Blog Posts

Get Outside and Move

October is the perfect time to get outside and breathe in the fresh air. Take a jog, go on a bike ride, or play a game with friends. Here on the Quincy Plaza Blog, we have some ideas about what you can do to get moving outside as well as some great places to go for a beautiful jog or bike ride. We hope you enjoy the cooler weather and fresh air. Go on a bike ride. Bike rides are a great low impact activity that will make it easy to get outside and have fun. If you don’t have a bike, don’t worry. You can find a few bike rental shops around town. Try out Hybrid Pedals or Capital Bikeshare near our apartment community. Find a bike path near Quincy Plaza on Map My Ride , invite friends along, and enjoy a ride around town. Create a running playlist. A running playlist can make all the difference when going for a jog. It can be motivating to get you moving and can motivate you to go further. Spotify or Pandora are great places to find playlists or radio stations. You can also create your own unique playlist on Spotify and collaborate with friends to add and share your favorite songs. Find a trail and go for a jog. You can find all kinds of trails here in Arlington, VA to go for a jog. Visit Theodore Roosevelt Island and jog along the Potomac Heritage Trail . The Island is about a 10-minute drive from our apartment community. You can also jog along the Four Mile Trail which is also about a 10-minute drive from our apartment community. Play outdoor games with friends. It’s a great time to go outside with friends and play a game. Go to the park and play frisbee or kick a soccer ball around. You could also play bocce ball , giant Jenga , or corn hole . Create these games using tools from a local hardware store or purchase them for instant fun. Bring your friends from Quincy Plaza and family members to a nearby park for a great time outside with friends. What’s your favorite outdoor activity that gets you moving? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post here on the Quincy Plaza Blog.

Autumn Traditions to Start This Year

This month is a great time to create autumn traditions with family and friends. Traditions give you something to look forward to and create a reason to get together with loved ones. Here on the Quincy Plaza Blog, we’re bringing you ideas on what kinds of traditions to start. Enjoy time with family this month here in Arlington, VA. Go on a drive to see the changing leaves. Here in Arlington and Washington, DC there are some great places to see the changing leaves. Visit the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal or Rock Creek Park . Drive to a location and take a walk along these rivers and canals to enjoy the beauty of the colorful leaves. Celebrate football season. You can celebrate football season in all kinds of ways. Go to a Washington Redskins game, a high school game, or watch football on TV. If you’re at home, put out snacks and enjoy an afternoon/evening with friends. Make it a tradition to attend at least one football game of your favorite team. Have an annual Halloween/autumn party. Hosting a party at your apartment is a great way to celebrate the changing seasons. Have an autumn party with apple bobbing, donut eating contests, cheese boards , caramel apples , and pumpkin desserts. Choose a time of the month to celebrate and make it an annual tradition. Eat a pumpkin-themed breakfast. Pumpkin is everywhere this time of year. Take advantage of pumpkin nostalgia and whip up pumpkin pancakes , waffles , or french toast . Invite friends and family and assign out different breakfast items. Make sure to have a delicious syrup , fresh berries and fruit, pecans, and whipped cream. Watch a scary movie. Scary movies are a must during this time of year. Opt for a funnier and more classic Halloween movie like Hocus Pocus or Young Frankenstein for kids or if you don’t fancy horror films. If you love spooky and scary movies then choose a movie like Psycho , The Sixth Sense , It Follows , The Birds , or The Ring . Pick apples. If you know someone with an orchard, ask if you can help pick apples and in return take a few home. You can also visit Hollin Farms which is about an hour drive from our apartment community. Make applesauce, apple juice, or caramel apples with your haul. Apples are the ultimate fall fruit to enjoy. What are your favorite autumn traditions? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and visit again soon!

Explore Arlington, VA

Arlington, VA has many fun and interesting things for you to do and places to explore. Here on the Quincy Plaza Blog we want to highlight some of those places this month. Get out of your apartment and enjoy exploring! Arlington National Cemetery Arlington has all kinds of monuments and memorials remembering those who have served, sacrificed, and lost their lives in the name of our country. The Arlington National Cemetery is one of these places to remember them. “Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans and their families. Service to country is the common thread that binds all who are remembered and honored at Arlington.” Mount Vernon Trail If you’re looking for a place to get outside this month, check out Mount Vernon. It’s a great place for a jog, a walk, or a bike ride. “The Mount Vernon Trail winds alongside the Potomac River offering uninterrupted views of Washington, D.C.'s skyline. A run, walk, or cycle along the trail leads to all of the same sites that can be reached by car on the parallel section of the parkway.” The Pentagon Tours A tour at the Pentagon is one a trip you’ll never forget. The Pentagon is about a 15 minute drive from your apartment. “The Pentagon Tours program, under the purview of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, hosts more than 106,000 visitors annually. Our tours dynamically highlight the respective missions of the five Armed Services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff through a 60-minute presentation that includes a 1.49 mile walk through the building. Each tour includes the mission of the DOD and numerous military displays.” Signature Theatre, Arlington, VA “Signature Theatre is a Tony Award®-winning, non-profit professional theater company with a mission to produce contemporary musicals and plays, reinvent classic musicals, develop new work, and reach its community through engaging educational and outreach opportunities.” Check out A Little Night Music , which is playing the rest of the month. Nicecream Factory Nicecream is a delicious ice cream shop that’s a great place for you to visit and try out their dessert options. It’s only about a seven-minute drive from our apartment community. “Handcrafted ice cream is our passion. We start our process by combining fresh local grass-fed cream and local ingredients from nearby farms. Using our freezing agent, liquid nitrogen, we freeze the ice cream on the spot in front of our guests, creating the freshest handcrafted cup of ice cream you can get.” Where’s your favorite place to visit here in Arlington, VA? Let us know in the comments so we can go check it out. Thanks for reading!

