Summer makes you feel lazy and not much in the mood to fire up the oven. Still, residents of University Square in Flagstaff, AZ still need something to serve when they have a few friends over. Try throwing together one of these great summer recipes designed with the idea of beating the desert heat!

BLT Sliders

Turn this classic sandwich into a fun party treat. Fry up a pan of your favorite bacon – turkey or pork, it doesn’t matter! Next, stack your sandwiches with your meat of choice along with lettuce and tomatoes on toasted white or wheat bread.

Slice them into fours and serve them up on a platter to your guests. Leave their favorite condiments off to the side so guests can finish them off how they wish!            

Easy Shrimp Tacos

Just pull together these ingredients for something tasty that guests can serve themselves.

Shrimp Taco Ingredients

• Fresh or frozen shrimp
• ½ cup freshly chopped onions
• ½ cup sliced red bell peppers
• A pinch of sea salt
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Ground black pepper
• A pack of corn tortillas

Saute your onions and bell peppers in a pan with some olive oil. Toss the shrimp in a bowl along with your salt and ground pepper. Cook them in a separate pan until pink and fully cooked.

Spread some corn tortillas out on a baking sheet in an oven set on broil until warm. Place everything out for your guests along with sides like avocado or other fresh vegetables.

Melon Mix Fruit Salad

Serve your guest something cool for dessert by slicing up different melons like cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew into a large bowl. Add some grapes and strawberries for extra flavor.  

We want community members of our University Square apartments in Flagstaff, AZ to keep as cool as possible this summer. If you want more information on our available floor plans, call our office at (844) 795-6793.

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7 Tips for Staying Hydrated in the Arizona Summer

Drink fluids. It is obvious, but it bears repeating. Drinking water or other fluids is important to stay hydrated. The more you are sweating, the more you need to drink–such as when exercising, or when in extreme heat.

You need electrolytes during intense exertion. While a standard workout does not necessarily require electrolyte replenishment, intense or long-term exertion does; long-distance runs, labor work outside and other activities can leave you overheated and depleted. You can get electrolytes from coconut water, sports drinks and even from electrolyte tablets added to your water.

Eat fruit. If you are hungry for a snack, consider fruit. Most fruits are packed with moisture.

Drink regularly. If you are out in the heat, you should be drinking regularly, before you feel really thirsty. Your body is constantly losing moisture when you are out in the heat. The hotter it is, the more moisture you are going to need.

Take notice of how you feel. If you are feeling dizzy, lightheaded or excessively tired, you may be dehydrated. Take a water break if you start to feel any of these symptoms.

Check your skin turgor. Skin turgor refers to the elasticity of your skin. If you pinch your skin and it takes some time to go back to its regular position, you may be dehydrated.

Seek shade or air conditioning if you feel overheated. It is okay to go someplace cool if you are feeling too hot.

Your Flagstaff Apartment Team

We are here to help you enjoy everything Flagstaff has to offer. Please contact us to learn more about our friendly community and available Flagstaff apartments!

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It’s officially heating up outside, and we love no way of beating the heat more than enjoying a day inside at the movie theater! Since we’re part of the Eight Wonders of Flagstaff, we’re here to bring you a look at eight recently released or upcoming films that we know will be some of the top blockbusters of the summer! So grab your favorite popcorn and theater treats and read on!

Jurassic World

Because Chris Pratt + Dinosaurs = Epic Win. If you loved the original film about a failed soft open of a dinosaur theme park, you’ll love seeing John Hammond’s failed dream because a reality. You might tell yourself (like we did) that there’s no way this movie could live up to all the hype. But we’re pretty sure it does. Because life, uh … finds a way. (Hat tip to you, Ian Malcolm!)

Dope

An audience favorite of the Sundance Film Festival, DOPE follows the story of a young nerd named Malcolm surviving and thriving in one of the toughest neighborhoods in LA. We’re excited for this film that New York Magazine/Vulture called “remorselessly entertaining”!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

This film will definitely not be your run-of-the-mill coming of age story. The movie stars Thomas Mann as Greg, an awkward high schooler who is forced to spend time with Rachel, a girl in his class who was just diagnosed with cancer. As their friendship grows, he begins to make a film for her to show her support during her struggles, only to learn it’s much harder than he could have imagined. We’ll be taking our tissue boxes to this one.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Tom Cruise. Explosions. Spy stuff. Dangling from the wings of jets. Need we say more? Spy movies are going to be big this summer (see Spy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , etc.), and we have high hopes for this latest film from the film franchise that’s been bringing the hits since 1996. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Go see this movie!

Mr. Holmes

We’ve got thrills … now let’s go for some mystery! We are SO excited for this film featuring Sir Ian McKellen as an aged Sherlock Holmes. With all the fun we’ve had with Robert Downey, Jr.’s recent films and the BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock Holmes is huge right now. But now we get to see a new side: the more vulnerable side. Join us on the edge of our seats as we watch our favorite detective try to solve his greatest mystery: the mystery of lost memory, as he struggles to remember details of a past case to rewrite the history his partner Watson put in print.

Ricki and the Flash

We will watch Meryl Streep in literally anything. But there’s something about seeing her play and aged rock star that makes us REALLY want to see this movie! Streep’s character, Ricki, abandoned her family to pursue her dream of fame, and now has the chance to go back to try to salvage the pieces of her broken family. The release of the film has been delayed quite a few times … but we’re hoping it will be well worth the wait!

