Community Blog

Good morning, Meadows residents!

We just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for being residents of our beautiful community.  Not only do we value you, but we also value your time.  We know that you are on the go, so we have thought of a way to make things more convenient.  You can now pay your rent online, submit maintenance requests, and read our community newsletter, all through our resident portal!

We here at The Meadows at Meridian hope that you will take advantage of this service, so you can take care of everything without ever having to leave your home.  Of course, you are still welcome to come into the office to do these things in person, or just to say hello!

To access the resident portal, click here.

Planning an adventure for yourself? Ladies, if you’re planning on setting out on a trip on your own, there are a bunch of things that you should keep in mind (guys, too!).  It goes without saying that it’s easier to travel with someone else, but that doesn’t mean that traveling by yourself isn’t very rewarding.

There are lots of things that you can do on your own that you couldn’t do with someone else, like gaining your independence.  It’s one thing to be independent on your own turf, but quite another to have to navigate around an unfamiliar place with no one you know to help you.  That’s part of what makes it exciting!

Keeping in mind the challenges and benefits to solo travel, here are some things to consider for your trip:

1. Research customs, religions, and appropriate dress for wherever you’re going if you decide to travel abroad.
2. Carry enough cash, but not too much.  Make sure you have some cash on you in the event that a merchant does not take credit cards but, just like here in the States, it is never smart to carry a large amount just in case something happens.  What if you leave your purse somewhere or it gets taken?
3. Keep photocopies of everything.  That means your birth certificate, passport, and driver’s license.  You never know when you might need it.  As an extra safeguard, leave copies with someone at home as well.
4. Make sure someone knows where you are and when you’ll be back.  If you decide to change your plans, keep them in the loop.  This is helpful when a friend or family member needs to get in touch with you for whatever reason and eliminates their fear of the unknown.

Rebecca Waldron at SheKnows.com has plenty more tips for traveling alone, so stop on by her page!

Meadows residents, tell us all about some of your experiences with solo travel!

Of course, we love our town; that’s why we’re here.  But what made you choose our area to live in? Maybe you now live close to your family or your office is nearby.  Regardless of your reason, we’re glad you chose Parker (and Meadows at Meridian!) as your home.  Take the poll below and let us know what you love about it or feel free to leave some feedback for us in the comments section.

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Labor Day weekend is coming up, so it’s time to do some planning! There may be no better way to spend that weekend than to participate in A Taste of Colorado.  It is now in its 27th year, and it is currently Colorado’s largest free-admission outdoor event, taking place at Civic Center Park.  Every year, over 500,000 visitors come out to check out a host of national and local musical acts, who will perform on 6 entertainment stages.  Performances will include many genres, including some children’s performances.

In addition, educational programming on the diverse cultural and Western heritage of the area will be a highlight of the weekend and of course, no festival would be complete without food! More than 50 of Colorado’s favorite food establishments will participate, and a culinary showcase and fine dining area will be available as well.

Labor Day weekend will be the time to get your shopping done, as over 270 marketplace artisans and vendors will be on hand.  With all these opportunities to shop, listen, and learn, you’ve got lots of reasons to stop by A Taste of Colorado!

Meadows residents, will you be there?

In the mood for some fresh Mexican food tonight? Try Las Delicias, a traditional Mexican eatery on Main Street.  Whether you’re craving a burrito, enchiladas, or a nice bowl of chili, they’ve got you covered.  Their extensive menu, which includes several desserts, offers both a la carte options and full meals for a reasonable price.

In the event that you just don’t feel up to going out for the night, why not cook your own meal with a little Mexican flair? Here is a recipe for green chili that will knock your socks off.  Give it a try and let us know how it works out.

Green Pork Chili

Lots of people who are watching their weight or are training for a sporting event struggle with what to eat when they are on the road. Often, there is a lack of healthy options available, so what do you do? Here are a few tips for how to survive your next trip, courtesy of Active.com:

1. Know what you need: Know what works best for you performance-wise and seek out restaurants that serve something similar. For example, if you typically go for chicken and vegetables, Chinese food might be your best bet. Pay attention to your body’s signals and you can’t go wrong!

2. Pack ahead: Bring high-protein snacks that will keep fresh for at least a few hours and remember to bring a snack to tide you over until you reach your destination, such as a bagel and cheese.

3. Pack in bulk: If you can, pack for most of your trip so you don’t have to worry about where your nutrients will come from. Dry goods and foods you can stick in the cooler work best.

