Sunny Skies Shine on CR

According to KCRG.com, tomorrow looks to be a great day to be outside. With the sun shining and highs reaching 80 degrees its time to get out there and enjoy the beautiful Spring, almost Summerlike weather.

So, here is a list of fun things you can do tomorrow to get out there and enjoy the day!

1. Go for a walk
2. Have a picnic in the park
3. Go frisbee golfing with friends
4. Go rollerblading
5. Get a group together for a fun game of kickball
6. Go for a bike ride
7. Layout and relax

There are many other fun things you can do outside on a warm and sunny day like tomorrow. Get out there and do something fun and if you have any other good ideas to add to the list, simply post a comment below. Have a great day!

"Walk n Talk"

Well, the weather outside this week couldn't get much better. With temperatures in the mid 70's throughout the next couple days, I recommend you get out there and enjoy it. One of my favorite things to do on a nice sunny day is call up one of my best friends and go for a "walk n talk."

A "walk n talk" is exactly what it sounds like. You get together with a friend or two and walk around and talk about the latest things. What's been going on in your life; what's new; etc.

It's a great way to get out there and enjoy the weather, spend time with friends, and get a little exercise while catching up on the latest news. Here are some trails around the area where you can meet for a "walk n talk".

Great "Walk n Talk" Locations
-Cherry Hill Trail
-Noelridge Trail
-Cherokee Trail
-Cleveland Elementary School Trail

Personally my friend and I usually just walk around the neighborhood or stroll where ever the wind takes us. But there are many great places to enjoy a "walk n talk" with your friends. Comment on your favorite "walk n talk" place below and get out there and enjoy this beautiful weather!

3rd Annual Diversity Conference

Still looking for something to do this weekend? Come to the 3rd Annual Diversity Conference on the Coe College campus this Saturday, March 27. Registration will start at 9:00am in Stuart Hall with sessions continuing throughout the day. The schedule of events is listed below.

Schedule of Events:
9:00-10:00AM - Registration and refreshments
10:00-10:50AM Session I
11:00-11:50AM Session II
12:00-1:20PM Lunch with Keynote Eddie Moore Jr. (Located in the PUB)
1:30-2:20PM Session III
2:30-4:00PM Reception at the BSEO House (located on the Coe College campus)

For more details on each individual session, click here and find out more about this great opportunity.

The 3rd annual Diversity Conference is open to the Community and is brought to you by the following Coe College Organizations: BSEO, Alliance, Multicultural Fusion, Gender Studies Department, and Committee on Diversity. I encourage the entire Cedar Rapids and Coe Community to attend and post your reflections and comments below.

"Avenue Q" at the U.S. Cellular Center

Well, I'm back with another great theatre opportunity for you this weekend. Not only is Coe College performing the hit musical "Company" but the U.S. Cellular Center brings the musical "Avenue Q" to the stage this weekend with five outstanding performances.

Click here to find out information about the show and don't forget to order your tickets today by calling the U.S. Cellular Center Ticket Office at 1-800-745-3000 or order online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/49260?brand=uscellularcenter

"Avenue Q" will be showing on Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm and 7:30pm both days. So get out there and enjoy this great theatre weekend!

"Company" comes to Coe

If you enjoy theatre, this is the weekend for you! This weekend, Coe College presents the musical "Company" in the Dows Theatre on the Coe College Campus. Performances will run from 8:00pm-11:00pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week.

Last Friday was opening night and they had a great crowd and are hoping for another great weekend to wrap up this fun and exciting musical.

Now I may not be much of a theatre person, but this musical plot sounds like a good one that would be interesting for all. Check out this news release to find out more about this entertaining musical.

Order your tickets today by calling the Coe College Box Office at 319-399-8600.

Also, follow my blog the rest of this week as I will be providing even more exciting theatre opportunities you can get in on this weekend.

Hello Spring! Where are you?

Well, according to the calendar, today marks the beginning of Spring, but by the looks outside this morning you would've thought differently. Here are some pictures of what I saw just before going to work this morning.

Here is a picture of the quad on the Coe College Campus in Cedar Rapids. The ground covered in snow!



This is the view along the sidewalk
of my apartment
building.
The bushes were covered in snow too!


And another morning cleaning off my car before work. Hopefully it will be the last time for awhile.





Luckily most of the snow has already melted away for the day. Now let's hope it will stay away until next year!

Let Spring begin!

Dublin's Irish Pub

Well I hope you all made it out and had a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day! I actually joined in the festivities and walked in the SaPaDaPaSo Parade in Downtown Cedar Rapids. It was a lot of fun and it was great to see so many people filling the streets and coming together to celebrate this Cedar Rapids tradition.

I know St. Patrick's Day may be over but if you're looking for an Irish Pub to keep the celebration going, check out Dublin's Irish Pub located at 415 1st Street SE in downtown Cedar Rapids.


After much rebuilding after the flood, this "Taste of Ireland" restaurant is a great pub eatery with delicious food and an amazing atmosphere. After going there for the first time last week, I'm eager to go back again.

