Blacksburg welcomed a popular name in pizza to the downtown scene on Saturday evening.

Mellow Mushroom, a well-known, eclectic pizzeria franchise, opened its doors on Oct. 25 for their Friends and Family VIP event. Around 350 Shroomers were invited to attend the event, including Mayor Ron Rordam, who assisted Mellow Mushroom owners Leslie and Jeff Knapp in a ceremonial ribbon cutting signifying the official opening of the restaurant.

The money received from the event on Saturday was donated by Mellow Mushroom to the Giving Tree Food Pantry in Christiansburg.

Knapp, owner of the new Mellow Mushroom in downtown Blacksburg, introduced the famous pizzeria to Hickory, North Carolina four years ago after visiting the original location in Atlanta, Georgia.With the opening of her second Mellow Mushroom restaurant, Knappexpects to be doing a lot of traveling back and forth to manage the two locations.

We fell in love with the food and the concept. It became a family favorite of ours," Knapp said.

For times when Knapp is not in Blacksburg, a general manager will be hired to run day-to-day operations. Its unclear how many jobs the new location will create, but Knapp says that corporate, for opening, because it can get a little hectic, (will) look at anywhere between 100 to 125 (new employees).

Mellow Mushroom features pizza, hoagies and calzones and offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Prices range from $6.95 for lunch specials and up to$26.99 for a large specialty pizza.

In addition to the variety of pizza options, the restaurant will offer 60 different types of beer on tap, with an additional 40 types in bottles, with a fair amount in rotation, said Jeff Knapp, Leslies husband. They are also expecting to sell growlers of their craft beers.

Knapp, a Virginia Tech alumni, sought to plant a Mellow Mushroom in Blacksburg nearly three years ago, finally breaking ground for the location of the project last May.

We wanted (to introduce) a place that could serve students as well as young professionals, families and alumni returning to this area, Knapp said. (Blacksburg) is like our second home.

See the article here:
Mellow Mushroom opens its doors in Blacksburg

Original hardwood flooring, whitewashed brick and a kitchen with a 1950s OKeefe & Merritt oven add to the vintage appeal of this updated bungalow abode found in the heart of Abbot Kinney. Through French doors, interiors flow freely onto a patio setting that receives shade from a great avocado tree. A detached garage moonlights as an alternate living space and home office.

Location: 1744 Washington Way, Venice, 90291

Asking price: $1.565 million

Year built: 1925

House size: 952 square feet, two bedrooms, one bathroom

Lot size: 4,204 square feet

Features: Original hardwood floors, French doors, custom built-ins, updated kitchen with OKeefe and Merritt oven, dining area, formal living room with stack fireplace, patio, avocado tree, garage

About the area: There were 50 homes sold in the 90291 ZIP Code over the last 90 days at a median sale price of $1.52 million, according to Redfin. The median list price for that area is $1.75 million.

Agent: Tami Pardee, (310) 907-6517, Pardee Properties

To submit a candidate for Home of the Day, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to neal.leitereg@latimes.com.

Go here to see the original:
Home of the Day: Venice Beach bungalow with vintage appeal

Comments(0)

B rothers Anthony and Richard Wheat have breathed new life into this magnificent 200-plus year old building and made a quite fabulous family home.

They bought the building at The Terrace, Cheadle, several years ago after it had been used as a solicitor's office, but took it back to the original design and split it into two houses. The other side has already been renovated and sold and now it has been the turn of this one.

It is a hugely impressive building and testament to the amount of time, effort and money the brothers have put into it. The restoration has been of the total, back-to-brick variety, but the result is worth it. Anthony said: "We have done everything, absolutely everything to it. It has been rewired, replastered, we have put back the skirting and coving as it would have been all those years ago and left in some period features, but also added some modern touches and it is just right for a family in the market today.

"You can drive around this town and I don't think you will find another property quite like this one. It has so much character, you see."

Set up slightly from the road, the house makes a strong impression from the moment you open the oak panelled front door and walk inside.

To the right is a big lounge with an open fireplace flanked by a pair of period-correct alcoves, lovely sash windows, and it has a boarded floor. Whether a future owner wants to carpet it or not is a matter for them, but it does look fantastic.

There is a cellar accessed from the hallway, and then at the back of the house you come to one of the most surprising rooms, the breakfast kitchen.

In contrast to the traditional feel of the lounge, this has a much more modern look and the overwhelming sense is one of daylight because, thanks to an atrium roof and a half glazed back wall with patio doors out to the garden beyond, this room glows in the sunlight.

Cream-fronted base and wall units and a pale ceramic tiled floor only emphasise the light in this room.

Read this article:
Superbly restored Grade II town centre four bedroom home: Stoke-on-Trent homes

DEAR JOAN: We've experienced something new this summer in my small patio.

