National Soft Ice Cream Day is a tasty way to celebrate a hot summer day and cool off with your favorite soft serve ice cream. In honor of this tasty holiday, we are going to take you on a virtual tour of all our favorite ice cream shops in town.
Before we get started, what is the difference between soft and hard ice cream? While both soft and hard ice cream have the same ingredients, soft ice cream has less milk fat and more air allowing it flow smoothly from the machine. Though the title soft was a given as to why it offers that creamy smooth texture, let’s kick off our favorite soft-serve joints in the Wilmington area!
Dairy Queen
Yup, we said it. Dairy Queen! Every town’s favorite Soft Serve Ice Cream spot to grab a cone or a bowl and hang on the picnic tables. Even better, Dairy Queen offers treats for your furry friend. The “Pup Cup” is a free doggy sized cup of their classic vanilla ice cream.
Kohl’s Frozen Custard
Custard and ice cream may seem like they are not the same, but frozen custard has all the same ingredients as regular ice cream but with addition of egg yolk. The egg yolk helps make the custard into a thicker, creamier treat that is also served as a soft-serve!
Located in Wrightsville Beach, Kohl’s Frozen Custard offers a central location right off the beach and near Wynn Plaza, a public boat dock, where both vacationers and locals can head up for a cool treat anytime of the day. Kohl’s also serves delicious food from their grill, including breakfast!
Hwy 55
Founded in Eastern North Carolina, Hwy 55 is an all-American diner featuring a classic menu burgers, fries, and most importantly, shakes! One of the reason’s why Hwy 55’s shake and other dessert items are so good is because they also serve frozen custard!
Who are we kidding though, everyday in the summer should include soft-serve.
Check out these other local delicious ice-cream shops in our area:
Thursday, April 30th is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. There are so many pets that are looking for their forever loving home. Many pets end up in shelters not sure why they were left and just want to be loved again. Not only does adopting a shelter pet give the pet a new best friend but it also gives you a new best friend.
If you are not ready to adopt a new friend there are other ways to help. Fostering is always a great option. By fostering a shelter pet that allows the pet to be in a loving home and their true personality can come out making it easier for people who are ready to adopt to see the true personality of the pet. Fostering is also a big help to the shelters. A Lot of shelters look for volunteers, people to help take care of the dogs. Donating is a great way to help so many shelters need as much funding help as they can get to keep the pets healthy. Following shelters on social media and sharing the pet stories are a huge help to the shelters and pets.
If you’re looking to adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, or share on social media here are some local shelters:
Next time you head out for a quick bite don’t forget to grab your furry best friend to hit up some of these drive-thrus and take out favorites! Wilmington is a very dog friendly location meaning there are alot of restaurants with dog friendly options. Here are a few great drive-thrus and take out locations around Wilmington, grab your pooch and take a little ride to grab some tasty treats! Just remember too many tasty treats can be bad for your dog, also be careful to watch out for any dietary restrictions.
First up we have our chains which many people may or may not know that these places have treats for your pup.
Starbucks
Probably the most known is the “Puppuccino” at Starbucks. No this “Puppuccino” doesn’t have any coffee in it, it’s just a doggy sized cup of whipped cream and it’s free!
Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts just like Starbucks has a doggy sized cup of whipped cream only Dunkin’ calls it the “Puppy Latte”.
Dairy Queen
At Dairy Queen grab yourself a tasty treat and grab a “Pup Cup” for your best friend. A “Pup Cup” is a free doggy sized cup of vanilla ice cream.
Brusters
Have a sweet tooth? Go grab yourself a Brusters sundae and while you’re there grab your pooch a “Doggie Sundae”. The “Doggie Sundae” is a dog sized vanilla sundae that might even be topped with a dog biscuit!
Sonic
One of the few drive-in restaurants, Sonic is the perfect place to bring your pup along! Some locations offer a doggy treat you just have to ask! If your location does not then you can get your furry friend a lick or two of your vanilla ice cream cone, or a plain no bread hot dog, grilled chicken or hamburger.
