Close up of a soft pink fuchsia flower and its unopened buds

AMLI Blog | Living Apartment Life

Denver is known around the country for its outsized craft brewing scene. Thankfully for coffee snobs, the Mile-High City has also developed an exceptional craft coffee culture. If you’re looking to impress a coffee connoisseur or simply find a better cup of morning joe, try one of these third wave coffee shops. Amethyst Coffee Company Open since 2015, Amethyst Coffee Company serves Commonwealth Coffee and a carefully curated selection of rotating beans from other roasters. In addition to quality craft coffee, Amethyst is known for its white-and-wood geometric design and chia pudding. Black Eye Coffee An exposed brick wall and […]

Where living without air conditioning is concerned, there are three types of cities. There are cities in which it’s relatively easy, cities in which it’s manageable, and cities in which it’s virtually impossible. Houston falls into the third category, and not only during the months of July and August. But the summer months are especially brutal. Hopefully, your Houston apartment and workplace have reliable A/C. But if you do find yourself stuck without A/C for a while or are looking for more exciting ways to stay cool this summer, here are some ideas: 1. Splash around somewhere convenient City planners and […]

“I was served lemons, but I made lemonade.” – Hattie White, Jay Z’s grandmother Lemonade, often invoked in trite motivational quotes and now evocative of Beyonce’s chart-topping album, is a drink we humans have enjoyed for some 1,000 years. But apart from making a refreshing drink on a hot day, lemon juice can be used for an array of different uses. From whitening your nails to sprucing up your glassware, lemonade is a DIY enthusiast’s dream. Here are ten creative ways you can reimagine lemonade (without the sugar and excess water) in your apartment. 1. Whiten your teeth The citric acid in […]

By Jason Ernst

Most sports bars in the Windy City’s south suburbs are dominated by White Sox fans, while Cubs find themselves in like-minded company in Chicago proper and the north suburbs. But with the 20th anniversary of the first Crosstown Classic coming up on June 16, die-hard Cubs and White Sox fans are used to watching their teams duke it out in divided company. Regardless of whether you wish to be in exclusive or mixed company, here is a list of Chicago’s most beloved baseball bars. We’ve got a whole slew of summer cocktails, just in time for patio season! 🎉 The […]

By Jason Ernst

Many luxury Seattle apartments have balconies and rooftops ideal for viewing the Cascades and Olympic Peninsula. They’re also a great base from which to explore the PNW’s diverse ecology and awe-inspiring peaks. Whether you’re an outdoors-y type who’s just moved to Seattle or a Seattleite looking to get into hiking for the first time, here’s a list of superb hikes near the Emerald City to get you started. All of these hikes can be completed in a day, but overnighting near the trailhead is recommended for a few of them. The following day hikes are arranged in order of proximity, starting […]

By Jason Ernst

Can you think of a time you accepted something you heard as truth, only to find out months or years later it’s not true at all? Just about all of us can. And when it comes to the world of diet and nutrition, even conventional wisdom isn’t always sound. Here are some widely circulated nutrition “rules” that have been thoroughly debunked. Spread the word. 1. Carbs make you fat According to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines, 45 to 65 percent of our caloric intake should come from carbohydrates. Unfortunately, this does not mean you should gorge on bread, pasta, and cake at […]

Watch the bats!

By Jason Ernst

So you want to see 1.5 million bats take off from their “cave” under Austin’s South Congress Bridge? Or perhaps you’ve done it before. Maybe you’d like to secure a better vantage point or to be better prepared the next time around. Regardless your interest, it’s worth the sight. Learn more about this visually stunning phenomenon and how to get the most out of the Congress Bridge bat experience here. Who are the Congress Bridge bats? Mexican free-tailed bats, also known as Brazilian free-tailed bats, roost in extraordinarily large numbers. In peak season, the population under Austin’s Ann W. Richards […]

By Jason Ernst

Georgia has a rich and fascinating history, awe-inspiring coastline, and some spectacular countryside. Thus it is only natural that the Peach State is home to several of America’s great scenic drives. The coastal route from Savannah to St. Mary’s is a stunner, especially the stretch from Meridian to Brunswick. But there are several scenic drives closer to Atlanta as well. If you’re looking for a scenic drive to take this summer that won’t require you to spend the night anywhere, consider one of these exhilarating drives less than two hours from the Georgia capital. Appalachian Foothills Parkway This scenic drive […]

By Jason Ernst

Even if you don’t drink coffee, a coffee table is an essential furnishing for any living room. If you don’t have one or are not keen on the coffee table you have, it’s time to change that. An online browsing session or furniture store visit is likely to take care of this problem. But if you’re crafty and have a few free hours in the near future, you can make one yourself. Here are some simple and creative DIY coffee table ideas to inspire you. Repurposed Suitcase Coffee Table If you’re into the hipster aesthetic, this DIY coffee table idea […]

By Jason Ernst

When you think about where to find good food, a gas station restaurant is probably not the first place to come to mind. Food options at most gas stations consist of chips, jerky, soda, and other snacks. When there are restaurants in gas stations, they’re usually slimmed-down versions of multinational food chains. In Miami, these gas station food options certainly exist. But the Magic City is also home to several highly regarded restaurants that you can only find in gas stations. Here are some of our favorites. Asian Thai Kitchen This Coconut Grove Kwik Stop restaurant isn’t just exceptional for […]