The Gardens at Twin Hickory

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, the summer spirit really begins to take over. If you haven’t grilled out yet, this surely is the weekend to start.  This week, The Gardens at Twin Hickory, apartments in Glen Allen, VA, is paying homage to the all-American classic hamburger.

Today, ground turkey and ground chicken are perfect for lower fat burgers. And certainly, veggie burgers (a combination of ground vegetables, beans and bulgur or rice) have prided a lower fat and meat-free option.

For beef burgers, a few simple suggestions provide the best results. Most experts agree that adding to the meat itself detracts from the flavor of a good burger. Rather, use toppings to get creative. To ensure the best results consider the following tips:

• Buy 85-90% fat meat for optimal taste. For each 6-ounce burger, one pinch of kosher salt should be mixed into the patty.
• Preparation on a grill (or in a grill pan) at medium heat will give you the perfect charred grill marks.
• Don’t constantly flip and press them with a spatula.  5 minutes on each side results in a medium-well (slightly pink) burger, so go from there based on what temperature you enjoy.

If you want to get creative, toppings and bread choice can really set you apart. Burgers go to a whole new level when served on focaccia bread, a flavored bagel, Portuguese sweet rolls or a toasted multi-grain English muffin.  

Here are a few grilled burger recipe ideas for Memorial Day:

Asian Burger: For the last minute or two of grilling, brush the burger with Asian sauce like 3T hoison sauce/ 1T soy sauce with a pinch of ginger.

Itallian Burger: tomatoe sauce and fresh mozzarella.

California Burger: Guacamole, sliced tomatoes, and sprouts.

Mexican Burger: 2T of salsa and a slice of pepper jack cheese, refried beans and shredded lettuce.

Bacon Cheddar Burger: add cheddar cheese, and thick sliced smoked bacon.

Black & Bleu Burger: Burger with, black pepper and bleu cheese.

Brie Burger: Brie warmed and placed over granny smith apples with a hint of honey mustard.

Enjoy a great holiday weekend from The Gardens at Twin Hickory.

Richmond, VA is a nice big city with so much to do, full of art and culture, but still with a nice southern feel. If you live in an apartment in Glen Allen, Richmond, or any other neighborhood of Richmond, you already know what a great city this is. But did you know that other know too?

A hypothesizing of what the next hipster cities of America will be turned into a big, “national” debate last week.

Hipsters from Chattanooga, Asheville, Burlington, Detroit, Richmond, Pittsburgh and Baltimore voiced their opinions on what is to be the next hipster city. Non-hipsters from those cities also chimed in. Whether you like young, creative urbanites or not, the subject matter seems to be a passionate one.

So what were your thoughts on America's next hipster cities? The Gardens at Twin Hickory, an apartment home community in Glen Allen, VA wants to know! With music festivals, cool restaurants, and a great downtown, Richmond surely qualifies.

In order to crown the next emerging hip city, CultureMap ran a poll asking what readers think the next hipster city of America is. The consensus? Richmond, Virginia by a landslide (72% of votes).  The other contenders were shoved aside by Richmond's city-wide push for the title. Congratulations, Richmond, you're the next hipster city of America!

CultureMap

There is plenty to do around the Richmond area on this countdown to Halloween week. If you haven’t gotten out of your apartment in Glen Allen, VA to take advantage of the frightening festivities yet, here is the last call for haunted happenings in the Richmond area.
 
Halloween Countdown

Halloween Haunt: Kings Dominion's spine-tingling Halloween attraction, 7 p.m.-midnight Friday to Sunday through Oct. 30 at the theme park in Doswell.

Creepy Hollow Hayride and Scream Forest: Haunted hayride or macabre walk in the woods, 7:30-midnight Friday and Saturday nights at Creepy Hollow. This attraction may not be suitable for young children.

Blood Lake Haunted Trail: A terror-filled outdoor walk. Friday and Saturday night at Windy Hill Sports Complex. Richmond's most cruel and unusual spirits descend on the lake at Windy Hill to spread terror south of the James! Blood Lake at Windy Hill is an outdoor haunted trail attraction. If you love being scared or watching your friends scream in terror, then you don't want to miss this year's trail.