Spring Into Action at These Great Workout Places

Spring is here and it’s a great time to get fit!  Did you know there are a lot of inexpensive and even free fitness centered activities to do not just in Eagan, but on the Promenade Oaks property as well? 

Promenade Oaks Fitness Center: Open 24 hrs. per day FREE for all Promenade residents!

Promenade Oaks Outdoor Pool: (When open for the season) Open 9am-10pm FREE for all Promenade residents!

Check out the Eagan Community Center located at 1501 Central Parkway Eagan, MN 55121 for the below activities and much more!  For more information visit www.cityofeagan.com or call 651-675-5550

Core Valley Community Outdoor Recreational 
Exercise: located in Eagan’s Central park near the Core Valley features a custom outdoor course designed for creative fitness for all ages. It is comprised of large logs placed at varied heights and angles which can inspire your own unique style of workout! This is a great option for those training for obstacle course runs, since you can climb over, crawl under or anything your imagination comes up with. 

The Blast Indoor Playground for Children: The Blast is a fun indoor playground located at the Eagan Community Center featuring tunnels, slides, bridges and much more for your children to work off all that extra energy.  You can even host a birthday party at The Blast. 

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday	9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday	8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday	10 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Fees

Youth (18 months - 12 years)	$3.00
Youth (18 months and under)	Free
Adults (13 years and older)	Free
11 Visit Punch Card - Eagan Res. Only	$30.00

Fantastic Saturdays
Fantastic Saturdays is 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. which is included in your $3 Blast Admission. Family fun for all ages, including The Blast, gym games and equipment, a movie and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Donut Miss the Spring Breakfast!

Please join us for the annual Spring Continental Breakfast. For those of you hurrying off to work in the morning, there will be to-go boxes available. Everyone else is welcome to hang out and chat over coffee, juice, and some morning treats!


Spring Breakfast
Friday, May 8 from 6:45 - 8:30 a.m.
In the Clubhouse and community exits

Choose Your Neighbors and Get $300 - Refer your friends and family to Promenade Oaks

With the busy rental season coming up, don't forget to let your friends, family, and co-workers know how much you love living at Promenade Oaks - you could get $300 if you refer someone to us and they move in. It seems that we always get a new influx of residents in the spring and summer, which is a popular time to move, and you will get $300 in free rent if you convince someone you know to move in and be your neighbor!

If you refer anyone to us, be sure to contact the rental office to let us know so we can give you your bonus when they move in. It's a win-win situation. The person you refer gets a great place to live, and you get to choose your neighbors by referring family, friends, and co-workers.

Ring Them Bells - Severe Weather Alarm Testing Today

You may hear the weather alarm sounding today, but don't be alarmed! The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will be conducting drills for severe weather by sounding the weather alarm twice, once at 1:45 p.m. and again at 6:55 p.m.. This is part of a wider effort know as Severe Weather Awareness Week. As we head into the warmer months, Minnesota will sometimes see severe thunderstorms, hail, straight-line winds, and yes, sometimes tornadoes. When there is severe weather and you hear those alarms sounding (and it's not a test) you should take shelter and seek additional information for updates about weather warnings.

For more information about Sever Weather Awareness Week you can visit this website: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/weather-awareness-preparedness/Pages/default.aspx

The safety of our residents is very important to us, so please take a moment to read through our community guidelines for dealing with emergency situations.

Happy Earth Day!

Did you know that today is Earth Day? Earth Day is a popular global observance to raise awareness and appreciation of the environment. The idea for Earth Day began circulating in the 1960’s, when concerns about the environment began to rise in the United States. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. It was designed as an environmental awareness program with its aim to educate participants about the importance of preserving the environment. In 1990, a global Earth Day was organized, and now is observed in more than 140 countries by 200 million people.

Earth Day 2014 will be celebrated in many ways. Common community activities include picking up roadside trash, planting trees, using recyclable containers for lunches, programs on conservation, recycling and more.

Promenade Oaks does several things to conserve our Earth’s resources: for example we use low flow toilets and shower heads to conserve water. Our care-taking staff works hard to make sure your home is free of unsightly trash. Recycling containers are provided for residents and you don’t even have to sort your recyclables -- simply put your recyclables in the bin! Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to power a TV for up to 3 hours! Thanks for doing your part in saving our precious planet!

