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The average person lately will normally prefer to get movers over renting a truck and packing up all their belongings themselves. I guess families are just determining it is much easier to seek the services of full service moving companies to deal with the heavy work. People are just growing to be to occupied with day to day life to undertake a project as major as moving all of their goods. Surfing via the world wide web makes acquiring much better bargains for relocating services a whole lot easier then in previous times.

If you plan correctly you will successfully be able to cut a few bucks off your moving costs. Take every bit of that crap and extra material you have held on to for too long and get rid of it. It is simply no secret that American movers usually tend to gauge their prices with the weight of your move. Being educated about these kinds of points will help you make a way better determination about what you pick to take along with you.

Movers of all kinds in Grand Rapids bill by time in addition to the weight and the total number of rooms included in the move. With a little bit of hard work you'll not have any problem skimming time off the mover's work period. Make an inventory of all the big items that you need to move. Figure out which goods you are going to be taking your self in your own automobiles so that you understand exactly what is left for the Full Service Movers.

How much time it takes to drive from your present-day home address to the new house is usually a major factor in your moving rate. It is clear that you are not going to be able to alter the miles from location to location, however you can locate a moving company that is favorable to the mileage you are relocating. As you'll see with moving companies some ask for less then others for lengthier distance moving. All of these tips are crucial when planning a relocation and when employing movers.

Naturally with every one of these factors to take into consideration it may be tough to select the best movers, but with these tactics you will always get the best deal. Use your time and effort sensibly, but remember not to slack on the number of local movers quotes that you get from Grand Rapids Full Service Movers. More recently the internet has made it easier by providing sites where you can get several movers quotes in a short time. It is highly recommended to work with these kinds of services as they guarantee that all of the Grand Rapids movers are certified and insured. This should certainly open up your eyes to the benefits of finding moving service quotes on the web for Grand Rapids residents.

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While a lot of people are still booking moving trucks just about all seem to be selecting movers increasingly more lately. Some men and women may be lazy, but for the most part it is just smarter to get moving company estimates services. Time is starting to be short and people are not wanting to take on the work of a challenging move. Surfing through the world wide web makes obtaining much better offers for relocating services a great deal easier then in earlier times.

Moving service prices can also be cut down by understanding how to organize your home for the movers. When browsing through your things toss all the unimportant items to lower the magnitude of your move. Ask anyone who has used Lakewood movers previously, weight and time are the 2 biggest factors involved with just about any move. No need to waste time when you can dispose of everything right now and prepare yourself to lower the cost of moving services very easily.

Movers of all kinds in Lakewood bill by time in addition to the pounds and the quantity of rooms included in the move. Be sure to try your best to trim down the time period it will take for the move as it might save big money. Gather all of your things from every little space, because you do not want the moving company having to dig for more items. Be kind to the movers, but don't get in their way causing them to move more slowly or to be distracted.

Surely the quantity of miles in between the pair of properties will probably be considered by the Movers also. Since you aren't able to alter the distance of your move the best thing to do is find the Lakewood moving company that has the best rates for the distance you're moving. Locate the greatest Movers in Colorado for the distance you will be moving and you'll be able to save by comparing quotes. By merging each one of these tactics you can surely save some cash on that next move.

Numerous things will make or break the price of the moving services you employ so you should be very careful. Never overlook simply how much it can help to get multiple Movers quotes if making a move in Lakewood. Thank goodness that there are now sites that will allow you to generate several quotes coming from movers in Lakewood. It is greatly recommended to make use of those services because they guarantee every one of the Lakewood movers are certified and insured. You can use several or all of the strategies within this piece of writing, but something is for sure you certainly will save money.

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Three Charlotte-based companies:

• Yap (@YapMe)
• 3tailer (@3tailer)
• and goodmortgage.com (@goodmortgage)

… were named among the top 25 North Carolina companies to watch by CED (@CEDNC, Council for Entrepreneurial Development), a private nonprofit organization that promotes local entrepreneurial efforts.

“From 2006 through 2009, these companies collectively generated $334 million in revenue and added 443 employees (both in North Carolina and out of state), reflecting a 232 percent increase in revenue and 176 percent increase in jobs for the four-year period. That translates into a 51 percent annual revenue growth and 41 percent annual growth in employees.”

Read more on the press release.

Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) of WCNC posts the forecast for this weekend’s Booty Loop event on his blog.

Summary: a relief from the heat with temps in the upper 80s, small 20% chance for rain, and light wind. Great weather for cycling.

Read the full forecast over on Brad’s blog.

watch this video in HD on Vimeo

Sarah and Victor Lytvinenko form Raleigh Denim, a local (OK, Raleigh-based) company using mostly local materials including locally manufactured denim (Cone Mills, to be exact). They’re making waves worldwide, despite their mission to revitalize the North Carolina garment industry.

You can buy Raleigh Denim at Niche Market on Camden, whose blog pointed me to the above video produced by David Huppert for UNC-TV.

Opening night always carries a special sort of energy with it, but this time there were a few surprises.  I knew I was in for something a little different when the beautiful woman behind the counter asked for ID, and said my Costco card would be fine.  Then, I looked up to see Pabst Blue Ribbon at the concession stand.  Oh yeah, “this here’s gonna be good”.  Heck, even as I pulled into the parking lot, I was pink with envy seeing flamingos in the yard.  Made me laugh so hard, I almost dropped the magic marker I was sniffing.  Then, upon entering the theater, I was thrilled to see a packed house at Actor’s Theater Of Charlotte… always better that way!

The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a bouncy, quirky, entertaining show with all the stereotypes we’ve come to love.  We have a little sex, some psychosis, and a touch of potty-mouth, mixed in with your classic “call the neighbors, wake the kids” kind of fun.  The audience gets to take a peek into the lives of 7 characters in Armadillo Acres, a resting place for manufactured homes, and Betty’s former husband.  There is a love triangle involving a toll booth worker, his agoraphobic wife, and a well traveled stripper.  There’s a storm, ol’ sparky on death row, and my personal favorite, baby-daddy drama.  We laugh, we moan, we laugh some more.  This is just plain old fun, with a side of groove.

Narrating, is a trio of sunbathing beauties, Betty, Lin, and Pickles (The Girls).  They do a wonderful job of setting the stage and leading us through the story with great energy and a quick pace.  The ladies work well together, and play off each other nicely.  Betty (Taffy Allen) is the owner/proprietor of this little piece of mobile heaven, and provides strong vocals during the show’s opening number, This Side Of The Tracks.  Taffy seemed incredibly comfortable on stage, and easily pulled off this “mama” type role.  Lin (Carmen Schultz) is a sexually frustrated, soon to be widow who adds plenty of laugh lines along the way.  The third member of our trinity is Pickles (Cassandra Howley Wood), the underage waif who’s enjoying her hysterical pregnancy.  Cassandra delivered an unbelievable performance of the ditzy but loveable teenager.  Her comedic timing is crucial to the flow of the show, and she absolutely nailed it.  Well done!  The Girls were particularly entertaining during a second act show-stopper, That’s Why I Love My Man, where each describes what floats their boat.

Norbert (Matthew Corbett) and Jeannie (Lisa Smith Bradley) have been living in the trailer park since their shotgun wedding (would you expect any less) 20 years prior.  Norbert goes to work, Jeannie won’t leave the trailer, but sends him off with lunch and snacks, and that’s about all there is to it.  Matthew’s voice is a little weak, and his character was perhaps too mousey.  I enjoyed his performance, but felt it could have been supersized.  Lisa once again brought her awesome set of pipes to the stage, filling the intimate theater, and played the neurotic housewife perfectly.

Flying into town to cause a stir is Pippi the stripper (Heather Hamby).  Pippi is running from ex-lover Duke (Ryan Stamey), and after an almost titilating striptease, runs across Norbert.  The two realize they’re neighbors, and the cheatin’ begins.  When Duke finally finds her, after a long journey and a little Road Kill, all kinds of trouble ensue.  Heather is solid, not spectacular, but good manners prevent me from saying anything derogitory about a young lady who’s just flashed me her breasts.  Seriously though, it’s a good performance of the hardened stripper, and her above average voice helped make But He’s Mine/It’s Never Easy (Pippi/Norbert/Jeannie) the song of the night.  Ryan’s energy on stage is desperately needed by the time he joins the ensemble.  His overzealous ham-acting is much appreciated, and adds a new dimension to the show.   When things got a little slow, I could actually hear the audience thinking “I hope that crazy ass Duke comes back out soon”.

In the end, things turn out just fine for everyone (except the satellite dish) due to a shocking, “Sixth Sense” type of ending!  No, just kidding, it’s a trailer park… you’ll probably figure it out, but it’s funny, and funny is what this show is all about.  The actors are having a blast, and the audience joins right in.  So order yourself up a few PBRs, sit on down, and let your brain relax for a couple of hours.  We all know a trailer park dweller or two, and you’ll probably hear something like “damn, that was funny when that Pickles girl was saying them things about that flan… what is that anyway?” on the way out.  This comedy is not limited to the stage… it’s real life.

Director Dennis Delamar kept anyone from being too terribly awful, but could have asked the cast to be a bit “bigger”.  Musical Director Marty Gregory did a particularly good job with The Girls as their harmony was dead on.  Choreographer Eddie Mabry got a decent amount of movement out of most everyone, but we don’t get any real dancing in the show.  The set was cute, and it was especially fun to see the depth they managed to squeeze out of the tiny stage, most notably the inside/outside of Jeannie’s trailer.  Lighting and sound were good, and while at times the band overwhelmed the voices, we were still able to understand most of the lyrics.

Overall, this is a lot of fun!  The Great American Trailer Park Musical entertains the redneck in each and every one of us.  I’m coming back in two weeks to see it again, and to see how the cast has evolved.  It feels like, with this talented group, the show will continue to get better and better as it runs.  So grab you a pair of daisy dukes and your favorite tank top, and come on out to see what it’s like on this side of the tracks, playing now through August 14th.  You’ll laugh ’til you stop!

We recently had a chance to tour the new Mint Museum uptown, and wow! I’ll let the pictures above and video below speak for themselves.

watch this video in HD on YouTube

photos fetched from Sir Ed’s Facebook page

Jeremy Markovich (@deftlyinane) was at Sir Edmond Halley‘s last night for the last call of a Charlotte institution. Sir Ed’s saw a huge crowd on closing night due in part to tremendous support on Facebook from people who heard about the closing.

Jeremy wrote the following eulogy for Charlotte Magazine — a great read:

“Sir Edmond Halley’s lived a good life. It passed away Wednesday night, surrounded by family and friends.

Its loved ones drank it into the great beyond in an alcoholic maelstrom. Normal bar rules did not apply. First the beer ran out. Then the liquor started to wane. The crowd only got bigger. People didn’t request a specific drink. Rather, they sheepishly asked the bartender what they were ALLOWED to order. What’ll ya have? Gimme a beer. Or whatever you’ve got. Near the end, a guy in an orange Hawaiian shirt was too specific. “I’d like a tequila, with salt and lime juice,” he asked. “We don’t have salt. We don’t have lime juice,” the bartender said. “But we do have…” she took a hard glance at the near-empty shelf. “Well, we have tequila.” She pulled out a plastic shot glass, pounded it on the bar and poured.”

Read the full piece at Charlotte Magazine.

How long have you been going to Sir Ed’s? Got any unique experiences? Share them in the comments!

Calling all foodies, a new healthy eating option is opening in South End this week!

Luna’s Living Kitchen is a new, local restaurant serving a variety of vegetarian, vegan or raw food meals, treats and drinks. Located next to the Atherton Mills Farmer’s Market, Luna’s prides itself on using nothing but the finest organic and local ingredients. Luna’s serves healthy entrees, salads, desserts, smoothies and juices six days a week and should definitely appeal to the hugely growing market  interested in healthy, organic and local food.

Luna’s is the brainchild of local restaurateurs, Juliana Luna, Randy Powell and Andy Thewlis. For Luna especially, opening “Luna’s” is extension of what she wants to do as far as educating people about making healthy food choices. Says Luna:

“I think that food is one of the first needs of all human beings and if you provide your community with proper food and nutrition, you can do a lot of (good) work… this is what I’m trying to do here.”

Luna’s menu is different from most eateries, because it’s menu is all vegetarian, vegan or “raw”.  Raw food especially is a new concept for many. Raw foodists believe that food is best uncooked and unprocessed, and by eating food in it’s purest form, you can get the most possible nutrients out of it. While the lifestyle isn’t much of secret to those who frequent local farmers markets or health food stores, it’s still a foreign concept to most Charlotteans. That is something Luna’s hopes to change soon. Luna’s wants to welcome to raw foodies, vegans/vegetarians and non-vegans/vegetarians alike.

Some of the specialties on the menu include the Lunasagna (a raw version of lasagna made with zucchini noodles, sun-dried tomato sauce and green cashew cheese) and the Sprouted Quinoa-Kamut Veggie Burger. They even make their own raw granola (which is no surprise, since much of the food is produced on-site or comes from local producers.) Luna’s serves a variety of juices, drinks and smoothies. Including their own home-brewed kombucha tea, a drink which has developed quite a cult following nationwide, and just recently locally for its health benefits.

In fact, local health gurus should be already familiar with the faces behind the counter. Luna, Powell & Thewlis used to work at Real Food Charlotte, another restaurant which served healthy, vegetarian and vegan cuisine before it closed unexpectedly last year. Instead of letting it keep her down, Luna is hoping to use her Real Food Charlotte experience as a springboard for better things with “Luna’s.” To her, food is like art. And she hopes to spread that knowledge to her customers. “I have a passion for food, and especially everything related to educating people through food.”

In addition to making great food, Luna’s wants to be a one-stop shop for healthy living. Luna’s has set up a library full of books on vegetarianism, veganism, raw food, yoga, holistic living and more. Also, there are plans in the work to host health lectures twice a month with local health experts. Eating at Luna’s is also good for the environment and the local community. The restaurant does in-store recycling and composting, and all their plates, cups and utensils are biodegradable. In addition, the art and store fixtures were produced by local artists and craftspeople.

Luna’s is located at 2102 South Blvd, Suite 15o in the Atherton Mills Complex, between the Atherton Mills Farmer’s Market and Evolution Gym. They’re open Monday through Thursday, 11am – 7pm; and Friday through Saturday, 8am – 3pm (closed Sunday).

View Larger Map

phone: 704-333-0008
Website: http://lunaslivingkitchen.com
Facebook: Luna’s Living Kitchen Facebook Page
Twitter: @lunaskitchen

On July 20, 2010, The Arts & Science Council presented its next vision for a for Mecklenburg County. You can read all the details on their website.

Present were community leaders like Mayor Anthony Foxx, Mary Lou Babb, ASC Immediate Past Present Board Chair, and Marc Manly from Duke Energy, ASC Board Chair. Each spoke of the need for a vibrant and diverse community, engaged in arts and culture.

This year’s priorities

ASC laid out three priorities for the upcoming years:

• Restore education funding
• Develop a new cultural action plan
• Address the future of funding through innovation

Future Initiatives

ASC President Scott Provancher laid out ASC’s vision for the future — the Cultural Action Plan.   Provancher highlighted previous plans that included public art, cultural facilitates, educational programs, and tourism efforts.  He also gave us a peek into the future by announcing the silent launch of the planning process for the upcoming Cultural Action Plan that will tackle the “new normal” of the economy and new, innovative giving models eluding to a possible “cultural marketplace” or a Match.com of sorts; matching donors to specific projects.

2010-2011 Cultural & Community Investments

ASC’s first round of investments total $8,213,100, with museums, science centers, and historic sites receiving over $4M, performing arts receiving $3.3M, and education and community & diversity projects receiving the remainder.

ASC by the numbers:

• 4700 full time jobs in the arts, cultural, science, and history sector
• $157.96 million in local economic activity
• 93.3% of respondents think arts, science and history organizations make a positive contribution to the quality of life in Charlotte-Mecklenburg
• 79.8% of Mecklenburg residents support county funding for programs (UNC Charlotte Urban Institute Report)
• young people who are invoked in cultural programs are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievements
• Charlotte Culture Guide included over 60,000 cultural events in 2009.