31 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(12/11/14 1:00pm)
Downtown Opelika is getting gussied up for the holiday season and for one of its long- standing traditions.
The night of December 12, Christmas in a Railroad Town will draw in visitors and residents alike to the growing downtown.
Christmas in a Railroad Town was started 20 years ago by the same woman who started Opelika's Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour.
She started the downtown event the year after the Christmas Tour's first year.
"She created Christmas in a Railroad Town to add a downtown commercial feel because the other event is in the residential district," said Pam Powers-Smith, director of Opelika Main Street.
Shortly after its inception, Opelika Main Street, a program which works to revitalize the downtown area, took over the event.
"It's basically what most people would consider an old- world-village Christmas," Powers-Smith said.
The event includes wagon rides and covered trolley rides through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, a petting zoo and outside food vendors.
Restaurants and shops will also have extended hours.
"Some of our vendors have been with us all 20 years, which is kind of rare to see these days," Powers-Smith said.
The event hasn't strayed from its roots much, with the exception of the size of the crowd according to Powers-Smith.
"An interesting fact about this event is that it has grown every single year," Powers-Smith said. "We've never decreased in attendance. Sometimes I get a little scared about how many people are going to show up."
However, with the event not charging for admission, Opelika Main Street has to make estimations of the crowd. Last year, they estimated 3,500 people attended.
Nonetheless, people have seen a growth in Opelika's downtown with events such as these.
Powers-Smith said the amount of restaurants and shops downtown has grown significantly along with the event's growth.
"My job is to get people downtown," Powers-Smith said. "Events are a logical way to do that. ten, twelve years ago, we had to have events to get people out. We've grown a lot in the past couple years. It's easy to get people downtown now, but we used to beg people."
Not only does the event "foster community," according to Powers-Smith, but it also encourages visitors to shop locally.
"It really fulfills a lot of goals, because not only is it fostering community, but it's helping local retailers," Powers-Smith said. "People are shouting mad all the time that we should shop local, so it really fulfills that because you're shopping from local merchants, so it's really hitting a lot of different goals."
According to Powers-Smith, Christmas in a Railroad Town attracts visitors. Powers-Smith said she is most excited for those who haven't been to downtown Opelika in five or ten years to visit to see how much it has grown.
"I, personally, feel it, as well as the Victorian Front Porch Tour, and the other Christmas events are a gift to the community and surrounding areas," said Dinah Motley, Opelika chamber of commerce business marketing director. "Christmas in a Railroad town is our heritage since the railroad was so important to the building of Opelika. I love that through events like this, people come downtown and see our quaint but prosperous city."
(12/10/14 1:00pm)
The Auburn Arts Association and Auburn Parks and Recreation are partnering to host the Holiday Art Sale for the eighth consecutive year.
Located at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, the event is scheduled for Dec. 13 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sixty vendors will be selling everything from pottery to jewelry to visual art. Everything sold is handmade by the artists.
Shelley Shields, a member of the Art Association's Board of Directors and the association's past president, also presents her work at the Holiday Art Sale every year.
"I don't really sell my visual art, but I make scarves and hats," Shields said. "I crochet. That's what I sell at the show."
Shields said she has been a part of the association for 20 years and has been involved with the art sale since its inception.
Sara Hand Custer, cultural arts director for Auburn Parks and Recreation, said she started the sale when she was the arts education specialist.
"I decided to start this sale really to give local and regional artists an opportunity to sell their work," Custer said.
Most of the vendors are from the Auburn-Opelika area, though there are others from throughout the Southeast.
"It was mostly local people [at first]," Shields said. "Then the word got out and more people wanted to participate. We see them at other art shows and invite them to come."
While the sale has the goal to help "give the artisans a little Christmas money," according to Shields, it also acts as a fundraiser for the Arts Association. Ten percent of the presenting artists' profits go back to the association, according to Custer.
This year, the sale will take place both in Jan Dempsey and the newly-built Harris Center, adjacent to the arts center. Having the extra space opened 20 extra spaces for more artists.
Even with the extra space, the demand from vendors has created a waiting list.
"The sale has always been popular ever since its beginnings," Custer said. "Now, it's become so popular, we literally run out of spaces within two weeks of announcing the sale."
If the weather is agreeable, artists on the waiting list will have the opportunity to set up outside in the parking lot connecting the Harris Center and Jan Dempsey.
The sale is not only for art, however. Hot chocolate, apple cider and coffee are among the beverages that will be served. Custer said the vendors will also bring a surprise in the way of refreshments.
"We definitely have a community spirit with all who participate," Custer said. "We ask all of the artists participating to bring a sweet treat for patrons to enjoy and of course the Arts Association and our Arts Committee. We love luring in the community with amazing food and beverages."
A recent addition to the event is live music.
"Last year, we had a band called The Electric Rangers, and they were a hoot," Custer said. "They were so much fun. They've played some of our city events and our concert series. We might be getting them back this year, but I'm not sure if we've got confirmation yet."
If the weather is inclement, the arts center will serve as home base for festivities. The art gallery in Jan Dempsey, which is also coordinated by the Arts Association, will have a holiday exhibit featuring small works.
"We'll try to centralize it in the front lobby of the arts center," Custer said. "So even though it's in two locations, the arts center serves as a home base because we definitely want our patrons to experience the small works exhibition."
(11/24/14 2:30pm)
Momma G's is one of my favorite places to hang out with my friends.
The workers are always courteous, it's never too crowded and the music is solid. It also happens to be one of my favorite places to watch football.
I don't have a T.V., so in order to get my football fix when the games aren't in Auburn or I'm working part of the game, I just head to Momma G's for a pint, some good company and maybe some nachos.
However, when I went there during the Texas A&M game, I was rudely awakened from my Momma G's daydream.
I had to work during the first half of the game, so I didn't trek into Jordan-Hare.
I bought a pint at Momma G's, which I found much more preferable to getting lost in the masses of fans.
Unfortunately, on that Saturday, a pint cost $4 and a pitcher was $11.99.
Did I buy the pint? Sure. Was I happy about the 60 percent price increase of the pint? Of course not.
When I went back a couple of days later, the price was back to its usual $2.50.
But that prompted me to ask, "Why raise the prices on game day?"
The answer is pretty obvious: to make money. But isn't there something unethical about raising prices on one day?
I've asked friends and strangers alike, and few of them have noticed the increase.
Personally, I've never noticed an increase until the Texas A&M game.
I've watched away games at Momma G's and not noticed a change in prices.
The fact is, even though my friends and I treat it as a meeting ground, it is not there for us as people. It is there for us as customers.
Restaurants are businesses, whose main goal is to make money. even though people become attached to them.
Game days, with the influx of potential customers into Auburn, are excellent times to hike up prices.
Customers from out-of-town also have no idea if the prices have been raised or not, having no other set point to refer to.
Those of us who frequent the restaurant, however, have the potential to notice the difference.
Is it fair to traveling fans to hike up prices with no warning? Is it fair to consistent customers?
