First, the blood alcohol content for boat drivers has been lowered from .1 to .08, which is the same level for drivers on land.

“From .08 to .1 is a big jump in the level of impairment so it will be really nice to have that law consistent with what we have on the highway,” said Jason Roberson with the Department of Natural Resources.

If you’re planning on partying on the lake, then plan on a designated captain as well.

Second, kids up to age 13 are required to wear a life jacket. That’s up from the old law, wear kids up to 10 had to wear them.

This one is important, too, according to Gabriela Panasiuk of West Marine, because “Even at the age of 13 you really aren’t a fantastic swimmer. You don’t have lung capacity to hold breath for a very long time. You don’t really have the strength to swim to shore if you needed to.”

The safety event also covered refresher topics like applying adequate sunscreen, boat maintenance, and keeping safe distance between boats.

“We’re reminding people of the 100 foot rule. It seems simple, but you would be surprised how many people violate it. If people would just stay a hundred feet away from stationary objects and people in the water it would solve a lot of problems here,” said Joanna Cloud with the Lake Lanier Association.

So stay safe out there, boaters! Designate a captain, keep that blood alcohol content below .08, wear those life jackets, apply that sunscreen, keep those boats up to code, and remember the 100 foot rule!

To read more about the event, check out CBS Atlanta’s story here.

First off, The Ralph Roddenbery Band is playing at our Big Beach Party this Saturday, from 5-9pm, on the Coca-Cola Stage.

The Ralph Roddenbery Band is a dynamic blend of Americana, roots rock, and a twist of the blues. By combining four part harmonies with energizing riffs, captivating lyrics, remarkable stage presence and a driving rhythm section, RRB is able to connect with their audience in a way that makes them feel as if they are having a one on one conversation about life. The Ralph Roddenbery Band consists of Ralph Roddenbery (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Ted Norton (lead guitar/vocals), Richie Jones (drums/vocals), Tommy Jones (bass) and Samantha Alessi-Jones (vocals).

Ralph Roddenbery isn’t a paid motivational speaker, but he very well could be as his music is uplifting and heart felt.  Roddenbery’s lyrics often focus on the perseverance of life’s scrappers and underdogs, but his musical style varies from folk-rock to americana to blues.  By combining four part harmonies with energizing riffs, remarkable stage presence and a driving rhythm section, RRB is able to connect with their audience in a way that makes them feel as if they are having a one on one conversation about life. His shows are intimate, even in a large arena setting, and guaranteed to leave you with a positive feeling.

There’s really no reason NOT to come out this Saturday to hear these guys play.

Masterpiece Mondays: These are SO MUCH FUN. Here’s the skinny: you show up, you pay $35, you get instruction from a legit instructor who teaches you all how to paint a super pretty picture (see below). And since you can paint a different picture every week, you can easily rack up a pretty impressive gallery of your own art! Or, you could sign it and tell people a famous artist painted it! (We won’t tell!)

See how they’re the same picture, but different? These two people went to the same class and came out with two unique and beautiful pictures.

The Details: 6pm every Monday at Sunset Cove; $35 includes food and drink from a select menu, all painting supplies, canvas, and instruction.

Volleyball Tuesdays: Do you love to dig, bump, set, and spike? Then we’ve got the event for you! Where else on Lake Lanier can you go play outdoor volleyball on a pristine sand beach with your friends? Enjoy pick up games at the Sunset Cove volleyball courts, and when you’re ready to take a break, check out our food and drink specials at the Sunset Cove Beach Cafe & Club!

The Details: Tuesdays, all day at Sunset Cove! Our courts are free to play on, just be friendly!

Wake ‘N Surf Wednesdays: Come check out our BRAND NEW 5 for 5 Wake ‘n Surf Wednesdays! Every Wednesday from 6 – 8 p.m., experience our new Wake the Lake Cable Park with all of your friends! For ONLY $5, you get 5 laps or 5 minutes on the entire course. Wakeboard or ski across the Cove, showing off your water sport skills! Marine Max will sponsor the event the first Wednesday of every month. Join in with the interactive water sports, instructional rides and demonstrations in the Cove. You don’t want to miss this deal of the summer!