Z for Zachariah

If you’re one of the three possible last people on Earth after a global catastrophe, we wouldn’t be opposed to two of them being Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor … unless, of course, they’re possibly trying to kill each other. We’re looking forward to this intense thriller featuring Margot Robbie as a woman torn between Ejiofor as the first person she’s seen in a long time and Pine as a mysterious stranger who comes between their already precarious relationship.

Inside Out

We’ve heard nothing but rave reviews for this latest film from Pixar. What makes it unique, beyond its premise, is the fact that it’s the first film out of Disney’s Pixar—and possibly the animated Disney universe—to NOT feature a villain. It’s a careful look at how we all—through the lens of Riley, a precocious young girl—deal with emotions that sometimes feel beyond our control. This might be classified as a children’s film, but we’ve found we’re never disappointed by whatever Pixar puts out!

What films are you looking forward to seeing this summer?
 

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In 2014, Flagstaff was recognized by the Huffington Post as one of the seven best spots on earth for stargazing! We’re not one to argue with major news outlets … or what we can see with our own eyes. And trust us when we tell you, there is plenty of night sky for you to see each and every night in and around Flagstaff! Here’s a look at just a few spots around Flagstaff to spend an evening with the brightest stars this side of Hollywood!

Lowell Observatory

Putting aside the debate of whether or not Pluto is a planet (hint: it totally is), Lowell Observatory is just one of many Flagstaff claims to fame thanks to the discovery of our favorite “dwarf planet.” The observatory features awesome displays, informative videos, and a guided tour to the stars. Stop by after sunset for spectacular night views, not only through the observatory’s telescopes but also to the naked eye with captivating view over the city.

Buffalo Park

Buffalo Park is one of the most popular hiking spots on the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. Enjoy amazing views of the San Francisco Peaks, Mount Elden, and the Dry Lake Hills. But even better, stop by the open meadows at night for a view of the night sky you have to see to believe! Load up on blankets to keep warm while you lay out and enjoy one of the most perfect stargazing spots on Earth!

Heritage Square

Once a month during the summer the Coconino Astronomical Society sets up several scopes in the Square for public viewings of the cosmos! CAS also offers a cool “tour” of the moon, featuring the mountains, valleys, and craters of our favorite pie in the sky. Even if you miss one of these events, the Square is a great spot to hang out after hours to catch a glimpse of the Dark Sky evening display; even the lights of downtown Flag aren’t enough to overshadow the show!

Anderson Mesa

Anderson Mesa is just outside Flagstaff, in the Coconino National Forest. It’s home to the Naval Observatory’s Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI) and Lowell’s Anderson Mesa Station. This makes it a wonderful spot to see the stars, but you also have to be more cautious when stargazing here; parking too far up the hill may interfere with the observatory telescopes!

Sunset Crater National Monument

Sunset Crater is located just 12 miles north of Flagstaff. During the summer, the national monument often offers night sky programs with night sky rangers and telescope viewings. Visiting the monument is kind of like stepping onto another planet by itself … so it’s another great place to explore worlds beyond our own with a telescope, or even a red-light flashlight. (Hint: you can make a red-light flashlight by covering a regular flashlight with cellophane—and you’ll be amazed at how many stars you’ll see!)

Don’t miss all the wonders of the Flagstaff night sky … available just outside your door!

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Today is a special Friday in Flagstaff … It’s First Friday! That means it’s time for the return of one of Flagstaff’s most popular monthly events: First Friday ArtWalk. The ArtWalk is Flagstaff’s monthly street party, with tons of events and opportunities to tantalize all your senses. Here are just a few ways to take advantage of all ArtWalk has to offer:
1. The Sights: Get ready to feast your eyes on a ridiculous amount of local artistic talent. You’ll enjoy galleries and storefronts bursting at the seams with paintings, sketches, textiles, and more. While ArtWalk has plenty of scheduled exhibits at spots like Beaver Street Gallery and The Artists’ Gallery, you can also enjoy artists and dancers who have taken to the streets to catch your eye!
2. The Sounds: Swing by the Orpheum and Flagstaff Bike Revolution for live music. But don’t limit yourself to the indoors. A walk past Heritage Square or down any downtown side street is sure to surprise you with the unique musical talents of drummers, guitarists, and many other musicians.
3. The Feels: You may be able to touch some of the art … or some of the art may touch you. We promise you’ll be inspired by the creativity and unique perspectives the artists on display have to offer. And who knows? The art and artistry on exhibit might just get your own creative juices flowing!
4. The Tastes: Yep, ArtWalk wouldn’t be ArtWalk without a ridiculous amount of free food! Almost all the exhibits have tasty treats for you to enjoy while you check out the art, but plenty of stops along the way will also feature enough food to put together an amazing meal. (And if you’re really clever, we kid you not, you can walk away with meals for a week!) Stop by Criollo for street tacos, Monsoon’s for the sushi bar, or Arizona Handmade/Fire on the Mountain Gallery for some “far out food”!
5. The Mysteries: We have yet to enjoy an ArtWalk where there wasn’t at least one thing that caught us by surprise. Whether it’s flame dancers in an alley, an impromptu dance party in Heritage Square, and artist who blows your mind, or just running into old or new friends, we promise ArtWalk will show you a side of Flagstaff you’ve never seen!

ArtWalk runs from 6pm to 9pm, with many downtown locations staying open even after 9 to keep the celebration going as long as possible. Don’t miss out! Let ArtWalk steal your senses for a few hours!

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