Disney to close Pleasure Island nightclubs

PLEASURE ISLAND NIGHTCLUBS CLOSING SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

After nearly 20 years in operation, Disney's Pleasure Island is undergoing a major overhaul, including the closure of the Adventurer's Club, Comedy Warehouse, 8 Traxx, Motion, Mannequins and BET Sound Stage . . . The Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club closed as of February 3, 2008.

Pleasure Island is a section of the Walt Disney World Resort within the Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district. Pleasure Island officially opened May 1, 1989, and will officially close on September 27, 2008.

From 1990 through New Year's Eve 2005, Pleasure Island celebrated New Year's Eve with a fireworks show every night at midnight.

On June 27, 2008, the Walt Disney World Resort announced that over the next two years, Disney will replace all of Pleasure Island's nightclubs with new stores and restaurants.

Disney denied rumors that the changes are due to a drop in attendance at Pleasure Island, stating instead that the company is responding to guest feedback asking for more family friendly experiences.

Although it has been a very long time since I have visited Walt Disney World, there was a time when JR and I visited at least twice a month. As annual passholders of Walt Disney World, we wanted to get our money's worth . . . and we did!

Since JR passed away, I have not had the desire to visit and I had no idea that the concept of "every night is New Year's Eve" had been abandoned. Pleasure Island had to be the most festive party atmosphere I ever experienced.

Mannequins was my favorite dance club and many fond memories came back to me when I read that it still exists . . . at least until September of this year. Being the dance music freak that I am and a huge lover of dance clubs, Mannequins was the ultimate place to dance, enjoy music and be entertained.

The name "mannequins" set the scene for live mannequins staged throughout the club. One minute you would swear they were a mannequin and the next minute they would come to life, complete with a spotlight on them as they danced to the music. At least that was how it was back in the day when we partied there quite often.

Pleasure Island was also the home of one of my all time favorite restaurants on the Disney property . . . Fireworks Factory, which has been long gone. The comfort food served there was among the best that I have ever had . . . BBQ pork ribs that would fall off the bone, the best fresh cornbread ever and the most to die for brownie hot fudge sundae ever. Even if we were visiting on a budget and brought food from the grocery store to eat, we had to visit Fireworks Factory at least for dessert and coffee.

While most of my memories are on video and in my head, I know I have a ton of photos from Pleasure Island that I will scan and post. It brought tears to my eyes to think the place that holds such beautiful memories of awesome times JR and I shared will only be a memory after September.

I'm sure the new stores and restaurants will be as spectacular as everything else on the Disney property, but will not have the memories of those awesome days gone by . . .

If you can visit before it closes and you have never experienced Pleasure Island and the eccentric nightclubs, experience it before they are gone . . . even though every night is no longer New Year's Eve.

Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel turned 20

Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Hotel turned 20 on July 1.

It is one of my favorite places in the world!

I'll post some photos of the Grand Floridian Hotel
from my vast photo collection from Walt Disney World.

Ready for hurricane season?

As a widow and still getting used to being alone and having the responsibility of everything on my shoulders, the hurricane season is a dreaded time.

Even the fierce afternoon storms are sometimes too much for me as the lightening cracks and winds whip around giving the illusion of all hell breaking loose out there.

Although anxiety sets in and I work myself into a panic . . . that is just me since I am a chronic worry wart . . . I am prepared and that is the most important thing to remember as we are well into the hurricane season.

I wrote an article on hurricane preparedness at Helium . . . click here to go to the article.

Let's pray for a mild season . . .

Choosing containers

Containers should complement the style of your home and the appearance of the plants you intend to add to them. As you select containers, keep in mind the mature size of the plants that will inhabit them.

Poured-concrete containers with the look of stone are popular and well suited to a formal setting. They're very heavy, so once planted, they should be considered a permanent part of the landscape.

Terra cotta comes in a huge selection of shapes and sizes. Over time these pots acquire a beautiful aged look . . . as clay pots age, algae appears on the outer surface, as well as mineral salts from fertilizer and water. Some people like the appearance of an old clay pot; others find it unsightly. The disadvantages of terra-cotta pots are that they allow the soil to dry quickly, which means plants will need more frequent watering, and in cold climates they may crack as soil expands and contracts.

Some of today's plastic containers resemble terra cotta. They're lighter in weight but will never attain the attractive aged, mossy look of the real thing. Plastic containers retain moisture better than clay, which is an advantage in hot or dry climates but a disadvantage if you tend to overwater plants. Plastic pots are less expensive and readily available in many designs. They're lighter than clay pots and may topple if plants are top-heavy.

Fiberglass containers are lightweight and long-lasting and may have the "aged look" built in. They can be made to look like terra-cotta pots, wooden containers or even bronze or copper containers, with a finish that resembles those metals' natural patina. They won't crack if left outside for the winter.

