Auston Grove Apartment Homes Blog

Raleigh's landmark Pullen Park, the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the nation, has been closed to visitors for almost two years. But on Nov. 19, the sounds of concrete trucks will be replaced by carousel music once again.

The $6.3 million project included updates to old attractions and modern additions.

There are new boats on the lake, the updated version of a childhood memory special to Raleigh City Councilman Russ Stephenson.

"The boats would just go round and round and round," he said. "You got to steer, and there was a string to a big bell on the front of the boat, so you got to make a big racket," he remembered.

The horses that ring the 100-year-old antique carousel were each sent away for a new paint job and new tails. Next week, they will be installed in a new, climate-controlled carousel house.

"if a grandparent brings their grandchild out to Pullen Park to say, 'This is my favorite animal. This is what I rode and it looks just like it did when I was a kid,' that's important," said Richard Costello, amusements director at the park.

"I think we all had those great memories, and we wanted to make sure those memories were preserved," Stephenson said.

The children's train will get new cars, and they will run on a new track. It will travel through a new tunnel and pull in to a revamped station.

At the playground, a climbing wall, spider webs and water and sand areas are new, as are misters to keep children cool on hot days.

Sarig Agasi, owner and chef at Raleigh restaurant Zely & Ritz, will run concessions in a new cafe featuring local, organic fare.

The project was funded by a bond approved by voters in 2003. On the day of the grand reopening, amusements will open at 10 a.m., the park will be dedicated at 2 p.m. and entertainment will follow at 3 p.m.

Apartments in Raleigh, NC

Tax Day and Earth Day are not official holidays, but that doesn’t stop retailers from treating them as such. Each year, more merchants tie giveaways and other promotions to the two days, turning April into a freebie fedding frenzy. But businesses aren’t just being nice when they offer “tax day bites” and other goodies.

They get something out of it, too. Offering free products or samples is a good way to introduce a new product, generate lots of foot traffic, get positive buzz and possibly make some additional sales. Here are a few “freebie” samples:

1. Participating Cinnabon shops will give away two free Cinnabon bites from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays.
2. Maggie Moo’s stores will offer free minisundaes as part of the chain’s Sundae Stimulus from 3 to 6p.m Mondays.
3. Get a free massage at HydroMassage from Thursday to Monday. Find a list of participating locations at http://bit.ly/fjluep
4. Target stores will give away a free reusable shopping bag with any purchase to the first million guests Sunday. Stores will have a limited number of bags each, so go early.
5. Starbucks will offer a free cup of coffee or tea to anyone who brings a reusable mug to a store April 22
6. Get into any national park for free from Saturday through April 24. The parks are celebrating National Parks Week, but it coincides with Earth Day. See: www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm.
7. Ben & Jerry’s is hosting Free Cone Day from noon to 8:00pm today. The event is not tied to Earth Day or Tax Day, but it’s a popular freebie.

Apartments in Raleigh, NC

Do you like to keep a journal as a record of your life experiences to help you remember and catalog the fleeting thoughts of daily life? How would you feel about sharing those thoughts or observations with others?

If this interests you, you might wish to start your own online blog, which is like a journal that you compose in cyberspace.

A blog can be a place to share your expertise or interests, collect your thoughts, or even market a business. Read on for reasons why creating a blog might be for you.

What will your blog be about?
If you decide to start a personal blog, the sky’s the limit in terms of what you can write about. In keeping with the old axiom to “write what you know,” sharing information or insights about your everyday experiences is a great way to start blogging. Linking your observations to facts and information that can educate and entertain others is a bonus that will likely keep readers coming back.

Whether you choose to write a food blog, a travel blog, a political blog or one about garden gnomes, you may very well find an appreciative audience interested in what you have to say.

For business sites, of course, blog topics should relate to the product or service being promoted.

Which blogging site will you choose?
There are a number of different interfaces you can use for your blog.

Blogger, now a Google property, was one of the first blogging sites. Tumblr has a simple, yet sophisticated format, and Posterous makes setting up a blog quick and easy. WordPress themes allow for a very smooth, professional look.

LiveJournal, as the name implies, has a more personal than professional approach. Like a MySpace for the blogging world, LiveJournal’s focus is on community and groups gathered around shared interests. Its options allow users to make their journal as private or public as they like. Diary.com is a similar option that also lets you sync with task, calendar and social media applications.

A live journal…and more
Blogging began as a way to expand a personal Web presence by talking to friends and strangers about what you love - or hate - in a ‘dear diary’ style. With a blog, you can get personal in a timely way, updating it whenever you want. You can create an online journal that just might become “appointment reading” for friends and fans.

Fame can be achieved through blogging. In 2003, a frustrated temp, Julie Powell, decided to cook the 524 French recipes in Julia Child’s book “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in the span of one year - and blog about the experience, at the same time. Her Julie/Julia Project project gained a large following and was adapted into a 2009 major motion picture, called “Julie & Julia” - the first time a blog had been brought to the big screen.

