Top Five Things I Love About Roswell Georgia

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1.  Big Creek Park – Big Creek Park consists of 3 trail systems: The Greenway Trail, Mountain Bike Trails and a Walking Trail. The Greenway trail consists of a little over 2 miles of concrete sidewalk and boardwalks. It is a multi-user trail meaning it is open to joggers, walkers, bikers, roller bladers, etc. The trail will eventually connect to Alpharetta’s Greenway trail as well as Roswell’s Riverwalk trail system.

My favorite part about Big Creek are the mountain biking trails. There are approximately 4.25 miles of open trails including beginner,
intermediate and advanced trails. The latest addition to Big Creek is a designated “freeride” section with plenty of berms and jumps.

2.  Chattahoochee River – Running through Roswell is the Chattahoochee River which gives you an opportunity to be active and close to nature just minutes from home.  There are many trails along the banks of the river…even some hidden singletrack trails for mountain biking!

Residents enjoy time spent on the trails, sunbathing on rocks, fishing, kayaking, tubing, and much more!

3.  Mountains - Originally from the midwest, mountains are something I’m not use to seeing.  About 90 minutes north of Roswell are the Blue Ridge Mountains an amazing and scenic place.  Some of the best mountain biking is located up in the mountains.  In addition there are some great water systems for kayaking and whitewater rafting.

4.  Lake Sidney Lanier – Located about 45 minutes northeast of Roswell is the man-made reservoir known as Lake Lanier (officially Lake Sidney Lanier).  The lake encompasses 38,000 acres of water and 692 miles of shoreline.  The lake is extremely popular with boaters, sailors, houseboats, jetskiers and others.

5.  History – There is so much history in Roswell from the old mill to the historic antebellum homes to the quaint downtown.  Roswell is a city with a lot of character and a great place to spend your time and marvel at its rich history and deep seeded roots.

Atlanta Wine School Provides Vinotainment

The Atlanta Wine School in Roswell, GA is located in the shopping center with neighbors Aqua Blue and Twisted Taco.  It  opened its doors in January of 2003.  Since its inception the school has seen over 4,500 students with around 160 courses s and events each year.  Michael Bryan is the Founder & Executive Director.

The Atlanta Wine School is the only wine-centric institution in the Southeast and teaches what Bryan calls, ‘vinotainment’.  The school provides education on wine to both consumers as well as individuals within the wine trade.  Atlanta Wine School provides continuous training and learning experiences through selected renowned international speakers and courses offered.

Bryan’s school teaches people about the joys of wine, catering to everything from the large corporate parties to the private, intimate gathering of friends. Classes are offered as well for the “wine curious.”

Breaking News…Santa on his way

Great news. It appears that Santa is on schedule and is heading across the Atlantic Ocean as we write this. So it may be time to get the cookies and milk ready and get the kids tucked into their beds for the night. Santa is on his way to the Roswell area, so be ready.

If you’re one of those people who have actually lit a fire in their fireplace in this warm weather, make sure you put it out before Santa arrives. He never likes it when his britches get singed.

Also, if you want to keep up to date on Santa’s progress, click here for the Santa Tracker.

Happy Holidays from the team here at AllAboutRoswell.com.

Running at Large…Legally

Hopefully the title of this post means nothing to you, but if it meant something then you and I both have had the unfortunate experience of being cited for a Roswell city ordinance for “running at large” because your dog was not on a leash outside.

I only need to tell a very short version of my story to make you appreciate local dog parks.  The story goes like this:  My Golden Retriever slipped out the front door as it was being opened and got in a fight with a neighbor’s Pitbull, another neighbor called the police, I am cited for my dog “running at large”, the fine is “judge imposed” so I must appear in court, I have the option of A) Paying $180 fine  B)  Spend 18 days in jail or C)  Complete 16 hours of community service.  I choose the later of the three.