The Details: At Sunset Cove, 6-8pm every Wednesday; $5 for 5 laps, OR $5 for 5 minutes on the course.

Low Country Boil Thursdays: Whether you’re visiting for a day or you’ve lived in the South your whole life, you have GOT to come check out our Low Country Boils. It’s the ultimate feast, combining corn on the cob, boiled red potatoes, smoked country sausage, and delicious seafood. Throw in some Old Bay seasoning and some tongs and you have, without question, one of the very best meals the South has to offer.

The Details: 6pm every Thursday at Sunset Cove. $19.95.

Flip Flop Fridays: Come hang out at Sunset Cove, where there’s drink specials and DJ requests all night! The sunset is gorgeous every time, so put your feet up by our outdoor firepits and relax the night away!

The Detsils: Fridays, 6pm, at Sunset Cove.

Big Beach Parties: Chill with your friends from 5-9 pm on Saturday nights at Big Beach as your favorite local artists perform on the floating stage. Dance with your feet in the sand, dine on pizza delivered from Gianni’s, and jam to the sweet tunes and the sunset over Lake Lanier. You can see the band line up below.

The Details: Saturdays, 5-9pm, Big Beach by the floating stage.

So those are the weekly events here at Lake Lanier – each and every one of them is definitely worth checking out. In addition, don’t forget about our Full Moon Parties, Wine Cruises, and other special events like Memorial Day and Independence Day!

It was a fantastic weekend here at the Lake, and we were particularly excited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Big Beach with our friends from La Raza 100.1 – Atlanta’s first Spanish-language FM radio station! The Wave Pool was rockin’, the Ferris wheel was rollin’, and everybody had a great time! The DJ set up shop on our floating stage off the shore and we opened up the beach to swimming under the watchful eyes of our excellent lifeguards.

Now, a lot of us see Cinco de Mayo as a International Margarita and Tequila Day, but that’s actually not the case. I bet you never thought you’d get a little history lesson here at this blog, but strap yourself in because that’s exactly what’s happening right now!

First and foremost, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence Day – that’s in September. Cinco de Mayo is actually the day that the Battle of Puebla took place between the tiny Mexican army under General Zaragoza and the twice-as-big French army sent by Napoleon III.

Hurray for Mexican heritage and culture!

What else is going on?

Great news, beach fans: LanierWorld is opening THIS WEEKEND!! Our Facebook and Twitter pages are giving out great prizes all week long, so be sure to like us and follow us on both of those.

What’s new this year?

We have new club membership programs, which you can read about here. The Boardwalk will be open, and features the brand new Sunset Cantina!  Check out Bucky’s Game Station to get out of the heat for a while and sooth your PS3 and XBox360 cravings! Stroll over to the Scoop Shack Lakeside Creamery for some ice cream, and watch the Fun Time Players perform one of their amazing shows! Spend your evenings at LanierWorld checking out one of our new featured events – a different one every night! Whether it’s Masterpiece Tuesdays, Wake ‘n’ Surf Wednesdays, Low Country Boil Thursdays, Flip Flop Fridays, or Big Beach Parties on Saturdays, you’re sure to want to come back again and again!

You know you’ve got chops when Rolling Stone Magazine throws a couple reviews your way. We’re talking about Georgia’s own Drivin N Cryin, and they’ll be playing right here at the Peachtree Pointe Amphitheater on Saturday, May 11. So come on over the opening day at LanierWorld, ride some water slides, soak in the sun on Big Beach, chill in the wave pool, stroll down the Boardwalk, and then head to the concert at 7pm for some great rock and roll. We can’t think of a better way to spend the day before Mother’s Day!

Ticket Info: $22.50 Section A Seating | $18.00 Section B Seating
Check the venue map here

Purchase Tickets Here

Oh, you’re wondering what Rolling Stone Magazine had to say about Drivin’ & Cryin’, aren’t you? Here’s the review:

“Crunching hard rock in the drivin part, brittle countryish balladry the cryin, with the two linked by a heavy dose of Led Zeppelinphilia. If Paul Westerberg had grown up worshiping Angus Young instead of Alex Chilton, the Replacements might have sounded something like this Atlanta band.”

