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40 Dream Wedding Guide
PHOTO COURTESY ELITE POUR LA VIE
We’re excited to introduce our new Wedding Guide, filled with vendor information, tips, and stories from local brides to help you plan your big day.
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Level Minds
Shiloh and Nelson Bigles opened Level Minds CBD Health Club to share their passion for natural health and wellness with the Suwanee community.
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2020 Health & Fitness Guide
Our annual guide to health and fitness features fun ways to get fit - featuring our favorite: goat yoga!
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All For Lunch
Local nonprofit All For Lunch celebrates a year of working to pay off school lunch debts in our community.
17 Investment Strategies
Suwanee’s Aileron Investment Advisors, a comprehensive financial planning firm run by father-daughter team Bill and Cindi Porter, give advice on investments for those nearing retirement.
23 Wedding Bliss Not Stress
Grow Counseling’s Laura Lebovitz shares tips on how to manage your stress while planning your perfect wedding.
Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill Don Bonachon brings authentic Mexican food, fresh ingredients, live music and a family-friendly atmosphere to Suwanee.
24 The Faces of Suwanee: Jeff Chandler
Suwanee resident Jeff Chandler advocates for addiction recovery while spreading a positive message through his music.
60 The Health Benefits of Eating Local
Living Well Farmers Market offers tips on how to incorporate local, organic foods into your diet.
62 NoFo Brew Co
North Forsyth’s newest brewery brings Midwest vibes and great beer to the local craft beer scene.
72 Sugar Hill City Buzz
The City of Sugar Hill provides us with a round-up of events that are going on at the Eagle Theatre.
IN EVERY ISSUE: 8 Editor’s Letter 11 Currently Loving 68 City Buzz 74 People & Places 80 Event Calendar
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a note from our managing editor
New Year, New Suwanee S WE ENTER a new decade
(can you believe it?!), many of us will take some time to reflect on the past 10 years. How did we grow? What did we get right, and what can we improve upon? If you’re like the majority of Americans, your health and wellness will be at the top of the proverbial list we all make come New Year’s Day. If so, you’re in luck because our January/February issue is the Annual Fitness Issue, filled with tons of #inspo to help jumpstart your healthiest year yet. This year, we decided to skip the typical gyms to highlight some “alternative” ways to get fit. These local classes will help you step out of your comfort zone and introduce you to new ways to break a sweat while having fun! Flip over to p. 26 to check out the list which features everything from an outdoor bootcamp to an aerial yoga class that will have you swinging from the ceiling — literally! Exercise isn’t the only component of getting fit, however. Living Well Farmers Market’s Nora Lea walks us through the health benefits of eating local, organic food on p. 60. She also offers three tips on how to incorporate local foods into your diet, from buying produce in season to opting for local, pasture-raised eggs. Plus, Living Well Farmers Market will be opening a brick-and-mortar shop in Solis
Suwanee Town Center in January, so buying local will be even easier. We’re also extra excited about this issue because we’re introducing our inaugural Wedding Guide, p. 40, which features tips, vendors, and photos from local weddings that we hope will make planning your big day a little bit easier. Our goal is that you’ll be able to hold on to the guide and reference it throughout each of those milestone planning stages: the dress, the venue, the flowers, the music, the food, the hair and makeup! Are you getting married this year? We’d love to feature you in next year’s guide. Keep an eye on our website and social media pages for more information in the coming months. In addition to our special features, we’re also shining a spotlight on new local businesses. Level Minds CBD Health Club opened its doors back in October, and owners Shiloh and Nelson Bigles are sharing their passion for natural health and wellness through their CBD products. New to CBD? No problem. Shiloh and Nelson explain exactly what it is (spoiler: it won’t give you the “high” effects of marijuanna) as well as walk us through its health benefits on p. 14. Head over to p. 56 to learn more about Suwanee’s Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill, which serves authentic Mexican food in a fun, familyfriendly atmosphere. The family-owned restaurant recently celebrated its first anniversary, and we suggest celebrating with one of their signature margaritas, which owner Wilson Cabrera says are the best in Suwanee. We also have stories about local nonprofit All for Lunch, p. 20, North
Forsyth’s NoFo Brew Co., p. 62, and the top four things we’re Currently Loving on p. 11. We’re excited to kick off the new year with an issue filled with local stories and businesses we’re excited to see thrive in 2020. Wishing you a happy, healthy new year!
ALICIA CARTER, MANAGING EDITOR Alicia@suwanee magazine.com
THINK YOU HAVE THE CUTEST PUP IN SUWANEE? The annual Suwanee Magazine Cutest Pup Contest returns for its seventh year! The winning pup will receive a variety of amazing prizes to primp, spoil, and feed your pup, PLUS a feature in the 2020 March/April issue of Suwanee Magazine. Submit your photo and entry between January 8th and January 22nd. Then tell your family and friends to vote for your cute pooch daily from January 27th to February 7th. Details are available at suwaneemagazine.com and on our Facebook page: facebook.com/ suwaneemagazine.
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ANGELA VEUGELER President / Editor-in-Chief angela@suwaneemagazine.com RANDALL VEUGELER Vice President and Publisher ALICIA CARTER Managing Editor TAMMY LUNEY Ad Manager ads@suwaneemagazine.com
Creative Director RANDALL VEUGELER Art Director ERICA ABRAMS Writers LIZZY JAMES • NATALIE STUBBS Production Manager APRIL MILLER Web Editors CLARKE GLIDEWELL • CHRIS LEGG Graphic Design SHAY HARBAUGH BRIAN HASSINGER • LAURA HOLCOMBE VANESSA STUDEBAKER • ASHLEY EMRICH MEGHAN FOLEY
Photographers KARL LAMB • JULIE PERDUE GARY DOWD
JULIE PERDUE Executive Sales and Business Development julie@suwaneemagazine.com
Sales Development SUE BROWN
Published by VEUGELER DESIGN GROUP 554 W. Main Street, Suite 200 Buford, GA 30518 SuwaneeMagazine.com For SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES or BACK ISSUE ORDERS, call 678-482-2270. For ADVERTISING INQUIRES, call 678-482-2270, or email info@suwaneemagazine.com.
Suwanee Magazine is published bi-monthly by Veugeler Design Group. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Suwanee Magazine. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or ommissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. ©2020 Veugeler Design Group. The editors welcome unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Please email submissions to Alicia Carter at Alicia@suwaneemagazine.com.
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STILLFIRE BREWING'S BINGO MANGO BONGO BEST TART ALE SOUR BEER North Gwinnett Kiwanis Father Daughter Dance BEST DATE NIGHT
Snapshots of the food, shops, events and more we’re loving around town.
EACH YEAR my
husband and daughter eagerly anticipate their “date night” to the Valentine’s Father/ Daughter Dance hosted by the North Gwinnett Kiwanis. My daughter loves spending one-on-one time with her dad in a fun environment, even though she is slightly embarrassed by his dance moves! My husband loves the values it instills in the young girls. The memories they have created over the years are something we all treasure. This year’s event takes place Friday, Feb. 7, at Buford Community Center. NorthGwinnettKiwanis.com /father-daughter-dance.
- Tiffany Belflower, Event Director
Ballet Classes at Suwanee Academy of the Arts THIS WILL be my daughter’s third year BEST taking ballet classes at FUN ACTIVITY Suwanee Academy of the Arts and she loves it! The environment is professional, but also warm and welcoming, and the instructors are kind and knowledgeable. I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my daughter’s confidence with each class she attends. Not only do they do a wonderful job teaching the kids the craft of ballet, but they also make it fun. Lilly loves her SAA friends and teachers! SuwaneeAcademy.com.
- Alicia Carter Managing Editor
IF YOU’RE a craft beer lover like myself, you’ve probably had your fair share of sour beers. My favorite at the moment is StillFire Brewing’s Bingo Mango Bongo Tart Ale. This mangotastic beer clocks in at 5.3% ABV and features a deliciously fruity hint of mango in every sip. The tart, sweet, and juicy taste makes for a refreshing beer that will have you singing bingo mango bongo! StillFireBrewing.com.
- Lizzy James, Contributing Writer
Onion Ring Tower at Bare Bones Steakhouse BARE BONES STEAKHOUSE in historic Buford may have been designed as what owner Buddy calls a “common man steakhouse,” but it is anything but mainstream. Bare Bones’ menu boasts delicious classics while also putting its own twist on Southern favorites. Perhaps my current favorite item on the menu, aside from the delicious hand-cut steaks, are the jumbo onion rings. These golden rings are fried to perfection with tempura batter and then piled high on a plate with grana cheese, a drizzle of local Georgia honey and a bit of chili flake. Whether they’re ordered as an appetizer or shared as a side to your meal, I highly recommend grabbing a plate of these on your next visit! BareBonesSteakhouse.com.
BEST APP
- Lizzy James, Contributing Writer
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ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
Grow suwanee business community news and info.
SUWANEE BUSINESS ALLIANCE NEWS 1 8
LEVEL MINDS CBD HEALTH CLUB Level Minds CBD Health Club owners Shiloh and Nelson Bigles share their passion for natural health and wellness through their CBD products, which have been touted for their medicinal effects on many common ailments such as chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety and arthritis, as well as more complex diagnoses such as autism. BY ALICIA CARTER / PHOTOS GARY DOWD
- Shiloh Bigles opened Level Minds CBD Health Club in Suwanee with her husband, Nelson, in October 2019.
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
LEVEL MINDS CBD HEALTH CLUB UWANEE’S newest CBD shop, Level Minds CBD Health Club, celebrated its grand opening in October 2019. Owners Nelson and Shiloh Bigles are passionate about health and wellness and well-versed in the benefits of CBD, bringing their years of experience in alternative health to their newest venture. “I started out as a personal trainer and nutritionist,” Shiloh says. “I had a weight loss and pain therapy spa for three years before my daughter was born. That year, my husband and I started a vape company because we had a lot of friends who were able to stop smoking by using electronic cigarettes. We started the vape company and from that came hemp. We were at a vape convention when we met our trade partner, who we still use today. In 2015 we created Level Minds and by the end of that year we had some of our first products available.”
In technical terms, CBD stands for cannabidiol, a compound found naturally in hemp plants. “CBD is one of the main molecules in the marijuana plant,” Nelson says. Products found in stores like Level Minds are federally regulated to only contain up to 0.3% THC. Although Level Minds’ products contain high CBD content, nearly all are THC-free. The few products that do contain trace amounts of THC fall well within federal regulations. “Even though there are some THC traces, they are so low that it’s not going to give you the effects of marijuana,” Nelson says. “A good reference I see is nonalcoholic beer — there is still some minute levels of alcohol but it’s not going to get you drunk or buzzed by any means. You’re still enjoying the drink without the effects of
CBD is a natural remedy for a number of common ailments, such as chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety and arthritis, as well as more complex diagnoses such as autism.
BENEFITS OF CBD
➽ The benefits of CBD have been promoted in numerous health articles and splashed all over TV and social media. Seemingly overnight everyone knows someone who is singing the praises of CBD. But what exactly is it?
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alcohol. CBD is the same way; you’re enjoying the health benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects.” While it won’t get you high, CBD has long been touted for its medicinal properties. CBD is a natural remedy for a number of common ailments, such as chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety and arthritis, as well as more complex diagnoses such as autism. “Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system which absorbs these cannabinoids [CBD],” Nelson says. “Consuming these cannabinoids helps our system be on a more level scale, so your organs feel better and your body feels better overall. CBD has a lot of great properties. As we say there are no negative effects, only good effects.” When speaking about the many benefits of CBD, Shiloh gets most excited when sharing how it can help with children and adults who are on the spectrum. Shiloh was invited to the TACA Autism Conference where she heard a doctor speak about studies on topical CBD with autistic patients. “Within 15 minutes of applying on the neck topically near the CB1 and CB2 receptors, the brainwaves were flattening,” she says. “It’s incredible.”
GROW
QUALITY PRODUCTS
Level Minds sells CBD in many different forms, including tinctures, capsules, honey sticks, gummies, body sprays, bath bombs, body butters and lotions. Shiloh and Nelson incorporate hemp in many forms throughout the store, including shirts and bags, and the furniture was even stained with hemp oil.