Powell’s blog ultimately had a dual purpose: it was both a personal expression and a professional outlet for her as a writer. This is common: a popular blog may take the form of a professional (or intentionally unprofessional) observation about a person’s experience in his industry or a citizen-journalist’s update on a particular subject.

Though the blog - and its new media cousins, Facebook and Twitter - have institutionalized the habit of sharing personal information with scores of complete strangers, the most-read posts of today are either truly informative or else very funny, offering readers tips, insight or humor that they can’t get anywhere else. And as businesses make blogging a part of their marketing plans, it seems everyone is bidding for the most eyes.

Perhaps you don’t care about publicity; you may just have something to say and don’t really care how many others will read it. Either way, if it’s time for you to blog, there are more ways to do it quickly and easily than ever before.

Like a pen-and-paper journal, a blog is the perfect venue for stream-of-consciousness creative writing and sharing about any number of topics - for all to read and share. Choose your blog host, your topic, and your style - the only limits are the time and energy you find to post what you have to say!

Apartment Homes Raleigh NC

So, you have moved to a new community that is unfamiliar to you, and you want to learn about your new neighborhood. Why not start your search by going online, right from your apartment?

Take a look at these suggestions for learning more about your new community through the Web.

Search for what interests you
The Internet has a wealth of resources waiting to connect you with the world right outside your apartment community. Think about the things that interest you: maybe you enjoy eating out in restaurants and going to movies?

Sites that focus on specific activities are great for expanding your awareness of destinations in your neighborhood. You can look to the Web to help you find, say, a Southwestern restaurant in your neighborhood, or find a theater and check the times on the new movie you want to see. For information about restaurants, for instance, check out Urbanspoon.com. You can even make online reservations at many eateries via sites such as Opentable.com. You can find local theaters and movie times on sites such as Fandango.com or Moviefone.com. Once you get used to it, looking for local attractions and events via the Web becomes as easy as clicking your mouse.

Google it
Don’t forget about one of the most versatile tools on the Internet: Google! Google is a first-class ticket to seeing the world online. You can find maps to destinations, in many cases with pictures of the actual places you want to visit. You can easily search by key words and categories, and get suggestions from Google about searches that others have made using similar phrases. One search to try is to enter your city, region, or neighborhood by name and see what comes up for you. You may discover a regional publication that serves your area with a blog about your favorite pastime and where to pursue that activity near your apartment home.

Find friends in your neighborhood
Some Web sites are designed to bring people together. You customize these sites for your city or area simply by entering the city’s name in the search field. Meetup.com, for instance, can be used to set up group events between like-minded people who live near each other and are interested in similar activities. On that site, just click “find a group,” then enter the activity that interests you, along with your location. You can then browse through a multitude of groups that have formed because of a love for music or flower arranging. Diving into the diverse opportunities found on pages like these may lead you to discover resources and opportunities in your community that you had no idea were available.

It’s not all fun and games
Your neighborhood may very well have a presence on the Web. Search by name for state and city government sites to learn how to conduct official business or where to find important services. Community-based sites are great online places to learn about your neighborhood and stay abreast of community news.

Of course, it is especially important in new surroundings to familiarize yourself with services you may need some day, like the location of the hospital nearest to your apartment. Of more daily assistance, you can find online services that will suggest different routes for getting to places, or you can check the current traffic on your favorite commute path. Maps and travel schedules for rapid transit can typically be found online, as well.

The people have spoken
One of the most useful and exciting features of the Web is its ability to bring people (and their opinions) together. Sites such as Yelp.com give people community forums where they can share their experiences of visiting stores, restaurants, nightclubs, and other services. You can benefit from all this information, but, as with everything you read on the Web, use your own judgment: a few negative comments, no matter how strong the objections, do not necessarily mean that an establishment should be avoided. Look for a general agreement over a series of postings, and notice if you tend to agree with certain commentators who post frequently. You may even decide to join the fray and offer your own online feedback.

The power of the Internet to help familiarize us with our world is one of its great achievements. It has rapidly become quite common that any place we might want to visit now has two locations: one on a street somewhere, and one on the Web.

Bookmark your favorite destinations on the information highway and check in with them regularly — it’s the easiest way to stay informed about what’s going on and to explore the world where you live.

Apartment in Raleigh, NC

Yoga classes seem to be everywhere, from the local gym to boutique studios. But what is yoga exactly, and why is the practice so popular? Check out this yoga guide for answers that will help you decide if a yoga class might be right for you.

What is yoga?

Yoga is an ancient method of exercise, stress-relief and meditation that has been practiced for around 5,000 years. As ancient Eastern medical practices have continued to become more popular in the West, yoga classes have become more accessible, with a growing number of choices. Increasing flexibility, strength, lung capacity, relaxation and mental clarity, yoga offers an arsenal of health benefits. It can also lower blood pressure and help inhibit heart disease, while decreasing the risk of stroke.

