Auston Woods Apartment Homes Blog

It is that time of year again for residents of apartments in Charlotte. Alive after Five is back to Thursdays at the EpiCentre.

Charlotte starts it’s weekend on Thursdays beginning in May with Alive After Five. Around here, this is considered the largest weekly happy hour and free entertainment celebration which provides a destination for friends to gather and unwind, while enjoying great live music, tasty beverages and a fun, casual atmosphere.

To top it off, the EpiCentre is close to great restaurants, bars and shopping, so you can begin your night at Alive After Five and continue on for more nightlife and entertainment.

Official after parties are held at Whisky River, Suite, Vida, Strike City and BlackFinn. Wristbands from Alive After Five will allow guests free entry into after parties.

Can't get enough live entertainment? Then check out "MetLive: Music on the Greenway" each Thursday or NC Music Factory's "Friday LIVE! at the Factory" and Piedmont Town Center's "Concerts in the Round" each Friday.

More info on live entertainment and Alive After Five at Charlottesgottalot.com

It is fun to live in an apartment in Charlotte, NC? However, sometimes when you live in a city you forget to play tourist. Take some time out of your busy schedule to get back in touch with this charming and cultural city. Charlotte is filled with all types of cultural attractions. Whatever type museum you are looking for, you will find in our Southern city.

Charlotte has some amazing museums located within walking distance in the downtown area. Make a day or a weekend of it, and visit them all. Three museums in particular are located just a few blocks from each other with plenty of interesting artwork, memorabilia and history.

The Mint Museum Uptown is sure to be a favorite. You will find some amazing American Art, Contemporary Art, European Art and Craft/Design pieces. Allow plenty of time to explore the Fairytales, Fantasy and Fear exhibit. It is filled with some unique and interesting artwork. The museum also has a café and museum shop, which features crafts from across North Carolina.

Located next door is the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, which features mid-20th century European and Modern Art. Before you enter the museum, take a look at the 17-foot tall terra cotta-tiled piece of artwork located outside at the entrance of the museum. It’s filled with gems by many notable artists, including Picasso and Warhol. A free audio guide is offered which gives a history of the collection, including information on the Bechtler family that donated the items.

Just a short walk away is Levine Museum of the New South. The exhibit, “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers,” provides a look at the American South from the end of the Civil War to modern times. There are plenty of interactive displays, including opportunities for visitors to step inside a tenant farmer’s house, wander along a 1920s main street and try on a hat in an early department store. The museum also features changing exhibits.

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The Great Taste Music Series is a music contest held in Charlotte between local bands, and the next event will be held at Whisky River tomorrow.  Get there  early with your friends from your apartment in Charlotte, NC because doors open at 8 PM. Best of all, there is no cover charge. Three bands are competing for a live performance at Speed Street in May on the Miller Lite stage. These bands are Spencer, the Gal Friday Band and The Wiggle Wagons.

Band Spotlight: Spencer

Spencer has been together since October 2011, and the band covers a wide range of genres -- from rock, country, funk, pop, the top 40, rap, blues, and dance/party music. “When we cover another artist’s song, we try to give the song our own twist, while still trying to stay true to the original songs ‘backbone.’ We want to make it our own sound, but do not want to completely take away from what made the song a hit in the first place,” said band member, Troy Spencer.

The band Spencer is made up mainly of family members. Their pure, yet dynamic chemistry is extremely unique. Add the funk, jazz, and gospel styles of Mike Lowe on drums, and Derrick Bartell on keys, to the mix, and Spencer is a force to be reckoned with.

Whiskey River, 210 East Trade Street, Charlotte.

Examiner.com

In Charlotte, Oaklawn walks for life! Attention all Oaklawn students, families, friends, and community members. We would like you to participate in Oaklawn’s first annual Oaklawn Walks for Life!!  50% of the profits go toward the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte and 50% of the profits go towards the students at Oaklawn Language Academy.

The staff at Oaklawn, along with the parents and the community are united in our commitment to raise 21st century global citizens. The vision statement concentrates on developing an excellent dual language immersion program to promote bilingual, bi-literate, and bi-cultural 21st century learners.

Enjoy snacks and drinks with friends after the race and have the wonderful feeling of knowing you helped someone in our community. Walk registration ends April 9th , so hurry! The walk is April 14th at 9am.  Ask for contributions from friends, families, and neighbors. We hope to see you April 14th for the the walk/run.

Have you heard of the Envision Charlotte initiative? The city of Charlotte, N.C. is continuing to grow its and reach its goal of a 20% reduction in energy usage by 2012.

The program was announced in 2010. It’s intent is to bring sustainability and efficiency to the city's uptown business district and make green buildings a reality for all companies.