Not common in the Chicagoland area I have learned to really love and appreciate…I mean really appreciate dog parks, especially now.  Dog parks are a great place to take your best friend and let him or her run at large without the fear of court appearances, fines, service hours, or jail time…yes jail time! Your dog will love the experience and you’ll love it too as it is a great way to get rid of your dog’s excess energy!

Dogs can run free at the dog park at East Roswell Park located off Fouts Road.  The $23,000 facility opened October 20th.  Smaller than Piedmont Park’s dog park, East Roswell Park has a dedicated 1-acre fenced section of the park dedicated to “man’s best friend.”  The dog park features park benches and a water fountain for both owners and canines.  The minimum age for anyone to enter the off-leash area is 12 and all youngsters must be accompanied by an adult.

The Holidays and Home and Neighborhood Security

As the economy continues to be a major concern for Americans and Roswell residents alike, a growing concern for the byproduct of unemployment exists…property crime.  With the holidays approaching home and neighborhood security is of greater concern.  Although crime is a serious concern, Roswell homes and communities are safer than they’ve been in decades, and this is likely due, at least in part, to citizens being aware of the concern and being proactive by doing the following:

• Asking police to increase patrols in neighborhoods
• Outside doors have strong deadbolt locks
• Keep spare keys with a trusted relative or neighbor, not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in the mailbox
• Lock gates, garage doors, and shed doors after every use
• Illuminate or eliminate places an intruder might hide:  the space between trees or shrubbery, stairwells, alleys, hallways, and entryways
• Set timers on lights when you’re away from home so it appears to be occupied
• Keep your bike and sports equipment inside the house when not in use

Perhaps the best thing you can do to help protect your home and neighborhood this holiday season is to be active…get out and take walks throughout your neighborhood and admire the displays of holiday spirit.  By walking your neighborhood you are in effect patroling it and this too will ward off burglars.

Neighborhood safety is every Roswell residents responsibility; if you see something that looks suspicious, call the police.  If you notice a garage door left open, let your neighbor know.  Together Roswell residents will help keep the city of Roswell a safe place to call home.

Ice Skating returns to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta

Yesterday, November 16, 2008 Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta opened its ice skating rink for the holiday season.  The skating rink will be open daily until January 4, 2009.  The fee to skate is $7 for a 90 minute skate session and the ice skate rental fee is $2.

Hours are:
Monday – Thursday 430pm – 10:00pm
Friday 4:30pm – 11:00pm
Saturday 10:00am  – 11:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 11:00pm

Thanksgiving Day 5:00pm-10pm

Below are some pictures captured by Laura Araya of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Centennial Olympic Park is located about 20 miles south of Roswell and is roughly a 30-45min drive. Visitors can find plenty parking spaces in nearby lots and garages.

View Larger Map

The City of Roswell Receives Bicycle Friendly Community Designation

The League of American Bicyclists has awarded the City of Roswell with the Bicycle Friendly Community designation.

This is a very coveted award amongst cities nationwide.  Roswell is the only city in Georgia to hold the designation and one of only 63 cities across the United States.

Mayor Jere Wood said he is thrilled the City has earned the designation. “Bicyclists are always welcome on our City streets, on our bicycle trails, and in our parks. We celebrate the sport every year with the Nalley Historic Roswell Bicycle Criterium, my own ride the morning of the Criterium, and my annual Ride to the Capitol in support of Bicyling across Georgia. There is no better place for a cyclist to live in metro Atlanta than Roswell and this designation shows that.”

Andy Clarke, the chief executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, said Roswell has shown a tremendous commitment to improving conditions for bicyclists. “They are making the streets safer for bicyling, educating bicylists and motorists to share the road and promoting a wide range of bicyling activities.”

The Bicycle Friendly Community Award was initiated in 2003 and has recieved applications from more than 150 communities. Applicants must complete a detailed application with numerous questions in five key areas: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation/planning.

Roswell residents can enjoy cycling on streets with designated bike lanes, bicycle trails and within the city’s numerous parks.