I propose that, when Momma G's plans to raise prices, they issue a warning.
This way, customers can take action as they see fit.
The restaurant will also continue to make a decent profit on crowded weekends -- a profit that is fair to both the customers and the restaurant.
After all, consumers drive restaurants. Restaurants should strive to make their customers happy.
Happy customers have an idea of the prices they will be paying.
And maybe next time I can be prepared to bring enough money for two pints.
(11/24/14 1:00pm)
Friday mornings at 8:30, a group of students from IMPACT, a group that provides volunteer opportunities, meets at the intermural fields on campus to make the trip to the Auburn United Methodist Church to work at the church's food pantry.
The AUMC Food Pantry is the product of two women, Shirley Rose Glisson and Reeder Dulaney.
Fourteen years ago, the duo banded together to start the charity.
"I'm a stay-at-home mom," Dulaney said. "My friend [who lived] across the street had a vision for a food pantry, and we started it 14 years ago. We just started working it during the time our kids were in school."
Now, the Food Pantry is open Friday mornings to give out boxes of food, such as milk, eggs and bread. Volunteers can go Thursdays to help fill boxes.
Glisson stepped down as a leader after the death of her husband and aging mother, according to Dulaney.
Dulaney said the church works hard to make the Food Pantry as welcoming as possible.
"We want people to feel comfortable when they come up here," Dulaney said. "A lot of people are real embarrassed. I've had people walk in and cry, and I don't want that. Everybody has hard times. Everybody goes through something. I'm so glad that our church can help people. We have a very, very generous church."
While the church receives donations from the East Alabama Food Bank, the congregation also donates food and buys from grocery stores.
In the past months, the church had to make extra trips to Kroger, according to Dulaney.
Jason Mohrman, another volunteer who has been helping for the past five weeks, said the community helps tremendously.
"It's a big operation," Mohrman said. "So many people help out. It's a big community effort."
According to Dulaney, the population came from 15 different churches of volunteers last year. However, volunteers do not have to be affiliated with a church to be a part of the pantry.
University students volunteer at the Food Pantry regularly. These students range from IMPACT students to sports teams to individual students who want to help the community.
"When we're short on volunteers, God always provides," Dulaney said. "It's like, 'Oh no! The students are gone! Well, the basketball team's still here and they'll come volunteer.' We really don't know who's going to show up and who's not going to show up, but God just provides everything, and he has from the beginning."
Susan Chesnut, senior in discrete mathematics and computer science, has volunteered at the Food Pantry since last fall. This semester, she comes Friday mornings with IMPACT, where she is a project coordinator.
"I did this project last fall, but I came on Thursdays, which is a little different than Fridays," Chesnut said. "I was more on the back end of packing the boxes and stuff. I enjoyed that because it was going toward someone who really needed it. Just being able to be a part of that was really awesome."
Ellie Inman, junior in supply chain management, also volunteers with IMPACT as a project coordinator. This semester is her first semester volunteering at the Food Pantry.
"It's great making someone's day, giving them food and kind of being a part of that whole process," Inman said.
The volunteers are part of what make the experience so special, according to Inman.
"The volunteers are great," Inman said. "All of the people who volunteer from the church are so sweet and so nice."
It is hard to convince students to come early on a Friday morning, Inman said, but once they come, they tend to return.
The Food Pantry appreciates the students. Dulaney remembers the students who volunteer there consistently.
"I get attached to them," Dulaney said. "I get extremely attached to my students. It's hard. We have some that will volunteer that sophomore year and will stay on. Some will, volunteer but then their schedule messes up, but then they come back."
Dulaney remembered one student who brought her mother to volunteer at the Food Pantry the Friday before her graduation.
"She wanted her mother to volunteer at the Food Pantry and see what she had been doing," Dulaney said. "It was very sweet."
(11/18/14 4:00pm)
Nia Denham has a passion for music -- specifically, to help young musicians find places toperform.
For the past five years, Niahas helped young musicians in the Auburn-Opelika area find places to perform.
This year, she decided to form Amplify Auburn, a nonprofit group helping young musicians find performance venues and make music connections in the area.
Amplify Auburn is connected to Amplify OA Youth, and works with musicians younger than 18.
Nia said it's hard for young musicians to find gigs when they approach venues alone.
"If one person goes to a restaurant with no musical press kit and says, 'I want to play,' they're like, 'Oh, yeah, like that's happening,'" Nia said. "But if I can get six kids together and say, 'I can bring 50 people in,' they're thrilled to have us."
The venture began when her son, Logan Denham, formed a band with some of his friends five years ago.
"They wanted gigs, and we were like, 'Oh my God, how do you get gigs for 10-and 11- year-olds?'" Nia said. "So the first thing we realized was that we needed a sound system. We started buying different sound equipment, and then I started looking for gigs that were suitable for the kids. Then, we found them, so they started performing around Opelika and Auburn."
Since then, Nia and Logan found more young musicians who wanted gigs. As they grew older, they still wanted to perform.
Some Auburn students worked with Nia in the past, including Nathan Coker, senior in studio and fine arts.
Coker won UPC's Battle of the Bands earlier this semester.
"I worked with Nia a couple of years ago when I first started playing professionally, and she helped me get connected with Beef O' Brady's and a few other music venues in the area," Coker said. "She's very sweet and easy to work with."
While they do not work together as often as they did in past years, Coker said Nia still helps him with performances from time to time.
"We're still acquainted and she helps me out whenever she can, but it's not as frequent as in the past years, since I've started to make my own connections," Coker said. "In my personal experience, she helped connect me with different venue owners and introduced me to some solid music connections when I had first started playing music and had no idea what to do."
Nia has placed musicians at several of venues, ranging from restaurants, such as Beef O'Brady's, to bars such as Eighth and Rail, to Monarch Estates, a retirement home.
Nia said she understands people may think of the free entertainment they offer as low quality.
"These are not bad musicians. I will tell you, honestly, we do have some beginners who want a gig, but we have places that are appropriate for them, and we have students who are almost professional-level," Nia said. "We know how to place people for whatever the goal is there."
The quality of the sound equipment Amplify uses with their musicians is not lacking either, according to Nia.
"We have a huge, huge sound system," Nia said. "For example, we did the sound for Earthfest this year. They had four stages. We ran two and Spicer's ran the other two. We can provide sound comfortably for about 3,000 people."
One of the bands that worked with Nia found success in the music industry.
Jule Vera performed in a Battle of the Bands in Valley, Alabama, where a Grammy-nominated singer, Mitch Dane, judged. The singer liked one of the band's original songs and asked for the 13- and 14-year-olds to work with him. Last February, they signed a publishing contract with Sony Music, and are now touring nationwide.
"For people who think it doesn't happen or it doesn't happen where we are or anything like that, it can happen, and it does," Nia said.
Amplify also works with students who have never performed on stage.
"We can start (the student) out and let them do one song, and typically for their first song, their shoulders are pulled in and they'll look at the floor and they won't look at the audience," Nia said.