Every year I plant a cherry tomato and have always had success in getting a bumper crop. This year, for the first time, squirrels have been stealing lots of tomatoes as soon as they ripen.

We're wondering if the drought is causing them to seek out moisture in fruits and vegetables when they can't find sufficient water.

Our neighbor two doors down has had the same problem for the first time this year. Have you ever heard of this before?

Patricia Motta

Bay Area

Squirrels are notorious tomato-nappers. (Courtesy of Rich Cordes)

DEAR PATRICIA: I think the drought is affecting squirrels, but probably not in the way you think. If you've never had tomato-thieving squirrels before, count yourself lucky. A good friend of mine has to grow all of her tomatoes in webs of chicken wire.

Squirrels love tomatoes, especially the ripe ones that you were just about to pick. Squirrels can be a nuisance in the garden, but they are no more likely to eat them in drought years than in nondrought years.

The squirrels, however, may have come into your neighborhood because of the drought. There are fewer food and water resources for all wildlife, so squirrels living on the edge of suburbia may have picked up their bags and moved in closer to irrigated lawns and backyard gardens.

Original post:
Tomato-eating squirrels

Medford, Wis. (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

Weather Shield Windows & Doors will showcase its new Contemporary Collection to builders and remodelers in attendance at the 2015 International Builders Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 20-22, 2015. The new products extend the appeal of the companys architectural line, the Premium Series, to architects, custom builders, designers and homeowners who desire sleek lines and vast options for customizing their window and door packages. In addition to the Contemporary Collection, the company will showcase a full array of products and product lines, including a monumental Premium Series Coastal window, and Premium Series lift and slide and bifold patio doors.

The Contemporary Collection combines Weather Shields history of master craftsmanship with extensive options and refined profiles for todays modern custom homes, said Dave Koester, brand manager at Weather Shield. Our Premium Collection appeals to homeowners who want to highlight the warmth and character of wood in their homes. The Contemporary Collection products have more of a minimalistic appearance, with narrower stiles and rails, streamlined hardware, and trendier interior and exterior finishes and colors. The distinct product offerings broaden Weather Shields appeal in the market.

The Contemporary Collection is a suite of Premium Series windows and doors with narrow profile frames and sash for a more modern appearance and more exposed glass than standard Premium Series products, making Contemporary Collection products ideal for custom homes with breathtaking views. It includes direct set corner, crank and push-out casement, awning, and direct set windows, and narrow-stile hinged patio doors with contemporary ergonomic hardware. The corner window has two panes of glass that meet in the corner with only a very narrow corner cap, allowing for a nearly seamless view. A strong internal support structure on the exterior reinforces the unit.

The Premium Series serves as the foundation for the Contemporary Collection. Both offer options of seven interior wood choices standard pine, Douglas fir, character alder, maple, oak, cherry and mahogany that can be finished in one of five factory stain finishes, painted in white latex, or primed for finishing on the jobsite. The Contemporary Collection is also available in a black poly interior finish for a satiny look.

The durable aluminum-clad exteriors are offered in 12 popular standard colors: White, Cameo, Tan, Desert Tan, Hartford Green, Craftsman Bronze, Adobe, Heritage Brown, Brick Red, Grey Matters, Obsidian and Jet Black. An additional expanded palette of 45 designer colors and custom-color match are offered as well. The Contemporary Collection also includes four new exterior radiant metallic paint finishes. All colors meet the AAMA 2605 performance standards.

Hardware on both the Premium Series and the Contemporary Collection is offered in white, tan, brushed nickel and rustic bronze.

Incorporating the Latest Technology The casement units in the Contemporary Collection feature TriCore Frame technology, which combines highly moisture-resistant materials, a fusion-welded sub frame, and thick, multi-chamber components to achieve new levels of energy efficiency and thermal performance. All Weather Shield products are available with energy-efficient glazing choices, such as double pane options of Zo-e-shield 5, Zo-e-shield 5 Extreme and Zo-e-shield 6, Zo-e-shield Coastal, and the triple-pane Zo-e-shield 7 and Zo-e-shield 8.

To find a Weather Shield dealer near you, visit http://www.weathershield.com/Find-A-Dealer.aspx.

About Weather Shield Windows & Doors Founded in 1955, Weather Shield Windows & Doors is owned by the Schield family and is based in Medford, Wis. For more information on Weather Shield products, call 1-800-222-2995, or visit the companys website at weathershield.com. # # #

More:
Weather Shield to Showcase Contemporary Collection at the 2015 International Builders Show; Extension of Premium ...

Patio Doors Install
This video is about Patio Doors Install.

