GwinnettForum | Number 26.03 | Jan. 13, 2026
LAWRENCEVILLE OFFICIALS are pleased at the response to its first ever 2025 Atlanta Christkindl Market and Winterlight Walk in the city. In past years, it was held in Buckhead. It is an annual fundraiser for the German American Cultural Foundation. Officials of the Market said that it generated 370,800 visitors to the city, from 48 of the 50 states. For more on this event, see Another View below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: The dilemma concerning apartments in urban settings
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Wondering how Chief Justice Roberts sleeps at night
SPOTLIGHT: Gateway85 Community Improvement District
ANOTHER VIEW: Christkindl Market scores at Lawrenceville site
FEEDBACK: Five people send letters of reflection
UPCOMING: J. Michael Levengood is Chamber’s 2026 Citizen of the Year
NOTABLE: Center piece of Snellville’s The Grove plans opening
RECOMMENDED: Winter of the World by Ken Follett
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Georgia’s Topography offers rock-climbing venues
MYSTERY PHOTO: Use triangulation and you might solve this mystery
CALENDAR: Duluth and Norcross theaters have performances soon
The dilemma concerning apartments in urban settings
(Editor’s note: the author is a Norcross resident and small business owner. He currently serves as chairman of the Norcross architectural review board. While this article focuses on Norcross, many of its points could be applied to other Gwinnett areas.–eeb
By Jeff Hopper
NORCROSS, Ga. | When we first moved to Norcross nearly 30 years ago, the historic downtown was essentially a ghost town, but held great potential.
The spark was ignited at a neighborhood meeting when a developer pointed out that more residents were needed within downtown to support any revitalization effort. Norcross needed more density per acre. At the time there was less than one resident per acre within downtown. This kicked off a series of events culminating in new city leadership implementing density development. The positive results speak for themselves.
Headwinds came from many longtime residents who were adamantly opposed to new development. Their arguments? Density would result in too much traffic, and too many new residents would negatively threaten the character of the community. Sound familiar?
Today many of these former new residents are now assuming the role of former longtime residents and putting forth the same arguments against moving the community forward. The driving force is opposition to apartments. Reading through Norcross resident social media posts, opposition to density development is the underlying factor. Norcross is no longer a suburban community. Embracing density is the only way forward. Why?
Density is good for business. Most Norcross residents will agree that downtown represents our amenity package. Thresholds developed over decades by urban planners estimate 30 to 50 dwelling units per acre are needed to support a vibrant, diverse retail downtown. Current estimates place downtown Norcross at 10 to 16 dwelling units per acre. Only density development can help close this gap. How?
With skyrocketing real estate and construction costs, new single-family residences and townhomes have become unaffordable for many. New homes in Norcross now cost over $1 million. The Foundry, a single home development approved in 2024, features 34 homes on 3.35 acres with prices starting in the $900’s.
Although there are no townhomes slated for development in Norcross, recent townhome construction in Peachtree Corners advertise price points of over $1 million. Apartments on a limited scale must be part of the conversation.
I’m sympathetic with arguments that renters don’t have a stake in the community, compared to owners. Yes, I would prefer more owners than renters, but economic reality intrudes.
Residents saying no to new apartments effectively close Norcross off to the middle class. We are now on the verge of running off a quality gateway/ greenspace development because it contains an apartment component. None of this is going to enhance the future of Norcross and represents a big step backwards.
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Wondering how Chief Justice Roberts sleeps at night
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 13, 2026 | Do you wonder how U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts sleeps at night watching the antics of President Donald Trump unfold each day? After obtaining the highest legal position in the entire country, does he ever worry about the direction Mr. Trump is taking our country? Doesn’t he realize that in his position of chief justice, there might be some direction he could take to straighten out the awful mess that the president is causing?
Granted, the chief justice has just but one vote of the nine justices. But in his position, there are numerous ways he can influence the justices in their decisions. He is the key person.
Yet the Court has been timid to rein in the president. Granted, we don’t want the Court making laws. We only want it interpreting the law as guided by previous court rulings that upheld the Constitution.