"Over the course of maybe a year, they'll expand from one song to three songs to 10 minutes and 20 minutes, then all of a sudden this person is doing a 30 minute gig, smiling and laughing and having a great time, and they have just blossomed."
Nia said it is nice to see students' self-confidence grow.
"A lot of what we do is for the people who aren't planning to be professional musicians," Nia said.
To learn more about Amplify Auburn, visit their website at amplifyOAyouth.com.
(11/10/14 1:00pm)
Marleigh Jones is a slim girl with red hair as fiery as her passion for music. Jones graduated high school in May 2014 and is following her dream of being a folk musician.
Her first album, "Jubal," was released in April 2014 through Noise Train, a music blog, under her solo project's name Streetparty in Liverpool.
Jones played shows throughout the summer after the release, but is now taking a break to work on her next album.
"I need to get another album out," Jones said. "I was going to tour during the summer, but nothing panned out. So next is the tour after this album is out."
Jones music career began five years ago when she started playing the guitar and performing.
Now Jones plays guitar, ukulele, banjo, bass, sings and writes her own music.
"It's folk music," Jones said. "It's acoustic, banjo-based."
The lyrics on Jones first album are very faith-based, she said, though she's recently written two love songs.
In addition to her solo project, Jones is also in a duo named Sand Moose with Logan Denham. Jones sings and Logan plays guitar.
"It all started in June," Logan said. "My mom was working on Amplify OA Youth, and that's where I met Marleigh. We started goofing off and from there, we found some websites with some stupid names on them, and we decided to start a band named Sand Moose."
Sand Moose is a reference from the television show "Parks and Recreation;" a sand moose is a camel.
"(Logan) sent me a picture of a camel with the caption sand moose and it was really funny at 2 a.m.," Jones said. "So we decided to call our band Sand Moose."
Jones and Logan are writing their first album together, with Jones writing most of the lyrics.
They said they look forward to begin recording in the upcoming week.
"It's interesting, because she has a special voice," Logan said. "The way she pronounces stuff doesn't always sound like what the lyrics actually are, so it's interesting trying to get melodies through to her, but I try. I do the majority of music stuff."
Logan's mother, Nia Denham, owns a music company called Amplify, which is how she got to know Jones and Logan.
"About three years ago, she was looking for gigs, trying to get started," Nia said. "She came to us and she actually did her first gig [with us] at Beef O'Brady's."
Jones said she has progressed in many ways since she started performing, from nervousness to stage presence.
"They were so bad," Jones said. "I remember I was playing a song and I was on a stool, and I was so nervous I slid off the stool and ended standing up. I didn't fall down, I didn't fall off the stool, but I don't know how I got there. I've gotten slightly better at using stools. It took me five years, but now I'm on it."
After establishing her own presence as a musician, Jones said her performances became more organic and more reflective of herself.
"I finally had to stop and say, 'I can do this differently, and not like other people, and I need to stop pretending to be other people,'" Jones said. "After I said that, everything progressively got weirder and more like me and easier. It's a whole lot of awkward and I tell some bad banjo jokes. I'm working on that being-charming-between-songs thing."
Jones said she has decided to not go to college because what she is doing now is what she wants to do.
"I don't want to spend a lot of money for people to tell me what I'm doing," Jones said.
Jones works as a nanny while she gets on her feet as a musician. Having performed at venues in the Auburn-Opelika area; Columbus, Georgia; Atlanta; and Birmingham.
She has her sights set on the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island
"Newport is where Bob Dylan first played his electric set, and other people I really look up to have played there, and even more modern people, because it's been around for 60 years," Jones said. "It looks really fun."
(10/20/14 9:00pm)
Alabama Highway 14 trailing through Loachapoka, Alabama was a parking lot October 18, but it tends to be crowded on a particular Saturday in October.
Syrup Sopping Day turns the typical 135-person population into a 20,000 crowd, drawing visitors from across the United States and vendors from across the Southeast.
"It's gotten a lot bigger over the years," said Catherine Lester, senior in public relations. "It used to be kind of small when it first started, but now like 20,000 people come supposedly. People come from really far distances."
Cars parked along the highway leading into the town had license plates hailing from Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and Ohio, to name a few.
Once into the heart of the town, vendors' tents span the area. The railroad tracks cut through the area linearly, creating rows of arts and crafts.
Fox Point Farm, a family-run farm raising heirloom vegetables and making goat milk caramels, had their sweets for sale at the festival. The family is originally from California but now lives in Alexander City.
Christie Jamison, one of the owners, said her family enjoyed their first time at the festival, both as a vendor and as visitors.
The arts and crafts for sale and on display were numerous, from handmade soaps to engraved belts handmade jewelry. One booth had lamps made from liquor bottles; another housed lanterns made from wine bottles.
There were some booths, however, that were lacking, according to Lester.
"We went by a hat station earlier and Carlye was like, 'Do you make these hats?'" Lester said. "And they were like, 'No, I buy them from Kmart.' And we were like, 'Oh, so you buy them and resell them. Huh.'"
Overall, the offerings were plentiful.
A leap across the railroad tracks and a short stroll down a dusty road, past the vendors, bluegrass musicians played for a small but captive audience.
Across the highway, where police directed traffic throughout the day, visitors could pay $3 to get a more historic taste of Loachapoka, though this fair was not hosted by Syrup Sopping Day, but rather the Lee County Historical Society. This fair showcased historic trades.
But on the side of the street near the railroad tracks was the event that made Syrup Sopping Day into a legend: syrup being made.
There were two methods: the traditional and modern. The traditional had a horse connected to a crank, and with every rotation of the horse, the syrup would be pressed out of a wooden contraption into a pail. Children could pay to ride the horse.
The modern method lay just beyond the traditional. Someone drove a small ATV connected to a crank, which pressed out syrup with every rotation.
A mountain of syrup mirrored these methods, so visitors could buy gallons of the sticky sweetness when they got their visual fill.
"We've probably sold close to 20,000 pounds of syrup today," said Gene Smith, president of Syrup Sopping Day.
In Loachapoka, the locals let the g's slide off the ends of words like syrup down pancakes. Smith pronounced "syrup sopping" closer to "surrup soppin'."
"I've been involved with this all my life," Smith said.
The visitors were a mix of old and new, just as the vendors were. Lester was a seasoned veteran.
"My dad first brought me," Lester said. "I've been coming here since I was a kid."
Smith said Syrup Sopping Day focused on tradition and history. The funds from the day are donated to the Southwest Lee County Fire Department, mostly.
"It's just about stepping back in time and seeing how syrup was made the old-fashioned way," Smith said. "It's about helping the community."
The community will wake up October 19 this year and be much closer to its triple-digit residency. But every October since 1972, one crisp Saturday in October will see the town of Loachapoka burst in size, all in the name of syrup soppin'.
(10/15/14 4:00pm)
How much do you weigh?
If you were to ask me that, I wouldn't have an answer. I have no idea. "Above 100? Below 200?"
Yeah, no clue.
If you were to ask me two years ago, I could tell you the exact pound and ounce. (123.5 lbs.)
