Community Blog

July 4th Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority is hosting the biggest Independence Day celebration in West Alabama. Independence Day is celebrated due to the victory over England in the revolutionary war, which won America its Freedom.  The events will start promptly at 6pm and end at 9pm, culminating with a fireworks extravaganza.

The event will take place at Sokol Park; the event is open and free to the public. There will be live music, including two youth bands Eat My Beats,  Alabama Blues Project, and headlining the event will be Southern Distortion.

Sponsors for the event include: Walter Energy, Nucor Steel, Buffalo Rock Pepsi, Clear Channel Radio, MVUA-TV, The Tuscaloosa News, Weatherford Printing Company and Bank of Tuscaloosa.

The event has an assortment of fun activities for the kids including sack races, water balloon toss, and the infamous rock climbing wall.

The 4th of July only comes once a year, so get out there and enjoy it. Sokol Park is conveniently located only 7 miles north of University Downs

Cupcake boutiques are popping up everywhere.

I think we really like them because they are so simple: Just cake flour and icing. And you don’t have to be a kid to like them! If you’re searching for some good cupcake recipes, check out these 20 Better Homes and Gardens cupcake ideas, including traditional red velvet cupcakes to tangerine cupcakes with coconut frosting.

There’s a complainer in every workplace. Still, we can all find ourselves getting into the habit of complaining a bit too much while at the office.

Here are some things that you probably shouldn’t complain about:

Salary — We all want to be paid more. Instead of complaining, why not focus that energy on delivering consistenly good work.

Perks — Instead of complaining about the perks such as catered lunches that you no longer get, make it a point to start an office pot luck. You’ll get a chance ot know your co-workers a lot better.

Personal issues — No one wants to hear about your sad and sordid life during their 9-to-5 when they’re busy working. Save it for the cafeteria or your personal friends.

Get more tips from Shine.

Bill Cosby might be more known by certain generations for the Cosby Show and Jello Pudding Pop commercials, but he’s actually a very talented and funny comedian. If you haven’t seen Cosby perform live, you owe it to yourself to see him on stage, where he does magic without ANY profanity.

That’s definitely a rare breed among comedians these days.

Cosby performs Saturday, June 26 at 8 p.m. at Harrah’s Casino Tunica Event Center in Tunica, Mississippi. It’s a little trip, but worth it to see a comedic legend real, live and up close. Get more information on the Cosby show performance at Harrah’s.

Photo: Wikipedia

Love your Dad but swamped for gift ideas this Father’s Day?

Let him know how much you love him with a well-thought out gift on Father’s Day, on Sunday, June 20. If your Dad is into football, get some tickets to a game in the fall. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, and it’s one that your Dad will probably appreciate, especially if he’s into sports.

Tickets are still on sale, and you can probably get great seats if you buy tickets now. Alabama takes on San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. in Tuscaloosa. Get more Alabama game info.

The weather’s hot and you’re at the pool. What to do with your pet? Your pets and the pool don’t mix all the time. It’s good for them to get in the water, but you have to remember that the pool water is still chlorine.

It’s tempting to let your pet get in the pool to stay cool, but don’t leave them there unsupervised. Practice pool safety, such as gradual introductions to water, rinsing dogs off after swimming, and don’t allow them to drink pool water.

Get more pet safety tips from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Spring is getting reading to turn into summer – the perfect time for a getaway.

To make the most of your trip — and save a few bucks in the process — here’s a great vacation tip.

Become an expert — before you go. You might be hundreds of miles from your destination, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be a stranger. Get connected online, before you spend any money on your trip.

Sign up for Google alerts, e-newsletters, travel websites, anything that will help you learn more about the area where you’re planning on traveling. It’s good to learn more bout where you’re going, before you get there. Try sites like www.orbitz.com, www.bing.com, www.kayak.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-ticker.com and www.travelzoo.com.

The Bama Art House Summer 2010 Film Series begins on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa. Series passes are available for all eight films.

Go to http://www.bamaarthouse.com for more info.

Go see the series and let us know what you think!

June is known for weddings, but what bride wants a wedding gown that’s way out of her budget? It’s possible to look great and still save some money.

Here are some much cheaper wedding gown alternatives, from $365 to under $1,200. Some of them are a little daring, but they’ll all have you looking great on your day.

Look at these gowns for less.

« Previous Page — Next Page »