➽ Level Minds sells CBD in many different forms. The ingestibles include tinctures, capsules, honey sticks and gummies, while topicals run the gamut of body sprays, bath bomb, body butters and lotions. “I use the topical every day,” Nelson says. “I don’t use regular lotions anymore because they don’t really work, even though I buy the best ones — organic, clean ones, they just don’t keep your skin feeling moist and refreshed all day like our products do.” So which product do you choose? “Topicals and our vape pen go directly into the bloodstream,” Shiloh says. “Anything that you eat has to be metabolized and that’s where it spreads and is broken down better. Our topical and our vape can be used as needed because it’s not being digested.” Shiloh and Nelson invite anyone who is interested in trying CBD to visit the store and they will walk them through the products that would work best for their individual needs. Shiloh and Nelson also take great pride in the quality of the products they sell at Level Minds, which contain minimal ingredients and no fragrances. “If we have to have a scent we use essential oils. We do not use fragrances at all; we are very against fragrances,” Shiloh says. “Same thing with all of our edibles. We use all organic — we don’t add any colors or artificial flavors. We use it with our whole family and we are very health-minded. If we’re not going to eat it, we’re not going to sell it.” There’s even CBD products for your pets, such as dog treats. “Dogs, cats and horses all have an endocannabinoid system, so our pets
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benefit from it,” Shiloh says. “We have quite a bit of purebreds and thoroughbreds that are using it, as well as many dogs and cats. Cats who are on seizure medications have seen their seizures decrease dramatically. Dogs with anxiety who are barking during storms, who can’t go out in public, they are able to be calm. Our pets get arthritis just like we do so it helps them be able to be calm and relaxed and help with the inflammation, too.” While CBD and hemp may have found their roots in the counterculture, they’re gaining more and more mainstream popularity each day. “CBD is going to continue to expand, it’s going to continue to grow,” Nelson says. “CBD has so many avenues and tiers of business opportunities. It’s not just medicine products; it’s textile products, shirts, furniture stains and more.” Considering the passion that Nelson and Shiloh share for their products, Level Minds CBD Health Club will be there to lead the pack into the future. ■
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Level Minds CBD is located at 3550 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suite 108, in Suwanee. For more information call 678-765-2228 or visit LevelMindsCBD.com.
INVESTMENT S T R AT E G I E S BY: Bill and Cindi Porter,
AILERON INVESTMENT ADVISORS
I AM GOING TO RETIRE SOON. SHOULD I MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO MY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO? ANSWER: Yes, if you are a typical investor. ď‚„ During our working years, most people put
some of their earnings into investments that are earmarked for retirement. Investing for growth is the option many people choose for those future retirement funds while they accumulate over the years. The stock market has been their primary choice, and over the decades it has generally provided an additional growth component to those monies. Of course, not all stocks were profitable, but the markets typically have been a profitable place to invest over extended periods of time. However, the major market drops in 2001, 2002, and 2008 remind us that risk is part of that strategy. While working, there may be time to absorb those setbacks but, in retirement, it may be a different story. Also, when you retire and you no longer have a paycheck, the money you have been growing will probably need to begin paying you a monthly income. Investing for income is different than investing for growth. In the past many retirees used bank CDs to help generate steady monthly income. The bad news is that today CDs are no longer a viable option. Interest rates have been close to zero for over a decade.1 The good news is that there are several other options for building a recurring stream of monthly income. Bonds, real estate investment trusts, annuities, master limited partnerships, some dividend paying stocks, and other types of assets are designed primarily to generate income, with growth being only a secondary goal. Every investment has strengths and weaknesses. Typically, an income portfolio of multiple, diversified assets would be most appropriate. If you are approaching retirement (or are already there) it would be wise to discuss lifetime income planning options with your trusted advisor. 1 https://www.bankrate.com/banking/cds/historical-cd-interest-rates/
Securities and advisory services offered through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC and a Registered Investment Advisor. MAS and Aileron Investment Advisors are not affiliated entities. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Bond obligations are subject to the financial strength of the bond issuer and its ability to pay. Before investing consult your financial adviser to understand the risks involved with purchasing bonds.
Send your investment questions to: submissions@ SuwaneeMagazine.com
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JOIN SUWANEE BUSINESS ALLIANCE FOR THE NEW YEAR
By Julie Perdue, Suwanee Business Alliance President WE’RE LOOKING forward
to another amazing year in 2020! We have grown in number, had a great time being together to network and grow our businesses, visited new businesses in the area, and helped many local charities. We hope to be even bigger and better in the new year! We are always looking for new members to enrich our alliance as well as new places to hold our monthly after-hour events. Mark your calendar for the year, every second Wednesday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be announced. We love visitors, door prizes and new ideas! We will also be looking for new board members so please let us know if you are interested in helping us be all that we can be. For the first time in the history of the alliance, we are increasing our yearly dues to $75. It’s still an excellent bargain for the community exposure, great food and beverages, and networking opportunities. We hope you will renew for 2020 and help us to do even more in this awesome community that we call home. Visit Suwanee.org for the latest information.
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your health,
wellness and happiness
THE FACES OF SUWANEE: JEFF CHANDLER
FAMILY MATTERS: WEDDING BLISS NOT STRESS 23
THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A FREE LUNCH LOCAL NONPROFIT, ALL FOR LUNCH IS WORKING TO PAY OFF SCHOOL LUNCH DEBTS IN GEORGIA BY LIZZY JAMES
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How did All For Lunch get started?
CHOOL LUNCH debt is an all-too-common reality
for school districts across the nation. With many students facing unpaid balances for school meals, the practice of stigmatizing kids or “lunch shaming” has become a national issue. Suwanee native Alessandra Ferrar-Miller recognized the growing issue in our own community and created All For Lunch, a local nonprofit that works to wipe out delinquent accounts ensuring that no child goes hungry due to their family’s financial situation. “For some of these kids, lunch is their only meal of the day and if they’re getting it taken away or only getting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it’s really hard on them,” Ferrar-Miller said. “Starting All For Lunch was emotional, exciting, and it felt so good to feel like we were helping to make a difference in our schools.” In its first year, the nonprofit paid off the lunch debts of 25 schools across three counties, and helped to start reserve accounts at each school to ensure students always have a warm lunch. We had the chance to meet up with Ferrar-Miller to learn more about how All For Lunch is impacting our community and her goals for 2020.
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When my daughter was in kindergarten, I saw a news story that featured a little kid who was sent home with a stamp on his arm because he needed lunch money. Having a daughter that age made me think about how traumatizing that would be for a child who didn’t know any better. A child shouldn’t have to go hungry and be punished because of their family’s financial situation — something they have no control over. I began doing some more research and found out that so-called “lunch shaming” was a national issue. This broke my heart, so I decided I wanted to do something about it. That’s how All For Lunch was born.
What is All For Lunch’s mission? The goal of All For Lunch is to help pay off students’ delinquent school lunch account balances. These unpaid balances are such a big problem and I want to get the word out about it to the community because no child should go hungry over a $2.50 meal. We serve to act as an emergency fund for all school lunch debt in the metro area, particularly with the help of recurring monthly donors.
THRIVE
How many schools have you been able to help? Why is this program so important for our community? One in five kids in Gwinnett County alone is living in food insecurity. However, Gwinnett County is unique n the way it handles delinquent accounts. Once your account balance goes delinquent by $11.25, you can only get the entree. You don’t get the option of sides or a drink, but you don’t have to return your food. Students who are on the reduced price lunch program pay only 40 cents per meal, meaning they could still get 28 full lunches before reaching that negative $11.25 balance. But even those 40 cents can be difficult for some parents. We helped to pay off $518.52 in delinquent lunch balances for the four North Gwinnett schools. Our mission is to guarantee these students have that meal at school regardless of their financial situation.
In the last year, we’ve been able to service 25 schools across three counties. We’ve made a total of 35 donations, meaning we’ve been able to go back and replenish a lot of these schools’ accounts. The majority of the schools we’ve donated to are in Gwinnett County, but we have also helped rid delinquent accounts in all Smyrna elementary schools and have recently moved into Roswell and Fulton counties.
What are some of your goals for 2020? After doing this for a year, I have realized the importance of staying in touch with each donor school and we’ve found that the issue can’t be resolved with just one donation. Once the debt is paid off, it comes back after a few months since many families’ financial lives don’t change overnight. We’ve noticed this and have evolved to fund reserve accounts at each school. These reserves help to replenish school lunch accounts as they become delinquent. When students go through the line and their balance is
in the negative, the cafeteria will have a button that will pull donation funds from that reserve account ensuring that the student’s meal is paid. Since these funds diminish quickly, my goal for 2020 is to partner with businesses and corporations to help create reserve accounts at every school we’ve donated to. We are also looking forward to hosting community events, spirit nights, races, etc., to help reach our goal.
How can community members get involved? All For Lunch is 100% donation based, and everything we raise goes directly into the schools. Any overhead that comes up I pay myself out of pocket. We rely heavily on community support. Anyone interested in helping out can go on our website and fill out information with the options to become a one-time donor, monthly sponsor, or if they are with a business they have the opportunity to become a sponsor quarterly or annually.
For more information about All for Lunch or to make a donation, visit AllForLunch.com.
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FAMILY MAT TERS By Laura Lebovitz, LMFT, Grow Counseling
THRIVE
Wedding Bliss Not Stress HEN YOU get engaged, it is supposed to be the
happiest time of your life! You’ve found the love of your life and are one step closer to marital bliss. However, it can be easy to quickly shift from the engagement glow to the frustrations and stresses of wedding planning. It is completely understandable why couples would feel overwhelmed during this time! Not only are you balancing your current family and work commitments, but also planning one of the biggest events of your life. If your wedding planning is creating more stress than bliss, here are some helpful tips!
Get family on the same page While parents may often be helpful to the planning process, many can be the source of stress for couples. It can be hard to remember the wedding is about you and your partner when parents are trying to make the wedding fit their vision. Try to sit down with family in the beginning of the planning process to get everyone on the same page and see what aspects are most important to each of you. Having these conversations upfront can help to create a plan of how to try to incorporate the important aspects for each person and hopefully decrease butting heads down the line.
Choose your "must-haves"
LAURA LEBOVITZ, LMFT Laura is a licensed marriage and family therapist who works in the Suwanee area at GROW Counseling. She received her Masters of Family Therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine. She works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families dealing with a variety of concerns. She specializes in working with anxiety, autism, selfharm, life transitions like divorce, and building healthy relationships within families.
Perfecting every last detail of your wedding is not possible. While it can be one of the happiest days of your life, it is also a part of life which means it is not immune to last-minute changes or imperfections. Couples who get bogged down in trying to perfect every detail will find themselves more overwhelmed throughout the planning and may even enjoy the day of the wedding less. When planning, pick your “must-haves” and focus on those instead of trying to perfect every last detail. Sticking with your “must-haves” can also help you stay on budget which will create less stress when it comes time to get the final bills.
Make sure to have fun While this may seem obvious, it can be easy to lose the fun of the engagement while you
96%
of newly engaged couples reported feeling stressed out about wedding planning. - Zola
are in the thick of wedding planning. If you are more focused on the negatives, like the florist not having the exact orchid you want, than the positives, like celebrating your new family being formed, then something needs to change. If you find yourself feeling too negative, take a step back and think about why you are doing this and the love you have for your partner. Find ways to remember to have more fun and put less pressure on yourself.
Take regular breaks It can be easy for couples to completely throw themselves into wedding planning and not step out of it until the big day is over. This may seem like the best way to get everything done, but in reality, it will only leave you feeling more stressed. It could even leave you feeling distant from all your loved ones and friends. Try to take regular breaks from planning even when there are things you could be doing. Spend a date night with your fiancée, relax with girlfriends, get some exercise, or even have some time alone! Relaxing regularly will help you feel more present and blissful on the big day. ■
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TheFacesOfSuwanee.com reating closer community is a big part of what we do here at Suwanee Magazine. That’s why we’re proud to bring you The Faces of Suwanee. Suwanee is a great community with great people. We’ll be featuring conversations we have with members of our community as a way of telling the story of Suwanee, one smiling face at a time. The Faces of Suwanee shines a light on the people who live and work here. You can read all of the interviews at TheFacesofSuwanee.com, and even nominate someone you think should be featured on the website. Be sure to follow Suwanee Magazine’s Facebook page where we’ll be sharing new Faces of Suwanee interviews weekly.
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JEFF CHANDLER MUSICIAN INTERVIEW BY JULIE PERDUE
Compassionate and resolute are the two words that come to mind when describing Jeff Chandler. The musician and hardworking family man is a strong advocate for addiction recovery and better social engineering. His mission is to help restore freedom, hope and purpose to those who have lost it.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU OR LED YOU TO YOUR CURRENT CAREER? I have been a musician for over 20 years. I’ve always wanted to use my music to inspire and help people. Music is one of the most powerful mediums of influence in our world. Every artist has the potential to greatly impact the ethos of our culture for better or worse, and these days too many are choosing to impact it for the worse.
