neighborhood

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Florida has a special place in many people’s hearts. You’ve got the beach, the weather and the laidback vibes that fill the state. Among all the popular Florida cities, Orlando is one that tends to stand out. Not only is it more affordable than some other Floridian cities, but it also has a strong job market and plenty of entertainment options. Those are some pretty good reasons to move to Orlando.

So, if you’re a fan of a certain celebrity mouse and are ready to call The Sunshine State home, consider Orlando.

1. You can probably afford to live here

Although not everywhere in Orlando is cheap, the overall cost of living in the city makes it a pretty affordable place. While rent is a little on the high side, expenses like healthcare and utilities sit below the national average.

When it comes to housing, the rental market is seeing slight increases over last year and average rents are on the higher side when compared to other cities in Florida. In Orlando, the average one-bedroom rent is up 8 percent at $1,793 per month, while two-bedroom rent is up 11 percent at $2,215 per month.

2. The neighborhood selection is sweet

Orlando is a great place to live because you have options. There are plenty of neighborhoods that have housing, entertainment and the overall quality of life you’re looking for. At almost any price point, there’s an Orlando neighborhood for you, but some of the favorites include:

  • Park Lake / Highland is full of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks. It’s located a little north of downtown and is a big draw for young professionals.
  • To the south, Thornton Park is an eclectic and chic part of Orlando. Here you’ll find a local farmers market, regular art and wine walks and a tight-knit community that likes to throw a block party.
  • On the east side, Audubon Park is perfect for nature lovers who want a thriving, like-minded community. Here, you’re encouraged to grow your own food, and even plant fruit trees in your yard. The neighborhood also has excellent shopping.
  • For those who want to live near the theme parks, Park Central, on the west side of town, is a gated community, conveniently located to public transportation for easy mobility

These neighborhoods all surround Downtown Orlando, which also draws in its share of residents. This is the central business district of the city, but it’s also known for its nightlife, festivals and access to cultural activities.

3. There’s a lake in the middle of Downtown

You may think about the beach when picturing your future home in Florida, but when it comes to Orlando, it’s all about the lakes. There’s even one smack in the middle of downtown.

Lake Eola is the perfect water feature to have in your backyard. You can rent swan boats to paddle through the water, catch a concert at the amphitheater or simply enjoy the flowers and the Orlando skyline. You can also walk around the entire lake easily. The path is a 0.9-mile loop.

If you’re looking to live right on the lake, check out listings in Lake Eola Heights.

4. Sun, sun, sun

Yes, the summers are long and hot. Temperatures can climb into the 90s, and you don’t have that ocean breeze to cool things down. But, the city gets more than 300 days of sunshine per year, and the average high is only 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Winter is short (and sunny) and the coldest month is usually January, where average temperatures drop to a “whopping” 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Hospitality, technology and business

Three major industry hubs in Orlando provide ample jobs and career stability. Although hospitality is at the top, with employers like Disney and JetBlue, you can also find opportunities elsewhere.

There are plenty of jobs in the educational field, and it’s quickly becoming a popular location for startups. EA Games and other tech employers are also bringing in a savvy crowd, creating even more opportunities.

This level of potential when it comes to employment puts the median household income in Orlando at a solid $55,183.

6. No state income tax

Once you settle into that perfect job, you won’t have to worry about the amount of money getting taken out of your paycheck. Florida is a zero-income tax state, which means working in Orlando puts more money into your pocket.

Even better, there’s a relatively low sales tax rate, so when you do spend money, markups are lower. Florida itself has a six percent rate, and Orlando only adds a little bit to this minimum, raising the local sales tax rate to 6.5 percent.

7. The ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ is right there

Calling Orlando the city of theme parks, while not an official nickname, isn’t wrong. Access to so many parks is one of the prime reasons to move to Orlando for those who like to spend their weekends on rollercoasters or singing “It’s a Small World After All.”

Within miles of each other, you’ve got Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. Less than an hour away, in Winter Haven, you also have LEGOLAND Florida.

Even better, most parks provide discounts for Florida residents, so you can visit the parks even more often. Disney, for example, has a resident Disney Pixie Dust Pass, that’s only a little over $400 per year.

8. You can go to Gatorland

Technically another theme park, this special place is unlike those better-known spots. Gatorland, the self-dubbed “Alligator Capital of the World,” is home to alligators and crocodiles of all sizes and ages. There’s even a group of rare white gators.

In addition to the reptiles, Gatorland sports an aviary, petting zoo, animal shows and a few rides. It’s real fun, Florida-style.

9. So many pro sports teams

Having multiple sports arenas in the downtown area alone makes a big statement that Orlando cares about its athletic teams. You’ve got the Orlando Magic when it comes to professional basketball and the Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride pro soccer teams. Even hockey happens in this warm state — Orlando has the Solar Bears, a member of the ECHL hockey league.

College sports are big here, too, and many locals like to cheer on the University of Central Florida Knights

10. Festivals happen on the regular

Who doesn’t like a celebration? Orlando locals love them so much that there are festivals happening almost on a weekly basis. You’ll need a separate calendar just to keep track of them all, whether they’re big and well-known or small and special.

Some favorites include:

  • The Orlando Fringe Theatre Festival
  • The Zora! Festival
  • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
  • Orlando Whiskey Festival
  • Dragon Parade Lunar New Year

Festivals celebrate cultures, holidays, music and food and drink, making it possible to honor just about anything with a city-wide party.

11. Museums, galleries and gardens galore

Theme parks are most definitely great, but Orlando is also home to a wealth of museums, art galleries, theaters, gardens and historic homes. If Mickey and Minnie aren’t your things, spend your time immersed in art, culture and natural beauty.

When it comes to museums, you can visit the Orlando Science Center or The Orlando Museum of Art. Both the Mennello Museum and The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum celebrate American Art, while the Hannibal Square Heritage Center focuses on Florida’s African American communities.

For a taste of the local scenery, walk through the Harry P. Leu Gardens or the UCF Arboretum. The trail system in the Tibet-Butler Preserve winds through the region’s major habitats, including a cypress-lined lakeshore and longleaf pine forest.

12. Pie, fresh fish and Florida citrus, oh my!

There are so many delicious reasons to move to Orlando, and most of them involve fruit. There’s the key lime pie, Meyer lemons and anything made with oranges. Beyond that, local cuisine includes fresh stone crab, conch, grouper and almost anything you can pull out of the ocean.

For a real local treat, make sure to grab a Dole Whip on a hot day. This is a Disney World staple, but its pineapple-y, frozen goodness has turned it into one of Orlando’s iconic foods.

High-end restaurants and local dives alike will all have their take on Orlando’s signature foods, meaning you can get fresh fruit and fresh seafood at any price point.

13. Public transportation is an option when needed

While not a highly walkable city, Orlando does make it possible to get around to certain places without a car, potentially saving you a little money when it comes to transportation.

You can ride the LYNX busses which go through a large number of neighborhoods, and make a few Disney-adjacent stops. If you’re just focused on getting around the downtown area, you can hop on the LYMMO. For longer trips, SunRail is an electric commuter rail that runs through Central Florida.

All of these options, and no need to find parking? Yes, please.

14. You can go to the beach whenever you want

Even though Orlando isn’t on the coast, the closest beachfront is only an hour away. You can shoot down to Cocoa Beach when you need to catch some rays and hear those soothing ocean waves. It’s the closest beach to Orlando but not your only option.

Also about an hour away from Orlando are New Smyrna Beach and Flagler Beach, two picturesque destinations for a break from the city.

