Blog Posts

April Movie Releases

With the upcoming release of the highly-anticipated Avengers: Endgame movie, we wanted to write a blog post about exciting movies that have already released this month or that will be coming out. Here are our most-anticipated April movie releases. The following titles and descriptions were found at IMDB.com . Shazam! “We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.” Avengers: Endgame “After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe.” Hellboy “Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.” Pet Sematary “Louis Creed, his wife Rachel, and their two children Gage and Ellie move to a rural home where they are welcomed and enlightened about the eerie 'Pet Sematary' located nearby. After the tragedy of their cat being killed by a truck, Louis resorts to burying it in the mysterious pet cemetery, which is definitely not as it seems, as it proves to the Creeds that sometimes, dead is better.” The Best of Enemies “Civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.” Of course, there are even more exciting movies that will be coming out over the course of just a few months. Detective Pikachu will release on May 10th, Aladdin on May 24th, Toy Story 4 on June 21st, Spider-Man: Far From Home on July 5th, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood on July 26th, IT: Chapter Two on September 6th, and so many others! What movies are you most excited about? Share with the residents of our Randolph Towers apartment community by leaving a comment below. We hope you have a great month yet in Arlington, VA!

Books to get you through the Season

Here at Randolph Towers, we love springtime and the relaxing vibes that it brings to the beautiful Arlington, Virginia. To help you embrace the season, we are sharing a few book recommendations. Dive into an adventure without leaving your apartment by reading a book as you lounge in your Randolph Towers apartment. Still Me by Jojo Moyes “Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She steps into the world of the superrich, working for Leonard Gopnik and his much younger second wife, Agnes. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her new job and New York life.” The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman “A captivating, beautiful, and stunningly accomplished debut novel that opens in 1918 Australia - the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who make one devastating choice that forever changes two worlds.” Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks “When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo.” The Beach by Alex Garland “After discovering a seemingly Edenic paradise on an island in a Thai national park, Richard soon finds that since civilized behavior tends to dissolve without external restraints, the utopia is hard to maintain.” Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty “Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. The novel follows three women, each at different crossroads in their lives.” Do you have a favorite book or one that you highly recommend? Share the title and author with us in the comments. Thanks for taking the time to read our post!

Laundry Tips You Need to Know

Randolph Towers is pleased to provide in-apartment washers and dryers for members of our apartment community along with the other amenities . It’s so convenient — no more driving around Arlington, VA on a Saturday night looking for an open, clean, and reasonably priced laundromat, because our residents can do laundry at home. Today, we have some tips for laundry day. Laundry Day Tips — Print out a basic stain removal guide and hang it by your washer. For a more in-depth stain removal information refer to this Stain Solutions Guide , put out by the University of Illinois’ Extension Office. — Go white — use all white towels for the bathroom. They can be washed as one load, and when necessary they can be bleached. — To combat odors keep a box of baking soda by the hamper; sprinkle on clothes as you add them to the hamper. Wash as usual. — To brighten yellowed linen or cotton garments, use salt and baking soda. Mix ¼ cup salt, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1-gallon water in a large cooking pot. Add yellowed items and boil for 1 hour. Then wash as usual. — Keep a whiteboard by your washer and as you load the laundry make a note of anything that can’t go in the dryer which makes it easy to pull the items out when you switch loads. — Keep socks together — use a mesh laundry bag for each member of the family; they fill the bag with their socks; wash, dry, return the bag to each person. No more lost socks! Check out these great tips to stop losing your socks in the laundry . Congratulations on conquering Mount Washmore once again! Now sit back, relax and enjoy having all the laundry finished for at least ten minutes. Thanks for reading today’s post.

Three Board Games you Need to Play this Month

Welcome back to the Randolph Towers Blog! In today’s post, we’ll be sharing two board games that we love and one board game that we can’t wait to play. Enjoy checking these out in your Arlington, VA apartment before the month is through. Charterstone Charterstone is a fun game for up to six players. You’ll construct buildings, inhabit a shared village, place stickers on the board, remove cards from the game, and permanently alter the gameplay in unique ways. We highly recommend this beautiful and fun gem of a game. Here’s a quick description from Stonemaier Games : “The prosperous Kingdom of Greengully, ruled for centuries by the Forever King, has issued a decree to its citizens to colonize the vast lands beyond its borders. In an effort to start a new village, the Forever King has selected 6 citizens for the task, each of whom has a unique set of skills they use to build their charter.” Railroad Ink Railroad Ink is a beautiful little game for one to six players. It plays in about 30 minutes, takes seconds to learn, and is (in our opinion) one of the best games to come out of 2018. Here’s a description from the publisher, CMON : “New lands have opened up and the race is on to create the best network of rail and road lines through it. In Railroad Ink, players roll the Route dice and must then draw the subsequent results on their individual Route boards. Players score points for having long interconnected Routes, as well as connecting the entry points to their board, plus having Routes through the center of their boards. But beware, they’ll lose points for leaving unfinished lines…” Wingspan Wingspan is a card-driven board game with colorful components and stunning artwork. If you like birds, you won’t want to miss out on playing this game which releases this month. Here’s a description from Stonemaier Games : “You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats (actions). These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth…”