Living with an eating disorder is hard. Trying to recover? Even worse.
I've been in recovery for around two and half years.
Recovery alone is no joke, but when you're surrounded by people obsessed with dieting, it feels impossible.
I started my journey into recovery after eight months of living in the loveliest village on the plains. It's lovely, don't get me wrong, and so are the people - men with rippled abs playing Frisbee on the concourse shirtless, girls with perky breasts and tiny waists running down Gay Street in spandex.
Yes, it's lovely, but it's a breeding ground for eating disorders. It gave mine the perfect place to flourish.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard people stressing out about calories, foolish little numbers. Calories are one of the most arbitrary units of data when it comes to the quality of food. After all, a Twinkie is 135 calories. An avocado is 289 calories. I think we both know which is better for you.
Variety is what matters; getting all of your food groups and nutrients are what matters. Liking what you eat is what matters.
There have also been way too many times that I've heard someone bemoan a type of exercise because it doesn't burn enough calories.
Fun fact: exercise is not solely about burning calories. It's about keeping your body healthy. It's about rewarding yourself with endorphins. It's about reaching limits you never thought possible.
It's been months since I've exercised with the intent of burning calories. I exercise because I want to strengthen my body. I want to experience this amazing body in action.
Our bodies are so amazing --- mine has survived a car accident, falling off a 17 foot balcony and five years of an eating disorder. The fact that our society has glamorized and encourages women to drink juice when they want to eat a sandwich, or men to lift extremely heavy objects when they'd rather do yoga, makes me sick.
1 in 5 women suffer or have suffered from an eating disorder. The statistic is lower for men - 1 in 10 - but still far too high for comfort. I can't imagine the numbers for people with disordered eating.
I understand that the United States is fighting an obesity epidemic. That doesn't mean we should fight it with logic that sends people to the hospital on the verge of death.
I've been purge free for more than two years. I haven't weighed myself in almost a year. I drink whole milk every day (and so does my nutritionist!), because I know I get more health benefits from the fat than I'd receive from skim milk, or white-colored water.
I didn't get to this state listening to preachers of calorie counting or reading magazine articles telling me "how to up my post-workout calorie burn."
That's how I found myself existing on 500 calories, the ache in my stomach sometimes comparable to broken ribs. (I've had broken ribs, so I know the pain.)
My body image still sucks sometimes, I won't lie. But, I know I am so much healthier now than I ever was when I knew my weight or my exact calorie count or how many calories an hour of running burned.
Being healthy isn't about losing weight or cutting out calories or food groups or whatever. It's about gaining nutrients your body's probably been lacking, awareness of your body and a love for what it can do.
Being healthy is about gaining an appreciation for yourself, body and soul.
If you think you might have a problem, contact Student Counseling Services at 334-844-5123. I did, and it's one of the best decisions I ever made.
(10/10/14 7:30pm)
I've never been great at makeup. If I put on concealer and mascara, it's a good day. Eyeliner? Get outta town.
So, when I had the chance to get my makeup done by one of my favorite drag queens, I leapt at the opportunity.
Femma Nazi, otherwise known as Joey Falcon, is one of the reigning queens of The House of THC, a group of drag queens in Auburn who perform at Mama Mocha's.
Falcon is also thinking of doing makeup professionally. He said he loves doing other people's makeup, so I think we were both excited about this project.
Falcon welcomed me into his home Sunday. The makeup studio was actually an art studio, where paintings done by his roommate hung. Two cats prowled around the house while Joey painted his own artwork - my face.
For any makeup question I had, Falcon had an answer. I think I learned more in an hour in his chair than in nine years of wearing makeup.
He told me about some of his upcoming makeup looks, such as his plan to start wearing bright eyeliner colors.
"I don't know if this is actually a thing," Falcon said. "I just feel it in my soul. I'm just going to start doing crazy-color eyeliners every day of the week. Bright purple, magenta, blue, electric green..."
For eyeliner, he favors gel, brandishing a pot of black MAC gel eyeliner for my eyes.
"I just find that it has that better sharp matte-ness to it that doesn't fade away during the day," Falcon said. "I've tried the pencil ones and the liquid ones, and it's just never as black as I want it to be."
The eyeshadow accent underneath is made with a stiff brush and boldly pigmented black eye shadow.
The inspiration for the lips came from Joey experimenting with different lip colors, applying different powders on top to create a new dimension.
"I was like, 'I need to do something fresh for this. What am I going to do?'" Falcon said. "I was just sitting in the bathroom, putting on different lipsticks with powders on top, and I loved this."
The lipstick is Rebel by MAC. Joey said it's perfect for when you're feeling lazy and want to do a dramatic lip.
"It's this really deep purple, and I love it," Falcon said. "It's ridiculously sexy, but also so perfect for fall."
Joey's love of makeup is addictive, spreading out of his pores and infecting everyone involved.
"All the parts of makeup are my favorite," Falcon said. "It's just so fun to me to be like, 'I'm just going to be a different person right now.'"
It's true. I walked in, bare faced and as boring as beige wallpaper. When I left, I was transformed. After all, it's difficult to be boring when you have gold spilling from your lips. I walked into the cool October night a queen.
Rachel Davis is a community writer for The Plainsman. She can be reached via email at community@theplainsman.com.
(10/10/14 3:00pm)
Creepy Wonderful Critters is an event sponsored by Auburn University's Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m.
The event is devoted to educating children and adults about often-feared animals that are beneficial to the ecosystem.
This year, the creature of focus is the bat.
"Many people don't realize that bats consume a staggering amount of mosquitos," said Jamie Anderson, membership and marketing coordinator for the Preserve. "We can thank the bat for making our outdoor expericence much more pleasant."
Vicky Beckham Smith, Auburn alumna, will be the expert speaker.
She travels under the business name A-Z ANIMALS to do bat programs across the Southeast.
"We will be meeting three species of bats," Smith said. "We'll meet an Egyptian fruit bat, and we'll have two native bats. We'll have the big brown bat and an evening bat."
Along with the two native bats Smith is bringing, there are 13 other species native to Alabama.
She also plans to teach about the different incorrect myths surrounding bats.
"Of course, bats are not blind," Smith said. "They don't all carry rabies. They're not flying mice. We'll go over all of that."
Smith will also discuss the eating patterns of bats and their predators.
"We'll talk about how the bat's feeding strategy actually benefits humans," Smith said. "The biggest benefit to us with bats here are that they're pest controllers. One little bat can eat about 3,000 insects a night. They eat about half of their weight in insects each night. All of ours in Alabama are insect-eaters."
Smith has life-size cutouts of bats she will be using for the presentation in addition to the live bats.
She also has masks for volunteers to wear that are modeled after bats and a child size bat costume for any willing volunteers to put on.
Smith is also bringing a bat detector, which detects ultrasonic sound waves humans cannot hear, but some bats make, and will translate the bat's echolocation into sounds the audience can hear.
The annual event attracts at least 100 attendees, according to Anderson.