So, if you haven't been to Dublin's yet and are looking for a new restaurant to try this weekend, I recommend you check out Dublin's. Try out their food and let other blog followers know what you think by posting a comment below.

SaPaDaPaSo Parade!

The luck of the Irish is in the air and it's time to join in on the St. Patrick's Day fun. Head out to downtown Cedar Rapids tomorrow for the 35th annual SaPaDaPaSo Parade.

The Parade will begin at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon starting at 4th Ave and 6th St. The parade route travels through downtown Cedar Rapids ending at nearby Green Square Park. It looks to be a gorgeous day with highs in the upper 50's, so grab your green and head downtown for a great afternoon full of St. Patrick's Day fun!

This annual parade began in 1975 and overtime has become a meaningful and celebrated tradition to the people of Cedar Rapids. To learn more about the history behind the SaPaDaPaSo Parade click on the link below.
http://www.sapadapaso.org/sapa_history_page/history.htm

Also learn more about the Saint Patrick's Day Parade Society by visiting their website at http://www.sapadapaso.org/

And if you can't make it to the Parade tomorrow afternoon, don't worry, KCRG TV 9 will be providing coverage online at KCRG.com so you can watch the parade while your at work. So don't miss out and have a great St. Patrick's Day!

What's The Buzz?

Well blog followers I'm back from the sunshine state and ready to get back to filling you in on the "Cedar Rapids Buzz." But first I want to hear what you did over the past week while I was away. I'll give you a sneak peek at my week in the sunshine state. Here are some photos of my trip with the Coe College Tennis Team.









We all went to Cocoa Beach for the day!

The water was cold but still so pretty!


We also enjoyed dressing up and going out to dinner together!

It was my last Spring Break with the tennis team and I had a blast!

Now that you've had a sneak peek into my week, I want to hear about your week. It's your chance to be in my shoes and post on the "Cedar Rapids Buzz." The snow has melted and the sun has been shining. What else have I been missing out on over the past week? Did you take my advice and do anything on the Spring Break Top 10 List? What have you been up to? It's your turn to fill me in on the "Cedar Rapids Buzz."

This Week in Cedar Rapids

Well blog followers I'm sorry to say I'll be on a leave of absence from my blog for the next week as it is our Spring Break at Coe College and I'll be traveling with the tennis team to Orlando, Florida. But no worries I have not forgotten about you. I have made a list of things to do in Cedar Rapids while I'm away. Have fun with it and get out there and enjoy the city of Cedar Rapids.

10 Things to do this week in Cedar Rapids

1. Rock the stable and cheer the Roughriders on to victory. They will be playing at home at the CR Ice Arena on March 6, March 12, and March 13.
2. Go on a shopping spree with your friends at Lindale Mall or Westdale Mall. While you're at Westdale check out the new restaurant, Teri D's. Great food for a great price.
3. While your out at Westdale Mall stop by the Cedar Rapids Public Library and pick up a book and enjoy some reading time throughout the week.
4. Check out the newly re-opened Theatre Cedar Rapids (TCR) and their production of "The Producers". Performances run from now until March 14th.
5. Go to a movie at one of Cedar Rapids finest movie theatres. Pick from a variety of movies such as "Valentine's Day", "Shutter Island", "Blindside" and so much more.
6. Before you go to the movies try out a new restaurant you've never been to before, or try cooking a new recipe at home. You may find you had cooking skills you never knew you had before.
7. Enjoy an evening full of excitement at Cirque de Soleil, performing at the US Cellular Center March 10-14.
8. Before you enjoy an evening at Cirque de Soleil check out the new downtown district. Businesses are back and better than ever after the flood but they need your support.
9. Stop by the craft store and pick up materials and supplies to enjoy craft time with your friends. Enjoy making tie blankets, knitting, or my personal favorite, scrapbooking.
10. Don't forget to enjoy time of relaxation and time with family and friends.

If you have any others ideas of what to do in Cedar Rapids this week, comment below. Have a great week everyone and I'll be back to keep you up to date on the Cedar Rapids Buzz soon!

TCR Re-opens Downtown

When the Floods of 2008 poured through the downtown area almost two years ago, there were two main entertainment centers that were hit hard. One was the Cedar Rapids Paramount where many concerts, entertainment, and shows were performed. The other, Theatre Cedar Rapids, a place full of exciting shows and entertainment for the Cedar Rapids Community. After months of sadness and grief, the city is now overjoyed and full of excitement.

Theatre Cedar Rapids, located in downtown Cedar Rapids across from the US Cellular Center, re-opened its doors last weekend to a sell out crowd. More than 550 people came out for the opening night of the new production of "The Producers". After 20 months of renovations, the Cedar Rapids Community has been anxiously awaiting this day and couldn't be happier with the outcome.

With new seating, new concessions, new restroom facilities, new lounges, etc. it is amazing how they have turned such devastation into something so great.

Check out this video, brought to you by KCRG TV9 News, for the complete story.