Most Western presentations of yoga focus on a set of poses. You may have heard of yoga postures such as the downward facing dog or the child’s pose. Once you learn the basic poses, you can practice them whenever and wherever you want — at home, on the road, with or without a video to follow.

Different Types of Yoga

Though based on the same general poses, yoga varieties differ in their intensity and emphasis.

Hatha yoga is slow-paced and gentle, and provides a great introduction to yoga principles and poses.

Vinyasa yoga generally focuses on breath-synchronized movements. Encompassing a number of movements called sun salutations, this method is more rigorous than Hatha.

Ashtanga, usually the basis of a power yoga class, is one of the most strenuous kinds of yoga. In Ashtanga, the same series of yoga postures are performed in a specific order, one after the other. The rigorous flow between poses makes this method physically challenging.

Iyengar yoga is most focused on body alignment, the precise way your body should be held in each posture to avoid injury and get the most benefit. This method emphasizes holding poses, rather than moving quickly between them.

Bikram yoga, known as hot yoga, is performed in a room that is 95 to 100 degrees, which helps loosen tight muscles and promotes sweating, part of a cleansing process. Bikram usually uses 26 yoga postures, though not every class makes use of them all.

Kundalini yoga focuses on freeing the energy of the lower body and moving it upward, while using controlled breathing.

What to Know Before You Start

First, choose the style of yoga that is right for your level of physical fitness. If you’re a beginner, Hatha or Vinyasa are good places to start. Then begin researching a convenient and reputable yoga studio. You can search online or in health magazines. If you already see an alternative health practitioner, such as a massage therapist or acupuncturist, that person might also be able to recommend a particular yoga class. Many studios will offer a free introductory class, so be sure to ask.

Each class will begin with a warm up, so be sure to make use of it and ease into the postures. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re feeling any awkwardness or discomfort in a yoga posture. Be prepared to be a little sore after your first class, and be sure not to push too hard. Yoga is about ease of movement — nothing jerky or sudden.

What to Bring

Check with the facility where you’ll be taking your yoga classes to see what they’d like you to bring. You can buy yoga-specific clothing, but non-binding, comfortable exercise clothes will work fine. You can bring your own yoga mat, or use one at the studio, sometimes for a small rental fee.

Ready to see if yoga is right for you? Don’t be afraid to experiment, trying different facilities and types of yoga to see which one is the best fit. Then get ready to reap the benefits of this powerful tool for healthy living.

Apartments in Raleigh, NC

Adjusting to a new apartment kitchen takes time. Before you crank up the oven or fire up the stovetop, take a look at our tips to help you avoid some common cooking mistakes - and perhaps save your dinner, if meal preparation goes badly.

Avoid a major malfunction

Major appliance malfunction, that is. When you move to a new apartment, your cooking techniques may need to be revised to make them work with your kitchen. Cooking with a new stove or oven may take some getting used to: if you had a gas stove in the past and are switching to electric, for instance, it could take longer for your burners and oven to heat up.

On the flip side, if you are going from electric to gas, you may find yourself burning or overcooking your meals. Before you invite everyone over for dinner, do a few test runs to get comfortable with your new appliances.

The same rule goes for your refrigerator and freezer. Keep an eye on the temperature so you don’t end up with frozen milk for breakfast or half-thawed ice cream for dessert. You should also get an oven thermometer to get an idea of how hot your oven runs; with that information, you can adjust your recipes as necessary to get the results you are used to achieving.

While everyone loves home cooking, no one wants to have to evacuate their home just because they tried a new recipe. Be aware that the smoke alarms in your new apartment might be closer to the kitchen or more sensitive than your previous ones. The fan for your range may also function differently. Before you fire things up, know how to open your windows quickly in order to air out your apartment in case things get smoky.

Shop for new stock

When you move into a new apartment, the first things you might stock up on are decorative items, furniture and linens. While you are shopping, don’t forget one of the most important rooms in your apartment - the kitchen. Now is a great time to toss your old dried herbs and replace them with fresh containers. Did you know most herbs only stay flavorful for one year? The same goes for other dry goods like flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Invest in a fresh batch of baking supplies to make sure your cakes and cookies come out perfectly. You might also want to replace old pots, pans and bakeware. Over time they can get worn or warped and won’t heat evenly, so refresh your recipes with a new set of tools. You might be surprised to find everything tasting better!

Make a back-up plan

Even if you test your new cooking equipment, buy fresh supplies, and read your recipes thoroughly, there is always a chance that you’ll have a meal mishap. Your best strategy is to be prepared with a backup plan. Make sure you have easy-to-prepare foods on hand to serve guests or your family at the last minute. Stock your freezer with pizzas, mini-quiches and vegetables. Pack your pantry with instant mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce and macaroni and cheese. You might spend a little extra and buy gourmet pre-packaged products, so your guests will be impressed with your recipe rescue skills.

Apartment cooking can be really fun, if you are prepared. Be aware of common cooking mistakes, so you can avoid them in your own kitchen. Soon, you’ll be on your way to preparing the best meals you can and making the most of your apartment kitchen.