We [Cruz] In The Corridor

Did you like my play on words, there?

As if moving forward through our expansion projects wasn't enough renovation to spring Mercer forward, the heart of Mercer's campus will soon become a lush yet modern plaza courtesy of the Cruz familiy. Trustee member, Mercerian, and Puerto Rican, Milton Cruz is the benefactor of the exciting facelift for Mercer's campus. The renovation includes the area from Greek row to Penfield hall, from Jesse Mercer Plaza to Stetson and adds a more cohesive feel to the campus. Cruz Plaza promises to open up the center of our campus and invite students to study outside, have a picnic with friends, toss a frisbee or even stargaze. What makes this renovation different from the original and loved Porter Patch, you're likely wondering? A waterfall is planned to be situated in the plaza in addition to creating a more cohesive atmosphere for the heart of campus. What do you plan on doing when Cruz Plaza is complete in August? leave comments/ideas below! I know a picnic with Fountain of Juice during a class break will be in my near future!

For pictures and more info. on plans, visit here and here!

Photo Credit

We [Expand] in the Corridor

This summer has been filled with great expansions in the Corridor.  Several additions have helped our community to grow and to increase our city's revenue.  Mercer University has made several additions to their campus throughout the past year as well.  Downtown Macon has also added more businesses, including a new buffet style restaurant and a drama and dinner theater located just outside the College Hill boundaries.  These are just a few of the new additions that impact both the citizens of Macon and its visitors.

       
If you're expecting guests and need to send them to a new, hip hotel with a historic flair, direct them to the new Orange Terrace Inn of Macon, GA.  This restored home is small, pet-friendly, and conveniently located between Mercer University and Downtown Macon at 800 Orange Terrace.  They also rent out their space for bridal showers, receptions and other social gatherings.  Lee Burg's, formerly known as Len Burg's, has opened behind the Federal Courthouse at 240 Post Office Alley.  Owned by Alex and Helga Lee, this restaurant serves a country southern style buffet.  The landmark downtown restaurant closed in 2005 after nearly a century of service.  They reopened on June 5 of this year under new management, with a new twist to the menu.  Aside from their buffet, they now serve Greek salads, Korean dishes, and sushi.

       

Mercer University has been constructing and expanding all across its campus.  Phase II of the Lofts at Mercer Village is near completion and the grand opening is set for Friday, September 28.  The new building will be home to the Center for Collaborative Journalism, a project funded by The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to launch a journalism collaborative with Mercer University, The Telegraph, and Georgia Public Broadcasting.  These organizations will share space on the ground floor of the Lofts, with student apartments above. 

Another building set to open next school year is The Emily Parker Myers Admissions and Welcome Center.  Located across from Greek Village on Johnson Avenue, the new Admissions building is named after Emily P. Myers, who served Mercer for almost thirty years as the senior vice president for university advancement.

        

Mercer's most popular construction project would probably be the new football field. The Tony and Nancy Moye Family Football and Lacrosse Complex will be home of the football season set to begin Fall 2013. New head Football Coach Bobby Lamb has begun recruitment for the team and anticipation for the team and the season grows every day.

Get excited for all these new businesses and projects in the Corridor. Try out a new restaurant and support your local business owners to improve our economy and build a better community.  The Corridor is continuing to grow and make Macon a better city for everyone and we all can be a part of its expansion!

I [Prepare for School] in the Corridor

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. -Albert Einstein

The summer is winding down and kids from all ages are preparing to return to school within the next two weeks to begin another year of tests, studying, learning, and much more.  The season has been filled with incredible events such as last week's voting for the consolidation of Macon and Bibb County, the 2012 Summer Olympics; and, of course, College Hill Alliance's Second Sunday events, which take place in the evening during the summer months to avoid the record-breaking afternoon heat in Macon.

This week marks the beginning of children returning to school.  Some parents are getting their kids ready for their first year of school while other parents are preparing their seniors for their last year of secondary education.  Bibb County schools begin Monday, August 20, and the tax free weekend begins this Friday, August 10.  Get your school supplies with deals around town.  Barnes and Noble in Mercer Village has a wide selection for students of all ages to prepare them for the upcoming school year.

Mercer University students begin their classes Tuesday, August 21, but some of them moved in early this week.  Programs such as Opportunity Scholars and the Minority Mentor Program have upcoming freshmen move in a few days early to get a head start on their college experience.  Some members of Greek organizations move in this Friday, August 10, to prepare for an array of events like recruitment, fundraisers, and other unique programs.