Last weekend was the opening weekend of "The Producers" and the actors and actresses were welcomed by a sell out crowd. They are hoping for another sell out crowd this weekend and all the way until their production finishes up on Sunday, March 14. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 319−366−8591 or order online by going to http://www.theatrecr.org/blog/tickets

So, if you're looking for some entertainment, check out the new Theatre Cedar Rapids. You won't be disappointed.

Words from a National Champion

To get you ready for the Wrestling Championships this weekend I’ve interview someone close to home to give you their thoughts on all the excitement ahead. These are the words of Coe College senior, Tyler Burkle, (National Wrestling Champion ’08) and his thoughts on the upcoming weekend.

Are you ready for another run at the National Championship?
Absolutely. I came up a little short of my goal last year when I took 3rd place. I feel like that has motivated me through the off season. I have put more time and effort into my training this off season than I ever have before. I realize that this is my last shot at wrestling in the NCAA National Championships, I want to go out on top. I have been wrestling since I was four years old, and it all comes down to this last week.

What are you hopes going into the weekend? What is your ultimate goal? My goal is to win the team title. Coe has never been national champions as a team and that is definitely the ultimate goal. I also want to win an individual title, but I think the team goal is more important. I think if we all go out there and wrestle up to our ability, the national championship is definitely within reach.

How did you feel after you won the National Championship a couple years ago? It was an awesome feeling. It just felt so good to have all of my hard work and dedication pay off. It didn't feel nearly as good finishing 3rd place last year and I want that feeling of being a National Champion back again. I want to win for myself, but also for my coaches, family, and friends that have supported me and believed in me throughout my whole wrestling career.

Who is your biggest competition? As a team, our biggest competition is Augsburg and Wartburg. Augsburg is currently ranked number one, Wartburg number two, and we (Coe) are ranked third. As those are the rankings, I feel like all three teams are very equal and capable of winning the championship. It's all about putting it all together when it counts, wrestling your best when the pressure is on.

What are you ranked going into the tournament? I am ranked number one nationally going into the national tournament at 184 pounds. That being said, I will probably have a pretty big target on my back so it's important I am ready to go every single time I step on the mat. I want to get out to an early lead in every match to put doubt in my opponent's mind.

How do you feel about competing against Wartburg, as they have been your biggest rivals in the Iowa Conference for the past few years?
I like the rivalry. I think it's good for the sport and it's definitely exciting as an athlete. Wartburg is very good and has an excellent wrestling tradition. To dethrone Wartburg this year would be a great feeling. However, I think that there will be other teams at nationals that will step up and compete for the title.

How would you describe your college wrestling career? What does it mean to you?
I had a lot of fun wrestling for Coe. I have had excellent coaches, teammates, and fans. Without these people, I know I wouldn't have had near the success. It means a lot to me that everyone here has been so supportive and helpful. It's great that others are always encouraging you and want to see you succeed. I will definitely miss college wrestling, it has been an awesome journey. I just want to make sure we have a good end to the season.

National Wrestling Championships

If you’re a wrestling fan then come out this weekend to the U.S. Cellular Center for the Division III Wrestling National Championships. Competition will start heating up on Friday, March 5 and will continue throughout the day and conclude on Saturday, March 6.

Top contenders competing for the national team title include top ranked Augsburg College, followed by Wartburg College at number two, and our close to home Coe College Kohawks are ranked at number three.

Both Coe and Wartburg have qualified individual contenders in all 10 weight classes and look to compete well and finish out the year strong. Coe College senior, Tyler Burkle, and Coe College Junior Clayton Rush will be back in the circle again this weekend in front of their home crowd and are fired up and ready to go.

Burkle comes into the tournament ranked number one in the nation at 184 pounds and is ready for another run at the National Championship he won two years ago.

Win or lose, it is bound to be a great weekend of intense competition, so don’t miss out.

Call the U.S. Cellular Center Ticket Office at 319-362-1729 to get you tickets today or order tickets online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/49260?brand=uscellularcenter and get in on the excitement.

Let's Grab A Bite!

As a Westdale Mall employee for over three years now, I’ve seen how business has slowed overtime. Within three years Von Maur, American Eagle, and recently the Buckle have all closed their doors. But it’s time to stop back in and check out the latest openings.

This past week two new stores have opened its doors. Teri D’s is a new restaurant that is grabbing a lot of customers attention with its great food and great prices. Currently serving breakfast sandwiches and delicious lunch options such as sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, wraps, etc. it’s another option for customers to enjoy a lovely afternoon lunch with friends and family.

Teri D’s isn’t the only business opening its doors at Westdale Mall. Recently a new coffee shop, Java Oasis, opened its doors, providing customers with delicious pastry and coffee drink options.


(Video brought to you by KCRG TV9 News)

Although many think Westdale Mall has been on its way under, it’s time to bring it back and keep it going. These businesses are just the beginning. Support the Westdale Mall and grab a bite to eat with your family or enjoy a cup of coffee with your friends!

Once you’ve tried it, spread the word and comment on your experience here. It's time to bring the mall back!