Admission is $4 for members of the Preserve and $5 for non-members.
(10/01/14 9:45pm)
On Thach Avenue, an old, wooden church is tucked on the top of the hill.
It was built in 1866 by freed slaves and named the Ebeneezer Baptist Church. The building was sold to a group of Unitarians, and is now the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church.
However, the building is more than a church. A place of worship on Sundays, the other six days of the week it is utilized as a yoga studio, a meeting hall, an art gallery and, for 12 nights of the year, a concert hall.
The Sundilla Concert Series started in 1993, when Auburn resident Katie Smith interviewed singer-songwriter Steve Young. He asked her about a place to play for singer-songwriters in Auburn. While she couldn't tell him any good place at first, she told him to give her a call if he was ever in the area and wanted to play.
He called, and that was the beginning of Sundilla.
Bailey Jones is the producer of Sundilla. He started volunteering in the late 1990s. In 2001, Jones took over booking, and when Smith stepped down, he stepped up. Jones said he doesn't make any money, but he works for the love of music.
The performance space is rustic. The floor is covered in red carpet, a stark contrast to the dark hardwood ceiling.
A quilt hangs behind performers, and art, rotating with the changing galleries, adorns the walls.
"The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is one of the best listening rooms I've ever heard," said Kelly Walker, host of the Sundilla Radio Hour.
The Sundilla Radio Hour is a program broadcasting concerts. It started in March 2013. It plays on three local NPR stations, one station in Ithaca, New York, and online. The four most recent concerts stream on sundillamusic.com. The radio audience is strong, according to Jones.
"After the fourth show, he (Walker) called me and said, 'We just got an email from a guy in California that's been listening,'" Jones said. "He says there's people in the Middle East, in Europe, who are listening at various points in the day."
Jones' theory for the widespread audience is the type of music they host.
"It all goes back to when you turn on the radio," Jones said. "It's not always what people want to listen to. There are stations out there playing this kind of music, but you have to hunt around to find them. When people find them, they listen and they're loyal."
Sundilla's performers are acoustic, but acts have included bluegrass, singer-songwriter, Americana, country and classical.
"There's a limited number of people we can put on the stage," Jones said. "It's an old building. There's a limited number of stuff we can plug into the sockets before fuses start blowing. So you're never going to see an all-electric rock band here. In the early years, there was a chart: Plug this coffee pot into this wall and this one into this wall or all the lights will turn off. They fixed that, but they do have limitations."
Even with the limitations, the popularity is still high, according to Jones, with Auburn being the exception.
"Locally, as far as people coming, it's not as good as I like," Jones said. "I'd like every seat to be filled every show. In 2005, we went to 12-13 concerts a year from 22-25. In 2005 to 2012, our attendance was pretty much averaging 60 for the year. Last year, it dropped to about 50. That's where we are this year."
The listening room can hold 150 people comfortably, and has even held 192.
"I know there are people out there who would like it who won't come for various reasons," Jones said. "One of those is that it's in a church, which freaks them out. It's a church on Sundays, and our concerts are usually on Thursdays or Fridays. If you get over that initial trepidation, which I had for the first one, you quickly realize you're not going to church, you're coming to a concert."
People can bring food and beverages, including alcohol. Jones joked someone could even bring a full bar, as long as the clinking bottles were quiet when performers took the stage.The only rules for the audience are no smoking and stay off their cell phones while the artists perform.
According to Jones, performers are well-established in their genre. They hail from 41 states and seven foreign countries. Upcoming performers include Moors and McCumber, playing Oct. 2 and Eliza Gilkyson, playing Oct. 9.
"The series has brought so many amazing and talented artists over the years," said Wildman Steve, Sundilla's sound engineer. "It brings culture to our city that no other entity, including the University, has even come close to approaching. If you love music, you will find artists they bring enjoyable."
(09/27/14 8:00pm)
Crooked Oaks, Coach Pat Dye's hunting lodge, was a party in full swing Friday night.
The 14th annual Blue Jean Ball kicked off Thursday. Guests were greeted by Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery nursing students or faculty and country music played by Jay Hughes.
The funds from the Blue Jean Ball are put toward scholarships for nursing students at Auburn University and AUM: summer scholarships for Auburn and fall scholarships for AUM.
Nursing students at Auburn have to go to school during at least one summer; AUM students do not.
Stephanie Wood, development coordinator for both AU and AUM, gave an example of one student deeply affected by receiving the Blue Jean Ball scholarship.
"We actually have a student supervisor tonight, Lindsey Roberson," Wood said. "Her parents were laid off in the spring. She almost had to quit nursing school, or delay it for a little while until she could get back on her feet. The Blue Jean Ball really helped her. Now both of her parents have jobs; they can help her with school. But if it weren't for the Blue Jean Ball, she would have been set back a whole year. She's just one example of many."
This year, the attendance numbers are expected to be 700-750. One of the largest attendances was in 2012.
"We advertised it as the last one at Pat Dye's, because that's what we thought at the original time," Wood said. "We hit record numbers and raised over $100,000 and had around 800, 850 in attendance. This year, we're really close to that."
While raising money is a large part of the Ball, another aspect is being around so many of the Auburn family. Throughout the night, people mingled, glasses of sweet tea or beers in hand. After people had eaten barbeque underneath a new pavilion strung with fairy lights, they danced to country and soft rock played by Blue Denim, a band from Atlanta.
While the dancing was put on hold for an hour of live auctioning emceed by Coach Pat Dye and Coach Bruce Pearl, it picked back up until 11 p.m.
"It puts a lot of people who love Auburn and love nursing together for a great time of fellowship," said Dr. William Pope, assistant clinical professor of nursing at Auburn. "So, not only does it do all of those great things; it's just fun."
For a lot of people, this year's Ball was their first experience. Rachel Morell, sophomore in social work, and Tomi Obebe, junior in pre-med, were part of this crowd.
"It looks straight from Pinterest, storybook, like a fairy tale," Morell said. "They did a really good job with it. I'm super, super excited too. I love having so many people who are just in the nursing school. My mom may work there, but here you have two social work students and a pre-med student. So many other people come to support the nursing school, which is really awesome."
Morell and Obebe said they were very excited to have taken a picture with Coach Pat Dye.
"Getting a picture with Pat Dye was kind of surreal," Morell said. "Growing up in Atlanta, we would come here for games, so that was amazing."
Obebe said she was excited to see Coach Pearl.
Coach Dye was a popular man at the Ball. Wearing a vest, western shirt and cowboy hat, he took pictures with fans, signed items brought to him and was friendly and open to anyone that crossed his path.
"I love being with the Auburn people, that's always fun," Coach Dye said. "And I like to party! We're going to have our own party!"
Coach Dye left people smiling. It's obvious that he cares about the students, according to Pope.
"I love Coach Dye because he's just old school," Pope said. "He doesn't have much of a filter, so whatever comes up, comes out. He's honest with people. He has a tough exterior, but he's a warm hearted human being inside. He'll do anything for these students, and that's what he's done for 14 years."
