Community Blog

Did you even know that there was actually a proper way to load the dishwasher in your Broad River Trace apartment?  If you follow these three tips, you will maximize your units cleaning potential.  I found them in a New York Times article and thought I’d share it.  Hope it helps!

3 good tips to keep in mind when loading your dishwasher…

1. Load large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher so that they don’t block water and detergent from reaching other dishes.
2. Place the dirtier side of the dishes toward the center of the machine for more exposure to spray.
3. Load silverware in the individual silverware slots most dishwashers now include. If you have an open basket, mix forks, spoons and knives to prevent them from sticking together.

Want to check out the rest of the article?  Just follow the link !

(Photo Credit: About.com)

Do you currently carry renter’s insurance?  Broad River Trace Apartments strongly advises their residents to get a policy.  It’s really not as expensive as you may think.  In fact, you can save money on your policy in quite a few ways.  Here is one in an article I found about saving money on renter’s insurance.  Check out this video too.

Car/Renter’s Discount: Insuring your car and apartment with the same company often will give you a package discount. This is a good tool to use when shopping around for your renter’s insurance quote. Usually the insurance agent can tell you what percent the discount is for insuring your car and apartment together.

Are you familiar with the “cinema-verite” style of film making?  In a nutshell, it literally means “film truth” and it describes a documentary style of storytelling that combines naturalistic techniques with staged set-ups.  In most cases, the camera is used to provoke the subject of the film with the intent of intensifying the drama.  Well, if you mix that in with a little horror, you get a film like The Blair Witch Project (one of my all time faves) or the 2009 hit Paranormal Activity.

The latest horror flick that you can add to that list comes out in Columbia area theaters this weekend.  It’s called The Last Exorcism and it was produced by Eli Roth, the same guy who directed the films Cabin Fever and Hostel (so you know you’re going to covering your eyes for at least more than one scene).

Check out the trailer right here.  And when you’re feeling brave enough to go see it, here are showtimes for Columbia area theaters near Broad River Trace Apartments: AMC Dutch Square 14, Carmike Cinemas 14 and Regal Columbiana Grande Stadium 14.  And try not to spill your drink in your dates lap.

One of the cool things about living at Broad River Trace Apartments in Columbia is that it is right near the Broad River.  So if you enjoy any sort of water sports, it doesn’t get more convenient than this.  You may also be interested in the city’s Summer Celebration of Water coming up on August 28.

The Summer Celebration of Water is a unique event where for an entire day, kids can splash around at the events Wet Sandals play area, you can go on river walks with City of Columbia Park Rangers, and my favorite part, free tubing and canoeing in the Columbia Canal!  It’s literally a whole day dedicated to the water.  For more info and the event schedule, visit the festival website!

In the mean time, if you’d like to learn more about the Columbia Canal, check out this video!

This has been one of the hottest summers ever in Columbia.  The daily temperatures for August have almost hit triple digits and it most certainly felt like it.  Thank goodness for ceiling fans and air conditioning in the apartment.  But sometimes, not even that is enough.  We have to think of new ways to keep cool in this heat.

Well, here is my contribution.  It’s a new twist on traditional lemonade called Brazilian Lemonade, only it doesn’t use lemons.  HAH.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

Greenberg

In search of a place to restart his life, Roger Greenberg agrees to housesit for his brother in LA and tries to reconnect with his former bandmate and successful ex-girlfriend.  Starring Ben Stiller and Greta Gerwig.  Rated R.

This movie is really about fractured relationships and how they, in part, define our lives.  Stiller is excellent in this type of roll.  I was actually surprised at the range of emotions he was able to convicingly dislplay.  It’s almost like a coming of age film for the middle-agers.  Check it out and let the community know what you think.  It’s only a buck to rent it.

The closest Redbox kiosks to Broad River Trace are at Walmart (1326 Bush River Rd and 2401 Augusta Rd) and Walgreens (1223 Saint Andrews Rd and 2224 Augusta Rd) and Harris Teeter (1605 New Garden Rd).

Kudos to the state of South Carolina!  They were recently ranked the #1 state for “Economic Growth Potential” by Business Facilities magazine, an internationally recognized industry publication.

With the selection of South Carolina as the new Boeing manufacturing site, the state is now considered a real power player in the rapidly growing aerospace engineering field.

“South Carolina already is home to more than 100 aerospace-related companies operating in 23 counties and employing more than 16,000 people. The Boeing project is expected to bring in nearly $7 billion worth of economic activity to the state and local economy and create more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs in the next 10 to 15 years.” – Business Facilities, July/August 2010

The acclaimed publication also ranked South Carolina #4 for the “Best Business Climate” and #3 for “Automotive Manufacturing Strength.”  Surely these accolades are a testament to the strength and potential of the area.  Proof in the pudding that South Carolina is a great place to live and start a career!

The Other Guys hits theaters this weekend.  It looks hilarious.  We already know about Will Ferrel’s comic genius, but I’m also a big Mark Wahlberg fan and this is probably his most comedic role to date.  Add in Samuel Jackson (another favorite of mine) and I just don’t see how you can go wrong.

Check out the trailer below.  If you need showtimes, here they are for AMC Firewheel 18 and Cinemark Plano Movies 10.

As any beer connosisseur will tell you, there is a real art to tasting beer correctly.  Sure, it’s one thing to throw a few back at the bar with your buddies while watching the game, but when you really want to enjoy a beer by savoring its unique flavor…well, then you have to know what you’re doing.

According to the BeerAdvocate website, there are four main steps to follow: 

Look.  What is the beer’s true coloe and consistency.

Agitate.  Pull the aromas out of the glass by swirling the beer gently.

Smell.  90-95% of what you experience is through your sense of smell.  Breath through your nose with two quick sniffs, then with your mouth open, then through your mouth only.  Enjoy its bouquet.

Taste.  Sip the beer but don’t swallow it immediately.  Work it around your entire palate in order to detect any sweet, salt or bitter new flavors.  As a beer warms, its true flavors will pull through and become more pronounced.

These simple rules will help you become a true gentlemen of discerning taste when it comes to the suds.  Now all you have to do is step out into the wilderness of pubs and breweries and start rating the lagers that capture your attention.

Speaking of beer and wilderness, a great beer sampling opportunity will hit Columbia next weekend, only a few minutes away from the Broad River Trace community.  The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (500 Wildlife Parkway) will host Brew at the Zoo, a beer tasting extravaganza  with samplings from specialty brews, domestics, imports and microbrews…not to mention a chance to check out some cool animal exhibits while you are enjoying your beer.

When: Saturday, August 7, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online or at any Riverbanks ticket booth.  They’re going for $30 for Riverbanks members and $40 for the general public.  Day of event: $50. Designated Driver tickets are also available for $15 and include unlimited softdranks.  That’s a great move for the Zoo to provide that option.

(Photo Credit: mccun934)

I hate doing laundry just as much as the next guy.  The worst part, for me anyway, is ironing.  If wrinkle-free polyester didn’t look so tacky, I’d wear it everyday.  At least for the washing and drying part, it’s convenient.  Apartments here at Broad River Trace have their own washers and dryers, so it’s not like I have to lug loads of laundy to the laundromat like I had to in college.  But ironing…there is nothing convenient about it.  It takes me forever and it never turns out as crisp as I need it.

Anyway, the reason for my rant is because I have a job interview on Monday and I’m trying to, once-and-for-all, learn how to iron a shirt the right way.  I can never seem to get the arms smooth.  I found this video on “How to iron a shirt” on YouTube and thought I’d share with you guys.  Enjoy!

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