15. You’ve got road trip options

Orlando is also perfectly located within Florida to make road tripping easy. You can hop in the car any weekend and explore other cities for the day. Some of the closest stops are:

  • St. Augustine for the Fountain of Youth
  • Daytona Beach for a little race car action and some fun in the surf
  • Fort Lauderdale for a little high-end fun
  • Tampa with its eclectic food and drink scene and its own collection of theme parks

There are also plenty of state parks just a short drive away, including Blue Spring State Park where you can have a close encounter with a manatee.

Making the move to Orlando

It’s easy to see why Orlando is such a popular place. With so many reasons to move to Orlando, how can the city not top your list of options? From a reasonable cost of living to more fun than you can shake a stick at, this is the sunshiny paradise that will make almost anyone feel like they hit the hometown jackpot.

Source: rent.com

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When the time comes to find a new apartment, searching for the right place at the right price can take up a good deal of your free time. With millions of rental properties across the U.S. to choose from, how do apartment seekers know they’re finding the best options out there from the sheer number available? You may fear missing out on good options just because you don’t know the best places to look for apartments.

But, if you know the right places to search for apartments, you will find the cream of the crop.

Where to look for apartment listings, from rental websites to word of mouth

Thanks to the convenience and accessibility of the internet, you can search for your next apartment anytime, anywhere. But, there are plenty of other excellent places to look for apartments that fit your price range and lifestyle.

Internet search

Nowadays, the internet is our go-to for pretty much everything. That makes it the best place to look for apartments.

Using any internet search engine, do a keyword search for “apartments in [your city].” Add descriptors like the size of the unit or amenities like pet-friendliness or having air conditioning.

Use the search filters to look for the most updated listings, and voila! Scroll through the search results to see what catches your eye and branch out from there.

Apartment rental sites like Rent.

Apart from a straightforward internet search, using apartment search sites like Rent. is one of the best tools in the apartment hunters’ arsenal. These easy-to-use sites show renters tons of rental options within a certain area, with customizable options to hone your search.

Starting with the home page, type in the name of the city or place you’re looking to rent. The site directs you to a listing page full of available apartments and units. As landlords and property managers can post listings directly, you have easy, instant access to hundreds of units all in one place.

The best rental websites also have map views for more precise apartment hunting. The map view feature allows you to zoom in or out to focus on specific areas or expand your search radius.

But, the apartment finder site often has hundreds of units to scroll through. How do you hone your search? On a banner near the top of the page, you’ll find multiple-choice fields. These allow you to customize your search. You can look for apartments by price range, unit size, square footage or amenities. You can also search by disability access or income-restricted housing.

Highlighting the amenities that are the most important to you is one of the best ways to weed out undesirable apartments or focus on luxury properties. For pet owners in search of dog-or-cat-friendly units, there’s an option for that. You can also search by whether or not it includes utilities, if units come with air conditioning or if the complex has parking. Once you update the search filters with your filtered options, you can do price comparisons and compare the best features.

Apartment search mobile apps

If you’re always out and about, many apartment finder websites now have rental apps, allowing you to search for apartments on the go.

Simply download the app, put in your search criteria and let the hunt continue no matter where you are.

Community gathering places

Go analog by checking the notice boards at community spaces. Libraries, gyms, parks, grocery stores and other gathering places often have notice boards for local events, businesses and even available apartments. Smaller landlords in your community sometimes post adverts looking for new tenants. This is also a great way to find short-term rentals.

If you’re in a new city, searching these boards is another way to learn more about your new home and connect with the community.

Real estate websites

Real estate websites aren’t just for buying anymore. Many now have separate sections for rentals, offering similar customizable search features.

Since lots of people don’t realize they can look for apartment rentals on a real estate website, that gives you an edge. You may find that the site offers new listings unavailable elsewhere online, giving you a step up in applying first.

Online neighborhood groups

If you’re seeking rentals within a specific neighborhood, see if the area has an online group you can join. Social media sites like Facebook have neighborhood community groups where residents can interact.

Whether you’re new to the area or a long-term local, add a post asking if there are any available apartment rentals. Just be sure to not give away too much personal information.

Property management companies

Large management companies often have their own website where they share available listings in their buildings. If there’s a particular operator you’re interested in renting from, go to the managing company’s website to see if they have anything posted.

Apartment complex websites

If there’s a particular apartment complex you’re interested in living in, you can look directly at their website, as well. Along with photos and information about the unit size and square footage, the listings will include how much rent is for different-sized apartments.

Newer apartment buildings will often have multiple units available and sometimes, have special deals to celebrate their opening.

Ask your landlord or property manager

If you’re happy with your current landlord and living situation but are looking to upgrade your apartment size, ask the landlord or property manager if they have any other units available.

Sometimes, landlords and property managers own or operate multiple apartment buildings. If you’ve had a good experience renting from them in your current unit, ask if they have similar apartments or other buildings you can look at.

Rental brokers

Like a real estate broker, a rental broker holds your hand and guides you through the apartment search process. Taking your list of requirements, they look through all the available search options to bring you a curated list. They can direct you to listings you may otherwise have missed, narrow down your options and ultimately help you save money.

With them doing all the grunt work, working with a rental broker is also useful if you’re in a time crunch or moving from far away and can only do video tours.

Unlike real estate brokers, though, rental brokers can earn compensation from landlords or management companies for bringing them new tenants in the form of referral fees. If the broker comes well-recommended, you’ll know that they only partner with respectable, top-quality landlords.

Ask friends and family

Who can you trust more to give you honest advice or feedback than your loved ones?

Whether you’re moving cities or moving neighborhoods, ask family and friends in the area if they know of any apartments available for rent. You trust their word and they can direct you to some good finds.

Tour prospective neighborhoods

If you have a specific neighborhood in mind you’d like to live in, scope it out in person to see if you find any “For Rent” signs. Exploring a neighborhood in person also gives you a better sense if you’ll be happy there or not. You can also check if it has all the amenities you need like nearby schools or public transportation.

Reading neighborhood guides in magazines and websites will also give you a good sense of what the area has to offer. These informational guides give you an overview of the area, with practical information, such as its walk score and if public transit is nearby. But, it’ll also list fun benefits of living in the area, like cool restaurants, stores and neighborhood activities.

What to look for in a new apartment

Every renter’s needs are different, so what exactly you need in an apartment varies by person. But there are some things all worthwhile apartments should have in common. You don’t want to pay rent for a unit that’s in bad condition or unsafe to live in.

Here’s what to look for in each apartment you visit during your search:

  • The entire unit is clean and in good condition, with no mold, mildew, water stains, peeling wallpaper or other signs of neglect
  • The appliances function properly (stove, fridge, oven, etc.)
  • Water runs properly in the showers, sinks and toilets, and hot and cold water options work
  • The electrical outlets work
  • All doors and windows properly close and lock
  • Functional heater and AC
  • Check for signs of rodent infestation like chew marks or droppings

How to stay organized during your apartment search

As you look through all the apartment search sites during your apartment hunt, you need to keep track of all the rental listings you like. Otherwise, you could forget where you found that one listing that was just right and miss out on applying in time.

As you find apartments that catch your eye, save listings in your bookmark tab. You can also organize them in a spreadsheet or word document with direct links for easy access.

This can also help you weed out duplicate listings if landlords list properties in multiple places, as well as share your finds with your roommates or live-in partners.

When should you start looking for your next apartment?

It’s a good rule of thumb to start your apartment search one to two months before your expected move-in date.

There are several reasons for this. First, you’ll need to give notice that you’re leaving your current apartment. Some landlords require that you give notice 30 days before vacating, others require 60 days. Check the terms of your lease agreement to know exactly when you need to notify your landlord that you’re leaving.

