Levi's Curve ID Campus Tour Could Earn FSU a $10,000 Grant

You don't need to be a fashionista to appreciate this upcoming Tallahassee event. The Levi's Curve ID Mirror, Mirror Campus Tour will be making two stops in Florida on Tuesday, Oct. 25:
Florida State: Tuesday, Oct 25 from 10 am-6 pm on the Union Green (http://on.fb.me/oENZCN)

University of Florida: Tues, Oct 25 from 10 am-6 pm at Reitz Union North Hall (http://on.fb.me/qUgAKc)

What to expect from the Levi’s Curve ID Mirror, Mirror Campus Tour?

• Jean fittings with Levi’s® Fit Experts
• Hair and make-up touch-ups
• A photoshoot in the Levi’s® Curve ID jeans
• Jean discounts, gifts and more!

Aware of the friendly rivalry between FSU and Florida, the school with the most people at the event will receive a $10,000 grant for their school to support one of the women’s athletics, academics or arts programs on campus.

Bring your student ID and come down to the Studio!

Space is limited. First come, first serve. Begins Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. and ends on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Restrictions may apply; see official rules at event for details. Sponsor: Levi Strauss & Co.

Having seen the movie Footloose, I noticed Levi’s denim throughout the film which means it is “the” denim brand to be seen in. So what do ya say, FSU? Will ya get your denim on Tuesday?

Rev Up and Chill Out at New Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Store in Tallahassee

A little bird told me Tallahasseans have a new place to either get their morning cup of joe to rev up or escape the summer heat and chill out. It’s Dunkin Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Store which held its grand opening last month at the I-10 and Thomasville exchange. (3434 Thomasville Rd.)

This new Tallahassee location is open between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week and is complemented by a tasty menu created by Dunkin’ Brand’s culinary team, including Dunkin’ Donuts’ high-quality, great-tasting menu items that can be enjoyed all day, including old favorites such as a wide variety of hot and iced coffee, lattes and cappuccino to new menu products such as new Stuffed Breadsticks, Warm Apple Pie and Mountain Dew Coolatta.

A refreshing treat for a hot and steamy Florida summer day is Dunkin’ Donuts’ Frozen Hot Chocolate, available for a limited time at participating shops. Yeah, I know it sounds weird but it has the rich chocolate flavor of hot cocoa but is refreshingly frozen and cold. It’s simply delish and great escape from the heat!


In addition to new Frozen Hot Chocolate, also available for a limited time at select Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout Southeast, are Frozen Iced Tea and Frozen Lemonade.
Of course, the bite-size goodness of MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats are STILL available.

Need to get your ice cream fix? The Baskin-Robbins side will satisfy cravings with the best-in-class ice cream flavors including a “Flavor of the Month.” Celebrating Captain America, this July’s flavor is “Super-Soldier Swirl,” blue chips and cherry-flavored ribbon swirled into creamy vanilla ice cream.

In addition to a new "Flavor of the Month," Baskin-Robbins offers premium Soft Serve products, frozen beverages, including 31° Below™: Baskin-Robbins Soft Serve blended together with delicious candies and toppings. Flavors include Butterfinger®, Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup, M&M’s®, Snickers®, Oreo® and Heath®.

The new Tallahassee Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Store is good for the local economy because it’s employing about 30 to 40 crew members. The restaurant also features a drive-thru window for those of you on the go.

Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins
I-10 and Thomasville Exchange
3434 Thomasville Rd.
Tallahassee, Fla.

Oh My, Tallahassee. You're Getting Swanky.

Earlier this summer I had a whirlwind business trip to Tallahassee and while some things seemed the same, I could see other things are moving forward in Florida's capital city. I left two years ago in May and hadn't been back until August of this year.

I managed to stop at Barb's Southern Style Gourmet Brittles to check out the new flavor and grab some gourmet peanut brittle to bring back along with some homemade ice cream to enjoy while walking Lake Ella. The selections have expanded so much that they spill into two cabinets! (pictured below)


I also enjoyed a relaxing paddle down the Wakulla River with The Wilderness Way where we (other conference attendees) viewed birds, turtles and even manatees. There was a slight fog when we began and it burned out as the morning progressed. Spider webs tucked in the riverside weeds were jeweled with drops of dew glistening in the morning sun. Hearing the snort of a manatee while paddling the quiet river was a bit frightening when not knowing what it was but after seeing the manatee's tracker bobbing in the water, realized it was one of those awesomely cool moments.

While happy to visit my favorite hangouts, was super excited for the hotel. Walking into Hotel Duval, I couldn't believe this was Tallahassee. Whoa! Pretty swanky, my friends, and in a good way. Check out my review of Hotel Duval here.

In short, it's hip, cool and chic. Be sure to check out Level 8, the bar. Appears to be the place to be seen in Tallahassee and offers a sweet view of Florida's capital. When staying in Tallahassee again, I'd definitely stay there.


Want to do some of the things I did?

