Dog baths for $5? Sounds like a party!

We decided to keep the pet loving vibrations happening here at The Remington Apartments. Last week we urged you to adopt a pet from a local rescue shelter, and we’d waive half pet fee.

Let’s do something like that again. But this time, we’ll bring the dogs to you. Plus we’re going to celebrate all our canine friends who make The Remington apartment community their home.

Thursday, August 26 is National Dog Day. We’re celebrating our four-legged friends by inviting all the dogs and their people down to the courtyard for some fun and free stuff.

We’ll have toys and treats for the pooches, and Remington resident 8th grader Brodi will be offering dog washes for only $5. And speaking of dog washing,  Mud Puppies Dog Wash and Playcare will be there raffling off gift certificates.

What if you don’t have a dog?

Come on down anyway! The Central Texas SPCA will be there with some friendly pups who are looking for homes. We are certain you’ll fall in love with all of them.

If adopting a dog is the right thing for you, just as we did last week, we’ll sweeten the deal by waiving half the pet fee if you take in one of the dogs. Of course pet ownership is not for everyone– but the SPCA doggies would still be thrilled if you were there to rub their tummies for a few minutes.

This event happens Thursday, August 26 from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Remington Apartments courtyard. We’d love to see you there.

Photo used under Creative Commons from gennerobot.

Adopt a homeless animal

We’ve mentioned before about how much we love pets here at the Remington. We know that having an animal friend is actually good for your physical and mental health.

Next week, we’re going to show just how much we love animals and how much we support pet ownership.

You see, next week (August 15 – 21) is National Homeless Animals Week, which culminates on Saturday, August 21, National Homeless Animals Day. The event is organized by the International Society for Animal Rights. Its website says the event has the purpose of “informing society of an American tragedy that overwhelms animal shelters each year – pet overpopulation.” The ISAR says it’s crucial to spay or neuter your pets.  Animal shelters across the country also need more people to adopt unwanted animals.

Here’s where the Remington comes in.

The Remington will waive half the pet fee for any animal you adopt the week of  August 15 – 21, 2010. Just bring in proof of adoption paperwork, vet records to show they have their shots, and a photo.

It’s our small way of urging you to bring an otherwise unwanted animal into your life. Thank you!

Of course pet adoption isn’t for everyone. But if you do decide to adopt a pet, please bring your new baby to the office. We’d love to get to know him or her!

Here are some places you might consider for finding a new four-legged friend:

Austin Humane Society

PAWS of Austin

Austin Dog Rescue

City of Round Rock

Northwest Rescue, Round Rock (cat adoptions)

Here’s a nearly comprehensive list of animal rescue organizations in central Texas:

Blue Dog Rescue

Photo used under Creative Commons from Giane Portal.

[Please note: When this was originally posted, we inadvertently said we'd waive the pet fee for adoptions this week. That was a mistake. It should have read that we'll waive half the pet fee. We apologize for that mistake.]

We at the Remington want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the good stuff Austin has to offer.

Here’s one you want to know about:

Ghostbusters is showing this weekend. But it’s not just showing. It’s showing on a street in downtown Austin. In fact, it’s going to be almost like a street festival. Vendors will be on hand selling good food, and there will be a beer tent, too.

It’s a fund raiser for 6th Street Austin, which is a non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve the history and absolute drop dead awesomeness of Austin’s 6th Street district.

Appropriately enough, the film screening is happening right there in the heart of the 6th Street area. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is setting up its mobile outdoor movie paraphernalia on San Jacinto Street, between 5th and 6th Streets.

We’re pleased that our company, Greystar Properties, is one of the sponsors of this event.

It happens Sunday evening. Gates open at 7:30, and Ghostbusters starts at 9:00. You might want to take a lawn chair with you, because this is happening on a city street that doesn’t happen to have theater chairs.

Admission to this extravaganza is free. But it’s a fund raiser. Organizers would be grateful if you’d donate $5 or more as you go in.

And, please, no wee children. Kids six and older are allowed at the film only if they’re with a parent or guardian.

Alice in Wonderland is this month's First Thursday Movie

Has anyone noticed? It’s August! Wasn’t it June, like, last week?

This means that’s it’s just about time for the Remington’s next First Thursday Movie Night.

This month, we’ll be screen Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp. It has received excellent reviews, especially for its surreal visuals and Depp’s great acting.

We’ll head down the rabbit hole this Thursday night, August 5, at 7pm in the Club House. We’ll provide popcorn, sodas and water. The chairs in the Club House fill up fast, so bring a chair of your own if you can.

We’d love to see you there.

Yes. We said snow cones.

It’s time for a pool party, Remington residents!

Tomorrow (Saturday) noon to 3pm. Be there.