Perhaps one of the most far-reaching actions of the president has been his deployment of ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents to seek out immigrants, legal and illegal, for deportation from our country. This has thrown terror into the immigrant population, which came here for freedom. And now they find these ICE actions threatening their lives, splitting families and spreading fear.
Recently in Minneapolis, another horrible Trump outcome was the cold-blooded killing of 37 year-old Renee Good, an unarmed neighbor observer, by an ICE agent, a scene captured by many on video. She seemed to be doing no wrong, yet the Trump Administration has already labeled her as a domestic terrorist. The film of the shooting doesn’t show her doing anything sinister. Yet the ICE agent killed her.
It’s another senseless death at the hands of Trump troops that solved no problem.
Chief Justice Roberts must have seen these images on screens. Do such outright shootings of people like this incident have any effect on the jurist in trying to steer our nation’s highest court? Is he as frustrated about what he can do as those of us watching this film feel?
Meanwhile, adding to the preposterousness of the Minneapolis incident, here comes Vice President J.D. Vance throwing gasoline on the situation, trying to justify the ICE agent in the shooting.
Why does he have to jump into yet another incident? His conclusions from watching the film followed the same old logic, that anything the ICE agents do is justified. Luckily, there was more than one person filming the shooting, allowing people to draw far different conclusions than what Vance did trying to defend the ICE agent.
It must be difficult and frustrating for Chief Justice Roberts to have to sit quiet as incident after incident unfolds. He is unable to do little until lower court cases like this finally make their way through the appellate courts to his Chambers. At some point, he must throw up his hands, saying something to himself like “How can we stop these many illegal actions by the president?”
Slow as the law moves, we must hope that the Chief Justice can move with his colleagues to curtail many of the illegal actions that President Trump has embarked on.
Recently the Supreme Court rejected the Trump Administration’s argument that it had the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago, a decision that seemed to limit Trump’s power to use military forces within the United States. Maybe that is a small step to restore law and order, and turn back some of the illegal moves of the Trump Administration.
Do that a few more times, and the chief justice may sleep better at night.
We sure will.
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Gateway85 CID
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Gateway85 Community Improvement District is a self-taxing district that includes just over 800 commercial property owners with a property value of over $1.7 billion. Gateway85 includes the southwestern part of Gwinnett County including properties along Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Buford Highway, Indian Trail Road and Beaver Ruin Road. Gateway85 is one of five CIDs to be created in Gwinnett County and is one of the largest CIDs in the state. The community is an economic powerhouse that helps fuel the regional economy. More than 3,000 businesses employing roughly 47,400 people call Gateway85 home. The jobs in the district account for almost 16 per cent of Gwinnett County’s total employment. Gateway85 provides $27.5 billion in economic output for the County and $36.4 billion economic output for Georgia. Gateway85’s mission is to improve property values through increased security, decreased traffic congestion, and general improvements to the curb appeal and infrastructure of the area.
Gateway85 CID’s office is located at 6305 Crescent Drive, Norcross, Ga. 30071. For more information visit https://www.gateway85.com/, or call Robert Michener at 770 798 4700 or email him at info@gateway85.com.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Christkindl Market scores at Lawrenceville site
By Melissa Hardegree
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | The 2025 Atlanta Christkindl Market and Winterlight Walk delivered historic results for the City of Lawrenceville, strengthening downtown businesses, expanding regional and national visibility, and reinforcing the city’s role as a holiday destination.
Based on aggregated, anonymous visitation analysis, the Atlanta Christkindl Market generated 370,800 total visits, with 159,500 visits entering the downtown area, a 77 percent increase over 2024. More than 81 percent of visitors came from outside the City of Lawrenceville, 58 percent traveled from outside Gwinnett County, and nearly 11 percent came from outside Georgia or the United States. Visitors represented 48 of the 50 U.S. states, underscoring the market’s broad reach.
The Atlanta Christkindl Market selected downtown Lawrenceville as its host location for the first time in 2025, following its most recent run in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. Despite operating for 11 fewer days than the 2024 market, the Lawrenceville event delivered strong visitation and economic results, highlighting the effectiveness of Downtown Lawrenceville as a host location.