Drivin N Cryin landed its first gig in October of 1985 at 688 Club in Atlanta, where local favorites Pylon and R.E.M. frequently jammed before they became famous. In fact, 688 Club had something of a reputation for launching Atlanta- and Athens-based bands who would go on to become headliners. That’s what happened with Drivin N Cryin too. The owners loved the band so much they signed a record deal and released their first album, “Scarred But Smarter” in the Fall of 1986, which was an immediate success on the college radio charts. After that, the band got snapped up by Island Records, and released “Whisper Tames the Lion” in New York City. That album gained them widespread acclaim, and with the music video for  “Can’t Promise You the World,” it looked like Drivin N Cryin were going to do just fine. It wasn’t until 1988, however, when the band returned to their hometown and played the Cotton Club that Atlanta’s long-term love affair really took off. Soon Drivin N Cryin was opening for R.E.M. at a sold-out Fox Theater and releasing another album, “Fly Me Courageous.” “Fly Me Courageous” the song became a massive rock radio hit, in no small part driven by the true story that Navy pilots were listening to cassingles of the song in their cockpits as they bombed Baghdad during Operation Desert Storm. Since then, Drivin N Cryin has been jamming and touring on and off, picking up new musicians, and reenergizing their sound. Critics and fans agree though, that Drivin N Cryin live is definitely a must-see event!

Have you seen the new venue yet? Peachtree Pointe Amphitheater offers great acoustics in the open air, right next to the water where boats can anchor and hear the concerts too! Section A offers normal outdoor seating, while Section B is allocated to lawn chairs. There’s even lawn seating around the sides! This is going to be one of the best places to watch outdoor concerts this summer!

Full Moon Party

On Friday, the first Full Moon Party of the year quite literally went off with a bang as our fireworks extravaganza delighted the crowd in and around Sunset Cove. It was a crazy fun event with our Man of the Moon, Sonic, representing Power 96.1, a stilt-walking clown juggling light-up bowling pins, a 16-foot tall puppet giving out really high fives, and a fire breather dancing to the mad beats laid down by the DJ! The Sunset Cove docks were full up, and a dozen or so boats were anchored offshore for a prime view of the fireworks. Even before the sun went down, guests played several games of volleyball and enjoyed the sun setting

Mark your calendars for next month’s Full Moon Party at Sunset Cove, Sunday, May 26th.

Squeeze the Clown

Jimmy Pyro and awesome party-goer

This guy had to dance RIGHT NOW.

And we mean RIGHT NOW!

Music, Beach & Brew Fest

These crazy guys were trying a sip of Sweetwater.

Saturday came and with it hundreds of guests clamoring for a taste, or rather, many tastes of a variety of craft beers from all over the United States. Vendors from Sweetwater, Ace, Aguita, Founders, Mad River, Victory, Lagunitas, Saw Tooth, Dale’s, Jack Daniel’s, Jailhouse, and so many more showed up and set up shop around Sunset Cove to water the thirsty crowd. We saw a forecast of rain, but it held off until the later evening, and it really ended up being a nice day, although a bit cool. There were live performances all day on our new stage by the OCD Band, Celebrity DJ Gary Braner and SMACK. We’ll definitely be doing this one again, so keep an eye out for next year’s Music, Beach, and Brew Fest!

Some of the beers featured on Saturday.

FULL MOON PARTY:

When? Where? Sunset Cove, this Friday (Tomorrow [April 26 {Tomorrow}]) at 7pm, and howlin’ until 11pm.

Grab your friends, tell your boss you’re busy, hop in the car and head on over to Sunset Cove for our NEW Full Moon Parties at Sunset Cove! Dance the night away with DJ Brian Grooms under the moon; complete with Stilt Walkers, Fire Eaters and dozens of Boardwalk Entertainers! And as always, we will have our signature fireworks to top off the night. Full Moons have been revamped and will never be the same… come check out all of the new activities going on!

MUSIC, BEACH, AND BREW FEST:

When? Where? Sunset Cove, this Saturday (The day AFTER tomorrow [April 27 {Tomorrow's tomorrow}]) at 1pm, and jammin’ until 5pm.

