23rd Annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival

Labor Day weekend is finally upon us! There are so many things that you can possibly do! I know that many people are probably heading out of town, but did you know that there’s plenty of things that you can do around town as well? Check out the 23rd Annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival at the Center for Southern Folklore on September 4 and 5.

The Memphis Music and Heritage Festival is a prime event for music aficionado’s around the world. Memphis is sharing it’s gift of music, so it’s only right that you take advantage of this FREE offer. There are 30 + performers performing on the three outside stages and two stages inside the Center for Southern Folklore over the two days of the festival. So that means none stop music!

The great thing about Memphis music is that it’s so diverse. On the five stages at the festivals, you’ll bear witness to blues, jazz, gospel, rockabilly, soul and much more.  You’ll also be privy to cooking demonstrations, dance performances, storytellers, quilters, baseball players, musicians and more talking about their crafts in a relaxing setting, and a host of other activities.

The festival is about 30 minutes from Country Squire East Apartments, so you may want to leave a little bit earlier in order to avoid traffic.

photo credit: Wikipedia

Image by shannonkringen via Flickr

It looks like the Memphis area officials are in favor of bringing electric cars to Memphis. Members of the Mid-South Council to Help Advance the Regional Growth of Electrification, or CHARGE, wrote U.S. senator Lamar Alexander in support of a bill aimed at increasing the use of electric vehicles.

Electric cars certainly have their benefits. For one, they’re more economically efficient, they help you to save money on cars, and they don’t release as many gases as regular cars. The reason for the want to switch to electric cars is simple, according to Co-chairman of the Energy Security Leadership Council, Fred Smith: “after terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, our increased dependence on petroleum represents the biggest single threat to our nation’s economy and national security.” Summary: electric cars means less dependency on petroleum, and our economy should start to rise again.

What about you? Do you think that the switch to electric cars will be more beneficial to our economy?

photo credit: shannonkringen

India Fest 2010

Hey all! I bet I know something you don’t know! Memphis is home to more than 8,000 people of Indian descent! It’s true, but don’t go thinking that they all share the same culture. According to Loki Mishra, marketing director for India Fest 2010,  each Indian state is like a country unto itself, with different foods, dress, and even language. About 16 of India’s 28 states will be represented at the annual India Fest at the Agricenter on Saturday, August 28th from 10 am to 6 pm.

Like many of the other cultural festivals that have hit the Memphis area this summer, the India Fest 2010 is sure to be enlightening and fun for all. It’s always interesting when  you can learn about cultures that aren’t your own. And we all know the best thing about these festivals right? THE FOOD! At each state’s booth, manned by local residents, attendees can sample regional foods. How awesome is that? States will even duke it out in a culture competition showcasing food, dance, and music from each region.

Each year, the festival runs by a theme. This year’s theme is Bollywood. Attendees can watch short films on the history of Indian cinema. Chefs Vish Bhatt of the SnackBar in Oxford, Mississippi, and Chef John Bragg of Circa will lead Indian cooking demos, and plenty of vendors will be on hand peddling traditional Indian garb, jewelry, and other items.

There’s even a kiddie corner for the young ones, where they can dress up like a  Bollywood star! There’ll also be henna, face painting, and an India trivia contest. It’s something for the whole family at India Fest 2010!

Another great thing about the festival is that it’s right down the street from Country Squire Apartments! It’s literally like 2 minutes away! You can’t beat that.

Expand your cultural horizons at India Fest 2010! Adults are $2 and kids are $1. It’s free for children under 5.

photo credit: Wikipedia

Hotel Poochie is a hotel for small dogs

Have you ever planned a trip, only to realize that your little furry family member can’t tag along? You may search and search, and between friends and vets, you may not find a sitter that really suits your needs. So what do you do? Well, the owners of Hotel Poochie in Bartlett, TN, only about 13 minutes from pet friendly Country Squire Apartments in Cordova, has a solution for your needs.

Hotel Poochie is basically a hotel for lap dogs, that is, dogs that are 25 lbs or less. The doggie hotel offers a

Dogs Love Hotel Poochie

. Staff are on site 24 hours a day, webcams are set up to monitor the doggies, and you’re able to pick them up if you come in late from out of town.

Even the amenities of the “hotel” are amazing. They feature:

• Hotel Poochie Spa: They’ll enjoy a soothing, stress free warm bath and cuddle massages
• The Lounge: Open late night for those who don’t want to sleep yet. Known for “family authorized” late night snacks and  TV viewing with our Activity Directors, The Lounge is a great place to relax
• Exercise Area and Game Room: There’s a 60 ft long running area and the activity directors lead them through “Doggie Dance Party” and “Roll the Ball”.
• And so much more!

So when you’re heading out of town and want to ensure that your furry family member is taken care of, drop them off at Hotel Poochie. It’s definitely worth it!

photo credit: Wikipedia , jpctalbot

Renters insurance is the easiest way to make the most out of your comfortable Cordova living. It protects your belongings against unforeseen disasters, and gives you a great peace of mind when they occur. If you haven’t thought about renters insurance for your apartment before, now is definitely the time.

If you have wisely invested in renters insurance, you don’t have much to worry about. Many people don’t take advantage of renters insurance because of a common myth: the cost. Renters insurance is surprisingly inexpensive. 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.

Renters insurance also covers liability for anything you’re found negligent to have caused an accident or a fire. Basic renters insurance may run you as little as $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 renters insurance? National insurance sites like State Farm and All State all carry policies. You can also visit the Country Squire Apartments leasing office, and they’ll be happy to get you on your way to a higher piece of mind in no time.

Belly Dancing is so much fun!