Secondly, you don’t want to start your apartment search too soon. If you find a unit you like but your move-in date is too far away, the landlord may not hold the apartment for you. A couple of months gives you ample time to search and apply for your new home.

Be prepared when you find the best apartment for you

Good, well-priced apartments go fast in today’s competitive rental market. As you’re searching for your new apartment, it’s a good idea to have all the documents and information you need to apply ready to go. That way, as soon as you find an apartment you like, you can apply instantly and start the process.

Using the best apartment rental sites gives you an edge in the apartment hunt

Giving you the most listings in rental markets all over America, Rent. helps you find the best apartment for you with ease.

Source: rent.com

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It’s the spookiest time of the year! One of the most popular holidays in the U.S., Halloween lets us dress up and eat tons of candy. Who can beat that?

The biggest tradition of Halloween, aside from carving pumpkins, is going trick-or-treating. This is a fun experience with massive rewards that are oh, so tasty. But, like with any evening activity, it’s important to take precautions, too.

Following a few Halloween safety tips will not only ensure you enjoy the holiday to its fullest but keep the night going smoothly until you fill your candy basket.

1. Pick a safe costume

Walking through the halls to go trick-or-treating may mean passing by carved jack-o’-lanterns with actual candles in them. Since the hallways can get crowded and tight, you want to make sure you have a costume that is flame-resistant.

Try to avoid any open flames for sure, as well, and always watch where you’re walking.

Other ways to keep yourself safe in your costume include:

  • Not letting any part drag on the ground (tripping hazard!)
  • Avoiding weapons as props so no mistaken identity
  • Testing out masks before Halloween to make sure you can see clearly out of them

Even the most popular costumes could have elements that aren’t that safe for your child. Make sure you try everything on well in advance in case adjustments have to get made.

2. Get a group together

There’s always safety in numbers, even when trick-or-treating in an apartment community. If you can, try to form a small group of friends or even your immediate neighbors, so that nobody has to venture out on Halloween alone.

It’s also a good idea for at least one adult to stay nearby when kids are out, no matter the age of your trick-or-treaters. For younger kids, it’s a must, but you also want to make sure older kids are staying out of trouble.

3. Look for decorated doors

Even though not all apartment communities have entryway lights at each door, most residents participating in Halloween will show they’re giving out candy in some way. You’ll see either a sign, decorations or even a portable Halloween light.

If a door is completely dark and bare, leave it alone and move on. You don’t want to risk disturbing a neighbor or putting yourself in a position where you feel uncomfortable.

4. Stay out of other apartments

If someone is hosting a “Halloween experience” where you walk through their apartment, and you don’t know them, stay on the outside of the door. This is a very important Halloween safety tip. You should never go into a stranger’s home, especially on Halloween, when it’s much easier to create a reason to enter. If you know the apartment residents, and your whole group, including adults, is OK with going in, that’s different.

5. Have a trick-or-treat plan

Apartment complexes are big and involve climbing a lot of stairs. To stay efficient and hit as many homes as possible, consider creating a trick-or-treating route to use your time wisely. If there’s an apartment you know always has excellent candy, start in that area first to ensure they don’t run out.

At the same time, if there are certain apartments or areas of your community you want to avoid, include that in your route design, too.

You also want to stay away from any areas that aren’t well-lit.

6. Add a little glow to your costume

Even if you’re not crossing any major streets while trick-or-treating in an apartment community, you may end up walking through the parking lot. To remain visible, even when it’s dark, to cars coming and going, add a little neon to your costume. You can find glow-in-the-dark necklaces, bracelets, gloves, scrunchies and more that will make it easier to see when you do have to go outside to get to the next building in your community.

No glow stick, no problem. Grab a small flashlight instead and keep it handy.

7. Stick to the curb

While we’re talking about dark parking lots, make sure your entire group knows how to safely cross them. Stay within the lit area if there is one, or walk along the curb if you can. Don’t cross the lot by walking through empty spaces, since you never know when someone is going to pull into it, and they aren’t looking for pedestrians.

As with crossing actual streets, always look both ways before walking across a parking lot and focus on the road. Don’t check your cell phone while walking (because you can also trip) and don’t dig into your candy bucket, either.

8. Set up a candy drop

Carrying around a heavy candy bag really weighs you down. It can make it harder to keep going, and a full basket can cause you to drop candy that you could accidentally trip on in the dark. Since trick-or-treating in an apartment community makes it much easier to get a large amount of candy quickly, consider a mid-way stop on your route back to your own home to drop your spoils.

9. Pick a meeting spot

Even though apartment communities aren’t always super big, there’s a chance you’ll get separated from your group. Although many Halloween safety tips will mention carrying a phone with you, it’s never a bad idea to set a specific spot within your community to meet up should anyone get lost. You can choose in front of your own apartment, or if you’re with a big group from the neighborhood, one of the common areas works great.

Make a rule that if anyone gets separated, the whole group will go to the meeting spot right away, and wait until everyone is back together again.

10. Handle candy with care

When the night is over, and you’re sitting in front of a mountain of candy you got thanks to hitting so many homes close together in your apartment community — handle it with care. First, remove anything homemade. It’s better to only eat pre-packaged items no matter how tempting a baked good looks.

If you have any food allergies, make sure you know what candy not to eat, and put it all aside. You can donate that candy to a variety of different organizations. If you have a severe allergy, like one to peanuts, make sure you look at the labels of any candy you’re unfamiliar with. During Halloween, there are a lot of candy mix packs that have uncommon brands. There is possible cross-contamination, so you’ll want to take extra care.

Staying safe on Halloween

Being safe on Halloween is very important, and if you ever feel like trick-or-treating isn’t the best option, consider throwing your own Halloween party for adults and kids alike. Otherwise, stay alert out there, practice good Halloween safety tips and enjoy those delicious candy spoils.

Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.

Source: rent.com

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Every week, I receive a couple of books in the mail from authors and publishers. (This week there were six!) They’re hoping that I’ll find time to review their work at Get Rich Slowly. I do my best, but it’s impossible to read everything.

When John Smith offered to send me his book, Confessions of a Butcher, I wasn’t expecting much. I’ve read a few niche books like this, and they’re usually uninspiring. As a full-fledged carnivore, I’m please to report this one is different. Smith spent more than 30 years in the meat industry, and he’s used his experience to produce a short book packed with information.

Confessions of a Butcher contains:

  • 60 pages describing different cuts of meat and offering suggestions for cheaper alternatives.
  • A glossary of meat-related terms.
  • An appendix containing 30 pages of short articles, such as “What to do with leftover turkey”.

The book has sections on beef (steaks, quality steaks, roasts, ribs, ground beef), pork (chops and steaks, roasts, ribs), lamb, veal, and chicken. Smith lists about 100 cuts of meat (most of which are beef). He briefly describes each cut, and then suggests cheaper (or higher-quality) alternatives.

Smith granted me permission to reprint some examples from the book. Here are his entries for stew meat, ground beef, and lamb.

Beef for stew
Money-saving alternatives: chuck roast, rump roast, cross rib roast, round steak, brisket, flatiron, chuck flat strip.

Stew meat is made from the trim that is left over from the day’s cuttings. Even when stew meat is on sale, it may not be as cheap as many other cuts. Boneless chuck roasts and round steaks on sale will be cheaper, sometimes a lot cheaper. Find the cheapest and leanest cut of meat and cut into cubes for stew or ask the butcher for his assistance.

