Smurfs Help Us Make America Bluetiful (Sponsored)
Going green never looked so bluetiful. The Smurfs are spreading their message of harmony with nature by hitting the streets to clean up the planet during the "America the Bluetiful" campaign. To celebrate the opening of "
Sony’s New Ultra HD TV (Sponsored)
Let's talk about the big picture. Better yet—the big, clear picture. If you're like me, a person who thinks the best reality show on TV is any sporting event, you'll want to get a look at the Sony XBR 4K Ultra HD TV. In any of its dim South End Patch News
What’s Your Favorite Summer Memory? (Sponsored)
What is your favorite summer memory? Close your eyes and think back — where were you and who was with you? How old were you? Were you the fastest in the neighborhood at chasing down the ice cream man? Did you help your parents plant a flower or vegetable garden? Maybe you remember spending lazy days by the lake, or pool, passing the deep-end test or your first time going off the high dive. Tell us below in the comments! Need more summer inspiration? Check out the official ‘Grown Ups 2′ Pinterest page and don’t forget to see the movie, in theaters July 12. South End Patch
Celebrate Global Smurfs Day (Sponsored)
By Kathleen Miller The world is about to get a whole lot smurfier. Ambassadors from 28 countries are painting the town blue today as they kick off the second-annual Global Smurfs Day by spreading that irrepressible smurfy cheer through the streets of Paris. The celebration honors Smurfs creator Pierre “Peyo” Culliford’s June 25 birthday and the opening of ‘The Smurfs 2’ on July 31. Culliford’s daughter, Veronique, presided over a ceremony in her father’s hometown of Belgium at the site of a giant Smurf statue. She officially appointed more than 40 Smurfs ambassadors who then boarded a train to Paris, where the movie is set, where they spread smiles and heralded the movie’s opening. Events are taking place around the world, and in Los Angeles, families can join Smurfs at local appearances where they will play the Ubisoft video game, and sample Menchie’s Smurfberry frozen yogurt, among other activities. Families are encouraged to enjoy nature by the U.S. Forest Service and Ad Council’s Discover the Forest campaign, and can watch the first “The Smurfs” film at an outdoor evening screening. Smurf Ambassadors will post photos from the day on Instagram with the hashtag #GlobalSmurfsDay. You can also follow their adventures at the official Global Smurfs Day site at www.GlobalSmurfsDay.net. ‘The Smurfs™ 2,’ is a hybrid live action/animation family feature film starring Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Jayma Mays and Katy Perry, pits the loveable blue creatures against the evil wizard Gargamel, who creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties, kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris. Then it’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our time, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her! Watch a preview of the movie with your kids here. “The Smurfs 2” opens July 31 in theaters nationwide. South End Patch
If I Were a Kid I Would Totally Do That… (Sponsored)
Every June, I watch kids enviously as the school year dwindles and the excitement builds. Summer holds so much promise when you’re young: You can do practically anything now that you’re not spending six hours a day in school, your bedtime is extended, and you can sleep till quarter-past whenever. And there’s that whole, “no more teachers, no more books” thing. Here are a few things I’d do this summer if I were still a kid — what would you do? Time was on my side. Three months off — enough time to beat every video game I own, go creek stomping, perfect my Frisbee throw, swim in every pool on the block, build a tree fort, work my way through my reading list, and still get bored. The ice cream truck. I hear the ice cream man and suddenly have the undeniable craving for a Rocket Pop that will turn my tongue purple. But it’s just not appropriate for a grown woman to go tearing down the street after a white van blaring “The Entertainer.” Free vacations! As kids, we had all-expenses-paid trips to the beach, to Six Flags, and to theme parks. Of course we can still take those trips as adults and enjoy them with our own families, but now we know exactly how much they cost — a lot. All-you-can-eat summer food. I miss the days of going to a cookout and eating whatever I wanted, the idea of counting calories was as foreign as minding my checking account balance. Seconds on dessert? Yes, please! No responsibilities. As a kid you might have to take a turn mowing the lawn. As a grown up you have to do it every week. You also have to weed the garden, paint the shutters, wash the car, stain the deck and clean the grill… Permission to put my feet up? Granted. What about summer makes you miss being a kid? Tell us in the comments why you wish you were a kid again. Need more summer inspiration? Grown Ups 2, starring Adam Sandler, comes to theaters July 12. South End Patch
After Earth in Local Theaters Today (Sponsored)
