Labor Day weekend is a great time to have barbecue. Suwanee has several BBQ restaurants that are sure to satisfy. 1. Jim 'N Nick's on Old Peachtree Road sticks to its motto of low and slow when they are cooking their meat. Pork is on the grill for up to 14 hours and all food is made from scratch. Big portions and an easy atmosphere make it a great choice for a BBQ dinner. 2. Shane's Rib Shack not only has great ribs, they also have daily specials. Here is what is happening at Shane's Rib Shack this week. Messy Monday - Big Dad Combo $6.99 Tender Tuesday - 3 Tenders, Fries, Small Drink $5. …

With Father's Day approaching Sunday, here are some great places to find the perfect gift for the dad in your life. 1. Just a short drive from Suwanee to Discover Mills Mall will bring you to Bass Pro Shops. Gifts for any dad who likes to hunt and fish can vary in budget from as little as $10 for a t-shirt proclaiming their love of fishing to full-size kayaks. 2. Men can benefit from pampering, too! Salon Greco in Suwanee has a Father's Day Special. For $55 , Dad can get a massage, mini facial, and a haircut and style. 3. For your favorite golfer, you cannot go wrong with a gift from the PGA …

As the school year draws to a close, graduations are taking place all over Suwanee and Gwinnett County. Getting a graduate the perfect gift can be simple if you know what to look for. 1. Personalized gifts: For graduates, personalized gifts with names and the year imprinted can be a great hit. Personalized photos, calendars, and other keepsakes are made just that much more special when special details are added. Things Remembered at Gwinnett Place Mall has a variety of items that can be personalized for your grad.  2. Jewelry is a grad's best friend. Jewelry always makes a great gift. Find a …

Looking for a place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in or near Suwanee? This week’s Patch Picks found five great ideas for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Single or with your family, we have a pick for you. Cinco Mexican Cantina is hosting a wild celebration with drink specials, $12 buckets of beer, and live entertainment from 5 pm on. Hologram will be performing 9:30pm-12:30am. http://cincomexicancantina.com/. Call 678-541-0645 Monterey’s at 1000 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard is a town favorite. It will have its house band playing and drink specials all night. Call 770-831-1600 for more info. …

Friday, April 22, marks Earth Day 2011. Earth Day is the largest environmental event worldwide. It is a day to celebrate the Earth, appreciate nature, and think about ways that we can conserve and live more "green" lives. This week's Patch Picks feature some fun ways to celebrate Earth Day. 1. Join Dora and Diego at Party for the Planet at Zoo Atlanta. The event is on Saturday , April 23, and features a gelatin Easter egg hunt for gorillas, activities for kids, and more. 2. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is the perfect place to go for Earth Day. Learn about conservation, watch ladybugs being …

One of the most dreaded days of the year is fast approaching. Normally, tax-filing day is Friday, April 15, but due to a holiday, it has been moved to April 18.  For those who have not done their taxes, do not fear. Patch Picks this week features last-minute tax-preparation options. H&R Block is at 363 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 35 in Suwanee. On Friday they will be open till 9 pm. If you take in previous years' returns (since 2007), they will check them for you to see if any deductions were missed. If they find a missed deduction, you may be owed money from the IRS. Call them at 770-622-5374 …

Passover is traditionally a Jewish holiday. It symbolizes the time when God sent plagues on Egypt as judgment for the Pharoah not releasing Jews from slavery. In the 10th and final plague, God told the Jews to sacrifice a newborn lamb and smear the blood above the door. If a door did not have blood, an angel would take the firstborn son. For those with the blood, the angel would "pass over" the home. Passover this year falls on April 18-26, with the traditional meal being served on the 18th. Whether you are Jewish or just want to enjoy Passover food with your family, Patch Picks shares the …