Now having said all that, the best meat for stew, in my humble opinion, comes from the brisket, flatiron, or the chuck flat strip. These three cuts should cost you less than the stew meat in the counter but may not be the best deal you can find. They will however be the best stew meat you can find.

Regular ground beef
Money-saving alternative: boneless chuck roasts.

Regular ground beef is 27 to 30 percent fat and usually priced to sell. However, you should be able to find boneless chuck roasts on sale for about the same price. Have the butcher grind some up for you. You may not save much, if any, money, but you will get a lot better product. Just about any cut of beef in the counter, when ground, will definitely make leaner and nicer ground beef than regular hamburger.

Lamb
Money-saving alternative: see below.

The best thing you can do to save money on lamb purchases is either watch the ads or shop for lamb in a store that is part of a major supermarket chain but located in a blue-collar neighborhood. Most major supermarkets have a meat counter schematic that is the same throughout the chain. In a blue-collar meat and potatoes kind of neighborhood, lamb is not a regular part of the diet, but the local supermarket still has to carry a lamb lineup. In these types of stores, you may find legs of lamb and the like reduced to sell.

I have worked in several stores just like this and have been eating lamb (and saving lots of money) ever since. Ask the butcher if the store ever reduces lamb and when to look for it. Another alternative is to buy lamb from the farmer and have it processed at a local custom meat plant. Be ware that you will lose more than 50 percent from the processing.

I think this is great information. Kris and I have always been puzzled why our friend AJ produces better stews than we do. It’s likely that she’s just a better cook, but maybe she uses a different cut of meat. Also, I had my first ground sirloin burger last month. I’m not sure I can go back to regular ground beef after that. (Yes, I realize ground sirloin is more expensive.)

Note: Did you notice something about each of these three tips? They all involve speaking with your butcher. This is true of many of the book’s suggestions, and in a way it’s disconcerting. Kris and I discussed this, and we realized that we don’t “have a butcher”. We go to the supermarket to pick up meat. Sometimes we ask the person behind the counter for a particular steak. That’s it. We’ve never thought about asking to have meat ground. What about you? Do you have a butcher?

Although I found the book interesting, Kris was less enthused. “If you had a recipe and were looking to save money, this would be handy book,” she told me. “But it assumes too much on the part of the reader. It uses a lot of meat-related terms, many of which aren’t in the glossary. Plus, I would have liked more detail on what recipes each bargain cut would be good for.”

“Would you pay $11.95 for this book?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “But I might if it were beefier — with charts and hints and recipes.” (Note: Kris didn’t really say “beefier”. That’s just me being funny.)

I, however, would pay $11.95 for Confessions of a Butcher. We buy a lot of meat, and if the book saved us even a few bucks, it would have paid for itself. I do agree, however, that it’s a bit jargony and could benefit from some diagrams and recipes. (Rumor has it there’s a sequel in the works that will address some of these concerns. I’d rather see a revised edition that lumped everything together.)

I’ll leave you with my favorite piece of advice from John Smith. In the chapter about butcher etiquette, he writes:

To really butter up your butcher, always leave a nice comment on his helpfulness and professionalism as you go through the checkstand…Some homemade cookies once in a while won’t hurt either.

Come to think of it, bloggers like homemade cookies too!

For more on this subject, check out these articles from the archives: Making the most of cheap cuts of beef and How to buy a side of beef. Addendum: I finally found it again! Check out the All About Meat website for free online information about meat from the author of this book.

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

As some of you know, Courtney and I recently spent just under a year traveling abroad with our two-year-old daughter. A couple of months ago, we returned home to Indiana and decided that we’d take a six month break from our mobile lifestyle. Our decision meant we needed to start looking for short-term rentals that would meet our temporary needs.

When we started to browse rental options, we created a list divided into Wants and Needs. Some of the Needs included things like two bedrooms, a safe neighborhood, flexible lease terms, and some sort of yard or grass.

Note: Technically, these aren’t raw Needs. While traveling we spent weeks in a tent, months in a spare bedroom of another family’s house, and dozens of nights in 100-square-foot single rooms. But these few items were basic enough conveniences that we felt comfortable labeling them Needs for our situation.

Under Wants we placed criteria like a standalone house, a fenced-in back yard, a one-car garage, and proximity to decent sidewalks or paths. Remember, we weren’t buying a permanent home: We were searching for a quick six-month stop.

As we started to comb through different properties on the market, I said to Courtney, “You know, it would be so nice to have a separate work area where I could go to write. I don’t need it, but it would be nice.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d voiced this desire. Courtney had to put up with my complaining for the last year about not having designated work space. It was primarily an excuse for procrastination or lack of motivation, but there was a part of me that wanted to see what it would be like to have a specific space for my work.

A Want Becomes a Need

After mentioning it a couple of more times, we agreed to expand our search to two bedrooms with bonus rooms, offices, or even large closets (yes, I’m serious). In general, a two bedroom home with a bonus room or office will be cheaper rent than a comparable three-bedroom place.

Even with a background in real estate, it can be hard to search for houses with extra rooms. Each owner, agent, or listing may refer to the space in a different way. Often these homes have unique floor plans, and it’s nearly impossible to understand them unless you visit each home individually. Finding matches was difficult.

Out of frustration at the lack of two-bedroom options that also included a bonus room, I allowed myself to do something that changed everything: I expanded our search to three-bedroom rentals. Suddenly, the flood gates were opened.

After a couple of days searching all of the new options, I called my friend/ex-partner in real estate and gave him several listings. I remember saying something like, “I know we could fit into two bedrooms, but we really need three bedrooms these days.”

It had happened. Of the five listings I sent to him to schedule showings, not a single one of them had only two bedrooms. Somehow over the course of just a few weeks, I’d managed to shift our Needs from two bedrooms to three bedrooms. My attitude had changed.

In our market, we could have easily found a two-bedroom rental in the $600/month range. Our current rent (on the three-bedroom rental we selected) is $900/month. For those of you counting, that’s a 50% increase — or around $300/month.

An Indulgence

For me, the issue isn’t the extra money per month. It’s a matter of perspective. We aren’t going to be financially ruined by this choice, and we’re paying for other benefits in that increase. But, I want to be sure that I view our rental for what it is: a Want. Heck, we could even label it a luxury for us.

If I continue to view this as a Need, it’s easy to focus on the negatives. For example, the air conditioner takes hours to cool anything, the lighting is terrible in the home, and the garage doesn’t have an automatic opener. If I were to take the situation for granted and focus on the negatives, it would be easy for my standard of living to creep even higher and higher.

In retrospect, if I see this home for what it really is — an indulgence — those little things lose their importance. I appreciate my little workspace so much more. I appreciate the fact the my daughter Milligan can play out back, and that we have space to host guests.

The truth is, for our family of three, anything more than a safe, one-bedroom home with a roof, heat, and simple kitchen is a luxury. It’s a Want, not a Need. By realizing that, we can stop taking things for granted, and start being thankful for what we have.

But shelter is just one area of our budget where this shift in thinking can happen. Luckily, this experience has helped me become more aware in other areas, such as Food, Clothing, and Transportation, where my definition of Need can easily grow beyond what is truly needed.

Indulgences in life are great. I’ve met very few people who want to live at the bare minimum level of their Needs. But taking steps to ensure we recognize our indulgences as indulgences allows us to appreciate how lucky we truly are!

Source: getrichslowly.org

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A class action lawsuit led by a California homeowner claims Pulte Homes violated state law by manipulating the sale prices of the properties it sold.

The homebuilder has been accused of unlawful, fraudulent and unfair business acts and practices, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

In other words, Pulte allegedly pressured consumers to purchase homes they couldn’t afford, promising steep discounts if they used the company’s financing arm Pulte Mortgage, all the while controlling the entire process via their “one-stop shopping” business model.

