Get started reading this summer!

How do you like to spend your free time during the warm summer months? One great way to pass the time in the hot weather is settling down with a good book and doing some quality reading. Whether you want to just kick back in on your couch in your apartment or you decide to head down to the beach, nothing beats quietly enjoying a book during the summer.

Any part of doing some good summer reading is going to include looking for the right books, and you’ll find them at The Book Cellar in Anaheim. Their expert staff will help you find exactly what you’re looking for, and can make recommendations as well if you’re not quite sure what you want. Their selection is quite extensive, too, reaching across every genre and subject out there.

With great prices and deals, along with special programs like their daily discounts and birthday club, you’ll have a great book shopping experience at The Book Cellar. Open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday Through Friday plus special hours on Sunday means you can drop in just about any time and see what they have in store for you. Don’t hesitate to visit them soon and get your summer reading started soon!

Gas is definitely getting too expensive these days. With rising fuel costs, plenty of Anaheim citizens are looking for new ways to save money on gas. Riding a bike or walking works well when you live close to your job, but it gets unpractical past a certain distance. However, if you’re looking for a different transportation solution, consider using the Metrolink.

For residents at The Crossing, riding Metrolink is especially convenient since there’s a station just a block away from our building. Wherever you work in the city, there’s likely a Metrolink station nearby, and since there’s one here at The Crossing as well you could ride it to work everyday and save a little bit on gas money. Not only that, but you’ll be helping the environment a little by using public transportation and not pumping more pollutants into the air. That definitely makes it worth considering.

Try it out for one week and see how you like it! You never know, you might end up making it a regular routine. If you already regularly ride Metrolink, leave a comment with some tips and helpful hints for first-time riders who will be getting to know the system!

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Great NBA games are on the way!

Sports in Southern California is about to get fun again! The NBA Lockout has finally ended and the regular season is set to begin on Christmas Day! The best part is that the Lakers will be a part of the first game to kick off the season as they will visit the Kings, starting their journey to another title!

No matter if you are a Lakers, Clippers, or a fan of another team, you have to admit that it’s great to have the NBA back! Here are some of the best sports bars in Anaheim where you can catch all of the action of the new NBA Season!

JT Schmids

2610 East Katella Boulevard
Anaheim, CA 92806
714/634-9200
Established in 1997 to offer Anaheim and Orange County a splendid variety of the finest and freshest Micro brews and cuisine available under one roof. J.T.’s offers cuisine from all corners of the world. The centerpiece of the kitchen is a wood burning brick oven, which generates gourmet pizza and other creations. JT Schmid’s Restaurant & Brewery is located across from the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, in close proximity to the Anaheim Convention Center and Disneyland.

National’s Sports Grill

450 N. State College
Orange, CA 92868
714/935-0300
Sports-themed restaurant serving American food. 15 beers on tap, 4 big screens, 63 TV monitors, 11 pool tables and electronic trivia game. Located across from Edison International Field, home of the Anaheim Angels. Open daily for lunch/dinner.

The Catch

1929 S. State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92806
714/634-1829
The Catch Seafood Grill has been Orange County’s local favorite since 1979, serving only the freshest seafood from around the world, “Certified Angus” prime rib, pastas and California’s finest wines. Now open is the unique “Club Room” for your special event. Banquet capacity: 20-300 persons. Dress: Business/casual. Child’s menu. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner Mon.-Thurs. 5-9:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5-10 p.m. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. 3-7 p.m. All major credit cards accepted

Fun holidays in Anaehim!

Do you love Holiday events? I know that I do! That’s why I can’t wait to attend all of the fun Holiday activities and events going on in Anaheim! There will be a variety of great Holiday events going on in Anaheim this December. Here are some of the best that you definitely need to check out:

Nutcracker Festival
Saturday, December 3, 2011
10 am – 7 pm

Holiday Street Fair held at the Center Street Promenade. The celebration includes a tree lighting ceremony, snow area, free craft activities and train rides for children, entertainment, food and a visit from some special guests. The event is sponsored by the Downtown Anaheim Merchants Association, the Nutcracker Holiday Committee, the City of Anaheim and the Anaheim Community Foundation.

LOCATION:
Downtown Anaheim at Center St Promenade & Lemon St

INFORMATION:
714-956-3586

Candy Caneland & Craft Faire
Saturday, December 3, 2011

A community holiday carnival that includes food and game booths sponsored by local non-profit groups, entertainment, petting zoo, a “real snow” hill, Santa and more! This annual carnival attracts several thousand people each year.

LOCATION:
Ehlers Community Recreation Center
8150 Knott Ave

INFORMATION:
(714) 236-3860

The Nutcracker Ballet
December 16 – 24, 2011

This traditional, delightful Christmas ballet is presented in its original, full-length version for your holiday enjoyment.

LOCATION:
Golden West College Mainstage Theater
15744 Golden West Street

INFORMATION:
714-895-8150

In Southern California, you can find cuisine from all over the world. That’s one of the most appealing things about living here: the mix of so many cultures and tastes. Because of that you can get a real sense of so many different cultures and what they’re all about, it makes for a great place to live.

