Cinepolis Gives New Meaning to ‘Dinner and a Movie’
A visit to Gaithersburg Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas shows that the movie theater experience is still going strong. The Cinepolis team has given the building a full overhaul, refurbishing the lobby, theaters, screens, bathrooms and more. The result, according to regular patrons, is a top-tier movie theater experience at a price point well below some of the other local multiplexes.
The Cinepolis has seven screens, meaning that there's room for multiple showings of the biggest blockbusters as well as smaller, more niche screenings. Each seat is a fully reclinable leather lounger, with in-theater waiter service at the touch of a button. And we're not just talking popcorn and soda—you’ll have access to a full bar, and food offerings ranging from pesto and goat-cheese flatbreads to Baja style tacos. Stop by on Tuesday for the theater’s Handpicked series, including classic Hollywood films, cult favorites, and more.
Simple Tips to Help You Follow Through on a New Year’s Resolution
Making a New Year’s resolution is easy—sticking to it is a whole lot harder! But with a little perseverance and a whole lot of planning, you can be on your way to making your goals for 2020 a reality, whether you’ve resolved to be more mindful of your budget, you’re seeking to stay active, or something else altogether. Now that January is almost behind us, read on for three tips to help you stick with your New Year’s resolutions.
Start small. By breaking your resolution down into smaller, more actionable goals, you can make your overall objective a little less daunting. For instance, if you’ve resolved to save $1,000 by December 2020, consider putting away $83/month or $19.23/week into a savings account. Your weekly successes will help keep you motivated, especially as you see your bank account balance grow.
Buddy up. If you’ve made a resolution to get active this year, enlist a friend or coworker to join you in your goal. Partnering with another person helps keep you accountable; you’ll be less likely to throw in the towel when you know someone else is counting on you for moral support and companionship.
Make a realistic goal. It’s okay for your resolutions to be ambitious, but they shouldn’t be so lofty that you’re setting yourself up for failure. Think of 2020 as the first year of the rest of your life. This year, you’ll be making positive changes that will set the groundwork for your future successes. Making changes to one’s lifestyle or habits should be seen as a marathon, not a sprint!
Sip and Swish at The Urban Winery in Silver Spring
Located in Silver Spring, the creative minds behind The Urban Winery believe that wine isn’t just a beverage, it’s a social occasion; it’s more than sitting back and sipping with friends and family, it’s an experience. The family-run business is open Tuesdays through Sundays and hosts a wide variety of events, from live music to sip-and-paint nights.
The Urban Winery also offers tastings and wine classes for novices to learn how to really sink into the drink and understand the complexities. They also offer wine-making events for small groups. They have a detailed wine list on their website, and if you find some bottles that sound interesting you can sign up for them to be delivered to you on a schedule. Host your private events at the Urban Winery.
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DIY Holiday Gifts They’ll Be Delighted to Unwrap
They say it’s better to give than receive, but living up to the old adage can be expensive. This holiday season, keep your wallet full—and your stress level at a minimum—by going the DIY route with your gift-giving. You don’t have to be an expert crafter or pro chef to create a gift that’s memorable and meaningful, and these ideas are proof—even if you're putting them together at the very last minute!
Put together a gift basket. Who wouldn’t want to receive a beautifully presented gift basket during the holidays? You can customize a gift basket for every recipient on your gift list, from the foodie to the spa-goer. After deciding on a theme, grab a few inexpensive wicker baskets from the craft store, then fill it with goodies that follow the theme. For the home chef, for example, you could fill the basket with a dish towel, oven mitt, gourmet non-perishables, and a cook book.
Whip up something sweet. The holiday season isn’t complete without a bite of a homemade treat, so pick a recipe that’s easy to make in large batches, and get to work! Fudge, caramels, brownies, and cookies are always welcome gifts, especially when presented in a whimsical tin or jar that can be reused after the treat is gone.
Treat them to a day at the (home) spa. Everyone could use some tranquility during hectic holiday season, so give the gift of R&R in the form of bath and body treatments. Sugar scrubs, bath bombs, and soaps are surprisingly easy to make, and the ingredients are inexpensive and readily available. Arrange the goods in a beautiful glass jar tied with a ribbon.
66 DIY Christmas Gifts to Add Heart to Your Holiday [Good Housekeeping]
85 DIY Christmas Gifts That'll Mean so Much to Your Friends and Family [Country Living]
60 DIY Christmas Presents Your Friends and Family Won't Re-Gift [House Beautiful]
Now Open With the Silver Spring Whole Foods: PLNT Burger!
Located within the Silver Spring Whole Foods, PLNT Burger is a fast-casual burger joint with an entirely plant-based menu. But don't mistake this for some kind of health-food salad bar. PLNT wouldn't have the overwhelmingly positive scores that it has on sites like Yelp and UrbanSpoon if it couldn't make great-tasting burgers, fries, and milkshakes that stand on their own. DC celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn serves as both the owner and culinary director, and helms an operation that utilizes products that are appealing to vegans and carnivores alike. The burgers come in a range of varieties, from your basic cheeseburger to a mouth-watering double-barbecue mushroom bacon burger.
If you don't feel like a traditional sandwich, you can drop the bun and order anything in a chard wrap, or choose an all-green meal from the rotating salad menu. And make sure to order yourself a side of Bloomies (bite-sized fried onions) or some herbed fries on the side.
Celebrate the Holidays at Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
Brookside Garden’s Garden of Lights is a nature lover's winter wonderland. Each year, the beautiful gardens transform with one million twinkling lights to highlight the current structures and make new art forms. Billowing flowers, colorful animals, and other wonders of nature are created with expert precision, along with enhancement to the already-breathtaking trees, fountains, and wintery scenes. After a brisk walk through the outdoor gardens, be sure to visit the Visitor’s Center to grab a hot drink, and then the Conservatory to see the model train chugging through a seasonal landscape. You can even grab a few last-minute presents at the gift shop.
