Parks aren't just for picnics

For most people, when thinking of fun things to do in South Florida, going to the park is not on the list. This is very unfortunate, because aren't just for family reunions or holiday picnics. Parks also offer a variety of events beyond your wildest imagination.

I went to my local county website, then to parks and recreation, and found a list of upcoming events at a Broward County Park near you. Please note that for most of these parks regular admission cost is not included in the venue price.

• For the environmental conscious Florida Resident, Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood offers environmental boat tours now through March 31. $4 for ages 18 and up; $2 for ages 17 and under.




• For those in need of "rebirth", Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach is hosting a Renaissance Festival. Every weekend from now until March 11, Adults (for $17) and Children (for $6) can spend a day learning and experiencing what the Renaissance was.




• And for those of you who are looking for a fun way to spend time with your better half (your pet), Markham Park in Sunrise is hosting a Petapalooza. This venue on March 24 and 25, will have everything from pet look-alike contests to a pet psychic!

Pictures from various park websites.

For those of us who think we belong on American Idol...

American Idol has been one of the most watched television shows since its start in 2002. Why is that? Personally, I think it's because Americans are so caught up with fame and fortune, that they hold on to the dream of either themselves or someone they know making it big.

So since most people that they have what it takes to be a superstar, why not get some practice? My suggestion to you and your friends is to practice your singing via karaoke.

Here is a list of some Karaoke Bars in South Florida:

1. Muddy Waters located in Deerfield Beach


2. Red Lion Pub located in Boynton Beach


3. Singers Karaoke Klub (a little old fashioned but lots of fun)

Games, Games, and more Games

If it has been a while since you’ve had fun, this is a sure fire way to renew that level of excitement that used to exist in your life. What am I talking about? I am talking about gathering together a group of at least 5 friends of yours and having a game night!

I know might not sound that interesting, but let me explain all of the benefits. First, an in house game night is a great way to reconnect with your friends. For most of us who are in school right now, we can’t even recall the last time that we went out or even saw our friends. Having a games night would give you and your friends an opportunity to catch up.

Second, having a game night would allow you to jog your brain, even when you feel completely overwhelmed. Games like Scattegories, Guesstures, and Cranium are sure to wake up the creative side of brain that has been begging to be stimulated. Often times we, as students, get so wrapped up in doing the school thing that we completely neglect our wild, creative side.

Third, and most important, having a games night is a learning experience. Who ever thought that playing games would make you smarter, but most games can teach you something that you never knew before. Scrabble is a great game for learning new words, CSI is great for honing that investigative portion of the brain while learning new medical terminology, and Chess is a great game for learning logic and strategy.

Remember, school is something that most of go to in hopes of having a prosperous future. It isn’t meant to torment us into having no life at all. If you haven’t seen your friends in a while, and they need some fun time like you, put together a games night. You won’t be sorry you did!

Note: Below is a probable list of how much each board game is going to cost, and where you can get it from. Most of these games cost more than $20 so put your money with a friend and enjoy!

PICTURES FROM VARIOUS GAMING SITES.

GAME COST STORE
· Scattergories $22.94 Walmart
· Guesstures $22.94 Walmart
· Cranium $17.94 Target
· Scrabble $11.65 Barnes and Noble
· CSI $24.99 Target
· Chess $3.99 Walgreens (MAJOR DEAL!!! Click here)

Post Valentine's Day Celebration!!!

If you're single, last night was probably not the most pleasant night of your life. I'm sure that watching couples walk around, holding hands and smooching everywhere, was not on your to-do list.

Luckily, its all over now. :) To celebrate the end of Valentine's Day why not take part in all of the post Valentine's Day sales?

Your local drugstore (Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid) is sure to have drastically reduced the price of all of their Valentine's Day candy. Just think of all of the expensive boxes of chocolate that you can get for almost nothing!

Now who has the last laugh?

• To find a Walgreens near you, click here.

• To find a CVS near you, click here.

• To celebrate the passing of Valentine's Day, click here.

Pictures are from various anti-Valentine's Day websites.

Black History Month Celebration

Most people forget that February is Black History Month. February is the shortest month of the year and, if you are a college student, a time when assignments are starting to pick up and school is really hectic.

Here at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), we offer free events almost every day in celebration of those African Americans who have made a difference.

Today's Events:

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-Books in Black: An art exhibition at the Boca Raton campus, which pays homage to influential sculptural artists whose ancestors were of African descent.