To learn more about Earth Day, visit www.earthday.org/

Bunny Day Was a "Hoppy" Occasion

Last Sunday we had a wonderful time with our Bunny Day celebration here at Promenade Oaks. The Spring Bunny even made an appearance! The kids of Promenade Oaks (and their parents!) were treated to cookies and a chance to visit with the Spring Bunny and do some coloring activities.

We were very lucky to have Ava, the daughter of Salem Green's Assistant Manager Janelle, as our bunny. Salem Green is another Condor apartment community. Not only was Ava great with the kids, but she managed to stay in that costume for eight hours while she visited with kids at three of our Condor apartment communities! Ava’s family lived at Salem Green when she was born and she used to sit on our bunny’s lap when she was little too.

Thanks to all of our young residents (and their parents!) for coming out to Bunny Day and making it so much fun. We look forward to seeing you there again next year.

Enjoy these fun photos from the event.

Ava did a great job as our Spring Bunny! Thank you, Ava!

Resident Survey - We want to know what you think!

At Condor Corporation, we care about what our residents think. To ensure we're living up to our pledge to go Beyond the Expected for our residents, we are asking them to take a few minutes and fill out a survey. We delivered a printed version of the survey to each apartment, which can be returned to the office once completed. Alternatively, we have put the survey online, that way our residents pick whichever format that's most convenient for them.

This is not only an opportunity for you to tell us how we're doing, but also a chance to change your community! We want to know what we can do to improve your living experience. Plus, all survey respondents will be entered into a drawing to receive $20 off their April rent - and there will be 20 winners chosen! The survey will close on April 7.

Thank you all for your time and valuable input!

Take The Survey!

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e93ivi3rht5wt8cc/start

Get Your Wheels Ready for Some Fun

With the expected warm-up this weekend, everyone is feeling the itch to get outside and get active! A popular way to get outside is to ride something with wheels - so go get your bike or skateboard out of storage and get ready to have some fun!

Awesome Bike Trails

For people who love biking or boarding, Promenade Oaks is a great place to live. Paved city trails run right along the entrances to our community and they connect to an excellent network of local and regional trails.

Or if you prefer mountain biking, we're close to one of the best local places to go: Lebanon Hills. (Although be forewarned; their trails will be closed until about mid-May during the spring thaw.)

Here are some links to more information about the trails near us:

Dakota County trail maps: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/activities/bicycling/pages/default.aspx

Lebanon Hills Regional Park: http://www.lebanonhills.com/

MN Bike Trail Navigator: If you're looking for some great routes in the metro area, check out this independent blogger's favorite routes page. http://mnbiketrailnavigator.blogspot.com/p/favorite-routes.html

Time to Tune-Up or Upgrade

It's always a good idea to get your bike or board checked for safety. Often you can do this yourself, if you know what to look for; but if not, there are some great bike and board shops near Promenade Oaks that do tune-ups. A good bike shop will check the frame, steering system, wheels, brakes, cranks and bottom brackets, derailleurs, and the chain. 

Local Bike & Board Shops

Here are some great bike and board shops near Promenade Oaks. Ride safe!

Erik's Bike and Board Shop
1296 Town Centre Drive
Eagan, MN 55123
(651) 209-6046
eriksbikeshop.com‎

Boehms
1040 Dakota Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
(651) 454-2066
boehmscycle.com‎

Penn Cycle & Fitness
2290 Cliff Road
Eagan, MN 55122
(651) 882-1241
penncycle.com‎

Happy First Day of Spring!

Happy first day of spring!

Did you know that spring fever is not just a myth? Here's some amazing facts about Spring:

• The human body may experience physiological changes due to changes in diet, hormone production and temperature
• Melting snow and additional rain may cause more flooding in spring
• Children grow faster in spring
• Spring is also when birds return home after migrating in winter. About 1800 bird species migrate. 

We are looking forward to spring at Promenade Oaks. We’ll be planting flowers, cleaning up the playground, and soon we'll be watching all of the beautiful trees fill out their leaves on our 30-acre woodland preserve. Happy Spring!

Melting Snow + Freezing Nights = Slippery Sidewalks

This winter just doesn't know how to quit! The forecast is calling for three to six more inches of snow tonight for the Twin Cities metro area. This is a good time to remind everyone to continue to walk carefully outside - this winter isn't giving us any breaks from the snow and ice.

