Fireworks in Durham

I have a strong belief that you can’t have a successful 4th of July celebration without fireworks! Well, you ‘technically’ still can, but a fireworks display can be the cherry on top to a great Independence Day!

That being said, I’m here to give you a heads up on a few locations that will be featuring fireworks displays for the 4th:

• Garner at Lake Benson Park
• Fuquay-Varina at South Park
• N.C. State Fairgrounds – City of Raleigh fireworks (start at 9:15 pm)

Whatever fun things you have planned for this 4th of July (Sunday), just be sure that you top it off with some high-flying, bright colored, booming fireworks!

If you know of any other venues that are featuring 4th of July displays, please feel free to comment back and let the rest of us know!

Rascal Flatts with Kellie Pickler and Chris Young

Combine one of the most popular and well respected bands in country music with two new favorite young country artists and what do you get? One rockin’ concert!

On Friday June 25, you can see Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, and Chris Young perform at the Walnut Creek Amphitheater. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.  I’ve always been a fan of Rascal Flatts, and to see now that they are joining forces with two of my new favorites is exciting! One performer (or group) is great, two is better than one, and in terms of performances, three is close to perfection. The more the merrier I say! If you are interested in attending, visit the concert’s eventful page for more information.

Tickets are still available but get them fast!

Broad Street Cafe presents Anna Rose Beck

I have always loved attending ‘dinner and a show‘ events.  It combines two of my favorite things; entertainment and food!  Needless to say, I am extremely thankful to live in Durham since there are so many’ dinner and a show’ events to choose from. If you play your cards right every meal of the night could be linked with a performance. Of course by that point you and I would both probably be broke, but lets focus on the positive!

One of my favorite places to enjoy dinner and a show is the Broad Street Cafe. They feature some of the best food and entertainment combinations in the area. And as a bonus they highlight up and coming local artists.  I’ve always been a big fan of supporting local talent so the Broad Street Cafe is the perfect fit for me!

Tonight come out to see Anna Rose Beck, an acoustic/folk artists from Austin, TX. Anna attended Duke University *GO BLUE DEVILS*, and has been greatly inspired by the music of Durham. Her biggest musical influences range from Paul Simon and The Beatles to Regina Spektor and Iron & Wine so her personal style is like no one artist you have ever heard. Let’s just say her music has been compared to “something that would be in a movie like Juno“. She hasn’t released an album yet but is working to have one out by the end of this year. Hear her before she hits the ‘big time’ while enjoying a meal from Broad Street Cafe’s amazing menu.

Information from Broad Street Cafe’ events page.

Have Your Cake And DECORATE It Too

I am a self-proclaimed foodie so you can imagine that my TV station of choice is often The Food Network.  Through my many years of watching The Food Network I would have to say that my favorite show is Ace of Cakes. It amazes me the things that the cake artists can create… out of cake and sugar! I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making a lavish cake design, but I don’t have the confidence or materials needed. I thought about taking a class but they all seem so long and expensive. That was until I heard about the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes at Michaels craft store (8210 Renaissance Parkway).

You can take a four-week course all about the basics of cake decorating. They start you out with the basics and move you up through the course to gum paste, fondant, and more! By the end of the class you will be able to dazzle your friends and relatives with your deliciously stylish cakes! Save money on buying fancy cakes when you can create your own!

The next course starts the week of July 4 so call Michaels on Renaissance Pkwy at (919) 206-4388 and register today!

Shout FORE For Father’s Day

It’s sad to admit it, but so often people neglect the celebration of Father’s Day. Mother’s Day is always a fairly big celebration but when it comes to our dads, sometimes we fall short on showing them just how much we appreciate what they do. Perhaps even you have slacked off on Father’s Day in the past; well not this year. Father’s Day is THIS Sunday so you still have time to do something really special. If I can make a suggestion, why not send your dad to the Duke University Golf Club for the most beautiful 18 holes in the area?