(09/18/14 3:15am)
Thursday night, there will be a new place downtown to watch the Auburn - Kansas State football game: outside.
The City of Auburn, Auburn Chamber of Commerce and Auburn Downtown Merchants are hosting an outdoor screening of the game in the Gay Street parking lot.
Before the sun goes down, the game will be broadcast live on televisions. When the sun does set, broadcasting will be switched onto a 25-foot inflatable screen owned by Auburn Parks and Recreation.
"The screen is pretty impressive," said David Dorton, director of public affairs with the City of Auburn.
A trial run of the screening was hosted during the summer of the World Cup. If interest is high, more showings for other away games will possibly be in store for the future. Interest will be determined by the amount of attendees at the Auburn - Kansas State game showing.
"It's really just a way to have a good downtown event for both people affiliated with the university and residents who aren't affiliated with the university; just a good community event for folks in that event space," Dorton said.
Some alcohol will be allowed at the showing, just not alcohol brought in from outside downtown.
"This is an entertainment district event, which means that if you go to a downtown restaurant and purchase an alcoholic beverage, you can take it out of the restaurant and be downtown at the event with it," Dorton said. "You still can't bring in outside alcoholic: no bottles, you can't bring a cooler full of alcohol."
There will be vendors set up at the parking lot selling food in addition to the downtown restaurants.
"Momma Goldberg's is going to have a tent, and several others as well," said Alison Hall, community and special programs director for Auburn Parks and Recreation.
The event is connected with the city's plan to improve downtown. This includes remodeling of the Gay Street parking lot and future cleaning up of the alley ways from the parking lot to Toomer's Corner.
"The first part of the plan started with that parking lot and being able to use it as an event space for bands and events like this," Dorton said. "We've always had a lot of downtown events. Having that Gay Street space allows us to have those events without closing the streets to traffic, which the downtown restaurants and businesses like. Obviously, this event isn't part of a master downtown plan, but there is a master downtown plan that led us here and let us be able to have this event."
Attendees are encouraged to bring anything to make them feel comfortable during the event, save for glass or outside alcohol.
"It'll be like a picnic downtown," Dorton said. "Bring some chairs, bring a blanket, whatever you think will enhance your experience."
The festivities will be family-friendly. Activities for children include large inflatables.
The Gay Street parking lot will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday to allow for preparation for the event. The event begins at 6 p.m. with activities and vendors. The kick-off is at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
(09/18/14 7:30pm)
For those not inclined to black tie events, there's a more relaxed ball coming to town.
The 14th annual Blue Jean Ball will be held Friday, Sept. 26, at Pat Dye's hunting lodge, Crooked Oaks.
Festivities will include a birds of prey presentation from the College of Veterinary Medicine's Southeastern Raptor Center, silent and live auctions, tours of Pat Dye's home, dinner and music.
The net proceeds from the ball will be used to provide scholarships for both Auburn University's and Auburn University in Montgomery's Schools of Nursing, as well as support for faculty and program initiatives.
"We are excited to be back at Coach Dye's home for the 14th annual Blue Jean Ball," said Gregg Newschwander, dean of the AU and AUM Schools of Nursing. "The ball is our largest annual fundraiser. It continues to draw a great crowd devoted to supporting our Schools of Nursing. We hope this year's party will be better than ever."
The ball began in 2001, when Barbara Witt, then dean of nursing at both Auburn and AUM, and then assistant dean, Nancy McDonald, came up with the idea. McDonald, Dye's significant other, teamed up with Dye to hold the ball at his hunting lodge.
"Out at the lodge, in that beautiful, rustic setting, they decided to have a casual event rather than a black-tie event --something different,"said Shelley Grider, developmental officer of Auburn's School of Nursing and event planner for the Blue Jean Ball.
The inspiration to title it the "Blue Jean Ball" came from the setting of the hunting lodge.
"Blue jeans are very appropriate at Pat Dye's," Grider said. "There are a lot of people that wear their blue jeans or their cowboy attire. Crooked Oaks is a hunting lodge, so it's this very deep, dark brown lodge that the hunters stay in; a lot of wood everywhere, very rustic. It's very appropriate to be dressed in that kind of attire and to call it the Blue Jean Ball."
The two musical artists performing this year will be Jay Hughes, who will perform country music earlier in the evening, and Blue Denim, a band from Atlanta.
"Blue Denim is a fairly local band," Grider said. "We've had different bands. It varies year to year. They provides a wide variety of country music, as well as some light rock music."
Dye is deeply involved in the event, personally preparing the farm for the ball, according to Lynn Huggins, personal assistant to Dye and event coordinator for the ball.
"He's not there right at the beginning because he works during the day--all day--getting ready for it, but he takes a nap, takes a little rest and comes over in the evening," Huggins said. "He spends a lot of time meeting and greeting and taking pictures and seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Then he enjoys the food and dances a little."
Each year, Dye emcees the live auction. This year, men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl will join him.
"When it's time for the live auction, Pearl has always in the middle of it," Huggins said. "He's, of course, hilarious and lots of fun. He's not used to taking a back seat, you know."
Grider said the Schools of Nursing are grateful for Dye's support.
"He is a terrific individual to work with," Grider said. "We are so grateful for his support over the years and his continued advocacy for nursing. He understands, from having been a patient in recent years. He understands the importance of nurses and how they really help in the healing and recovery process."
Tickets are available at auburn.edu/academic/nursing/bluejeanball.
(09/21/14 4:00pm)
Pet owners in Lee County have a new place to board their dogs and get them groomed.
Kiesel Bark, pet sitter, groomer and kennel, is located across from Kiesel Park on Lee County Road 51.
They are open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. during the work week and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays for normal business. Sundays, they are open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for drop off and pick up for boarding.
Angie Assel, student at Tuskegee University, said these hours are a big reason why she uses Kiesel Bark as her dog's day care.
Donna Cullins is the self-described "jack of all trades" of the business. Originally from Maine, she has been in the South for nearly 40 years.
"It sure beats an office job," Cullins said about working at Kiesel Bark.
The business has been open for appoximately three and a half months.
Van Dozier and Wendell Smith are the owners. The entire property, used to belong to Circulation Solutions, but now the location is shared by both businesses.
"Van owns the building and has been watching the dog park for 25 years," Cullins said. "He said it was time to open the place up."
Kiesel Park, otherwise known as the "dog park," brings in customers, Tracy Taylor, groomer, said.
According to Taylor, the only requirement for dogs is they be vaccinated.
"Everybody needs to be vaccinated," Taylor said. "That protects everybody-your dog and our dogs."
In addition to walk-ins, Cullins said they often have repeat customers.
The busiest days are close to the weekend, with the slowest days on Mondays.
"We maybe have two or three dogs on Mondays," Cullins said.
No matter the amount of dogs to take care of, the dogs are treated well, Cullins said.
"They're going to be taken good care of," Cullins said. "They're not going to be stuck in their kennels all the time. They're in and out and in and out and in and out all day, and that's what they like."