The Atlanta Christkindl Market was produced and operated by the Christkindl Market organizers as a fundraiser for the German American Cultural Foundation, with the City of Lawrenceville serving as the host city and providing extensive wraparound municipal support. The City’s role included venue coordination, shuttle service planning and operations, creation and execution of the Winterlight Walk, designed by Illuminating Design Inc., comprehensive public communications, security and public safety staffing, sanitation services, and electrical and infrastructure support. Together, these coordinated services created a safe, accessible, and festive environment that allowed the organizers to deliver a successful market experience while supporting downtown businesses and residents.
Mayor David Still commented: “The Atlanta Christkindl Market and Winterlight Walk showcased the very best of Lawrenceville, Building on our holiday traditions, the Christkindl Market elevated downtown Lawrenceville’s profile as a Christmas destination and delivered strong economic impact for local businesses.”
The success of the Christkindl Market and Winterlight Walk was the result of intentional planning and coordinated execution across parking, walkability, and public communication. The event was designed to create a welcoming, navigable experience that connected visitors with downtown businesses while supporting safe and efficient operations.
Key arrival areas, including the Fallen Heroes Memorial and the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, were incorporated into the overall parking and access strategy, providing convenient entry points within walking distance of the market and downtown destinations.
The results extend beyond the holiday season, supporting continued momentum in economic development and increased visibility ahead of the new downtown hotel’s opening later this year.
The economic impact of the Christkindl Market was felt across downtown and throughout the market footprint. Sixteen downtown businesses participated directly in the market, extending the benefit beyond the event itself and into shops and restaurants.
Many onsite vendors reported 20 to 30 percent increases in sales compared to 2024, with several longtime food vendors describing 2025 as their best year ever, in some cases generating more revenue during this single market than across all other events combined throughout the year.
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Whoever heard of government reducing expenses?
Editor, the Forum:
Thank you for your story about the reduction in the 2026 county budget.
It was a pleasant surprise to read that our county’s government plans to reduce spending by more than 3 percent for 2026 compared to 2025. Someone is doing a good job controlling expenses.
Who ever heard of a government reducing expenses during a period of inflation?
– Tim Keith, Sugar Hill
Wants to know how county reduced cut budget
Editor, the Forum:
Regarding the ‘County budget down $85 million from 2025.’ Can you share what accounted for the $85 million reduction?
– Charis Hanberry, Suwanee
Dear Charis: First, we should have asked that for the story. We apologize. The county’s communications director, Joe Sorenson, responds in this way: “Most of the reduction comes from the capital side of our budget. We took a fresh look at the County’s capital reserves as well as funds retained for contingencies. This resulted in eliminating some transfers from our operating budget to our capital budget while we take advantage of the savings realized by the hard work across the organization to right size and time our capital projects and their construction. These savings will not occur every year however, as we continue to study the costs of maintaining the County’s vast existing assets.”
Trump feels like a worm in his brain
Editor, the Forum:
Trump feels like a worm in my brain. News organizations are trumpeting his name at every chance they get. In fact, 40 percent of all news has Trump in the headlines. Turn on television or listen to the radio and Trump is there. Trump dominates my online feeds. I need to clear my head so I could vote with some kind of reason. But Trump dominates my brain. I need a cure.
I suggest abstinence as a cure. News organizations need to stop using his name. We need to boycott Trump. Stop watching televsion news. Avoid any online mention of Trump. Block Trump’s name.
Unfortunately, I just realized that my anti-Trump rant has stated his name nine times. Oh well.
– Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill
Dear Alan: Take up golf, or running, or bird watching? –eeb
Gwinnett GOP upset of commission vice chair
Editor, the Forum:
Local residents and Republican leaders are voicing strong criticism after the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, now dominated by a 4-1 Democratic majority, elected District 2 Commissioner Ben Ku as vice chair during their January 6 organizational meeting. This decision deviates from the longstanding tradition of annually rotating the vice chairmanship among the four district commissioners in numerical order, effectively skipping District 4 Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp, the board’s sole Republican.