Please use caution when walking on the sidewalks and in the parking lots around Promenade Oaks. As the temperatures fluctuate this time of year we often see snow and ice melting during the day, only to freeze again at night - which can make for some slippery conditions on the pavement. We will do our best to have these areas salted and sanded in a timely manner, but your caution is always necessary. 

Thank you for cooperation in this important safety matter.

Celebrating St. Paddy's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This holiday is a big deal in the St. Paul metro area, because of the city's historical Irish heritage. Here's a quick guide for celebrating St. Patrick's day.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide and is a national holiday in Ireland. In Chicago, on St. Patrick’s Day, the river is dyed green; and in Seattle there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads. Some people even go so far as to dye their hair green, and many more people will wear green, purportedly to avoid being pinched. Many bars in the United States and other countries serve green beer to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. 

If you’re looking to celebrate your Irish heritage, or even if you’re not Irish, here are some ways to celebrate:

Parade in Minneapolis

In Minneapolis there is a St. Patrick’s Day parade on Monday, March 17 at 6:30 pm on the Nicollet Mall. The parade route will start at Nicollet and 13th Street until it reaches 5th Street.

Parade in St. Paul

The Annual St. Paul St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held at 12:00 pm on Monday, March 17. The parade travels east to west along 5th Street beginning at Broadway.

Irish Pubs

If you are into green beer, you can head to The Liffey Irish Pub on 175 7th St. W in St. Paul. There is also Cork’s Irish Pub located at 175 10th St. E in St. Paul as well.

Irish Food

And if you are craving some traditional Irish food to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, check out Kieran’s Irish Pub located at 85 6th Street North in Minneapolis. They offer traditional Irish food, drinks and have live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

An old Irish quote: “May you always walk in sunshine, may you never want for more, may Irish angels rest their wings, right beside your door!” Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Como Conservatory Flower Show - Bask In Sun, Warmth, and Flowers

Flowers - and lots of them! Head over to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park this weekend to see the special Winter Flower Show. This is the last weekend for the display; so if you are craving a taste of spring, this is a great place to visit. Soon the trees, bushes, and flowers around Promenade Oaks will be blooming as spring finally arrives - but for now you can go bask in sun, warmth, and take in the sight of hundreds of beautiful flowers at the Conservatory.

Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Source: http://www.comozooconservatory.org/attractions/gardens/sunken-gardens/#/info

Seasonal Shows

The Sunken Garden is a special room at the Como Park Marjorie McNeely Conservatory that features changing displays throughout the year - so you can keep visiting and see something new! Here's a description of the Winter Flower Show from the website:

The Winter Show will have a mixture of the purple, red, pink and yellow.  Plants highlighted will be various Cyclamen, Pansies, Viola, Cineraria, Amaryllis, Primula from the Touch me Midi series, Azaleas, Camellias, and Velthemia with their pink flower spikes.  Fragrance to the show will be supplies by various Oriental lilies and Paperwhite Narcissus. 

The Spring Flower Show begins on March 22. You could visit this weekend and the next and see how the Sunken Garden is transformed from one theme to the next.

For more information visit the Como Park Conservatory website here:

http://www.comozooconservatory.org/attractions/gardens/sunken-gardens/#/info

Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Source: http://www.comozooconservatory.org/attractions/gardens/sunken-gardens/#/info

Four Tips For Getting Your Car Unstuck

With all the snow we have been getting (and it looks like we'll get another shot of snow tomorrow) it's good to have some ideas about how to get your car out when it's stuck in the snow. We've pulled together our four best tips for getting unstuck. (But we hope you don't end up there in the first place!)

1. Don’t spin your tires. That will only dig your car in deeper and possibly damage the tires.
2. Put the car in the lowest possible gear and try to back up slowly. Stop. Then move forward, slowly. Ideally, that rocking will help the car gain traction.
3. If that fails, turn the steering wheel and again, try to back up slowly, and then move ahead slowly.
4. Still stuck? Get out of the car (make sure it’s in park with the safety brake on) and try to dig out any excess snow around the tires. If you have sand, kitty litter or even an old piece of cardboard, put it under your rear tires before you try to pull out again.