-The HR Perspective: Impact of Racism in Higher Education: This is more of a conference or workshop in which some of the stereotypical statements, behaviors, etc. used towards African Americans will be discussed.

It is important for minority students to take part in celebrating their history. If it had not been for such influential people like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and James Brown (all who have now passed on), many of the privileges that Blacks have today would be nonexistent.

To learn more about FAU's free Black History events click here.

PICTURES FROM TIME MAGAZINE'S TOP 100, AND THE OFFICIAL JAMES BROWN SITE.

It's not too late to celebrate...

Although technically there are less than two hours left of Valentine's Day, you can still get out and celebrate.

If you are in the mood for food and not perturbed by waiting in long lines to be served, then feel free to venture out to any of your local restaurants(i.e. Chili's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc.). Most of these restaurants are open until 12 a.m. or later, and if all else fails there are always the popular 24 hour fast food drive thru's.

PICTURES FROM THE FOOD NETWORK.

Private Valentine's Day Celebration

One day out of the year, the sale of heart shaped boxes of chocolates and big red balloons fly off of the shelves. This year, Valentine's Day fell on a very inconvenient day of the week, Wednesday.

While many people celebrate Valentine's Day with expensive gifts and dinners, it is also possible to enjoy it on a $20 budget.

My advice to those of you whose pockets are a little challenged at the moment is to make things personal. Below I have enclosed my top three cheap things to do for you and your valentine:

1. Write him or her a poem. Nothing says love and romance like a sweet heartfelt poem. Total Cost: Nothing! (I'm sure the average person has pen and paper at his or her house).

2. Make him or her dinner. This shows a person's creativity, as well as selflessness. For some quick Valentine's Day recipes log on to allrecipes.com. Cost should definintely be under $20 for the ingredients needed to make one main course.

3. Give him or her an at home spa day. Volunteer your services to your mate by providing him or her with a manicure, pedicure, and body massage. Total cost: Under $20 ( a nail clip, nail file, clear nail polish, and cheap massage oil)

These are just a few tips that you could definitely use to enjoy Valentine's Day on a very small budget.

**NOTE: Pictures are from the Hallmark Gold Crown website.

Make it a Blockbuster Night...

Last night was definitely a Blockbuster night!

The dreary weather combined with an endless stream of traffic on the roads, was enough to make me reconsider doing anything that requires dressing up or driving a far distance.

Lucky for me, there is a Blockbuster right down the street from my house.

If you are having a stay at home, watch a movie kind of night, then Blockbuster is your friend.

With new movie titles every week and junk food and magazines at the checkout counter, what more could any college student want? (Well maybe to ace all of their exams and have some semblance of a life in the process :>).

Last night I rented three movies that I had wanted to see in the movie theater, but had never gotten the chance to see:
1. Catch a Fire- starring Derek Luke, and
2. The Black Dahlia- starring Scarlett Johansson

These movies were very different in their content and intended audience, but they were both very entertaining.

Note: For a complete list of new releases check out the Blockbuster link above.

My date with myself, complete with dinner (leftover Domino's Pizza) and a movie, cost about $10.

BILL
Rental Fees $9.51
Leftover Pizza $0.00
Total $9.51

Pictures are provided from the official websites of both movies.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Nightlife

Friday night, against my better judgment, a friend of mine and I decided to attend Ladies Night at Passion Nightclub in Hollywood.

Perhaps because of Anna Nicole Smith's death a few nights before, the place was a ghost town. The corridor around the myriad of clubs and restaurants weren't as packed as usual, and even the club itself was very disappointing. The music choice was not as diverse as I had imagined. But for some, I am sure that the ambiance and the music choice would be perfect.

On Friday nights at Passion Nightclub (and Spirits Nightclub as I found out later) ladies get in free and drink free before 12 a.m.

If you do venture out to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, my advice is to park in the new free parking garage located on the premises. This combined with free admission and drinks before 12 a.m., is a cheap way for girls to hang out on a Friday night.

Unfortunately for whatever reason, blogger is not allowing me to hyperlink any websites so here are the URLs:

Passion Nightclub
http://www.passionnightclub.com/volume01/website/index.html

Spirits Nightclub
http://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/bars_nightlife/spirits/

You can probably copy and paste them into your browser.

Enjoy!

PLEASE NOTE THE PICTURES ARE FROM THE SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO WEB SITE.