Hey Country Squire! Ever had the notion to dabble in something different? What about taking dance classes? More specifically, what about taking belly dance classes? Belly dancing is so much fun, and it’s also really great exercise. Groupon.com has brought you a deal today coming straight from Memphis Raqs. It’s a coupon for $18 for three intro to belly dance classes. This is a great deal, seeing as it’s normally a $45 deal.

The belly dance classes at Memphis Raqs are taught in small quantities, so you get a very intimate classroom setting. This means that you get all the attention that you need to become a world class belly dancer. For $18, you get three consecutive weekly classes of introductory belly dance from Memphis Raqs. Intro to Belly Dance classes are offered Thursday and Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings at the airy, comfortable MidSouth World Dance Center, a studio built specifically for belly dance inside the Walnut Grove Office Garden.

Are you up to the challenge?

In the three week introductory classes, you’ll learn: the basics of muscle isolation, dance posture, and basic choreography. Now, I’ve taken belly dance before, and let me assure you, they are a full body work out. If you keep at it, you’ll sculpt your body to near perfection in no time. But take my word for it, your body may be aching a little once you leave your first class.

Visit groupon.com right now to secure your coupon. You won’t want to miss this great deal!

Are you up to the challenge?

photo credit: Wikipedia, Wikipedia

Sleep Out on the Mississippi!

Hey Country Squire! Remember the sleepovers from the good old days? Weren’t they fun? What if you had the opportunity to do it again, as an adult, but this time it’s under the stars on the bay of the Mississippi River!

Yes folks, you heard right. It’s a sleepover on the Mississippi River! Doesn’t that sound like fun? You can have your own ‘camping’ adventure with no insect and grizzly bear infested foliage. This all takes place at the Mud Island River Park, this Friday, August 13th. Don’t let the fact that it’s Friday the 13th scare you! The fear element may even make the experience that much more fun!

To attend this sleepover, all you have to do is bring a sleeping bag. Mud Island River Park is providing a 12’x12’ tent, dinner, live entertainment, recreational activities, campfire with marshmallows, and breakfast. You can’t beat that!

There is a catch, however. You have to register in advance since spots are limited. We all know that the entire metro-Memphis area can’t camp out on the Mississippi River.  For more information, call (901) 458 – 2678. If you miss this opportunity and really want to participate, don’t worry! The next available dates are:9/10, and 10/08. I don’t believe November and December dates are available due to the cold weather. So plan ahead, and get ready to Sleep Out on the Mississippi!

photo credit: jaygooby

Don't Step on my Blue Suede Shoes!

Hey Country Squire! It’s time to don those blue suede shoes and celebrate the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley! There’s so many things going on this week that it’s impossible to fit all in one blog post! Well, it’s possible, but I doubt you’d want to read all of that.

There is a website dedicated to Elvis Week 2010, and all of the event information can be found there. All of the festivities kick off tomorrow, August 10, and will continue until Monday, August 16th. Here’s a quick list of some of the events taking place (info taken from Elvis Week website):

• Tuesday, August 10
  • Shake, Rattle & Roll™ at the Shell – The Official Elvis Week 2010 Kickoff To Benefit The Alzheimer’s Association – 7 pm to 11 pm
    • Elvis Week will officially kick off with a live recreation of one of Elvis’ first concerts that he performed at The Shell.VIP tickets are $75 and include a preshow tour. General admission is $40. Click here or call (901) 565-0011 for tickets.
• Wednesday, August 11, 2010
  • Graceland Trivia Tour – 5 pm
    • Tour Graceland and the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum while answering trivia questions. Each participant receives a gift and trivia winners receive a prize. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for kids 7-12. Click here or call (800) 238-2000 for tickets.
  • Club Elvis – 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight – Graceland
    • Attend a private party for Elvis fans, held in the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum and Graceland Plaza. There will be Elvis music, dancing, and a cash bar. A wristband ticket will allow you to go between Club Elvis and the other activities on the property. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online or by calling (800) 238-2000.

photo credit: Mike Miley

Acie Law

Hey Grizz fans! You’ll be excited to hear that Acie Law, former Atlanta Hawk, Warrior, Hornet, and Bull,  has signed with the Memphis Grizzlies to bolster their point guard position.

Though Law has been in the NBA for three years, he’s had limited playing time. Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace acknowledged this, and built from it. He figured that the 25 year old, 6-3 veteran has plenty time to show his true potential and will be able to do this with the Grizz.

The Grizzlies signed Law to a one-year contract Thursday, bringing their roster to 14 players. I’m thinking that this may be a good thing. Law is still a young player, and probably has a lot of skill that was overshadowed on the other teams. The only thing that concerns me is attempting to build a player when the team itself needs rebuilding.

Wallace surmises that he didn’t stay with one team long enough for his full potential to shine through. I see Acie Law getting playing time this season as Vasquez is still out, recuperating from surgery.

Only time will tell whether Acie Law will be an asset to the team. Let’s go Grizz!

photo credit: wikipedia

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Are there any baseball fans out there? If so, do you like to attend Memphis Redbirds games pretty frequently. If so, then you know that certain nights, special events are going on, or the birds are helping out a good cause. At tomorrow night’s game, they’re supporting a good cause.

Help the Redbirds, Kroger, and the Mid South Food Bank Strike Out Hunger! Just bring 5 canned food items to the AutoZone Park box office and receive a free bluff ticket or $5 credit to another ticket! Every Tuesday is Kraft Singles Night: Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free from KRAFT Singles with KRAFT product purchase. Bring your package wrapper to a Redbirds game on Tuesdays for this great deal.

The kiddies can even get in on the action at tomorrow nights game! If you stay after, the kids can run the bases as fast as they can, high five the mascot, and get a special prize from Kraft Singles. Everybody enjoys a day at the ball park!

The Memphis Redbirds will be taking on the Omaha Royals at 7 pm at AutoZone Park.

photo credit: theogeo