It’s Friday everyone!

If you live in Gainesville, there’s lots to do this weekend. And for our friends in Orlando and Lakeland – we hope you enjoy the sunny weather (we’re apparently due for some rain up here). Need some rainy day craft ideas? Here’s some we like.

This week we did our Spring photo shoots on select CMC properties. In fact we took this photo at Hunters Crossing. We wanted to say a big THANK YOU to the residents whose pool and gym areas were temporarily closed. (They are open now).

Now, go get out there and have some weekend fun!

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1. Children of all ages are invited to the 4th Annual Sweet Dreams’ Touch-A-Truck event. Touch-A-Truck takes places on Saturday at Citizens Field from 9a.m to 2p.m. Smaller children are invited to Quiet Hour from 9a.m. to 10a.m. so they can enjoy the vehicles without the noise of horns, sirens or bullhorns.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Amigo: Children’s Burn Camp of North Florida.
Admission is free. There will be a minimal charge for some activities like: the dunk booth, bounce houses, face painting and food. Canned or non-perishable food items are encouraged to donate to the Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida. This program provides food to children who are at risk of hunger on the weekends.
Get more details on this event and their charity recipients here.

2. The 68th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival kicks off their day at 9a.m. with a parade. Enjoy the pageant, watermelon eating contest, pie & cake baking contest, and of course lots of tasty watermelon! This event takes place at the future site of Destiny Community Church. Get more information here.

Image courtesy of Tim Malles and Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

3. End the day at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens for their annual Moonlight Walk.
The grounds are covered in twinkle lights, lanterns and almost 2000 luminaries along a 1.25 mile walkway. There will be live entertainment from Strings for Things, refreshments and The Alachua Astronomy Club will be out with telescopes to view the cosmos.
Get there when the gardens open at 7p.m. – blankets or lawn chairs are encouraged and it promises to be a spectacular event since this year’s event takes place the Saturday before a full moon – remember dusk is at 8:15p.m.
$12 for adults, $6 for children ages two to thirteen. Members receive a $2 discount. No pets allowed.

Not a fan of the outdoors?

4. Head downtown where the historic Hippodrome Theatre is celebrating their 40th birthday!
Get there at 7p.m. to enjoy catering by Mark’s Prime Steakhouse, wine from over 8 local distributors, music, entertainment by the cast of Avenue Q, special guests, and of course, birthday cake!
Tickets are $40 and available online or at the box office (352) 375-4477.

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Did you miss the Hogtown Craft Beer Festival held earlier this month at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens? That’s OK. You can make up for it this week – here’s a list of the best places (my personal favorites) in Gainesville to enjoy (or bring home) delicious craft and speciality beers. And if you want to try your hand at home brewing, grab a kit at Hoggetowne Ale Works. In no particular order:

1. World of Beer

Our newest offering World of Beer in Town of Tioga is finally open. Every night of Craft Beer Week they will crack open a handful of kegs specific to a region or State. RSVP to their Facebook event where they are posting keg lists for each day of Craft Beer Week – or – get more details on their website.

2. The Top

Along with their large menu, this downtown Gainesville landmark (yes, landmark!) boasts about 40 bottles and 15-20 taps. Grab a beer and the Maradona burger.

3. Brass Tap Beer

Head to Archer Road on Tuesday May 14 for the Sam Adams Tap Takeover. Brass Tap promises glassware giveaways and rare draft offerings you won’t find anywhere else in Gainesville from 7p.m. – get more details here.

4. Stubbies & Steins

Not sure if they are doing anything special for Craft Beer Week, but it really doesn’t matter since they have such an enormous menu of more than 400 bottles and 24 taps and a German-esque food menu. Head over and report back with kielbasa!

5. The Wetlands at Swamphead Brewery

This local brewer has a full schedule of events on their Facebook page. Join the crowd at their tasting room, The Wetlands, for some great Florida beer daily from 4p.m.

If you’re buying to enjoy elsewhere I’ve had great success at: Wards, The Liquor And Wine Shoppe At Jonesville, Tipple’s Brews – a great place for beer and wine, but a little fancy – and the more humble Gator Beverage; smaller but with a good selection.

Bottoms up Gainesville!

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Don’t forget if you’re sharing on Twitter or Instagram, tag along with us using #AsSeenInGNV or #ACBW (American Craft Beer Week)

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Here’s a few DIY projects we’re loving on the interwebs this week. And for more inspiration to get you into the season, be sure to visit our Spring Fresh board on Pinterest.

1. The biggest and best project was this patio makeover from blogger Mandy Pellegrin of Fabric Paper Glue. First of all the before and after is incredible and it shows what an impact a few items can make. This was part of the Home Depot Style Challenge, so the good news is, if you want to copy Mandy’s ideas you have all the tools at the ready by visiting your local store. That rope bucket-come-planter stand…genius!
Read about the Patio Makeover by Fabric Paper Glue for The Home Depot.

