Thomas Meeting Apartments

Five Fabulous Oscar Party Ideas

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:37:12 +0000

Oscar night is fast approaching – and since many of your friends and loved ones will be glued to their TVs when the big evening comes, why not gather everyone together for an Academy Award fiesta at your place? Here are some creative Oscar party ideas certain to make the night a memorable one:

Host an Oscar Pool

Hand out a list of all the categories and nominees. Then ask your guests to check off what they predict will win in each category. Have everyone contribute a small amount of money to a pool – the person with the most correct answers wins the dough. Oscar night is often a long one, so this activity is a time-tested Oscar party staple that helps to keep your guests engaged throughout the entire ceremony.

Movie Trivia

Oscar night is a perfect time to engage in fun film trivia games with friends. Do some research and prepare a variety of questions, from ones that the average moviegoer would know to ones certain to challenge even the most diehard film buffs. Then you can make teams or play every-man-for-himself-style. It's a great way to fill the time during commercial breaks and lulls in the Oscar ceremony.

Paparazi Fun

Set up a photo-op backdrop against one of your walls and, as guests enter the party, invite them to have their photo taken. This will make them feel like the stars arriving on the Red Carpet – and an added bonus is that your guests will have fun pictures of themselves and their friends to commemorate the party.

Play “Who Am I”

Cut out and decorate cardboard stars (the more glitter the better). Then pen the name of a famous Hollywood figure on each one. Tape a star on the back of every guest and have them try to determine who they are by asking ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions of their fellow guests. This is sure to give everyone a good Oscar night laugh.

Glamorous Invitations

Prepare your guests for a great night by sending Oscar-themed invitations. Some possibilities: opt for a large thick-papered white envelope sealed with red wax if you want your guests to feel like they’re opening an actual Academy Award announcement (“and the winner is…”), make a movie-collage invitation with images from the year’s biggest films, or glue each guest’s photo on the body of a movie star for a fun and personalized invitation.

Van Gogh Up Close

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:09:53 +0000

Wednesday, February 1st
7 to 8:30 p.m.
The Conference Center at Penn State Great Valley
All events are free and open to the community. Pre-registration is recommended.

Get an up-close perspective on the 2012 Van Gogh exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Van Gogh was an artist of exceptional intensity, not only in his use of color and exuberant application of paint, but also in his personal life. Drawn powerfully to nature, his works–particularly those created in the years just before he took his own life–engage the viewer with the strength of his emotions. Curator Jennifer Thompson will discuss his tumultuous years, a period of feverish artistic experimentation that began when Van Gogh left Antwerp for Paris in 1886 until his death in Auvers in 1890.

The exhibit, Van Gogh Up Close, runs February 1 through May 6, 2012 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Fond: Seasonal Fare

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:42:28 +0000

For an anniversary or birthday, grab your sweetheart and a bottle of wine and head to Fond. Situated on up-and-coming Passyunk Avenue, Fond has simple, sleek decor to create a cozy interior. Fond offers a similarly sparse, yet appetizing, menu of contemporary American cuisine, which varies depending on the season, ensuring the freshest, most seasonal food. Depending on the season, diners can share a garlic-y appetizer of escargot or the popular veal sweetbreads then enjoy entrees of swordfish or strip loin. The light, mostly organic meats come served in moderate portions on appealingly arrayed plates. The modest portion sizes allow diners to save room for the reasonably priced, yet very rich, desserts (Meyer Lemon layer cake, dark chocolate torte, and so on). Make sure to reserve a table online or over the phone to save your place at Fond for that special occasion!

Fond
1617 E. Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 551-5000

Listen Up: Four Great Music Sites

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:52:38 +0000

The recording industry is changing quickly with the rapid rise of digital music, and streaming is becoming a preferred way to hear great tunes. Instead of clogging up your shelves or your hard drive with music files, these services let you reach out into the cloud and select from a massive library of songs. Here are four great music sites:

Spotify.com is the current darling of the streaming music world, letting you listen to full albums by a huge variety of artists. The service is free at the base level, but the paid subscription options add important features. With their offline mode, you can download songs and listen to them even when you don’t have an Internet connection.

Last.fm is one of the most well-established streaming music services. It allows you to set up and share customized playlists as well as discover new music through a "related artists" feature. It also lets you connect with people who have similar tastes and explore their favorite artists.

Pandora.com is an intelligent radio service that, unlike some of the other sites on this list, removes control from the user in favor of a clever algorithm that explores music by genre and style. By entering an artist’s name, you build a custom radio station and discover new favorite songs.

Live365.com uses the radio station model for its playlists, featuring a wide range of different genres of music carefully selected by experts for maximum listening enjoyment. The site offers both free and subscriber-only options.

Chase Away The Winter Blues

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:59:06 +0000

Seeing Red – Juried Art Exhibit The Gallery at Penn State Great Valley.
Sponsored by Chester County Art Association.
January 17th – February 24th.

Hearts, fire, anger, passion…what images does the color red bring to your mind? To keep away the winter blues, Penn State Great Valley is going red with its Seeing Red art exhibit. See how local artists view and use the color red in this unique multi-medium show featuring the many shades and moods of red.

Seeing Red: Exhibit Opening Reception
Thursday, January 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Get an insider's look at the new Seeing Red Exhibit and meet the artists and staff who put the show together at this Gallery Open House. Light refreshments. Free, registration required.

Abstract #1106 (untitled) by Greg Hunt.

Murder Mystery Dinner!

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:17:55 +0000

Murder Mystery Show at PineCrest Golf Club Presents:
“Deadly Beloved”
Dinner Dessert and Murder
March 9th, 7 p.m.

Tickets on sale now, limited seating available.
$40.00 per person.
Dinner and Show.
(Cash bar available.)

Welcome to the wedding reception of Buzz and Alma. As an invited guest, you will be here to toast the couple, catch the bouquet, however something sinister is afoot! Come try to solve the murder.

The Philadelphia Orchestra: Classical Music for All

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:43:03 +0000

The Philadelphia Orchestra brings classical concerts to the Philadelphia public through their sweeping performances in the expansive and elegant Kimmel Center. Founded in 1900, the Orchestra has had an impressive history featuring renowned conductors, international tours, and numerous recordings of classics. Currently under the direction of conductor Charles Dutoit, the Orchestra continues to present symphonies from across time periods and countries. The Orchestra strives to make their music accessible to all by offering package deals with tickets as low as $15 per concert and the eZseatU ticket program offering a variety of options for college students. While the Kimmel Center season starts up in October, the Orchestra also plays free neighborhood concerts and offers educational opportunities to local students throughout the year.

Philadelphia Orchestra
260 S. Broad Street
Suite 1600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1900

Holiday Decorations

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:36:57 +0000

Now that the holidays have passed, we ask that all decorations be removed from the exterior of your home by January 15th.

If you have a fresh Christmas tree, please place it in either of the compactors for disposal. Please contact the office at (610) 363-9696 if you have any questions.

Happy New Year!

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:01:20 +0000

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best that 2012 has to offer.

Office Hours for New Year’s Weekend

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:32 +0000

The leasing office will be open for limited hours during the New Year's weekend.

Our office will close at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 31st, and remain closed on Sunday, January 1st. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 2nd at 9:00 AM. If you need to reach our staff in case of emergency, please call (610) 363-9696.

Thank you and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!