On Monday, August 20, Mercer's Campus Life Department will host Bear Fair to inform freshmen about the hundreds of clubs, restaurants, and local businesses in Macon. The two-hour event gives on-campus clubs and off-campus businesses a chance to showcase what they offer and what they can anticipate in the upcoming year.

New Mercer Student Government Association President Mollie Davis and Vice President Joshua Lovett have big plans for this school year as well. Their Paint The Town Orange initiative plans to create a strong bond between students and the local business community by encouraging students to frequent local businesses and by having the businesses offer special discounts and post employment opportunities for students.

How are you preparing for school?  If you're done with school, stop by the University Center at Mercer University this year for volleyball games or Bear Field to watch our men's and women's soccer team.  Remember, you don't have to be a Mercer student to have school support for the Mercer Bears!

I [Am a Student Leader] in the Corridor

It's Better to Light a Candle than Curse the Darkness!

-Doug Pearson, Dean of Students, Mercer University 

 

This past weekend, Mercer University's former vice president, Ike Ekeke, and Campus Life Intern and recent Mercer graduate, Emily Halstead, put together the Mercer Student Leadership Retreat.  Carrie Ingoldsby, Campus Life Director and Cindy Drudy, Campus Life Assistant Director, oversaw the weekend's events, but this year it was run by Mercer's student leaders.  Almost 30 Mercer students traveled back to the campus Friday, July 27, to begin the retreat.  I was thrilled to be a part of it and see what I would learn from the experience.  After a few icebreakers and short introductions, the students got acquainted with one another and were split into groups.  Mercer graduate Deborah Ayoade, who was involved in several different organizations while at Mercer, also came to Macon to assist.

Groups were given multiple tasks to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses as individual leaders.  Students were classified into groups according their leadership styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness.  There were three people in the dominant group, but the majority of the students were evenly split into the other groups.  We all realized the differences and similarities between our personalities and tried to understand one another.  Students also identified goals among their organizations and learned of different ways to collaborate with one another.  Saturday morning started with a rope course that incorporated many mental and physical challenges.  Despite the early morning and brutal heat, we managed to have a great time with one another while learning about integrity and teamwork.

Later in the day, things got serious as we broke down barriers between one another through a challenge called, Earthquake.  The goal was to order the tasks that a group should perform when an earthquake happens.  However, the ultimate lesson learned was to see how others perceive us while actively working as a team.  This exercise pointed out the good and the bad to see how we each can improve our ways of leading, organizing, and collaborating.  Cross the Line was another exercise that helped the students see past the people we thought we all knew.  By "crossing the line" if you fell into a certain category, we all learned more about each other and grew closer.  We all let down our walls for a second and encouraged one another to shine our own light.

By the end of the retreat, we had all grown closer bonds with students we may have never talked to, if we had we not attended the retreat.  This school year, Mercer University should anticipate more collaboration between student organizations and a few more waves across campus from faces that may have otherwise never known how much support they had from their peers.

I [Run a Business] In the Corridor

In 1988, the father-in-law of Brad Cork banded together with some business partners to create the chain of restaurants known as El Sombrero.  A few years later, Cork’s father-in-law chose to open his own string of restaurants in Middle Georgia and named them Margaritas Mexican Grill.  Cork has been managing several of these restaurants for many years and and is now the co-owner, along with his wife Valerie, of Margaritas at Mercer Village, located in the College Hill Corridor's retail and restaurant district.

When asked about the newest restaurant location in Mercer Village, Cork said what sounded like a great opportunity to work in a new area has worked out tremendously for them.  The different crowd of people has been exciting and many Mercer University students flock to Margaritas for their great deals and fantastic food.  Mercer graduate Brittany Davis appreciates their Monday deal of 99 Cent Taco Night.  Cork also works closely with organizations at the University to rent out the restaurant for special occasions.  The restaurant's casual and family-friendly atmosphere appeals to local residents as well, with a great staff that makes the Margaritas' experience in College Hill a fantastic one.

When I asked Cork to share one of their popular recipes, he was hesitant to reveal his secret traditions - as any smart businessman would be.  He did, however, tell me that the key to great salsa includes tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeños, and an array of different spices.  Their secret recipe has been passed down for many years and keeps my personal group of friends coming back.  From past experiences, I always enjoy my time spent at Margaritas, whether it be for business or pleasure, at the bar or at a table, for dinner or a quick lunch on-the-go. I have always received the great service that Cork says they strive to achieve.  Customer satisfaction is a key factor to running a successful business in the Corridor and Margaritas aims to please each and every customer.

I [Cook] in the Corridor

Cook ingredients that you are used to cooking by other techniques, such as fish, chicken, or hamburgers. In other words, be comfortable with the ingredients you are using.