This week’s Patch Picks is dedicated to those of you staying in town for spring break this year. Here are five “close to home” activities you and your family can do next week. Six Flags over Georgia is having live entertainment, featuring Secondhand Serenade and Parachute. Plus it has a new, thrilling ride. The link below provides general park information and the calendar of events. www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/info/parkInfo.aspx Where do imaginations go to play during spring break? The Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest. Check out the link below for special offers from Star 94. www.star94…

St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday, March 17. Looking for something to do? This week’s Patch Picks will give you five good choices on where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in or near Suwanee. Wild Wing Café: This restaurant/sports bar will be hosting a St. Patty's Day Party on Thursday. Specials include $2 green beer, traditional Irish food, and live entertainment from Band X! Wild Wing is located at 3265 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. Call 770-945-9090 for more information. Olde Towne Tavern and Grill: A night O’ fun on Thursday. The first 200 guests will receive a free T-shirt and mug. Food and …

With summer break approaching quickly, we are dedicating this week’s Patch Picks to summer camps. If you know of a great summer camp and would like to share, please post it in the comments section following the list. The List: Five summer camps in or close to Suwanee Shoot for the Stars Basketball and Fitness camps: Directed by former Harlem Globetrotter Michael Douglas, the camp will be at Bunten Road Gym in Duluth. These camps are for boys and girls ages 7-14 and are geared for all skill levels. This camp addresses physical fitness, basketball fundamentals as well as self esteem, peer …

Entertainment highlights for the weekend: Lake Lanier Canopy Tours – Lake Lanier Islands; Lake Lanier Canopy Tours offers a unique treetop experience at the beautiful Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Several different tours are available to satisfy your thirst of outdoor and adventure. Their knowledgeable staff will lead you through a series of zip-lines and a sky bridge next to and across Lake Lanier. It is a great way to spend a fun and exciting afternoon with family and friends. Cost: $30-$100; Call (770) 828-7654 for days and times. Student Massage – Georgia Massage School; Treat yourself to a…

Yoga In Suwanee – Novo Total Wellness; Yoga style: Hatha, Vinyasa, Pre-Natal, Gentle Restor;  1300 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 2203, Suwanee, 30024; (770) 988-2779; www.novototalwellness.com The Hooch Golf Club - This is 18 hole, par 61 golf course with seven par 4s, 11 par 3’s, Crenshaw Bent Grass greens, several ponds and lakes, and three holes that play along the Chattahoochee River. Designed by David Johnson, a protégé of Bob Cupp, The Hooch was built by Medalist Golf, a company with extensive experience building Tom Fazio golf courses. Rates: $20 & up, discounted rates after 3 pm; …

This week's Patch Picks is Five Places with Free Food for Kids. For many moms, this is the only way we can get a night off from cooking! Enjoy! 1. IHOP on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road offers free kids meals from 4pm to 9pm.  To make it even more worth your while, there are often coupons in Sunday circulars for up to 20 percent off your meal. 2. Cinco's offers a free meal per adult meal purchased during dinner hours Monday thru Thursday. 3. Steak 'N Shake on weekends offers a free kids meal for every $8 worth of food. Steak 'N Shake also regularly has coupons in Sunday newspaper circulars. 4. …

Firesalt Tavern - Kids Eat Free; Sun and Wed - With purchase of each adult lunch (11am-2:30pm)  or dinner (5pm-9pm)  entree at regular price. From kid's menu, Ages 12 & under; 33 Buford Village Way Suite 311,Buford 30518 770-932-6284. Cinco Mexican Cantina - Happy Hour; Mon-Fri, 5pm-7pm; 1500 Peachtree Ind. Blvd. Suite 100, Suwanee  30024;  678-541-0645. Oasis Bowl - Winter Specials; $2 games, Sun-Wed, 9pm-close; Unlimited Bowling $15.99 pp, Fri and Sat, 11pm-2am; 1601 Horizon Pkwy, Buford 30518. 770-271-2552. Peace, Love & Pottery - Paint Your Own Pottery; Mon-Thu, 10am-8pm; Fri and Sat, …