Put on those flippy floppies and dig your toes in the sand during our second annual Music, Beach and Brew Fest! This is going to be a party folks! Think Jimmy Buffett holds a Beer Festival with beach games and more.
In addition to unlimited samples of over 150 beers between 1:00pm and 5:00pm, Festival attendees will enjoy a beautiful day at Sunset Cove with games and top local area bands hosted by industry-leading DJ/Entertainer Gary Braner! Also on hand we will have amazing beer-inspired food and merchandise from over 20 vendors. Don’t miss out on your turn in the photo booth or your chance to win one of many prizes valued at up to $300.00 on our prize wheel (That’s easily the easiest prize you’ll ever win)!
This is a rain or shine event! Come early and grab lunch and plan to stay late as the Island comes alive at night.

Does it cost?

$38 in advance (make a note for next year, it’s a pretty big deal.)

$45 at the door

$49 early admission ticket gets you in an hour early at 12pm

Under 20? Come chill for free – if you can’t legally drink, we’re not charging you to come hang out.

Leave your pets at home (unless it’s a service animal), dogs don’t even like beer!

Designated Driver and Underage Admission: We encourage responsibility and Lake Lanier is a Great Family Venue, so we are pleased to make available this special ticket to accommodate everyone to a fun day on the Beaches of Lake Lanier Islands!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Anyone on the event grounds having entered the event under this ticket designation found to be intoxicated, in possession of, or drinking any alcoholic beverages will be escorted from the event. No refunds will be made and may be subject to arrest.

Heats began at 8am. Look at those ladies, all fresh and clean…

Before we get to our main event, there are so many new events and activities to talk about here at Lake Lanier Islands! Here’s a quick rundown of a few of them, we’ll be covering a few more each week as this blog takes you into the summer season:

Wake the Lake Cable Park: Powered by a cable system designed to simulate a rider pulled behind a boat, Wake the Lake offers riders all the fun of wakeboarding without the trouble of finding a boat to tow them. WTL is a low energy, zero emissions business, which lowers the cost and environmental impact while making the sport of wakeboarding more affordable and accessible. You’ll never be turned away because of your skill level, because our purpose is to create an environment where beginners can learn and expand on their skills alongside amateurs and pro’s who are also honing their skills and tricks. For ticket rates and hours, check www.wakethelakecablepark.com, email ContactUs@NewWaveCablePark.com, or call (678) 409-9053.

Bucky’s Game Station: The ultimate hangout for gamers, Bucky’s Game Station is located in LanierWorld near WildWaves. Come play Xbox and Playstation games on our flatscreen tvs, or plug into our old-school arcade console and revisit classics like Street Fighter 2 and Galaga. Your StarShip awaits you, commander

Boardwalk: We’ll be walkin’ along the Boardwalk this summer with all new games and all new prizes. Grab a smoothie at Paradise Fruit & Smoothies, then scope out the lake from the Ferris wheel. If the Georgia heat starts to get to you, stroll on over to the Scoop Shack for a delicious ice cream cone, and when the sun starts to sink, you’re ready to relax at Sunset Cantina!

For a full list and more details about all the new things here at Lake Lanier Islands, please visit www.lakelanierislands.com, or call (770) 945-8787.

WEEKEND UPDATE:

This weekend we hosted two fantastic events! Saturday’s Dirty Girl Mud Run was a huge success, with over 4,500 runners on the course Saturday and Sunday! The heats began at 8am, as runners from California to Florida arrived throughout the day. The Titsburg Feelers, Super Hot Mamas, and even our own Lake Lanier Islands staff were represented, and competed in the Dirty Girl. The 3.1-mile course wound its way around and through the old golf course, beginning at the Beachview parking lot, over, under, and through ropes, mud-pits, and dirt-crawls, and ending with a huge splash at Big Beach. Runners had to navigate through thirteen obstacles, including traditional toughies “Barn Burner,” the “Wall,” and “Get a Grip;” muddy favorites “Utopian Tubes,” “PMS (Pretty Muddy Stuff),” and “H2OMG;” and difficult dirt traps “Down and Dirty,” “Runaway Bride,” and “Dirty Dancing.” Many of the participants had such a great time they asked if there would be a repeat of the Dirty Girl Mud Run at Lake Lanier. Well, ladies, here is your answer: Probably (If that seems a little vague, it’s because we’re still evaluating the results of the run – it just happened yesterday after all!). In the mean time, www.godirtygirl.com offers plenty of opportunity to compete at other events around the country.