Chick-fil-A
At Chick-fil-A some locations offer doggy treats but if your location you can split an order of grilled chicken nuggets or a small vanilla ice cream cone.
McDonald’s, Burger King, & Wendy’s
McDonald’s, Burger King, & Wendy’s a plain burger or grilled chicken plain, no bun, or a few licks from your vanilla soft serve.
Of course some local favorites have great dog treats, here are just a few!
PT’s Olde Fashioned Grille
There are some great options for your pup at PT’s Olde Fashioned Grille. Especially since you can customize all of their sandwiches. Some great options to pick from would be the P.T. Burger, P.T. Dog or the Turkey Sandwich all of these options should be plain and with no bread. PT’s is also part of our support location restaurants initiative, when you buy a vehicle from Jeff Gordon Chevrolet you will receive a $50 gift car, find out more here: Support Local Restaurants
Trolly Stop
Trolly Stop has been serving the Wilmington community for over 40 years and they love the dog family too! There are some great options for your pooch. They have the “Doggy Dog”, they also have the plain no bread burger option.
Cookout
Cookout is a great Southern favorite! Like most of the other places they have the option of a plain no bread burger, grilled chicken or hot dog. If you want to give your pup an extra special treat, you could get them a small cup of vanilla ice cream.
As you can see there are many great options for you and your pooch to enjoy a quick bite. Let us know if there are any other options for you and your pup.
Here are some of the available dogs for adoption they are looking for loving homes! There are many others as well, so be sure to stop by and find your new best friend!
D.O.B- 7/14/15 59lbs Kolsch was a stray found from a local brewery which is here he gets his awesome name from! He loves to snuggle and give big sloppy kisses. Kolsch loves people!
D.O.B- 5/4/09
11lbs
Chichi is a sweet handsome older boy. Unfortunately Chichi lost his dad and his mom wasn’t well enough to take care of him. He’s in good health, just a few bad teeth which have already been taken care of thanks to Paws Place! He’s active, affectionate and enjoys going for walks! He’s a little guy that can keep anyone company!
D.O.B- 12/6/18
34lbs
Micah is handsome ball of energy! He loves to run, play, jump and give big kisses. He’s a quick learner and great with other dogs!
Faith– Mixed breed lab- female
D.O.B- 4/23/19
30lbs
Faith has come along way since September, she came to Paws Place from Furever Friends Animal Rescue. She is affectionate, playful girl who plays independently and likes a good lap to snuggle in! Her favorite treat is peanut better. She’s a quick learner and has good house managers. She’s great at holding a conversation!
Polo got his name because he’s a typical hound that liked to explore. He loves going for walks and sniffing out all the fascinating smells. Polo is also a big cuddler, so if you’re looking for a lover Polo is your guy!
If you’re looking for a Southern Bell, Lottie Bell is your gal! She’s extremely affectionate and loves belly rubs. Paws Place is treating Lottie Bell for heart worms but she is still looking for a loving home to help comfort her during treatment and love her for when she’s heart worms free!
Dogs, Golfing and Chevy’s..oh my! Join Paws Place Dog Rescue on Monday, September 9th at Country Club of Landfall Nicklaus Course for the 6th Annual Paws Place Golf Outing.
Jeff Gordon Chevrolet will be providing a 2019 Tahoe as a hole in one prize for the Paws Place Golf Outing. Other fun features will include milligans, par busters, cash prizes for winning teams AND participating teams help the sweet dogs of Paws Place get adopted into their forever loving homes! What could be better?
Paws Place Dog Rescue is a non-profit, no-kill shelter dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of dogs. Since 1999, they have placed loving dogs with loving families in Wilmington, Southport and other surrounding areas.
As Partners, Jeff Gordon Chevrolet participates by offering photography services for their adoptable pets and sponsorship for their upcoming events.