However, the frequent time spent outdoors can be tiring for the humans of Kiesel Bark, especially when large dogs are present.
"We have dogs, like George, that like to jump over the kennels," Cullins said. "He discovered he can jump the fence outside, so he has to be supervised all the time when George comes. But they're so stinking cute, you can't get mad."
Another aspect of working with dogs that can get frustrating is grooming, according to both Cullins and Taylor.
"Grooming gets a little hairy sometimes," Cullins said. "You get snippy little, dogs, but then you get a nice mom, like today, that had her dog all drugged up. That dog just laid; it was an easy job."
The gratifications of a job-well-done is one of the best parts for Taylor.
"When you get the phone call after they take them home, and they tell you what a wonderful job they did, that they've never looked better, it's a rewarding feeling," Taylor said.
Cullins said it's nice the dog owners trust them with their dogs also.
"[The best part is] spoiling them rotten," Cullins said while holding one of the dogs . "I'd rather work with dogs than with people. They can't talk back."
(09/09/14 3:00pm)
In the middle of the forest, folk music plays as you are surrounded by nature-happy people. Children play and the setting seems to resemble one from a fairy tale.
Songs in the Woods is an outdoor concert held at Auburn University's Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center that brings together music and nature.
The performer this year is the Dave Potts Band.
Potts has lived in Auburn for 15 years. Before living in Auburn, he performed for five years as a touring musician.
"It's folk with a little bit of country," Potts said. "It's definitely very family-friendly. I play a lot of original music, but I'll also play some country and folk songs that are familiar to people."
Meg Rainey, public relations specialist for the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation office, said she believes Potts' sound will be enhanced at the Preserve.
"It's a really good fit with the venue," Rainey said. "It's a natural, laid back setting. Dave's sound pairs very well with the setting. It's just the perfect setting for his music and an afternoon performance."
This is the second time the City of Auburn and the preserve have paired together for the Songs in the Woods concert.
In 2012, Auburn entered into an agreement with the preserve to match funds of up to $50,000 in donations made to the facility.
"This partnership offers the City of Auburn a unique opportunity to expand its programming and offerings to the public via this existing facility," Rainey said. "It's a win-win partnership for us."
Potts said he is excited to be able to perform at the Preserve.
"That's a really cool place to be," Potts said. "When my kids were little, we used to take them out there all the time. They used to do summer camp out there. To be able to do something to raise awareness and funds for the forest preserve is better than a regular concert for me."
The audience is expected to be a blend of his loyal fans and community members who love the Preserve, according to Potts.
"I'm hoping that a lot of my fans will come out that maybe don't know, haven't been to the Forest Preserve before, and then people from the community who maybe haven't heard about me, but know about the event will come," Potts said. "I'm hoping we get a lot of people."
Jamie Anderson, marketing, communication and business development manager for the preserve, said she is excited to have more people visit the Preserve.
"We're really excited about the event and presenting the preserve to another audience that hasn't been out and seen what it has to offer," Anderson said.
The City of Auburn presents other outdoor concerts throughout the year as well, including the spring and fall Sundown Concert Series.
"I have a pretty good relationship with the city," Potts said. "They do a great job of having local artists and musicians play at their events. That is always appreciated by us."
Rainey said she feels the preserve is a great location for the event.
"The amphitheater at the preserve is the perfect setting to enjoy a live performance," Rainey said. "You're just minutes away from Auburn, but you feel miles and miles away from everything."
Songs in the Woods will be Sunday, Sept. 14, from 4-6 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person.
(09/01/14 1:30pm)
The Auburn University King Sejong Institute is offering an eight-week, not-for-credit Korean language courses.
Each course costs $99. Students can choose between beginner and intermediate levels.
The courses will begin Oct. 13, the original starting date of the second semester. The first semester was cancelled because of low enrollment.
Eunhyun Park is the instructor for the classes. Park came from Keimyung University in Daegu, Korea, to teach Korean. Park is the first instructor from Keimyung University to come to the U.S.
"I really love to teach Korean language and Korean culture to many people," Park said. "I really, really like this job and that's why I hope many, many people are interested in learning Korean."
The beginner courses will focus on the Korean alphabet, numbers, grammar and short phrases, such as greetings.
Park said the intermediate course will be more like a supplemental beginner class.
Jennifer Mason, director of international initiatives, said if interest is high, advanced classes will be added. Mason said the increased Korean population in the Auburn area was a strong reason for offering the classes.
"Within about an hour's drive of Auburn, we have more than 60 Korean companies operating here," Mason said. "That's made a huge difference in the community landscape of the region. Being able to understand each other, not just in terms of language, but in culture and those kinds of things, we thought was important."
The course was first offered last fall. Students included people working at Korean companies, community members interested in Korean and University students.
"We've had Auburn students who are interested in taking the for-credit courses, and this is an easy introduction that's not going to affect your GPA, in case it's a little more difficult than you were expecting," Mason said.
Lourdes Betanzos, undergraduate advisor for global cultures, said offering Korean classes was a logical choice.
"I think, especially with our University being between two very large Korean manufacturing companies, it's kind of an obvious thing, and a logical choice to make for our students," Betanzos said. "I think as long as we can continue to collaborate with the Korea center here on campus we should be able to continue offering classes."
Park also teaches for-credit Korean courses through the University. Last year, the department of foreign languages received approval from the University Curriculum Committee for the elementary Korean sequence.
This semester, enrollment in the elementary class reached capacity.
"Sometimes I think we're at a disadvantage because, here in the South, the Korean community is still somewhat new," Mason said. "When we think about language, we think a lot about Spanish, about Latin American culture because that has been part of our community for a long time. When someone's thinking 'I want to learn a new language. What do I go with?' Spanish is the first thing that pops into your head. It's the most reasonable answer. Korean is becoming more and more important in our region and beyond to the U.S. with the relationships there."
For more information, visit the Korea Center's website or email Eunhyun Park at ezp0008@auburn.edu.
(08/22/14 11:31pm)
Auburn runners will have the chance to be dyed orange and blue during the Color Me Auburn 5K on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The fun run, hosted by the Auburn University Student Alumni Association (SAA), will begin at Jordan-Hare Stadium and go through the Village, War Eagle Way toward Thach Concourse, Mell Street toward the Arboretum and turn back on Duncan Drive to end back at the stadium.
According to Jennifer Gibson, graduate assistant at the Office of Alumni Affairs and organizer of this year's run, racers may "run, walk or frolic" throughout the race.
"Last year we had moms with strollers and kids," Gibson said. "If you want to run it, we're going to put you toward the front so you aren't going to ruin the day of people who want to walk it. If you know you want to walk it, we're going to put you toward the back so you can enjoy your time. We're trying to make it fun for everyone."
For people who still want to be involved, several volunteers are needed for every stage of the race.
"There are so many small committees that work on every single part of the run," Gibson said. "Sometimes that's just one person and a few volunteers, and sometimes it's 40 people [for each committee]."