Wood is an excellent traditional choice and comes in a variety of styles, from redwood buckets to upright square boxes with feet. Wood dries out more quickly than other materials and may not last as long. Some plastic planters look a lot like wood and last practically forever.

The standard pot is as wide as it is tall, so one with a 6" diameter is generally about 6" tall. A standard-shaped pot is a good choice for most plants. Make sure that all containers have drainage holes.

Dark-colored pots absorb more heat than lighter ones; roots stay cooler in lighter pots. If you live in a cool climate and want to grow cacti, choose a dark pot; if you live in a warm climate and want to grow tender annuals, select a light-colored container.

Happy gardening :)

Watering Tricks for Container Plants

Container gardening is my preferred method of gardening these days since my paradise has turned into a jungle that will take some time to get under control. In the meantime, I've been turning my carport into a container jungle just by taking pieces of plants and putting them in containers.

Keeping container plants healthy and watered can be a challenge, especially if you don't have much time on your hands.

One of the things I do to keep my plants healthy naturally is to dilute left over coffee and water my plants with it . . . I've sprinkled used coffee grounds in the containers. My plants love it! They also love water that vegetables have boiled in . . . I never use salt in the water. With the carport being right outside my kitchen, these practices have been very convenient for me.

A homemade self-watering device will care for your plants while you're on vacation. A thick piece of cotton cord placed in the drainage hole of a container will act as a wick and draw water from a reservoir such as a 1-gallon plastic milk jug. When you don't need the device, coil the cotton cord inside the saucer so it's out of sight.

Before you plant the container, cut a piece of cord 2 1/2' to 3 1/2' long. Place one end through the drainage hole of the container, then fill the pot with a few inches of soil. The cord should be visible on the surface of the soil before you set the plant in place. Coil the cord around the top of the soil. Set the plant in place, and fill the pot with the remaining soil. When you're about to leave town, place the long end of the cord emerging from the drainage hole into a gallon jug filled with water. The cord will act as a wick to draw water from the jug.

Another method--often used with miniature African violets--is to use a shorter piece of cord and set the plant on top of a reservoir. Both plant and reservoir can be placed in a larger decorative container so that the wick and reservoir are hidden. Check the reservoir at least once a month to see whether you need to add water. If you like, add fertilizer to the reservoir.

Strawberry jars are very difficult to water. To make the job easier, place a wire cylinder filled with gravel inside the pot. Fill the container with soil and plant as usual. When you water, place the hose directly into the cylinder. It will deliver water all the way to the bottom of the jar. Another method is to drill holes in a piece of PVC pipe and place it in the center of the pot before planting.

If you enjoy hovering over your plants, use clay pots, which dry out quickly. With terra-cotta pots, you won't have to worry about overwatering. If you prefer self-sufficient plants, choose plastic pots, which help the soil retain moisture longer so plants don't need watering as frequently. Gardeners who forget about their plants should consider self-watering pots with a reservoir of water that's available to the plants as needed.

Beginning gardeners often make the mistake of thinking that all plants require the same amount of moisture. In fact, some require a lot of moisture, whereas others prefer soil that's on the dry side. To keep each plant happy, you'll need to know its water requirements. A good plant encyclopedia or manual can help.

To determine whether a plant needs water, stick your finger in the soil. If it's dry down to the first knuckle on your index finger, add water. If the soil is damp, don't water. Or purchase a moisture meter at a garden center or nursery. After being placed in the soil, the meter's probe will indicate whether the plant should be watered.

There is an awesome product on the market that is a glass ball on a spikey stem that you fill with water and stick in the container to keep your plants watered. I'll try to find the link to where you can buy these or post a photo, they are very decorative and functional.

Every time I see the commercial on television, my minds starts going on some home made designed items using the same concept. Just haven't had the time to play around with it, but will post photos when I get around to making some.

You are welcome to post your watering tricks for container plants in the comments section.

Happy gardening :)

Information on Florida tomatoes

The following website has lots of
good information on Florida tomatoes . . .

Click here


It is the perfect time to start growing
your own tomatoes . . . I'm in the
process of updating my page on
growing tomatoes at my
personal website DonitaWorld.com

Click here

More states including Florida report tomato illnesses

Is anything safe to eat anymore? Seems like it is a game of russian roulette when it comes to buying produce. It is definitely time to start growing my own herbs and vegetables . . . as many as possible.

"The toll from salmonella-tainted tomatoes jumped to 228 illnesses Thursday as the government learned of five dozen previously unknown cases and said it is possible the food poisoning contributed to a cancer patient's death.

Six more states - Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont - reported illnesses related to the outbreak, bringing the number of affected states to 23."

Click here to read the entire article.