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The Shops at Legacy Village in Rockwall
A Chic Place to do Boutique Shopping
Tucked away in one of the most quaint areas of Rockwall is an absolute treasure for shopper’s looking for a unique boutique experience.
The Shops at Legacy Village houses a combination of some of the most creative pieces of handmade gift items, clothing, jewelry and home décor in the area. If there’s a specialty gift that you’re looking for, this is the place to go.
Legacy is located in the heart of Rockwall, just outside the town square inside what used to be the old Methodist church building located at Kaufman and Fannin streets. I always thought that location could really be revitalized and turned into something special again, and that is what the goal is at Legacy.
Not only do they have some really fabulous artisans and vendors located in there now, they also are in the process of making their building a place to have a small intimate wedding or hold your next special event, meeting or conference.
What better type of place to have an event to remember, than a charming old church building that offers such great ambience and a unique experience for your guests?
While they are still putting finishing touches on their event spaces, you can take this time to begin booking events now. My personal suggestion would be to hop on this opportunity to book your upcoming holiday party with Legacy. It would make for a truly interesting holiday party, to not only be able to enjoy the festivities of the event, but also be able to go downstairs and get some Christmas shopping done as well! If you’re planning to go with this chic idea for your holiday party, ask about group discounts that may be available when calling.
In addition to the upcoming events that will be taking place at Legacy, they are also planning events of their own in the upcoming few months. Look for a Bake Contest on October 15 from 10 am – 6 pm. If you’d like to submit some goodies for this event, better hurry, the deadline for registration is October 8th.
Then in November, you can look forward to a “Sip & Shop” event. And, all throughout December, you can expect great holiday sales all the way through Christmas. A
And, here’s a special tip for photographers, The Shops at Legacy Village is located on a piece of property that provides for some great pics, if you’d like to find out about doing shoots there, just inquire at Legacy for that information. Legacy is also looking for some new vendors, so if you have men’s or fragrance items, or anything that is a unique find, you’d be a great fit.
To visit or contact The Shops at Legacy Village, you can visit their website at legacyvillage-rockwall.com,
find them on Facebook, or give them a call at 972-722-8886.
Taking a Look at The Art of Photography
with Local Rockwall Based Photographer Cyndi Bender
Q. What drew you to photography and did you always know it was something you wanted to do?
A. From the time I was about ten years old, I have always loved taking pictures. I used to pose my twin cousins and photograph them all the time along with landscapes and animals on our vacations. One of my first “jobs” was designing postcards for my dad’s business when I was about eleven. I wanted to be a Graphic Designer and although I did not end up with a career in Graphic Design, I use it all the time in creating works of art with photographs I take.
Q. Most of us who aren’t photographers, would probably like to know…Do you go into a shoot having a plan in place of what shots you’d like to get out of it or does the perfect angle just come to you when you see it?
A. I always have a plan in my head when I go into a photo shoot. I try to get information from the person scheduling the session about everyone who will be in the shoot. It almost never goes as I plan in my head because children will be children and they have their own ideas, too! But it helps to have ideas of what I want to try to get. But I am also open to what arises during the shoot. I always like to challenge myself at every session to try something new and different.
Q. How did you decide on your medium of photography as opposed to others? And, do you stick with one or dabble in others as well?
A. I love looking back at old photographs of family members, especially of those who have passed on. I think photographs are such a treasure to have! Children grow and change so fast! I love being able to freeze that moment in time when they are little.
I started scrapbooking when my first daughter was born, so I was always trying to get that “perfect shot” for her album. As she grew, so did my passion for photography. I started researching and learning everything I could about how to get better pictures. I don’t draw or paint like I used to, but I get to use my creativity in new and exciting ways!
Q. A beautiful picture that is shot is obviously a work of art, but I’m sure it’s also a lot of work too. How much time do you typically put into a project from start to finish?
A. Photo shoots usually take 1-2 hours…depending on the subject. Babies usually take the longest because we take breaks for them, and we spend a lot of the time just trying to get baby to sleep! Toddlers and preschoolers usually take longer too because they have their own agenda…and it’s usually not sitting and posing for pictures! Older children and families usually take about an hour to shoot.
After the session is what takes the majority of the time. I typically spend 4-6 hours weeding through the pictures and editing the “keepers”. After I am done editing them, I post them on my website for the client to view and order. Once orders are placed, I spend probably another hour placing the order, packaging prints and backing up all the images from the session.