The rotation tradition, in place since at least 2006 with only rare exceptions tied to ethical concerns or leadership transitions, has historically ensured balanced representation across districts. Past deviations, such as in 2011 amid a chair vacancy and in 2020 because of controversies surrounding then-District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter, were justified by specific governance issues rather than party affiliation. Critics argue that the latest skip lacks such rationale and appears motivated by partisanship, especially as Ku previously held the role in 2023 and 2019.
BJ Van Gundy, former Gwinnett GOP chairman, expressed disappointment in the board’s actions: “It is unfortunate that this longstanding tradition has been abandoned for tribal partisanship. This move undermines the spirit of fairness and inclusivity that the rotation was meant to foster, prioritizing party loyalty over equitable representation for all districts and residents.”
The decision is a power consolidation tactic: This blatant disregard for a fair and established tradition exemplifies how the Democratic majority is willing to bend the rules to sideline Republican voices. By skipping District 4, they’re not just ignoring precedent—they’re undermining bipartisanship and the diverse representation that Gwinnett County deserves.
Residents are calling on the board to reconsider its approach and restore the rotation to promote unity.
– Laurie McClain, Lawrenceville, a former county commissioner and current treasurer of the Georgia Republican Party
Reflecting on the January 6 insurrection
Editor, the Forum:
Last week I reflected on the riot/insurrection (pick one) of January 6th at the Capitol five years ago. Interviews with injured police officers Daniel Hodges and Michael Fanone, while watching videos from the body cameras they wore that day, made the biggest impression. Watching live news videos on that day and new ones five years later, left profound shock, sadness, and frustration.
At Donald Trump’s urging, his supporters stormed the Capitol to attack members of Congress and the vice president to overturn the 2020 election. I realized anew that our democratic institutions are at risk if faced with divisive misinformation from corrupt politicians.
We must work together to heal our country, to respect the rule of law, and listen, learn, and live together in faith and hope of achieving a more perfect union. I believe we can find common ground and restore faith in our democratic processes if we elect honest and patriotic political leaders.
– Mike Wood, Peachtree Corners
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Levengood is Chamber’s Citizen of the Year
Gwinnett Attorney J. Michel Levengood is the Gwinnett Chambers 2026 Citizen of the Year. He and others will be recognized for honors at the Chamber’s 78th annual dinner on February 6 at the Gas South Arena.
Levengood has contributed to the civic life of Gwinnett in many ways. He was a partner in an Atlanta law firm for 33 years, and has been in general civil practice for 11 years with an office in Lawrenceville. He is a past chair of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. Levengood now serves on the board of Northside Hospital and he is the chair of the Gwinnett Hospital Authority. Mike is the past chair of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and is the past president of Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He has also served for many years on the Executive Committee of the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund. He is an emeritus member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce board. He and his wife Peggy have three children and six grandchildren.
- For a list of the previous Gwinnett Citizens of the years, click here.
Others to be recognized at the Chamber dinner include:
- Public Service winners: Jim Brooks of Evermore Community Improvement District; House Rep. Chuck Efstration; T. Lanier Levett of Gregory B. Levett and Son Funeral Home; Joy M. Mitchell, Office Creations; and Ginger Powell, Gwinnett Hospital System Foundation.
- D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian award: Street Grace.
- James J. Marin International Award: Price Industries.
- R. Wayne Shackelford Legacy awards, given posthumously to former Lawrenceville City Manager Bob Baroni; former Suwanee Councilman Dick Goodman; and Randall W. Dixon of Precision Planning.
- Ambassador of the Year: Lisa Thompson of Thompson Hydrotherapy.
Kiwanis father-daughter dance coming up soon
What began as a boardroom idea has now developed into the Best Father Daughter Dance in the region! The Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett will host their 17th annual Father Daughter Dance on February 6-7. With attendees travelling from multiple counties (and some from other states) the dances have proven to be an evening of fun, lifetime memories, and strengthened bonds with dads and daughters!
Beginning with 188 attendees in 2009 to over a 1,000 attendees 16 years later, this special event continues to operate close to capacity. Three dances will be held this year at the Braselton Civic Center. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.northgwinnettkiwanis.com. Proceeds are reinvested back into the community to support youth related causes! For more information, please call David E. Williams at 404 386-4782.
