Do you love Carnival Food?

Whenever I go to a carnival, I have to get a funnel cake. Make that, any amusement park period that I go to, I have to have a funnel cake. It’s like a staple of carnivals and amusement parks that I can’t live without. Some days, I’m hit with a supreme craving of funnel cakes and cotton candy, but there isn’t a carnival in town, and I’m not going to travel all the way out to Graceland for one. Luckily for you, there’s another way to get all the carnival food that you know and love without going to an amusement park. You can get all the carnival food you want at Carnival Food (abtly named) at 2235 Covington Pike, about 12 minutes away from Arbors River Oaks Apartments.

Carnival Food serves up exactly what one may think; Carnival Food. Though I’m a firm believer

Imagine Carnival Food Year Round!

that a regular restaurant couldn’t replicate the flavor that carnival foods have, Carnival Food does pretty well. They have HUGE turkey drumsticks (smoked off-site and then slow-heated for about two hours, can’t get any better), my favorite funnel cakes, hot dogs, burgers, curly fries, onion rings, and much, much more! They definitely have  a more extensive menu than what you’d get at a carnival.

The only drawback to Carnival Food is that seating is limited. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, seeing as with most carnival foods, you can just grab and go, but it you’re looking to sit and enjoy the meal, you may have to wait a minute.

The price range isn’t bad at all. The gigantic turkey legs are $5, and the rest of the menu looks pretty similar. It’s open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, though it will close at 9 pm if no customers are there.

I’m in funnel cake heaven!

photo credit: wikipedia, wikipedia

Dive In!

Hey everyone! We all know how hot Memphis has been this summer. It’s been many times that I’ve wanted to just submerge myself in water for a little while, just to beat the heat. Well, The Dive Shop has one better for you. The Groupon.com deal of the day features $15  for One Try Scuba Diving Lesson at The Dive Shop! This is a $50 value! It doesn’t get any better than this!

The Diving Lesson at the Dive Shop is a three hour intro lesson, geared towards novices who want to take an undersea adventure. The course begins with an approximately hour-long introductory land lesson covering proper techniques. Next, you’ll have roughly 90 minutes to explore the indoor pool, followed by 30 minutes of post-dive dry discussion and questions. If you’re interested in continuing your diving experience and possibly getting certified, you will receive a $50 voucher that can be used toward future tuition within 45 days of the initial lesson.

As with almost any great deal, there are limitations: Limit 1 per person, but you may buy multiple as gifts. Reservations are required. There is a  24-hour cancellation policy or Groupon is forfeited. Participants must be at least 12 years of age. If under 18, they must have parent or guardian present. Participants also must sign medical release form.

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity, so get over to Groupon.com TODAY to nab your coupon. Best of all, The Dive Shop is only 8 minutes from the Arbors River Oaks Apartments, which is all the more reason for you to go.

Hope you can swim!

Directions from Arbors River Oaks Apartments

Head north on Arbor Commons Cir toward River Commons Cir N. Turn right at River Commons Cir N. Take the 1st right onto Humphreys Blvd. Turn right at E Shady Grove Rd. Turn left at S Yates Rd. Destination will be on the right.

photo credit:Wikipedia

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Well, it looks like the US completely showed out at the World Basketball Festival in New York this past weekend. Among those that kept raining buckets in for the good ole’ USA was the Memphis Grizzlie’s own Rudy Gay.

Gay had 19 points to lead the Americans to victory against the French, the most points scored for the team during the game. Team USA didn’t come out shining, however. They started slowly in their first tuneup before running away from the French in the second half.

Kevin Durant had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Americans, and Chauncy Billups made three 3-pointers while playing just 15 minutes.

This game at the World Basketball Festival was only a tune up before the World Championships in Turkey set for later this month. Another Grizzlie was also on the court during the festival; Marc Gasol suffered a back injury Sunday and was unable to finish Spain’s 83-76 victory over Argentina.

