About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 2023)
LIFE The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition-June 9-10, 2023 3B Summer Break: Free activities to do with the kids SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Travis Sayer, 4, visits the new Oakwood splash pad Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Oakwood City Park. BY RACHEL ESTES restes@gainesvilletimes.com The good news is school’s out all summer long. The bad news is school’s out. All. Summer. Long. Parents, babysitters and guardians in general, if you’re already fresh out of ideas for things to do with the kids, read on — we have a list of fun (and free) activities to add to your summer bucket list. Check out your local library From Preschool Story time and Toddler Story time to family fun nights and STEAM activities, the Hall County Library Sys tem calendar is full of free things to do this summer. For a full calendar of events at all five branches, visit hallcoun- tylibrary.org/index.php/ library-calendar. Blackshear Place Where: 2927 Atlanta High way, Gainesville Hours: Temporarily closed for renovations Gainesville HQ Where: 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thurs day; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday Murrayville Branch Where: 4796 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday North Hall Tech Center Where: 4175 Nopone Road, Suite B, Gainesville Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 2-5 p.m. Saturday Spout Springs Branch Where: 6488 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thurs day; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday Cool off at a splash pad Tired of your family’s go-to splash pad? Why not test the waters at the hand ful of others around Hall County? Some of them require a small fee, but these three don’t cost a penny: Braselton Park When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Where: 115 Harrison St., Braselton Butler Park When: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily Where: 1370 Athens St., Gainesville Laurel Park When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Where: 3100 Old Cleveland Highway, Gainesville First Friday Concert Series It’s not every Friday you get to stay up past your bedtime and dance to your heart’s content on the Gainesville square. Just first Fridays during the summer months. Featur ing country rock, country folk and a variety band, the series’ remaining concerts are free, dinner and snack options abound among the various food trucks and surrounding restaurants. When: 7-10 p.m. first Fri days through September Where: Downtown Gaines ville square More info: exploregainesville.org/ first-friday-concerts Ride the Gainesville Trolley The iconic blue Gaines ville trolleys are back on the road with an expanded route. From 5:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, pas sengers can hitch a ride at designated trolley stops in the city. The trolleys can accommodate 24 passen gers, including those using mobility aids. When: 5:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday Where: Continuous routes to/from the Dixon and Glenwood neighborhoods; respective routes from the Main Street parking deck to the Riverside neigh borhood and the Chat tahoochee Golf Club and Grill More info: gainesville. org/ 754 /Gainesville-Trol- ley or Hall Area Transit, 770-503-3333, ext. 2 Summer Storytime Read, discover and grow with Summer Storytime at the Lovett Literacy Gar den, part of the Gardens on Green on the grounds of the Hall County School System’s central office building. This free event for preschool through sec ond grade children is set for 10 a.m. every Wednes day in June and July, and includes a nature-themed story and hands-on gar den and activities. Rumor has it Hall County Schools’ Reading Rocket will be on site, too. When: 10 a.m. Wednesdays in June and July Where: Lovett Literacy Garden, 711 Green St., Gainesville More info: 770-540-1080, williamllovett@bellsouth. net Take a walk in the park Gainesville and Hall County are home to a pleth ora of parks, community centers and greenspaces for both recreation and leisure. This list includes some of the most popular parks away from the lake, but a full list can be found at gainesville.org/365/ Parks for Gainesville and hallcounty.org/308/Parks- Leisure for Hall County. Alberta Banks Park Features: Tennis courts, ballfields and the Field of Dreams, an ADA-accessi- ble ballfield. Where: 5575 G. C. Crow Road, Flowery Branch Cherokee Bluffs Park Features: A 168-acre park with greenspace, streams and trails along the rocky shoals, a small event and meeting space, an amphi theater, pavilion, play ground and dog park. Where: 5867 Blackjack Road, Flowery Branch City Park Features: Ballfields, play grounds and restrooms Where: 549 Glenwood Drive, Gainesville East Hall Community Cen ter and Park Features: 28,000-square- foot multipurpose com munity center, track, concession stands and rest rooms, ballfields, tennis courts, basketball courts, fitness center, indoor elevated walking track, game room, dance room and community meeting rooms. Where: 3911 P Davison Road, Gainesville Engine 209 Park Features: Playground, boardwalk, public art, pic nic tables and easy access to a historic train built in 1930 and operated until 1959. The train moved to the Midland Greenway, where the park is located, in August 2021 from its former location, the inter section of Jesse Jewell Parkway and West Acad emy Street now occupied by Boot Barn Hall at Bour bon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern. Where: 878 Grove St. Gainesville Gainesville Skate Park Features: Bowls, rails and small covered area for viewing. Where: 636 High St. W, Gainesville Midland Greenway Features: ADA-accessible playground, picnic tables, large grassy areas and access to the Highlands to Islands trail system Where: 682 Grove St., Gainesville Mulberry Creek Community Center and Park Features: Community cen ter, dog park, playground, basketball courts, fitness center, indoor walking track, dance and meeting rooms. Where: 4491 J M Turk Road, Flowery Branch North Hall Community Center and Park Features: Community cen ter, baseball fields, batting cages, a track and a mul tipurpose field, two gym nasiums, a fitness center, meeting space, technology center, cafe and activity rooms. Where: 4175 Nopone Road, Gainesville Wilshire