Community Blog

Is anyone looking forward to George Clooney’s latest movie this week?  It’s called The American and it doesn’t look like it’s your typical, high-action spy-assasin thriller.  Just judging from the trailer alone, it seems that the directors vision was more artistic than it one might suspect.

But I do get the impression that the film will flow properly and that should lead to a great story.  Check out the trailer for yourself right here.  And as usual, here are movie times for Memphis area theaters near The Meadows: Ajay Theatres – Hollywood 20 Cinema, Malco Bartlett Cinema 10 & Malco Stage Cinema.

We’ve already concluded that summer 2010 has been one of the hottest that the city of Memphis has seen.  In fact, temperatures in Memphis usually range from 88.5 in June to 92 in July (with a record 111 set in 1918). But so far in 2010, through August 23, all but six days have been above normal.

For those of you looking for a new way to beat the summer heat, look no further.  Enter YoLo.  The “serve-it-yourself” frozen yogurt chain recently opened up a new location on Erin Way in East Memphis.  If you’re not on the frozen yogurt bandwagon yet, you soon will be.  Frozen yogurt is like ice cream’s slimmer, better looking cousin.  All the same good flavor, just less fattening.

YoLo usually has eight flavors on tap. Of course you’ll have your traditionals like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.  But then they’ve got a few more exotic flavors like blueberry and pomegranate.  And the toppings…everything from fresh fruit to granola to gummy bears.  You put it together how you want, and then weigh your cup on a scale and pay by the ounce.  Sounds like a good deal to me.  What do you think?

Do you currently carry renter’s insurance?  The Meadows Apartments strongly advises their residents to get a policy.  It’s really not as expensive as you may think.  In fact, you can save money on your policy in quite a few ways.  Here is one in an article I found about saving money on renter’s insurance.  Check out this video too.

EFT Payments: Many companies are now charging up to $5.00 or more for mail payments, but sometimes nothing if you choose to have payments automatically deducted. And sometimes the deductions can come from your credit card, so you don’t have to worry if the money will be in your bank account when payment time comes.

Cop Out

Action star Bruce Willis and ace comic Tracy Morgan play bickering-but-got-your-back Brooklyn buddy cops. Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) directs the gritty, goofball goings-on as the guys hunt for a stolen 1952 mint-condition baseball card, a hunt plunging them into a gunslinging war with a deadly drug ring. Batter up, fans. The boys are ready to take you out to the ol’ brawl game!   Rated R.  Genre: Comedy, Action & Adventure.

I haven’t seen this yet, but I really don’t see how you can go wrong with a lineup including Willis, Morgan and Smith.  All three are funny in their own right.  The reviews I’ve read say that the movie lacks any real “laugh out loud” moments and that a lot of the scenes are very cliche.  Well, there’s only one way to find out.  Hey, it’s only a dollar at Redbox so even if it bombs, I can’t be too mad.

Check it out this week.  The closest Redbox kiosks to The Meadows are at Walgreens (5828 Summer Ave and 5080 Stage Rd), Kroger (5995 Stage Rd) and Exxon Mobile (1369 Sycamore View Rd).

Elvis Presley was a mastermind.  Not necessarily with music.  I’m talking about in the kitchen.  Peanut butter, bananas and bacon together was nothing short of a magical idea.

To celebrate “The King’s” passing today (August 16, 1977) and the official close of Memphis’ Elvis Week 2010, here is a tasty treat that you can whip up in your apartment.  I’m sure “The King” would approve, as it calls for all of his favorite ingredients!  They’re called Circus Freaks.

Directions

1. Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Cut each slice into 1-inch pieces while still warm, and set aside.
2. Melt 2/3 of the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring to melt the chocolate. (Do not let water or steam drip into the chocolate or it will seize up.) Bring the chocolate up to no more than 110 degrees F (43 degrees C), measuring with a thermometer. Stir in the reserved chopped chocolate, remove from the heat, and stir off the heat until the temperature of the chocolate comes down to 88 to 90 degrees and most of the chocolate pieces have melted. Remove any unmelted pieces, and hold the chocolate over warm water at this temperature for dipping.
3. Slice the bananas into 1-inch pieces, and cut each piece down the center to make half moons. Spread the bottom of each half moon with about 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter. Stick the banana piece, peanut butter side down, onto a square of bacon, and skewer the banana and bacon together with a toothpick.
4. Dip the banana and bacon treats into the melted chocolate until completely covered; place dipped treats onto waxed or parchment paper until cool and set. Refrigerate leftovers.