4. Bring a water bottle: Don’t rely on the small bottles of water on the plane or you will surely land thirsty. Bring some sports drink powder packets with you to keep you from becoming dehydrated.

5. Always have a Plan B: Try to be flexible. You may not find exactly what you’re looking for, but there is always an alternative that will work for you if you search it out.

There you have it, folks. Now that you know these tips, you should be all set for your next road trip. So stop by Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage to stock up on healthy food on your way out of town.  Happy snacking!

What kinds of snacks do you bring along for fuel?

Football season is coming, so get amped up! Our Broncos are currently preparing for the season at training camp and we have no doubt that it’s going to be a memorable season.  Coverage is going to be everywhere, so if you can’t make it out to a game this year, you can always catch it on CBS 4 or 850 AM.

Assuming that your schedule allows, there are lots of games to choose from, starting with the preseason.  It’s only a few days away! So now that we’ve gotten you all excited, break out your jersey and get out there to show our team some support.  Here is the schedule for August and September.  Let’s go, Broncos!

Preseason:

August 15: Broncos at Cincinnati

August 21: Broncos vs. Detroit

August 29: Broncos vs. Pittsburgh

September 2: Broncos at Minnesota

Regular Season:

September 12: Broncos at Jacksonville

September 19: Broncos vs. Seattle

September 26: Broncos vs. Indianapolis

Melissa Etheridge, one of the most influential female singer/songwriters of our time, is coming to Denver! That’s right; she’ll be at The Buell Theatre next Tuesday, August 17, and she’s ready to rock.  You would be hard-pressed to find a music fan who hasn’t heard of this incredible hitmaker, and now you can join the ranks of those who have been lucky enough to see her live.

Melissa has 10 studio albums, 29 music videos, and 33 singles to her credit – an amazing career for someone who has the energy of a woman who is just getting started.  Here is a clip of her singing one of her amazing singles – “Refugee“:

Will you be in the audience next Tuesday? If so, come back here after the show and let us know what you thought of it.

Everyone loves a day (or night) at the movies, right? Well now there are plenty of reasons to get out there and see one.  This week has brought us new films like “The Other Guys,” “Flipped,” “Middle Men,” “Step Up 3D,” and more.  Whether any of these strike your fancy or you’ve still been holding out to see one of the other movies currently being shown, there are lots and lots of choices.

Stop over at UA Meadows 12 this weekend and check back in with us on what you decided to see.  Here is a listing of movie times, good through Sunday:

The Other Guys: 11:15am, 1:45, 4:45, 7:40, 10:20

Step Up 3: 11:35am, 2:05, 4:50, 7:50, 10:25

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore: 10:20am, 3:45, 6:50, 9:25

Charlie St. Cloud: 10:35am, 1:10, 4:00, 7:05, 9:55

Ramona and Beezus: 10:05am, 12:40, 3:55, 6:40, 9:40

Salt: 11:30am, 2:00, 4:40, 7:45, 10:15

Inception: 9:55am, 12:55, 4:15, 7:30, 10:40

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: 10:30am, 4:10, 9:50

Despicable Me: 10:10am, 1:25, 4:05, 6:45, 9:35

The Kids Are All Right: 10:40am, 1:15, 4:20, 7:15, 10:05

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: 10:15am, 1:35, 4:35, 7:35, 10:35

Toy Story 3: 1:05pm, 6:55

Lacrosse fans, get ready! The Denver Outlaws take on the Chicago Machine on Saturday, August 7th, at 1pm! This week’s game is at home, so get on down to INVESCO Field and watch the boys in action.

Tickets are very reasonably priced at $10, and for $37 you can be a VIP for the night.  If you’re hungry you can head to the food stands and pick up a brat, since this Saturday is Dollar Johnsonville Brat Day.

Watch the Machine run out of steam all over again, as they did on July 24 when we played against them, resulting in their 15-11 defeat.  This is your last opportunity to support the team before the championship game, so make it out if you can!

Let’s go, Outlaws!

Get a kick out of a game of soccer? The Rapids are ready to give you what you want, and they love having you out there to support them! Here is a list of upcoming games for August.  If you aren’t able to see the boys live, you can always catch them on KWGN-Ch 2.

Saturday, August 7: Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 7 pm – HOME GAME

Saturday, August 14: Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union at 2 pm – PPL Park

Saturday, August 21: Rapids vs. Columbus Crew at 5:30 pm – Columbus Crew Stadium

Saturday, August 28: Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo at 7:30 pm – HOME GAME

Let’s go Rapids!

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