Blog Posts

Chandlers Celebration of Unity Part One

Every January, Chandler hosts the Celebration of Unity. This annual jamboree is a series of events to honor the city's diversity and heritage. With a focus on the ideals, life, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the civil rights movement overall, we as a community reflect on the history of Arizona and its surrounding states. As a member of the Chandler community living at Liv Avenida, you're invited to be a part of the Celebration of Unity. Events are scheduled throughout January, so you have plenty of chances to take part in this month of remembrance. The following are two of the events taking place during the celebration, but stayed tuned for part two next week! 16th Annual Creative Expression Competition The Creative Expression Competition is open to all students living or attending school in Chandler. Students enter the competition in the following categories: Performance, Writing, Visual Art, and Video. This year's theme for the submitted pieces is Peace Through People. More information on the Creative Expression Competition can be found here . Black Violin January 15, 2016 - 7:30 PM Violinists Will B and Kev Marcus have melded highbrow and pop culture through a combination of classical, jazz, hip-hop, blues, and R&B. Joining these classically trained violinists is DJ TK on turntables. Together, the trio entrance with Bach and Beyonce alike. As Wil B. explained, "We encourage kids to think creatively, to take what they love doing and try to come up with something no one has ever done before. And that doesnt just apply to playing violin or even music, but whatever it is you decide to do. Expand your mind. Once we get their attention with the music, thats the message we want to deliver. On the 16th, the Multicultural Festival will take place. We'll share more about that in our next blog post. Is there a celebration you're looking forward to in particular? Share your favorites in the comments below!

3 Italian Restaurants in Chandler To Get Your Umami Fix

Recently, an article and audio piece on NPR zeroed in on what is often missing in vegetarian dishesumami. Meaning delicious or yummy in Japanese, umami is the ingredient commonly found in both meat and fish, and usually the more neglected but powerful of the taste receptors that helps us detect the other sweet, salty, sour, and bitter characteristics in our food. The surprising news? Its commonly found in tomatoes, mushrooms, and soy sauce. And because two of those ingredients are a major aspect of Italian food, thats all the more reason to fall in love with it all over again. Weve compiled a list of some of our favorite local Italian restaurants to get your umami fix. 1. Carlo & Emilies Gourmet Deli Carlo and Emilie run a cozy little restaurant known for its high quality its high quality food, quality fresh ingredients, homemade bread and desserts and good people. Plus, they have a nice little patio for customers to enjoy sunny summer days. 2. Floridinos Pizza & Pasta Two wordspizza muffins. Theres a reason they were featured in Food Network Magazine. If youre looking for a more roomy option for Italian standards, wine, beer, and the aforementioned muffins, this is the pace you come to unwind, stretch back, and relax. Right off of Alma School Road in Chandler. We recommend trying something that features their fresh dough. 3. La Stalla Cucina Rustica Located on Buffalo Street in Chandler, La Calabria Ristorante serves robus pizza, pasta, and other down-to-earth Italian fare in an impressive villa-inspired atmosphere. With adventurous ideas like their squid ink tagliolini pasta with mixed shellfish in a light tomato garlic sauce, youll get everything youd expect in an authentic Italian restaurantand more. Did we leave out a restaurant that makes the top of your list? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! Whether you visit our picks or stop in somewhere else, wed love to hear whats on your plate tonight.