Earth Fare will be catering the hospitality tent at the end of the run, supplying drinks, fruit and granola to racers.
There will also be a vendor mall on the Green Space near the Student Center. Sponsors will have booths with giveaways and sweepstakes, including Auburn University's Student Government Association, SAA, Mountain High Outfitters and Palm Beach Tan.
Entry fees benefit SAA's scholarship endowment and their annual scholarship fund. Last year was the first Color Me Auburn 5K. According to Dori Weldon, membership coordinator for the Office of Alumni Affairs and last year's run organizer, it was a success.
"We honestly didn't know what to expect when we were going into it," Weldon said. "We were just hoping for a couple hundred [participants]. We had close to 600 people do the run last year, so word of mouth really spread quickly."
The run generated more than $8,000 for SAA scholarships.
"It was really rewarding and really interesting to work for something that directly benefited students," Weldon said. "None of the money goes back into our operational fund. It goes straight to scholarships."
This year, SAA is planning for at least 600 participants.
SAA teamed up with Auburn Waste Management and Recycling to do a zero-waste run. Inspiration for the earth-friendly plans came from Auburn University's Green Game last season.
"With the run, you do have waste, but it's not a lot," Gibson said. "It's water bottles, it's cups, it's food and that's about it. Why don't we try and do it for the run [and] add that extra bit of fun to it?"
All cups and bottles used for water or color will be recycled. Compost bins for uneaten food and recycling bins will be provided at every color station, along with trash cans.
"If anyone is coming to the run and bringing their own stuff, make sure it's recyclable or compostable," Gibson said. "And then, of course, we'll have a trash can in case there is something not recyclable or compostable."
A volunteer session will be held Thursday night in the Alumni Center for individuals interested in volunteering.
"Even if they haven't signed up, they can come and we will use them in some way," Gibson said. "If you sign up, you're guaranteed to do something more fun."
Gibson said the powder is completely safe if ingested.
"It's food coloring and corn starch," Gibson said. "There are so many runs that use that exact product, so it's very safe."
(08/19/14 8:00pm)
There are plenty of good deals in Auburn -- if you know where to look.
The first place to find a bargain is in the grocery store, according to Stephen Milton, senior in chemical engineering.
"If you're lucky enough, you can usually get cheap gallons of milk from Kroger on Sunday on Manager's Special, since they're close to expiring," Milton said. "By expiring, I mean that they still have a week before the [sell by] date, so if you drink as much milk as me, it's a good deal."
Other items on Manager's Special at Kroger include produce, cheese, bakery items and packaged goods.
"They sometimes stick perfectly good products with damaged packaging [there] that are still fine," Milton said.
Erin Conway, junior in chemical engineering, spends a lot of time on campus and tries to make her meal plan stretch as far as possible.
One of her go-to meals is the macaroni and cheese at Go Greek, which costs 84 cents. Other good deals on campus include 50 cent pancakes at AU Smokehouse in Foy Dining Hall.
Richard Polke, senior in psychology, uses coupons that come in the mail to make his meals cheaper. For deals on clothing and shoes, Belk offers a 10 percent discount on certain brands if the shopper uses a Belk credit or debit card.
"It's not always the case, but for most it is," Polke said. "[For] Polo brand, the 10 percent only works on their clearance items, not the new items that just came off the truck."
Online is another place to look for deals on clothes.
"Haute Look, Jacks Threads [and] Frank and Oak have great things for boys, and Rue La La [and] Fab.com have great things for girls," Polke said. "All of those are online stores. And, Touch of Modern has great things for anybody. All of those sites sell things at discount prices."
For those who would rather spend their time outdoors, the Chewacla State Park annual pass is a good investment.
"My friend, Becca, went so much she got her money's worth and then some," Milton said.
For an individual, the pass is $60. Regular entrance costs $2 per adult on weekdays and $3 per adult on weekends.
Milton summed up his preferred way to find the best deal.
"The best way to save money is to only buy what's important to you," Milton said.
(07/27/14 4:00pm)
Kaitlyn Hof-Mahoney has been working a summer job every year since she finished her sophomore year of high school.
Hof-Mahoney, senior in history, is no stranger to working in the summer, like many other college students.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 48.9 percent of people ages 16-24 were employed during July 2010.
Hof-Mahoney said her least favorite job she ever had was her first job: babysitting.
"That summer I spent babysitting two little boys," Hof-Mahoney said. "They were maybe 4 and 8 years old. The 4-year-old was an absolute nightmare. One time, he locked himself in the bathroom and I spent an hour and a half trying to get him out. I finally had to bribe him with ice cream. They refused to listen to anything that I said to them, so I eventually gave up trying to discipline them and we just played the Wii."
Hof-Mahoney worked five days per week for six to eight hours each day.
"The pay was pretty good in the mind of a high-schooler," Hof-Mahoney said. "I made around $150 a week, which, if you look at [it] per hour is (bad), but I thought it was awesome. I felt pretty rich."
Seth McCollough, senior in music education, said his least favorite summer job involved working the concession stand for Auburn City Parks and Recreation.
"It was awful," McCollough said. "We would be there sometimes from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. We got breaks, but that's a long work day."
McCollough said restocking drinks was one of the most strenuous parts of the job.
"I had to keep restocking the stands whenever we ran out of Powerade or anything," McCollough said. "Those cases of drinks aren't light weight at all. We also kept them off-site normally, so I would have to take the van, stock it full of whatever we needed and take it back to the park. I couldn't drive to the concession stand, so I had to trolly everything from the van to the stand. Multiple trips were always involved."
However, not all students considered summer jobs to be so bad.
JT Edmonson, junior in chemical engineering, began his first job this summer.
"I'm working at Target right now, and it's really the only job I've ever had," Edmonson said. "It's actually nice, besides the few ugly interactions [with] mean customers."
McCollough said his favorite summer job was working with his grandfather.
"My best summer job was the summer I spent helping my 78-year-old grandfather, Poppy, do plumbing and electrical work," McCollough said. "I loved working with Poppy, and I learned so much. Now I never have to pay for plumbing or electrical work."
Austin Warren, senior in music education, said his favorite summer job was when he worked as a car mechanic.
"I worked 40-plus hours a week, but I loved every minute of it," Warren said. "I came into the job not really knowing anything about cars, and within a month, [I] knew how to do oil changes, brake repair, engine work, tire changes and so on."
Warren said the job was not a cakewalk, but, like McCollough, he learned from the job.
"It was physically demanding and mentally challenging," Warren said. "I never got bored or complacent with my work. It definitely gave me a set of valuable skills that I can still use to this day."
Hof-Mahoney said working at Panera Bread for five years was her favorite job
Working in the summer is easier than working during the school year, according to Hof-Mahoney.
"It's a lot easier to have a job in the summer because during the school year I have so many commitments and schoolwork that I have to juggle," Hof-Mahoney said. "It really curtails the amount of time that I'm able to work."
Hof-Mahoney said she recommends other students get a summer job.
"It's a great way to make a little extra money and also to add something to your resume," Hof-Mahoney said.