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Humming the Coke song on Have a Coke Day on May 8? We’re super into everything the cola has to offer. Come raise a glass with us.
Each year on May 8, millions of people across the country celebrate National Have a Coke Day. Coca-Cola, often referred to as Coke, is a carbonated soft drink that is produced by The Coca-Cola Company. Coke is a registered trademark of the Coca-Cola Company in the United States since March 27, 1944. As of 2013, Coke products can be found in over 200 countries around the world as consumers down more than 1.8 million company beverage servings each day.
HOW TO OBSERVE
The celebration can be done by you and a group of your favorite friends getting together, having some fun and each having a tall glass of ice-cold Coca-Cola (or two). Use #NationalHaveACokeDay to share on social media.
With home price growth moderating, sellers will be keen to maximize their asking price but there are some days of the year that make it easier to do so.
A new analysis from ATTOM Data Solutions has identified the best days of the year to sell in order to achieve a premium above market value.
Perhaps not surprisingly, we are now in one of the best months to sell; May offers an average 7.4% premium, second only to June’s 9.2%.
But when narrowed down to specific days, sellers would be better waiting until later in the month to get the best returns on their investment.
Through ignorance, neglect or just plain bad luck, I’ve had my share of gardening failures. But I’ve also been fortunate to discover a few low-maintenance outdoor plants that even I’ve been able to keep alive. Whether you’ve never planted a thing before in your life, or just want to select some hard-to-kill plants for a troublesome spot in the yard, here are five outdoor plants that can survive almost anything.
Wild Geranium
I do nothing for this hardy, low-growing perennial, yet it rewards me with small five-petaled pink blossoms and zig-zag-edged greenery every spring. Far different from the popular red geranium plant, the wild geranium thrives in partial shade, but adapts to a wide variety of sites.
Not fond of pink? Check out the many hardy geranium varieties, in colors including blue and magenta.
Oregano
Whether you pick up a packet of seeds or a Greek oregano plant from a nursery, think about where you will plant oregano, because the bright green-leaved perennial will come back every summer.
A favorite of butterflies, this low-growing herb has a familiar flavor that’s a natural with Greek and Italian food. Use fresh, or cut and dry stalks for your own dried oregano to sprinkle on pizzas all year long.
Chives
Tired of buying green onions at the grocery and having half of them turn slimy in the fridge? Growing chives, another hard-to-kill plant, is a great alternative. Just snip off the hollow green stems about an inch from the ground as needed and add to a dish at the end of cooking for a mild onion flavor. The purple flowers on a chives plant in the spring are a nice (and edible) bonus. Their cousin, garlic chives, has flat, grass-like leaves, white flowers and a mild garlic flavor.
These low-maintenance perennials can get pushy; planting chives in a contained spot will keep them from taking over.
Poppies
Providing big impact with little care, red poppies are one of my favorite hard-to-kill plants. I find the most difficult thing about this perennial is to remember that it’s not a weed! Until the poppy flower blooms, this scraggly-leaved plant looks like something you’d want to pull out of the garden.
When planting, dig deep to loosen the soil; a poppy plant develops a long root like a carrot. And while you’re digging, think about what you might like to plant in front of your Oriental poppies. Once their brief May-June blooming period has ended, the foliage goes dormant and leaves you with nothing but memories of poppy flowers until next spring.
Daffodils
The squirrels eat my tulip bulbs, my hyacinths topple over and the crocuses stick around as long as cotton candy on a rainy day … but daffodils last and last. Also called narcissus, these spring-flowering bulbs require little care, but do like to face the sun. When you plant them in the fall, avoid soggy or shady spots. After they bloom in the spring, allow the leaves to remain until completely withered.
In addition to the familiar yellow flowers, there are white and bi-color varieties with orange or pink accents, not to mention miniature and even fragrant types. Note that daffodil bulbs require cold winter temperatures as part of their development and don’t do well in frost-free areas.
Here are the best events and things to do this weekend in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart and Port Salerno.
May the fourth be with you for free comic book day and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, followed by Cinco de Mayo on Sunday.
Here are the best events this weekend for What To Do in 772.
Treasure Coast
Four local comic book shops are participating in the 18th annual national Free Comic Book Day, which always falls on the first Saturday of May. Comic books are given away for free to anyone who comes into the following shops:
Collector’s Comics: 8627 S. U.S. 1 in Port St. Lucie, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Big Dog Comics: 4804 S. U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce, noon to 7 p.m.
Davinci’s Dreamworks: 835 17th St., Unit 102, in Vero Beach, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information about the Collector’s Comics event, call 772-878-9229 or go to collectorscomics.net. To learn more about the national event, go to www.freecomicbookday.com.
The Cinco de Mayo Margarita Fest: Part Two is 2-7 p.m. Saturday in the alley next to Southern Social at 1932 14th Ave., in Vero Beach. Get a souvenir cup and try more than 20 margaritas. The cost is $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Plus, the party has live music and tacos. For more information, call 772-205-2212 go to www.facebook.com/eatsouthernsocial.
The Royal Palms of St. Lucie’s Kentucky Derby Fundraiser at Walking Tree Brewery starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at 3209 Dodger Road in Vero Beach. It includes costume contests, raffles and a live auction. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. For more information, go to www.theroyalpalms.com. Then, May the 4th Beer with Youstarts at 8 p.m. and features live music and a Star Wars costume contest. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/walkingtreebrewery.
The Cinco de Mayo Party at American Icon Brewery is 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday at 1133 19th Place in Vero Beach. It includes festive food and drink specials. For more information, call 772-934-4266 or go to www.americaniconbrewery.com.