Trails Park Features: Playground, stream, walking trails, but terfly garden and pavilion Where: 849 Wilshire Trails Road, Gainesville Construction underway on First Watch eatery in Gainesville BY DONNELL SUGGS dsuggs@ gainesvilletimes.com First Watch is getting closer to opening its new Gainesville location. Specializing in break fast, brunch and lunch, the Florida-based chain is expected to open its doors at the Regions Plaza shopping center on Daw- sonville Highway in “late summer,” public relations manager Hunter Carpen ter told The Times. “We’re thrilled to serve the Gainesville commu nity in just a few short months,” he said. The restaurant’s own ership team plans to host a pre-opening event the weekend before the still- to-be-determined opening date. “The community will be invited to enjoy a compli mentary fresh, made-to- order breakfast, brunch or lunch entree as well as coffee or a beverage of their choice,” Carpenter added. The restaurant serves signature menu items such as “million dollar DONNELL SUGGS I The Times Construction on a new First Watch eatery is underway at the site of the former Atlanta Bread Company in Gainesville. bacon” — four slices of hardwood smoked bacon First Watch Slated to open: Late summer 2023 Where: 944 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville More info: firstwatch. com glazed with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and maple syrup drizzle — and strawberry tres leches French toast. Architectural plans to renovate the space previ ously occupied by Atlanta Bread Company, which closed last year, have been submitted to the city of Gainesville, accord ing to Matt Tate, Gaines ville’s deputy director of community and economic development, and con struction is underway. First Watch will be located next door to the recently opened Crumbl Cookies. The franchise already has an established foot print in the area with a restaurant at 3687 Buford Drive in Buford. KITCHEN INSPECTIONS Times staff reports The following are among the food service establish ments inspected by the Hall County Environmental Health Department. Food service establishments are given a letter grade that coincides with a percentile: “A” (90-100), “B” (80-89), “C” (70-79), “U” (69 and below). Inspections (and their frequency) of a food ser vice establishment are conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type is determined by the menu items served, the food preparation processes performed and the previous food safety history in the food service establishment. A new food service estab lishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a food service permit to operate. When a restaurant changes ownership, a new food ser vice permit must be issued. To be issued a permit for a change of ownership, the establishment must score a 95 (A) or above with all foodborne illness risk fac tors and public health inter ventions in compliance. Permits must be posted in public view at all times. Establishments with drive-thru windows will also be required to have the top one-third of a copy of the most current inspec tion report visible through each window allowing cus tomers to easily read the score, date of inspection and establishment informa tion, in addition to the copy posted inside the establish ment. Copies of the rules are available at the Hall County Environmental Health Office. The rules and regulations are also available online at dph.georgia.gov/ environ mental-health-inspections. To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531- 3973. JUNE 7 Wasabi Location: 3446 Winder Highway, Unit H, Flowery Branch Score: 92, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Taqueria Lupita Location: 2988 Gillsville Highway, Suite 108, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green Taqueria Lupita - Base of Operation Location: 2988 Gillsville Highway, Suite 108, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green Roll On In & Buzzed Bull Creamery Location: 130 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu JUNE 6 Big Burritos Mexican Grill - Base of Operation Location: 3652 Wallis Road, Flowery Branch Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Big Burritos - Food Truck 1 Location: 3652 Wallis Road, Flowery Branch Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Blimpie Location: 4949 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 110, Buford Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu JUNE 5 Kenzo Japanese Restaurant Location: 4977 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 108, Buford Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Monterrey Mexican Restaurant Location: 5745 Old Winder Highway, Braselton Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Liz Clifford Eat At Thai Location: 975 Dawsonville Highway, Suite 7, Gainesville Score: 90, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green Stan’s Biscuit Shop and Deli Location: 1151 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Shane’s Rib Shack Location: 5877 Spout Springs Road, Suite D500, Flowery Branch Score: 93, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Oakwood Nutrition Location: 4006 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green Fuji Hibachi Express Location: 229 E.E. Butler Parkway, Suite 500, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush JUNE 2 Loretta’s Country Kitchen Location: 4305 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood Score: 92, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Waffle House #1764 Location: 7415 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Big Burritos Mexican Grill Location: 3652 Wallis Road, Flowery Branch Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh The Stag Chophouse & Club Location: 110 Main St., Gainesville Score: 93, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green JUNE 1 McDonald’s #11113 Location: 965 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Starbucks #8761 Location: 821 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Libby Harrell Wild Wing Cafe Location: 311 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 94, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Lake Lanier Nutrition Location: 1062 Thompson Bridge Road, Suite B10, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Libby Harrell Restaurante El Gallo Pinto Location: 1703 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush
