Queen's Feast

Summer is the time to try new things and explore the city and all it has to offer. This week is the Queen's Feast, which is Charlotte's version of restaurant week. It began on July 15 and will go until Sunday the 24. There are more than 90 restaurants across five counties participating this year!

What better reason to go out and discover new restaurants the city has to offer? Plus dozens of places offer the amazing deal of 3 courses (or more) at dinner time for only $30 per person.

Think about it... you will get an amazing meal, and help out some of Charlotte's local restaurants and small businesses. The previous Charlotte Restaurant Week in January 2011 generated approximately 85,000 dinners and almost $4 million in revenue for 83 participating restaurants.

You could try a whole slew of new cuisines by the time the week comes to a close.

Check out the Queen's Feast Website and check to see what restaurants are participating this July.

Some that I recommend are: Cajun Queen (Elizabeth), 131 Main (Dilworth), The Melting Pot (Midtown), Lulu (Plaza Midwood) or Nikko(South End).

Road Trip Tips

Road trips are a summer tradition for many people, but the price of gas is going up at an alarming rate, so how do you balance your need to get in the car and drive, with your wallet? Here are some road trip tips to help with gas, planning and road tripping.

Gas-Saving Tips

• ·         Drive 55 on the highway- It's a good constant speed, and AAA estimates that driving slower can boost mileage by 5%.
• ·         Avoid stopping and starting- Accelerating from a standstill requires more fuel then gently letting up on the gas pedal and coasting for a few seconds before accelerating. It can also help to look ahead and let up on the gas pedal when you see a red light, coasting will help with constant breaking.
• ·         Use cruise control- it helps control your speed and keep you at a constant saving more gas.
• ·         Watch when you fill your tank- overfilling your tank is both dangerous to your car and to your wallet. When you overfill your tank you can mess up your car's engine and gas can slosh around in the tank and escape, leaving you with less gas then you paid for. Click the gas cap 3 times to ensure that it is on tightly and gas won't escape. Every year 147 million gallons of fuel vaporizes from tanks in the US.
• ·         Drive when its cooler outside- this one might be hard as it is never very cool in the summer down in the south, but it does help if you leave early in the morning or once the sun sets at night. According to AAA, cooler, denser air can increase power and mileage.
• ·         Use AC instead of windows- at least in newer cars, air conditioners in newer cars are more efficient, since they cause less drag on the engine then driving with the windows down.
• ·         Pack light- the lighter your possessions the better your mileage will be. Keep your suitcases and gear in the car too, as objects on the roof create more drag and kill your mileage.

Planning

• ·         It's best to have a plan of action before hitting the road. Chart where you want to go and look up directions online from multiple websites before getting in the car.
• ·         Don't always trust your GPS- You want to think that it will always give you the correct route, but sometimes the maps and routes on your machine are out of date, which will cause you to get lost or add miles to your trip.
• ·         If you have kids think about activities for them- nothing is worse than getting in the car and having the kids saying "are we there yet?" every 3 minutes. Make sure you have something for them to read or play with. Highway games are fun like the Alphabet game. You can also find cheap road trip bingo cards at Wal-Mart and toy stores.
• ·         If you are bringing a pet make sure you have them taken care of- you will need to consider a doggie seat belt or training your dog to handle road trips. Many small outing will prepare them for being in a car for hours. Make sure you make time to stop and let your pet walk around outside.

Other tips

• ·         Have all of your documents with you- license and car registration are all good to have just in case you do get pulled over.
• ·         Pull off if you get tired- you don't want to cause an accident, it's better to pull off at a rest stop and rest for a few hours then falling asleep at the wheel and getting into an accident.
• ·         Join AAA- It's worth the money to have peace of mind that if you do get stuck somewhere with a car issue that you won't be stranded.
• ·         Learn to read a map- don't always rely on gps. It's better to know how to read a map. It's not hard to learn.
• ·         Pay attention- It's easy to let your mind wander when you have locked into cruise control, but be aware of your surroundings and the traffic around you. Also keep track of the change in speed limits, you don't want to get a ticket.
• ·         Learn to change a tire- Even if you have AAA, it is good to know how to do it just in case.
• ·         Stock your car with essentials- Extra oil, jumper cables, flares, coolant, spare tire, water, ect.

Best Cities to Rent In the US

According to Forbes.com Charlotte is one of the top 10 cities to rent in, in the US. 

Best Cities, No. 10: Charlotte, N.C.

Average Monthly Rent: $697
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.8% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 7.5%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $665 cheaper to rent

The number 1 city to rent in is Tuscon, AZ, other top cities include: Jacksonville, FL, Phoenix, AZ, Columbus, OH, Kansas City, MO, Las Vagas, NV, St. Louis, MO, Houston, TX, & San Antonio, TX. 

Still I think that Charlotte placing in the top 10 is a big deal, it gives promise to a rebounding economy. 

How to Become A Community Leader

Becoming a community leader can be a rewarding and important role that can change a whole area for the better. It takes a special person to step up and take action to make their community a better place.  Do you see small changes that could be made to better your neighbors and area? Do you think a new playground should be added? Or maybe a food bank should be started? Are you annoyed with people not taking action to solve problems?  If this rings true to you, then why not do something about it?

Take it upon yourself to make a change, and get involved. It doesn't have to be life altering or changing a law, but if you think it's important then fight for your cause. Even if you don't think you are a leader, all you need is the passion and determination to get things done or changed.

Becoming a community leader can be socially rewarding too, since you will have to talk to people and ask their opinions on the issues close to your heart.  Other people will become more involved if you show them that their opinions matter. You will make new friends and inspire change. You will be able to help your community grow closer together.

All you need is the drive to make something happen; by deciding to stand up for what you think is right you might be able to change your community. So do you have any ideas on how to change your neighborhood?

Passed Bills

On June 15, I blogged about the pending bills that would affect HOAs. There have been some decisions about Bill 165 and 183, while 373 is still in discussion.

House Bill 165, which states foreclosures of HOA liens may only be filed when the unpaid HOA assessments are at least 90 days past due, and only when the foreclosure is authorized by the HOA's board has passed, and will take effect on October 1st. The NC Real Estate Commission has been directed to develop a disclosure form to be provided by the seller to the buyer stating information about the HOA, descriptions of the services it provides, information on unpaid assessments owed on the lot, information on any unsatisfied judgments or pending suits, and any fees charged by the HOA or management company in connection with the sale of the lot.

House Bill 183, as proposed would have barred HOAs from using the foreclosure process to collect delinquent assessments. This would be detrimental to NC, so the legislature rewrote the bill to call for a legislative committee to study foreclosures by HOAs of liens for unpaid assessments.

No action has happened on the Senate Bill 373, known as the "Community Associations Managers Licensing Act," that would require professional community association managers be licensed by the state.

Water Safety Tips

Summer is upon us and with temperatures in the 90’s we all want to find a way to beat the heat.  Swimming pools, water parks, and oceans are all options that people choose to keep cool, but with these come the importance of water safety.  In many states, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths in young 

children, so it’s important to teach your children how to swim.

Swimming lessons can save your child’s life, and can be taught from the age of one.  Even if your child or teen knows how to swim encourage them to go out with a buddy just in case something happens. It’s also important to make sure that the swimming pool has a life guard on duty. When on the open water such as a lake or the ocean, life jackets can mean the difference between life or death.

Supervision of your children is an important duty of parents or siblings. Make sure young children always have someone watching them when they are swimming. Don’t always rely on a life guard to do their job. You are their first line of defense if they get to tired or roughhouse with friends.

Wear sunscreen!!! This isn’t a water safety tip, but it is a critical one for anyone spending extended time in the sun. Using sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 45 will help prevent burns from a day in the sun. It’s important to reapply the sunscreen at least ever hour to stay protected; fair skinned people should reapply every 30 minutes. Keep some aloe vera in the refrigerator just in case some burns do happen, it will sooth the tender burnt skin. Your children will thank you for the cool gel.

Remember to hydrate when you are out at a pool or outside event. It’s important to bring some water and snacks to keep both you and your children happy in the sun. Sodas and caffeine drinks aren’t good for hot sunny days, as they contribute to dehydration. 

Keep these tips in mind when you are out with your family this summer. 

New E-Waste Ban in NC

Today July 1st, North Carolina becomes the latest state to fight back against the growing amount of e-waste in landfills. E-waste includes televisions, laptops, desktop computers, monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, key boards, and mice. The ban is designed to keep harmful chemicals and materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium out of the ground and water. It also encourages people to recycle safely.

Many counties in North Carolina offer collection programs for electronics and white goods- large household appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, and wasting machines.  All computer manufacturers are required to offer a free mail-back for their own equipment, and some offer additional kinds of recycling. Goodwill is another place to take your waste. They will either resell it or give it to the proper recycling centers. The NCDENR offers a comprehensive list of recycling options in the state, click here to find out more.

You might think this ban is harmful and inconvenient, but it's not; the ban will benefit the environment and the economy of North Carolina. The state is home to about a half-dozen major electronic recycling companies, which is more than most other states. “By capturing valuable materials for reuse and reducing our dependence on landfills, electronics recycling can help us achieve both our environmental and economic development goals,” said Secretary Dee Freeman of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “I encourage all North Carolinians to join in this effort to make the electronics disposal ban a success.”

So think twice when you want to throw away an old piece of electronic equipment.