Community Blog

September 6, 2010

The business office here at the apartment community will be closed this Monday, September 6th, for Labor Day. We will re-open on Tuesday with our normal business hours.

We hope everyone has a fantastic long weekend and great Labor Day!

We hope you enjoy your much deserved R & R everyone!

image courtesy of flickr: dierken

Gentlemen start your engines…

Anyone headed out to Hampton this weekend for the Emory Healthcare 500?  It will be 500 miles of NASCAR racing Sunday, September 5th, at 7:30pm.  This will be a night racing event where some of the top names in racing will be battling out on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s high banks and fast track.

There are pre-race festivities scheduled for the entire weekend that include Q & A with the drivers and a concert by Drivin’ N Cryin’ on Friday night.  The qualifying races will be held on Saturday as well as driver introductions.

Gates open on Sunday and at 5:20 there’s a concert by Foreigner, yep, that Foreigner, and the race is later that night.

You can order tickets online for either (just) the race or purchase a ticket pack for the weekend.

image courtesy of flickr: mnapoleon

I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of hesitant to purchase eggs at the grocery stores right now. If you haven’t heard, there’s been a recall on eggs. This presents a perfect opportunity to buy eggs from local farmers by attending the Market at the Mill Farmers Market.

Preserve at Mirror Lake residents, have you been out to this? What’s your favorite part about it?

In downtown Villa Rica there is a fantastic spot for banana pudding.  So much so, that Tin Roof Cafe touts their banana pudding deliciousness on their website-along with many other sweet like chocolate silk pie and coconut cream pie.  They are celebrating their 5 year anniversary this year and that make me want to write a top five favorites of Tin Roof Cafe.  So here goes, my top five from the breakfast menu:

• French Toast
• 2 (yes I said 2) Biscuits with eggs, cheese and sausage
• Miner’s omelet with a biscuit, and potatoes
• Chicken fajita omelet with cheese grits and toast
• Fried egg sandwich with cheese, bacon on white.

Oh and coffee, and a small OJ…

and I think that’s it…

What about you?

Did you know that they got best of the Southern ARC in 2006 and 2007?

Car racing is big in Atlanta.  NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, in Hampton, are full-blown events that start long before the race starts and carry on long into the evening.  Ever visit Road Atlanta in Braselton?  They have a huge Petit Le Mans racing event coming to the track and don’t let the name fool you, this will be a huge weekend.

The weekend of September 29th through October 2nd, Road Atlanta will have some of the most beautiful racing cars competing on a 2.5 mile-course with 12 extremely challenging turns.

The track will be open 24-hours a day, all weekend-long, and there will be tons of promotions and events to enjoy.  You can bring and set up canopies but only on the driver’s right side of the track, at turns 9-10a and 10b-11, and they are really strict in their placement.

They have a “kids in free” policy which means that kids (12 and under) always get in free with their parent’s purchase of an adult ticket.  That’s a pretty family friendly policy, me thinks.  It’s a quick drive up 85 North- about 45 minutes from Atlanta.

Advance tickets for the Le Mans race can be bought online and that will also give you access to Drift Atlanta and the Superbike Showdown.  You can buy a two-day pass (for $65), a four-day pass (for $75) or a one day pass (for $55).  You’ll pay a little more at the gate if you buy them at the event.  Infield parking also requires a parking pass for 40.00.  If you have several people in your group, you might want to consider the Chalet Hospitality Pass for 295.00

But they have an even better deal that will really get your motor running *wink* called the Ultimate Fan Package that has all the good stuff.  Goodies like Road Atlanta schwag (cap & koozie), free infield parking, super ticket access to the race events, including paddock access, as well as a 15% discount at the racing pro-shop.  They value the Ultimate fan package at $1,500.

Did you know that Porche is debuting their 911 hybrid at Petite Le Mans?  It’s fast and green, pretty cool huh?

image courtesy of flickr: jcornelius

Way to go Braves!

I must admit to something, I did not write this.  In baseball, I know there are four bases and that’s about it.  So instead, Matt- Community Sherpa sports blogger extraordinaire- has guest blogged this for your enjoyment.  So whatcha’ think?  Did he hit the nail on the head?  Or in this case, did he make contact?… is that the right sport’s metaphor?

After sweeping the Dodgers under the rug during last weekend’s 4-game series, the Braves are still on a roll! The Washington Nationals arrived last night at Turner Field sitting at the bottom of the East Division, I’m sure they high-hopes of getting more than two runs in at the top of the 6th inning before going back to their hotel, but the tomahawk choppin’ Braves had other plans.

The first 5 innings between the top and bottom division teams were kosher and relaxed. The Braves gave up two runs in at the top of the 6th inning, giving the Nationals their only lead in the game, but once the Braves took hold of bat, the game was pretty much written as the Braves batted a total of 4 runs in at the bottom of the 6th inning.