The Big Creek Greenway is a favorite network of trails enjoyed by Roswell cyclists.  There are lots of unpaved walking and mountain bike trails within the park, however most of the greenway are paved trails.  The Greenway is part of the City of Roswell’s Wetlands Demonstration Project and consists of just over 2 miles of concrete sidewalk and boardwalks.  The trail connects in the north to the City of Alpharetta’s Greenway trail.

Have fun, be safe, and remember – keep the rubber side down!

The City of Roswell is Helping You Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Spring is the season to clean, right?  Well, if you didn’t have a chance to clean this past spring, why not clean out this fall?  The City of Roswell and Keep Roswell Beautiful have numerous events to help you get your house clean and decluttered before the holiday season begins.

In addition to the elections today, Roswell residents are invited to participate in the Electronics Recycling event at Harry’s Farmers Market, 1180 Upper Hembree Road, from noon until 5pm.  The event is sponsored by Harry’s Farmers Market, Keep Roswell Beautiful, Roswell Recycling Center and Atlanta Recycling Solutions.

Items accepted at no charge include:  computer monitors, microwave ovens, computer CPU’s stereos, laptops, copiers, toaster ovens, printers, video machines, disk drives, VCR’s, floppy drives, camcorders, modems, telephones, test and networking equipment, cameras, CB radios, mouse, record players, CD players, circuit boards, portable radios, typewriters, UPS, battery back-up, CD Roms, fax machines, cell phones, cables, projectors, keyboards, 8 tracks (reel to reel tapes), and scanners.  Televisions are accepted with a $10.00 fee.

Items NOT accepted:  console/projection TV’s, refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, freezers, humidifiers, de-humidifiers, power equipment, tires, household trash, non-electric equipment and vacuum cleaners.

Saturday, November 15th is America Recycles Day and the Roswell Recycling Center, located at 11570 Maxwell Road, will be holding, “ShredFest” beginning at 8am.   This is residents chance to safely dispose of sensitive documents like old tax returns and other documents with personal information on them.  There is a limit of five boxes or 200 pounds per vehicle.  The event will last until the truck is full, so arrive early!

For more information about these two events, contact the Environmental/Public Works Department at 770.641.3715.

Roswell Roots Festival

Roswell will host the largest Black History Month Celebration in Metro Atlanta with its Roswell Roots Festival.  The festival will consist of a variety of events; seventeen performances, exhibit openings, competitions, and special readings.  There will also be six month-long exhibits which will be located at various locations throughout the city.

There are some new features that are being added to this year’s celebration.

“An Evening Celebrating the Black History of Classic Jazz”

Saturday, February 7, 7:30-11:30pm

This event should be a lot of fun as the Roswell VFW is transformed into a New Orleans style club to celebrate the works of jazz greats King Oliver, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton and the great Louis Armstrong.  Performers at the event will include; Duke Helter on trumpet, Evan Christopher on clarinet, Steve Pistorius on piano and vocalist Topsy Chapman.  Chef Hoyt Williams of Artison Foods will be on site serving the best from his family’s New Orleans kitchen.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased at the Roswell Culutrual Arts Center and at the Roswell Visitors Center.

Step Dancing Competition

Saturday, February 7, 12-4pm

Local youth step teams will compete to win prizes while showing of their high-energy step routines.  Step-dancing is a combination of dance, gymnastics, hand claps and chants.  The teams will be judged on creativity, originality and quality of presentation.  The competition will be held at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and will be free and open to the public.

From Africa to America…the Ties that Bind

Saturday, February 14, noon-4 p.m

In collaboration with The Teaching Museum North, this event provides a fun-filled day for both children and adults. Activities begin at noon and include “Children’s Stories from Africa,” a children’s video featuring African animal fables told by storyteller Nandi Nyembe; a performance by the Burundi Drummers of Atlanta; storyteller Joanna Maddox will portray Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African/American female astronaut in NASA History; “Safari to Africa”, a visual presentation by Janet Russell, President of the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa-S.E; and hands on activities for children and refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon.