Do you wear white after Labor Day?

I’m sure you all have grown up hearing that you can’t wear white after Labor Day as I have. But it wasn’t until I was older that I one, followed the rule, and two, questioned it’s existence. Why exactly can’t we wear white after Labor Day? The funny thing is, many people STILL don’t know the answer to this question; there’s only speculation. There is one common factor however: the fashion industry.

One reason for the rule is pretty practical. For centuries, wearing white in the summer was simply a way to stay cool, which totally makes sense. White clothes tend to be cut of a thinner cloth, and the light color helps to reflect heat rather than trap it in. Long ago, there were no AC, nor were there shorts or T-shirts. They wore what we would now consider formal clothing, even in the summer months; they had to keep cool some how.  It’s thought that the weather started to change in September (which it does), so all clothes worn after Labor Day would be needed to keep warm, hence the ‘no white’ rule.

The ‘no white’ rule is basically another one of those ‘unwritten’ fashion rules. It’s not really an official rule, and you can choose to follow it or not. I think that it also depends on the climate. If it’s the middle of September and still feels like early July, what’s wrong with wearing your white to stay cool?

Others speculate that the ‘no white’ rule may be symbolic. In the early 20th century, white was the color of choice to wear by Americans that were well-to-do enough to vacation from their city digs to warmer climates for months at a time: light summer clothing provided a pleasing contrast to drabber urban life. If you look at old pictures of American cities, you’ll see that most people are dressed in darker clothing, many traveling back and forth to work.

Labor Day marked the traditional end of summer; the well-heeled vacationers would stow their summer duds and dust off their heavier, darker-colored fall clothing. There was also a clearer sign of re-entry; people would all go back to work/school roughly around the same time.

There are so many explanations, but nothing really concrete. At this point, you can just make up a reason, spread it around, and next researches will be using your explanation as a reason. I don’t think we’ll ever have a concrete reason.

Do you follow the “no white after Labor Day” rule?

photo credit: chwynyn

Let's go ice skating this winter!

Who out there likes to ice skate? If you do, then  you’ll be happy to know that the Memphis Zoo will be adding an outdoor ice skating rink to their  facilities this winter! It will be a 5,400-square-foot outdoor skating rink between the Northwest Passage and Teton Trek exhibits.

The rink will be open Nov. 19 through Jan. 31. The last ice-skating venue in the city, at the Mall of Memphis, was demolished in 2003. So after a 7 year hiatus, Memphis area residents should be excited about a rink’s return!

Ice skating has to be one of my favorite winter activities. I may not be very good at it, but I like it nonetheless. This new skating rink seems to be a good size, so that means that the whole crew and the family can take turns on the ice! If  you’ve ever seen the skating rink at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, this new rink will be very similar.

The rink will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. during the Zoo Lights holiday exhibit. The admission fee, in addition to admission to the zoo, will be $6 with skate rental or $5 for people with their own skates. Can’t beat skate rental for a $1.

Hey, maybe now Memphis will consider more ice sports??

What do you think Bailey Creek Apartments, will you go ice skating this winter?

photo credit: Wikipedia

Hey Bailey Creek Apartments residents! All of the things that you think to have when it comes to breakfast, what comes to mind? I know the instant staples come to mind, grits, eggs, bacon, that kind of thing, but what about barbecue? Well, if you’re eating at Cockadoos, you’ll be thinking about barbecue a whole lot more.

What kind of barbecue am I speaking off? Well, it’s the Memphis Bar-B-Que Omelet from Cockadoos. Never had it? It’s three eggs whipped up with cream, given a dash of barbecue rub, cooked and rolled up with barbecue pork and smoked provolone cheese with a squiggle of barbecue sauce on top. It sounds delish and fattening at the same time! Though it may sound a little messy, the way that Cockadoos serves it up is surprisingly neat. It’s definitely a crowd favorite.

Breakfast and lunch are served all day at Cockadoos, so if you have a craving for catfish and grits for breakfast, have at it. Or if you want to try to Memphis Bar-B-Que Omelet, for $7.99 you can have it all!

Cockadoos are open daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and opens at midnight on Friday and Saturday and remains open until 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Let me know if you try that omelet!

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Think about it, when was the last time that you played Wiffle ball? I wonder how long it’s been for those who are signed up for the Wifflestock Wiffleball Tournament this Saturday and Sunday at Zinnie’s East Restaurant (1718 Madison Avenue), about 30 minutes away from Bailey Creek Apartments.

The tournament is an annual fundraiser which has raised more than $45, 000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis, which is a home away from home for the patients and families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Registration for teams to actually play is over, but there’s still a host of other activities that you can do at Wifflestock. In addition to Wiffle ball games, this two-day event includes a poker tournament, a hot dog-eating contest, a silent auction, a hula hoop marathon, live music, and more.

The tournament begins at 10 am both days, and is free to attend. Come out, have fun, and support a good cause!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Take Scuba Diving Classes This Summer!

Has the heat wave in the past couple of weeks gotten you down? Have you eaten so many bowls of ice cream that you don’t even want to hear the word vanilla? If so, you may want to think about the latest deal coming from Groupon.com. It’s for $15 for one try Scuba Diving Lesson at The Dive Shop.

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.

The Dive Shop is only about 16 minutes from the Bailey Creek Apartments, so you won’t have that much of a commute if you decide to go. This sounds like fun, and I hope that some of you participate so that you can tell us all about it!

