The Best Circus Article You’ll Ever Read

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

Last week I got a call from Coach Michael letting me know that he had found an article about circus that would be a great topic for a blog post. I love hearing about topics that interest others and incorporating that into my posts, so I was all about it. When I see Michael, he hands me a Smithsonian magazine and points me to this article titled “Step Right Up! See the Reinvention of the Great American Circus!” written by Holly Millea.

Once I get home, I look through and find that the article was way longer than what I wanted to read. Then, I look at the title once more, and I think about how many other articles I’ve read that talk about the reinvention of circus. I immediately thought “BORING! I’ve read this before.” If not that specific article, something like it, and they’re all practically the same. I figured I would still read it—eventually—but not that day, so I put it down. The magazine stared at me for a week, until I decided “fine, fine, fine, I’ll read it.” And boy, am I glad I did! I’m not kidding! This article was so great and so well written that it blew everything else I had ever read about circus out of the water. 

I found the full article online, and I will be posting the link at the bottom, so you can all read it, and I implore that you do, but I figured, if you didn’t have to the time or simply didn’t want to, I would provide you with my favorite part. It’s about the last Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus show. I hope it will tug at your heart strings, like it did mine, and then you’ll read the whole thing.

“For the citizens and 54 railway cars of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Xtreme, Providence, Rhode Island, is the last stop on the line. Kenneth Feld, whose family owns the circus, appears and thanks the sold-out crowd of 14,000 for 146 years of “making the impossible possible. And now, for the Greatest Show on Earth—one last time!”

The long-ballyhooed goodbye begins! There are fire jugglers, camel-riding contortionists, glow-in-the-dark bungee-jumping acrobats, snake charmers wrapped in bright yellow pythons, a Mongolian strongman who lifts a 551-pound mass of Mongol gals and kettlebells with his “jaws of steel.” Clowns pop up and out all over the place, and I’m gleefully overstimulated. Then a 20-foot cannon, wheeled into the ring, grabs my attention. A fuse is lit. The audience counts down from five and bang! “Nitro” Nicole Sanders flies more than a hundred feet at 66 miles per hour into the pillowy embrace of a giant airbag, just as pioneer cannonballer Rosa “Zazel” Richter did 140 years earlier. And who rigged the first human cannon, you ask? That was funambulist (tightrope walker) William Leonard Hunt, a.k.a. the Great Farini, which raises the question, why wasn’t he the first human cannonball? (“Zazel, you go first.”)

After the blast, “Nitro” Nicole takes a bow, and intermission is announced with a reminder of how much the world has changed: “In the event of firearms, stay calm and look for the nearest exit.”

The highlight of the second half includes 12 tigers strutting inside a massive cage, encircling their buff, bald-headed trainer, Tabayara “Taba” Maluenda, a sixth-generation Chilean circus performer dressed in a bedazzled green sleeveless velvet jumpsuit, matching armbands and knee-high leather boots. With a flick of Taba’s whip, the regal beasts sit, jump from stool to stool, lie down side by side, roll over one after the other. Taba sweats bullets throughout, mopping his mug. But when he faces us and takes a bow, it’s clear those are tears streaming down his face.

The trainer turns and kisses one of the man-eaters on the nose. Sobbing, he addresses them. “For 30 years you put food on my table,” he says. “Catana, I have had you for 13 years, since you were 6 months old.” He calls Catana to him and buries his head in her fur. Then he dismisses the cats one by one, thanking each by name. With the last one gone, Taba kisses the empty floor.

To close the evening, and an era, Kristen Michelle Wilson, Ringling’s first (and last) female ringmaster, calls some 300 cast and crew into the ring, to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” From backstage, husbands, wives and children come join them. None of the babies are crying, but all of the grown-ups are.

“We circus people always say, ‘We’ll see you down the road,’” Wilson says, her voice rising with emotion. “So, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages: We’ll see you down the road!”

AH! Did that not just give you all the feels?! I almost feel like I was there experiencing that final show! As promised, here is the link to the full Smithsonian article: Step Right Up! See the Reinvention of the Great American Circus!

Isn’t circus amazing?

Catch you next time!

Mar

Tips for a Successful Open Gym

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

How was your first week? I hope everyone loved it.