I was on tour for a while and came off the road to be home with my family. I shifted my focus to production, songwriting, and serving the community through church work. A few years ago, we decided to focus on addiction recovery. So many current cultural problems stem from addiction: domestic violence, drunk driving, and gun crime, just to name a few.
THRIVE
Jeff Chandler advocates for the community through the foundation Emerge Recovery.
My father-in-law was an addict and drug dealer early in life, but he recovered and started helping others in recovery. Early in our relationship, I accompanied him to rehab and started serving those who struggle with addiction. I always pull for the underdog. I’m a die-hard Braves fan — much to my chagrin usually. I was never in the cool kids crowd in school and I’m still not. Record labels told me I was ugly and not talented — that I’d never make it, whatever that means. Even though I always wanted to be cool I’ve kind of settled into the fact that I myself am an underdog. God’s very fond of us underdogs. He makes the most beautiful art out of the pieces of broken people. God took my broken dream of being a superstar and turned it into a fruitful and effective way to serve people who have a great need.
I stopped worrying about trying to “make it” and just started loving and serving people. We are only really alive and happy when we forget about ourselves and start serving others. That’s what all of us were designed to do. When someone tells you that they’re alive because of your love and intervention, that their kids still have a parent in their lives, nothing is worth more than that. Addiction recovery is messy and hard. This group is marginalized on a grand scale. No effective government programs really exist to help deal with this. I met with a local head of Medicaid and they told me there’s not really anything they can offer at present. There are 300 million addicts in the world. This pandemic effects billions of people — the addicts themselves, their parents, spouses, children, colleagues. So many have told me, “Hey, it’s not really my problem.” But the truth is that our communities are only as strong as our weakest link. There are people who need someone to be their voice, help them pick themselves up and begin to heal. This is our problem and it can’t change until we all start carrying the weight of it! Our crew is also going after the creative community and challenging them to create more responsibly! Stop writing songs about abusing drugs and abusing women. I have had multiple people in rehabs tell me that they started doing drugs because of trap music. Our creative community has to do a better job of leading our generations. Also, we’ve found that funding for rehab is the greatest problem for those who are struggling. Most people lack the resources to go get the help they need. That’s why we are building this foundation, EmergeRecovery, and asking everyone who is blessed enough to not be plagued with the disease of addiction to join the movement at $10 per month. For just the price
Jeff Chandler aims to create music that makes a difference through Emerge Recovery, which hosts benefit concerts that raise awareness and treatment funds for those struggling with addiction. To get involved, visit emergeonline.net.
of a Starbucks bagel and coffee we can form an army against addiction. We go into the trenches and pull out the wounded, brush them off, pay for their treatment, take care of their families and help them relaunch after they recover. I can’t think of a better way to spend $10 per month than joining this movement. You’ll never miss it and you’ll be investing into a better tomorrow for those who are hopeless to help themselves.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A CROWD OF PEOPLE? Care about each other. Our culture designs us to be selfish. “I” Phone, “Self” magazine, “My” Space (I’m showing my age now). Me, me, meeee! Self-love is important, of course, but the way our media presents it is toxic. Love one another! Forget yourself for a moment and help someone who can’t help themselves and who couldn’t possibly ever repay you.
Read more of Jeff Chandler's interview online at TheFacesOfSuwanee.com.
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2020 H E A LT H & FITNESS GUIDE
FUN WAYS TO GET
FIT
From aerial yoga to rock climbing, there are a variety of ways to break a sweat while having a good time.
PHOTO BY GARY DOWD
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T’S THE new year, which means many of us are reevaluating our finances, jobs, eating habits and, of course, our fitness. Will this be the year we finally get it right? With news that 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail, maybe it’s time to take the road less traveled as we set off to achieving “new year, new me” status. For our annual Fitness Issue, we sought local ways to get fit outside the walls of a traditional gym setting. We decided to step off the elliptical and put down the dumbbells in exchange for opportunities
9ROUND FITNESS
310 Town Center Ave., Suite A1, Suwanee
678-288-4877
9Round.com
Marilyn Hildebrant and Kari Dees of ToLife! Yoga and Pilates
that would take us outside our comfort zones. And while there’s nothing wrong with the traditional gym setting, we wanted to try something new, and have some fun while doing it. Here, we’ve spotlighted alternative ways to get fit. From yoga classes that will have you hanging from silks or frolicking with goats to kickboxing, rock climbing and outdoor bootcamps, there’s no shortage of ways to work up a good sweat around town.
KICKBOXING FITNESS is a fun and exciting whole body highintensity (HIIT) workout that anyone can do no matter age, fitness level, or level of experience. It is a great way to lose weight, build endurance and confidence, and relieve stress. At 9Round Fitness in Suwanee’s Town Center, personal trainers actively push you to meet your fitness goals, and at the end of every workout students leave feeling empowered and accomplished. Plus, the workout changes every day so you’ll never get bored. Don’t let the fear of getting hit keep you from trying out a class — with kickboxing fitness you never get punched. The workout consists of punching and kicking a variety of different bags, including heavy bags and speed bags. Kickboxing classes also incorporate weights, jump rope, and other fitness equipment. 9Round’s trainers work to build strength in the upper body, lower body, and core all in the same workout. Members burn anywhere from 250 to 500 calories during the 30-minute workout. Kickboxing not only works the body but the mind as well by mixing up the combination of punches and kicks. No experience is required to take a class at 9Round because the instructors are always present to teach proper form, help with technique, and walk you through the workout. Most of 9Round’s members have never had any type of kickboxing training, so everyone starts at the same level of skill. The workout can be tailored to each individual’s fitness requirements, anywhere from a medical weight loss program to a professional athlete. All fitness levels are welcome. ■
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TOLIFE! YOGA AND PILATES 554 W. Main St. Suite 150, Building B, Downtown Buford
470-279-4183
ToLifeYogaandPilates.com
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TOLIFE! YOGA AND PILATES is a boutique fitness studio opened in 2017 by motherdaughter team Marilyn Hildebrandt and Kari Dees in downtown Buford’s Tannery Row. The historic building’s exposed brick walls and large windows create the perfect backdrop to an early morning or late afternoon class, and Marilyn and Kari have worked hard to create an inviting and peaceful environment that echoes the setting. ToLife! offers intimate and specialized classes that focus on proper form and overall wellness to “help you attain health and balance for the mind, body, and spirit, resulting in a greater overall well-being.” ToLife! was formed after Kari and Marilyn realized their passion for Pilates and Yoga. A dancer since a young age, Kari was beginning to feel the physical effects, having sustained multiple injuries that wreaked havoc on her body. By her mid-twenties, Kari had already undergone multiple surgeries on her knees and ankles.
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PHOTOS BY JULIE PERDUE
Kari suffered from severe pain that eventually led her to quit dancing. After living with the pain for nearly a decade and following years of physical therapy, Kari rediscovered Pilates and was amazed at how she was able to strengthen her body without inflaming or reinjuring her knees. Pilates focuses on alignment of the body and therefore stabilizes the joints allowing for a fullbody workout without the wear and tear of traditional workouts. The practice was life-changing for Kari and helped her manage her pain while also getting in great shape. In the end, she knew she wanted to share Pilates with the community to help others the way it had helped her. She became certified
in Pilates and taught at a local studio before eventually opening ToLife! Yoga and Pilates with her mother, Marilyn. Marilyn also has a background in dance, which began in early childhood and continued through college. She started teaching dance at 15 and continued to teach until 1995 when she took a fulltime corporate job. After
years of sitting behind a desk for hours at a time, feeling the aches, pains and stress of corporate life, Marilyn knew she had to make a change. Luckily, she found yoga, “the perfect combination of body, mind, and spirit.” “It not only brought my body back into alignment, it relieved my mental stress and helped me focus.” After practicing yoga for
many years, Marilyn decided she needed to share this wonderful practice with as many people as possible. She began her initial teacher training in 2010 and after several more years of training became a certified Yoga Therapist. ToLife! offers a number of classes that help to align your mind, body and spirit while also strengthening your body. After all, your body is a temple, and ToLife! offers low impact but highly effective classes that will help you treat it with the kindness and respect it deserves. Plus, the small class size allows the teachers to ensure proper form, which will help to prevent injuries and allow you to get the most out of your workout. Here, we’ve highlighted three of ToLife’s classes that offer a great alternative to the traditional gym environment:
YOGA
Yoga is an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years and concentrates on the union of mind,
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body and spirit. Yoga classes at ToLife! concentrate on lengthening and stretching the muscles while incorporating guided breathing techniques that work to quiet the mind. The postures warm the body while working to strengthen the muscles and increase balance with a strong focus on the core. Their aerial yoga class takes the standard yoga mat practice to a new level with the use of silks that hang from the ceiling. The silks support the body, allowing you to go deeper into poses, ultimately achieving better postural alignment.
PILATES
ToLife! teaches the classical Pilates method which closely mirrors the original technique created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. Classical Pilates concentrates on maintaining pelvic stability while strengthening the deep core muscles to support and
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private sessions before joining a semi-private session or Tower class. Semi-private Sessions are kept to a maximum of three clients so that the teachers can continue to provide individualized attention to each client.
KETTLEBELLS AND CARDIO decompress the spine. ToLife! offers group Pilates mat classes, as well as, private and semi-private apparatus sessions and tower classes. The apparatus (reformers, towers, chairs, and barrels) provide assistance and resistance to support your body when you are a beginner and challenge you further as you become more advanced. It is suggested that beginners start with private apparatus sessions in order to learn the basics in a one-on-one environment. This also allows the teacher to tailor the workout specifically to the client’s needs, making modifications for injuries, if necessary. ToLife! requires that clients take a minimum of five
Kettlebells and Cardio is geared toward those who want a low impact, high intensity, interval training workout. This class utilizes kettlebells, ropes, and other props to give clients a full-body workout that strengthens muscles, burns calories and challenges your stamina. The interval training format ensures a great cardiovascular workout that will increase your heart rate, helping you to slim and tone your body. Like the yoga and Pilates classes, Kettlebells and Cardio maintains the small class format ensuring that everyone receives an individualized workout where the teacher can keep an eye on proper form, reducing the risk of injury. â–
ADRENALINE CLIMBING
460 Brogdon Rd #100, Suwanee
770-271-1390
AdrenalineClimbing.com THE SPORT of rock climbing has been growing in popularity and will make its debut in the Olympics in the 2020 games. The sport is a great full-body workout, and a mental challenge as well as a physical one. It works your core, arms, legs, glutes and back and also improves flexibility and grip strength. According to Nathan Steele, owner of Adrenaline Climbing located off of Brogdon Road in Suwanee, “Any age is a great time to start climbing. We have members from 2 to 82. If you think you might like rock climbing, are tired of the same old gym routine, or are looking for a way to spend an afternoon, this is for you.” Adrenaline Climbing has instruction available on a walk-in basis. If you are new to climbing, stop by on a Saturday to try it out, or come for guided services or family night on Friday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Indoor climbing equipment needed includes climbing shoes and a harness which are available to rent and chalk which is for sale at the gym. They also offer youth clubs, camps, birthday parties and cosmic climbing from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. There are always new challenges. Everything in the gym rotates out to give climbers a different puzzle to solve while getting their workout in. The sport has become much more diverse, which Adrenaline Climbing can attest to. According to Steele, “the biggest thing with climbing we have seen over the years is the diversity in the sport has changed completely. Now it is everyone, we
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Rock climbing is a great sport for the entire family, and Adrenaline even hosts kids birthday parties.