Note that because of limited ballroom capacity and insurance coverage, only ticket paying guests may attend!
Centerpiece of Snellville’s The Grove plans opening
The centerpiece of Snellville’s $140 million downtown redevelopment, The Grove at Towne Center, is officially ready to pour. Crooked Can Brewing Company, in partnership with the Towne Center Market, will have its Grand Opening celebration of the 13,000 square foot facility on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 4 p.m.
Founder Andrew Sheeter and Managing Partner Alan Delahunt emphasized that the synergy between the brewery and the food hall is the key to creating a truly inclusive environment. “Our goal from the beginning has been to create a vibrant, multi-generational space where everyone feels welcome,” said Andrew Sheeter. “By combining the craft culture of Crooked Can with the diverse offerings of the Towne Center Market, we’ve built a unique venue that brings people of all ages together to share a meal, a drink, and a great experience.”
Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender adds: “The City of Snellville is thrilled to have the Towne Center Market and Crooked Can opening to provide a central place for the community to come together to socialize and hang out. It is awesome to have The Grove at Towne Center dream become a reality.”
Winter of the World, by Ken Follett
From Susan J. Harris, Stone Mountain: This book takes up the story of five interwoven families; American, British, German, Russian, and Welsh that live through World War II. It begins in 1933 with the rise of the Third Reich in Germany. Carla Von Ulrich, whose life is inundated by the Nazis, is instrumental in dismantling a hospital that kills disabled Germans and also sacrifices herself to save the life of a young woman. The American brothers, Woody and Chuck, each have a secret and take different paths as events unfold. English student Lloyd Williams has experienced the crucible of the Spanish Civil War and also fights Communism and Fascism. Daisy Peshkov was initially a social climber, until the war influences the direction of her life. This 940 page story is not only an investment in the future of the characters but is also a personalized history lesson that will not be easy to forget. The full time is Winter of the World: Book Two of the Century Trilogy.
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Georgia’s topography offers rock-climbing venues
What Georgia lacks in quantity of rock-climbing opportunities, it more than makes up for in quality, with many areas that are still being explored. Georgia has some excellent sites for traditional rock climbing and offers some particularly challenging overhangs.
Georgia’s rock-climbing locations are typically a soft sandstone. As one moves south, more granite is found..
Rock Town and Lost Wall are both on Pigeon Mountain, in the northwestern corner of the state near LaFayette in Walker County. Located on the southernmost edge of the Appalachian Plateau, these areas are two of the most popular for climbing. Rock Town provides the most challenging bouldering in the state. Located on top of the flat mountain, it consists of several acres of large sandstone boulders, averaging 30 to 40 feet in height. Because the rock offers many hand- and footholds, it is an excellent spot for beginners.
Lost Wall is a band of exposed cliffs about halfway up the mountain. It is perhaps the most popular site in the state for traditional rock climbing, offering a variety of features. Included in the landscape are pinnacles (lofty, often spirelike peaks) and roofs or overhangs (protruding rock walls or boulders that force the climber to move at an extreme 90-degree angle). Most of these cliffs are about 60 feet high, with some walls as high as 80 feet.
Mount Yonah in White County is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest of northeast Georgia, between Helen and Cleveland. The bald granite cliffs on the southwest side of the mountain offer good climbs for beginners: the slope is gentle to the top, and there is a fair bit of friction climbing. There are also sections of juggy face (rock wall with many jugs) as well as a few cracks. Some two-pitch climbs (which require two rope lengths between relay stations) ascend to the top, 200 feet above the mountain’s base. The area was bolted years ago by the U.S. Army Rangers, who occasionally train on the mountain. Cables are placed across portions of the cliffs to make setting top rope anchors convenient.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is in northeast Georgia, just south of Clayton in Rabun County. The climber trail leaves from behind the visitors’ center, crosses a footpath, and continues steeply downhill to an exposed and tricky chimney/down climb. The most popular climbing area is Main Wall, on the north rim of the gorge. Walls here are tall and steep, and it is perhaps the most difficult climb in the state.