Some of our own Lake Lanier Islands staff took up the Dirty Girl challenge!

Dirty Girl staffers kept the obstacles as muddy as possible!

These ladies were obviously not tired at all after the run!

The Wall. The Beast. The Nothing Can Stop Me.

Hold your breath!

These ladies from the Super Hot Mamas had a muddy time!

Some of our own Lake Lanier Islands staff took up the Dirty Girl challenge!

The Super Hot Mamas!

Along the way, runners got a great view of Lake Lanier, and the breezes coming off the water helped cool them down.

Exhausted competitors had to scale this rope wall and descend on the other side!

Great job, ladies!

Getting Down and Dirty in the mud!

The obstacles were obviously many participants’ favorite part, as evidenced by the grinning mud queens traipsing back through the parking lot, giving out high-fives and recounting tales of glory in the Utopian Tubes and courage on the Barn Burner.

All in all, it was a fantastic day for it, and we were very pleased with the turnout.

On Sunday, the Island Princess, our 85-foot houseboat took a group of intrepid wine connoisseurs to explore the wines of several regions of Spain, including the little known region of Penedes. With the weather warming up, it wasn’t too difficult to imagine Lake Lanier as a distant cousin to the serene Lake of Banyoles. Deep blue waters and gentle breezes conjured the beautiful coastline of Catalonia, and our explorers enjoyed an exquisite menu while listening to the tales of importers Brian Greenberg and Scott Adams.

The wine selection was superb, and featured four wines from the Penedes region:

Joan Sarda, a Xarel-lo/Chardonnay blend

Vina Sarda Tinto, a Tempranillo/Merlot blend

Cap de Creus, a Grenache/Cabernet blend

Torre del Veguer Ecletic, a Cabernet/Petit Sirah/Merlot blend

One selection from Rias Biaxis:

Palacio de Fefinanes, an Albarino

And one from Calatayud:

Tres Ojos, an Old Vines Garnacha

These were paired marvelously with a tapas display, including Spanish cheeses, fruits, sliced cured meats, and marinated vegetables; a sweets display, featuring macaroons, pralines, and truffles; squid ceviche, chorizo stuffed peppers, marinated artichoke and Serrano ham, smoked prawn fritters with lemon Aioli, braised short rib and Manchego empanadas, Marrakesh lamb skewers with mint, honeyed yoghurt, and finishing with Catalan cream with Brandy and Hazelnuts.

Right now you’re wondering when the next incredible excursion will be. Our next wine cruise sets sail on May 19^th, and you can view our full 2013 wine cruise series schedule here. To make reservations, call (770) 945-8787.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Do you want to howl at the full moon while partying with your friends at Sunset Cove? Then come on over on Friday, April 26 for our first Full Moon Party of the summer season! Starting at 7:00pm, you can dance the night away with DJ Brian Grooms hosting under the moon, play beach games, or get painted with the glow-in-the-dark body paint!  And as always, we have our signature fireworks to complete the night.  Full Moons will never be the same…

Do you love music? The beach? Consider yourself a beer master? Then you’re in luck, my friend, because a truly fantastic event is right around the corner! On April 27, at noon for VIPs and 1:00pm for general admission, Sunset Cove will be hosting DJ Gary Brannon as he hosts some great live music for our second annual Music, Beach, and Brew Fest! This is an event you don’t want to miss! For more information, check out the Music, Beach, and Brew Fest Facebook page.

Charlene Lively

Through the years, Charlene has demonstrated her command of the telephone system. She recognizes most callers on the first few syllables and is the quickest draw on the switchboard. Charlene takes her job very seriously, which sows in her performance. She makes the switchboard look easy, although most of us know it can be quite intimidating.

Angela Hutchinson

Nose to the ground, Angela always has a smile not only on her lips, but in her eyes. It is evident that Angela truly enjoys what she does and her attention to detail is second to none. Her compassionate and caring nature makes her an ideal leader. She carries with her a passion, which guiders her on a daily basis and is noticed by the guests as she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that their stay on the lake is the best it could possibly be.