But you can make a difference in your homes in an effort to support the business initiative in Charlotte. Do you want green living? Auston Woods, a community of apartments in Charlotte, pride ourselves on our well-built homes for our residents but also in the fact that we act as a leader in Green initiatives in our market areas.  

Built and managed by the full service development company HHHunt, Auston Woods has made every effort to adapt to the environment in which we reside. We save as many well-established trees as possible and then exceed local standards for the size and number of trees re-planted within the community.  Auston Woods Apartments strives to exceed government standards for energy efficiency and water conservation during the development process and beyond.

Want to be part of the Envision Charlotte initiative and promote green living? Contact Auston Woods.

You have probably heard by now that gas prices will only be going up and as we approach summer they may be as high as $5.00/gallon! If you live in an apartment in Charlotte, NC and you like to drive around the North Carolina countryside on your summer weekend, gas mileage is very important.

You can improve your car’s gas mileage. If you do them all, you can increase your gas mileage by 50%. When you bought your car you had a specified number of miles per gallon, but you may not be seeing that mileage today. Why?

Stop neglecting regular car maintenance.  If it has been awhile since you have had a tune up on your car, schedule one! Be sure to keep up on your car’s regular maintenance. Regularly maintained cars get the best gas mileage. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Check your tire air pressure. Your tires can directly affect your gas mileage. As the temperature changes, so does the pressure in your tires. Regularly check that your tires have the required PSI. When the pressure in your tires is too low, your tires no longer work efficiently, they work like water balloons. With too much surface on the road, there is too much friction causing your car to work harder. Your gas mileage can be dramatically affected by poor tire pressure.

Believe it or not, changing your driving habits can affect your gas mileage. The way you drive affects how much gas you burn. Not planning to stop, revving up and slowing down and driving over the speed limit all use too much gas.  By changing your behavior behind the wheel, you can increase the gas mileage in your car.

Enjoy the summer and enjoy the ride. Keep money in your pocket as gas prices rise, follow these tips to increase your gas mileage.

Over 60,000 spectators watched Charlotte’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade last year as it marched through Charlotte. Between the bag pipes and the cheers of the spectators lining the streets along with the flags, floats, kids, and pipe band music, everyone was happy to be Irish for a day. This year, the 16th  Annual Parade promises to be even bigger and better! Get out of your apartment in Charlotte and join the festivities.

This year’s parade Grand Marshal will be Bill Duffy, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Bobcat Sports & Entertainment.

The Charlotte Goes Green Festival, on S. Tryon St. between 1st St & 3rd is from 10am – 6:30pm and features Irish music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, food, vendors and plenty of beverages. There is no admission fee to attend.

Enjoy Irish music, performances by Irish dancers, the Celtic Kids Zone, and have lots to eat while perusing the great Irish/Celtic vendors that attend the festival from around the U.S. It is expected that the 2012 Charlotte Goes Green Festival will be the biggest and most attended yet.

Charlottepatsday.com

Charlotte Wine and Food Weekend is coming, April 18-22. The Queen City's best purveyors of fine foods are pairing with some of the country's top wineries for The Largest Dinner Party in Charlotte. Here is one of 20 dinners all across the city Thursday, April 19.

The Terra Vintner Dinner is pairing with Alexander Valley Vineyards. Dinners sell out quickly, so make your reservation now.

Then there is this dinner with a little different spirit. New Tequila Dinner at Paco's Tacos & Tequila on Wednesday April 18.

For more information on this culinary experience, contact www.charlottewineandfood.org or watch the video below.

Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend Kick Off from Burke Communications on Vimeo.

This weekend will be the perfect time to get out of the apartment in Charlotte and take a little road trip. Enjoy the scenery as you drive to Albemarle to enjoy the Stanly County Winter Wine Festival.
 
The Stanly County Winter Wine Festival, an hour East of Charlotte,  will feature several of North Carolina’s finest wineries and vineyards. North Carolina has great wine, and here you can taste the best vintages. An excellent chance for learning about  North Carolina's Wine or just a great afternoon with Wine & Friends!

The event will be full of entertainment, food and wine sampling and 1,500 attendees are expected to be there! Saturday, Feb 25 12:00 to 6:00p at Market Station, Albemarle, NC.

Everyone in North Carolina is a basketball fan these days with our famous Tar Heels. But sometimes those games are hard to get to if you live in an apartment in Charlotte. Well, it you love basketball and can’t get to a Tar Heels game, here is the answer.

The CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament has come to Charlotte. Celebrating the conference's 100th anniversary this year, the CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament brings more than 150,000 fans to town for action on the court and the non-stop celebrations off of it.  

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is the oldest African-American athletic conference in the nation. Along with the tournament February 27 – March 3, step shows, a major centennial celebration and more will take over Center City.  To fire up the fans, the Toyota Fan Experience returns to the Charlotte Convention Center with free concerts, celebrities and interactive games, just to name a few.