I just realized that we have a lot of new families who have recently joined Akrosphere. So for those who don’t know me, my name is Mar and I am the Director of First Impressions. You’ve probably communicated with me if you’ve emailed the gym. I started my career as a gymnast when I was 8 years old and found my love fo aerial arts and circus as an adult. I also write this lovely blog every week. Nice to meet you!

One thing that Akrosphere has to offer is open gym. I’ve had a few calls asking for more information about open gym, and it made me realize that not every knows how it works. It is available for the kids who are in apparatus specific classes, so mostly for our 11 and up students. If your child is not yet that age, please keep reading because they will get there one day. Open gym is a time for your child to come work on their own. I know that could seem a little intimidating, especially if you’re new to Akrosphere. Working on their own means that there won’t be a coach instructing open gym, but there will always be a supervisor making sure that everyone is safe. 

If you haven’t participated in open gym before, I know this question pops up: “Without a teacher, what am I even supposed to do?” Lucky for you, I have compiled a few tips for a successful open gym experience.

First, always begin your training with a warm up. Start with about 5 minutes of cardio, then 5 minutes of strength, and finish with 5 minutes of stretching. It’s not that scary if you break up the time. If you’re still confused, everything you do in class for warm up is good. 

Now you’re warm and ready to go, but again, what are you even supposed to do? Do what you know! Make sure you bring your class notebook to help you remember what you’ve been working on. You can start by practicing that new skill you learned that week, but you should also work on skills you already know. I’m sure you’ve all heard that practice makes perfect. This is the time to clean up form and technique. Think about the things your teacher tells you in class a lot, like “point your foot” or “make your legs straight” and take the time to perfect that skill. 

Another great thing to work on is sequencing! That’s just a fancy word for putting skills together without coming off the apparatus. Start with two skills. Do that a few times. Then try three. The fun thing is you don’t always have to do the same skills, you can switch it up and see what things work in a sequence. Remember that you should always have enough strength to come down safely! Open gym is all about working hard, but most especially working smart.

One big thing about open gym is that there is NO TEACHING happening. That doesn’t just refer to the coaches, but it also means, that no student should be teaching another student anything. If you’re at open gym and you look over and see Susie doing a cool trick, you shouldn’t ask her to teach you. Susie is not a teacher, and while she looks very cool doing something, she may not know how to explain in detail every single step that makes that skill successful and safe. Another thing to think about is that Susie may have been taking circus classes for 3 years, so her body is strong and ready for that skill. As coaches, we are only teaching things that we know your body is ready for. Open gym is the time to work on those things, not to try new things. That also applies to that cool trick you saw on instagram. Please please please, if you really want to try something you saw in a video, bring it to a teacher first so that we can determine if you are ready for the skill and so that we can deconstruct it so that you are safe. I feel like I’ve said the word “safe” a thousand times now, but just like the Hokey Pokey, that’s what it’s all about!

Have great classes and great open gyms!

Catch you next week!

Mar

How to Recover After Circus Class

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

Are you ready for this week! Classes at Akrosphere start back up tomorrow! Can you tell I’m excited? A break is nice and all, but I can’t wait to start teaching and training again! Not sure how many of you know, but I started learning cyr wheel this year, and I haven’t touched the wheel in two weeks. I expect my first day back will be disastrous, and I’m sure many of you might feel the same way, but I promise it won’t be that bad! Last week I talked about how you quickly lose strength and endurance if you don’t train for a while, so I hope you all did the exercises I recommended! If you didn’t, you can still do them today!

So, we’re all starting back up, and we might feel a little wonky, so I thought I would talk about some important things to do after your circus class! The first thing is something we do together at the end of class: the cool down. Doing a good cool down after a class is a way to show your muscles a little love. One thing you might experience after not training circus for two weeks is having sore muscles. A nice cool down will help with this. If you are sore the next day, stretch those muscles out for a quicker recovery. (For more tips on recovery, check out my Recovery and Rehabilitation blog from a few weeks back.)

The next helpful thing is to eat some protein! Protein builds and repairs muscles, which your body will be craving after a hard circus workout. Eating protein speeds up recovery and can help you gain strength faster. Some great things to eat are eggs, lean meat or fish, and greek yogurt. If you’re not into these, there are also some vegan options, like quinoa, lentils, and peanut butter!