A day at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club is the perfect gift to tell your dad how much he means to you. The course has been highly ranked in Golf Digest, GolfWeek, Golf Magazine and more, with six PGA Professionals on staff and one Master PGA Pro. The Duke University Golf Course was ranked the best public course in the Triangle by The Triangle Business Journal. If you have a golf fan for a dad, he will absolutely love the beauty, professionalism, and challenge that Duke University Golf Course has to offer. Visit their site at the link above for prices and additional information.

Splurge on your dad, he deserves it!

19 Weight Loss Secrets From Around The World

Bathing suit season is here and some of you might be thinking that your bodies aren’t quite in the beach-ready shape you would like. I’ll be the first to admit that I have been working out non-stop in preparation for summertime but I am still not satisfied. What I am, is excited about these new weight loss secrets I found from Readers Digest. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have full understanding that any new system I try will take time to show results, but I’m eager to get started with some of these tricks from around the world! They have listed 19 total, but I thought I would highlight a few of my favorites.

1. Spice it up – If you have ever had Thai food, you know that it is some of the spiciest in the world. The great part about spicy food is that it not only speeds up your metabolism, but also slows your eating. When you slow down your eating, your body can accurately tell you when you are fill and you are less likely to overindulge.
2. Serve a side of red beans and rice – Brazilians stay slim by enjoying this traditional side with almost every mean. This dish is low in fat and high in fiber, which stabilizes your blood sugar.
3. Eat your breakfast – 75% of Germans eat breakfast daily while Americans sit at only 44%. This doesn’t mean stopping for an Egg McMuffin on the way to work, this means having fruit, whole grain cereals, and breads every morning. Reports have shown that by skipping breakfast your brain-stomach connection will actually be triggered around high-calorie food more frequently, making you more likely to indulge in unhealthy treats.

The rest of the list is really quite interesting. I have learned some of these “secrets” before, but after seeing some of the facts that accompany them, you can bet I will be following some of these worldly practices much more closely from now on.

NETworks Presents Beauty And The Beast

Be our guest at the Durham Performing Arts Center for the most beautiful love story ever told. It’s the  “tale as old as time” that we all know and love, live for you to see! The smash hit Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast is at the DPAC now through July 13th.

Belle and the Beast will grace the stage in an eye-popping spectacle you are guaranteed to love. Whether you grew up with these loveable characters or not, it’s a story you can’t help but get wrapped up in.

Visit the DPAC website for showtimes and ticket information!

World Cup

Not too many people fancy soccer in the states, but it’s actually the most popular sport in the world! That has to tell you something; Americans are missing out! I grew playing soccer, but I eventually went with baseball instead (they were played during the same season where I grew up).

Let’s face it, baseball is America’s Pastime and always will be, but I’ve been to England and attended a ‘football’ match. It was a blast! If we participated in soccer games like the rest of the world I think baseball would get a run for its money. But, of course it would take time to build that tradition because there are teams (clubs if you will) in England that have been around for 150 years plus. And there are families that have literally followed that team ever since. And we have tried to bring soccer to the states with our infant soccer program, the MLS. The LA Galaxy of the MLS signed David Beckham to a three-year deal and of course the hype was huge for a month or to, but subsided when he went down injured. It’s going to take more than an international all star playing in the states; we’re going to need FIFA and the World Cup!
This is where I come in; sign the petition to get the World Cup in the US in 2018 or 2022. We can do it! This is the only way to join the world in the love for soccer. It’s a brilliant game.

Sign here.

Almost There!

I love the Bonnie Hunt show and one of my favorite things she does is give the audience and viewers a feel good moment of the day. My week seems to be never ending, so I thought this particular feel good moment would be fitting.

If you’re feeling the same… just remember, you’re almost there!

Breakfast Fridays!

February 5, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
March 5, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
April 2, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
May 7, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
June 4, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
July 2, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
August 6, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
September 3, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
October 1, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
November 5, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am
December 3, 2010
7:00 am	to	9:00 am

Hey there everyone! As some of you well know, here at West Village Apartments we like to celebrate our wonderful residents with a few perks now and then…. like Breakfast Fridays!

Every first Friday of the month, come have breakfast with us in the Cooper Cooridor from 7-9pm. Enjoy eating, chatting, and getting to know your fellow residents!