Community Blog

That’s right folks; Dallas Texas made Parenting’s the Best Cities for Families 2010 list! I mean we already knew that we lived in a great city; it’s just nice to see that it’s getting properly recognized! We came in #22 in the over all city ranking. Not too shabby!

The list was compiled after surveying a panel of mom’s to determine raking criteria. Each city was then ranked on the various items. Dallas was given high marks for education, something we know all about living in the Richardson Independent School District.

Dallas also received high marks in recreation. Something I would have to strongly agree with since we are just moments from Richland park, and minutes away from Willowdell park, Harry Moss park, and Anderson Bonner park. We also get to enjoy our own pool at Walnut Bend and the playground as well!

All in all I couldn’t agree more that we are lucky to live in Dallas. This is a great city! What is your favorite thing about our city?

This Saturday, July 31st, celebrate National Dance Day at Six Flags Over Texas! At 4:00pm there will be one of the largest group dances in the nation. The goal is to raise awareness and help promote holistic wellness and health.

Fox 4 and Six Flags will be leading the group in a routine choreographed by member of the So You Think You Can Dance group. You can learn the choreography in advance on the SYTYCD blog.

Six Flags is also offering a great coupon for reduced entry to the park on Saturday. Just print off the coupon and bring it with you to the ticket booth.

How are you planning to celebrate National Dance Day? I know it’s a bit of a drive from Walnut Bend to Six Flags, do you think it’s worth it?

Head over to Winetastic this Friday, July 23rd, for a summer champagne tasting. If you know about Winetastic, you probably know of their big Holiday champagne event, this is a smaller version.

The tasting is from 6:30 to 9:30 pm this Friday. It’s just $25 a person and you’ll get to try 10 different sparkling wines. Also, if you find a few bottles you want to bring home, they are offering a buy 3 get 1 for 1¢ deal for all attendees.

This tasting would make a great night out. Grab your girls and head out to enjoy some bubbly in downtown Dallas! The tasting room at Winetastic is the prefect atmosphere for catching us and visiting with friends. Plus the staff there is very knowledgeable and you’ll definitely learn something about wine while you’re there.

Winetastic is a about a 20 minute drive from us here at Walnut Bend, about double that if traffic is bad.

I don’t know about you, but summertime makes me long for fresh Texas produce. The kind my mom grew in her sprawling garden when I was a kid. There really is little better then a homegrown tomato that ripened out in the sun. Fortunately, that’s still an option for us city dwellers! Farmer’s markets are wonderful places to get fresh and locally grown produce.

I personally love little more then wondering through the stalls at a farmers market on a Saturday morning, coffee in hand. Here are two farmers markets near Walnut Bend:

White Rock Local Market is open on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. They feature local and sustainably grown produce. All vendors must produce what they sell.

Four Seasons Markets is at Village on the Parkway on Saturday’s from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm and Sunday’s from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. It’s a European style market with artisan vendors and local farmers. They have some great baked good and artisan cheeses there!

I’m a big fan of farmers markets, are you? Where is the best farmer’s market in Dallas/Richardson?

In recognition of a job well done, our staff is being rewarded with a casual day! The Walnut Bend staff get’s to sport jeans to work this Friday, July 16! Congrats to the amazing staff here, you deserve it!

July 17, 2010
11:00 am	to	2:00 pm

A pool party that is! Come by the Walnut Bend pool this Saturday, July 17th, between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm for food music and fun. We hope to see you there!

I’m kind of over dinner as the big date night. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out for dinner! However, I’ve been looking for something a little different. Something a bit more captivating then sitting at a table and overeating, which I always end up doing when I go out. I found something that fits that bill: Late Night at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Late Night is a program the Dallas Museum of Art has the third Friday of each month. So, this month it will be on July 16th. Admission is $10 and there is live music, performances, and creative challenges.

It all combines to make for a fun and engaging date night for you and your someone special!

Best of all, it’s not even an expensive outing. $20 admission for a couple and $10 for parking, $30 is less then a nice dinner out! Just make sure you check traffic before you leave Walnut Bend. As you well know, getting stuck in Dallas traffic is no fun!

What do you for a creative date night?

Summer is a wonderful season full of sunshine, cookouts and often, trips. The only trouble is it is also when the kids are out of school! Keeping your youngsters occupied all summer without breaking the bank can be difficult. Plus, when the searing Texas heat settles over Dallas your activities are even more limited. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really relish being outside when the heat index climbs up to the triple digits!

I honestly think one of the best way’s to keep your kids occupied is to have at least on thing planed for each day. My kids are always begging to go to the movies. So, why not make a visit to the movies one of our regular summer adventures? Normally I would say it’s too expensive to go to the movies every week. However, during the summer both AMC and Regal have great family film deals.

AMC has this thing called 2010 Summer Movie Camp and they have a $1 movie every Tuesday at 10:00 am during the summer. You can even get your tickets a week in advance. They are playing some great movies and the AMC over at Firewheel Town Center is a participating theater.

Regal has the free Family Film Festival. That’s right, I said FREE! The movies are at 10:00 am on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are first come first serve at the participating theaters. Both Galaxy Stadium 10 and Keystone Park Stadium 16 are participating and they’re showing different movies each week.

It’s nice that there are a few participating theaters close to us here at Walnut Bend. Have you been to any of these theaters for one of the family friendly movies before?

The Walnut Bend Leasing office will be closed on Sunday, July 4th. Monday, July 5th, we will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, July 6th.

We have a new Courtesy Patrol Company patrolling Walnut Bend, starting this week. The new number to contact them is 469-533-3311.

We have all seen the continuing coverage of the disaster in the gulf. I don’t know about you, but the entire situation makes me sad. If I could pack a bag and go help with the clean up down there I would. However, that’s just not an option. So another way to donate, enjoy a good meal, and support the seafood industry at the same time: eat out!

Aw Shucks and Big Shucks will be donating 15% of their sales today, June 29th, and Wednesday, June 30th, to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill fund. Their food is always great and the donation is going to a very worth cause, so go enjoy dinner out this week!

Read more about it at NBC Dallas.

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