My last tip is to go over your notes after class while the skills are still fresh in your mind. I cannot emphasize this enough! We make you take notes, so why not make sure they are helpful? I know that sometimes during class, you are so excited about learning a new skill, that you just want to get on the apparatus to try it over and over again. Your coaches encourage you to write very detailed notes, but we know that doesn’t always happen. Instead of waiting until the next class to open your notebook and think “what did I even write last week?” go over your notes right after class and write down any additional helpful tips. This includes little things that you wouldn’t normally think about, like a hand position that you later realized was helpful, or even what conditioning exercises might make you stronger and help you get that new skill. That way, when you come back into class, you can quickly review and move on to learning some other cool stuff. It’ll also help you work on everything successfully during open gym!

The first week back might feel a little rough, but hang in there! You’ll be back to where you were in no time! And if you’re new to Akrosphere, also hang in there! Circus will make sense before you know it! See everyone very soon!

Catch you next week!

Mar

5 Exercises to Get Your Body Ready for Circus!

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

When you stop exercising, even if it’s for a week, you are telling your body that you don’t need to use certain muscles anymore. Even just taking two weeks off can be detrimental to your strength. And guess what? Akrosphere is still on it’s end of summer break! That means that everyone is taking at least two weeks off regular training, if not more! We know circus work takes a lot of strength, but FEAR NOT! You can work your muscles at home to get your body ready to get back into your circus training! Before you start your strength training, do some cardio for 5 minutes. That can be jumping jacks, running, or even dancing! Once you’re warm, you can get started with the following exercises:

  1. Plank – A huge component of circus training is core strength, and what better way to work on that than the mighty plank? (I took that title from Angelica—we miss you!) There are so many benefits to holding a plank! They strengthen your core, help give you better posture, reduce back pain, and give you better movement and coordination. All from just one exercise! You see why it’s considered one of the best exercises you could do for your body! How to: Rise to the top of a push up position. Keep your chest and abdominals strong, your thighs activated, and avoid sagging or hiking up the hips. Basically, keep a straight line all the way from your head to your heels. Hold for at least 30 seconds. 
  2. Circus Push Ups – If you’ve ever tried climbing a silk, or a rope, or even just holing on to a trapeze, you know that a lot of upper body strength is required. Push ups are great for building your chest, biceps, triceps, and core. So many muscles are benefitting from a simple push up! Now, you notice I’m calling them “circus” push ups. All that means is that instead of having your elbows go out to the sides, you want to keep them close to your body to really focus on those triceps. How to: Start in that plank position from above; see, you’re already halfway there! Lower your body and then push it back up! Sounds easy, but make sure you maintain your plank position the ENTIRE time! You can always go on your knees or put your hands on a raised surface to make it a little easier. Don’t forget to keep those elbows in! Do 10.
  3. Squats – You think circus and aerial, and you automatically think about strong arms and core, but to be a great performer, you need a well rounded body! And did you know that squats don’t just help strengthen your legs? Yes, you feel it in your legs, but they are such an intense exercise, that they help release hormones that can help your other muscles continue to work and grow! How to: Start by standing up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Put your arms out in front of your body to help with balance. Start lowering your body by not just bending your knees, but by pushing your knees out to the sides. Keep your chest up throughout the whole exercise, and push your hips back to make sure that most of your weight is on your heels. Once you’ve gotten to your lowest point, push back up, again making sure your chest is staying up. Do 10.
  4. Burpee – Now we’re putting it all together! Most people don’t particularly love them *points finger at self,* but burpees are amazing for the body! Not only do they make you stronger, by working on so many different muscles, but they work your cardiovascular endurance, too! It’s an all-in-one, full body exercise! Who doesn’t want that? How to: Start by standing up straight. Then, lower into a squat and place your hands on the floor. Jump your feet back into plank position, and you know what comes next: circus push up! Remember to squeeze everything! Return your feet to squat position and immediately jump in the air as high as you can! To make it more fun, do them with a partner and give each other a high 10 every time you jump! For any kids reading this, I’m sure your parents would love to do some burpees with you! Do 10.
  5. STRETCHING! – You probably thought that this would all be about strength, but you also lose flexibility when you don’t train it in a while, which makes it just as important to practice. Stretching keeps your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. Flexible muscles allow you to maintain range of motion in the joints. Without it, your muscles can shorten and become tight, which could lead to injury, and we do not want that! How to: Make sure you are warm! Cold muscles do not want to stretch! Hold each position for at least 30 seconds; it takes some time for tissues to lengthen safely. Make sure you hold and not bounce. You want to feel the stretch. If you feel pain, you’ve gone too far, so go back to the point where you are feeling the stretch. Finally, relax and breathe! Stretching is not always pleasurable, but breathe through it and when you’re done, you’ll feel amazing!

