Blog Posts

Summer Date Ideas

When was the last time you went on a date? If you’re not interested in dating, that’s perfectly fine, but if you do have a significant other or have someone you wish to take on a date then we’ve got a blog for you! In this week’s Quincy Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few date ideas for you to get your creative juices flowing! We hope you enjoy our suggestions! Go On a Hike If you and your potential date are active people, going on a hike is a fun activity! Find yourself a nice trail here in Arlington, VA and strap on your hiking boots. Hiking allows you to get a decent amount of cardiovascular exercise while you enjoy the beauty of nature. Be sure to pack enough water and trail snacks so you don’t get dehydrated or succumb to hunger. Because you’ll be walking, you can use it as an opportunity to make conversation. Stargazing Take your date on a more intimate adventure by going stargazing! It’s difficult to find the right spot to stargaze near the city, which is why we recommend driving out to a more rural area to enjoy the beauty of the night sky! Remember to bring some comfortable items like pillows and blankets to keep warm! It may present a good opportunity to cuddle up with your date! A Bonfire The weather during the day is quite warm, but the nights could get a little cold. Warm up at night by having a bonfire! This may not be a traditional date, but it is a good opportunity to get to know your date and enjoy a night of s’mores and other bonfire treats. Indulge in some chocolate, marshmallows, and the sweet smell of fire! Dates are the time to get to know your date or spend some time with your significant other! If you’ve got any other date ideas, let our apartment community know of them by leaving a comment!

Summer Movies

When was the last time you watched a movie that’s set in the summer? Many summer movies are reminiscent of the fun and adventure associated with the warm months. If you’re working full-time or going to school, you may not have the time to go on those types of adventures, which is why we’re sharing a way you can still enjoy your summer! In this week’s Quincy Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few summer movie suggestions for the next time you’re hanging out in your Arlington, VA apartment! Mamma Mia “Donna (Meryl Streep), an independent hotelier in the Greek islands, is preparing for her daughter's wedding with the help of two old friends. Meanwhile Sophie, Donna's spirited daughter, has a plan of her own. She secretly invites to the wedding three men from her mother's past in hopes of meeting her real father and having him escort her down the aisle on her big day.” Heavyweights “Gerry (Aaron Schwartz) is not looking forward to his summer vacation, since he'll be spending it at a camp for overweight boys in order to shed pounds. Fortunately, a kindly couple, the Bushkins (Jerry Stiller) ] (Anne Meara) ], run the camp and make the process fun and relaxed. However, they're soon forced to declare bankruptcy and sell the camp to Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller), a fitness fanatic who turns the camp into a living nightmare of over-the-top training. But the kids plan to fight back.” Weekend at Bernie’s “Fun-loving salesmen Richard (Jonathan Silverman) and Larry (Andrew McCarthy) are invited by their boss, Bernie (Terry Kiser), to stay the weekend at his posh beach house. Little do they know that Bernie is the perpetrator of a fraud they've uncovered and is arranging to have them killed. When the plan backfires and Bernie is killed instead, the buddies decide not to let a little death spoil their vacation. They pretend Bernie is still alive, leading to hijinks and corpse desecration galore.”

Clean Your Car

How clean is your car? As much as you love the vehicle that transports you everywhere, you may end up neglecting it in some way shape or form, usually in terms of cleanliness. The weather is warming up, making it the perfect time to clean your car and give it a quick wash! In this week’s Quincy Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few car cleaning tips to aid you in your cleaning endeavors. Wash the Exterior Since the exterior is the surface exposed to the elements, we recommend giving it a good wash! When washing your vehicle, we recommend washing it from the top down, starting with quick rinse and soap wash, a cloth wash, then finishing off with another rinse. To avoid water spots, invest in some microfiber drying towels to remove the leftover water. If you’re wanting to pamper your car, give it a good wax after, which bolsters the protection against the elements. Declutter If you haven’t cleaned your car out in a while, there’s a high chance that you have clutter. Clutter can be defined as things lying about in an untidy mess, so even if you wish to keep certain items in your car, it would still be cluttered if they were just splayed out over every possible surface. Do yourself a favor and remove the items that need to be removed. Some of these items can include but are not limited to: Garbage Clothes Shoes Toys Sports equipment Organize Once your car is decluttered, you’ll have some necessary items you want to keep in your car. Do yourself a favor and invest in a trunk or seat organizer so you can stow any crucial items in an organized and easy to remember spot. Do you have any car cleaning tips? Share them with our Arlington, VA apartment community!