If the pool and exquisite company of your Remington staff and your Remington neighbors weren’t enough, how about this? Free barbecue! T-shirts! Towels! Beach balls! Free iPads! (That’s a joke. No free iPads.) And snow cones!

We said SNOW CONES! It ain’t summer without snow cones.

It’ll be a lot more fun if you’re there. Please come.

Photo used under Creative Commons from Joe Shlabonik.

Take a little Texas Charm to the Jersey Shore

Summer is drawing near an end, and next thing you know the leaves of Fall will begin changing colors.  But before the school bells ring, here is an idea: Fly, drive or even bike up to the Jersey Shore!

If you are looking for an end of summer trip, this is the perfect getaway.  Beefcakes, beauties, beaches and beautiful scenery can be found in Atlantic City, NJ.  Sure there are tons of beaches around the Texas area, but if you really want to live it up, go ‘BIG’ or go Jersey!  While you are in the comforts of your weekend hotel or beachfront rental, there are endless options of things you could partake in.

Besides your standard G.T.L.(thanks Pauly D. ), you can catch some “freakish” sights at Ripley’s or if you are feeling lucky as “The Donald”, you can hit the many Casinos along the strip and see if you can become as rich as the Monopoly Man! I mean, the board game was modeled after Atlantic City!

So pack your swimsuits, tanning lotions, & some Texas Toast. And please, don’t forget, once you pass Go, collect your $200!

Yes

Residents of the Remington, we have some important news and an important clarification.

You might have noticed in the right-hand column on our community blog a colorful and friendly on-line version of our July calendar of events. You can check it at work. Or you don’t have to get up from your computer at home and check the copy you stuck on the refrigerator.

You will see that this Wednesday is Macaroni Day. We’re not sure why. But it is, so we have to celebrate. Ja?

No

So, on Wednesday, stop by the office for– some macaroni. Free macaroni. No charge. We’re just giving it away.

Pretty awesome, huh?

Now for the clarification. On the calendar is says “Free Mac at the front office!”

That’s macaroni. We’re not giving away free Macs. We’re sorry if there was any confusion.

(Macaroni photo: Some rights reserved, D. Sharon Pruitt; Mac photo: Some rights reserved, Richard Thomas)

or maybe we'll cook some dogs on the Fourth

Do not fear, dear Remingtonians. The rain should blow through by Sunday, and other than some possible showers on Saturday, the Fourth of July Weekend should be pretty nice, and a lot cooler than it’s been.

We hope you have a three-day weekend. We know you deserve it.

And speaking of having some time off, the office will be closed Sunday. We’re going to take the day off on July 4th so we can spend the time with our friends and families, and maybe catch some fireworks.

We’ll be back on Monday, regular hours.

Whether you have big plans for the Fourth, or you plan just to hang out by the pool all weekend, have a great weekend!

(Photo: Some rights reserved, Michael Johnson)

This year, the big Austin Fourth of July celebrations are coming down to the choice of north of the lake or south of Town Lake.

South side of Town Lake

The Austin Symphony will continue its tradition of presenting a concert of patriotic music under the stars at Auditorium Shores. The concert caps off with a rousing performance of the always crowd pleasing 1812 Overture (with real cannon!), followed by fireworks over Town Lake.

The music begins at 8:30 Sunday night, with the fireworks starting at about 9:30. But get there early to get a good listening and viewing spot on the grass.

For more information, including parking suggestions, go to the Austin Symphony website.

North side of Town Lake

In contrast to the symphonic music and grassy lawn at Auditorium Shores, the Seaholm Power Plant will offer the funky sounds of T Bird and the Breaks, the Bright Light Social Hour and Til We’re Blue or Destroy.

It’s the first Fourth of July Celebration at Seaholm Power Plant.

You’ll be able to purchase Tex-Mex food and barbecue other tasty food. And perhaps best of all, the site is reportedly a good spot to see the fireworks over Town Lake.

Admission is free, but organizers hope you’ll make a donation to Anthropos Arts, a non-profit organization that runs music education programs for low-income kids.

(Photo: Some rights reserved, Dan Jones)

Mix Things up with Happy Toes

I like finding unique things online and this morning I came across Happy Socks, a fashionable sock company. What caught my eye about the company is their full line up of brightly-colored socks.

Happy Socks has also gotten into the fever of the World Cup with their latest line up of colorful socks sporting colors for a handful of countries.

The company has an amazing line up of socks to suite your personality for just about every day of the year. From striped, to polka-dotted, from knee high, to low cut, Happy Socks has them all. They also have a selection of  solid color socks. I especially like their Odd Couple line of inverted matching socks.

These will be great conversation starters.

(Photo: Some Rights Reserved, Jason Rogers)