Curahee Mountain, near Toccoa in Stephens County, offers good opportunities for top roping (in which the rope anchors are preset at the top of the climb) and exposed-lead climbing (starting with the rope on the ground and clipping into protection points on the way up).
Boat Rock is a small field of granite boulders located just south of Atlanta in Fulton County. Boat Rock presents many opportunities for slab and balance climbing, as well as a few good overhangs.
Zahnd is also a boulder field, located in Walker County in northwest Georgia, near LaFayette. It is a fairly small area but is known for its interesting formations and challenging climbs, particularly the Phantom Boulder area.
Other Georgia rock-climbing destinations include Allenbrook, Little Kennesaw Mountain, Long Island, Morgan Falls, Palisades, and the Zipper, all in the metro Atlanta area; Blood Mountain Boulders in Suches; and Shaking Rock Park in Lexington.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Use triangulation and you might solve this mystery
Triangulate these directions and you might be able to figure out where this photograph was taken. This might not only test your directional skills, but perhaps your mathematical ability. Send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com and tell us your hometown.
The most recent mystery was solved by several people. Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas told us: “Today’s mystery photo is of St. Giles’ Cathedral, located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town in Scotland. The church was founded in 1124 by King David I of Scotland ( c.1084–1153) as a Roman Catholic parish church dedicated to St. Giles, the Patron Saint of Cripples and Beggars. The building, as seen today, largely dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, following a number of fires and reconstructions. Its most distinctive exterior feature, clearly visible in the mystery photo, is the crown-shaped spire that was added in the late 15th century and has become one of Edinburgh’s most recognizable landmarks.
“Inside the church is the Thistle Chapel, a ceremonial home of Scotland’s highest order of chivalry, the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. Anyone who has ever met a Scot knows that they are proud of their heritage and have a tremendous sense of humor, and of course, when they built the Thistle Chapel, you know they had to show both characteristics.
“So, in addition to honoring their historic Thistle chivalry, they also included three whimsical, somewhat hidden, detailed carvings of angels playing bagpipes. Finding all three has become something of a mini-treasure hunt for visitors: one is above the top right corner of the chapel door, another is tucked in a corner opposite the entrance, and the third, carved from stone, watches over one of the chapel’s windows. I have attached a photo of one such carving.”
The photograph came from Gail Gause of Cramerton, N.C., via Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
Others recognizing this landmark include George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Byron Gilbert, Duluth; and Stew Ogilvie, Reheboth, Ala.
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Duluth and Norcross theaters have performances soon
The Norcross PDC (people drinking coffee) meets each Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the 45 South Café in downtown Norcross. The January 14 meeting will have Chis Hardin, director of economic development for the City of Suwanee, as its speaker. The event is free and visitors are welcomed.
Norcross Gallery and Studios will present a non-juried themed exhibit, opening January 15. Showcasing abstract works from some of the gallery’s members, Driven 2 Abstraction will feature both 2-D and 3-D pieces of various mediums. Visit the gallery Thursday–Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to view the exhibit once it opens. Admission is free.
A detention pond workshop will be presented by representatives from Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources at 6 p.m. on January 15 at the Grayson Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. This program is aimed at private property owners and HOAs, and helpful advice to protect detention ponds from major failures, safety hazards, and liability issues.
Lionheart Theatre welcomes Vidalia Theatre to the local stage with their production of “Winter Yield 2: The Airport Plays,” a collection of short, 10-minute plays that all take place in an airport. January 16–25; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available now.
Live Arts Theatre in Duluth presents The Minutes, a scathing new stage production from the author of August: Osage County. The show runs January 16–24, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $20 adults, $17 students and seniors and $14 for LAT members and can be purchased online.
Join award-winning author Nikesha Elise Williams as she discusses her newest novel, The Seven Daughters of Dupree, which explores the ripple effects of actions, secrets, and love through seven generations of Black women. This will take place January 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
A solo exhibit of the work of Chitra Ramanathan of Norcross, a teaching artist at Norcross Gallery and Studios, is now going on at the Pinckneyville Park and Recreation Center in Berkeley Lake through January 31, 2026. It is a retrospective, as some early works are included up to current ones, many large in scale.
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