We hope you are one of the lucky ones who manages to avoid getting stuck in the snow, but if not, we hope these tips will help you get unstuck and on your way!

Six Awesome Tips to Make Your Apartment Super Spacious

We often hear from our residents that they love the spaciousness of our floorplans. Our apartments here at Promenade Oaks range from 783 to 1,595 square feet. Even with all that room, you can still follow some tried and true methods for maximizing your space.

Here are six great ideas for expanding the space in your apartment.

Mirrors: The use of mirrors can really open up a room. They reflect the lighting in the room and add depth. Strategically placing a mirror will make your space seem expansive.

Lights: Dim lights can fill the apartment with shadows. Use lights that are bright to open the room up. The best way to increase light? Natural light is the best for this - so open up the blinds and let the sunshine in!

Colors: With Leasing Office approval, you can select light colors such as yellows or cream colors on the wall to enhance the room. Painting one or two walls in your apartment as "accent" walls will help create contrast and a sense of depth and make the room feel bigger. Remember, all painting should be done by our staff of painters, so check with the office before you decide to go with this option.

Walls: Make sure to not clutter the walls. It is nice to hang a few pictures, but too many things on the wall can make it seem like it is closing in on you.

Furniture: Make sure the furniture and other large items aren't overbearing to the space. Take a look at your living area and rearrange the furniture, or even get rid of some things that take up too much space.

Air: Once it is nice out, but not quite yet of course, open the windows and let the air flow through. If the weather is an issue, maybe think about buying some houseplants to liven the room up a bit. There are many indoor plants that help improve air quality.

Promenade Oaks Guide to Local Valentine's Deals

One of the great things about living at Promenade Oaks is that we are so close to so many wonderful restaurants and shops. That will come in pretty handy next week, when Valentine's day comes around. There are quite a few local businesses that are offering Valentine's Day menus or specials. Check out the deals we found near Promenade Oaks!

Valentine’s Day Restaurant Deals

Ansari's Mediterranean Grill & Lounge

(651) 452-0999
1960 Rahncliff Ct, Eagan, MN 55122

February 12 - 14; Champagne Dinner Special includes:

• Bottle of Champagne 
• Appetizer: (Choose 1) Hummus or Saganaki 
• Dinner: (Choose 1) Filet Mignon Dinner with Jumbo Shrimp, Lamb 
• Feast, 3 Kabob Dinner, or Vegetarian Mediterranean Combo 
• Dessert: (Choose 1) Baklava or Namoora Pie 
• $59.95 for 2 or $34.95/person. There'll be Belly Dancing each day (Valentine's Day Belly Dancing starts at 6pm). 

Davanni's Pizza & Hot Hoagies

(651) 688-6111
1960 Cliff Lake Rd, Eagan, MN 55122

February 12 - 14; Order a heart-shaped pizza, get two brownies for $1! 

• Available as a medium thin crust pizza only.

Doolittles Woodfire Grill

(651) 452-6627
2140 Cliff Rd, Eagan, MN 55122

February 10 - 14; Valentine's Specials include:

• Crispy Calamari 
• Woodfired Pork Chop with Apple Chutney 
• Almond Crusted Australian Sea Bass 
• Chocolate Molten Cake 

Granite City Food & Brewery

(651) 452-4600
3330 Pilot Knob Rd, Eagan, MN 55121

February 12 - 14; offering a 4-course meal for two for $49.99

• Appetizer: Spinach & Artichoke Dip 
• Choice of salad or soup 
• Choice of Entree: Honey Rosemary Filet Mignon, Grilled Salmon Oscar, Baked Three Cheese Ravioli or GC Walleye Dinner 
• Dessert: Caramel Apple Crumble 

Houlihan's Restaurant

(651) 452-1001
1294 Promenade Pl, Eagan, MN 55121

February 13 & 14; Free lobster tail w/ purchase of any steak dinner.

Jake's City Grill

(651) 287-8784
1288 Promenade Pl, Eagan, MN 55121

• February 11 - 14; Surf and Turf Valentine's Day Special. Includes Beef Tenderloin or Prime Rib and Lobster Tail for $29.00. Reservations are recommended.

• Valentine's Brunch Buffet Sunday, February 14 (10 am-2 pm) featuring chef carved roast new york sirloin $18.00. Reservations are recommended. 