The Garden of Lights is in its 22nd year of bringing the holidays to life, and is a tradition that your family will look forward to seeing year after year. Visit Brookside Gardens in nearby Wheaton, Maryland, just a few miles north on the MD-97. Admissions begin at 5:30 p.m. nightly to take advantage of the dusky evening hours, and continue until 9 p.m. (select days until 10 p.m.)
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Thanksgiving Dinner Is Served! Essential Hosting Tips for Renters
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you’re probably starting to make your holiday plans. And if those plans include hosting the big meal at your apartment, you might also be panicking about how you’re going to accommodate everyone. But don’t worry—just a few of these small tweaks will get your apartment ready for the crowd.
Stash your superfluous stuff. Extra clutter will always make your space look smaller, but it can actually become a physical barrier to your guests’ comfort in this case. Clear out the pieces of furniture that serve no functional purpose and stow them in the bedroom or office, and get rid of any knick-knacks or decor that are taking up what could be valuable space for food and drinks.
Find some extra seating. Unless you really want to mix things up with a cocktail-style dinner, you’re going to need enough seating for everyone on your guest list. But it doesn’t all necessarily have to be at the dining room table. Keep things casual and invite guests to take their plates to the living room, where they can get comfy on the couch, or set up some extra folding chairs wherever you have space.
Create a more modest menu. It’s probably tempting to go all out with the menu the first time you’re hosting Thanksgiving, but if you fight that urge, you’ll be happy you did. When you’re working with a smaller kitchen and less serving space, a full-sized Thanksgiving turkey might not be your best option. Instead, opt for a smaller main dish—maybe even chicken or a turkey breast—and keep the sides simple. Consider cutting casserole recipes in half to free up space in your fridge and on the table.
Invite your guests to pitch in. Or better yet, let your family and friends do some of the work. Chances are people will be clamoring to help out by bringing their own dish, so let them! Invite dinner guests to take care of the appetizers, salads, sides, and desserts, and then you can really pay attention to making the main dishes and the setting perfect.
How to Host Thanksgiving in a Small Space [Williams-Sonoma]
How to Host Thanksgiving in a Small Space [The Good Stuff]
How to Host a Huge Thanksgiving in a Small Space [Realtor.com]
Pore Over the Inventive Cocktail List at Dos Mamis
Open since July, Dos Mamis has been capturing hearts and taste buds with every meal served. The women entrepreneurs who started Dos Mamis have extensive experience in the restaurant industry and you can tell by the sophisticated menu and incredible ambiance they have put together! The restaurant is a self-proclaimed wine garden and cocktail bar, which you feel the moment you walk in with all the bright colors and lush greenery.
The menu definitely focuses more on the libations with a great selection of wine and hand-crafted cocktails with truly unique flavors. The food menu serves up nibbles like mini-empanadas, smoked salmon jerky, soft serve (topped with sherry, of course.) and charcuterie plates.
They serve up happy hour daily from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with discounts on cheese plates and some house drinks, as well as “bottoms up” from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on weekends where you can grab half-price bottles of wine! Salud!
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Save the Date for the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade on Nov. 23
Silver Spring residents know that the weekend before Thanksgiving is when the holiday fun begins, thanks to the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. Starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 23 and moving down Ellsworth Drive onto Georgia Avenue, the parade features live music from area marching bands, festive holiday floats, giant balloon characters, and Bolivian dancing groups, before Santa brings up the rear and ushers in the December holiday season. Want to get a front row seat? Plan to arrive early to stake out your spot along the parade route, and if you want to get an even closer view of the parade floats, consider signing up to be a volunteer (event organizers are looking for folks to help as inflatable balloon handlers).
Prefer to see the parade while staying warm and cozy inside your apartment? The parade will be broadcast live on News Channel 8 (and if you miss it on the 23rd, you can tune in for a rebroadcast on Thanksgiving day).
Quick and Easy Ways to Decorate Your Apartment for Autumn
Cozy sweater season is finally upon us, and it’s not just your wardrobe that deserves a makeover. Your apartment should be ready for autumn, too! If you need some seasonal design inspiration, here are a few decor tips for fall.
Toss up some twinkle lights. What could be simpler than stringing up a few strands of lights? Twinkle lights instantly create a cozy vibe within your home, transforming a simple space into something almost magical. You’ll love curling up on the couch with the softly glimmering lights hanging overhead.
DIY a dried herb and flower wreath. If you want to adorn your door in a way that doesn’t involve autumn leaves, try this DIY wreath instead. In place of the fall foliage, it showcases dried herbs and colorful flowers to create a more contemporary look.
Stock vases with pumpkins. When it comes to fall decor, you can’t go wrong with the classic pumpkin. But if you want to elevate the simple gourd, find pint-sized pumpkins in a few different shapes and hues and pack them into large glass vases. The result will be a stunning centerpiece for your dining room table or a chic vignette for the living room.
Create a “get cozy” station. ‘Tis the season to snuggle up! Encourage your guests to do so by stacking some soft throw blankets in plain sight, perhaps capping them off with a plump pumpkin or a small chalkboard sign that actually instructs them to, “Get cozy!”
The Ultimate Fall Decorating Guide: 30 Ideas to Try This Weekend [Apartment Therapy]
8 Fall DIY Decor Ideas [Noelle’s Favorite Things]
DIY Fall Home Decor We're Dreaming About [Southern Living]