Blog Posts

The Importance of Being Earnest Comes to Gilbert

Hello and welcome back to the Liv Northgate Blog! This month we are highlighting the Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert. We posted about theatre etiquette last year, so take a minute to review before you head off to see a new play this month. Enjoy an evening out. Then head back to your apartment for a post show recap. Hale Centre Theatre One of five theatres in three different states, Gilbert’s Hale Center Theatre has been bringing professional theater to Arizona audiences since 2003. Owner Dave Hale, a grandson of the original owners of the Glendale, CA theater, enjoys bringing professional theater to Gilbert audiences. Now Playing: The Importance of Being Earnest April 5, 2018 - May 12, 2018. From the website: “It’s the story of two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. With a few new twists, this funny, and at times absolutely hilarious comedy, will delight one and all!” Purchase tickets at the box office in person, by phone, or online. Season tickets are also available. Season ticket holders are eligible to receive a discount card that provides a discount at Hale’s restaurant partners. Flancer’s Gourmet Grub is the latest eatery to partner with the theatre. Simply show your season ticket membership card to receive 10% off your purchase. If you have thespian leanings (and the time), open auditions for upcoming productions are posted regularly, so go ahead and break a leg! Do you attend Hale Centre Theater often? What was your favorite show? We hope you enjoy an evening out soon! Thanks for reading today’s post.

Convenient Car Apps to Try

For our last March blog, Liv Northgate brings you four car-related apps that can help you find the least expensive gas in Gilbert (and on the road throughout Arizona), navigate through traffic, figure out how much a repair should cost, and where to find charging stations — of course we have those available here in our apartment community, but the app could come in handy should you need to recharge while you’re out and about. Read on for more info! Plugshare If you’re the owner of a plug-in hybrid or full-on EV, you know the importance of being aware of where charging stations are located. The Plugshare app gives you up-to-date info on where you can find a charge station when you are out and about. It indicates home, public, and in-use to save you time and frustration. The app also offers driving directions, contact information, and direct messaging with charger owners. Available for iOS and Android. GasBuddy Taking the guesswork out of where to find the best price for gas is what this app delivers. GasBuddy posts local gas prices so you can see at a glance the best place to fill up. It shows what grades are available including diesel. Available for iOS, Android, and Blackberry. RepairPal It happens to all of us, that weird sound our car starts to make, or the intermittent service engine soon light popping on then off, or an unfortunate accident and we’re in the market for a mechanic. But how do you budget for the repair? How do you know what you should expect to pay? RepairPal to the rescue! Instead of calling around for repair quotes, let RepairPal do the legwork for you and give you a localized estimate of what you can expect to pay. Available for iOS and Android. Waze Check out this community driven navigation map that is more than just navigation. Members provide real-time updates to the maps to indicate traffic jams, road construction, and even gas prices. It’s not just for major freeways, highways, and arterial streets; even side streets can be included. In the case of heavy traffic and long delays, Waze will reroute you in the most efficient manner. Available for iOS and Android. Check out Gearheads for some additional car maintenance apps we didn’t cover here. Also, last October we wrote a blog, Car Care 101 , that has some great tips for taking care of your car, too. Stop by our on-site Car Care Station soon to give your car the once-over. Thanks for reading our post today.

Notable Women in History

Welcome to March at Liv Northgate in Gilbert, AZ! We hope you’re excited for good things to come this month. We are! We’re especially excited because March is Women’s History Month. Celebrate by taking note of women all around you and around the world. As promised in our last blog post, we’re highlighting three notable women in history we can all learn from and get inspired by. Harriet Tubman (1819 or 1820 – 1913) A Civil War Nurse, abolitionist, Civil Rights activist, prominent figure in the Underground Railroad, Tubman is often called the Moses of her people for leading so many of them out of bondage to freedom, according to HistoryNet. She was the first woman in America to conduct an armed military raid. She was born into a large family of slaves, and after years of slavery managed to escape. She managed to return for her family members, leading them and countless others to freedom. She continued to work tirelessly as a community activist, humanitarian, and active member of the suffrage movement. Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) Through her writings and activism, Angelou has defied social norms and inspired people everywhere to overcome prejudice, discrimination, and abuse, as Women of the Hall describes her influence. She was raped by her mother’s boyfriend and withdrew as a mute for five years, but her grandmother introduced her to literature. An actress, writer, and leader, Angelou’s works have brought her numerous awards. She was nominated for a Tony Award, an Emmy Award, and a Pulitzer Prize. Check out some of Maya Angelou’s works on Amazon . Malala Yousafzai (1997 - ) Shot in the head and left for dead, Malala Yousafzai survived and has become one of the most influential women of modern times. Gunned down because she had the audacity to speak out advocating education for girls in a world of extremist authority, Malala didn’t cave. Instead, she became an outspoken proponent for children’s education rights internationally. Time magazine listed Malala Yousafzai as one of ‘The 100 Most Influential People in the World’ in 2013, and in October 2014, she was a co-receiver of the Nobel Peace Prize. She has penned several books, I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (co-author Christina Lamb), and a children’s book, Malala’s Magic Pencil . One of the most remarkable things about this is that Malala is only 20 years old. Of course, these are just three of the literally countless women we should all take note of, this month and always. We hope you are as inspired as we were by reading about these remarkable women! Take some time this month to invite neighbors and friends over to your Liv Northgate apartment to celebrate women. Thanks for reading our post this week.

