Lilburn, GA

There are some fun and cool things coming up in Lilburn in the next couple of months.

September

• Community Garage Sale on September 20th from 9:00am until 2:00pm. It will be in the overflow lot across from City Hall. Call 770-921-2210 for more info.
• Town Hall Meeting on September 30th at 7:00pm. It will be in the auditorium at City Hall.

October

• Lilburn Daze on October 11th from 9:00am until 5:00pm. It is going to be in Lilburn City Park, behind City Hall. This is a pretty big craft show and event.
• Community Garage Sale on October 18th from 9:00am until 2:00pm. It will be in the overflow lot across from City Hall. Registration and a flyer are available at the City's website.
• 2nd Annual Car Show in Old Town... registration and information available online at the City's website.

Old Town Lilburn, City Hall and City Park are located just off Main Street. Main Street runs into US29 just south of Killian Hill/Indian Trail.

Courtesy of LaneBailey.com

I actually wrote this on my phone during Garrett's ice skating lesson yesterday. I needed to play with it a little more before unleashing it on the public...

Location, Quality of Life, Location

It's time for Garrett's (mostly) weekly private ice skating lesson. These are done during public skating sessions, so there is always lots going on... Garrett always jokes about the figure skaters... girls without pants (remember, he's 4). But, I digress...

The point is that I drive 30 minutes or so to get here, twice a week, once for his lesson and once for hockey practice. We also have season tickets for the Atlanta Thrashers, and drive about 30 minutes the other way go to games. My wife goes into her office about once a week... also downtown, and about 30minutes away. I visit my office once every week or two... about 45 minutes the other way. We have balanced where we live with the needs that we have to be in different parts of town.

Oddly (or not), we love where we live because we are in the center of our world. As I counsel clients when buying a home, we talk about their "wheres." Where do they work? Where do they play? Where do they have commitments. And it is different for every person.

Some may need to live close to work, others may work from home. Some have family members that they need to be able to attend to, others want proximity to a certain school. It's different for every person.

If you are a buyer, one thing to keep in mind is your "where." There is an allure with the bigger homes further out in the suburbs. Every metropolitan area has them. Same price, 50% more home... But there is more of a price. Forget the cost of gas... It can certainly be a variable to consider... But there is something much more important.

Quality of Life

I love driving. I love road trips. Some of my best memories are hitting the road with my family or friends and seeing the world. Commuting is NOT a road trip. None of my best stories start with "I was stuck on I-85 in traffic..." I would rather spend that time doing other things. I would rather mow the grass than sit in rush hour traffic.

Sure, there are ways to turn that time into productive time... but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be better spent playing with my kids, talking with my wife or even relaxing.

That is one of the reasons I like Lilburn so much. It is convenient to downtown Atlanta. The homes are a good value. The school clusters are rated quite highly. There are a host of recreational opportunities. From the Mountain Park Pool and Lilburn Town Park to Stone Mountain Park and two different Moe's restaurants (I like Moe's...), Lilburn presents a very compelling case as a way to have great quality of life, a nice house at a reasonable price and a convenient location.

If you are new to the Atlanta area, let's talk about Gwinnett County and Lilburn. If you are in the area, you already know about it... and we can find you a great new place.

From the new LilburnDwellings.com.

Sitting on the banks of the Yellow River, along US 78 in Lilburn, GA is the Yellow River Game Ranch.

Rather than looking at exotic animals from afar, here the idea is up close and personal… occasionally VERY personal. Here most of the animals wander the park with the visitors. Of course the bears, bobcats, cougars, foxes and bison ARE separated from onlookers but deer, peacocks, chickens, rabbits and squirrels are quite happy to walk up and introduce themselves… especially for a cracker or a peanut. In fact, they may remind you that they would REALLY like a peanut or cracker…

The Yellow River Game Ranch is also the home of the Southeast’s most famous weather prognosticator… General Beau Lee… our Groundhog. I guess it is good work if you can get it… one day a year… celebrities… free food. While we were there today, General Lee certainly didn’t see his shadow, he was busy watching TV with his satellite dish.

So, wander through the pictures. And, the next time you want to hang out in the shade and make some new furry friends, drop into the Yellow River Game Ranch. Say hi to the General for me.

Feel free to check into the post here on LaneBailey.com for the rest of the pictures... there are more than 40.

While it might seem that way, with the really cool play structures, slides, swings and climbing walls... it really isn't.  After all, big kids (spelled a-d-u-l-t-s) gat the band shell and the tennis courts.  And then there are the walking trails.  There is a trail that surrounds the park, and there is also the access to the new Camp Creek Greenway trail.  And it is only set to get better as Lilburn follows its long-term plan. 

The Camp Creek Greenway will connect the Lion's Club Park to City Park, and then continue to connect to the proposed Jackson Creek Greenway north of Olde Town.  In the future, there is a plan for these Greenways to interconnect and provide a scenic and safe walk alternative for a wide variety of destinations around Lilburn.  

But there IS a place for Kids...

So, the playground is a major draw, as is the big open space.  Kids can run and play, kick balls, toss frisbees and hang out during concerts. 

Don't forget the events...

• August 16th - Bike Parade, Safety Rodeo and BMX Stunt Show
• Sept. 6th - Music on Main
• Sept. 20th - Garage Sale - Overflow lot (the start of the Camp Creek Greenway Trail)
• Oct. 11th - Lilburn Daze - Craft Show and Downtown celebration

Parkview High School alum Eric Shanteau has made the US Olympic Swimming Team, competing in the 200 Meter Breast stroke. He finished 3rd in the 2004 Trials in both the 200m and 400m Individual Medleys, just barely missing the team.

That, in an of itself, would be an amazing accomplishment. His list of swimming accomplishments is long and illustrious. Parkview High School records, Georgia State High School records... Take a look here...

But, there is something else. Eric is fighting testicular cancer. At 24 years old. No whining. Instead, he is showing the same determination that has pushed him to acheive all that he has acheived. NBC published a story about him being inspirational. No doubt. He didn't tell anyone about it until after the Trials.

BTW, his older brother Ryan, one of my clients, was not a swimming slouch either, competing for GA Tech after setting records for Parkview.

So, if you don't get the chance to watch anything else during the Olympics, tune in and cheer on Eric in the 200 meter Breast stroke.

I'll post up video and results after the event. I'll also try to bug Ryan for some pictures after the event...

**From LaneBailey.com**