By: Matt Scoutten

Read the original post:
Patio Doors Install - Video

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) October 20, 2014

Villaggio Reserve will introduce the next level in luxury, resort-style living on Nov. 1. The Pre-Grand Opening of the Patio Villas will deliver a breath-taking array of features based on the suggestions of buyers and visitors to Delray Beachs most impressive 55-plus community.

The patio villas will include two-car garages and larger, covered patios in residences with two bedrooms, two-bathrooms and a den.

The patio villas at Villaggio Reserve offer a transition between the existing villas and the single-family homes, incorporating many of the most requested features, said Ron Yuter, senior vice president with developer Ansca Homes. Residences at Villaggio Reserve begin in the $290,000s through the $400,000s. The community has spoken, and we have listened, redesigning the already impressive villas into very special patio villas.

Those who attend the Pre-Grand Opening event on Saturday, Nov. 1, will be treated to more than a showcase of spectacular homes. They will enjoy a first round of pricing and lot selection only available for a short time.

Like other residents, the patio villas combine Spanish-Italian architecture, feature-rich touches and amenities that together define luxurious living.

Inside, the homes will offer granite countertops and Kitchen Craft Cabinetry in kitchens and master bathrooms, energy-saving appliances and impact-resistant windows and doors.

No matter which residence one chooses, lifestyle will come standard at Villaggio Reserve. The Cabana Club resort clubhouse presents the latest activities for upscale living. When it opens later this season, this town square will feature meals ordered tableside, shows and private family affairs in the Grand Ballroom, and crafts, cards and games in the multipurpose rooms. A fully-equipped Fitness Center will have the latest workout equipment and classes.

Outside, lighted tennis courts will welcome play day or night, with pickle ball and bocce ball nearby. Take a dip in one of three heated pools, or frolic with the grandkids in the wading pool. Power up the iPad to surf complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the club - even in the cabanas ringing the pools.

Come celebrate the Patio Villas Pre-Grand Opening on Nov. 1 at Villaggio Reserve. Visit Villaggio Reserve online at http://www.VillaggioReserve.com, or call today at (855) 230-0998. The Sales Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Read the original here:
Celebrate the Pre-Grand Opening of Villaggio Reserve Patio Villas on Nov. 1

2446 S. Gibralter Way, Aurora, CO 80013 - The Couture Group
Beautiful and spacious, well cared for home! 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Granite kitchen with eat-in space. Nice master bedroom and bathroom with tile floors. New windows and patio doors, warranty...

By: Jamie Lawrence

Read the original:
2446 S. Gibralter Way, Aurora, CO 80013 - The Couture Group - Video

Deb Denbrook can throw a golf ball from her front porch and hit the ocean.

On most days in St. Georges, a scenic seaside town on the northeastern tip of Bermuda, thats an alluring asset.

But with hurricane Gonzalo bearing down on the island, the Nova Scotia expatriate is eyeing her coastal view with trepidation.

We boarded up our patio doors because we face the ocean, Denbrook said, noting the impending high seas, wind gusts and strong storm surges.

ALSO SEE

Local student worried about family

Gonzalo a dangerous Category 4 storm

Environment Canada website

The only thing standing between her two-storey home and the picturesque Bermuda beach is about 15 metres of lawn, rocks and sand.

Although the concrete house is built to withstand fierce Atlantic hurricanes, Denbrook said shes worried about Fridays Category 4 storm.

Continue reading here:
Ex-N.S. resident a little scared of approaching Gonzalo

Montgomery County fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of a two-alarm fire at a Rockville apartment complex that sent three people to the hospital and displaced a dozen others.

The fire was reported around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Mallard Cove Apartment complex in the 8100 block of Needwood Road in the Derwood community, according to county fire department spokesperson Pete Piringer.

When units arrived on the scene they encounter heavy fire showing from a ground level unit of a three-story garden style apartment building with a report of a person trapped inside the burning unit, Piringer said. Firefighters had a difficult time gaining access from the front door of the apartment and the patio doors due to hoarders conditions inside the apartment and the patio section of the apartment.

With a report of a person trapped and heavy fire condition upon arrival, a second alarm was sounded to bring more than 100 more firefighters to the scene.

As firefighters were making an aggressive attack on the fire, they located a 56-year-old man inside the apartment, Piringer said. He was taken to a local hospital suffering smoke inhalation and a 73-year-old male was also transported to a local hospital with chest pains.

A Montgomery County firefighter also was transported to a local hospital with a minor injury to her arm. She was treated and released.

Piringer said fire investigators believe the fire started on the patio and extended inside the apartment.

Red Cross will be helping displaced tenants relocate.

The fire caused about $ 30,000 in damage and the cause is currently unknown.

Read more here:
Investigators search for Rockville fire cause