Encourage & Celebrate Women's History Month

March is Women’s History Month. Celebrate at your Liv Northgate apartment and throughout Gilbert, AZ by trying some of these ideas, this month and the rest of the year. Open your eyes to the powerful influences and impacts of women, in your life and in the world, to start to give them the credit they deserve. Thank a woman. Women do a lot for others and the world at large. Look for someone who inspires you and find a way to thank them. This can be as simple as sending an email, a thank-you note, or stop by and thank them in person. Be sure to be genuine and specific as that is the most meaningful thanks people can receive. Give a compliment. Words of encouragement can do a lot to brighten someone’s day. As you’re looking for someone to thank, it’ll be easy to find great things about them. It’s always a good idea to express these thoughts, so don’t be intimidated. Similar to how you should be specific in your words of thanks, give specific compliments. Especially if they’re not related to a woman’s looks, this shows you truly notice and appreciate the things that might matter most to them. Read up on women’s history. Women have done incredible things, but they don’t often get the spotlight they deserve. Women’s history is everyone’s history, so read up and learn something new! Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World is a great book to start with. Its beautiful typography and illustrations will make learning an extra exciting adventure. If you’re a history buff, you may also enjoy the Uppity Women Book Series , which highlights women’s accomplishments throughout history including ancient times, medieval times, Shakespearean times, the Renaissance, and the new world. Support women. Part of being a support to women, individually and as a whole, is simply listening without getting defensive or without feeling the need to give your opinion. It could mean looking for women and women of color to support running for local governmental positions, or it could mean supporting their works of art financially or verbally. Speak out and defend women who are being unfairly attacked, online or in person. Make friends with women and appreciate them for who they are. We appreciate our apartment community and the civility expressed by our residents to each other! Next time we will be focusing on some specific women who have made a difference in the history of the world, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading this week’s post.

Calling on Creativity for National Craft Month

Did you know that March is National Craft Month? In today’s Liv Northgate Blog, we’ll be sharing a list of fun and creative crafts you can make at your apartment to celebrate this holiday. We hope you get to be creative and enjoy your month here in Gilbert, AZ! Vintage Map Coasters from eHow These coasters are fun to make and practical for your apartment space. To make them you’ll need a birch plywood board, a miter saw, vintage screws, scissors, a tape measure, an electric sander, Mod Podge, a sponge brush, spray polyurethane, a hot glue gun, and twine. Hot Glue Canvas Art from The Crazy Craft Lady This is a great craft that can give you loads of inspiration. If you want to make this exact hot glue canvas art piece from the link above you’ll need these supplies: a stretched canvas, a printer and paper, a pencil, tape, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, craft paint, and paint brushes. With these items the sky is the limit. Write or draw something with the glue gun and paint over it with your choice of colors and enjoy your masterpiece! For more hot glue gun craft ideas check out this list from A Girl and A Glue Gun . Stained Glass Hanging from Bespoke Glass Tile We can’t get over these pieces of art and how beautiful they will look when the light catches the glass in those early hours of the morning. Sure, some of the pieces are pretty pricey, but if you love it enough, it will be totally worth it. And take care of it and it will last you a long time! You could also make your own stained glass crafts if you really want to save some money. What are your favorite crafts to make in your apartment here in Gilbert, Arizona? What maps would you use for the coasters? Share your ideas with the rest of us by leaving a comment below. We hope you have a fun and fulfilling time crafting this month. Good luck!

Read a Book for Black History Month

While February is the known for Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Susan B. Anthony’s birthday, it’s also Black History Month. We have a few books, written by people of color, for you to check out. 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World by Charles R. Smith Jr., Shane W. Evans : From a Goodreads review: “Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, as well as one of the wealthiest black Americans, to Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president.” I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou : From a Goodreads review: Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local "powhitetrash." At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors ("I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare") will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison “Pecola prays for her eyes to turn blue so that she will be as beautiful and beloved as all the blond, blue-eyed children in America. In the autumn of 1941, the year the marigolds in the Breedloves' garden do not bloom. Pecola's life does change- in painful, devastating ways. What its vivid evocation of the fear and loneliness at the heart of a child's yearning, and the tragedy of its fulfillment. The Bluest Eye remains one of Tony Morrisons's most powerful, unforgettable novels- and a significant work of American fiction.” For additional books to read for Black History Month, check out Popular Black History Month Books and Books by People of Color . So, get a book and cozy up in your favorite reading spot in your apartment and read up on some history today. The Southeast Regional Library serving Gilbert, AZ residents is a great resource for acquiring some of these books to read — plus so much more; stop by and see what they have to offer. We hope you have a great rest of the month in the Liv Northgate community.