Enjoy a Night in Playing Dungeons & Dragons

How much do you know about Dungeons & Dragons? First published in 1974, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game where players can dive into a story written and told in the collective imagination of the players and the dungeon master. This game is a perfect activity to play with your friends on a weekly basis when you have the time! In this week’s Quincy Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few tips for you on why you should get started with your own D&D game! Roleplaying Dungeons & Dragons allows players to embody a character of their own creation,with a backstory written by them. How your character interacts with the world is entirely up to you. Unlike video games, D&D isn’t bound by scripting and the consequences of your actions can vary depending on the discretion of your dungeon master. Since it’s a roleplaying game, it is encouraged that you think and act as your character would, using the backstory you have written to guide how your character would react to the situations your character ends up in. Roleplaying can be difficult for some, especially if they’re playing in a group of people they aren’t comfortable with, but we recommend pushing yourself and getting out of your comfort zone to roleplay. Doing so can enhance the overall game experience and help you bond more with the people you’re playing with. Storytelling Telling a story is the largest part of D&D. Though the story is narrated and guided by the dungeon master, the players have a significant role in how the story plays out. Many dungeon masters incorporate characters and plotlines from player backstories allowing the players to have a say in what goes on in the world. Another way the player can lend to storytelling is through the decisions they make. Each decision you make affects the world in some way, which can have a profound effect on how the story unfolds. Because Dungeons & Dragons is a fairly open ended game, you’re free to do as your heart and mind desires (with corresponding consequences) Gameplay As much as Dungeons & Dragons involves roleplaying, it’s also a game. There are mechanics that help the game function smoothly and familiarizing yourself with these mechanics can enhance your experience by allowing the game to flow. If you’re playing D&D to feel like a heroic adventurer that slays evil and brings justice, you can do it! Through the mechanics, you’re able to slay monsters, charm barmaids, and expunge evil. Nothing will make you feel like an amazing adventurer more than scoring a critical hit that eventually leads to the final blow on your villain! Invite some of your friends over to your Arlington, VA apartment to begin your first Dungeons & Dragons session! If play and want to share why you love the game, leave us a comment!

National Hamburger Month

It’s quite convenient that National Hamburger Month falls on the same month as National Barbecue Month, as hamburgers are one of the most popular barbecue menu items. In this week’s Quincy Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few suggestions on how you can add to the already delicious food known as hamburgers! We hope you try these suggestions out and celebrate National Hamburger Month! Use the Right Meat Many of us get our burgers frozen or premade from the store, which fulfills its purpose by providing us with some tasty burgers, but there is a way to get some better burgers! The way to get a better tasting burger is by ensuring that you’re using the right meat. Many food articles will tell you to grind your own meat, but as long as you’re picking the right cuts of meats and playing around with the mixture percentages, you should be able to find a ratio that gives you the burger you want! Toppings Once you’ve got the right mixture for your burger, you’ll want to gather the toppings that you want. Unlike restaurants where you have very little choice in what goes on your burger, you can pick and choose what you wish to put on your burger when you make it yourself. Some toppings to consider putting on your burger are: Jalapenos Onions Lettuce Tomatoes Pickles All types of cheese Olives Mushrooms Bacon Avocado Stuff It As delicious as traditional burgers are, have you ever thought about stuffing your burgers with cheese? This works well when you’re making your own burger patties, producing a result of a deliciously cheesy burger patty! You can play around with what type of cheeses you wish to stuff your burgers with, but we know you’ll end up with a delicious result. Do you have any great burger tips? Let our Arlington, VA apartment community know of them by leaving a comment!

National Barbecue Month

Having a barbecue is one of the most popular activities during the warmer months. May is National Barbecue Month and a good excuse to have a barbecue! You can dive into some delicious barbecue fare while enjoying the beautiful weather here in Arlington, VA. With that being said, we’ve decided to share with you some ways you can host a great barbecue for your friends and family in this week’s Quincy Plaza Blog! Essentials When planning a barbecue, you have to start with the basics! Before you even start planning the food, you’ll have to make sure you have a place to have a barbecue, purchase the necessary barbecue and picnic items like utensils, plates, and cups. Don’t forget to pack your bug spray, sun screen, and trash bags! Food What’s a barbecue without food? The food should be the star of your event, so take extra care in preparing the menu. Choose a variety of foods that add diversity to your event, like wings, ribs, burgers and even grilled vegetable kabobs. Depending on how many people you’re inviting to your barbecue, it may cost a lot of money to provide food for everyone. In that case, feel free to invite your guests to bring a dish they can share with everyone else, which would save you a bunch of money! Clean Up When you’ve eaten your delicious food and have had enough time to spend with your friends catching up and having fun, it will be time to clean up. Invite your friends to clean up their own plates and stay around until all the cleaning is done. As long as you provide the trash bags, people usually lend a hand in the clean up! Cleaning up is important because it provides the people who use the barbecue area with a clean spot! If you still wish to hang out, you can invite your friends back to your apartment!