2. Make a smaller commitment by just working with plants on your porch. Personalize your little garden space with these fun Initial Letter Planters. This is a nice project for children too. Don’t have any green room? It makes a thoughtful gift for the person with more space.

3. On your porch at night? These colorful bottle lanterns are also nice and look expensive (but aren’t). Tissue, Mod Podge and used glass jars go a long way.

4. Earlier this week, we asked our sites about some of their favorite home decor stores. Have you ever tried Society6 for cushion covers? They are known for art prints and canvases but have recently extended their products to making any print you like into a throw pillow case starting at only $20. The material is sturdy enough for outdoor use too. But, if it gets funky…

5. Make your own Fabric Refresher with THREE ingredients. Seriously you can’t beat that.

Photos from Fabric Paper Glue for Home Depot, Yellow Brick Home, About Pretty & Henry Happened.

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Gainesville is a place with it’s own annual traditions (Gator sport season anyone?), there is a community ‘same-ness‘ that makes you feel like nothing has changed…and yet Gainesville also feels as if it’s in a state of constant growth and evolution. There’s always something happening somewhere – sometimes at familiar haunts, other times a bit off the beaten path.

This Spring we encouraged friends to help us share a little Title Town love with the hashtag #AsSeenInGNV on Instagram. Here’s a round up of the best photos we’ve seen so far.

Gator sighting at La Chua Trail? Massive pizza at Blue Highway? Great art downtown at Art Walk? Fresh produce from area farmer at one of our many markets? There’s so much to cover.

Please feel free to join us share a photo using #AsSeenInGNV or follow CMC Apartments on Instagram to see our finds.

1. Graffiti Art at F.L.A. Gallery on Main Street

2. March Exhibit at F.L.A. Gallery on Main Street

3. The Swamp on GameDay

4. Lights at Satchels Pizza

5. Grab a cold one!

6. Dragonfly Sushi at lunchtime. Located in downtown Gainesville

7. Fresh blooms from the Farmers’ Market

Held Mondays in Tioga, Wednesdays downtown at the Union Street Farmers Market and Saturdays: Alachua Co. Farmers Market on 441 in Haile Village.

8. Gainesville’s Food Trucks. Chalk menu from from Pelican Bros.

P.S. there is a food truck rally tonight – April 4th, 2013. Details here.

Photos taken from @CMCapartments, @menoling, @mrsgrits and @visitGainesville on Instagram

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On Day Five some of our sites really blew things out of the park.

Starting with Hunters Crossing. The team got their hands dirty, or clean rather, with an car wash station. They took appointments all week and on Friday the entire team washed, dried and polished up residents cars by hand for a few hours that afternoon. Amazing aren’t they!

Both Hunters Ridge and WillowBrooke dedicated the last day to pets by hosting pet photo shoots on site. Residents were able to have family photos taken with their pets while furry residents had their choice of treats. Thank you Photo Buttons Lakeland for the great photography at WillowBrooke.

Summerlin at Winter Park gave residents a headstart to Sunday Funday with brunch at the clubhouse, Lakewood Villas did the literal Sundae Funday with a sundae bar.

Spyglass closed their vacation-themed week with a Key West party. On top of a banging pool party, the staff made yummy “Mocktails” along with peanut butter, chocolate, banana, and ice cream smoothies (not all together unless by request) – served in inflatable flamingo coozies. Residents, decked out in sunglasses and leis, played a round of water volleyball.

Why all the themes you ask? Spyglass wanted to give their student residents a do-over at Spring Break (which was the week before). So they offered events where everyday was a vacay. On Monday residents got passports at the office and if they came to all events and got stamped, they won more goodies and a tshirt.

Huntington Lakes‘ Kids Night was an overwhelming success. All our little residents headed to the clubhouse for movies, popcorn, a pajama contest and good time. Lake Crossing set up Kids & Crafts night: games, a sugar cookie decorating station and a magician to amaze.

***Woodland Villas residents – the pool party planned was cancelled on account of bad weather. We will reschedule and let you know.

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Hunters Crossing hosted a fun scavenger hunt on their property. The first ten residents to sign up got a free mini-digital camera to keep after the hunt ended.
Lake Crossing gave away pet grab bags to all their four-legged residents and Lakewood Villas and Summerlin at Winter Park hosted a Pizza Party.

WillowBrooke & Hunters Ridge went the sweet route making an all-day resident candy bar and hosting a cupcake decorating party respectively.

Huntington Lakes hosted a really awesome Ladies Night (you may recall their Guys Night Out was the day prior). Wine, cheese & fruit plates, jewelry giveaways – all the makings of a great party and a nice way to wind down on the weekday and meet some neighbors

We hope to close Resident Appreciation with a bang! Stay tuned for the update on Day 5.