Here are some of the dogs that we had the opportunity to meet and take for a photo shoot!
Info: Hi there – I’m not sure if you’ve heard my sad story. My mom, who loved me very much, passed away very unexpectedly at a young age and left me all alone. I miss her a lot, but Paws Place said that another family is going to come and take me home. I sure hope they’re right. I’m a little nervous at the kennel, but I’m really a very sweet and loving dog. I like people a lot, and I love to get visitors. Sometimes they even take me on a walk! I like to get my beagle nose sniffing, you know? Anyway, I hope someone will come take a chance on a sweet boy like me.
Info: Hi, my name is Nina! I’m a very sweet, loveable, five-year-old pit bull. I’m a big girl with a big heart, and I’m looking for someone to share my love with. I like to go on walks, and I’m a good girl on a leash. I know I’m big, so I try not to pull too hard, and I also know not to jump on people! I want to so bad because I just want to give everyone a big hug, but I just jump up and down in place instead – it’s actually pretty cute if I do say so myself. If you’re in the market for a big, goofy, loveable girl to share your life with, look no further. I just can’t wait to find myself a forever home. I love cuddling and I love to be around people. Please, won’t you take a chance on me?
Info: Hello! Are you in the market for a friendly, playful, happy, loving dog? You are?! I know that might sound cliché, but I really am just the epitome of a sweet dog! I love people; I think I would like other dogs, and I’m enjoying the good food and treats here. I even get to go on walks here! Do you like walks? I would love a family that could take me on adventures or even just play in the backyard. I would be a perfect family dog. I really hope you’re in the market for a medium-sized, loving sweet boy like me. Come out to the kennel to meet me!!
Info: Hi ya! If you’d like a sassy, playful, confident little pup, well…here I am! I came to Paws Place with my mama, Josie, maybe you’ve seen her picture? A good Samaritan found the two of us, and we were lucky enough to find ourselves here! I’m all caught up with vaccinations, spayed and microchipped. My mama is only 19 pounds if that gives you an idea of how big (or small) I’ll be. I’m a very curious little dog, and I like to play and explore! I sure hope a fun family will come and choose me to be their forever dog!
These are just four of the loving pups that are at Paws Place they have many more friends that need adopted too! Head over and check out the dogs that are available for adoption.
Don’t forget to sign your team up for the Paws Place Golf Outing and have your chance to win a 2019 Tahoe. You have to play to win and this is a win win situation!
We know the end of summer is quickly approaching, so before summer is over we want to take you up the coast on a North Carolina Lighthouse Tour, follow us! Let’s all jump into our ChevroletEquinox and begin our coastal adventure!
To start your trip it’s only right to visit the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina. First stop is the Oak Island Lighthouse built-in 1952 replacing the Cape Fear Lighthouse. Made out of concrete long and skinny tower had the brightest light in the United States from 1958-1962, standing on Bald Head Island since 1817. Old Baldy has rightfully earned its right to be the first stop.
The next lighthouse on our list is on the beautiful Crystal Coast we have Cape Lookout. This lighthouse is on the Outer Banks in the southernmost part and it’s painted for directions with black facing north and south and white east and west. If you’re lucky you might even spot some wild horses!
As simple and remote as the Ocracoke Lighthouse may seem it had been guiding sailors and boats since 1823. The lighthouse stands 75 feet tall, diameter narrows from 25feet at the base to 12 feet at its peak. Being one of the most remote stretches of the Outer Banks, this could be a full-day experience from seeing Ocracoke Lighthouse to exploring the island.
Can’t miss the tallest brick lighthouse in the US and we are lucky to have it right on the North Carolina coast on Hatteras Island. Originally built in 1803 Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built as a ‘guiding light’ to help sailors navigate through the graveyard of the Atlantic. There are 269 steps from the group level to the lens of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Always impressive to see the brick lighthouse standing at 210 ft.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse has been replicated three times since 1872, standing 156 feet tall. It is located on the Roanoke Sound, it is located amongst the marshland. The view from the top is incredible and totally worth it.
