Community Blog

DragonCon is one of the largest science fiction and fantasy conventions that occurs every year here in Atlanta.  Featuring the very best from the world of SciFi, DragonCon plays host to your favorite author, actor or character.  Held partly at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency, the festivities start Friday, September 3-6.  The annual parade will be Saturday, September 4th and will take over Peachtree Street, downtown.  You will be able to see all your favorite characters in the parade, so get there early so you get a good view. 

There will also be numerous authors present including Jim Butcher (who pens the Harry Dresden series) and his wife Shannon, who writes a new paranormal romance series.  Diana Gabaldon, who is one of my favorite authors who wrote the  OUTLANDER novels, and Laurell K. Hamilton, creator of the “Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter” Series.  Actors include Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings, Scott Bakula, Tia Carrere, and Summer Glau of the Firefly, Serentity and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Choronicles.

This year, DragonCon has chosen The Lupus of America, Georgia Chapter, as their charity.  Lupus as we all know is a life threatening condition that afflicts thousands of people each year, not to mention those already living with it.  So any contribution is going to a worthy cause. 

From Jefferson at Champions Parkway, you are about 30 minutes from the Atlanta Hyatt Regency.  Click here for directions. 

For more information about DragonCon, check here. 

Atlanta traffic, especially in rush hour is just brake lights all the way.  I have been stuck in traffic so many times, I could have written a novel.  There is however light at the end of this very backed up tunnel and it comes in the form of the PeachPass.  The Georgia DOT and the Governor’s office have come up with this idea to have a prepaid electronic card and it will used in the same way as you would driving through a toll.  If you can afford to use this, it can used for both single and double occupancy vehicles.  I think this is a great idea, as it will hopefully cut down on the amount of backed up traffic we have to deal with going to and from work.  This new idea has been given the green light, but won’t come into effect until 2011. 

Here is an article from the AJC, talking about this project. 

A popular new product is sweeping the world of decorators everywhere.  Vinyl wall art.  After years of using wallpaper and borders, getting glue everywhere, I was told about vinyl.  So, I looked into it, as we were going through the motions of removing a wall border at the time and wanted to replace it with something a little easier to install and something that we could take down, when we moved or changed the design.  Vinyl wall art has taken off in a big way and you can now get virtually any design you want. So, whichever room you want to spice up consider this new technique. 

If you happen to be one of the lucky 12,000 to have seen Maroon 5 on Saturday night at the Verizon Ampitheater, then you will agree with me that we were treated to a great concert.  I was there with my family, despite the rain and the thunder in the sky, which just added to the excitement of the night.  Opening for Maroon 5 was British newcomer, V.V. Brown, who rocked the house, she is out on the road with Maroon 5 and to date this is her biggest U.S tour. I suspect that she is going to be a big hit.  Then American Idol winner, Kris Allen followed and surprisingly he was better than I had anticipated.  When Maroon 5 took the stage, the entire ampitheater erupted with screams and applause.  They didn’t come out until after 9pm, but the wait was worth it.  They sang some of their old favorites, “She Will be Loved,” “Secret,” and “Wake Up Call.”  The guys also sang songs from their upcoming album, their hit “Misery” was their opener and a new one “Stutter,” which I have a feeling is going to be a huge hit.  Taking the stage with an encore of two of their old songs, Maroon 5 didn’t leave the stage until 11:30pm.  It was an awesome concert, one I am really glad I went to.  If you missed them this time and you want to drive to Chatanooga TN, they will be appearing August 26, 2010 at the UTC McKenzie Arena. 

 

 

Have you ever wanted to go back to being a kid again?  To be carefree and hang out with your friends and do all the things that makes being a kid fun.  Well here’s your chance.  One of the most favorite things to do when I was a kid, was climbing trees.  My parents would go crazy, because I would just scamper up a tree without a second thought.  On Saturday, August 21, 2010, at Riverside Park in Roswell you can be a kid again and climb trees for fun.  This time however, there will be professionals on hand with safety ropes to teach you how to suspend from limbs and do bat hangs.  So, whatever age you are, whether you’re 10 or 100, come on, join your fellow “kids at heart” and go tree climbing. 

This Friday Sylvester Stallone is back!  And he’s bringing his boys with him.  Willis, Statham, Lungdren, Austin, Couture and Li, star as mercenaries on a mission to South America to overthrow a dictator.  Looks like this is going to be a lot of fun and one that I am not going to miss. 

Check out The Expendables @ United Artists North Point Parkway

12:10pm | 2:45pm | 5:15pm | 7:45pm | 10:20pm

Who has their tickets already?  I DO!  Maroon 5 are one of my all time favorite bands and when I heard they were coming to Atlanta, I whipped out my credit card and bought my ticket.  They will be at the Verizon Ampitheater, August 21, 2010.  Tickets are still available, so if you haven’t got them already…

American Idol Winner Kris Allen and V.V. Brown are supporting acts.

 

Aside from adopting every animal that needs a home (it is tempting, especially when their little eyes are imploring your through their cages), there are other ways you can help out your local animal shelter and their brood of little furry orphans.  Here are three simple and easy ways you can help out:

1)  Donate your old towels, blankets and bedding.  Animal shelters can use your old stained towels and threadbare sheets.  So rather than throw them away, donate them.  They can use them for baths and bedding for the animals while they wait for their new homes.

2)  Donations in lieu of gifts.  Got a birthday coming up?  Rather than accepting gifts, ask that people write checks made out the local ASPCA or shelter in your area.  Their donations are usually tax-deductible and the karma points you receive are way better than any candle, CD or bottle of wine.

3)  Start a donation drive.  Ask around the office, your church or the here at the property for donations.  Often times people have food that their pets can’t or won’t eat, toys they don’t play with, crates they’ve outgrown and collars that no longer fit.  All of these things can be donated to the local animal shelter.

 

This is the one place in my apartment that drives me crazy.  My kitchen countertops become the catch-all for everything.  The kids drop their stuff there when they come home from school and I can’t tell you how many sets of keys are sitting there.  A friend of mine suggested that I organize my countertops so that I optimize the space that I have to work with keep my counters better organized.  Here are some ideas that I am using to better utilize my space. 

1. I have attached my spice rack to the wall.  It makes it so much easier for me to reach for when I am cooking.
2. I only keep the essential appliances out, like the coffee pot; however, the toaster has its own home in the cupboard.
3. I keep the butcher’s block out, just for convenience.  If you want a bare countertop, then designate a drawer to hold your knives. 
4. For my utensils, I have installed a utensils rack behind the stove, again this is for convenience.

What are some other things that you do, that keep your kitchen from becoming cluttered?  Share your thoughts and ideas here on the blog. Or connect with us on Facebook.

Next Page »