Q. Is there a new project that you would like to tackle?
A. I love shooting sports teams and dance groups. I’ve not had the opportunity to shoot many but would love to do more.
Rockwall Summer Musicals 2012 Season
Nonprofit Production Company’s Second Season Continues at RHS PAC at Utley in Rockwall
The second season of a new nonprofit theatrical production company, Rockwall Summer Musicals, has just been made public following a private unveiling at a recent breakfast gathering of RSM organizers and Inner Circle members. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Annie Get Your Gun opens June 14 at the RHS Performing Arts Center at Utley followed by Irving Berlin’s Gypsy beginning August 9. Both are popular family favorites featuring inspiring story lines, large casts, elaborate sets, and unforgettable music.
Spurred by the remarkable success of the group’s first season in 2011, RSM has implemented some audience-pleasing changes to their upcoming season. By adding a Thursday night performance to both shows, audiences will now be able to select from four performance opportunities instead of three. Also, to maximize audience affordability, the 1500-seat theater will open its balcony for bargain-priced General Admission tickets. And not only will online ticket buyers be able choose their individual reserved seats next year, discounted Season Subscriptions including both musicals will be offered.
The group was the brainchild of Jacob Thomas, an RISD middle school theater teacher, who had a vision of forming a production company that would offer more comprehensive theater tutelage than is available inside a classroom. The group has since metamorphosed into a full-fledged production company whose mission compels a significant involvement of students in all aspects of theater using a mentoring approach. Students shadow theater professionals backstage as well as onstage as they learn theater crafts by example and emulation. Last season, RSM involved nearly 70 RISD students and helped another handful of collegiate alumni hone their musical theater career pursuits.
Auditions for both shows are April 14 and 15 at the Utley Cafetorium and are open to the public. Season subscriptions will be available early next year and in the spring for online single tickets. More information is available on the group’s website: RockwallSummerMusicals.org.
Rockwall Summer Musicals Inner Circle members, (l-r) Katherine Bower and Natalie Rickards, were privy to an early RSM 2012 Season unveiling in November. They are showing off a photographic composite by Steven McClung from the groups inaugural show, The Sound of Music. The Heath meeting was hosted by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church’s drama group, Holy Trinity Players.
Contributed by Mary Thacker
NOW OPEN IN PLANO AT LAKESIDE MARKET!A Peek at Freedom Fest 2012 at The Harbor in Rockwall
Each year The Harbor in Rockwall treat its patrons to a fabulous celebration in honor of Independence Day. This year Freedom Fest was bigger & better than ever! From Uncle Sam on stilts to honoring the State Champion Rockwall-Heath baseball team, this event was a definite crowd pleaser. Even a little bit of rain didn't dampen the spirits and the evening's fireworks display played out in glorious beauty to the live patriotic tunes provided by Erin Kincaid and Southbound Train.
Many thanks to the merchants of The Harbor, UCR Asset Services, property manager, Silvana Garcia, The mayors of both Heath and Rockwall and all of the other local representatives who graciously appeared to honor the baseball champions...And of course, this years sponsors Southwest Kia and Rockwall Gold & Silver Exchange.
Soroptimist of Rockwall has been a longtime supporter of the efforts of Rockwall County Helping Hands to assist with the health needs of women in the Rockwall community since it's inception more than 28 years ago.
When the need arose for an expensive piece of equipment to help with sexual assault examinations, Soroptimist came to the rescue. They provided significant funding for the first colposcope, which enabled the opening of the first sexual assault forensic evidence clinic in Rockwall at Helping Hands. Although the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program has since moved off site, the equipment is still being used in the community for examinations of local women who have been sexually assaulted.
Soroptimist has also provided donations for women to receive routine screening mammograms through the health center and partnerships with local hospitals. As the clientele aged, Soroptimist responded by agreeing to help meet other women's health needs such as bone density screenings. Occasionally, monies have been used to meet the high costs of unusual tests for very needy women who had no other access to care.
As the clinic has grown and more children were added to the patient list, Soroptimist donations have occasionally been used for the care of kids who might not otherwise receive the care they need.
Thanks to their efforts - for the fiscal year 2009-2010, Soroptimist of Rockwall committed $25,000 to the ongoing care of needy women and children in our local community, and they have funded more than $14,000 in mammograms and necessary medical lab testing in 2011 through the Health Center of Helping Hands.
In Photo:
Soroptimist member Lesa Walker with incoming president Madelyn Hill and current president Mindy Brence.
Soroptomist of Rockwall Supports Helping Hands in Getting Much Needed Equipment for Examinations of Sexual Assault Victims
Thank You To Melody Hail, Director of Development for Rockwall County Helping Hands for Sharing This Story.