Currituck stands out being the only natural-brick lighthouse on the coast with 1 million bricks. Towering over the northern Outer Banks historic Corolla Village making for a beautiful sight at the top with expansive views of the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Currituck is the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes being known as a first-order lighthouse.
We are at our last stop of the trip often one of the most overlooked Outer Banks lighthouses we have Roanoke LIghthouse. Don’t be discouraged by it being tucked away in the quiet east end of Manteo waterfront with small stature and limited visibility, it’s still a lovely sight to see. It jets out 40 yards into the Roanoke Sound with a prim white exterior with black shutters and red shingled roof, capped off by a 2′ ft., 4″ in. the tall lens gives this lighthouse a classic coastal look. Enjoy the fantastic waterfront view and stroll the wooden boardwalk to explore the exterior.
We have completed our North Carolina Lighthouse tour! We hope you had fun and enjoyed our roomy Equinox, be sure to stop back again for another road trip!
If you are looking to take a road trip and make memories this summer with your family we have compiled a list of “MUST SEE” stops heading on I-95 South from Wilmington to Florida!
Your first stop on the trip heading south on 95 should be South of Border. For over 50 years South of the Border has been a landmark of the southeast. Pedro the lovable grinning mustachioed caricature mascot stands 97 feet tall making him the largest freestanding sign east of the Mississippi, you can even drive through his legs! When driving on I95 you see Pedro talking to you from the signs for miles telling you you’re almost to South of the Border. Mexico Shop East and West have tons of souvenirs, everything you can think of. A summertime favorite, fireworks start at the South Carolina state line, Pedro’s Rocket City has a huge selection with all the favorites! Don’t forget about the best Mexican food in northern South Carolina at Sombrero Room Restaurant. There are other food choices if you do not want Mexican or a sit-down restaurant. Pedro’s Casateria offers food in short order making it quick and easy to get back on the road. There’s also Pedro’s Southern Fried Chicken which looks like an antebellum mansion with rocking chairs and a giant chick on the roof. Then there is Peddlers Steakhouse shaped like a Mexican hat very hard to miss. Before getting back in the car be sure to ride to the top of Sombrero Tower in the glass elevator. If you decide to stay at South of the Border there is RV campgrounds and 300 motel rooms spread of 135 acres which allows access to Pedro’s Pleasure Dome with indoor pool, steam room, jacuzzi, bar and wedding chapel.
Head to “The Track Too Tough to Tame” at Darlington Raceway. Even if there’s not a race going on when you visit you can still take a walk through the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum. Not only will you see the history of Darlington Raceway but also the entire sport. Whether you’re a long time race fan or new to the sport the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA Hall of Fame offers a unique stroll through the history of NASCAR. Darlington Raceway gift shop, NMPA Hall of Fame and Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Be sure to stop by, who knows you may even spot some Jeff Gordon history!
Next on the stop is the Wood Bay State Park, get out and stretch your legs while enjoying some time in nature! Wood Bay offers one of the last remaining large Carolina Bay on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. The 1,590-acre park features a wide range of habitats such as marsh, sandhills. Oak-hickory forest and shrub bog. There is much wildlife to see and great for bird watching especially during migration seasons. The park can be explored by taking the nature trail which circles the mill pond or walks the length of the 1,150-foot boardwalk, where you can see the alligators in the cypress-tupelo swamp. If you want to make it a longer adventure the best way to see the park is by following the canoe trail which will take paddlers pas the Carolina Bays to the elliptical depressions.
Just a short drive down the road from Wood Bay State Park is the Congaree National Park. The Congaree National Park offers a wide range of biodiversity with the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forever remaining in the southeastern United States. There is so much to do at Congaree, with canoeing through the beautiful rivers, camping, fishing, hiking, nature watching, you’re sure to enjoy time with the family while taking a break.