Try to do all of this at least once a day! If you have time, do it twice or even three times! The great thing is that you don’t need any equipment, so you can do it at your house, any friend or family member’s house, the playground, the beach, ANYWHERE! So no excuses!

Catch you next week!

Mar

The Art of Writing Under Pressure

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

When I think about circus, I most often look at it from the performer’s point of view. I think about the training and the hard work an artist goes through to be a part of a show. But if you really think about it, without someone to actually write the show, there would be nothing to look at! As I’m sure you know, we were running a weekly summer camp. Every Friday the coaches and students put together a short show, usually 30-40 minutes, to showcase everything that the kids had learned that week. In comes Josh Spaugh, who was given the task of writing every show for the summer camp, and let me tell you, the shows were one of my favorite parts of working this camp!

The first read through of each script, we could barely get through, because they were usually so hilarious. Based on the theme of the week, Josh would assign each coach a character in the script. This summer, I have been a Crackers the parrot, Alexandrica the arch rival explorer, and even Hugh Jackman from the greatest showman. I like to think I excel at everything that is thrown my way, but speaking with an Australian accent is maybe not something I can put on my resume… I was horrible! Recurring jokes have also been a big part of the shows. We’ve traveled through the lyra swamp every single week, which I think really is more fun for us coaches than the kids who don’t know anything about the joke. 

Josh has been a student at Akrosphere for a few years. I thought it might be fun to interview him, so we can all see what goes into writing a show! Here you can see him in character during one of our shows.

When I asked him to describe himself, he wanted everyone to know that he is a Sagittarius and loves juggling on the beach. You can already get a sense of his silliness, can’t you?

Why did you start circus?

I went to a circus summer camp when I was 5 years old. I did it for a few years, but that was it. Then a few years ago I saw Wes Peden’s “Volcano vs Palm Tree.” The show was so cool, I decided I wanted to learn to juggle.

(Mar interjection: I know nothing of the juggling world, so I had no clue who this Wes Peden was. If you don’t know who he is either, check this out: Volcano vs. Palm Tree – Wes Peden. He seems absolutely bonkers and hilarious, which makes sense why Josh was so inspired him.)

Tell us about writing the camp show:

My goal is to make the most entertaining show I can and then cram it into a half hour. That means no wasted space! Every line has to do with some other line. It’s a fun challenge and I like making myself do things I’m not sure will work out. Before each Friday, though, I truly believe every single show is going to bomb. So far, I feel like only one wasn’t great, but you can’t win them all, sorry Fairy Tale Week!

What is the writing process like?

I write down every dumb idea I have. Then, I cut it down to about 20 percent of that and that becomes the show. On Thursday afternoons, I then see how many kids have chosen improv as one of their apparatuses and squeeze them into the script. I always try to see how much mileage I can get out of one joke before people get sick of it. 

What is it like the day of the show?

A lot of rigging needs to happen and running lines. Fixing any sort of script snafus. I like to hand it over to the other actors and have them change their own lines for the better; they often get to know their own characters more than I do. A huge challenge is being able to navigate through having coach actors on stage, while still having coaches available to manage the kids “back stage,” so there is a lot of rehearsal that goes on before the actual show takes place. With all the coaches working together though, I feel happy about everything we put out for the parents, well for the most part!

What are your hopes for the future?

In September, I am going to Circadium – School of Contemporary Circus in Philadelphia. It is a great school for juggling and a lot of my role models attend! I used to watch these jugglers online and now I get to go to school with them! I would love to try my hand at writing something more serious and more circus related. Not quite Cirque Du Soleil, but something meaningful. I want tears in people’s eyes and their stomachs to hurt from so much laughter. I just want to create something that can evoke real emotion.

If you still haven’t gotten a good feel for who Josh is, he spoke in a British accent for the whole second half of the interview, so that’s that…

Akrosphere wishes Josh nothing but the best of luck in his future endeavors!

Catch you next week!