A Guide to Purchasing a Mattress Online

Have you recently noticed a number of ads for mattress brands selling their beds online? One company may appear on your social media feeds, while its competitor sponsors your favorite podcast. In theory, you will spend about one third of your life sleeping, so it makes sense to invest in a high-quality mattress. The question is, which one should you choose? This week on Randolph Towers Blog, we’d like to help you find the mattress that’s right for you without even having to leave your house. Tuft and Needle Tuft and Needle has two major selling points, in our opinion: Its mattresses are priced lower than other companies’ and it still has the most reviews on Amazon! While the standard mattress only has two layers of foam, the company claims that these layers are higher quality than competitors’. As you can read on the website, “If the foam doesn’t improve the feel or airflow, you won’t find it in our mattress.” Casper When it comes to popularity, the Casper mattress currently tops the charts. This brand’s classic option has four layers of foam that vary in firmness so as to offer the optimal level of support and comfort. While the price of this mattress is average in comparison, Casper offers an essential model with one less layer of foam for an even better price. If you’re looking for a mattress that is well loved by many, Casper may just be your best bet! Helix For an option that is a bit less “one size fits all,” Helix definitely has something for you! The company sells nine different mattresses according to your specific needs, and six of those options come in an upgraded luxe version, as well. Before you scroll through each choice, take the simple sleep quiz offered to find which one is best for you in terms of your sleep position, your preferred comfort level, and your preferred amount of support. Purple The Purple mattress is by far the most innovative option when it comes to materials used to help you have a comfortable night’s sleep. Purple is known for its top layer, which is made of purple elastic material; the company claims it helps you stay cool without compensating the support you need and the pressure relief you deserve. The layers underneath are made of foam; the mattress seems to be slightly firmer than its competitors while remaining comfortable enough to sleep on. Now that you know what sets each company apart, it’s time to make your decision! Are you hesitant to order a mattress before testing it out? Not to worry! Each of these companies offers a 100 night sleep trial with free returns, no questions asked. On top of that, each — with the exception of Tuft and Needle — offers financing options so you don’t have to break the bank to get the quality of sleep you deserve. Here’s to a better night’s rest every night in your Arlington, VA apartment!

National Pizza Day

Happy February from Randolph Towers Blog! In honor of National Pizza Day on the 9th of the month, we’re offering you a few suggestions of ways you can celebrate this delicious day. Whether you go out to enjoy a slice or you make a pizza pie in your Arlington, VA apartment, we hope you enjoy some pizza! Dine In On National Pizza Day, ordering from your favorite pizzeria is definitely the most convenient option. Have you tried Pupatella right here in Arlington? As one of the most popular pizzerias in town, you won’t want to miss this certified authentic Neapolitan pizza. It’s baked in the traditional fashion at over 900 degrees, and it’s made in a wood-fire oven. At Pupatella, you can dine in or carry out! Order A Pizza Would you rather choose an option that delivers? If so, then &pizza will not disappoint. With multiple locations in the greater D.C. area — including one right here in Arlington — you’ll have plenty of chances to enjoy the pizza voted as the Editor’s Choice for best pizza by Washington Blade . We’re particularly interested in their mac and cheese and short rib pizza! Make Your Own If you have the time and energy, National Pizza Day is the perfect time to attempt to make a pie of your own. While preparing the perfect crust and topping can sound a little bit intimidating, this homemade pizza recipe from Genius Kitchen only takes 45 minutes to prepare! Whether or not your first experience making pizza results in a delicious dinner or not, it will be a fun way to celebrate this national day, and it will help you appreciate those who make pizza really well! Whatever you end up doing on February 9th, we hope you enjoy yourself, and of course, we hope you treat yourself to a slice of tasty pizza.