Another great State Park is the Santee State Park sits along Lake Marion, and is known for its abundant population of large catfish. Other activities include hiking, biking, pontoon boat tours, kayaking, boating and a whole lot more! If you want to camp on the lake there is lakeside camping, if you prefer indoors there’s also 10 cabins that sit on the piers overlooking the lake.
In the small town of Bowman, SC with less than 1,000 residents is the UFO Welcome Center. Bowman resident Jody Pendarvis has been building the UFO Welcome Center for the past 25 years. Pendarvis graduated from Bowman High School in 1970 then he went on to serve in the Air Force from 1973 to 1984, where he gaining a military education working on computers. Following his service in the military, Pendarvis attended South Carolina State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1990. Four years later he began working on the welcome center. The UFO Welcome Center consists of a 42-foot-wide flying saucer built out of wood, fiberglass, and plastic, in 2003 a smaller saucer about 20 feet in width was added on top of the original structure. There is everything that an alien might need if they are to visit, Pendarvis envisions himself as an ambassador for aliens. During the summers the top saucer is cooler than Pendarvis’ mobile home so he stays in the top saucer. There is a wooden container near the sentence that is painted blue saying “Tips” as the admission fee. There is a sign near the entrance that reads “Space People Only. Enter at Own Risk, Danger” then you walk in there is a book which asks you to write down your name and the planet that you come from. Bowman Mayor Marion Glenn would like to make the UFO Welcome Center more a true town welcome center, however, Pendarvis is indifferent about it, for now, it will remain Jody’s Welcome Center. When visiting the UFO Welcome Center like all places be sure to watch your step, stay safe, and take a lot of photos. Who knows you might be there to welcome the aliens.
The Carolina Heritage Outfitters just outside of Walterboro, SC is the perfect night getaway especially after being on the road. At the Carolina Heritage Outfitters, you can enjoy canoeing and if you plan to stay you will be able to stay in beautiful tree houses. The tree houses offer the perfect relaxation with the privacy which is only accessible by canoe, it is a beauty to take in the longest free-flowing blackwater river with sandy banks and a shallow sandy bottom perfect for swimming and picnicking. When the water is higher during the winter months you can paddle right into the forest of cypress trees.
Now we continue south to Georgia where our first stop is Savannah, a city with a lot of history and so much today is a coastal city separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. Take a trip to Savannah Historic District with tours of the downtown and water tours you can see the history and beauty of Savannah. Or head over to City Market for fine dining, shopping, and fun entertainment while taking in the historic town.
Just 20 minutes outside of Savannah is Tybee Island is the perfect sandy getaway. Tybee Island is home to Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse which you can take a tour of, you can also visit Fort Pulaski where the Union Army successfully tested a rifle canon in 1862 during the Civil War. If you want to get into nature and enjoy the water Tybee has boat rides where you can see the dolphins, kayaking, paddle boarding and all of the beach favorites!
Another stop along the Georgia coast is Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island is much different than Tybee Island. While Tybee Island is beautiful and there’s a lot to do it is made for the tourist. Whereas Cumberland Island is the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia. It offers over 17 miles of secluded white sandy beaches, wild horses and other island wildlife freely roaming throughout the ruins and along the beach. A beautiful scenic escape Cumberland Island has a lot to offer from history to nature. If you’re interested in riding the ferry it is recommended to book a reservation prior to arriving.
Now we have made it to Florida, there are a lot of stops to make in Florida along the coast, so get ready for a fun-filled journey as we venture down the beautiful coast of Florida!
Our first stop in Florida is Jacksonville, a large city that shows it all. No matter what type of adventure you are looking for Jacksonville has it! In addition to Jacksonville Beach, there are several others. See some animals at the Jacksonville Zoo & Garden or head over to the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary to see big cats. Downtown Jacksonville has a lot to offer, you could spend all day in Jacksonville or keep heading down the beautiful coast Florida, really just depends on your time.