“Pulte created an amazing opportunity for itself by closely manipulating all involved parties in the home sale process,” said Steve Berman, lead attorney and managing partner at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, the firm representing the homeowner, in a press release.

“Pulte created a micro-environment inside the marketplace, where it could rig, falsify and inflate reports and pricing to its hearts content and no one had any idea what was happening.”

Apparently Pulte’s settlement and appraisal units “abandoned any presumed neutrality” and did whatever was necessary to ensure homes sold at priced demanded by the homebuilder, thereby propping up home sales that by all accounts should have been flopping.

The supposed “discounts” buyers received were not in fact discounts, as they were simply reductions based on an inflated number well above the appraised value of the home, according to Berman.

According to the complaint, Pulte home prices ranged from $558,000 to $694,000 in one neighborhood back in 2006; by the end of 2008, home values plummeted more than 50 percent to $230,000, thanks to the suspected predatory practices by Pulte.

“Pulte set homeowners and itself up for failure when it thought it could curtail the housing crisis and maintain inflated home sales,” said Berman. “The company systemically ruined homeowners purely in the pursuit of profits.”

“This scheme transformed the company from a business to a gambling venture and many homeowners have wrongly suffered significant losses.”

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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With great weather, friendly people and enough museums and historic spots to keep you busy for months, Raleigh is a great place to live. Known as the City of Oaks thanks to its trees, what pulls people in is the warm atmosphere you’ll find throughout the city.

The cost of living is another reason people like living here. Overall, living in Raleigh costs 3.8 percent less than the national average. This puts the city smack in the middle of North Carolina towns, with places like Chapel Hill being 6.1 percent more, and Thomasville being 14.2 percent less.

Sitting below the national average can make Raleigh a pretty affordable town. But the best way to calculate if the city will fit into your budget is to break down the cost of living in Raleigh into its most essential parts.

Housing costs in Raleigh

Although housing prices in Raleigh are rising by a decent amount, overall costs are still 3.5 percent below the national average. Again, this hits a more middle range when looking across the state. Costs are nowhere near as high as in Chapel Hill, at 18.7 percent above the national average, but they’re also not as low in places like Winston-Salem at 23.1 percent below.

Looking at specific rent averages, you’ll most likely find Raleigh somewhere between reasonable and slightly high. A one-bedroom apartment in Raleigh is up 12 percent, with an average monthly rent of $1,520. A two-bedroom apartment is up a little less, at only 10 percent, and has an average monthly rent of $1,759.

Home prices are increasing at a similar rate for those who want to bypass being a renter. The median sale price in Raleigh is $410,000, up 12.5 percent over last year.

Apartment hunting

Deciding where to live in Raleigh can depend on a lot of factors. You may want to live close to your job or prefer a suburb over a more urban neighborhood. Regardless of your amenity wish list or rental parameters, Raleigh offers up plenty of friendly, comfortable neighborhoods at multiple price points.

For those with a little extra money to spend on rent, Glenwood tops the list when it comes to cost. The average one-bedroom here is $2,269. Also toward the higher end when it comes to renting is North Hills. One of Raleigh’s fastest growing areas, North Hills is full of good schools, great shopping, plenty of parks and popular restaurants and entertainment. The average one-bedroom apartment here is $1,923.

For neighborhoods closer in price to the average, check out Wakefield. One-beds here rent at an average of $1,578. Locals love this suburban neighborhood with its easy access to the city center. Also relatively affordable, Downtown Raleigh averages out at $1,619 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. That will definitely keep you close to all the city’s happenings.

If you need to save a little on rent, check out Cameron Village. This popular, affordable neighborhood has it all, and it’s all within walking distance. Situated near North Carolina State, you’ll also find a lot of college students close by. The average one-bedroom rent here is $1,304.

Food costs

Yet another city that excels at Southern cuisine, Raleigh is famous for a variety of classic main dishes and sides. This includes everything from the city’s unique style of barbecue to the hush puppies and collard greens you might pair with that rack of ribs. You may also want to try some juicy fried chicken or shrimp and grits when dining out in Raleigh.

When it’s time to dine in and get that shopping list ready for the grocery store, it’s good to know items are 8.3 percent below the national average. Even though this is a slight increase over the previous year, prices for individual food items should still average out on the more affordable side.

For example, you’ll pay an average of $1.76 for a dozen eggs and $2.04 for a half gallon of milk. A loaf of bread carries an average cost of $3.34, while a frozen meal is about $3.12. Individually, grocery items in Raleigh are less expensive, on average, than in other North Carolina towns. In Winston-Salem, a dozen eggs are $0.78 more, and you’ll see that same price increase in Charlotte when it comes to a loaf of bread.

Utility costs

Pleasant is an appropriate word to describe Raleigh weather on most days. Yes, the summers can get a little hot and humid, and yes, some winter nights are cold, but overall, the weather here is the kind that calls to you to get outside and encourages you to let the fresh air into your home.

That said, the cost of living in Raleigh when it comes to utilities is a little high. This is thanks to those 90-plus-degree days in July and the frosty January nights. Overall, utility costs are 3.2 percent above the national average, a 3.1 percent increase over last year.

While some months may test your budget when it comes to your electric bill, on average, expect to pay $193.76, one of the highest averages across the state.

Transportation costs

Though there are some walkable spots in Raleigh, for the most part, getting around in the city will require a car or proximity to public transportation. Overall, transportation costs are affordable at 10.7 percent below the national average. This, once again, puts Raleigh toward the middle when compared with other cities in North Carolina, sandwiched in by Charlotte (1.6 percent more) and Salisbury (0.7 percent less.)

If you opt for public transportation, you’ll get to hop on a GoRaleigh bus. There are 26 regular and express routes, a free downtown circular and the Wake Forest Loop, which travels in both directions. A single-ride fare is $1.25, but passes are also reasonably priced. You can get a day pass for $2.50, a seven-day pass for $12 and a 31-day pass for $40.

Taking your own car out and about most likely means paying for parking at some point, especially if you’re heading in or near downtown. Raleigh makes it easy to find parking options. Parking garage prices will vary, but most meters will cost no more than $1.50 per hour.

Healthcare costs

The cost of living in Raleigh when it comes to healthcare is 4.2 percent above the national average. This is a 4.1 percent increase over last year, but healthcare across the state is higher than average in most cities.

This can mean higher prices when it comes to doctor’s visits and prescription medications, however, everyone’s specific budget greatly depends on insurance coverage and overall health. Knowing averages can help estimate costs, but everyone will have a different cost of living expense when it comes to maintaining their health.

That said, without insurance, expect to pay $122.50 on average to see your general practitioner, $119 for each trip to the eye doctor and $116.33 at the dentist. Average prescription drug costs, without the help of insurance, are $498.

Goods and services costs

This broad category makes up a huge section of your cost of living in Raleigh. It’s where all the fun things go, and all the regular things you may want, but don’t necessarily need.

In Raleigh, goods and services costs are 3.2 percent below the national average. Winston-Salem has the highest numbers in North Carolina at 5.9 percent above the national average, so Raleigh is a lot more reasonable.

This could make it easier to plan a night out full of fun, starting with a six-pack of beer you buy to enjoy with a few friends before going out. You’ll pay an average of $9.49 for that. Next, you decide to catch a movie. A ticket will cost an average of $12.51. Afterward, you all decide you’re hungry so you go out for burgers. At an average price of $4.49, this will be the least expensive piece of your night.