Best Apartment Dog Breeds

Many of our residents chose to reside here at Liv Northgate because of, among other great reasons, our pet-friendly policy. With our Bark Park and dog grooming services, were committed to making sure that your pooch is as happy with Liv Northgate as you are! But if you didnt have a pet when you moved in, why not take advantage of the opportunity to find an animal companion now? To help you out, we went to PetGuide.com for their advice on the best dog breeds for apartment living. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: These fellas are friendly and easy going, and tend to get along great with other tenants and their pets. Plus, they dont take up much space. Pug: Lets face itpugs are adorable. Theyre also compact and even-tempered, though youll want to make sure to give them regular walks to help them keep from getting too roly-poly. Bichon Frise: These adorable little dogs have lots of energy, so youll want to give them plenty of time in the Bark Park. But theyre much quieter than most people would expect, and theyre lots of fun to play with. Chinese Crested: Many people might not love the look of the Chinese Crested, but they are loving companions and well-suited to apartment living. Shih Tzu: Small, happy, and moderate in energy, Shih Tzus tend to be great apartment companions, as long as you dont mind grooming all of that hair! (But thats why we offer dog-grooming services, remember.) English Bulldog: Now, there are a few dog breeds that we cant allow here at Liv Northgate (usually because they have trouble playing well with others), one of which is the pit bull. But dont confuse pit bulls with English Bulldogs! There are several physical differences, but the important difference is temperament. The English Bulldog gets along with other dogs and loves to relax on the couch more than he loves to run around the park, which makes him a great apartment resident. Chihuahua: First, lets clear up one thingmost Chihuahuas arent hairless. Most have short coats of fur, while a few have quite long, flowing hair, and all of them are adorable. They tend to enjoy barking, but that can be trained down to minimal levels; and once thats done, youll have an affectionate, intelligent, fast-learning companion that will just love every bit of attention you give them. Great Dane: Yeah, theyre huge (25 to 29 inches tall and 100 to 200 pounds in weight), but thats not as much of a problem in an apartment as you might think. Why? Because these big guys are calm, quiet, and downright lazy. Theyre much less concerned with having lots of space to run around than they are with having a cozy spot to relax and enjoy your company. Boston Terrier: While several terrier breeds are prohibited by our pet policy, the friendly Boston Terrier is not one of them. These little guys tend to be clever and inquisitive, but theyre fairly quiet and usually happy with only moderate amounts of exercise. Yorkshire Terrier: Another great terrier breed, the Yorkie is cute, cuddly, compact, and reasonably quiet. Yorkies are usually great with now people and situations, to boot, so you dont have to worry about them causing trouble if you have people over. What other dogs do we have here at Liv Avenida, and how well do they adapt to apartment living? Let us know in the comments!

3 Surprising Reasons Drinking Coffee Might Be Better for You Than You Think

If youre someone whos been on the fence about drinking coffee, youre not alone. With 54% of Americans over the age of eighteen drinking coffee every day, its easy to wonder what youve been getting out of our morning cup of Joe. But recent research suggests there are some surprising health benefits that come from daily cup of coffee. 1. Coffee Is Full of Antioxidants Surprisingly enough, coffee contains more antioxidants than both green tea and cocoatwo of the standards in antioxidant stardom. Research has shown that before coffee beans are even processed, they contain nearly 1,000 antioxidants. And during the roasting process? They develop even more. Antioxidants fight inflammationthe root cause of arthritis and many different forms of cancer. By disarming the free radicals that can over oxidate cells, antioxidants help protect our cells from the damage the results in chronic disease. 2. Coffee Is Good for Your Heart Were not speaking symbolically. Recent research at Harvard School of Public Health showed that drinking the right amount of coffee can reduce your future chances of heart failure by 11% . Another Dutch study found that moderate coffee consumption gave participants a 20% lower chance of heart disease. So how does it work? The theory exists that coffee can help shield your body from the arterial damage thats caused by inflammation. The key between both studies? Trying to stick to just two cups a day. 3. Coffee Safeguards Cognitive Health Trying to keep your brain in tip-top shape? A recent Finnish study discovered that there was a link between drinking three to five cups of coffee as a middle-aged adult and a 65% decrease in Alzheimers. The theory here? Apparently, caffeine consumption through a beverage like coffee helps bypass the build-up of plaque that might be connected to the disease. What do you think? What benefits have you seen from drinking a morning cup of coffee? What are some of your favorite healthy coffee recipes? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