see a broad array of our community. We see a representation of who lives in this area at our gym. We see women at the level you would expect. The populous is about 50/50 and that is what we now see in our gym. It is so refreshing to see that represented in your business.” Although climbing is an individual sport, Adrenaline Climbing has a very encouraging atmosphere. “They do so well together, the comradery of these people is they are family, not just to us but to each other. The life lessons, especially for these kids but even for adults that they learn through this (is amazing). This is the way to live, is to be supportive. It is a huge lesson in life they are learning through this,” shared Steele. When asked about success stories, Steele shared, “At Adrenaline Climbing, we have trained a national champion; we have seen individuals lose over 100 pounds in a year. Coming in overweight can be intimidating, but we’ve seen folks drop weight and keep it off. One of the biggest barriers in gym culture is the desire to go to the gym and keeping on track. We find our regulars are motivated to keep coming back whether to try and get a climb they couldn’t complete or to try the new climbs that go up weekly.” ■
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CAMP GLADIATOR 300 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Sugar Hill
817-583-3611
CampGladiator.com/Atlanta
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CAMP GLADIATOR is an outdoor adult fitness program based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to “impact the physical fitness and ultimately the lives of as many people as possible.” For the past three years, Brian Lamb and his wife, McKenzie, were trainers at Camp Gladiator in Houston where they gained a huge following. Following their success, the corporate
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office recruited the duo to bring Camp Gladiator to the metro Atlanta area, which officially launches this January. Brian and McKenzie are now the directors of Camp Gladiator’s Gwinnett region. Since Camp Gladiator is an outdoor fitness class, they partner with local churches, schools, and parks to host their workouts. Suwanee’s
Gwinnett Church is the first partner location announced, with locations in Buford, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville and Duluth soon to follow. The goal is to open more than a dozen locations across Gwinnett County by summer. Camp Gladiator classes consist of an hour-long, fullbody workout that changes every day. Brian says they focus on cross-training, which means the workouts hit every single muscle group. “We do a little running, weight training, jump ropes, bodyweight exercises, agility exercises, sand bells and more,” Brian says. “The best part is that the workout changes each and every day, so the workout always stays fresh and exciting.” Camp Gladiator classes also encourage teamwork and community, and they
STRETCH ZONE SUWANEE
425 Buford Highway N.E., Suite 106 B, Suwanee
678-541-5956
stretchzone.com
laugh hard at camp, we also seek out ways to give back to the community. Whether that’s hosting food drives, building homes for the homeless, going on mission trips, we do it all!” So how are Brian and McKenzie settling in their new home of Suwanee? “My mother, Barbara, grew up in Atlanta. Her side of the family still resides all across Atlanta. So growing up, Atlanta was always my home away from home,” Brian says. "When we visited this past summer, we immediately fell in
EVERYONE IS so busy these days: work, home, family, travel, fun, sleep and then you try to work out as often as you can in between it all. None of it comes easy, though, if you can’t move the way your body should. That’s why Stretch Zone was created. Stretch Zone is the first in practitioner-assisted stretching to help you get busy living. And it is why the owners of Stretch Zone, Andrea Longfellow, Sean Bennett, Tim and Dawn Beasley, wanted to bring this revolutionary concept to Suwanee. How It Works:
Stretch Zone practitioners work with the stretch reflex and some lesser known but extremely powerful principles of neuromuscular behavior. Utilizing their patented equipment, the stretch practitioners follow a very specific method and
Stretch Zone's practitioners follow a method that properly positions, stabilizes, isolates and manipulates muscles in a scientific way.
love with the city of Suwanee. Not only are the people extremely kind, but the community here is very passionate about health and wellness.” Camp Gladiator launches in Gwinnett this January. Visit CampGladiator.com/atlanta and use code "GETFITATL" to register for a free month trial beginning in January as well as access all the upcoming times and locations in the Atlanta region. ■
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frequently run team drills that encourage fun and positive competition inside and outside of camp, which helps individuals push themselves more than they normally would at a box gym or at home. Brian says that their fitness classes are geared toward all fitness levels. “We have everyone from college athletes to 80-year-old grandmothers at camp,” he says. “We all support and encourage each other both inside and outside of camp. Not only do we work hard and
protocol to properly position, stabilize, isolate and manipulate muscles in a scientific way. When your body is correctly stabilized, fear is reduced. Your body is better able to relax and allow for the full stretch. “Everyone needs to stretch!” says Teresa Stewart, General Manager of the Stretch Zone in Suwanee. “The problem is, none of us really do it or know how to do it properly. Stretch Zone works with a wide variety of people from high school and collegiate athletes to adult women and men who are active in tennis and/ or golf and workout regularly at the gym or yoga studio and are looking to increase their flexibility, as well as people who sit at a desk and computer all day or are in their car several hours a day and have lost mobility. They even work with people who have severe disabilities and issues like MS, arthritis and Parkinson’s. Stretch Zone works to improve people’s lives, and it all comes full circle when clients walk in the door with a pep in their step, who only a few months ago could barely get in through the front door, and tell you how much better they feel. ■
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THE RIGHT KIND OF WATER The mission of Suwanee's Atlanta Water Store is spreading the word about what they think is the single most important substance you can put in your body: Electrolyzed Reduced Water. BY: Dipa Janardanan and Kevin Sirface, owners of Atlanta Water Store
EHYDRATION is at the source of so many diseases – especially dehydration that has taken place over long periods of time. The solution isn’t just to drink more water; the solution is to drink enough of the right kind of water. Think of it like this: if you eat the right kinds of foods, you generally feel better and healthier than if you were to eat strictly junk foods. The world is coming around to the fact that we’ve denatured and emasculated our water just like processed foods have been seen to replace real food. All waters are not created equal. Atlanta Kevin and Dipa Water Store sells the opened Atlanta highest quality Japanese Water Store to educate the water ionizers that community on the actually ionize (through health benefits of electrolyzed electrolysis) your tap reduced water. water and create clean, highly anti-oxidizing, alkalizing, hydrogen-rich, and super absorbent water. People are amazed when they realize they can usually drink more than twice the amount of water they normally drink – because it is far more absorbent and doesn’t fill you up. At Atlanta Water Store, we are both passionate teachers and use our onsite classroom to teach people about these waters. In fact, attending one of our classes helps you qualify to take a free, 21-day water trial to see how electrolyzed reduced water truly is
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different. If interested, you can attend a scheduled class or call our store to schedule your own private session. The class is free, and you get to try the water free for 21 days. You have nothing to lose! As certified medical ionizers, we are able to make seven other kinds of water to help replace nearly all the chemicals in your house. Our waters have cleaning, anti-bacterial, de-greasing, and sterilizing properties that ultimately save you money and reduce your toxic load. It is the ultimate gogreen machine and has an estimated life of 25-40 years! Electrolyzed reduced water has decades of research behind it and is changing the way we look at water. In our class, we teach about what is in your tap water, purified water (reverse osmosis water), and bottled alkaline water. Plus, we show how all of these waters can contribute to acidic conditions and oxidative stress, which are the breeding grounds for all sorts of diseases. We also go back to the basics and teach just how important water is to us. This is the ultimate starting point for those of us who want to stay nutritionally focused and live long, healthy lives. What do you have to
lose? Give Atlanta Water Store a call, sign up for our next class, or schedule a private session to learn more. ■
Atlanta Water Store is located at 425 Buford Highway, Suite 208, in Suwanee. For more information, call 678-541-5442, email info@ atlantawaterstore.com or visit AtlantaWaterStore.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY GOAT YOGA GEORGIA
Double Durango Farm, 2910 Tig Knight Road, Loganville
706-418-5640
GoatYogaGeorgia.com
“There are no expectations for everyone to do all the yoga poses, so we let them know it is fine to sit on their mat and rest if they need a break,” Cassara says. “It’s more about being outside and with nature, and it just brings pure joy to everyone who has come.
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GOAT YOGA GEORGIA
THERE’S PERHAPS no exercise more tailor-made for the perfect Instagram selfie than goat yoga. Just imagine a glorious group of barnyard goats frolicking among a crowd of Warrior poses and Downward Dogs. And when you get into Tabletop pose, be prepared for one of the cute little goats to hop on your back for a little added resistance. Double Durango Farm, located in Loganville, hosts Goat Yoga Georgia classes on its property as well as private events around the metro Atlanta area. Classes are one hour long, but extra time is always allotted for goat snuggles and photos. According to Double Durango’s Dianne Cassara, goat yoga is open to all fitness levels and is even a great time for children 7 and older.
We have had people come and say they had a hard work week and were so stressed and then they do the goat yoga and they are laughing and smiling and have forgotten all about any problems or burdens that they came in with.” While it’s true that part of the appeal of goat yoga is the opportunity to hang out with goats, attendees can still expect to get a great workout. And even if you come out more for the goats than the yoga, it’s still a unique family-friendly outing that is more than worth the trip to Loganville, and Double Durango offers a picturesque backdrop for the yoga class. “We have a large barn that can hold 40 people, so we never have to cancel for rain or bad weather, and we feel that we have the best goat yoga venue for public and private events in Georgia,” Cassara says. “We have a large outside area as well that is decorated with a vintage 1951 Ford Truck as the backdrop and with string lights, which is really cool when we have evening classes as it’s the perfect ambience. We have had visitors come back over and over many times so they start to feel like family to us now!” In the end, goat yoga is a fun way to get a little exercise outside in the fresh air without taking yourself too seriously. Plus, you get to hang out with adorable goats. To us, that’s a win-win. For more information about Goat Yoga Georgia or to view the upcoming schedule, visit GoatYogaGeorgia.com. ■
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TRANSFORMATION STORY:
TERESA FUDGE
From sitting behind a desk to completing 14 marathons (so far), Teresa Fudge has transformed into one of Suwanee’s elite runners. AS TOLD TO ALICIA CARTER
n a chilly day in November, Teresa Fudge visited the Suwanee Magazine office to recount how she went from sitting behind a desk day in and day out to qualifying for prestigious marathons like the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon. Did we mention she was in her 40s at the time? For those who don’t know, a marathon is over 26 miles long — and Teresa has 14 under her belt.
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When I was growing up I was never an athlete. I came from a small town in West Texas, so everybody played basketball or they ran track. I was literally the person carrying the clipboard. I made sure everybody got to where they were going and that was it. I was really good at carrying that clipboard! I went through my whole life like that. Every spring or winter I would make that New Year’s resolution to lose weight. I always struggled with 20 or 25 pounds. I would lose five or 10 pounds and they would always come back. I followed every fad there is. Diet foods, the fat-free this, sugar-free that — you name it, I’ve tried it. My husband and I started our business in 2008. After a couple years I found myself burnt out — physically, mentally, emotionally. I had gotten to the largest that I had ever been in my life. I was 55 pounds overweight and at that point I couldn’t budge five pounds. I was stuck behind the desk and I was miserable. In 2010 I got a treadmill and put it in our office. When I started on this treadmill I could only walk. So I started run-walking and got to where I was able to run a little bit more and walk less, and it just progressed for six months or so. By that time I had lost about 30 pounds. The Suwanee Day 5K came around. We had friends who had a teenage daughter, and we had been paying her $50 every year to complete the 5K. That year she said, “I don’t want your money this year. Run it with me.” I said, “Oh, I can’t do that. I run inside and I’ve never done a race.” She told me it would be fine and I could walk if I wanted to, just come run it with her. So I did. I remember her saying when we started, “If we get separated don’t worry about it because I’m kind of fast.” If you know the route, there’s a big hill. The race was really popular at the time. A lot of moms and dads with strollers, and I remember
strollers literally coming backward because the hill was horrible. But I was having a great time. I met up with my friend and she’s walking up the hill and I’m running still. We went on to finish the race and I was like, “That was so much more fun than running on the treadmill inside by myself!” That was the day that changed everything. I did not get back on the treadmill. I was like, “That didn’t kill me! Now that I had experienced this with a bunch of other people, why would I go back inside?” The next year I ran my first halfmarathon in Dallas. It was a rock ’n’ roll half marathon and I recruited some of my friends from high school. The race was the day before my 41st birthday, and I went out to Texas and ran my first 13.1 mile race. And I actually did it pretty fast — 2 hours and 10 minutes. At that point, I was hooked. It was so much fun. After the race we celebrated with some friends at their home in Dallas. My friend looked at me and she said, “You have that look. I give you 12 months and you’ll run your first full marathon.” I just blew it off. I was happy with where I was at. I had lost the total of my weight gain — 55 pounds. I had never been this person in my life! I kept getting rid of clothes as fast as they were too big! So my friend prophesied that I would run a marathon in 12 months. Well, it took me six months more. [laughs] What I didn’t know when I was training for my first half-marathon was that there was a run group taking place in my backyard every Tuesday night in the park. Big Peach Running had opened up. Just before we left town to go to Dallas, my husband and I were at Bonefish Grill in Buford and we were sitting at the bar and I heard this conversation going on behind me. This couple was discussing their run schedule and when they were going to get their miles in. And I had been thinking about that myself. Finally, I just
turned to the lady and said, “You’re having the same conversation that I am.” It was an instant friendship. She asked me if I knew about a run group that was happening at Suwanee Town Center Park. After the halfmarathon in Dallas I decided I would join this run group and all of a sudden I had all these new friends. One night at dinner with the group I had been running with, we decided to pick a destination race and all train for the same thing. We decided to go to Savannah. It’s close by. There’s a half marathon and a full marathon, so something for everybody. My friend Lisa, who I had met at Bonefish, asked me if I thought I could do the full marathon. I told her I didn’t know. And then she said, “I’ve seen you run and I think you could qualify for the Boston Marathon.” She told me it was very prestigious. But I said I didn’t know if I could do it, the Savannah race would be my first marathon. And she said, “That’s okay, they don’t care! If you run the pace then you can get in!” So, we went to Savannah in November of 2013. If you’re going to do something hard you do it like this: I stacked the odds in my favor. I took all my favorite people — my sister, my niece and my brother-in-law. My sister ran her first half marathon that day. A bunch of us were running our first full marathon. It’s a big event. They shut the city down. I was nervous as heck but it was the most perfect weather. I remember lining up by myself. I wanted to run it myself in case I failed. But on this beautiful day in Savannah, everything happened the way it was supposed to. I received my official time and I qualified for Boston by over four minutes! It was the most amazing day. That’s when I hired a coach. He wrote my first Boston training plan and gave it to me the week of Thanksgiving. It had training on it that I had never done: track work and hill repeats. We became good friends and he has written all of my marathon training plans. I just completed my 14th marathon at the New York City Marathon, and I’ve done four Boston Marathons, and I’ve actually already qualified for my fifth Boston Marathon. It’s all been so amazing! Teresa is currently training for the upcoming Boston Marathon which will take place this April.