Directions from Bailey Creek Apartments:

Head northeast on N Bailey Woods Dr. Turn right at Bailey Woods Dr. Turn right at Bailey Station Rd. Turn left at S Houston Levee Rd. Take the ramp onto TN-385 W. Take the exit onto I-240 E toward Nashville. Take exit 15B to merge onto US-72 W/Poplar Ave. Turn left at S Yates Rd. Destination will be on the right.

photo credit: Wikipedia

Have you ever seen those newscasts that feature residents from an apartment fire, all claiming that they have nothing left? Don’t let this happen to you. The best way to prepare for the ‘unexpected’ is to invest in renter’s insurance. It’s a relatively inexpensive monthly cost that you will be glad that you have in case of emergencies.

If you have wisely invested in renter’s insurance, you don’t have much to worry about. Many people don’t take advantage of renter’s insurance because of a common myth: the cost.  For a small fee a month, normally between $10 and $20, you can save thousands of dollars in case you have to replace your belongings. In all honesty, I’d much rather pay about $10 a month than to pay over $200 to replace a lost television or over $500 for a new laptop.

Renter’s insurance also covers liability for anything you’re found negligent to have caused an accident or a fire. Basic renter’s insurance, at most, will run you about $100 a year. In my opinion, that’s a small price to pay for piece of mind and the reassurance of securing your precious belongings. This video shows what happens when people choose not to invest.

How do you get renter’s insurance? National insurance sites like state farm and all state all carry policies. You can also visit the Bailey Creek Apartment’s leasing office, and they’ll be happy to get you on your way to a higher piece of mind in no time.

The Great Wine Performances

Ever been served a glass of wine by a famous character? Do you love to sample different wines of the world? Well, if so, the Great Wine Performances at the Playhouse on the Square in Memphis may be the perfect evening out for you.

The Great Wine Performances puts you in the center of  it all. With ten wine stations spread throughout, and famous theatrical characters describing wonderful wines, guests will enjoy a theatrical wine tasting with a chance to test their trivia skills for a slew of wonderful prizes. Don’t worry about not knowing too much about the theater, you can buy clues from the ‘co-stars’ roaming around who really want the title of ’star’.

The event takes place on Tuesday, August 17th from 6 pm to 8 pm. For $50 in advance ($65 at the door), you can experience a wine tasting with a theatrical twist. What can be better than an evening of trivia, great wine, and fun with  your friends!

What do you like to do to hang out during the week?

photo credit: Wikipedia

Should it be mandatory to spay and neuter your pets?

Hey Bailey Creek. Most of us out here have  pets that we love and care for; we’d never let them wander of aimlessly to get themselves in trouble.  A reoccurring problem that has been happening in the Memphis area is of stray dogs wandering around the city, and some have even been known to attack humans. In order to regulate this problem, the Memphis City Council has recommended  a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance.

The ordinance would call for cats over 6 months old and dogs weighing 30 pounds or more to be spayed or neutered. Exemptions will be made for police dogs, service dogs and working dogs. Owners of fertile animals would pay a $200 one-time fee, which would authorize one litter per female dog during a 12-month period. They’d also have to pay an annual $35 license fee for fertile animals, while those with sterile animals would pay $5.

The question is, is this something that the city should approve? I understand that the overrun of animals has become a problem, but what about those that can’t afford to pay the fee? Should they be penalized because of their income? An upside is that animal control officers would not seek out intact animals and veterinarians will not be required to enforce the ordinance.

Many have opposed to the proposal as it is written. What do you think about the ordinance? Should it be approved?

photo credit: madmolecule

Elvis Week 2010

Hey Bailey Creek! Looking for some fun things to get into this week? If so, you’re in luck because the town is buzzing with so many things to do, that you’ll be hard pressed to decide on what to do, according to your tastes.

First off, Elvis Week kicks off tomorrow, August 10. This is spurring a week long plethora of events dedicated to the King of Rock and Roll. The event tomorrow, titled “Shake, Rattle, and Roll“, is going on at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park, the very place that hosted Elvis’ historic professional concert debut in 1954. This is a fundraising music-food-and-movie party. General admission is $40 and the event begins at 7 pm. The movie will begin around 8:30 pm.  The concert portion features “tribute artist” Donny Edwards and the Change of Habit Band, as well as celebrity guests and a few other surprises. After the concert, they will be screening “Jailhouse Rock“. All proceeds from the evening benefit the Mid-South chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Billie Holiday: Legacy Album

Later in the week at Studio on the Square, there will be a screening of “Lady Sings the Blues” featuring diva Diana Ross as the late, great Billie Holiday. This is the latest screening in the Outflix Summer Movie Series, which is benefiting September’s Outflix Film Festival. This begins at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 11, and a suggested donation is $10.

These are only a few things going on this week; believe me, there’s much more. What are you looking forward to?

photo credit: decafinata, wikipedia

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Who out there needs a bit more Elvis in their lives? If your hand is raised right now, you may enjoy the upcoming musical “All Shook Up” happening at Collierville’s Harrell Performing Arts Theatre on August 6th through the 15th. The show is just in time for Elvis Week which kicks off August 10th.

This isn’t your normal Elvis tribute, however. The musical combines two icons to give you a very unique theater experience and a great ending to a wonderful theatric season. The production features over 15 artfully arranged Elvis songs combined with a story-line based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm. There are additional showings on Thursday, August 12 at 8 pm and Saturday, August 14th at 2:30. The Thursday evening performance is a Special Event that will benefit the Page Robbins Adult Day Care Center.

Tickets for this remarkable show are only $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. The special Thursday benefit showing is only $10.

This is sure to be a great event, will very well should enlighten and entertain!