Which Is Healthier Running a 5K or Jogging Around the Block

The title of this blog is a bit of a trick question. Whether youre in a 5K or just going for a run around our jogging trail, the health benefits of both come down to how often youre runningand for how long. Recently, a surprising study showed that slower runners actually tended to live longer than both those who didnt exercise and those who were faster. In fact, those who run too fast usually have about the same lifespan as those who went without a weekly run. And while there is still more research to be done, it might be reassuring for those that feel intimidated by strenuous exercise. So while we wait for the results, whats the real takeaway? Its important to pace yourself as you run. If you have your heart set on preparing for your first 5K, remember you can get thereand even participate in the racein a way that doesnt overdo whats really the best for your health. To make sure you pace yourself, youll want to stick to a week-by-week plan that gradually helps you work up to your target distance. Youll also want to make sure you have the following figured out: 1. Know What to Wear Having the right outfit can be a big motivator to help you commit to your 5K goal. Most importantly, make sure you have the right pair of running shoes and comfortable running socks. We recommend going to a specialized running store to find the shoe thats right for your foot. There are also different websites that help you find a more tailored option based on your running experience, previous injuries, and body type. 2. Know How to Run Having the right technique will make sure your run is far less tiring, injury free, and more enjoyable. The first rule of thumb? Make sure your foot doesnt ever strike the ground with your heel or forefoot first. Landing on the middle of your foot is usually the smartest way to avoid unnecessary strain or fatigue. Its also important that your foot isnt landing in front of you. Instead, make sure your feet fall just below your hips as you run. For more tips on improving your form, Runners World and ChiRunning both have comprehensive lists.

Easy Appetizer Recipies

Summer is a great time to invite some friends overyou can have a movie or game night in The Hub, or relax by the pool. To get you started, weve gathered together some of our favorite delicious (and easy) appetizer recipes. Bacon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups These look far trickier to make than they are. All you need is cream cheese, bacon, and bread. Cut the bread into bacon-width strips and spread the cream cheese on it. Then set the bread on a bacon strip and roll it all up together. Use a toothpick to keep it rolled up. Set a full pan of these in the oven and bake until the bacon is crispy. Theyre amazing! Brown Sugar Kielbasa If you want something even easier to make, this is it. Simply chop up a few packages of your favorite kielbasa, drop it in a slow cooker, and dump a package of brown sugar on top. Let it cook for five hours on low or two-and-a-half on high. Its that easy. You can add onions, peppers, mustardanything you want to add a little more variety. Or just keep it simple and delicious. Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Looking for something without all the meat in it? Weve got you covered. Mozzarella cheese sticks are always popular, and theyre better than ever when theyre homemade! Youll want to prepare three bowlsone with bread crumbs (panko bread crumbs are best!), one with a mix of eggs and a little milk, and one with flour. Get some string cheese sticks (yes, the ones you loved as a kid) and cut them into shorter halves. Now roll them in your bowls in this orderegg, flour, egg, bread crumbs, making sure to get them completely coated. Now you have two options. You can deep fry them (the classic method), or if youre looking for something a little less oily, you can bake them. If you choose to bake, line them up on a cookie sheet and place them all in the freezer for about half an hour to harden the cheese. Then bake them in the oven at 400F for about eight minutes. Cucumber Tomato Bites These are simple and tasty. First, make your favorite cream cheese mixcream cheese, some mayo, a bit of green onion, and some ranch mix is a great option. Cut a cucumber into slices of whatever thickness you prefer. Top each slice with a dollop of your cream cheese mix (you can use a cake icing bag if you want it to look really pretty). On top of that, place half of a cherry tomato, round side down, and garnish it all with a bit of your favorite fresh herb. The end result is both attractive and tasty. Cucumber Avocado Rolls Now, these recipes have all been great, but theyve all had meat or cheese in prominent amounts. How about something simple, delicious, and vegan? Just toss some (peeled) avocados, garlic, and basil into a food processer and grind them up until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. Now, get a potato peeler and peel long, length-wise strips off of a cucumber. Take these strips and spread your avocado mixture along them. Then roll them up and sprinkle a little paprika on top. You dont even need toothpicks to hold them shut, and theyre fantastic! For more detailed instructions (with pictures) check out the recipes at the links weve provided for each one. We hope you enjoy these appetizers and that they help you kick off some great parties here at Liv Avenida! If youve got a great appetizer recipe youd like to share, wed love to try it out! Please leave it in the comments.