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Today’s guest post is from Nathalie McCrate of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce – thank you Nathalie for this piece and for helping with this series.
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Linda McGurn, Co-owner of McGurn Investment Company

Linda McGurn and her husband, Ken, are affectionately known to many as ‘Gainesville’s Godparents’ for their role in mentoring entrepreneurs and fostering innovation. The power couple owns McGurn Investment Company, the award-winning redevelopment firm behind many of Downtown’s iconic buildings and streetscapes. They manage Gainesville’s Downtown Technology Center, a business incubator that provides mentorship, financing and office space to high tech startups.

Linda McGurn fell in love with Gainesville’s entrepreneurial community. “We started out in real estate, but now the fun part of what we do is companies,” she said. 

Her contributions to local job creation and startup support are extensive. The McGurns mentor for HackerHouse – a new initiative that empowers aspiring engineering entrepreneurs. They also provide integral support to Founder’s Pad (Grooveshark’s startup incubator) and the Sun Center’s HackerSpace (a collaborative workshop space that encourages creativity and invention). The couple’s angel investments helped companies like Grooveshark and Trendy Entertainment get off the ground.

Linda McGurn earned a B.S.in accounting from UF in 1973 and a J.D. from UF in 1978. She has been instrumental in Downtown’s revitalization—leading immense redevelopment projects like the Sun Center, Arlington Square Apartments, the Downtown Parking Garage and Union Street Station.

 Some professional highlights include: engaging women in leadership and philanthropy through UF Women, promoting innovative education through the UF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation advisory board and empowering women through Planned Parenthood.

Her travels have taken her all over the world—she has visited more than 100 countries. 

She has earned glowing accolades on the local, state and national level. Governor Chiles recognized her as one of “Florida’s Finest” for her efforts to improve the community and better the state. In 2012 Linda McGurn and her husband received the UF Distinguished Alumnus Award—the highest honor a UF graduate can achieve. They have received more than 60 awards for their redevelopment projects, including a Sustainable Florida Initiative Award and a HUD National Certificate of Merit. 



Linda McGurn was recognized as the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year, along with her co-chair, for spearheading Innovation Gainesville (iG). 

She said she’s excited that Innovation Gainesville is moving forward. “It’s getting ready to go into iG 2.0…it’s truly evolving and taking on new life. The community owns iG as much as the Chamber does. It became something bigger…it is now Gainesville’s way of life.” 


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Realizing it was getting close to party time at Lakewood Villas our maintenance men, Steve and Ramahn, dropped their tools and scrubbed up for an afternoon of cupcake prep in the model for their cupcake decorating party. Didn’t they do a great job!

In WillowBrooke Lakeland Jason, armed with his trusty waffle maker and apron, prepared dozens of waffles for their Waffle Bar with fresh fruit toppings.

The Courtyards in Gainesville and Hunter’s Ridge in Winter Park started their day early with a Drive-Thru Breakfast. Residents were invited to enjoy the day-long hot beverage bar at Hunters Crossing in Gainesville and pop up-car wash at Summerlin at Winter Park.

At our northwest Gainesville communities: Lake Crossing and Huntington Lakes it was Guys’ Night Out – a party for our make residents at the clubhouse with beers, burgers, pizza & wings and of course – March Madness.

Spyglass celebrated the mid-week slump by taking their residents to Vegas. Everyone hit the jackpot at their pizza party sponsored by Little Caesars with lottery ticket giveaways and prizes.

Like what we’re doing here? See some more of our favorite ideas on Pinterest

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SEE WHAT WE DID ONDAY ONE

At Spyglass the staff got down Nawlins style with a Fat Tuesday party. Beads and a golf cart parade – what more can you want? No really. They TRULY did throw beads from a golf cart parade. Residents were invited for a taste of the Big Easy featuring sparkly drinks, Mardi Gras cupcakes and fresh made beignets from The Warehouse restaurant.

Hunter’s Ridge in Orlando teamed up with their local Planet Smoothie for complimentary smoothies on site all afternoon. Yum! Summerlin in Winter Park invited residents to enjoy gelati and flavored ice in their office. Down in Lakeland, WillowBrooke Apartments told their residents they float our boat! Root beer and Coca-Cola floats were offered all day at the clubhouse.

Lakewood Villas built a DIY s’mores bar for their residents – we’re kind of experts at this. Lake Crossing, not to be outdone, created an early bird’s Parfait Bar at their community with yogurt, fruits, nuts and other breakfast items on the side.

Huntington Lakes wanted to connect with their long-time residents with an afternoon of tea cakes and board games. Woodland Villas invited their residents to try our their ice cream sundae bar – it was a big hit with our junior residents (the 12 and under ones).

Visit any of these properties on Facebook and follow CMCapartments on Instagram for photos galore of Resident Appreciation Week 2013.

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