Posts about Around Town

Ideas for Black Friday Shopping from Your Dallas Apartment

For many of our residents here at Arrive West End, Black Friday shopping is a time-honored tradition. Today we’ve got tips about how to get the most out of Black Friday shopping. Read on to learn more about getting the best deals as you prepare to leave your apartment in Dallas, TX. Black Friday Shopping Tips from Arrive West End Read the following tips for when you get out of your apartment on the biggest shopping day of the year! Definitely be sure to make a list. Figure out what is worth getting the best deals. Decide beforehand what you’re willing to fight for! Even if it’s not a gift, Black Friday is a great time of year to make those big purchases like a family room television or that new vacuum you’ve been eyeing. Study the ads and determine which stores you want to hit for sure. Visit the stores that have your “must get” deals first, and then the ones that may have more than one of the items on your list, followed by what makes the most sense geographically speaking. A route app may be helpful for mapping out your shopping plan. Try to take a nap in the afternoon on Thursday so you will be well rested for your foray into Black Friday. Take water and some high protein snacks with you to keep your energy levels up so you don’t waste time standing in line for mall food. Spend a majority of your time in the early hours of the day at busier stores so you can get what you want before it runs out. This will help you shop more peacefully at those shops you only need an item or two at. Black Friday is Friday, November 23rd. We’ve shared a few tips to help you plan for your shopping, but for a more in-depth look at Black Friday shopping tips, we recommend taking some time to go through 25 Secret Black Friday Shopping Tips Revealed from Penny Pinchin Mom — she covers the whole gamut. This infographic from Valpak is also helpful if you’re a visual person. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in our apartment community!

Plan a Picnic in the Park

May is beautiful here in Dallas, TX! Plan a picnic this month before it’s too hot to be out and about. The Arrive West End Blog is here to help you celebrate with picnic tips and recipe suggestions for your next picnic. Picnic Tips Choose a time and place. Before you start packing your picnic basket, have an idea for the setting. Check the weather forecast to see if it’s picnic-worthy, then choose a place to enjoy. Local parks are great spots because they’re free to the public and they usually have benches, picnic tables, and plenty of grass for you to settle down on. Be sure to pack other picnic necessities! While food and quality time may be the focus of your picnic, be sure to think about all the other details that will make it go smoothly. If you’re going to be picnicking on grass, bring a few blankets to sit on. Also pack dishes, napkins, trash bags, bug repellent, and anything else you think you might need. Bustle has a great infographic for making the ultimate picnic experience that gives you important pointers to keep in mind. Plan some activities to pass the time while you’re on your picnic. Bring along a deck of cards, a frisbee, or a softball from your apartment to use. Having an activity will keep the fun going. Food Appetizer: Individual Seven Layer Dips from The Girl Who Ate Everything — The main thing to keep in mind when you’re putting a picnic together is to make sure you’re packing picnic-basket friendly food. Bean dip can be difficult to transport from place to place — it’s messy, it gets everywhere, and it often needs to be carried in a heavy glass or metal dish. These Individual Seven Layer Dips are pretty straightforward to make and easy to transport. Side: Cilantro-Lime Orzo Pasta Salad from The Stay At Home Chef — This Cilantro-Lime Orzo Pasta Salad looks fancy, tastes great, and only takes fifteen minutes to make. If you want a simple recipe that will impress your friends, this is the side to try. Entrée: Turkey Ranch Club Wraps from Life in the Lofthouse — Turkey Ranch Club Wraps are the perfect main dish for your next picnic.Yes, this is a classic, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking with a recipe you know your friends will love. Snack: Greek Salad Skewers from Little Broken — These Greek Salad Skewers are light and flavorful, and you won’t mind interrupting your frisbee game for a taste. Dessert: Strawberry Brownie Skewers from One Little Project — Strawberry Brownie Skewers are easy to make. You can even add a little excitement to the skewer and toast the marshmallows if you’re picnicking near a fire pit or outdoor grill. We hope that you’ve enjoyed our suggestions. What are your favorite summer picnic recipes? Let us know in the comments!

New Movie Suggestions From Your Dallas Apartment

This month, the Arrive West End Blog is bringing residents of our Dallas, TX apartments new movies to check out this month like Early Man, Winchester, The 15:17 to Paris, and Annihilation. Read on to learn more about these movies in today's blog post. New Movie Suggestions Early Man “Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the earth, Early Man tells the story of courageous caveman Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City to save their home.” Winchester “On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles outside of San Francisco sits the most haunted house in the world. Built by Sarah Winchester, (Helen Mirren) heiress to the Winchester fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Constructed in an incessant twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week mania for decades, it stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To the outsider it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman’s madness. But Sarah is not building for herself, for her niece (Sarah Snook) or for the brilliant Doctor Eric Price (Jason Clarke) whom she has summoned to the house. She is building a prison, an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts, and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters.” The 15:17 to Paris “In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris—an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans traveling through Europe. The film follows the course of the friends’ lives, from the struggles of childhood through finding their footing in life, to the series of unlikely events leading up to the attack. Throughout the harrowing ordeal, their friendship never wavers, making it their greatest weapon and allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board.” Annihilation “A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don't apply.” Buy your tickets today for a great weekend.