Barb's Southern Style Gourmet Brittles
Cottages at Lake Ella
1671 N. Monroe St.
Tallahassee
Tel: (850) 385-9839

The Wilderness Way
3152 Shadeville Road
Wakulla Station/Crawfordville
Tel: (850) 877-7200

Hotel Duval
415 North Monroe St.
Tallahassee, Fla. 32301
Tel: 850-224-6000

What's on Your Playlist?

I know this isn’t fashion related but I thought I would report on it since it was something that happened in Tallahassee. There are some definite benefits to being a college student. One of the best ones at FSU is seeing movies for free at the on campus movie theater. Just so you know, it is really cheap ($5) for non students to see a movie there. That is a huge price decrease compared to a normal theater, other than the dollar theater in town. The snacks are cheaper too. They show various film festivals, such as currently coming up is a Middle Eastern film fest, your favorite classics, as well as recently released. One of the biggest perks of the movie theater is the pre-showings of movies.

This week I saw the pre-screening for the movie “Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.” I would give it two thumbs up!! One of my biggest pet peeves about movie trailers is that they show all the funny points in the movie and when you actually see it you are disappointed that they spoiled it. With this film they just continue to deliver. I have never heard an audience react so much to a film such as this. We laughed, we cried; ok so no one cried, it wasn't a tear jerker, but it was probably the first film I have gone to that people openly yell at the screen. Things such as "OMG, please don't do that" or a resounding "EUUU" was heard a couple times. There were a lot of comments about a word rhyming with witch towards a certain character in the film. People even applauded during the movie and were cheering when characters stood up for themselves. I have never seen an audience more drawn into and feel completely apart of a movie before. It was entertaining enough to watch the people around my seat.

Another bonus about the movie, it didn’t drag on. It was approximately an hour and half. It brought you through the story and you still felt it was complete at the end. So here is to “Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist”, simply a good movie.

Not Just for Bunny Huggers: National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 27

This Saturday is National Public Lands Day, a day devoted to cleaning up and sprucing up sometimes under appreciated parks, preserves and forests. There are some events happing around the Tallahassee area so check out the Public Lands site for a project near you and here's my editorial on the subject.

I'm curious, anyone know who Iron Eyes Cody is?

$5.50 Per Gallon? Are You Kidding Me?

You poor people up in Florida's Capital City. I heard the news today that fuel is $5.50 per gallon in Tallahassee. I didn't think it was true until I spoke to someone up there this morning. The worst I've seen it here in Port Charlotte is around $4.39 or so.

How is this impacting everyone? Have the prices dropped? I want to know what you think of all this.

I read over at TallyCast's blog about two new sushi places in Tallahassee. Can't wait to try them when I'm back in the area. Yum!

Times Tough for Everyone? Even for Realtor Ken Foster?

When I was meeting a friend for dinner at Paulina's Pizzeria (yummy pizza, BTW) a couple weeks back, I saw whom I thought was another panhandler on the Tallahassee roadside.

As I looked closer and saw the man was holding his sign, "Will Work for Food," and pointing to the billboard above, I realized what was happening, a bit.

Realtor Ken Foster is working for food, but not for him (but I don't know, aren't realtors having a tough time right now?) for the Second Harvest Food Bank. According to Foster's Web site, 5% from every commission is donated.

That's pretty cool.

Are Tallahassee Panhandlers Becoming More Aggressive?

Are Tallahassee panhandlers becoming more aggressive? Are there more of them around town?

I went to WalMart today and was asked for a donation for a softball team. At first I was really excited when the little girl approached me. I thought she was a Girl Scout and I wanted to stock up on more Thin Mints but it's probably best she was a softball player. I dropped a buck in her pink helmet.

Heading to the car, two young kids, probably 12 or 13 approached me saying they were collecting money for their church. Granted it was light out but I felt a little threatened and cornered but gave them a dollar. I'd like to think they were really collecting for their church but who knows. It was almost like the kids in Afghanistan begging for money. Not only were the kids begging but they were aggressive about it.

Anyway... I saw someone else come my way, not sure if they were heading to their car or to panhandle me but I quickly got in and left. Pulling out, I passed another panhandler at the usual stop sign. It was a different beggar from what I've seen before but I've noticed beggars tend to change locations.

Heading back home, I noticed a what appeared to be a homeless man tidying up his camp by Mission San Luis and the closer I drove to Monroe from Tennessee, the more homeless people I noticed. I was even panhandled when I went to FedEx-Kinkos on Tennessee earlier this month.

Is this a reflection of the times or have I just not noticed as many people begging in Tallahassee?

How Will Cheryl Dunlap's Murder Change Our Community?

According to area news outlets (including the "Tallahassee Democrat"), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed yesterday the body found in Apalachicola National Forest by hunters on Saturday is indeed that of Cheryl Dunlap, the Wakulla woman missing since Dec. 1.

When I first heard Ms. Dunlap went missing the first week of December, I didn't think much about it until I received a call while from a law enforcement official last week questioning me about what I saw and observed on Saturday, Dec. 1.

My class had a field trip in the area where Ms. Dunlap's car was found and I was the first one to the site. I told the official everything I remembered, which wasn't much and I don't think I was much help. Ever since, I've been racking my brain trying to remember something but have been unsuccessful.