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t’s the day you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl. The day when you get to be a princess — beautiful dress, impeccable hair and makeup, all of your loved ones by your side. Plus, you get to say “I do” to love of your life. It couldn’t be more perfect, right?
While it’s true your wedding day will be one of
the most important days of your life, it also comes with a lot (and we mean a lot) of planning. Most weddings take months to plan, and brides-to-be will pore over all of the details, from the perfect dress, hair, makeup, and picture-perfect cake to the venue, flowers, catering, seating chart, honeymoon and more. Needless to say, it’s a massive endeavor. That’s why we’re introducing our Wedding Guide, filled with vendor information, tips, and stories from local brides to help you plan your big day. We hope that our guide will grow year after year and become a sought-after resource for local brides and grooms to help make planning your wedding day just a little bit easier.
Our Wedding Guide also spotlights local
weddings (see p. 43) and we’d love to feature your upcoming wedding in next year’s guide. Keep an eye on SuwaneeMagazine.com and our social feeds for more information in the coming months. Until
PHOTO COURTESY ELITE POUR LA VIE
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PHOTO COURTESY ELITE POUR LA VIE
then, cheers to your happily ever after!
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ago. The house was built on a large farm near Buford, Georgia, in 1920, and its wrap-around porch, six fireplaces, and large rooms serve as an ideal venue to host a wedding. 3198 Hamilton Mill Road, Buford, GA 30519 | 770-614-7328 | fouroaksmanor.com
A D V E R T I S I N G
packages to simply elegant elopements, The Bradford House works with you to help make your big day perfect. 6648 McEver Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 | 770-9677821 | thebradfordhouse.com
PHOTO COURTESY ELITE POUR LA VIE
Tannery Row Ale House
VENUES
Lanier Islands Weddings
Boasting more than 14 Georgia wedding venues and locations throughout the 1,500-acre resort for both ceremonies and receptions, Lanier Islands is the perfect backdrop for your big day. 700 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, GA 30518 | 770-9458787 | lanierislands.com
Four Oaks Manor
Four Oaks Manor is pleased to host events where you can enjoy both tree-shaded areas and sunny open spaces created nearly 100 years
The historic tannery building serves as the perfect backdrop for a couple’s big day. With multiple ceremony and reception options, the team at Tannery works closely with their bride and groom to help make their big day just how they imagined. 554 West Main St., Buford, GA 30518 | 678-765-8979 | tanneryrow alehouse.com/weddings
Bear’s Best Atlanta
Whether celebrating at a sunset ceremony, or inside their spacious facility, Bear’s Best Atlanta is ready to make your wedding day extraordinary. This prestigious and unique venue includes a picture-perfect golf course that can be the backdrop for your photos, a bridal suite, a wedding arbor, and more! 5342 Aldeburgh Drive, Suwanee, GA 30024 | 678-714-5572 | BearsBestAtlanta.com
The Bradford House and Gardens
The Bradford House and Gardens is a classically Southern-style home, nestled in the back of 7 acres of natural Georgia beauty. It offers a spacious covered pavilion amid the natural beauty and accommodates up to 150 people. Offering everything from all-inclusive
The Payne-Corley House
At the Payne-Corley House, you can host your dream wedding with three different outdoor ceremony sites and a stunning reception hall. Originally built in 1873, this restored farmhouse has been lovingly maintained to offer the best combination of traditional Southern charm and modern amenities. 2987 Main St., Duluth, GA 30096 | 770-476-5366 | paynecorleyhouse.com
S E C T I O N
floral company specializing in weddings and special events. Located in Buford, GA, Design House services all North Georgia and Atlanta areas, offering a fresh and modern approach by embracing the use of color and texture in design, and is dedicated to bringing their clients' dreams to fruition. 3200 Woodward Crossing Blvd., Ste B106, Buford, GA 30519 | 770-904-4488 | dhweddingsandevents.com
Abby's at The Cottage Boutique Florals
Abby's at The Cottage is a boutique floral and event design company in Duluth, Georgia. Founded in 1999, their team is solely focused on weddings and special events. 2987 Main St. N.W., Building B, Duluth, GA 30096 | 678-779-3833 | abbysatthecottage.com
Little Gardens
Little Gardens is a colonialstyle home nestled in the midst of a 3-acre estate located in Lilburn, Georgia, that offers an enchanted outdoor ceremony area enhanced with a picturesque waterfall and koi fish pond. 3571 Lawrenceville Highway | Lilburn | 770-923-3434 | LittleGardens.com
___________________ FLORISTS Design House Weddings & Events Design House Weddings & Events is a full-service
Jars of Flowers
Jars of Flowers makes sure to personalize your wedding day florals with fresh flowers and herbs from its garden in an eclectic collection of holders. Jars of Flowers offers fullservice wedding plans, DIY package options, or a la carte wedding services. 189 Twickenham Trace, Suwanee, GA 30024 | 770-271-5469 | jarsofflowers.com
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Laurens Florals
A full-service florist specializing in weddings and events. Laurens Norton holds an MFA and is a Master Designer with more than 40 years of experience in the floral industry. As a national award-winning designer, he will personally bring your visions to life and make your wedding or event one to cherish and remember. 2549 Sterling Drive N.W., Lawrenceville, GA 30043 | 770-335-7843 | laurensfloralart.com
Hacman Floral
acman Floral is a wedding H and event floral design studio serving metro Atlanta and its surrounding areas, specializing in designs that are unique, modern, bold yet beautiful and elegant. From a simple home wedding to the most extravagant affair, Hacman Floral will create your dream wedding. 678898-3833 | hacmanfloral.com
___________________ BRIDAL SHOPS Adore Bridal Boutique
Adore is an intimate Southern bridal boutique that focuses on unique and beautiful wedding gowns. The shop only allows one bride and their loved ones in to shop at a time, providing an intimate, stress-free environment to choose your perfect dress. 2908 Moon Station Road, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 770514-7271 | adorebridalga.com
The White Magnolia
At the White Magnolia, brides can experience the sophisticated, yet relaxed atmosphere of the boutique
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while also enjoying a glass of champagne and fresh flowers as they shop for the dress of your dreams. 442 East Paces Ferry Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30305 | 404-623-7267 | whitemagnoliabridal.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS VIDEOGRAPHERS Adair Kucera Photo & Film
Adair is a wedding, engagement, and portrait photographer and videographer based in Atlanta. contact@ adairkucera.com | 404-5561590 | adairkucera.com
Heather Clark Photography Elite Pour La Vie
Elite Pour La Vie carries a curated collection of couture bridal and special occasion gowns from high-end designers such as Zuhair Murad, Marchesa, Berta, Netta Benshabu and more. Elite Pour La Vie also features a selection of bridesmaids and motherof-the-bride dresses, and their knowledgeable and attentive staff will provide you an experience to remember. 631 N. Main St., Suite 206, Alpharetta, GA 30009 | Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30326 | 678-490-2227 | elitepourlavie.com
Carrie’s Bridal Collection Carrie’s Bridal offers a wide variety of beautiful and unique bridal gowns. They take pride in giving you an amazing gown selection and a fantastic experience that will start your bridal journey with excitement and joy. Plus, every gown in the store is less than $1,500. 3524 Broad St., Chamblee, GA 30341 | 770-451-8577 | carriesbridalcollection.com
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Heather is a natural light photographer who shoots weddings, life events, boudoir sessions and more. heatherclarkphotos.net
Alex Wisted Photography Alex is a wedding photographer who shoots timeless photos with a twist of warmth and mood. alexwistedphotography@ gmail.com | alexwisted photography.com
___________________ HAIR & MAKEUP RefEYEance Makeup & Hair
RefEYEance is The Knot's best of weddings winner 10 years in a row for their exceptional customer service and talent. They are a team of Atlanta makeup artists who specialize in airbrushing. Each artist is carefully selected for your wedding based on their many years of experience, awards, education, licensing, talent and attention to detail. The artists travel to you, allowing you to get ready in the comfort of your home, hotel or wedding venue instead of traveling to a salon or makeup counter. weddings@refeyeance.com
A Glamour Affair
A Glamour Affair is an Atlanta team of on-location hair and makeup artists, also offering lash extensions and microblading. Voted Atlanta's top 10 beauty experts by Modern Luxury Weddings Magazine, they specialize in bridal & special event hair and makeup. They take pride in providing bridal hairstyles and makeup applications that will last your entire wedding day! 178 Cole St NE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 404-287-0849 | aglamouraffair.com
Bombshell Creations
Whether it's subtly enhancing your features for a more natural look or an eclectic colorful style, Bombshell Creations’ experienced onsite hair and makeup artists offer beautiful big event and wedding hairstyles. The team services the entire Southeast, including but not limited to Atlanta, Athens, Savannah, Jekyll Island, Highlands, NC, Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC. 104 Fairfield Cir, Bogart, GA 30622 | 706-714-1907 | bombshellcreations.com
___________________ CATERING Talk of the Town
Talk of the Town creates memorable, distinctive dishes to suit the taste and tone of your big day. They hand-pick the finest ingredients from local organic fruits to vegetables, meats, and cheeses. 30 Woodstock St., Roswell, GA 30075 | 404-334-5461 | talkofthetownatlanta.com
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
PHOTOS BY ADAIR KUCERA PHOTOGRAPHY
S P E C I A L
LIZZY KIDNEY WILL JAMES July 13th, 2019
Wedding Venue Conservatory at Waterstone Floral Design Morgan Norwood Designs Entertainment DJ Lenard Morell Caterer Waterstone Events Photographer Adair Kucera Photography Hair and Makeup RefEYEance Bride’s Dress Adore Bridal Boutique Groom’s Suit Men’s Wearhouse Bridesmaid’s Dresses Show Me Your Mumu Groomsmen’s Suits Men’s Wearhouse
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Avalon Catering
Avalon Catering offers comprehensive event planning services and brings farm-to-table catered cuisine to your big day. Coupled with their strong relationships and a large network of partners, they are equipped to provide a full range of services, ensuring your big day is both flawlessly executed and truly memorable. 2191 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 | 404-728-0770 | avaloncatering.com
Proof of the Pudding
Proof of the Pudding has spent the last 40 years providing top-notch food, service, design expertise and experiences for clients throughout Atlanta and beyond. Their team works to incorporate every idea, emotion and desire you share with them, providing
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you with not only the menu, but the design, flowers, entertainment, and everything else that helps to express your style and vision. 1175 Chattahoochee Ave NW Bldg A, Atlanta, GA 30318 | 404-892-2359 | proofpudding.com
include unlimited time frames, ensuring that you and your guests can enjoy your big day as long as you’d like. 3337 W Hospital Ave, Atlanta, GA 30341 | 470-582-1656 | djconnection.com/atlanta
DJ SERVICES
For over 18 years Mickey Nightrain has brought his music across the globe playing events ranging from intimate to extravagant. A perfectionist at heart, the Atlanta DJ brings in his own lighting and sound so your venue will look amazing and your guests will be blown away. 491 Peachtree Battle Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 | 770-580-0478 | djmickeynightrain.com
AMP’D Entertainment
When you have a diverse group of wedding guests, you often have a diverse group of music taste. AMP’D Entertainment’s DJs are flexible, dynamic and creative as they get the crowd up and dancing with live mashups and remixes. 1500 Southland Circle NW Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30318 | 404-806-9499 | ampdentertainment.net
DJ Connection
DJ Connection’s DJs have a truly unique compassion for people and often go beyond the normal business/ client relationship. All of DJ Connections packages
DJ Mickey Nightrain
___________________ WEDDING PLANNING An Elegant Endeavor
Located in Lawrenceville, An Elegant Endeavor Inc. helps with every aspect of your wedding or event from
NATALIE STUBBS
conception to the day after, with services including event budget planning, booking and negotiating with vendors, coordinating all schedules and details to help ensure your big day is the best it can be. 470-222-4423 | AnElegantEndeavor.com
Wendy’s Weddings and Events
Wendy can help you build your event from the ground up, or step in and make sure all your visions are implemented on the big day. Book a consultation today to discuss how they can help alleviate some of the stress. 404-702-4188 | wwe-llc.com
It Takes Two Events
It Takes Two offers full service, month-of coordination and design, and month-of coordination services that will help you implement the wedding of your dreams no matter where you are in the planning stages. info@takestwoevents. com | 678-740-3445 | TakesTwoEvents.com
DYLAN GARRETT
APRIL 2020 Together with their parents, Natalie Stubbs and Dylan Garrett are excited to announce their engagement. Natalie, from Covington, and Dylan, from Dawsonville, now reside in Alpharetta, Georgia. Both 2015 graduates of The University of West Georgia, Natalie studied Psychology and now works for a marketing firm in Buford. Dylan, who studied Business, works for a medical billing company in Alpharetta. The couple looks forward to their rustic and charming ceremony on a river in Fairmount, Georgia, followed by a joyous celebration inside the historic mill also located on the river. Natalie and Dylan are counting down until the big day, which is set for April 2020, and crossing fingers they won’t meet any April showers.
