Blog Posts

Winter-Themed Books to Read This Holiday Season

Happy Holidays from 501 on First Blog! With the holiday break coming up, we anticipate you’ll have some spare time at your Rochester, MN apartment. To help you fill that time with enjoyable activities, we’re suggesting some of our favorite winter-themed reads! Whether you’re looking to read a classic that will soon hit the big screen like Little Women or you’d rather read something to get you in the holiday mood, there are plenty of options for you. Consider reading one of the following this month: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott “Little Women is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), which was originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. Alcott wrote the books rapidly over several months at the request of her publisher. The novel follows the lives of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—detailing their passage from childhood to womanhood, and is loosely based on the author and her three sisters.” A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens. It was first published by Chapman & Hall on 19 December 1843. Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation resulting from a supernatural visit by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim.The book was written and published in early Victorian era Britain, a period when there was strong nostalgia for old Christmas traditions together with the introduction of new customs, such as Christmas trees and greeting cards. Dickens' sources for the tale appear to be many and varied, but are, principally, the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and various Christmas stories and fairy tales.” The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis “Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice. Open the door and enter a new world! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been captivating readers of all ages with a magical land and unforgettable characters for over sixty years.” The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry “In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift, worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside. The poignancy of his story is captured in P.J. Lynch's eloquent art, wherein every glance, every gesture, tells a subtle truth.”

Thanksgiving Day Etiquette

Welcome back to 501 on First Blog! November is the month for giving thanks, and today, we want to help you prepare to make Thanksgiving a pleasant experience for everyone. Here are some Thanksgiving etiquette tips to keep in mind, whether you’re staying in your apartment or heading elsewhere in or around Rochester, MN: Offer To Help A Thanksgiving meal is a big undertaking, and while many people are skilled and organized enough to be able to pull it off on their own, others might need your help! Offering to do something simple like bringing a side dish or a dessert will open up space in each chef’s kitchen so they can prepare their meal with a little less chaos crowding their home, their schedule, or their mind. So contribute to whatever meal you’ll be eating at, whether you’re bringing a drink, dish, table centerpiece, decoration, or silverware or plates. And if you can’t bring anything (or if you can but still want to help), offer to help clean up to further lighten the load. Be On-Time No matter how small or large of a part you will be playing in your Thanksgiving meal preparations this year, getting everyone to be there and be ready with the food on time is a definite art. Depending on which dishes you have to prepare and how much last-minute cleaning or decorating you have to do, you may even need to start prepping a few days in advance. Just plan out how much time you’ll need for cooking, decorating, cleaning, setting up, and traveling so you’re not the one everyone’s waiting on. Keep the Conversation Light This holiday can be infamous for starting up heated conversations over the table, rekindling old feuds, or making way for discussions about controversial topics. Do your part to create and cultivate a welcoming, safe atmosphere for everyone attending your dinner so you can strengthen relationships or simply so you can all eat in peace. If you’re not sure what to talk about, do what feels natural. Ask others to fill you in on what they are doing in life, and be supportive and happy in your responses. Bring up fond memories if you’re feeling nostalgic, or solidify your plans for upcoming events and holidays so you can all be on the same page. Be personable so everyone can spread that same attitude around. What other Thanksgiving day etiquette tips should we remember? Let us know what we’ve missed by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading!

Halloween Movies to Watch if You Don’t Like Scary Movies

October has arrived in Rochester, MN, bringing with it fall weather — perfect for watching movies in your apartment. Any night is a great night to watch any of these barely scary Halloween classics, but if you want to stay tucked up in your apartment at 501 on First on October 31st, you can still get in on the Halloween spirit. Check out the following classic Halloween movies which are perfect for anyone up for a good time, but not any nightmares. The Harry Potter Series (2001 - 2011) Embrace your inner witch or wizard by practicing spells with the golden trio, feast your eyes on everything you imagined Halloween should be when Professor Quirrell yells that there’s a troll in the dungeon in The Sorcerer’s Stone, or immerse yourself in another world by singing along with the Hogwarts choir’s “double, double, toil and trouble!” in The Prisoner of Azkaban. This series will stay with you long past Halloween. The Addams Family (1991) You know you always wanted to join this family of creepy, kooky, lovable characters. They put just enough fun and spookiness into this holiday. If you haven’t already seen the movie or the TV show, make the family a part of your life — they’re sure to become regulars if you do. Hocus Pocus (1993) This classic is perfect for kids and families who love Halloween. Three witches are resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts three centuries after they were executed for witchcraft. In their quest to stay alive, they engage in some spooky and hilarious antics that will thrill any Halloween (or comedy) enthusiast. Edward Scissorhands (1990) This movie gives you the chills from the beginning — the kind that lets you know something good is coming. Follow Edward Scissorhands in his foray out of isolation and into the hearts of the movie’s characters and your own. As the tagline says, “His story will touch you, even though he can’t.” Casper (1995) Ghosts don’t get nicer than Casper or meaner than his uncles. Join young Kat and her father, Dr. James Harvey, as they take on paranormal adventures after moving into the haunted mansion. They ultimately must help the ghosts move on to the other side, a perfect quest for you to watch on a cool Halloween night in Rochester. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) This movie will give you everything you need to survive Halloween: great party and costume ideas and plenty of laughs and smiles. Charlie Brown messes up his costume and gets nothing but rocks while trick-or-treating, Linus shows his faith in his Halloween equivalent of Santa Claus, the Great Pumpkin, and you realize just how much you relate to these lovable little folks. What are your favorite Halloween movies? Let us know and we’ll check them out, and thanks for reading the 501 on First Blog!