I began following the case this week and reading the discussions posted by "Tallahassee Democrat" readers. I lurked the forums daily, getting myself easily sucked into the rumors and basically creeped out by the facts and the fiction.

There seem to be many unknowns about the case. For instance, Ms. Dunlap was last seen at home, is that where she was victimized? Or did she have a flat tire and stop on the roadside? How did the perp get her ATM pin number? Why do the police think her killer is still in our community? Is her murder related to two Georgia murders? (I don't know the details of those deaths other than dismemberment was involved, but were the victims' ATM cards used, too?)

I assume local law enforcement officials are wondering these questions, too and hopefully, they have the answers and haven't released those answers because it's vital information to solving the case.

One sad thing is for certain, Ms. Dunlap was murdered and her killer is out there. My prayers and condolences are with her family.

If you haven't seen it, take a look at this photo. Yes, it's creepy but do you recognize this person? Have you seen this person?

Anyone with information is asked to call the Leon County Sheriff's Office at (850) 922-3300, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-876-TIPS (8477).

So what does this mean for us and our community?

I find it strange I'm referring to this area as "our community." Ever since moving here two-and-a-half-years ago, I've felt like an outsider, like a transient gypsy making a pit stop along a journey to something better. Oddly, somewhere along the way I've developed a sense of community to this place, especially to Wakulla. Maybe I've found the same attractive vortex which kept drawing Ms. Dunlap back to the area (from what I've read, she used to live here, moved away then returned).

I'm a bit of a free-spirit, I enjoy solo adventures but now I think I'll be clipping my wings slightly until the case is solved. I'm not planning on being a shut-in but will be more cautious on the adventures and trips I take. I had thought about biking Wakulla State Park and Apalachicola National Forest by myself but think I'll nix that idea for a while.

I think about the potentially dangerous situations I've been in, but thankfully, someone's been looking out for me and it's time for me to lookout for me, too.

Ms. Dunlap's murder has shaken our open-door community and many people are frightened by what they don't know, I'm included. But let's look at the big picture.

We can't let the murderer alter our lives. Heck, that's what the terrorists try to do.

While I find them goofy, we need to do what the bumper stickers on the law enforcement vehicles say, "Don't be afraid, be alert." I'm not going to let someone take away my liberties, will you? Are you going to be afraid or alert?

The Leon County Sheriff's Office is looking for the truck pictured. Have you seen it? It's sure hard to miss.

AGAIN: Anyone with information is asked to call the Leon County Sheriff's Office at (850) 922-3300, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-876-TIPS (8477).

Read print media coverage on the case at this blog.

Is it Me or is Crime Up in Tallahassee?

This week, I've heard of three businesses being robbed plus a bank, all fairly close to where I live. Then last week, someone got shot in the parking lot of their apartment complex. Is it me or has Tallahassee always had daily crime? I also found it odd that last month my apartment complex distributed fliers asking residents to keep alert, be cautious when entering our apartments and if we know of a crime, report it. I need to check the police blotter to see if something happened here.

Is the perception of increased crime due to:

• I have a heightened state of awareness and crime isn't up (it's a figment of my imagination).
• It's the holiday time and people are becoming criminals to have a merry Christmas.
• The economy is tanking and people are becoming criminals to make ends meet.

Things that make you go, "hmm."

What Is It?

Imagine my surprise this Thursday when I got up to find out the temperature was 28 degrees outside! Yes, this image shows ICE on the windshield.

Although being a Buffalo native, I did not have any type of ice scraper in the car. I thought about the things I could use to scrape off the ice (and things I shouldn't use, from past experience) but relied on the interior vents and friction from the windshield blades to melt the ice away.

Message to Tallahassee Drivers: Breath and Slow Down!

Over the past week, I've seen three accidents HAPPEN, not just the aftermath, but actually happen. Driving to and from the new offices each day is exposing me more to Tallahassee drivers and frankly people, you need to simma down, breath and chill.

Yes, the traffic sucks, it takes me 30 minutes (used to take 15) to get home or the gym at night from work but cutting people off, speeding through "pink" lights (between yellow and mostly red) and my biggest pet peeve, "blocking the box" - you know, the INTERSECTION at a red light - isn't going to improve anything. And pay attention, people! Two of the three accidents I saw were caused by people on their cell phones, rear ending cars at red lights (the other was a motorcycle rear ending a car at a red light, hope the dude wasn't on a cell phone!).

Yesterday, I saw a pissed off driver follow a female driver into my gym parking lot so he could scream at her for stopping at a green light (she was making a right turn but couldn't because a pedestrian was in the crosswalk; the truck behind her slammed on the brakes and got pissed, guess he's a driver into obtaining points...). Road rage is pretty frightening.

Things you can do on the evening drive? Listen to NPR, either soothing music or commentary, turn on 87.7 and listen to the news on WCTV (for traffic reports), tune into Hank FM (my fave Tally radio station right now) and sing along with the classics or pop in a CD and learn a new language (which I should be doing for the Nov. trip to Italy). Alright, I'm a geek, but find something soothing during the drive time. Getting pissed off isn't going to change anything, it only makes things worse. Why can't we play nice on the road?