If you want to know just how the level of diversity is, you can get a taste of it at Gendershe Cuisine in Anaheim. This restaurant serves some of the finest, most authentic Somalian/East African food you’ll find anywhere in the country. It’s a great restaurant with a lot of class and style, and the food is incredible. It’s unlike anything you’ve had before. It’s a versatile place to eat, as well, since they offer take out, dining in options, and delivery as well. They’d even be happy to cater your next big event.

Make it a point to try out Gendershe soon and see what they’re all about. There’s some truly delicious food waiting for you at this Anaheim restaurant, and we’re quite confident you won’t be disappointed.

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Do you look around at bare walls and floors in your apartment every day and wish you could add a little style to your space? Tired of sitting in uncomfortable, old furniture? Having a stylish, comfortable apartment is essential to happy and healthy living, and beyond that you simply want your place to look good for visitors, right? Good decorating isn’t rocket science, and it’s a lot more affordable if you know where to look for the bargains.

Having said that, we wanted to share a few simple tips that will help you get your apartment decorated and furnished, without draining all the life from your wallet:

• Do-it-yourself: With a handyman friend and a couple of power tools, you can easily  make your own simple furniture like bookshelves and tables
• Garage sales: Weekend garage and yard sales are great places to find deals on used, quality furniture as well as home decor items
• Dollar stores: These can be great places to find everyday household items that will give your place a real style without much cost
• Online: Look on eBay or Craigslist for used furniture in the area at great prices

These are just a few of the ways you can save money on decorating your apartment in Anaheim. What’re some other tricks and tips you know about decorating for cheap? Tell us in the comments section!

Photo Courtesy: stock.xchng

It’s been ten years since the horrific events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and people all over the country will be coming together to mourn and remember and pray. No doubt everyone in this country was affected deeply by this terrible tragedy, and the marking of the 10th anniversary is a time to reflect on and remember the events of that day.

The City of Anaheim will be holding a special memorial event on Sunday, September 11th in honor of those who lost their lives ten years ago in the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Taking place at Pearson Park Amphitheater, there will be a special presentation of colors, as well as a speech given by Brad Burlingame, the brother of Charles ‘Chic’ Burlingame III, who was piloting the Flight 77 plane that eventually crashed into the Pentagon on September 11th. Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend this special event.

As well, it’s always a good idea to take time to think about and give thanks to the hard working men and women of our Armed Forces, volunteer fire departments, and police departments here in Orange County. These brave individuals put their lives on the line every day for citizens in our country, and they deserve our thanks.

If you know of any other nearby memorial events that are going on in Anaheim and surrounding areas, please feel free to leave a comment and share with us.

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Good Morning and happy hump day to all our residents!

In case you were wondering or haven’t heard yet, The Crossing main office will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 5th. We will also reopen the following day, Tuesday, at normal hours.

We all plan on enjoying our Labor Day holiday as much as possible, and we hope that you’ll do the same. So have fun and be safe out there this weekend, and enjoy some much-needed time away from work!

Photo Courtesy: Freedigitalphotos.net

In the warm summer months, we know lots of people are going to be out enjoying the nice weather outside. From grilling outdoors to just laying in the sun and soaking up rays, it’s always important to emphasize safety and awareness, and The Crossing Apartments want you to be safe while having fun.  No matter what you decide to do, here are a few tips to do just that:

Barbecue Safety

• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. Follow Manufactures instructions for lighting
• Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue.
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and explode.
• Use long handled grilling tools for safer grilling.
• Dispose of hot coals properly – douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers.
• Never grill/barbecue in enclosed areas – carbon monoxide could be produced.

Campfire Safety

• Build campfires where they will not spread, away from dry grass and leaves.
• Keep campfires small, and don’t let them get out of hand.
• Keep plenty of water and a shovel around to douse the fire when you’re done. Stir it and douse it again with water.
• Never leave campfires unattended.
• Never build a fire without having the equipment and ability to extinguish it.

Sun Safety

• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays – Make sure that the labels ensure 100% UV protection.
• Use Sunscreen Consistantly – Apply every one or two hours to be safe
• Wear a hat
• Check Medication -  Some medications increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, this can cause skin to burn easily.

Just remember all these helpful tips, and you’ll be safe in the sun all summer!

Photo Courtesy: stock.xchng

One of the best parts of summer is getting to spend time outside grilling hot, delicious food for yourself and your family.  Everyone loves a good plate of spicy, sweet BBQ, and luckily there’s a big festival celebrating this delicious food on the way.  Only about a 20 minute drive from The Crossing, the Orange Country BBQ Festival will be on Saturday, June 11th at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.  The party gets kicked off at 11:00 a.m. and lasts into the evening until 6:00 p.m.

You can come out and be a part of all the exciting events going on.  There will be a car show, BBQ eating contests, the “Mr. BBQ” pageant, plenty of live music to enjoy, plus lots of fun activities for the kids.  And of course the main attraction: the State Championship BBQ Contest.

Show up early on Saturday morning to get registered early and pick up your tickets to make sure you get into this once a year event.  You’re sure to find plenty of good food and big fun at the Orange County BBQ Festival, so don’t miss out.

Photo Courtesy: stock.xchng