Celebrate National Video Games Day

Today on the 501 on First Blog we are highlighting a fun holiday coming up this month on September 12th: National Video Games Day! Video games are one of the newest forms of art and entertainment in the world. While the earliest games were very simple representations of real-life games like table tennis and handball, video games have evolved into a vast variety of genres, game styles, stories, and avenues of artistic expression. We’ve compiled a list of a few popular video games for you to play! BioShock BioShock is an exploration-focused first-person shooter that makes streamlined, simplified use of some of its predecessors' mechanics, such as the use of audio logs as a storytelling device, a hacking minigame (reminiscent of the classic puzzler Pipe Dream), and special abilities. Set in 1960, BioShock begins with a plane crash, with the player character, named Jack, being the only survivor. The player takes refuge in a lone lighthouse in the middle of the ocean. A bathysphere leads down into the bowels of the underwater city of Rapture. Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy takes place in space, high above the Mushroom Kingdom. As Mario arrives at the centennial Star Festival, Bowser and his armada of airships attack, bringing destruction down upon the kingdom and physically lifting Peach's castle into the heavens. Mario attempts to rescue the Princess, only to lose track of her as he too is sent soaring into the universe. Guitar Hero The gameplay of Guitar Hero is based around a rhythm mechanic. The player uses a guitar-shaped controller with five buttons to hit color-coded notes, and a "strum bar" to simulate the picking of strings in time with the music. A "Rock Meter" on the side of the screen indicates the crowd's satisfaction with the performance. Hitting notes raises the meter, missing notes lowers it. Overwatch In Overwatch, you control one of several heroes in competitive 6-person team shooting matches. Battle over objectives, take down the other team, and achieve victory. As you play games of Overwatch, you’ll gain levels, unlocking new customization options to make your heroes look and sound unique! What other games would you add to our list? Share your suggestions with the rest of our apartment community in the comments. Happy National Video Games Day!

Ideas for Decorating Your Balcony or Patio

Welcome back to the 501 on First Blog! Today we want to help you make your home your own by offering some decorating ideas. Balconies and patios are perfect for creating an aesthetic that extends beyond the walls of your home into the outside world. Get creative and try some of these ideas to express yourself and create the perfect setting for relaxing on a late-summer afternoon. Bring in plants. What better way to immerse yourself in the outdoors than to actually bring some greenery onto your balcony? You can do a lot with balcony plants, so decide what you want to take away from your mini oasis. Whether you start an herb garden or a vegetable one, or whether you simply put a pot of some of your favorite flowers on the balcony to let them blossom in the sun, make it something you will love. Just beware of how any plants may affect your pets if you have them! Provide comfortable seating. Measure your balcony to see how much room you have to work with, taking the plants and other decorations into consideration. If you think there’s room enough, consider adding a stool, chair, table, bench, or another piece of balcony furniture so you can actually enjoy the environment you’ve created for yourself. You can also use furniture simply as decorative pieces, especially if you have any bolder statement pieces that don’t fit with the aesthetics of your indoor decor. L ook through your storage. You don’t have to break the bank to decorate your apartment. You may even have a few treasures tucked away in storage that would act as the perfect addition to your balcony! Look to what you already have and see what sorts of statement pieces (like fishing rods, rugs, or tapestries) you can adorn your balcony with. To avoid over-cluttering your balcony, be selective with your choices. Choose a strong piece to be the focal point with an accompanying complimentary item to finish off the look. What are your favorite balcony decorating ideas? Let us know in the comments so we can try them out in our Rochester, MN community! Thanks for reading. Have fun!

Desserts for National Blueberry Month

Welcome back to the 501 on First Blog! Did you know that July is National Blueberry Month? To help residents of our apartment community celebrate this month long holiday, we are sharing a few blueberry dessert recipes that are extremely delicious. Visit a farmers’ market here in Rochester, MN to pick up the fresh blueberries and other ingredients you will need for these recipes. Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream This recipe comes from Add a Pinch and can be made with or without an ice cream maker. Ingredients needed include the following: heavy cream, whole milk, cream cheese, vanilla extract, salt, fresh blueberries, water, sugar, cornstarch, and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Blueberry Crumble Bars We’re sure that you’ll love these blueberry crumble bars. The recipe comes from Just so Tasty. The blueberry layer can be made with fresh blueberries, cornstarch, lemon zest, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Head to your local farmers’ market for a fresh pint of blueberries this month. Blueberry Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches This super delicious recipe comes from Honestly Yum. These adorable miniature blueberry pies have vanilla ice cream sandwiched in the middle. Here are all the ingredients you will need: all purpose flour, sugar, salt, unsalted butter, ice water, blueberries, lemon juice, corn starch, an egg, and vanilla ice cream. Blueberry Turnovers These flaky pastries can double as dessert and breakfast! The recipe comes from Sprinkle Some Sugar and calls for the following ingredients: frozen blueberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, water, puff pastry, eggs, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cream or milk. No Bake Blueberry Crunch Cake You won’t even have to turn your oven on for this recipe from Kitchme. This dish makes a great dessert to bring along to a summer picnic or potluck. Ingredients include graham crackers or granola, melted butter, brown sugar, cream cheese, sugar or pure maple syrup, whipped topping, and blueberries. Do you have a favorite blueberry dessert? Share the recipe with us in the comments. Happy National Blueberry Month!