Gift Ideas

Edible Arrangements

1380 Duckwood Dr, Eagan, MN 55123
(651) 683-2067
An alternative to flowers, try Edible Arrangements. You can get a beautiful bouquet of chocolate covered strawberries, or even throw in some pineapple, a teddy bear and balloons! Now that’s a show-stopper!

Red Envelope

For some unique and personalized gifts visit www.redenvelope.com. Make sure to place your orders right away to have them here by Valentine’s Day!

1800Flowers

At 1800flowers, you can order online and a local florist will place the order and deliver it to whomever you would like. Depending on what you are looking for, or the location where you are shipping, there are often options of delivering the flowers in a box so your special someone can take them home and put them together, or to make a grand appearance have them delivered already set-up in a beautiful vase. To order simply visit 1800flowers.com.

Tips for Staying Warm

With wind chills currently at 28 degrees below zero, it’s dangerously cold outside. If you have to head outside keep warm by dressing appropriately and avoid being outside for more than a few minutes. It's a good idea to keep a blanket and extra clothes in your car as well.

Here are a few simple tips to keep you just a little warmer!

Eat Well! 

Eating regular meals particular those that have good carbohydrates can help you stay warmer throughout your day. Hearty soups are a great, quick option sure to warm you up!

Get Moving! 

Staying active is a must when it’s this cold! Going to the gym may be the last thing you want to do but there are some great ways to exercise from home. Throw in a workout video or download a fitness app on your phone and get that blood pumping!

Cut the Caffeine! 

I hate to say it but the caffeine in coffee and black tea increases blood flow to the skin which actually causes your body lose heat! Try sticking to decaf coffee or herbal teas to keep your body warm!

Keep it Airtight!

Be sure to follow the Winter Notice instructions that we recently delivered to each apartment. Doing so will help keep your apartment warm. If you've misplaced the notice we sent out, here it is again:

Due to the extremely cold weather, we want to remind you not to open windows or patio doors at this time of year. The cold air sinks to the level of the heat pipes causing them to freeze and ultimately burst. You may be held responsible for any damages to your or your neighbor’s apartment should this occur. If the temperature in your home is uncomfortable, contact the office immediately and we will issue a maintenance order to repair and adjust your heating system. Please follow these heat tips as the rest of the winter season progresses. We appreciate your cooperation.

Head To The Winter Farmer's Market at the Eagan Community Center Tomorrow

Did you know that you don't need to wait for the snow to melt to enjoy the benefits of a great farmer's market? The City of Eagan hosts an indoor farmer's market during the winter months - and the next date is tomorrow!

Here's a description of the Winter Farmer's Market from the City's website:

"Shop your favorite Eagan Market Fest food vendors at the winter indoor farmer's market. Items include locally produced food items such as honey, jams, sauces, sweet treats, artisan bakery items, strudel, root vegetables and more. Join us the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month beginning December 7 to March 1 from 9 a.m.- Noon inside the Eagan Community Center."

For more information about the farmers market visit the City of Eagan's website here:  http://www.cityofeagan.com/images/CommunityCenter/2013_Indoor_Market_Fest_-_Flyer.pdf

Who said you can't go to a farmer's market in the winter? Stop by the Eagan Market Fest!

Share The Joy! $300 Bonus For New Resident Referrals

We hear over and over how much our residents love living at Promenade Oaks. Why not share the joy? When you refer a new applicant to us and they decide to rent an apartment you get a one month $300 rent credit! So share your positive experience at Promenade Oaks with your family, friends, and co-workers. In the end everyone wins. You get some new fantastic neighbors and a rent credit bonus - and they get to live at a wonderful apartment community with great amenities, excellent townhome floorplans, and a wonderful staff. Besides, we love our residents and we want to meet your friends!

Our New Blog

Welcome to our new Promenade Oaks Apartments blog!

We are excited to provide this space for our residents where we'll share updates about the property, local community information, and interesting highlights about your neighbors and the staff. Perhaps you have an idea you would like to share with your neighbors? Contact us at info.condormgt.com or share your idea with the Promenade Oaks office staff.

Visit our blog frequently to see what's happening around Promenade Oaks. You can also keep up with our community news by following us on Facebook, or you can subscribe by email at the bottom of this page.