Image via Wikipedia

The opener of a doubleheader at Madison Square Garden was the first international game for much of the U.S. roster; the Gold Medal Olympians from 2008 all decided to take the summer off. If you think about it, these youngsters have a bit to prove; you aren’t seeing many big names on the roster, so people are unsure if they will deliver or not.  Chauncey Billups is the oldest on the team at 33, and is the only one who has played internationally. I’m sure the guys will do just fine, and make us proud.

Here’s hoping the team luck on their over seas games!

It's Time for the Tigers to Take the Field!

Hey Arbors River Oaks! Well Tigers fans, get ready! Preseason practice started today for the University of Memphis Tigers, and they are looking forward to the start of a great season, and the beginning of the Larry Porter era.

Preseason practice is sure to be demanding as the Tigers strive to beat a 10 game losing streak and make a good start against Mississippi State on September 4th. (That’s sure to be an interesting game). But, back to Larry Porter. He’s been handling the reigns of the Tigers team since November, which gave him a good amount of time to put together a good recruiting class, and also gave him enough time to put together a gruelling spring practice (which I think the Tigers needed).

I actually think the Tigers will do well under Porter; he brings with him a love of Tigers football, seeing as he is a former running back for the team. He has a lot of pressure on him however, with trying to beat the team’s 10 game losing streak; no coach has done this since Rey Dempsey led the U of M over Arkansas State, 17-2, in 1984. Here’s hoping that history will repeat itself this season.

How do you think the Tigers will do this season?

photo credit: wikipedia

Hey Arbors River Oaks! Hold on to your hats, because it’s gonna be a HOT one! High temperatures in the Mid-South are expected to hit 100 degrees and above today through Thursday. This is unbelievable! These kind of temperatures make you want to stay inside all day with the air conditioner blasting, and shirk all of your responsibilities for the day. But we all know that that isn’t possible. (Though pleasant to think about).

So, to answer the question, ‘how hot is it?’, the heat combined with high humidity will drive the heat index up to 110-115 degrees most days this week, as reported by the National Weather Service. The temperature should peak above 100 degrees today, 102 on Tuesday, 103 on Wednesday and 100 on Thursday. You can’t even get relief when the sun goes down! It’s slated to be around 83 degrees this evening! Looks like we Memphians just can’t win.

Even the Memphis Gas, Light, and Water Division understand that it’s unbearably hot. They’re not cutting off anyone’s electricity while temperatures are above 100 degrees. Don’t slack off in those bills though, just because of the heat!

Here are some quick tips to help you stay cool in this heat:

• Slow down, avoid strenuous activity
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate you!
• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• 3:00 pm is the hottest part of the day, so avoid prolonged stays in the sun during this time.

Stay cool out there!

photo credit: bfishadow

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Have you had a chance to attend any of the Rooftop Parties at the Peabody this summer? If not, you still have 2 weeks left to get in on all of the fun!

The Peabody Rooftop Parties are the perfect pre-stop before you go out for the evening, or a great place to hang out with friends after work. The event takes place between 6 pm and 10:30 pm. There’s a $10 cover charge, and guess what? The first drink is on them!

Every rooftop party features live music. This week features G3 The Garry Goin Band. This R&B showband features awesome male and female vocals, supurb sound, and a vast array of songs that you love from the 50’s to today’s top hits.

The food tomorrow night will be ‘soul food’: fried chicken, mac & cheese, cornbread, and summer tomato salad. Remember,  you must be 21 or older to enter, and ladies and hotel guests are free before 7 pm.

Hey Arbors! Are there any of you out there who have always been interested int the music industry but have no talent whatsoever? Have you or someone  you know always dreamed of making music videos? Well, here’s your chance to gain some insight into the industry at the Music Video Production Summit hosted by the Memphis Music Foundation and Live From Memphis.

This workshop is geared toward filmmakers and musicians seeking to expand their craft and exposure. This is perfect for you communications and video production majors out there. There will also be a panel discussion ranging from the following topics:

• Explaining the unique aspects of producing a music video
• How a music video can publicly showcase the talent of a musician or video artist
• Comparing the difference in filmmaking and music video production
• Discussing the creative relationship with the musician and the director
• And more!

Panel guests include: Mike McCarthy (Memphis Filmmaker); Nathan Black (Unbreakable Productions); Sarah Fleming and Christopher Reyes (Live From Memphis); and Joe Gotti (JG Productions).

So if you’re interested in the music industry, this just may be  your ticket in. The event is free, but space is limited, so RSVP as soon as you can.

photo credit: timgrable

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Hey Arbors River Oaks! Face it, we all live with daily stresses in our lives. This can come from any number of things including work, family life, anxiety or big decisions coming your way. The million dollar question is, how do you deal with all of these stresses and still keep your sanity? Massage therapy is an excellent solution to your problems and you won’t have to spend a million dollars to get your question answered. Body Mechanix is a wonderful solution.

Body Mechanix (3486 Poplar Ave #101) is a locally owned massage parlor, operated by experienced massage therapists. They offer a wide range of massage options such as therapeutic, sports, and pregnancy, as well as a good variety of specials and packages all at reasonable prices. You can get a 5 minute back tune up for $10 or a Swedish massage starting at $35 for 30 minutes. That’s pretty good considering the prices of other spas out there.

Body Mechanix also has various specials throughout the year. For the summer months of June and July, they are offering a  Lush Hydrating Wrap with exfoliation to keep your skin hydrated and nourished under this summer sun. This is going for roughly $50 but it’s definitely worth it.

So if you want an escape from the stresses in your life, get a massage; you’ll be glad you did.

Where is your favorite place to get a massage around the area?

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Hey Arbors River Oaks! Did you have a great holiday weekend? I hope so. Well, it’s time to get back into the swing of things and I have a new event for all of you aspiring actors and filmmakers.

FuelFilm: Memphis, a nonprofit organization that promotes the growth of the area film industry, will host a casting workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, at Memphis Heritage’s Howard Hall (2282 Madison Ave).

The event is aptly titled “Cast Away“. Cute play on words, huh? “Cast Away” is intended to bring local actors together with producers, directors, writers and people interested in filmmaking. Luckily for those interested in acting, the workshop is free. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, the workshop is $10. That’s not bad at all, for what you’re gaining from the experience.

You get to mingle with local actors and filmmakers in order to get their insights into the industry, and actors will have a chance to read for various parts.

I think anybody that’s interested in the entertainment industry should definitely attend. You may not get another opportunity as good as this one.

Would you like to see more workshops like this around town?

Directions from Arbors River Oaks:

Head north on Arbor Commons Cir toward River Commons Cir N. Turn right at River Commons Cir N. Turn left at Humphreys Blvd. Turn left at Walnut Grove Rd. Merge onto I-240 E via the ramp to Nashville. Take exit 12B on the left for Sam Copper Blvd. Merge onto Sam Cooper Blvd. Turn left at E Pkwy N. Turn right at Madison Ave. Destination will be on the right.

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Hey ARO ladies! Are you interested in competing in a 5K? What about just getting in shape for the summer, or getting in shape period? If you’re already in shape or trying to get there, try participating  in Women Walk/Run Memphis.

Women Walk/Run Memphis is a 10 week program for walkers and beginner, intermediate, and advanced runners, with a ‘graduation’ 5K after the training program. So don’t worry, they’re not throwing you out to the wolves. The people of Women Walk/Run Memphis are here to help you ease into the world of 5K and marathons, and to give you a new look on the world of running. Especially for those who think that running is ‘not for them’.

The kickoff open house and expo will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 12 at the Agricenter, (7777 Walnut Grove Road). You don’t have to attend the kickoff event to participate in the program, and you can register through August 9. Registration fee is $20 before July 19 and $25 after.  The 5K  ‘graduation run’ is scheduled for Sept. 13 at 8 am at Oak Court Mall.

Imagine the satisfaction you’ll feel once you complete the program! Are you interested in participating in something like this?