek Park

175 Ozora Road, Loganville, 770.978.5271, gwinnettparks.com

Bethesda Park Aquatic Center 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville, 678.277.0880, gwinnettparks.com

Big Splash Fountain Town Center Avenue, Suwanee, suwanee.com

Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford, 770.904.3500, gwinnettcounty.com

Freeman’s Mill Park 1401 Alcovy Road, Lawrenceville, 770.822.8840, gwinnettparks.com

Georgia Swarm

Infinite Energy Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 770.813.7600, georgiaswarm.com

Gwinnett Stripers

Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, 678.277.0340, coolrayfield.com

Jones Bridge Park 4901 E. Jones Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners, 678.277.0920, gwinnettparks.com

Little Mulberry Park

3855 Hog Mountain Road, Dacula, 678.277.0850, gwinnettparks.com

McDaniel Farm Park 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth, 770.904.3500, gwinnettparks.com

Mitsubishi Electric Classic 2595 Sugarloaf Club Drive, Duluth, 770.232.7872, mitsubishielectricclassic.com

Mountain Park Park 5050 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lilburn, 770.978.5271, gwinnettparks.com

Rhodes Jordan Park

100 E. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 678.277.0898, gwinnettparks.com

Shorty Howell Park 2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 678.277.0900, gwinnettparks.com

Stone Mountain Park

1000 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, Stone Mountain, 800.401.2407, stonemountainpark.com

Thrasher Park

93 Park Drive, Norcross, 678.421.2000, aplacetoimagine.com

Treetop Quest

2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford, 404.277.6113, treetopquest.com

Tribble Mill Park

2125 Tribble Mill Parkway, Lawrenceville, 678.277.0890, gwinnettparks.com

Vines Park

3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville, 678.277.0890, gwinnettparks.com

Personify Shop

Enjoy Our City By The River

Just a century ago...

The land was a farming settlement with a tavern, an inn, a church and a post office on a dusty stagecoach stop to Atlanta.

Today, Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city is a thriving community of over 40,000. Technology-related businesses drive the city’s economic growth. Residents enjoy a variety of living styles, including riverfront homes, swim-tennis communities, attractive townhomes, apartments and senior living choices.

The city’s 21-acre town center, featuring restaurants, retail shops, a Cinébistro and Town Green, will be completed this fall. From upscale shopping and exceptional dining, to outdoor fun and beautiful parks overlooking the Chattahoochee, it’s an ideal spot for the entire family.

We invite you to come enjoy our city by the river.

678•691•1200 www.peachtreecornersga.gov