Derby Day at Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa’s Cobalt Restaurant starts at noon Saturday and lasts until post time at 6:50 p.m. at 3500 Ocean Drive. Wear your finest Kentucky Derby attire for complimentary bourbon. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/cobaltrestaurant.
RT Star’s Big Birthday Party at Riverside Theatre is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 3250 Riverside Park Drive in Vero Beach. RT Star is the theater’s education mascot. The party includes shows and entertainment, children’s games, face painting, character meet-and-greets, a bounce slide, hot dogs, shaved ice and a candy prize wheel. Admission is free. Food and drinks are available for sale. For more information, call 772-231-6990 or go to www.riversidetheatre.com.
St. Lucie County
The Kentucky Derby Social at Bottom’s Up Public House is 4-8 p.m. Saturday at 208 Avenue A, now Marina Way, in downtown Fort Pierce. Dress up and enjoy a Derby-themed cocktail menu and a food truck. Then, enjoy Cinco de Mayo with tequila, mezcal and margaritas starting at noon Sunday. Bottom’s Up is open from 11 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday to midnight. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/bottomsuppublichouse.
The Pre-Cinco de Mayo Fiesta en las Viñas at Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery is noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at 4200 Johnston Road, north of Fort Pierce. It features live Latin music, party favors, special sangrias, wine-based margaritas and Mexican beers and food. Proceeds benefit Raining Cats Rescue. Then, celebrate Cinco de Mayofrom 1-5 p.m. Sunday with live music and more festive drinks. Proceeds benefit Little Birthday Angels. For more information, call 772-460-0500 or go to www.summercrushwine.com.
The Cinco de Mayo Party at Pierced Ciderworks is 2-10 p.m. Sunday at 411 N. Second St., in Fort Pierce. Enjoy live music from Ben Prestage and Johnny Debt, games and margarita cider. For more information, call 772-302-3863 or go to www.facebook.com/piercedcider.
Waterfest is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Jaycee Park at State Road A1A and Melaleuca Drive in Fort Pierce on South Hutchinson Island. Try sailing, kayaking, canoeing, sail-boarding and other water activities for free using equipment and instructors from the Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation. There also is live music from the Fort Pierce Jazz Society, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages for sale. For more information, call 772-480-0654 or go to treasurecoastyouthsailing.com.
The Cinco De Mayo Bingo and Brunch at Tradition Town Hall is 1-5 p.m. Sunday at 10799 S.W. Civic Lane in Port St. Lucie. Admission is $20 and includes brunch and a book of 30 games. Plus, there’s a cash bar. To get tickets, go to squareup.com/store/townhallevents.
The Treasure Coast Adult Pinewood Derby at Islamorada Beer Company is 6-9 p.m. Saturday at 3200 Saint Lucie Blvd., in Fort Pierce. Racing starts at 7 p.m. The entry fee is $20 per car and includes a free beer. Proceeds benefit local Boy Scouts. The event also includes raffles and prizes. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/events/2312532615695149.
Martin County
The Kentucky Derby Hat Contest & Party at The Twisted Tuna is 4-7 p.m. Saturday at 4290 S.E. Salerno Road in Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno. It includes prizes and food and drink specials. Then, the Cinco de Mayo Sombrero Hat Contest & Party is 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Registration is 4-5 p.m., and the contest starts at 5:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/thetwistedtuna.
The Divas & Dudes Kentucky Derby Hat & Fashion Show at Manatee Island Bar & Grill starts at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at 4817 S.E Dixie Highway in Port Salerno. Contest judging starts at 5:45 p.m. Then, the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta starts at 11 a.m. Sunday. Both events feature live music and festive drink specials. For more information, call 772-872-7176 or go to www.manateeislandbarandgrill.com.
Derby Day Drinks with the Junior League of Martin County is 3-7 p.m. Saturday in downtown Stuart. Check-in begins at 2:45 p.m. at Vine & Barley Stuart at 301 S.W. St. Lucie Ave., followed by stops at Spritz City Bistro, Cafe Martier at Post Office Arcade and Sneaki Tiki. There also are raffles and contests for the best hat, best bow tie and best dressed couple. Tickets, which include a swag bag and a complimentary drink at each location, are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Junior League’s community projects focusing on literacy and child welfare. For more information, go to jlderbyday.eventbrite.com.
The Rockin’ Cinco de Mayo Party at NOTES Music Room & Wine Bar is 2:30-6 p.m. Sunday at 872 S. Colorado Ave., in Stuart. The party has live music and drink specials. Parking is behind the bar, across the street in the Seacoast Bank parking lot or along Southeast Kindred Street. RSVP for a free ticket and cookie. For more information, call 772-320-9039 or go to www.stuartwinebar.com.
The Martin County Model Railroaders Open House is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Martin County Fairgrounds at 2616 S.E. Dixie Highway in Stuart. Check out various model railroad layouts in full operation and enjoy demonstrations, refreshments and talking trains with members. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.martincountymodelrailroaders.org.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie’s Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.
A house recently sold for $300,000 over reserve after being styled by a team of interior designers from Coco Republic.
Is that the kind of money sellers can expect after styling their home for sale, or was it a one-off?
Jenny Conroy, a senior property stylist with Coco Republic, said it’s a realistic price to expect if your property has been styled well before sale.
She joined Auction Day to share how you can add maximum value to your home before selling with smart styling.
The stylist has been working with Coco Republic for 10 years and said she would never advise anyone to go to market without styling their property.
“It’s absolutely value adding, especially when you style using a premium company.
“It’s very important to mention that. Because there are a lot of stylists out there, especially in the boom times they’ve emerged all over the place,” she said.
Premium styling from Coco Republic can cost between $4500 to style a small unit, right up to $25,000-$30,000 to style a large multi-level property.
