Is anyone here at Cameron Landing Apartments into Broadway plays and musicals?  I just got word that the popular stage drama Dreamgirls is coming to the Fox Theatre (660 Peachtree Street NE, downtown Atlanta), October 12-17 and tickets went on sale today!  If you’re interested, you better jump on it because I’m sure good seats to a popular show like this will sell quickly.  I believe they have some tickets priced as low as $16, but you’ll have to check Ticketmaster to see what’s available.

In case you’re not familiar with Dreamgirls, it tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with their fame and fortune. It’s pretty much based on the history of the Motown record label and one it’s most popular groups at the time, The Supremes.  You may have seen the 2006 movie version that starred pop-music megastar Beyonce and launched R&B singer Jennifer Hudson into fame.  The musical will feature timeless Motown hits: “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “One Night Only” and “Listen.”

Another place you might try to search for tickets is Craigslist.  I’d wager that you can probably come up on a pretty good deal closer to the show date.  Good luck!

Repo Men

Remy and Jake are best friends and The Union’s most dangerous repossession men, reclaiming top-dollar organs when recipients fall behind on their payments. But after an on-the-job accident forces Remy to be outfitted with a top-of-the-line heart replacement, he finds himself in debt and unable to pay. Now, the hunter becomes the hunted as Jake will stop at nothing to track him down to finish the job. Rated R.

I just rented and watched this movie yesterday and I can honestly say that it is now in my top 10 or 20 movies of all-time.  With Jude Law and Forest Whitaker in the leads, there was no doubt the acting was going to be on point.  But the futuristic themes presented in the film are what really surprised me.  Watch it and you’ll see that the writer has a lot to say about where society could end up – both morally and technologically – in the near future.

It’s definitely worth the $1 rental charge.  I watched the “unrated” version so it may have been a little more graphic than the theater version.  The closest Redbox kiosks to Cameron Landing are at Kroger (3618 Highway 138 SE and at 1750 Hudson Bridge Rd) and Wal-Mart (5600 N Henry Blvd).

Do you currently carry renter’s insurance?  Cameron Landing 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.

Shopping Around: Don’t forget to shop around for the best renter’s insurance quote and policy. When shopping for your renter’s insurance quote, make sure to find out if you are getting a six month or yearly renter’s insurance quote. Shopping around with different renter’s insurance companies can be one of the single best ways to save on your renter’s insurance.

Fortunately for us in Georgia, blueberries are one of the most abundant fruits that grow during the summer months.  And since eating local produce is a good for the local economy,  you have every excuse to indulge and eat as much as you want.  Besides, blueberries are extremely healthy for you.  They are chock-full of antioxidants that help to ward of diseases like cancer. 

Here is a delicious recipe for Blueberry Zucchini Bread that is sure to be a hit with family and friends.  Try hitting up a local farmers market for the ingredients!  My favorite in the are is the Dekalb Farmer’s Market.  It’s a good 25 minutes from Cameron Landing in Stockbridge, but the variety of foods there is unmatched in the area.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans.
3. Bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

(Credit: AllRecipes.com)

Does anyone even know where the name “Scott Pilgrim” even came from?

Apparently, the name “Scott Pilgrim” was taken from the title of a song by Canadian, indie-pop band called Plumtree.  Why is that relevant?  I have no idea and surely that little tidbit of trivia is not enough to make you want to see the movie…but maybe the trailer will.  Check it out!

And if you need movie times for theaters around the Stockbridge area near Cameron Landing, here you go: AMC Southlake 24 and Great Escape McDonough 16.

Lanier Devil Jug

By any chance, is anyone into folk art?  Folk art is differs from traditional country crafts and basket weaking in that it is a very personal form of art.  Examples of typical folk art are religiously inspired paintings, crude tin cut-outs, wood-relief carvings and environmental sculpture gardens created from refuse and other found objects.

Most folk artists are self-taught and do not necessarily seek to be recognized by the “art world.”  Instead, folk artists draw on their experiences and culture as muses for their expression.

If you’re interested, the world’s largest folk art show & sale – hosting 100 galleries & dealers from around the nation – will be coming to Atlanta from August 20-22 at the North Atlanta Trade Center (1700 Jeurgens Court, Norcross, Georgia 30093).  Admission on Friday, August 20 is $15 from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and that includes a Meet-The-Artists Party, as well as readmission.  Admission for  that Saturday and Sunday is $7.  Children 16 and under are free.  For more information on Folk Fest 2010, check out www.slotinfolkart.com.

Does anyone in Cameron Landing play poker?  I noticed when I was posting the Pin Strikes weekday specials the other day that they have Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournaments there on Wednesday and Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m.  For anyone still new to poker, it’s one of the fastest growing games in the world.  Make no mistake, it is only getting bigger.  I’ve even heard it referred to as “the new lottery” because so many amateur players over the past couple years have been cashing in at major poker tournaments.

I started playing about 3 years ago and I’ve bee addicted since then.  It’s really an easy game to learn how to play, just a very difficult game to master.  Sure, luck is a factor in the game.  But a skilled player can really rack up some chips, especially if he/she can master the science of probability and the art of reading people.

How To Play
Each player starts with two unseen hole cards. There are three rounds of cards dealt face up, for every player to use, with betting after each round.  The best 5-card hand using any combination of the five community cards and their two hole cards wins.  Follow this link to see a the official poker hand rankings.

I can literally talk for days about poker, so if anyone is interested in learning more about the game, just hit me with a comment.  The best way to practice is to just hop right in and learn.  It’s free to play at Pin Strikes Bowling Alley (across from Cameron Landing on Mt. Zion Rd.) and you can really learn a lot.  And then the next time you head to Vegas, you can be ready for the real thing!

(Photo Credit: tiffanyday)

Panola Mountain State Park

Take a hike…literally!  It’s a great way to add some excercise to your life without having to hit the gym (and it works just as good as going to gym for toning your legs).  If you’ve never gone before, now is a great time of year to add it to your routine.  The weather is great and the scenery outside is beautiful.

Now that you’re excited about hiking and your bag is packed, you just need to find a good trail to get you started.  No worries…got it covered.  Not too far from Cameron Landing apartment community is Panola Mountain State Park (2600 Georgia Highway 155).  They actually offer a guided hike with a beautiful view of the Atlanta skyline each Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  The departure spot is the park’s nature center.  Give them a call at 770-389-7801 if you’re interested.  Have fun! 

(Photo Credit: gastateparks)

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Theif

Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager…he’s just learned he’s the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus’ ­lightning bolt – the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible cross-country journey to prove his innocence, recover the bolt and prevent a war amongst the gods that could destroy our world!  Rated PG.

The closest Redbox kiosks to Cameron Landing are at Kroger (3618 Highway 138 SE and at 1750 Hudson Bridge Rd) and Wal-Mart (5600 N Henry Blvd).

Check out these Weekday Specials for Pin Strikes Bowling Alley, directly across the street from Cameron Landing at 3478 Mt. Zion Rd.  If you’ve never stopped in before, it’s a great place to blow off some steam, have some fun and KEEP COOL during this hot weather.

They offer 28 lanes of bowling, bumper cars, laser tag and a MEGA game room.  They even have a bar and grill inside so you can grab a bite!

They’re open until midnight Sunday – Thursday, and until 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.