-Bobby Flay 

 

After this past holiday, I've been trying lots of new dishes lately.  I have ventured into different restaurants and I've even tuned in to the Food Network for inspiration on new recipes or twists on dishes I've created before.  I want to share a few of my experiences in the kitchen and offer a great recipe that I hope you'll enjoy!

The most popular summer dish in my family was hamburgers.  My father loved to grill them and my mother created her own special hamburgers in the oven.  My personal favorites were her self-proclaimed "Buffalo Bleu Burgers."  By adding a coat of buffalo sauce to the burger and topping each one of with a layer of thick and chunky bleu cheese, she prepared my ultimate favorite hamburger.  My family has always experimented in the kitchen.  Lots of failures came about, but many great dishes were also created when someone ventured out of the ordinary.

While I encourage everyone to try the great restaurants in Mercer Village and throughout the Corridor, cooking at home has many advantages.  It saves quite a bit of money.  At Taco Bell, it costs $5 plus tax for only five tacos.  At your local grocery, for $5 you can buy a pack of taco shells, one pound of ground beef, and seasoning mix. For the same price, you get twelve tacos!  Add a twist to your homemade tacos and burritos by squeezing a fresh lime into your meat.  It doesn't take much to really spice up a simple dish.  If you're not in the mood to stay in, Margarita's in Mercer Village has been serving some of the best Mexican food since 1988.

No Knife Necessary Ribs

 

A few weeks ago, I bought some ribs but I wasn't sure how to prepare them. I don't own a grill, so I researched recipes to learn how to cook ribs in the oven and found No Knife Necessary Ribs.  First, I applied a great-smelling pork rub and let them sit overnight.  The rub's main ingredient was red pepper which created enough kick, but was balanced out with the sweet taste of brown sugar.  I brushed a thin layer of steak sauce on them and poured a little Worcestershire sauce on them as well.  I then laid the ribs on a sheet of aluminum foil and covered them with another layer and sealed off the ends.  I popped them in the oven at 300 degrees for approximately two and a half hours.  Slow cooking them on a lower temperature made them so tender I didn't need a knife to cut them, hence the name.  Sealing them in a make-shift aluminum bag mixed all the juices together to create a unique dipping sauce.  I recommend this to anyone without a grill who is looking for a great summer time dish!

Cooking at home can be a great bonding time for a family, couple, and can even be an evening of adventure for a night by yourself.  Don't limit yourself to one recipe for a specific dish. Compare several recipes to see what ingredients are commonly used and use your judgment to adjust to your taste buds.  Several trials and a little tweaking could lead to you cooking some award winning dishes in the Corridor!

I [Celebrate] in the Corridor

Freedom is never given; It is won.

-Philip Randolph

I hope everyone had a truly happy Fourth of July!  My holiday was filled with holiday sales, cooking, and, of course, fireworks! I didn't have a grill, but I cooked my first rack of ribs and they were delicious. I moved into my new apartment at Mercer University just in time to see someone's incredible fireworks display right outside my apartment too. I visited different areas of the Corridor to see what others were doing for America's birthday.

Every Independence Day I call my father to see what he is up to for the holiday.  As a National Guard veteran, he appreciates this day  more than a great day for grilling.  "It's great to live in a country where I can travel from state to state without being stopped.  I love America and I'm so glad I live here," he said to me yesterday afternoon.  Last night, he decided to celebrate the day by going downtown to view the fireworks along with many others. 

I stopped by College Hill's Second Sunday site, Washington Park, to see what families were there to celebrate the holiday.  I stumbled upon Karina Lewis and her family who decided to have a picnic under the shade for the day.  Despite the heat, they were having a great time! Her mother, a soldier for the U.S. Army, makes her family celebrate this day rain or shine.  Grills are not allowed at the park so they had an array of food brought from home for everyone to enjoy.

Mercer Student, Jakyll Henry, chose to have a barbeque with some close friends in his home off of Ross Street.  "The weather is hot, but so is the grill," he told me.  They cooked ribs, hamburgers, hotdogs, and chicken with their special barbeque sauce.  The ribs were no match for mine, but I had to take an extra plate of that chicken home with me.  When I asked what Independence Day meant to him, Jakyll replied, "It's a day where I can be thankful that I was born in a country that gives me a great education and freedom."

This was a great Fourth of July for me and I hope you can say the same. No matter how you celebrate Independence Day, remember why we celebrate it.  Celebrate with family, with friends, with food. Just remember, there is plenty to celebrate in the Corridor!