I love these kinds of games, the intensity between the two teams built up slowly in the first few innings, and sky rocketed after the first runs crossed the plate. But that wasn’t good enough for Braves’ Matt Diaz (23), whom insisted on taking the lead with his base hit into the left field, allowing the Braves to score two more runs in the bottom of the 6th, allowing the Braves to a 4-2 lead over the nations’ capital team.

At the bottom of the 7th, Melky Cabrera (53) ran in two more doubles with another hit behind 3rd base, where once again, there wasn’t a National to be found.

Watching the game last night, it’s easy to see why the Nationals are sitting at the bottom of the division. They’re losing track of the ball and they can’t connect their throws efficiently, not that it’s a bad thing for our Braves. Last night’s game was an amazing display of our teams’ efficiency as we took home the pride of a 10-2 win over the Nationals. The 3-game series continues tonight at 7:10 PM at the Ted. You’ve got to see this amazing power house in action tonight, tickets are still available, starting at $12.00 each for the Upper Box level. I’ve always enjoyed sitting at the Terrace Level, but at $36.00 a person, that can get pretty pricey, but if you can justify the “Two-for-One” Special going on for tonight’s game, then get a bit closer to the field.

I predict that we’ll have another amazing game tonight, and if you can’t make it to the game, it’ll be broadcast in clear HD on Fox Sports South and online on MLB.TV.

image courtesy of flickr: David Berkowitz

I love TV.  Like, sell a kid to the carnival to my cable bill, love TV.  So I cannot begin to tell you about the happy I have for the fall FOX line-up.  It. Is. Amazing.

Monday night will be dedicated to the misanthropic genius of House

Tuesday is the song and dance goodness of Glee, as well as two new shows Raising Hope and Running Wilde

Wednesday night you can watch Lie to Me, absolutely the best show on television.  Oh and Hell’s Kitchen is on…meh…not a fan of that one.

Thursday is the “piece de resistance” with back-to-back Bones and Fringe episodes airing.

Friday night has two slots filled by Human Target and The Good Guys and that might be the death knell on those two shows.  Which makes me kinda sad because Christopher Chance is a great character and Bradley Whitford plays sweetest, dumbest most idiotic cop in the world.

Anyone interested in playing in an adult softball league this fall?  The Villa Rica Parks and Rec is holding a registration now through August 26th.

Even though it is a rec league, they do have certain requirement for registrations:

• Players need to be 18 & older.
• The team registration fee is $450 per team.
• The teams will play a 12-game schedule and then they’ll play in a double-elimination tournament.
• All the games will be held at the V-Plex Fields #5-8.
• A representative for each team will need to attend a league meeting on Thursday, August 26, at 7pm at Gold Dust Park.

So are you in?

image courtesy of flickr: TijmenKielen

It’s gonna be a hot one with this weekend and an afternoon movie is a great way for kids to beat the heat.  An afternoon movie is also a great way to not break the bank because matinee tickets are cheaper then evening tickets.

Here are some matinee movie times at Regal Arbor Place Stadium 18 in nearby Douglasville for kids:

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore is playing at 12:30 & 2:45pm

The newly released Charlie St. Cloud -which is also okay for some kids with its PG-13 rating- is showing at 11:55am and 2:25pm.

Despicable Me -which is fantastic if you haven’t seen it yet- is playing at 12:15 and 2:35p,

Ramona and Beezus-which will surely be your daughter’s favorite- is playing at 12:10 and 2:50pm

The Last Airbender is showing at 11:55am and 2:20pm

The Karate Kid -which I thought was terrible but decide for yourself-is showing at 12:40 and 3:50pm

If you have older kids Step Up 3D is showing at 11:45am and 2:20pm and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is showing at 12:10 and 2:45

Kids head back to school soon and as the summer winds down an afternoon movie is great way to keep them entertained and cool this weekend.

I highly recommend Ramona and Beezus here’s the trailer:

Students at The Preserve at Mirror Lake are headed back to school Friday.  For students this means back to the day to day of school work, sports and regular bedtimes.  For parents, well let’s be honest, for most parents this means a little less mess and a little more quiet.  Am I right?

Well good news, tonight there are several Douglas county “sneak a peeks” scheduled to get the ball rolling.

Mirror Lake Elementary is having their “sneak a peek” today from 4-5:30. This is where all the students and parents can meet their teachers, get their supply lists and join the PTA.  There will be a parent night scheduled during the first month of school for each grade level and those dates are forthcoming.  School starts this Friday, August 5th.

Mason Creek Middle School also starts this Friday and their “sneak and peek” is also scheduled for today at 4-5:30.

Douglas County High School will also have their “sneak a peek” this afternoon from 4-5:30 and they have their first day of school on Friday as well.  Freshman can also sign up for clubs then.  They will have an open house scheduled sometime during the first semester and they’ll notify parents of those dates and times.

For parents who have students in these various Douglas County schools, aren’t you glad the schools are so close to each other? You can get them all knocked out in one evening.

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