Home2015 (Page 8)

June 2015

Downtown Los AngelesLos Angeles is a massive city to conquer, for newcomers and current residents alike. With its nearly 13 million residents sprawled across the larger metropolitan area, LA is a city bustling with people, businesses, entertainment, and so much more. It’s incredibly difficult to narrow down the city’s highlights but, with the entire team pitching in, we compiled some of the sights and experiences that make Los Angeles such a tremendous city to visit or even to live in.

ApartmentSearch_Friends-MovingShopping for an apartment is more challenging than ever before with the wide variety of new apartments to choose from, as well as the rising rent costs in certain regions. Many Americans are paying higher rent costs – rates rose four percent in April to reach a median $1,364, according to Zillow, but they are getting more bang for their buck. As a result, weighing all the different apartments in various neighborhoods in your city can often seem like a daunting task.

ApartmentSearch is here to help. There are many ways to simplify the process the shopping process – and choose the apartment home that is right for you. Our top tips include:

USA Flag Ex-pats relocating to the U.S. have a myriad of choices ahead of them as they transition from their home country to America. In some cases, the city they are moving to was determined by their employer. Even so, ex-pats will have new options to explore, including the type of neighborhood they would like to live in and determining what lifestyle is best for themselves and their families.

Coffee MakerAs a new college grad, you’ve been through it all: application, matriculation, examination, graduation, and (finally) celebration! And often, after that, it’s time for relocation. For many, moving to your first post-college apartment means living alone for the first time.

So there you are, packing up your boxes to part ways with your college roommate, when you realize… without someone to split possessions with, your amount of necessities is taking a major hit! Because roommates often take the “this-for-that” approach to big purchases (“I’ll get a toaster if you get a table”), separation of roommates often entails a reclaiming process, and maybe a little separation anxiety. There goes the cutlery… and the coffeepot… and the couch… and the shower curtain….

Painting A WallWhether you just rented a new one bedroom apartment or you’re still in the process of searching for the perfect place, you’ve thought of simple ways to make your space unique to your tastes. When it comes to walls, you’re dying to do away with the same old blank and boring standard. You’ve thought about applying wallpaper, but that takes too much time; time you’ll have to put back in to taking that wallpaper down just to get your security deposit back. Adding a fresh coat of paint is always an option, but that takes effort you’d rather not exert for the same thing you had before: walls that are all the same color. Womp womp.

Photos on ClothespinsIf you’re moving into a studio apartment, the first thing you want to do, decoration-wise, is make the place feel like “you.” But, before you start unrolling your old posters to hang up, you remember that you are not supposed to put holes in the wall of your apartment. What next? Here are some helpful hints for hanging wall art without the headache.

Whether it’s your own canvas art, old Polaroids of your family, news clippings, or a wall hanging, you can get creative with how you display your wall art. For example, you could:

Make a clothespin picture hanger. All you need are hooks that stick to your wall (think 3M command strips), string, some clothespins, and whatever small décor you wish to put up. Pictures, concert tickets, a note somebody wrote you in fifth grade – the opportunities go far and wide with the clothespin method. 

SnowconeAs apartment residents get ready to head out on their summer vacations – and enjoy the amenities their own cities and apartment communities have to offer – one of the primary things they look forward to is visiting their favorite restaurants and discovering new foods, beverages and desserts. We discovered some of the best shops and restaurants for delicious food this summer, and are revealing which cities are home to the award-winning eateries.

New York, N.Y. : Arguably the best city for foodies in the U.S., it is difficult to pick just one restaurant to feature here. But we did find a very unique shop to help keep you cool this summer: Big Gay Ice Cream, which has locations in the East Village and the West Village. The shop’s soft-serve ice cream is served with eclectic toppings and the cones have fun names like Bea Arthur, Gobbler and Mermaid.

AS_las-vegasIn the middle of the Mojave Desert, the world-renowned City of Las Vegas offers residents a unique living experience. From the 24-hour casinos to spectacular shows to exquisite dining, this buzzing city has no short supply famous attractions. Even if the Strip doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Las Vegas. When you’re ready to get out of your new apartment in Las Vegas, explore some of our favorite locals’ attractions:

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Fifteen miles from the Vegas Strip, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers the best sites of the Mojave Desert. This beautiful conservation area showcases red rock formations with scenic views. While visiting the area, you can partake in a wide variety of activities. From hiking and biking to rock climbing and even horseback riding, there’s something for every nature enthusiast to enjoy.

memorial day dcLooking for things to do in DC this Memorial Day weekend? For many in the area of our nation’s capital, Memorial Day weekend means venturing into the District to honor the servicemen and servicewomen of our country. Here are 5 of the top ways you can celebrate Memorial Day weekend 2015 in the Washington, DC area.

1. Jazz in the Garden
Friday May 22, 5 PM

Kick off your Memorial Day weekend by stepping into the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden to listen to the sweet sounds of the opening of this summer series. The Jazz in the Garden 2015 season runs through August 28, and features 15 of the area’s most acclaimed jazz musicians playing jazz guitar, salsa, old school funk, and everything in between. Bring a picnic basket, lay down a blanket, and relax in this beautiful park.

2. The Rolling Thunder Run Motorcycle Rally
Sunday May 24, 12 PM

More than 900,000 bikers from across the country attend the Rolling Thunder Run on Memorial Day weekend. The main event is on Sunday, when the Rolling Thunder XXVIII First Amendment Demonstration Run occurs, starting in the North Pentagon parking lot, running through the Mall area. Whether you ride or watch, the Rolling Thunder Run is always a must-see (and must-hear!) event.