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DEL.ICIO.USFound: One lazy afternoon at park
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This past weekend was pretty lazy for me. I was sick and tired of hearing about Michael Vick and all the usual rigmarole. My brain needed a day off. What to do?
My girlfriend and I went to explore Duluth, to see what Duluth was like during the day.
We started off with lunch at The Soda Shop on Hill Street, bordering the town center park. I had a sandwich, and my girlfriend had a salad. I really, really wanted some ice cream, but they didn’t have anything low sugar. I am diabetic, and I had already used by my weekly sugar allowance, so I enjoyed, with zeal, what turned out to be a very good sandwich.
Then, we moved on to the Main Street coffee shop. I had such a good experience last time, I had to try and see if I would have a similar experience. The young man working at the counter was very helpful, very polite, and obviously a sales executive in training. We shared a light conversation, and learned about some of the nuances of what goes into making a good barista. And yes, the coffee again was excellent.
We then went out to the park, sat on a swinging bench and watched people. The fountain in the square was at full blast, and kids were darting in between the jets of water, keeping cool, laughing and having a good time. There are various people walking under the shade of the leaves, and a few walking dogs. Did you know that the city of Duluth provides little baggies at the entrance of the park, so that conscientious pet owners can clean up after their dogs? What a novel idea.
An impromptu game of whiffleball started on the grass. A group of teenagers came out of the soda shop, brandishing cameras and making their friends pose for them. Various couples and intermittent singles sat on some of the other benches, watching, and moving on. A new clock chimed 4 o’clock, which got me a little by surprise. I hadn’t been expecting that, but I thought it was a pretty cool thing, almost a Norman Rockwell experience.
So yes, it was lazy and boring. But that’s kind of my point. We had talked the previous week about taking a drive somewhere and leaving the city behind us. We talked about Helen, Dahlonega, Hiawassee. By the time we got to putting a plan into action, though, we had wasted enough of the day that neither one of us was all they eager to make a trek. Little did we realize that our own back yard provided exactly the kind of relief and experience for which we were both looking.
Does your town provide you a quiet place to go for a lazy Saturday
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Bill Allen
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By Bruce Wilcox
August 29, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
We all go down to the rock quarry and watch them crush rocks, put them in those huge dump trucks and watch the drivers go crazy.
They forgot parks in this section of town, but Bert is pulling for that tranfer station, that may be fun. Is shooting rats legal in Gwinnett?
By Amber Jones
September 2, 2007 1:26 AM | Link to this
So, when are you going to write about your DUI arrest???
By Kathleen
September 2, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
I was wondering when someone would bring up the DUI, and I didn’t want to be the first. A day in the park enjoying coffee and a sandwhich seems a great alternative to a drive home after a pint or two. I’m hoping for lesson learned. There are a number of great parks near Duluth to enjoy people watching, Shorty Howell is busy every night with families, walkers and runners. I encourage Bill and all his readers to get out take a walk and see your neighbors enjoying the parks Duluth and Gwinnett have made available to us with our tax dollars.
By Cheryl
September 3, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this
Duluth sounds like a real swinging place. Do they have clothing optional parks there? Can you drink beer at the parks and just be free?
My sorority is looking for a place to hang on weekends, and Duluth sounds nice.
By Bruce Wilcox
September 4, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
My backyard is free on weekends and I have very liberal neighbors Cheryl.
By Inquisitive One
September 4, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this
I think that downtown Duluth has something great to offer with the laid back park and the Main Street Coffee Shop. I love hanging out there and watching the local color. I’m glad that you wrote about it.
By An old friend of Bill's
September 5, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Not only have I spent many a lazy Saturday fishing from the banks of our local lake in Lockridge Forest with Bill, but the town I live in now offers similar fishing at a much larger lake, Lake Lanier. Flowery Branch has some shops and new strip malls going in but nothing beats a day of fishing in my book.
By kathleen
September 8, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Once again Bill writes about a positive community experience and only a handful of readers reply to add opinions or relate their positive experience in the community. But, Bill whines about someone on a cell phone at the Publix checkout and you all can’t say enough about your NEGATIVE experience. It is really sad how we ignore the good and celebrate the ugly!
By Lola
September 12, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Kathleen, You couldn’t keep this entry positive, you had to try and instigate, you couldn’t stand it not having a negative vibe.