Celebrate National Fortune Cookie Day

September 13th is National Fortune Cookie Day, and here on the Quincy Plaza Blog we want to help you celebrate! We’ll share some history about the fortune cookie, some nearby Chinese restaurants to get one, and a recipe on how to make your own fortune cookies. We hope you get a chance to celebrate this month here in Arlington, VA. History and Dispute of the Fortune Cookie There is some dispute about the origin of fortune cookies. Some say it’s the Chinese while others say it was the Japanese who came up with it. The Smithsonian cracked open the history of the fortune cookie to point out that “The issue became so contentious that it fueled a 1983 court battle wherein the judge gave a split decision ruling that the modern fortune cookie was born in pre-World War I San Francisco; however, he declined to decide which nationality had claim to the treats.” Wherever the origin may be, fortune cookies have become a Chinese-American food staple, which is why we’re highlighting some nearby Chinese restaurants. Get a delicious savory meal and enjoy a crunchy and sweet fortune cookie after. Nearby Chinese Restaurants Peter Chang Peter Chang is ranked as a favorite Chinese restaurant in Arlington. It’s about a 10-minute drive from our apartment community. “Chef Peter Chang is now proud to make his signature Szechuan cuisine available to Arlington. Nestled in the Lee Harrison Shopping Centre, the seventh and newest location in the Peter Chang family is a return to the northern Virginia area for the chef. Residents will again be treated to his fan favorite dishes, including Duck in a Stone Pot, Chicken with Onion & Chili and Dry-Fried Eggplant.” Tea Noodle Rice Cafe TNR Cafe (for short) is about a 10-minute drive from Quincy Plaza. One reviewer said , “[I was] very excited to see a menu that had more traditional Chinese offerings. Ordered delivery and they were prompt. The food was delicious with generous portions.” Mala Tang Mala Tang is less than a mile away from your apartment and about a 10-minute walk. Here’s what one reviewer said about Mala Tang: “One of my favorite places in Arlington for a great dinner. I love the sauce and spice bar!” Check out this delicious and simple homemade fortune cookie recipe from The Semisweet Sisters . Where’s your favorite place to get Chinese food in the area? Let us know in the comments so we can check it out. Thanks for reading. Visit our blog again soon!

Movies Coming Out This Month

The Quincy Plaza Blog brings you some new movies that are out this month. Head to your local theater for a movie this month. Purchase your tickets online to avoid lines. We hope you get a chance to watch a movie this month! The Dark Tower “Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), the last Gunslinger, is locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim (Matthew McConaughey), also known as the Man in Black. The Gunslinger must prevent the Man in Black from toppling the Dark Tower, the key that holds the universe together. With the fate of worlds at stake, two men collide in the ultimate battle between good and evil.” Detroit “A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest and most intense riots in United States history, leading to the federalization of the Michigan National Guard and the involvement of two Airborne [Divisions] of the United States Army.” The Glass Castle “A young girl comes of age in a dysfunctional family of nonconformist nomads with a mother who's an eccentric artist and an alcoholic father who would stir the children's imagination with hope as a distraction to their poverty.” The Life and Death of John Gotti “The film will reveal the relationship of a father who lived and died by the mob code and a son who, while brought up to lead a life of crime, chose to leave that world behind and redeem himself and the Gotti name… Known as the "Dapper Don," John Gotti's flamboyant style and outspoken personality made him one of the most famous mobsters of the 20th century…” Leap “An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera house.” What movies are you excited to see this month? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and visit again soon!

Popsicle Recipes

August 14th is National Creamsicle Day so here at the Quincy Plaza Blog, we want to share some creamsicle and popsicle recipes with you. We hope you get a chance to try out some of these delicious treats this month here in Arlington, VA. First off, to make any type of popsicle you’re going to need some kind of mold to freeze the liquid in. You can simply use a plastic Dixie cup from the grocery store with popsicle sticks. You could also use these reusable ice pop molds found on Amazon. Get creative with these recipes and put your own fun twist on them. Here we go! Blueberry Lemon Popsicle This is a fun recipe that’s a must-try! It’s sure to be refreshing and delicious on a hot Arlington day. It comes from Bigger Bolder Baking . Puree blueberries, then mix in some lemon zest. Add the puree and yogurt into the molds, with alternating scoops of each. Orange Creamsicle This delicious recipe comes from the Oven Love Blog . It’s a classic and creamy popsicle that’s perfect for this time of year. You’ll need orange juice, heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk, honey, orange extract, and vanilla extract. Whip this recipe up, then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze for 5-7 hours and you’re ready for a creamy frozen treat. Pink Lemonade Popsicles This is the most refreshing and delicious popsicle you might find. This comes from jojotastic . It’s sure to quench your thirst on a hot August day. You’ll need coconut water, pink lemonade, lemon zest, and strawberries. It’s so simple but so delicious. Chocolate Chip Mint Greek Yogurt Pops This is a healthy option with low-fat and high-protein. It’s a great option if you’re feeling like something chocolatey rather than fruity. This recipe comes from Country Cleaver . You’ll need vanilla greek yogurt, milk, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, sugar, chocolate chips, green food coloring, and Chocolate Magic Shell. What’s your favorite type of popsicle? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and have a great month here in Arlington, VA.