Mar

A Beginner’s Guide to Foam Rolling

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

I’d like to keep this rehab and recovery train going and talk about foam rolling! Foam rollers offer many of the same benefits of a sports massage, but the great thing about it is that you can do it in the comfort of your own home, and without the big price tag of actually booking a massage. Now, why should you foam roll? There are many benefits, but the one that I’m into the most is releasing muscle tightness. By applying pressure to specific points on your body you are able to aid in muscle recovery and help your muscles return to normal function. It’s especially great to roll after a hard workout, as it can help reduce muscle soreness and will get you back to being able to perform at a moment’s notice. And while it can hurt, it’s one of those “hurts so good” feelings!

If you’re new to foam rolling, here are some tips!

  1. Roll SLOWLY! Roll over each area for 1-2 minutes. If you roll over a tight spot, you can stay on that area for about 30 seconds until you feel it release. 
  2. Be sure to relax your whole body, but especially the muscle you are working on. If you are tense, you will not be able to feel the trigger points you need to release. And trust me, when you’re doing it right, you will definitely feel it!
  3. The next day, you might feel a bit sore. Drink plenty of water and wait a day or two before your next rolling session.
  4. Never roll over a joint or bone. When rolling on your back, roll over one side at a time, so that you don’t injure your spine.
  5. Again, you are looking for that “hurts so good” feeling. If an area is too painful, roll over the surrounding area, and GRADUALLY work to loosen the entire area. It will feel uncomfortable, but stop if you feel any unbearable or sharp pain.

Still unsure of what to do? No worries! Youtube is an excellent tool. I have actually found a great video that takes you through some recovery exercises. This video walks you through a short foam rolling routine and teaches you how to roll out your calves, hamstrings, lats, quads, and upper back. Your trainer, Brett, gives you tips as you go along, and times the exercises for you, so all you need to worry about is breathing and relaxing those muscles! Here is the link: Equip Yourself: 5 Foam Roller Exercises  

If you try the video, let me know how it goes! And if you have any additional questions, please come talk to me or any of our other wonderful Akrosphere coaches! We want to help you keep your bodies healthy!

Catch you next week!

Mar

Ice vs Heat: Which is Better for Your Injury?

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

Last week, I talked about recovery, and how important it is to keep our bodies working. One of the techniques I mentioned is therapeutic icing and heating. Now, here is a question I get ALL THE TIME from students and parents: Should I use ice or heat for an injury? The answer to that is that it depends! Basically, ice is for fresh injuries and heat is for stiff, aching muscles. Seems simple, but there are a lot of details that go into it. Let’s look at some!

Icing:

Ice is for injuries. You use it to calm down damaged tissues that are inflamed, red, hot, and swollen. When you get an injury, swelling is normal and healthy, but it also happens to be pretty painful and stubborn. Using ice is a drugless way of dulling the pain and taking the swelling down a bit. 

Heating:

Heat is for muscles, chronic pain, and stress. You use it to take the edge off symptoms like muscle aching and stiffness. Heat is also helpful for soothing chronic pain, especially back pain!

Did you know that if you use either ice or heat for the wrong thing, you can actually make it worse?! If you have a fresh injury, and decide to use heat, it will make the swelling larger and make it more painful than it originally would’ve been. On the contrast, if you ice muscle pain, you can actually make yourself more stiff, and then prone to other injuries. This is the case for most neck and back pain: people often try to ice these, when the answer should be to use heat to loosen everything up.

Icing and heating are great home remedies, because they are fast, easy, and cheap! Again, like I mentioned last week, the best person to diagnose an injury is a doctor, so don’t forget to seek professional, medical help whenever necessary. 

Don’t forget to breathe and drink water!

Catch you next week!

Mar

Recovery and Rehabilitation

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

Today, I want to talk about the ABUSE we put our bodies through. Circus is not easy, by any means! We are constantly sore or hurting from scrapes, cuts, or burns, and let’s not forget about injuries! I currently have a pinky injury from Cyr wheel. I would attach a picture, but honestly, it’s kind of gross. However, please feel free to stop me and ask to see it if you find me in the gym. 

Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that pain is part of the game. I’m sure you know that we begin each class with a warm up and end with a cool down, and we throw in some strength training in between. We do this to get your bodies ready and prevent injury, but it CAN NOT end there! While stretching and conditioning are very important to your practice, there is a lot more that needs to happen to make sure we can prevent a lot of these pains. That is why it is imperative that you also focus on recovery and rehabilitation. 