St. Augustine lays the claim to being the oldest city in the U.S., being known for the Spanish colonial architecture and Atlantic Ocean beaches. The history is a must see when visiting St. Augustine. First, we will head to Castillo de San Marcos which symbolizes the clash between cultures. The St. Augustine Light Station is a site to see as it is still an active working lighthouse. Who doesn’t love treasure and pirates, right? Check out the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum to be transported back to the Golden Age of Piracy over 300 years to Port Royal, Jamaica. Cannot miss the beautiful white sandy beaches of St. Augustine to get to the beach cross over the Bridge of Lions. Bridge of Lions spans the Intracoastal Waterway, it connects downtown St. August to Anastasia Island across Matanzas Bay, it is a site to see for sure! Visit any of the beaches in St. Augustine you won’t be disappointed!
Now we have made it to the “World Center of Racing” Daytona International Speedway! Go to the place where Jeff Gordon 4 time NASCARCup Series Champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer won not one but three Daytona 500s! There are 3 types of tours that you can do of Daytona International Speedway. In addition to tours, fans can also access the new Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which now house the DIS Ticket and Tours Building, as well as take part in NASCAR Racing Experience. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America showcases and honors all fours of motorsports: Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Open-Wheel, Motorcycles, Drag Racing, Land Speed Records, Powerboating, and Aviation. In addition to Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach has much to offer! If you’re looking to get away from the crows check out Tomoka State Park. Tomoka State Park is a 2,000-acre State Park located along the Tomoka River, where your visitors can camp, hike, and boat. Of course, when visiting Daytona visitors must enjoy the World’s Most Famous Beach. There is so much to enjoy in Daytona.
Ponce Inlet is a beautiful beachy town in Volusia County, Florida, located on the southern tip of a beach peninsula just south of Daytona Beach. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is the tallest lighthouse in the state, beautiful stop for sure! Smyrna Dunes Park is a vast public park where pets are allowed on the leash and fun for the whole family! Go-Kart City is a fun-filled day for the whole family with a lengthy go-kart track, 7-stall batting cages, and a colorful, fun 18-hole putt-putt course because who doesn’t love putt-putt, right? Ponce Inlet has much to offer and is just a short drive from Daytona!
Along the coast, there are many stops in Florida that visitors can stop and not be disappointed in. Now we continue south because our trip must come to an end to Homestead Florida.
Just south of Miami Homestead has much to offer. Of course, a Jeff Gordon or NASCAR fan must stop by Homestead-Miami Speedway. Another stop is Coral Castle created and structured by Latvian-American eccentric Edward Leedskalnin, who single-handedly and secretly carver over 1,100 tons of coral rock. Everglades Alligator Farm the farm features snakes, alligators, caimans, and crocodiles plus airboat tours. Another fun place to see wildlife is the Monkey Jungle it is a 30-acre wildlife park in 1933 for the exhibition and study of endangered monkeys in their semi-natural habitats.
There you have it you have made it! You have seen I-95-South in its entirety!
All Summer Long Jeff Gordon Chevrolet will feature our vehicle lineup in areas unique to our Coastal Community. Explore Wilmington, NC along with us, as we showcase our Chevys in different parts of the Cape Fear Region. Hit up Historic Downtown Hotspots, Cruise the Waterways and Discover Wilmington’s Unique Parks and Gardens all in the comfort of your driver’s seat.
Join us for Summer of Chevy for events and giveaways all summer long June-August
TRAVERSE TAKES THE LEAD
The all-new 2019 Traverse is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to offering cargo space, Wi-Fi technology and safety features like the industry-first Front Center Air Bag.
A summer classic is going to the drive-in movie theater with a vehicle packed full of your friends or a romantic date night. Unfortunately, though there aren’t many drive-in-movie theaters around anymore.
