Press Release for Celebration In the Oaks Run/Walk

THE ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL CRESCENT CITY RACE SERIES GETS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS RUN/WALK

NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 9, 2014) – The Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic Race Series is gearing up for its annual Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk. The family-friendly two-mile race takes participants This 2-mile course takes participants through New Orleans City Park during their annual Celebration in the Oaks Light Display and features hot cocoa, Santa, and much more!

WHEN:  Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

WHERE:  The race begins in City Park on Victory Ave. near Storyland and ends on Victory Ave. by the Great Lawn, where the race festivities take place.

WHY:  The Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk is NOLA’s favorite holiday fun run! The course takes participants through City Park to see their annual Celebration in the Oaks light display, where the park is decorated with over 500,000 lights! The day is filled with hot cocoa, pictures with Santa, a holiday costume contest and much more!

This race is particularly popular with families, and many running or walking this event do so with strollers or children by their side.

After the race, participants can enjoy free refreshments and complimentary entry into the walking tour of the beautifully decorated Botanical Gardens, Storyland and Carousel Gardens, before the gates are open to the public!

REGISTRATION:         To register online, go to: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/allstate-sugar-bowl-celebration-in-the-oaks-runwalk-tickets-12432597233

Registration is available online for $30 for adults, $25 for children and $25 for military. You can pick up your bib at the event with an ID.

RACE DAY  SCHEDULE:                 

1:00 p.m. – The “Family Fun Zone” opens on Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn

1:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Face painting, photos with Santa, costume contest, warm up  session

3:30 p.m. – Race begins

5:00 p.m. – The post-race celebration ends on the Great Lawn; participants allowed entry into Celebration in the Oaks

Sanaa Restaurant - A Savannah Dining Experience

The Sanaa Restaurant located in the Kidani Village of the Disney Animal Kingdom Villas, is definitely a welcomed change of pace from your Disney adventures.  Sanaa serves both lunch and dinner and is a pleasure that is missed by many but was enjoyed by my family at our last visit to Walt Disney World.

Having planned our reservation to Sanaa on a day we were exploring the Animal Kingdom, we caught a bus to the Kidani Village from the Animal Kingdom Villas bus stop. The Kidani Village lobby is beautiful with a glass back wall, giving you a full view of the Savannah.  The restaurant is found down the staircase in back of the lobby, and once there you feel as though you have arrived at an African Game Reserve: gazing upon giraffes, zebras, ostrich, kudu, and gazelles.  After checking in for your reservation, walk out onto the deck.  This view should never be passed up.  It’s amazing to see the animal so close, and you and your family quickly get immersed in the wonder and magic of Disney, and you forget for a moment that you are still in Walt Disney World. 

I always encourage guests to talk to the Cast Members they meet, as you will hear fascinating stories of far away places and cultures.  We met a special Cast Member, Bulelani, from South Africa, and he shared with us the many facts and stories about giraffes.  We hung on his every word and really enjoyed talking to him! Did you know that giraffes in their native habitat sleep only 30 minutes a day?  They take very short naps because of the constant danger of predators.  We saw a giraffe lying down, and he told us you would never see that in the wild.  So odd but fascinating!   Bulelani continued to entertain us by talking about his home, and we were amazed that there are 11 native languages in South Africa!

 

Our adventure continued as our name was called and another wonderful Cast Member sat us at our table.  Amee was from Botswana, and she told us that is was very hot in Botswana but that Florida was way too humid for her – she could hardly breathe! 

The menu at Sanaa is a fusion of African and Indian – the best of both worlds!  They did include a Bison Burger on the menu in case your tastes are more traditional.  The entrees were delicious, but the desserts could not be beat in display or taste!  I had the Tanzanian Chocolate Mouse (my mouth waters just thinking about it today!).  Everything on my plate was made of chocolate – including the butterfly and the writing on the plate!  At this point, I became a little selfish, and would not share with anyone, no matter how much they begged; it was way too good! 

After the enjoying your meal, don’t let the adventure stop – be sure to explore the Resort! One place to stop is The Library.  As you enter the lobby from the stairway, walk down the hall on your left… you will find a sign for the Library.  We actually thought we were going to a Library (we are readers).  However, we found a beautiful sitting room with an outdoor porch where you can sit in rocking chairs and enjoy the Savannah View. 

With the beauty of this Resort and the tremendous views, you can understand how easy it would be to get lost in the moment and feel as if you had been transported to the exotic continent of Africa!  It was a perfect ending to our visit to the Kidani Village.  Don’t you think it is time for you to enjoy Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

sylvia@travelwiththemagic.com

Cyber Monday Tips

I'm not a Black Friday shopper mainly because the FanGirl and Guy stuff I'm looking for isn't always going to be in a brick and mortar store.  I find Cyber Monday shopping has a better selection, is more convenient, and is more me! 

I did go out Friday afternoon, after the big push, to see what was out there and to talk to retailers.  The general consensus was check on Monday - they should have the same deals online.  And some retailers told me they would have cyber deals all week.

Here are my tips for Planning Cyber Monday, and being a Successful Cyber Shopper!

5 Tips for Planning Cyber Monday

1.  Use a Savings Card

• Target Red Card:  It's FREE, is tied to your debit card, and gives you 5% Off and Free Shipping
• Sam's Card:  $45 for basic Savings Card, and you will receive exclusive deals 
• Amazon Prime:  $79, free shipping, a must for online shopping

Always check these 3 to compare pricing before buying toys, video games and electronics.  Many people head to big specialty stores, but they do not always provide the best prices.

2.   Make a List

You don't want to buy things you don't need, so have a list ready, and the gifts prioritized.  List out everyone by name, along with small gift items.  Some websites offer special offers like free shipping for reaching a purchase level:  a small gift just might get you to that limit.

 Cyber Monday will not be the only sale day before Christmas; stick to your list and be patient.  

3.  Be Cyber Safe

A big online shopping day means a big day for criminals, too:  online scams and potential viruses will be waiting for the unexpected buyer.  Limit your shopping to merchants you know and trust.  Go to their sites by typing in their URLs into your browser address bar:  DON'T click pop-ups or links in emails!    Do not use free wi-fi; stick to your home, office or secure locations because even a reliable wi-fi spot may have eavesdroppers waiting to hijack your personal information! 

4.  Do Your Research

A Great thing about online shopping is it allows you to effortlessly read product reviews, see what is popular and determine if your gift is best for the fan girl/boy on your list.

5.  Enjoy Shopping!

Buying gifts should not be stressful:  it should be thoughtful and fun!   Giving someone a gift is letting them know how important they are to us; so, plan, execute and enjoy Cyber Monday!

Need Ideas?  Check My Favorite Geeky Gifts!

or for the Fitness Buff in your life,  check Essential Gifts for Runners!

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Contact Me for more information at kesselrunner77@gmail.com