Barrington Hall presents a series of lectures in their coach house meeting space on the first and third Wednesdays of each month (and sometimes the fifth Wednesday) .

This popular lecture series covers a variety of local and historic topics of interest to people living in Roswell and the surrounding areas. The doors open at 6:30 PM and our lectures begin their presentations at 7 PM. Lectures last approximately an hour and are followed by a question and answer period. Seating is limited and most lectures fill up quickly.

Please call 770.640.3855 to make a reservation or to ask questions.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Restoration of Barrington Hall
Presented by Sarah Winner, current board member and restorer of Barrington Hall.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012
“First Love, Last Dance”
Nancy Rossman, a descendant of Roswell King, will speak about her new book
First Love, Last Dance, a memoir about love, hope and second chances.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
General Sherman and the Georgia Belles
Presented by Cathy Kaemmerlen, author of General Sherman and the Georgia Belles.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A Brief History of the City of Atlanta
Don Rooney, Head Curator at the Atlanta History Center,
will present an overview of the history of Atlanta.

Thursday, May 31, 2012
The Occupation of Roswell…Federal and Confederate
A special Thursday night lecture, Roswell’s historian, Michael Hitt
will talk about the Federal and Confederate Occupations of Roswell in 1864.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Inman Family of Atlanta
Tammy Harden Galloway, author of The Inmans: an Atlanta Family, will speak about her book and the Inmans, one of Atlanta’s founding families.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012
General Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Campaign of 1862
Barrington Hall begins its Civil War Generals series with Civil War historian Robert Tanner who will present his lecture on General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson and Gen. Jackson’s role in the Shenandoah Campaign.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
General John Bell Hood
Barrington Hall’s Civil War Generals lecture series will continue with Steve Davis, Civil War historian. Mr. Davis will speak about the career of General John Bell Hood (CSA).

Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Margaret Mitchell and Dr. Benjamin Mays
Bill Browning, lecturer on Margaret Mitchell, will speak about Margaret Mitchell’s professional relationship with Dr. Benjamin Mays of Morehouse College.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Thomas King of Roswell
Dr. Keith Bohannon, Associate Professor at West Georgia University will
give his presentation on the life of Thomas King, son of Roswell founder Barrington King.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Margaret Mitchell’s French Connection
Bill Browning, lecturer on Margaret Mitchell, will speak about Margaret Mitchell’s little known connection to Vimoutiers, France and how she helped rebuild the town after it was destroyed by “friendly” fire during World War II.

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For local families and residents, the Historic Roswell Criterium event has grown into a full weekend festival entitled The Roswell Cycling Festival. It kicks off Saturday, April 24, 2010 with the Big Creek Mountain Bike Day at 10am. A skills clinic will be held at 11am as well as a dirt bike jump demo starting at 1pm. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be grilled. Saturday’s festivities will be held at Big Creek Mountain Bike Trails at Big Creek Park.

On Sunday, April 25, 2010, start your day bright and early with the Mayor’s Ride in Historic Roswell. The Mayor’s Ride is a recreational ride to showcase Historic Roswell. The ride includes three options – a free family 6-mile tour around old town Roswell; a 20 mile challenge that adds  14 miles of rolling hills to the tour route; and the 40 mile workout that adds 20 more challenging, beautiful miles.

This year a runner’s road race will be held. There will be  a 5k qualifier in the morning with the top finishers competing in the “Fastest Mile” during the bike races in the afternoon.

There are a variety of events planned throughout the day culiminating with The 9th Annual Historic Roswell Criterium, which includes a full schedule of events for professional cyclists and area residents.

Since 2002, The Historic Roswell Criterium has established itself firmly as one of the top single-day races in the United States, with 10 categorized contests for amateur and professional athletes. The race format, a criterium, is the most common form of American bicycle racing.

It is a multi-lap event of approximately 25-60 miles held on a closed course, generally a mile or less in length, that can see competitors exceed speeds of 30 miles per hour. The criterium consists of 10 bicycle races which will take place on a one-mile route in Historic Roswell. Races begin at 10:00 a.m. and will run through 6:00pm.

In Historic Roswell our azaleas are in full bloom, the retail shops and art galleries have their doors propped open and our restaurants have their most gracious smiles waiting to seat you. It promises to be a beautiful spring day with entertainment for all – come join the fun!

For more information on The Roswell Cycling Festival visit www.roswellcyclingfestival.com.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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!

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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.

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