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PHOTO COURTESY ALEX WISTED PHOTOGRAPHY
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ESTRADA
STUDEBAKER
TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE • ALEX WISTED PHOTOGRAPHY
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Vanessa and Andrew wanted a small, intimate wedding
sage green, which complemented their white
with their closest friends and family that reflected their
rose and eucalyptus florals perfectly. After a misty
love for each other and for God. They knew they wanted
and intimate ceremony, the party moved indoors
an outdoor wedding because the idea of exchanging
to the Gate Cottage, where everyone enjoyed some
vows in front of beautiful scenery was too much to
deliciously catered comfort food and a spectacular
resist. They researched a few different outdoor locations
two-tier strawberry and buttercream wedding cake
and settled on Toccoa Falls after visiting and seeing
from local bakery Sugartopia. Later, the bride and
how absolutely gorgeous the falls and adjoining
groom shared a beautiful moment during their
cottage were. They knew this unique and beautiful
first dance to “Bless the Broken Road,” sung by
backdrop would be the place they’d say, “I do”.
the groom’s brother, followed up by a sentimental
Their wedding day was one out of a fairytale!
father-daughter dance, and a sweet mother and
The bride wore a stunning ball gown and the groom
son moment. The party went on and the night
looked timeless in a handsome suit. Their bridesmaids
ended with a sparkler send-off. Congratulations to
and groomsmen were dressed in subtle, yet classic
Vanessa and Andrew!
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APPLEHEAD PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN.
TAUN HENDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Bohemian Bakery
Chef Pavla 678-315-4944 BohemianBakery.com Local to Buford, Georgia, online bake-to-order Bohemian Bakery specializes in professional Europeanstyle wedding cakes. With over 15 years of wedding industry experience, award-winning Master Pastry Chef Pavla is dedicated to crafting delicious, personalized wedding desserts of all types and sizes using only the highest quality ingredients. All Bohemian Bakery cakes and fillings are made from scratch and can be uniquely combined and customized at your request. Complimentary wedding cake consultations and private tastings can be booked online. Couples can have their cake delivered or schedule pick-up at either Bohemian Bakery’s Buford or Suwanee locations. Round, square, oval, heart, and hexagon-shaped wedding cakes are all possible. Aside from Bohemian Bakery’s premium flavors, including German chocolate, black forest, and champagne, the bakery also offers standard cake flavors, as well as fondant Swiss meringue buttercream and ganache icing.
Celebration Professional DJ Service
770 633-3798 JJ@CelebrationsProfessional DJ.com Celebrations Professional DJ Service is a professional and reliable disc jockey service with over 13 years of experience with wedding receptions, corporate parties, dance, class reunions and events. Celebrations Professional DJ Service is exactly what you need to create the perfect musical environment and entertainment for your wedding reception, class reunion, dance, bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah or any social event. They offer a wide range of music selections to fit your special occasion and event for any age group. We have provided entertainment for many banks, hospitals, TV stations, insurance companies, schools, fraternities, sororities, social clubs, plus hundreds of wedding receptions. Celebration professional DJ service, servicing the Southeast and Midwest.
Main Street Blooms
298 W. Main St., Buford 678-541-5447 MainStreetBlooms.com Main Street Blooms is passionate about weddings and would love to help create your perfect wedding day! They are your go-to flower shop for unique, incomparable wedding flowers designed exclusively for each individual bride. Even though their typical bride is one who wants something a bit different from all the weddings that she’s been to (or in) Main Street Blooms is equally as creative with traditional designs. Their floral creations include everything from only the bride’s bouquet to the design, installation, and complete floral styling of the entire event, from wedding ceremony to reception. Their talented and professional floral designers work with brides of all budgets to give inspiration and guidance to ensure that their wedding is as perfect as they dreamed, whether it be a large formal celebration or a small affair. They would love to have the opportunity to meet you. Simply call their shop and they will set up a no obligation consultation to hear about the wedding of your dreams!
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Elite Pour La V ie
COUTURE BRIDAL AND EVENING GOWNS
PHOTO COURTESY ELITE POUR LA VIE
HEN IT COMES to
finding the perfect wedding dress Elite Pour La Vie comes highly recommended. Located in Alpharetta and now in Buckhead, Elite Pour La Vie has become an international sensation for its collection of exclusive couture bridal and special occasion gowns from world-class designers such as Berta, Zuhair Murad, Naeem Khan, Ines Di Santo and Elie Saab. Elite Pour La Vie translates from French into “elite for life” and the staff there guarantees a white glove service to every customer. This boutique wants clients to be elite for life, starting from
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a young age from their baptism dress, communion dress and homecoming dress to prom dress and bridal dress. Elite Pour La Vie will be a part of your experience throughout these monumental stages of your life. Paris is the biggest landmark in the fashion industry and an inspiration behind it all, from the boutique’s name to the decor you can see the Paris references throughout the boutique. What makes Elite Pour La Vie different from other boutiques is the luxurious experience provided to all brides and clients. They cater to their clients needs and finding a way to help them find what they are looking for.
HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FROM ELITE POUR LA VIE TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE YOU START LOOKING FOR YOUR BRIDAL GOWN: 1. Do your research about the store you book an appointment with. Elite Pour La Vie carries designers from all over the world and provides a two-hour appointment to try on gowns. They will never pressure you into buying the gown unless you are 100% sure you love it. 2. Browse online for dresses you love. If you don’t know where to start it is completely fine - the bridal experts at Elite Pour La Vie will assist you step by step to find the right gown. 3. Start a year in advance to avoid buyer’s remorse and rush fees. It can take six to nine months for wedding dresses to arrive so start early. 4. Allow one to three months for alterations. Elite Pour La Vie has special services in-house for brides who are from out of town to assist in alterations. 5. Allow three to four months for accessories. When you find the prefect dress, go ahead and order your accessories so you have them available for your first fitting. 6. Do not forget the mother of the bride. The team at Elite Pour La Vie works very hard to make sure the mother of the bride stands out in her gown. They advise ordering her gown five months in advance to ensure her alterations are done in time for the wedding. 7. Start looking for bridesmaid gowns six months before your wedding. Elite Pour La Vie provides a bulk discount and can handle ordering all gowns at one time. 8. Ask questions! Bridal shopping can be overwhelming, so ask questions. Elite Pour La Vie team's mission is to make your journey stress free and memorable for you.
631 NORTH MAIN ST., SUITE 206, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009 NEW BUCKHEAD STORE: PHIPPS PLAZA, 3500 PEACHTREE RD NE, SECOND FLOOR (ON TOP OF TOM FORD), ATLANTA, GA 30326 678.490.2227
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A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
BRIAN WAGONER PHOTOGRAPHY
MY LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
CLAIRE DIANA PHOTOGRAPHY
S P E C I A L
Weddings at Lanier Islands LANIER ISLANDS is nestled under towering Georgia pines amongst the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with the sparkling waters of Lake Lanier at nearly every turn. It’s no wonder why the stunning waterfront resort has served as the scenic setting for countless blissful unions. With a number of spectacular ceremony and reception venues, no two weddings are ever exactly alike on these shores. A lifetime of happiness begins with a beautiful backdrop. Outdoor venues at Legacy Pointe and the slightly more intimate, but equally picturesque Oliver Pointe are within steps of the award-winning Legacy Lodge – with its opulent ballrooms and well-appointed guestrooms. The newly renovated Peachtree Pointe represents our grandest venue – providing room enough for 500 guests – with ceremony
space at the water’s edge and the reception hall offering sweeping panoramas. The newest venue, Peachtree Falls, showcases a romantic lakefront ceremony site with a gentle waterfall. Talented chefs, wedding packages and an array of photography, floral, musical and event planning partners make designing an extraordinary wedding at Lanier Islands a relative lakeside breeze. “Truly an unforgettable day made possible by this top-notch venue.” ~ Krystal B. “Lanier [Islands] provided the wedding of our dreams.” ~ Lindley H.
7000 LANIER ISLANDS PARKWAY, BUFORD, GA 30518
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631 NORTH MAIN ST., SUITE 206, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009 NEW BUCKHEAD STORE: PHIPPS PLAZA, 3500 PEACHTREE RD NE, SECOND FLOOR (ON TOP OF TOM FORD), ATLANTA, GA 30326 678.490.2227
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UPCOMING TRUNK SHOWS EVERY MONTH FOR 2020! BRINGING ATLANTA DESIGNERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. SPECIAL DEALS WHEN GOWN IS PURCHASED DURING THE TRUNK SHOW!
ZUHAIR MURAD
MARCHESA
BERTA
NETTA BENSHABU
INES DI SANTO
NAEEM KHAN
ELIE SAAB
ROSA CLARA
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A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
Denise Gray, Esthetician and founder of DKS Esthetics, shares how to get radiant skin for your wedding.
H E A LT H Y
SK IN ll brides-to-be love flipping through magazines or
searching Pinterest to find inspiration for their dream look for their big day. They plan every little detail from their dress, hair and makeup to their jewelry and perfect nail polish color. So why do we forget to plan for one of the most important parts? Our skin! Preparing your skin in advance is a game changer and will give you that extra glow that every bride wants when she is the center of attention. Not only will you look amazing in your photos, but your makeup will go on flawlessly and for those who prefer to wear less makeup, you can flaunt that natural glow! But where do you start?
PROFESSIONAL FACIALS Monthly facials will really refresh your skin and stimulate blood circulation, keeping your skin looking healthy. You can also request extractions, which is best done by a professional using a special process and techniques that, if done at home, can lead to scarring.
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WORK FROM THE INSIDE OUT Nutrition is key no matter what type of skin you have — oily, normal or combination. Skin also craves water, so be sure to drink plenty of water and snack on healthy hydrating antioxidant foods that will help give you that healthy natural glow.
SHRINK YOUR PORES Typically, oily skin means large pores. Professional treatments like retinol, microdermabrasion, microneedling or chemical peels can aid in minimizing the depth of your pores.
PRO TIP: Start
UNDEREYE SERUM
In some circumstances, dark under-eye circles are hereditary and can only be reduced with makeup. For others, however, the use of a great undereye serum can actually brighten and tighten the skin under your eyes. Remember to dab lightly with your pinky finger to avoid tugging on the delicate skin.
a skincare routine a year in advance. For best results, see a licensed esthetician, who will perform a full skin analysis to determine your skin type and customize a skin care regiment based on your skin’s needs. If you don’t have that long before the wedding day, just adopt the good habits outlined here as soon as possible.
SUPPLE LIPS
Prevent those lips from getting chapped and keep sunscreen on them at all times. One of my favorite products is Cosmedix’s Lumi Crystal ($35), a glossy lip hydrator infused with liquid crystal technology that delivers intense moisture. Among the ingredients, portulaca pilosa extract and palmitoyl tripeptide-38 help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and protect from environmental stressors. Plus, the product’s light-reflecting finish will give you a polished look in photos.
Denise Gray is a licensed esthetician and has been in the medical field for more than 28 years. To learn more about DKS Esthetics or to schedule a free consultation, call 678-249-9493 or visit DKSEsthetics.com.
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NOFO BREW CO.
local food. craft beer. wine trends.
THE HEA LTH BEN EF ITS OF EATIN G LOC A L 60
Authentic & Fresh
Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill brings fresh ingredients, live music, and a family-friendly atmosphere to Suwanee By Lizzy James Photos By Karl Lamb
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R E S TA U R A N T S P O T L I G H T:
Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill Family-owned restaurant celebrates a year of bringing authentic Mexican cuisine to the Suwanee community. isn’t limited to Taco Tuesday and margaritas. When you taste the perfect salsa or bite into an authentic Mexican dish — well, there’s nothing quite like it. Couple that with fresh ingredients, live music, and a family-friendly atmosphere and you have Suwanee’s Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill. The family-owned restaurant, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, prides itself on offering great, authentic food and even better service. EXICAN CUISINE
Authentic Mexican Cuisine "I would say we’ve got a more authentic Mexican
restaurant than anywhere around," says owner Wilson Cabrera. “My wife has been in the industry since she was 10 years old and was part of “ The name the team that helped create Don Bonachon La Fuente Restaurant in Mexico City. That restaurant was picked now serves thousands of up after my people each week. We have father-in-law, incorporated a lot of dishes that come straight from and means a into our menu, and good person — Mexico we try to go back there at someone who least once a year to get more has a good recipes and bring something disposition, is new to our customers.” When choosing the always happy, location to open their and willing restaurant, Cabrera and his wife noticed a shortage of to help other affordable, authentic Mexican people.” food in Suwanee. Add in a - Wilson Cabrera great community to raise their family, and the husband-and-wife duo decided to open their restaurant in a new shopping center off of Suwanee Dam Road. The next step was to figure out a name.
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Don Bonachon's burrito bowls feature your choice of meat served with beans, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, avocado, lettuce, corn and sweet plantains.
“The name Don Bonachon was picked up after my father-inlaw, and means a good person — someone who has a good disposition, is always happy, and willing to help other people. This is the motto we like to emphasize inside the restaurant,” Wilson says. “We love to speak to customers, interact with them, and we want them to know that they are special to us.”
SAVOR
tacos. These deliciously cheesy tacos are made with handmade corn tortillas, grilled with a layer of cheese on either side, and topped off with your choice of shrimp, fish, chicken or steak, along with corn, black beans, feta cheese, guacamole, avocado and pico de gallo.
Best Margaritas Aside from a delicious lineup
Family-Friendly Environment Aside from a great customer experience, the
restaurant boasts a relaxed, family-friendly environment with food to satisfy all ranges of palates. A popular favorite on the menu is the burrito bowls featuring chicken, steak, shrimp, or pork served with your choice of beans, sour cream, queso, pico de gallo, guacamole, avocado, lettuce, corn, and sweet plantains. Another favorite for patrons of all ages is the chicken soup. The soup is made in-house each day and features chunks of chicken, avocado, rice, pico de gallo, and cilantro mixed in a homemade chicken broth and served with lime. When asked about his favorite dish on the menu, Wilson’s face lights up while describing Don Bonachon’s new cheese
of authentic Mexican food items, Wilson also makes the proud claim that their margaritas are some of the best, if not the best, around town. “Our margaritas are also very popular,” he says. “We have people who travel from Cumming, Dacula, Duluth and all around for not only our food, but also our margaritas.”
Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill owner Wilson Cabrera says that people travel to Don Bonachon for their margaritas, which he says are the best in town.
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Catering In terms of special events and
catering, Wilson says he will work with customers to provide menus suited perfectly for their guests. Aside from hosting events at the restaurant, Don Bonachon also has the capacity to deliver catering for birthdays, corporate parties, and even weddings. “We also have events for our regular customers in the restaurant such as live music on Fridays and karaoke Don Bonachon serves authentic nights Mexican food with fresh ingredients. every Saturday,” he says. The restaurant also offers weekly specials like $1.95 tacos on Tuesday, $1 kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal on Wednesdays, and buy 10 wings get five free on Thursdays.
Don Bonachon Mexican Bar and Grill is located at 4369 Suwanee Dam Road in Suwanee. For more information, call 770-368-6833 or visit DonBonachon.com.
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When you experience Don Bonachon, know that you’re getting a unique local dining experience. With no plans to franchise, the restaurant is a true Suwanee staple. “We aren’t part of a chain, and we try to always accommodate our community,” Wilson says. ”We have a diverse group of customers and it is really nice to know that we are able to bring that atmosphere to this part of Gwinnett.” Whatever route you go, whether it’s indulging in a cheesy taco or enjoying a delicious margarita with some friends, be sure to raise a toast to the Cabrera family for bringing an authentic Mexican experience to the Suwanee community. ■
343 US-23, Suwanee StillFireBrewing.com
The health benefits of eating local LIVING WELL FARMERS MARKET OFFERS TIPS ON HOW TO INCORPORATE LOCAL, ORGANIC FOODS INTO YOUR DIET By Nora Lea, Photos by Neah Maxwell HY SHOULD I eat local? Why should I eat organic? Is it really better for me? Why is it more expensive? These are just a few questions I get asked as market manager at Living Well Farmers Market. For most of us the reason to eat organically is simple — foods grown without synthetic chemicals, antibiotics or steroids are just better for us and our families, especially children. I am one of many Americans touched by cancer in my family due to the powerful herbicide Agent Orange. Because of this, since I was young, I’ve been cautious of chemical exposure. However, it wasn’t until I was pregnant that I
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really researched about pesticide/ herbicide exposure on children. For myself, this is what started my journey to seek out local, organically grown foods. I was fortunate enough to surround myself with like-minded friends and meet local farmers. There’s something special about knowing where your food comes from, who grew it, and how it was raised. By buying local, you are building relationships and personal connections with farmers and your community and bolstering your local economy. You get to understand the pride that comes from what the farmers produce and the difficulties of raising food and growing crops the right way. These farmers do not use synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMO feed, or crowded
cages. Many farmers who choose to grow organically have themselves experienced health issues related to conventional farming and realize there’s a better, safer, and healthier way to farm. They want to make a difference for future generations. Eating organic is healthier for all of us but especially for our children. Young children, especially infants, are particularly susceptible to damage due to pesticides because of their low body weights in comparison to adults or older children. There are current studies researching women's exposure to pesticides during pregnancy. Evidence shows that pesticides may negatively impact their children's IQ and neurobehavioral development, including ADHD. Eating locally and organically is also better for the environment. There is reduced energy consumption, air pollution, and transportation cost since products are grown closer to consumers. There are also less pesticides and herbicides in the soil that affect our water supply, land, and bodies. Buying conventional food from local farmers does not change the toxic effects that the conventional agriculture has on our environment. Aside from the health benefits and environmental impact, buying locally definitely benefits our local economy. Based on a study from UGA’s Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center, if Georgians spent just $10 per week on items from local farms, it would add about $1.9 billion back into our state economy. Money spent locally stays local. By supporting local farms, you directly impact our local economy instead of paying a corporation in another city, state, or country. Also, because the food itself moves through less hands, more money ends up in the pockets of the farmers.
3 WAYS TO INCORPORATE LOCAL AND ORGANIC FOODS IN YOUR DIET Eating locally and organically can be a little more expensive mainly because the food that comes from smaller farms is more labor intensive since they do not use synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or steroids.
SAVOR Purchase local, grass-fed meats raised on pesticidefree pastures. If fed supplemental feed, make sure your meat contains no GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) or is genetically engineered. Pastured animals have more space to move and have access to the outdoors and their natural environment. Beware of meats in the grocery stores; many commercial meat processers “plump” chicken, beef, and other meats by injecting it with water, salt solutions, or other additives. So, essentially, you might pay more than you think for commercially raised meats.
Buy organically grown produce in season. Foods grown during their appropriate growing season are more nutrient dense. Many fruits and vegetables grown commercially year-round have a ripening agent applied — such as chemicals, heat, gases, or film — to protect it. A Georgia vine-ripened tomato organically grown in the spring and summer tastes much better than a pale tomato from California at the grocery store in winter. The flavor of in-season produce is much fresher and richer.
Choose local, pasture raised eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein and are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to incorporate local food into your diet. It’s best to ask the farmer how their hens are raised and what kind of supplemental feed is given, if any. Studies have shown that pastured hens that forage naturally have significantly more vitamin E in their eggs — about 200% more than in that of caged hens. There’s also a color difference between the two yolks showing that pastured hens have access to grass while commercial hens don’t.
LIVING WELL FARMERS MARKET opens early in 2020 at Solis Suwanee Town Center. Check out their website at LivingWellGA.com for more details. Also, visit Suwanee Farmers Market - Winter Farmers Market which is active October 2019 through April 2020 on the second Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m.
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Owner Joe Garcia and his business partners opened NoFo Brew Co. in September 2019.
WHAT’S BREWING
NOFO BREW CO BRINGS MIDWEST VIBES (AND GREAT BEER) TO NORTH FORSYTH By Lizzy James / Photos by OneNine Images and Lydia Kerr
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SAVOR
We recently had the chance to catch up with NoFo Brew Co Co-Owner Joe Garcia to learn more about the experience the brewery is bringing to the local craft beer scene. How did you get involved in the craft beer industry? I have been a huge craft beer fan for over 15 years. Some of the first beers I ever drank were Sierra Nevada and Fat Tire. I had a few friends that owned breweries in Georgia and South Carolina and seeing their love for what they did helped my attraction to the industry grow.
What made you decide to open a brewery in North Forsyth? My partners and I all live in Forsyth and this is where we raised our families. The north side of the county is a little less developed than the south side, so we wanted to create more of a local destination up here. We want people who live in the community to be able to enjoy a beer on their way home or hang out with friends and family on the weekends. We felt that hyperlocality was really important.
Tell us the story behind the name NoFo. When we decided we were going to open the brewery, we had a brainstorming session to figure out the name. We realized a sort of hyperlocal trend with other breweries, so we came up with
the idea of “NoFo” for North Forsyth. We wanted something that represented a figurative stake in the ground that said this is created for the community.
What sets NoFo apart from other local breweries? Certainly the environment we’ve created sets us apart. My partners and I love adventure and we have spent a lot of time out West, especially in Wyoming and Montana. We wanted to bring the essence of the West into the taproom and created our tagline “Tap your adventurous side” that is present throughout the brewery, while also maintaining a familyand dog-friendly space. In terms of our beers, we keep introducing a really diverse lineup of craft beer to Forsyth that has been really well received.
NoFo’s Midwest vibe and family-friendly environment makes the perfect hangout destination in North Forsyth.
How has the response been since opening? It has been amazing. Our first month in business exceeded our
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SAVOR
NoFo Brew Co founders wanted to bring the essence of the West into the taproom and created the tagline “Tap your adventurous side” that is present throughout the brewery.
expectations, and we even had to close for two days because we ran out of beer. We started with as few as two beers on tap and now we have seven to eight beers on tap. Members of the community have been so supportive and one word we keep hearing is “finally!” They are excited that there is finally a place that people can enjoy themselves with their family or their dog. The county really needed this.
Tell us a little bit about your head brewer. Our head brewer’s name is Johnny Bradley. He has an extensive brewing background as a homebrewer for over 10 years and has spent time at Cherry Street Brewing and did a short stint at Etowah Meadery in Dahlonega. He really has a passion for brewing and bringing delicious beers to the taproom, and we are very fortunate to have him. We also have two assistant brewers, Justin Kendrick and Emily Carr. Emily was a part of our taproom staff and had
aspirations to learn more about the brewing process. We recently brought her in as an assistant brewer and she really provides a new and diverse outlook back there.
pretty locally with options to purchase four-packs of 16-ounce cans in stores near us as well as sending kegs to other key locations in the area.
What are some of your top sellers in the taproom?
What exciting things do you have planned to kick off the new year?
Our Snow Ghost, which is a New England IPA, has been by far our best seller. Another super popular beer has been our My Porter Boy coffee stout that features hints of coffee, vanilla and hazelnut.
Starting in January we will have trivia and comedy nights, live music, and we are also launching a cornhole league. The brewery is also a great starting and ending point for local running clubs, and we hope to also serve as a meet-up point for mountain bikers looking to take advantage of the trails in the Forsyth area. ■
Since this is our health and fitness issue, could you recommend a beer to drink after a workout? I’d say either our Diversion Vienna Style Lager, our India pale lager, or our Belgian Blonde Ale because they are all super light and refreshing.
Where else can residents find your beer other than the brewery? December was our official distribution launch with our team at Modern Hops. We plan to distribute
NoFo Brew Co. is located at 6150 GA-400 Suite A/B in Cumming. For a complete beer list and to stay up to date on everything NoFo, visit NoFoBrew.co or follow them on social media.
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THANK YOU SUWANEE FOR 10 EPIC YEARS! 2020 marks the 10 year anniversary of a local institution: The Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest. 10 amazing years of celebrating craft beer, 10 years of introducing new and under-the-radar breweries to our fellow beer lovers, and 10 years of honoring our community by highlighting local vendors, businesses, restaurants and all of the brew masters among us. The festival wouldn’t be what it is today without all of YOU, and to commemorate the occasion we’re excited to throw our biggest event yet in 2020. We can't wait to raise a glass with you!
TICKETS ON SALE JAN. 10TH @ NOON! SuwaneeBeerFest.com
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DIMENSIONAL DESIGNS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOL
THE LATEST FROM IN AND AROUND SUWANEE
TO CELEBRATE their 30th anniversary in
Gwinnett Library Hosts Events for Up-and-Coming Writers GWINNETT LIBRARY has a number of upcoming events geared toward the new writers among us. Whether you’re looking to finally start on that children’s book or in need of advice about how to sell your first book, the new year is the perfect time to finally put your plan into action, and Gwinnett Library is here to help. On January 25, the library invites both teens and adults to its SCBWI 2020 Vision Writer's Workshop, in partnership with Southern Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The workshop will focus on how to get started writing a children’s book or story. Writers are invited to share their work at the event for helpful feedback. On February 1, the library hosts Your First Book: Start It, Finish It, Sell It, a workshop that provides answers and inspiration that will help motivate you to write your first book — from finding time to write and overcoming obstacles to making a plan to achieve your publishing goals. Gwinnett Library is located at 361 Main St. in Suwanee. For a full list of events, visit GwinnettPL.org.
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business, Duluth based industrial design company Dimensional Design wanted to give back to the community. At the same time, they were contacted by a former employee (nne of their first team members!) who needed some help and expertise updating the library that she worked in, a 68 year-old elementary school in Doraville. That is how they were introduced to Tapestry Public Charter School. The school blends autistic, special needs, and neurotypical students into one inclusive environment where learning for everyone is at the forefront. Dimensional Design worked with Tapestry to update the school’s hand-me-down, outdated facility to better reflect the spirit of the school. Over the last 18 months, Dimension Design has designed a number of updates and additions. They’ve built a multi-sensory “space room” to help calm students; painted the lobby, hallways, and gym to enhance school spirit; developed a tech lab and robotics space; created high-impact signage and wayfinding graphics to define the school and its mission; transformed a closet used into a teacher’s lounge with a beautiful coffee house feel; created an “artistic tree” in the library to increase reading interest; as well as created and cultivated an outdoor classroom and garden with help from Omnimax, who donated a pergola for the space. Dimensional Design worked with a team of volunteers and corporate friends to update a space in a way that truly brings the school’s passion to life. For more information about Tapestry, visit TapestryCharter.org.
Brunch Bill Passes in Suwanee IN NOVEMBER, Suwanee citizens voted in favor of a referendum authorizing the City of Suwanee to permit and regulate Sunday sales of alcohol, meaning restaurants are now able to begin serving alcohol at 11 a.m. instead of 12:30 p.m. on Sundays. Better known as the “Brunch Bill” or “Mimosa Mandate,” this bill passed through the Georgia legislature giving local governments the opportunity to call referendums if they so choose. The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners voted in December 2018 to amend the county’s alcohol ordinance, which covers only restaurants in unincorporated parts of the county, leaving the cities to hold their own referendums on the topic. In addition to Suwanee, the Brunch Bill also passed in Berkeley Lake, Dacula, Lilburn and Norcross.
Suwanee Beer Fest Turns
2020 MARKS the 10th anniversary of Suwanee Beer Fest, the Southeast’s biggest and best craft beer festival and St. Patrick’s Day party. This year, the festival will celebrate a decade in style at Town Center Park. With samples of more than 300 craft beers from around the country, the beer selection ranges from hard-to-find seasonals to perennial favorites, as well as local brews mingling with national breweries. Mark your calendars because tickets go on sale January 10th at noon at SuwaneeBeerFest. com. General Admission tickets are $50 (until the price increases on February 23) and include unlimited samples of craft beer, live music, backyard games such as cornhole and giant Jenga, and food for purchase from local restaurants and food trucks. And since the fest will be celebrating the big 1-0, we’re sure they’ll have some surprises up their sleeves. Keep an eye on SuwaneeBeerFest.com and the festival’s social media for updates.
SUWANEE WINE FEST DONATES TO ANNANDALE VILLAGE
THE 7TH annual Suwanee Wine Fest took place on November 2nd, 2019, at Suwanee Town Center Park. Each year the festival organizers have partnered with local nonprofit, Annandale Village, as their benefiting charity. Annandale Village is a residential and nursing facility off of Satellite Boulevard in Suwanee that provides life assistance to adults with developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, acquired brain injuries and more. A portion of proceeds from the Suwanee Wine Fest ticket sales is given to Annandale to support their award-winning programs and services. This year, Suwanee Wine Fest was excited to donate $3,500 to Annandale Village. For more information about Annandale Village, visit Annandale.org.
Suwanee Beer Fest attendees come dressed in their St. Paddy’s best, including all things green, shamrocks, kilts and other Irish-themed drinking gear.
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Georgia Tech Police Department Raises Money for Cooper’s Crew THE GEORGIA TECH police department extended an invitation to Donna and Kevin O’Brien to attend the Georgia/Georgia Tech game on November 30th. During the game, the police department honored the O’Brien’s son Cooper by donating more than $600 that they had raised during No Shave November for Cooper’s Crew. The organization is a Suwaneebased nonprofit formed in memory and honor of Cooper O’Brien, a North Gwinnett Middle School student who lost his battle to Clear Cell Sarcoma in 2014 at the young age of 14. To date, the Cooper O’Brien Scholarship Fund has donated more than $25,000 in the form of scholarships for other young students who have shown great strength in the face of hardships. They are also dedicated to providing funding for research and development to help find a cure for childhood cancer. For more information about Cooper’s Crew, visit CoopersCrew.com.
Macley Family Practice and Walk-In Clinic opens in Duluth Macley Family Practice and Walk-In Clinic is a new Piedmont
Clinic located on Meadow Church Road in Duluth. Dr. Clement Ayanbadejo and Marie Francoise Faye A., the clinic’s Nurse Practitioner, care about their patients’ well being and offer a fullspectrum family practice that treats all conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and minor emergencies. The clinic also offers sameday appointment scheduling. Macley Family Practice and Walk-In Clinic is here to help the community get healthier. Macley Family Practice and Walk-In Clinic is located at 2282 Meadow Church Road, Suite 200, in Duluth. For more information call 678-257-2832 or visit MacleyFamilyPractice.com.
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CityBuzz Sugar Hill’s Eagle Theatre PHOTOS BY MELISSA POLONCARZ hat was once considered a quiet commuter city, the City of Sugar Hill has certainly come into its own. Entering a renaissance, Sugar Hill emerged on the other side as an arts and entertainment city. With the help of city council and management an entertainment district was created. Known now as the E Center, downtown is decorated with unique restaurants, retailers, a craft brewery and most iconic, The Eagle Theatre. Opening its doors in 2018, the Eagle’s magnificent architectural styling is a nod to the early days of The City of Sugar Hill. Walking through the doors of the theater is nothing short of stepping through a time capsule. Transported back to the 1940s, the art deco look of the theater is characterized by geometric shapes, rich colors and exquisite gold accents. With 406 seats and deluxe amenities, this masterpiece is not something you will want to miss. The Eagle has welcomed an estimated 25,000 guests since the inaugural season. From national touring acts and $2 movie Tuesdays to holiday performances, there is always something captivating the Broad St. Film Fest will screen professional, happening at the theater. first time, student and national/international $ projects to commemorate the art of film making. 2.00 TUESDAYS For more details please visit FilmFreeway.com/ Put a little fun into your work week with $2 broadstfilmfest. Tuesdays at The Eagle! $2 Tuesdays are an exciting and inexpensive way to treat your family or spouse to a movie night. Each month Tickets and all information regarding the theater The Eagle Theatre chooses a theme and shows can be found at EagleatSugarHill.com and on weekly movies to accommodate that theme. social media: Facebook /EagleatSugarHill, Instagram @EagleatSugarHill, Twitter @ BROAD ST. FILM FEST EagleSugarHill. Keep an eye on the website and Celebrating the art of film, The Eagle will host social media for $2 Tuesday lineups to be released the Inaugural Broad St. Film Fest in February on the third Thursday of each month! 2020. Open to filmmakers across the globe,
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/CityofSugarHill
@CityofSugarHill
The Eagle is proud to host several different types of entertainment, including Sugar Hill’s community theater, the Players Guild at Sugar Hill and the Broad St. Concert Band and national acts like the Marshall Tucker Band.
@CityofSugarHill_
ON THE SCENE
Rudolph 5K
Saturday, Dec. 7th TOWN CENTER PARK
PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB
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Suwanee Classic Car Show Sunday, Nov.. 10th TOWN CENTER PARK
PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB
Jonny & Xena 5K Saturday, Oct.. 26th
TOWN CENTER PARK
PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB
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Mistletoe Market Sunday, Dec. 8th
TOWN CENTER PARK
PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB
Holly Jolly Day Friday, Dec. 6th
TOWN CENTER PARK
PHOTOS BY: JULIE PERDUE
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PEOPLE & PLACES Bark for Life
Saturday, Nov. 9th TOWN CENTER PARK
PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB
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PEOPLE & PLACES Suwanee Business Alliance Meeting Wednesday, Nov. 13th STILLFIRE BREWING
PHOTOS BY: ANGELA VEUGELER
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city
buzz
January
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thru
Feb. 9th
SUGAR HILL ICE RINK OPEN ____________ ___ Sugar Hill _____________
City of Sugar Hill. For more information visit haidrink.com
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thru
Feb. 25th
LICENSE TO CHILL SNOW ISLAND ____________ ______
Lanier Islands Margaritaville _________________ lanierislands.com/ margaritaville
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&5
REPTICON ATLANTA ____________ _______ 10am ____________ _______
Gwinnett County Fairgrounds ____________ _______ Repticon.com
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SUWANEE BEER FEST TICKETS ON SALE _____________________
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GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS BACK IN SESSION
Friday, Jan. 10 @ NOON _____ __________________
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to SuwaneeBeerFest.com
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SUWANEE WINTER FARMER’S MARKET ____________ _______ 9am-11am ____________ _______
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BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER CHRISTMAS TREECYCLING _________________ ___ 9am-4pm _________________ ___
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Town Center Park
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ROCK THE NEW YEAR HALF MARATHON,___________ 10K & 5K ____________ 8am ____________ ___________
Lenora Park, _Snellville ____________ __________ deborahmontgomeryracing.com
February
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SUWANEE WINTER FARMER’S MARKET ____________ ________ 9am-11am ____________ ________
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Town Center Park
thru
Feb. 13th
THE CAT IN THE HAT ____________ ___________ Aurora Theatre ____________ ___________ For more information and to purchase tickets, visit auroratheatre.com
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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY - GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS HOLIDAY
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thru Feb.
2nd/Feb. 7th thru Feb. 9th UP…UP…AND… AWAY THE BEST OF OLD-TIME SUPERHERO RADIO ___ _________________ Eagle Theatre _________________ ___
For tickets visit pgatsh.com
SUWANEE HALF MARATHON & 5K
____________ _______________ 7:30am ____________ _______________
Town Center Park ____________ ____________ Visit suwaneehalf.com for more information or to register
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SUWANEE SWEETHEART SPRINT ____________ ____________ 10am ____________ ____________
Town Center Park ____________ ____________ suwaneesweetheartsprint.com
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16TH ANNUAL TASTE OF COLLINS _HILL ____________ ___________ 6pm-9pm ____________ ____________
Town Center Park ____________ ____________ For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tasterofcollinshill.com
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