After Earth, in theaters now, promises to be the movie event of the summer – and how could it not be, with Will Smith and his son Jaden starring as stranded space rangers—one still in training—on the unrecognizable planet Earth 1,000 years in the future. All grown up since the last time he shared the screen with his dad in The Pursuit of Happyness, Jaden plays a teenager named Kitai Raige, who reaches out to the father he never knew, a legendary ranger named Cypher, for a little guidance. An interplanetary mission meant to be a bonding experience ends in a crash that injures Cypher, leaving Kitai alone on the ground to survive with some help from dad. Some lessons, like how to escape a blood-thirsty alien and act like a man, are best left to dad to teach, and make you realize every day is father’s day. Directed and co-written by M. Night Shyamalan, After Earth offers a classic coming-of-age tale with mind-blowing special effects and acting to match. So grab your cozy sweatshirt and prepare for the ultimate father-son adventure! After Earth Now Playing in theaters. Click here for ticket information and showtimes. TELL US: Patch wants your movie reviews! Come back and tell us in comments the movie you saw, what you thought about it and how many stars out of five you would give the film. South End Patch
Sneak Preview: Disney’s ‘Planes’ Movie Trailer (Sponsored)
Watching movies is my favorite new family ritual. Now that my 5-year-old daughter spends her days running through neighbors’ backyards until dinner, television time has lost that guilty edge. In fact, in our multi-generational home, it’s the only moment when my parents, husband, 5- and 2-year-olds, and I are silent. (Well, not the 2-year-old so much. “That’s a bad guy, Momma?” “Yes, honey.” “Why, Momma, why that’s a bad guy? I want snack.”… You get the picture.) Really there’s nothing quite as charming as Grandpa sharing his beloved Peter Pan with his Tinker Bell-obsessed granddaughter, and explaining to her that Captain Hook was quite clever to make Tink jealous so she’d give up Peter Pan’s location. And now, here comes Planes—another Disney special, as always, perfectly attuned to kids’ imaginations and parents’ need for acknowledgement, with a believable bit of indulgence. It reunites Goose and Iceman (Yes, of Top Gun fame), and for the kids, tells the story of a plane who’s afraid of heights. My daughter’s first summer movie is perfectly timed for her first-day-of-kindergarten jitters because its tagline is “All the Courage in the World.” Moms, here’s what you need to know: Dane Cook voices the unlikely hero Dusty Crophopper, a crop duster who dreams of flying with the big guys in spite of his fear of heights and inadequate frame. The big guys are none other than Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards, invoking their Top Gun legacy as Echo and Bravo, respectively. So let’s pause here a moment of reflection on Top Gun. It was the ‘80s movie I was too young to watch but did—over and over and over—dreaming of being THAT girl in the bar (no-go). The staggered electric keyboard beats and guitar riffs that make you feel a part of the machinery running those slick planes is right there in the Planes trailer. It transports you instantly back to the 8th grade sleepover party where you ogled Tom Cruise on his motorcycle for the first time. Well done, Disney. Well done. Iceman and Goose are good too. Disney’s done Broadway, but now we get a take on the ‘80s good vs. evil. Back then, it was unabashedly bad bad guys with cocked heads facing off against arrogant good guys with toothy smiles—and perfectly shaved faces for all! Not to mention one of the greatest movie lines of all time: “Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash.” Bring it, Planes! While I fully expect the first viewing of Planes to be an awesome big-kid moment for my daughter, it’s the repetition that counts. When Planes makes it into our home, I know our 2-year-old—who just […]
Memorial Day BBQ? 8 Money-Saving Tricks (Sponsored)
Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbeque experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party. 1. Start with a marinade. This means planning ahead — say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbeque America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbeque grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade, perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce, but avoid cola which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess.” Try these marinade recipe ideas. 2. Set your grill to medium heat. It’s so easy to overcook meat, especially when you’re entertaining. “Grilling over medium heat is key because the beef will be browned perfectly and cooked evenly,” says Dave Zino, Executive Chef and culinary spokesperson for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. The same goes for chicken. 3. Dessert? Try Grilled Fruit. It’s inexpensive and unexpected. “I love to grill fruit like watermelon, pears and pineapple. It really doesn’t get any easier or healthier than that. If you need something to cool off with, serve the grilled fruit with a scoop of frozen yogurt or ice cream,” Zino recommends. 4. Choose poultry instead of beef. Browne is a fan of “beer-butt chicken”, placing an entire chicken on the grill with an open can of beer inserted into it. “The beer steams the flesh and produces very moist and succulent meat.” He also likes turkey dogs and turkey bacon as a healthier choice for his popular “bacon wrapped cheese hot dogs” for kids. (There is no recipe — you just wrap the hotdog in cheese, and wrap cooked bacon around it. Rolls and condiments are optional.) 5. Or choose fish instead of beef. Browne likes to grill salmon on disposable cedar planks, which he soaks first so that the salmon remains moist while cooking. 6. Make your own coleslaw and baked beans. If you’ve got the time and the inclination, this is a big money-saver. We’re partial to Paula Deen’s coleslaw recipe and this root beer baked bean recipe from Aarti Sequeira of Food Network fame. And you can find healthy recipes in Browne’s Big Book Of Barbeque Sides. 7. Buy meat on sale or in bulk. Rick Browne says don’t be afraid to buy meat in the sale section of the […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: Memorial, MoneySaving, Sponsored, Tricks
When You Need to Paint the House (Sponsored)
It’s that time of year again and you’re outside, enjoying your yard. Then you start nosing around—maybe you’re inspecting your plants, or reviewing the condition of your lawn or setting up your sprinklers—and before you know it, reality hits. You need to paint the house. A daunting task. An expensive task. A necessary task—because it’s not just about how your house looks, it’s about your home’s value. Neglect is not an option. Take heart, however. Information and resources have never been more easily available to help you through this project. Know Your OptionsYour options are to either hire a contractor or paint it yourself. Hiring a contractor is an expensive option, but if it’s in your budget and you do the necessary research to find a quality contractor, you won’t regret it. The best method to find a professional painter is word-of-mouth. Ask a neighbor who’s recently repainted, or go to a local paint store and ask for recommendations. You could also use a service such as the popular Angie’s List. Once you’ve contacted the painter, ask for references before you even bother getting a quote. Most professional contractors will give you a free estimate. They know what they’re looking for and can point out important issues you may have missed such as carpentry work on deteriorated siding. If your house is extremely tall or has dangerous gables, professionals have the equipment and insurance to handle this type of treacherous job. And many contractors guarantee their work for a year, so if something chips or peels, you’re covered. Your DIY Checklist If your budget—or your house—is smaller, and you enjoy a good do-it-yourself project, you can paint your house yourself. It’s a multi-step process, and you’ll want to spend some time preparing for it. Here’s a brief game plan: 1. Decide when to paint. Spring and fall are the best times of year to paint. When outside temperatures are in the mid-50s and higher, the caulk, primer and paint cure properly. 2. Decide where to start your prep work. Do you need to scrape peeling areas? Do you have any rotten wood that needs to be replaced? Be sure to check the base of your columns and areas around and under gutters. Also check all window sills, especially windows that are in damp, shady areas. Replacing wood might require a handyman, and getting someone who knows what they are doing is worth every penny. Do you have metal railings or awnings that need painting? This requires a whole different set of supplies and techniques. 3. Once all the scraping and potential rot problems are addressed, the next job is to […]
How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day? (Sponsored)
Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day. How can we make every day Earth Day? Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of our lack of knowledge. Let’s start there. Remember that children learn from what we do. There are some wonderful family activities you can do together while learning about the environment. Make a “to do” list and make it fun! Do as many hands-on projects as you can each day to help save the earth in little ways. Have the children keep a chart or journal about everything they do. Here are some suggestions: Indoors: Learn more about the earth with your kids – surf the web, read books, magazines, and newspapers. Conserve energy and save water by letting children find (and a parent fix) dripping faucets; only running the dishwasher when full; taking short showers; turning the water off while brushing your teeth; turning off electrical items when not in use; doing full loads of laundry only. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers. Outdoors: Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Clean up roadside litter. Create a habitat by putting up a birdhouse. Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens. At School: Urge teachers and administrators to do activities for Earth Day and every day. Suggest ideas for projects: write poetry; create environmentally-themed music; have an environmental poster contest. Check to see which sources of electricity you can conserve in your school (electric pencil sharpener, lights on in rooms not used, etc.) and keep a chart about how many ways you saved energy. At Work: Make a company Earth Day resolutions list. Conserve paper and electricity. Close shades in the summer to prevent high heat in offices. Don’t use air conditioning all the time. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers at the office. While Traveling: Visit parks and nature centers. Visit a maritime museum. While on a drive, have children count how many things might be […]