(Credit: AllRecipes.com)

The main character, Elizabeth Gilbert, has a great career, a good husband and a nice home.  Despite how happy that sounds, there is something missing.  After a bitter divorce, she is forced to step out of her comfort zone in order to find her true self….by traveling the world.

One of the cool things about this movie is that the view gets to do some sight seeing, with scenes in Italy, India and Bali.  Not a bad way to find yourself if you ask me.

If this sounds like your kind of movie, check it out this weekend.  Here are showtimes for Memphis theaters near The Meadows: Ajay Theatres – Hollywood 20 Cinema, Malco Bartlett Cinema 10 and Malco Stage Cinema.

Did you know that Memphis City School students that are in grades 8-12 can take core, elective and AP courses online for free?  What a terrific opportunity to take classes at your own pace, or even just  to get ahead in a particular subject.  I sure wish we had that opportunity when I was in high school.  I was able to take a few online classes in college and they were really lifesavers.  You have to be disciplined enough to keep up with the work though. 

If you know of any high school or jr. high school students in that grade range, make sure you pass the word.  Pretty much every level of English, math, science and social studies is available.  The Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings include microeconomics, art history and computer science.

The deadline for Quarter 1 registration is August 16.  For Quarter 2, the deadline is September 28.  Each class is assigned an online instructor to help guide the students to the courses completion.  Online students also have access to special online tutoring.

To register, interested students need to visit http://mcsk12.angellearning.com, complete the “Course Selection” and “Registration” forms and return them to their counselor.

(Photo Credit: ausport)

Beer festivals…you gotta love ‘em.  What’s not to love about them?  Whoever invented the idea of bringing a variety of beers together in one place, then letting the public sample as much as they want – for a small, flat price fee, of course – while listening to music and eating food is a genius.  Pure genius.  The best thing about summer beer festivals: I can use them to determine what I’ll be sipping on Sunday’s during football season.

So now that I’ve got you in a beer festival state of mind, I bet you’re just itching to find one.  No worries, I’ve got you covered.  The Snowden Beer Festival is going down this Saturday (August 7) at the Snowden Grove Ampitheater (6275 Snowden Lane in Southaven, MS) about 25 minutes from The Meadows, right acros the state line.  They’ll be featuring over 70 beers from the U.S. and around the world.

Memphis band The Perfect Vessels will rock the crowd, along with Grammy-nominated musicion Cody Dickinson.  Food will also be available on site from local restaurants and vendors.  Beer, music, food…what’s not to love!  Tickets are $35 the day of the event…and you even get your own souvenir Snowden Beer Festival sampling glass.

Some of my best grade school memories are from being in art class.  I think most kids everywhere enjoy art class.  Art is about expression and what kid doesn’t want to express themselves?  Expression is universal.  We all need to do it somehow someway.

Seems the Rozelle Artists Guild agrees.  Just read in ILoveMemphisBlog.com that they are producing a community art project for which they are giving away small, 12-page sketchbooks to anyone who is willing to stop by Art Center Supply Store (1636 Union Avenue) to pick one up, any Saturday or Sunday by August 22.

I assume they want everyone to sketch or create something that represents them.  Past entries to Project Sketchbook have been drawings, photos, lists and writings.  When we’re done playing with the books, the idea is to return them to be made into a public display this September.  I can dig it.  I like an idea that inspires public creativity or forum.  I think it’s healthy for members of a community to express themselves to each other.

There is a small $1 fee for what I am assuming are their admisitrative expenses.  You can also order a sketchbook online.

(Photo Credit: nirak)

Who likes to do laundy?  Not me.  It’s one of the least favorite chores I have to do…especially the ironing part.  At lease we have washers and dryers right here in our apartments and we don’t have to drag loads of dirty laundry to a separate laundry center or laundromat.  What about you?  Any specific chores that you hate?

Speaking of laundry, I was advised by a friend in the health field that pillows need to washed almost as often as your bed sheets.  I didn’t know that, but it makes sense if you think about it.  I found this video on YouTube that gives you tips on how to wash them.  If you’ve got any tips of your own, feel free to share with the community!

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