There are also goods and services that don’t involve happy hour and hanging out with friends. In Raleigh, the average yoga class is $18.40, and most locals spend around $14.92 on dry cleaning.

Taxes

Sales tax across North Carolina varies by location. The state requires a 4.75 percent tax, but Raleigh adds on both a county tax and a special tax. This brings the Raleigh sales tax rate up to 7.25 percent. This is higher than the average tax across the state, and only slightly below cities like Chapel Hill, which at 7.5 percent, has the highest rate.

How does this impact what you pay when you shop? Well, say you’re out buying furniture for your new apartment. You spend $1,000 on a new couch. Of that grand, $72.50 goes straight to taxes.

How much do I need to earn to live in Raleigh?

Making enough to live comfortably in Raleigh is a huge component of happily calling the city home, and this all starts with rent. If you can afford rent, you can technically afford to live in Raleigh. But, if you don’t want your entire budget to go to this expense, make sure you use our rent calculator to figure out exactly what you can afford.

Looking at the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the city ($1,517) and assuming you want to follow what most experts suggest and only spend 30 percent of your annual income on rent, you’ll need to make $60,680 to live in Raleigh.

This is entirely plausible given that the median household income in Raleigh is $69,720. That means you may even have a little money left over to upgrade your living situation or splurge in another part of your monthly budget.

Free things to do

Of course, one great way to save money, should you need to make some budget cuts, is to seek out all the free fun Raleigh has to offer. Sometimes considered the “home of the free” by locals, there’s a considerably large number of free attractions throughout the city, from parks and lakes to museums.

For free fun outdoors, check these spots out:

  • With 22 miles of hiking trails and a hanging bridge that’s so much fun to cross, William B. Umstead State Park does not disappoint
  • Perfect for bird-watching and hiking, the Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest contains 245 acres of managed woods
  • Featuring more than 6,000 different types of plants from around the world, the J.C. Raulston Arboretum has one of the largest and most diverse collections of Southeastern greenery
  • For fishing, sailing, canoeing or kayaking, make sure to visit the 650-acre lake at Lake Wheeler Park
  • To stop and smell the roses, check out the 60 different varieties in the Raleigh Rose Garden

For a free cultural experience, visit these great places:

  • Although you can take classes for a price, Downtown Raleigh’s Artspace features access to exhibits from national and community artists
  • Get to know the athletes that called North Carolina home by visiting the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
  • Hop in the car and head a little north to the Wake Forest Historical Museum where you can learn all about the town of Wake Forest, as well as the history of Wake Forest College
  • For another community experience, visit the Cary Heritage Museum and see a complete chronicle of the town’s history

What’s even better, the North Carolina Museum of Art (permanent collection only), North Carolina Museum of History and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences are all also free to visit.

Living in Raleigh

Raleigh is a friendly and mostly affordable place set in perfect Southeast weather. It has so many positives, from delicious food to a ton of free activities. Are you convinced yet that it’s the perfect place to live? Good. Now, you just need to make sure your budget agrees.

The Cost of Living Index comes from coli.org.

The rent information included in this summary is based on a calculation of multifamily rental property inventory on Rent. as of August 2022.
Rent prices are for illustrative purposes only. This information does not constitute a pricing guarantee or financial advice related to the rental market.

Source: rent.com

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Soak up the sun in The Mile High City by finding an apartment with ample outdoor space.

There’s no shortage of reasons to make Denver your home, but once you decide to live there, you’ve got to find the right apartment. From the location to the amenities, the best places to live are subjective to your own wants and needs.

Whether a sparkling pool tops your list or you’re seeking a stunning rooftop, don’t forget to look out for a serene outdoor garden as part of your Denver apartment. This is where you’ll congregate with friends, or even hang out on your own, all without having to leave home.

To make it easier to begin your search, check out these 10 excellent apartments with fantastic courtyards and gardens in Denver.

Source Rent. / TriVista on Speer

Giving you a fully stocked courtyard, TriVista on Speer knows how to pack a lot of amenities into a single space. Here, you’ll find a great dining area with multiple four-top tables, a cool lounge with outdoor carpet to add a homey feel and even a bocce ball court. A mixture of hardscape and oversized planters surround the space, while string lights crisscross above for some added ambiance.

When you’re looking to live in the “coolest” corner of the city center, you want to head to Central Denver. This neighborhood is a combination of downtown and a few suburban areas full of tree-lined streets, parks and lakes. Living here gives you a wide sample of what makes Denver such a great place to call home.

Source: Rent. / Whisper Sky

In a city like Denver, having an on-site garden is ideal. At Whisper Sky, this tranquil space includes a combination of taller trees, low bushes and grassy spots to enjoy. There are two benches so it’s easy to sit and soak in the nice day. For those who want to stay out once the sun goes down, the garden area extends into a nearby outdoor lounge, complete with a fire pit.

Within one of Denver’s many lush suburbs, this Dayton Triangle community sits in a quiet, smaller neighborhood popular with locals. A good restaurant scene and plenty of shopping make this area fun enough that you don’t need to head into Denver proper to have a good time.

Source: Rent. / The Quincy

To fully enjoy any outdoor dining experience at home, head to The Quincy. Here, the courtyard is the best place to grab a meal whether you’re sitting at the long bar-height table, grabbing a seat at a circular four-top or going casual in the patio chairs. Some of the area is covered, making it convenient regardless of weather. The space also has great raised beds of greenery and tall planters to enhance the natural beauty in this urban area.

Another action-filled spot, the Denver Central Business District is a lively place to call home. The financial center of the city, it’s also a cultural hub. The Denver Performing Arts Complex has 10 different venues for plays, dance and music. There are also a variety of museums. When it’s time to stroll through the neighborhood, head to the 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian strip full of restaurants and shops.

Source: Rent. / Mile 44

Combining all the best amenities into one central spot, Mile 44 does its courtyard space right. Pictured above is only one section of the expansive space, but here you’ll find two large gas grills, an umbrella-covered table for eating and a cute lounge space under a pergola, with another under the open sky. This is also where the hot tub is located. There are a few extra chairs for sunbathing and plenty of potted plants and mature trees as well.

To the southeast of the city center, in Hunter’s Run, the big attractions here are the Denver Tech Center and Cherry Creek State Park. You may head to the DTC by day for work, then visit the park and reservoir on the weekends. Cherry Creek State Park has different natural environments to explore as well as an 880-acre reservoir where boating and fishing are always an option.

Source: Rent. / Camber

Being able to grow your own herbs when you rent is a definite bonus. There’s often not enough space, but Camber takes special care of its green thumbed residents. Providing a little plot all your own to plant, the community garden lets you have the freshest ingredients possible for the nights you cook at home.

Close to the airport and plenty of open green spaces, living in Northeast Denver is great for those who travel a lot and those who love the outdoors. While there are plenty of shops and places to eat, it’s the variety of natural resources that really stand out in this neighborhood. Start at Central Park, where you can play sports in the summer and sled in the winter. Then, check out Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and see bison out in the wild.

Source: Rent. / Veranda Highpointe

The courtyard at Veranda Highpointe has a very special feature, a heated lazy river. Among all the nicely designed spaces, you can hop in an inner tube and slowly float through until your heart’s content.

Parks, parks and more parks surround you when you call Hampden home. For walking and biking, hit the trails at Babi Yar Memorial Park, where the paths create the Star of David. These two parks are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to green space in this laid-back neighborhood. You’ll also find decent shopping and a variety of places to eat.

Source: Rent. / The Den

The layout of the courtyard at The Den really does impress. Two large, rectangular green spaces make up a pair of lawns perfect for entertaining. One swath of grass has two cornhole setups, with bar seating at both ends. Two tall trees in planters separate the lawns, while the other is open for whatever use comes to mind.