Firstly, consider thermotherapy! That’s just a fancy way of saying heating and icing. Heat helps soothe stiff joints and relax muscles, while cold helps numb sharp pain and reduce inflammation. The great thing about thermotherapy is that it is very simple; you can sit for 15-20 minutes and just apply the heat or ice to the troubled area. 

Next, an epsom salt bath! What could be more relaxing than soaking in a tub for half an hour? Take a good book with you and you’re all set. (Sidebar, I’m currently reading Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. Yes, I know there is a movie. Yes, I’ve seen it. But you have no idea what you’re in for until you actually read it!) Epsom salts have been used for hundreds of years to help reduce aches and pains. They work by breaking down into magnesium and sulfate that go into your body through your skin to help relax muscles and stiff joints. There are many other benefits to taking an epsom salt bath, and while many of them are considered “folk remedies” sitting in a warm bath won’t hurt you and can definitely help reduce stress!

Have you ever had a knot in your back, or your neck, or any other body part? We have foam rollers and massage balls available for any students to try at our gym either before or after class. These are great for target relief! Don’t know how to use one? Ask our teachers and they will be more than happy to lie on the floor with you and teach you some techniques, while working on our own bodies! 

The worst sort of pains we can encounter are injuries! If something feels weird, please always speak to your teacher so that we can take the measures necessary to prevent it from getting worse. I do have to say, though, that while we have been through many injuries ourselves, we are not qualified to diagnose anything. It is important that you go to a professional and seek help! Whether that means going to the doctor to get an Xray, or to a chiropractor to help get all the kinks out, we want you to do whatever possible to get the best treatment.

Finally, and I think the most important thing to mention is to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! Your body is your best source of communication when it comes to aches and pains. Sure, being sore is a way to know that your muscles are getting stronger, but you need to now your limits. Knowing when to stop will ensure that you do not make it into injury territory. And if you are sore, use any of the techniques I mentioned above to make your body go back to feeling as good as it possibly can.

Well, all I can think about right now are Nick and Amy Dunne from Gone Girl. A warm bath also sounds nice!

Catch you next week!

Mar

Independence Day Festivities!

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

If you remember correctly, you know that I’ve fairly recently moved to Georgia. I’ve been in town since October and I don’t really know too much about what goes on. With Independence Day coming up, I figured it would be nice to actually go out and watch some fireworks, as opposed to staying home and watching them from afar in my backyard. 

I really do love fireworks, so I owe it to myself  😀 

The biggest celebration going on is the City of Alpharetta’s annual 4th of July Celebration at Wills Park. The event will take place in three separate areas with fun, games and entertainment spread throughout the park! Food trucks and other vendors will serve food until 10 p.m. and will feature local favorites such as Patty Wagon, Gyro Chef, and Food for Da Soul. Other vendors will offer a wide variety of bites including ribs, barbeque, pizza, hotdogs, cool summer treats and much more!  The Alpharetta City Band performs patriotic tunes starting at 6:00 p.m. with more live entertainment throughout the night. Of course, the night will end with a firework display! Sounds fun!!

Already have plans for the actual 4th of July? Not to worry! There are activities going on around and about all week long! Check out this article by Alpharetta Moms.

Don’t forget, we are closed for all classes this coming week, but we hope you can make it to our movie night on Wednesday night! 

Catch you next week!

Mar

Food Trucks!

/in /by

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

This past week my grandmother turned 76 years old! She was a huge part of my life when I was growing up and I absolutely love her, so of course I had to leave town to celebrate with her! 

I wanted to take her to dinner, but we couldn’t decide where to go, and that’s when we stumbled upon some food trucks! We went to a food truck festival that features 20 food trucks with all types of cuisine, and let me tell you, we were in HEAVEN! I almost had to be rolled out of there, I was so full! But it was absolutely worth it. 

Unfortunately for you guys, these food trucks are in Orlando, but I figured I could find something closer. You guys are in luck: I DID! I found the Alpharetta Food Truck Alley! They are in Downtown Alpharetta every Thursday through October 10th, so if you’re currently out of town, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to go check them out. They also have live music starting at 6pm! The event is family friendly so everyone can enjoy! I think it’s nice to try different things and enjoy new foods every once in a while. I expect it should be great fun! 

Check out their website for more info: Alpharetta Food Truck Alley 

I’m not back in town yet, but if you get a chance to go with the family, please let me know how it is!

Catch you next week!

Mar