There are still alternatives though! Around Wilmington, there are movie nights where you can go to a park and watch movies for free sitting in the grass. You could always host your own movie night in your backyard just be sure to invite the neighbors so they don’t get upset. Or if you’re looking for a more romantic night, crawl into your vehicle and set up your movie.
Image Credit: What’sOnWilmington.com
Here are some places around Wilmington where you can watch movies in the park:
When: All summer long every Sunday film begins at dusk
What to bring: Family, friends, blanket, lawn chairs, and picnic
What not to bring: No alcohol or glass allowed.
Concessions available.
Image Credit: Nan Palmero/ Flickr
DIY Backyard Movie Theater
It may not be a drive-in-movie but it’s still a lot of fun for a nice summer night with friends and family, here is everything that you’ll need to make your own outdoor movie theater right in your backyard!
There are 4 key components that you will need when setting up your backyard theater;
Video Source: Some options for this would be your laptop, DVD player, Blu-Ray player, or gaming console.
Video Projector: What your projector will need:
Brightness – go for 2000 lumens or better
Resolution – look for a 720p or 1080p model HD is also a great thing to look for.
Sound- Don’t worry about if the projector has a built-in speaker, they do not help for outdoor settings.
Sound System: Think about something that you have that produced enough sound and can be plugged into your video source. Some ideas are:
Stereo amplifier
A good set of computer speakers
Take it old school with a boom box – as long as it has auxiliary outputs
Home Theater in a box
A Screen: Really any white material will work, but here are a few ideas to make your screen.
DIY Sheets:
What you will need:
Two white king sized flat/top sheets.
40 feet of 1 1/2 inch SCH 40 PVC Pipe
(2) 1/4 inch x 3-inch eye bolts
(2) 90° PVC elbows
(3) 1 1/2 inch PVC “T” pipes
(3) five-gallon buckets
Sand
Cord or Rope
How to make the screen:
Cut 2 pieces 100” X 56”
Turn right side out with the seams on the inside, ironing down the seams will help it lay flat
Make pockets for the pipes by sewing the seam around all four sides about 4” away from the edge
Fold and iron the raw edges from the final side that has not been closed. Stitch the edges together to close the final side.
How to make the frame for the screen:
Lay your screen you just made flat on the ground. Take a 90° elbow and connect it to a ten-foot piece of 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Slide the pipe through the top pocket of the screen. Measure from the left to the right side of the screen and mark where you need to cut it. Take the pipe out, cut the pipe, and slide the pipe back through the screen. Place the second 90° elbow on the opposite end of the top pipe.
Place the “T” PVC connector into the bottom left-hand corner of the screen where it would belong. Measure from the top 90° elbow connector to the bottom tee connector to determine the length of the side pipe. Cut the pipe and slide into the side pocket of the screen and fit into the 90° elbow and then attach the “T” connector. Repeat for the right-hand side.
There should already be a hole in the screen for this, place the final tee connector in the center of the bottom pocket in the screen. Measure from the left tee to the center tee and cut to fit. Slide it in and attach to both tees. Repeat, by measuring from the center tee to the right tee, cutting and attaching.
In case of winds you will need to tie down your screen so attach one eye bolt to each side pipe.
Cut three 1 1/2 inch PVC pipes in lengths of 41 inches each. These will be the legs of the screen.
Stand the legs in the center of the 5-gallon buckets. Fill the buckets with sand to hold the legs in place.
Attach the “legs” to the 3 tee connectors on the bottom of the screen.
Now you have your screen, time to go pick out your movie and invite your friends over, don’t forget the popcorn!
If you do not have the time or simply do not want to build the screen there are other options, you could always do a projector screen although they are typically not that large, there are inflatable screens, as well as outdoor movie screens that you can buy. Another simple option if you have the space for it and location is to project the movie on the side of your house, garage door, tall fence. There are endless options for a movie screen, it’s all just a matter of how creative you want to get. Most importantly is to have fun, enjoy the movie, and eat popcorn!
Looking for something more romantic? Get in your vehicle with WiFi and have a movie night!
Here’s what you’ll need:
A vehicle with WiFi capability
Quiet place
TV, tablet, laptop
Pillows and blankets
Snacks
Most of our Chevy’s have a WiFi hotspot, but here are some of our favorites that would be perfect for your in-car-movie night.
With a large truck bed, the Colorado makes for the perfect night under the stars, watch a movie or both! Featuring a 6-speaker system you’ll have surround sound, plus there is a WiFi hotspot so just connect your laptop to your trucks WiFi and you’re set or a movie marathon! Don’t forget to bring plenty of blankets, pillows, and snacks.
Turn your date night of two into four and make it a double date or bring the pets along! With a HUGE truck bed large enough for the whole family to join! Featuring Chevrolet 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspots offering a fast and reliable internet and 6-speaker system makes for the perfect in-car movie dates! Bring your friends, family, or pets and pack into your Silverado for a movie marathon, don’t forget the snacks, pillows, and blankets!
The Chevrolet Blazer, Equinox, Traverse, Trax, Tahoe, and Suburban are all great cars to have your in-car movie date. Just like the Silverado, they all feature Chevrolet 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspots. You can lay the seats down, back or take them out whatever your preference whatever the vehicle it will be a great night! Just don’t forget your snacks and your date!
Drive-in-movie theaters do not have to be a thing of the past with all of these fun ideas you can bring it back and enjoy those long summer nights with some movies! Remember the 3 most important things about a drive-in-movie; 1. pick a good movie 2. enjoy it with friends family or a date and 3. you must have snacks lots of snacks. Now that you have these ideas and a checklist go make this the best summer yet, and do it in a Chevrolet!
Join Canines for Service on March 23rd from 9 am to Noon at Hugh Macrae Park for the 13th annual Walk & Dog Dash and maybe, you and your pooch could be big winners. The Walk & Dog Dash is a fun-filled event with a 1.5 mile walk/fun run, vendors, food, music, dog activities, professional photos and much more!
And, of course, the Dog contests are back! There will be dog contests that includes puppy pie eating contest, best costume, dog & owner look alike competition, best trick, and biggest/smallest dog awards.
Not only will you have tons of fun at this event with your pup but proceeds from the event will go to help rescue homeless animals in our community and train them to change the lives of Veterans and non-Veterans with disabilities. Your registration will include access to the vendors and contest, a 2019 Walk & Dog Dash T-Shirt, a bandanna for your pup and a BBQ lunch from Cooper’s BBQ Heaven. Registration costs only $25 for adults, $20 for students (13-22 years old), and it’s FREE for kids 12 and under. But most-importantly, your contribution will go to help others and save the life of a homeless pup.
Canines for Service (CFS) is a local organization dedicated to empowering people with disabilities an opportunity to achieve a greater independence as well as enhancing their quality of life and the quality of life for a once homeless furry friend.
CFS was established in December 1996 when CEO/ Founder Rick Hairston moved to Wilmington and he realized there were no service dog organizations in southeastern North Carolina. Hairston gained experience in raising and training service dogs with an internationally known service dog organization in St. Louis Missouri. His 25-plus years of experience in training service dogs helped him understand how a service dog can help give comfort to those with disabilities and their families.
“One of the greatest gifts is serving others,” says Rick Hairston, Founder, President & CEO. “I have committed by life to the service of people with disabilities to meet their needs with the highest quality service dog possible. As a person who uses a service dog myself, I understand the need for these incredible animals and the gift they are to the people we serve.”
Saturday is approaching quickly but there is still time to register. Get your furry friend out of the house to hang out around other pups, make new friends, enjoy a nice run and some fun activities! Your pup needs friends too, so let your pup have the opportunity to rub noses with other pooches and make some new friends during a doggy filled day!
Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Blog 