Occupying Denver’s southeastern border, the Southmoor Park neighborhood is on the rise. Top restaurants and high-end shopping are nearby. The area also shares green space with other area neighborhoods including Cherry Creek Reservoir. It’s an all-in-one place to call home for sure.

Source: Rent. / Camden RiNo

You’ll find multiple courtyards at Camden RiNo. One sits poolside, where you can hang out and relax after swimming laps or wading in the water. There’s a variety of seating and TVs for taking in an outside movie or show. The other is a sculpture courtyard with pockets of comfy chairs, nice landscaping patches and a giant rhino sculpture to draw the eye.

While the central piece to the city’s Ballpark neighborhood is Coors Field, there’s more to this area than baseball. It’s full of fun and lively places to eat, great rooftop bars and chill clubs. Views are amazing from just about anywhere, and green space is in solid supply. There’s even a skate park nearby for those that prefer a concrete jungle to a mountain forest.

Source: Rent. / Ava RiNo

There’s a lot to see in the courtyard at Ava RiNo. From the tiles on the eat-in bar by the grills to the bright yellow chairs and funky string lights, each piece of furniture and decor was hand selected for this sweet hangout spot. Even the hammocks look a little more funky than usual in black and red. Ceramic planters hang overhead and the rest of the landscaping is thoughtfully done as well.

One of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, Five Points is a cultural gold mine. It’s home to relaxed cafes, great pubs and a variety of clubs and theaters. You’ll find the Black American West Museum here as well as Mestizo-Curtis Park.

Source: Rent. / Mosaic Apartments

The garden path through the on-site park at Mosaic Apartments is a great place to catch your breath and clear your head. Whether walking to or from your apartment, the close-clipped grass, tall trees and line of planters on the path create a serene atmosphere. It’s just the right amount of greenery to help you find your center.

Quiet and full of tree-lined streets, Goldsmith is another excellent suburban neighborhood in Denver that delivers everything and anything you could want. You’re not far from the DTC and the downtown area for work, green spaces like High Line Canal for outdoor recreation and Tiffany Plaza and University Hills for shopping, dining and entertainment. You can easily plan out an entire day and do a little of everything, Denver has to offer from this central location.

Enjoy an apartment with one of the best gardens in Denver

It’s no secret that Denver is a great place to live. To really enjoy the best the city has to offer, you need the right apartment. Whether it’s a lot of square footage, the perfect location or the proper collection of amenities, don’t forget that courtyards and gardens in Denver add something special. They’ll help transform your Denver apartment from a place to live into a fun and lively home.

Featured Image Source: Rent. / Whisper Sky

Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.

Source: rent.com

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From its historic neighborhoods to its parks and rivers, Fort Wayne is full of surprises. This Indiana town has one of the country’s best zoos and a number of popular museums. Considered one of the most affordable cities in Indiana, paying less for rent could mean you’ll have a slightly bigger budget to explore the city and find your favorite spots.

Here’s what some Fort Wayne locals are saying about the best places to check out in Summit City.

1. Five Lakes Coffee, The Perk and Mocha Lounge

Source: facebook.com/Five-Lakes-Coffee

Ask locals about their favorite hidden gem and many are quick to point to a coffee shop. In the Northwest area of town, you can stop in at Five Lakes Coffee for a cup of Joe as one option.

Christine Miller of Christine Danae Photography has trouble narrowing down her favorite coffee spots. Though, two notable frontrunners are The Perk Coffee House and Mocha Lounge. The Perk provides, “fantastic coffee and a fabulous environment to meet up with people and get work done,” says Miller. Mocha Lounge also has fantastic coffee and a “great atmosphere.”

2. Sassie Cakes

Source: facebook.com/SassieCakesFW

There’s nothing like a solid dessert place, and Hope Denton of Hope Denton Photography LLC recommends Sassie Cakes. Located right in Downtown Fort Wayne, this custom cake shop also features regular in-store treats like sandwich cookies, macarons and cookie dough shots.

“Sassie’s has the best cakes I have ever tasted, and is sure to wow you!” says Denton. Her favorite is red velvet.

3. Sweetwater

Source: facebook.com/sweetwater

For Paul Smith of Five Lakes Coffee, a favorite stop in the city is Sweetwater. This music megastore has its own hidden gem inside. It’s the acoustic guitar room, where Smith loves the sounds.

4. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Source: facebook.com/fwkidszoo

To make your exploration of Fort Wayne family-friendly, Amy DeLap of Kiss My Grass Soapery is quick to pick a trip to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo as a fun way to spend the day.

Also located in the northwest section of Fort Wayne, the Zoo features African, Australian and Indonesian sections in addition to the central zoo. There are also a few rides, animal keeper chats and special animal experiences, including the opportunity to feed a stingray.

5. Watch the Tin Caps

Source: facebook.com/tincaps

Mark Smith of The Light House Coffee Bar recommends catching a Tin Caps game to really experience the true heart of this city. This minor league baseball team plays in Parkview Field downtown.

6. Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island

Source: facebook.com/FortWayneConeyIsland

While Coney Island is known as a New York City amusement park, in Fort Wayne, it’s a locally -loved restaurant. More than that, Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island is the oldest coney stand in the country, opening its doors in 1914.

The menu hasn’t changed much in the last 100+ years either, and the restaurant sells hundreds of hot dogs each day along with burgers, chili and pie.

7. The Parks

Within the city limits, you’ll find the convergence of the St. Marys River, the St. Joseph River and the Maumee. Fort Wayne naturally lends itself to outdoor activity. Along the riverfront, you have access to boat tours and river excursions along with self-guided kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. There are also plenty of river-side hiking and bike trails.

Fort Wayne has no shortage of parks to enjoy as well. Some local favorites include:

The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is yet another spot in Fort Wayne to connect with nature. Located in the city’s Southwest area, the Conservatory features seasonal flowers and plants beside a tropical garden, desert garden and more.

Other hidden gems across Fort Wayne

Source: facebook.com/brassrailfw

Suggestions for other hidden gems in Fort Wayne can really help you find places that cater to your interests. The city’s diverse assortment of restaurants, music venues, bars and more allow anyone to enjoy their favorite pastime. Our local experts had a diverse assortment of recommendations to share.

For foodies:

  • Cebolla’s Mexican Grill — a recommendation from Lori Eddy of Coutour Cottage, has multiple locations around town. That gives you options when you’re craving burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas or any of the restaurant’s specialties.
  • Paula’s on Main — a casual restaurant and seafood market in the Nebraska neighborhood.
  • Nawa — a locally-owned Thai restaurant with signature dishes and drinks to excite the palate.
  • Asakusa — the first sushi bar in Fort Wayne, with sushi, teriyaki, tempura, katsu and many other Japanese specialties.

For entertainment seekers:

  • The Clyde — live music, comedy and performance venue
  • Brass Rail — a live music venue specializing in rock music

For beer drinkers

  • Henry’s – wood-adorned pub-style tavern that serves American food
  • Deer Park Pub — an Irish pub with a unique character entirely its own
  • Hop River Brewing Company — a brewery beside Lawton Park specializing in true-to-style beers

Where to next?

Find the Fort Wayne hidden gem for you

Not entirely convinced that a mid-size Midwestern city has enough to offer? Get out there and check it out yourself. The variety of activities and emerging small business scene make Fort Wayne a city that you need to experience for yourself. If you stop by one of the hidden gems on this list, tell them we sent you!

Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.

Source: rent.com

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CHICAGO — Summer in Chicago means countless street markets and arts fests, outdoor concerts, parties at the park and so much more.

Whether you’re shopping local at Englewood Village Market, competing for prizes at a Pilsen street cleanup, admiring Japanese floral arrangements on display in the Southport Corridor or dancing the night away at a Shrek rave, there’s something for everyone this weekend.

Here’s a roundup of 18 things to do in Chicago this weekend:

Credit: Courtesy Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
Andersonville Vintage Market

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

On Catalpa Avenue between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue

This neighborhood resale market returns this weekend for the first of three summer events. Shop vintage clothing, decor, accessories, music and other items from more than 30 vendors, including Fad 2 Fresh, Field Mercantile and Ruby Baby Vintage. There will also be live music and potato-based pastries from Downstate Donuts. The market is pet-friendly and there is a $5 suggested donation for admission.

10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday

Along West Waveland and North Southport avenues. See map here.

Browse artwork by some of the city’s best artists at this family-friendly art festival. There will be a variety of mediums on display, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, jewelry, sculpture, photography, wood, glass and more. Plus, kids can enjoy interactive games and activities. Find more information online.

Noon-10 p.m. Saturday

The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave.

Since 2018, Passport Vibes has brought partygoers together for a festival all about Afrobeats. Groove to Afrobeat and African music from local and international DJs, enjoy food and retail vendors, play outdoor laser tag, enjoy photo installations and more.

Credit: Barrio Arts Fest
A performance at the Barrio Arts Fest in Humboldt Park.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, 3015 W. Division St.

Celebrate Puerto Rican art and culture at the 23rd annual Barrio Arts Festival with live musical performances by local Puerto Rican artists, family-friendly arts workshops, Puerto Rican delicacies, handmade crafts and more. Admission is free. Learn more and see the fest’s full schedule here.

Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday

Southport Corridor, 3200-3900 N. Southport Ave.

The Japanese Culture Center, Lakeview Roscoe Village of Commerce and Japanese Arts Foundation are partnering to host a Japanese floral arrangement exhibition in the “unofficial Japantown of Chicago.” Stroll through the Southport Corridor this weekend and you will see Japanese art of flower arrangements, or ikebana, featured in over a dozen locations, including local restaurants and business storefront windows. Galleria Liqueurs, 3409 N. Southport Ave., will also be hosting free sakes tasting through the weekend. There will be an informational table to learn more about this free event near J. Crew, 3423 N. Southport Ave.

Noon-2 p.m. Saturday

Meeting House Tavern, 5025 N. Clark St.

Lighthouse Foundation, a Black, queer-led social justice organization serving Black LGBTQ+ people in the city, is celebrating its fourth anniversary with live music, drag performances and storytelling. Drinks will be available for purchase at Meeting House Tavern’s bar. Purchase your ticket for a donation of $35-100 online. Proceeds go toward supporting the work of Lighthouse’s flagship research project, the Black Queer Equity Index.

Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
DEHD performs at Lincoln Square Roots Fest on July 9, 2022.

5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday

On Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Wilson avenues

Enjoy live music, family fun, vendors, local restaurants and a craft beer showcase at this Lincoln Square summer festival. You can catch performances by artists from Chicago and beyond, like Lala Lala, Superchunk, Slow Pulp, Mucca Pazza, Disaster Kid and more. The street fest is easily accessible from the CTA Brown Line Western stop. There is a $20 suggested donation for families, $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids.

9 p.m. Saturday

House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St.

Party like you’re “Far Far Away” and dance through the night to your favorite Shrek tunes. Tickets are $22.50 to $37.50. Buy them online for a party of “ogre-sized fun.”

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday

Independence Park, 3945 N. Springfield Ave.

A haven for art enthusiasts and shoppers, there will be more than 40 vendors at Summer Artisan Fest showcasing their handmade items at Irving Park’s Summer Artisan Fest. Shop jewelry, home decor, candles, baked goods and other one-of-a-kind items. Pets and all ages are welcome.

6-8 p.m. Friday

Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave.

Pack a picnic and grab chairs and blankets for some free, family-friendly entertainment at the park. Enjoy the sounds of summer at this free-to-attend concert series.

Credit: Provided/Zine Club Chicago
Creatives from Zine Club Chicago for their first annual Zine Camp last summer.

2-6:30 p.m. Sunday

Picnic Grove 5 in the Dan Ryan Woods, 8700 S. Western Ave., near 85th Street and Western Avenue

Learn how to make your own zines — or handmade mini magazines — at this second annual Zine Camp. Connect with the city’s zine community, learn tips and tricks and more. This free event is hosted by Zine Club, a group that meets monthly to discuss zine-making, and sponsored by Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave.

Noon-10 p.m. Saturday

Lincoln Abraham Park, 1800 N. Stockton Dr.

Celebrate electronic dance music with and dance to tunes spun by local DJs and producers in Lincoln Park this weekend. This is a free event hosted by a group called EDM Chicago is free. Donations are appreciated and will count towards a merch and ticket giveaway.

Noon-4 p.m. Sunday

Metropolitan Brewing, 3057 N. Rockwell St.

Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen and Ascend Cannabis are hosting a Vegan Summer Sesh this weekend with local plant-based chefs, cruelty-free artisans and mindful wellness alchemists. The event is open to all ages and pets are welcome. Admission is free with RSVP.

1-4 p.m. Sunday

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts – Screening Room, 915 E. 60th St.

Kicking off this Sunday and running through August, the Logan Center for the Arts is hosting free film screenings of celebrating Black cinema, self-representation and freedom. Two summer screenings will be paired with selections from the South Side Home Movie Project, which archives home movie recordings from Chicago’s South Side to protect the neighborhood’s history and films. The “Screening Freedom” series draws from decades of Black film production and showcases works that reflect and enrich Black life, from blockbuster movies to intimate family records. RSVP for free online.

Credit: Grow Greater Englewood/Facebook
The Englewood Village Market kicks off 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday. Neighbors can shop at the market every Saturday through Oct. 29.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday

Englewood Village Plaza, 5822 S. Halsted St.

Shop fresh produce, food, goods from local farmers, Black businesses and more at this Saturday market. There will also be live music, fun for the family and a weekly rotation of programming, from art activations to health and wellness activities to community information sessions.

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.

Watch the documentary “What These Walls Won’t Hold,” hear from survivors of police torture, learn about COVID-19 in prison and more at this exploration into art, death and imprisonment. Find the full schedule and RSVP online.

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday

Corner of 16th and Paulina streets

Help clean up 16h Street in Pilsen with Cleanup Club Chicago and Pilsen-based environmental justice group PERRO. There will also be “litter races” with prizes for those who want to compete. Grabbers, bags, water and some protective gloves will be provided during the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring a five-gallon bucket, gloves and sunscreen. Register for the cleanup online.

4-7 p.m. Saturday

Hops & Scotch, 720 S. Wells St.

Taste award-winning, premium Italian wines paired with Limoncello while supporting local, women-owned businesses. RSVP online.

PLUS: Four Picks from Our Partners At

7 p.m. Friday

Radius, 640 W. Cermak Rd.

Vibe to hip-hop and reggae this Friday with the Dirty Heads at Radius.

7 p.m. Friday-Sunday

Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St.

Come and experience this explosion of color and sound and hear the sounds of unique instruments that you can’t find anywhere else.

7 p.m. Sunday

Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.

The Oakland hip-hop group is celebrating 30 years of 93 Til Infinity this Sunday at Metro.

10 p.m. Friday

PRYSM, 1543 N. Kingsbury St.

Get ready to dance the night away with this wild mix of house and techno at PRYSM.

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