Almost Home Blog – Corporate Housing Advice, News, and More

In a previous blog post, I mentioned that Chicago was listed as the most stressful city in the United States by Forbes.com.  Apparently Chicagoans play as hard as they work, because Forbes.com also reported on the most entertaining American cities.  With over 35,000 restaurants it’s no surprise that New York came in first.  But Chicago came in second, with over 15,000 restaurants, as well as tons of bars, cultural institutions and sporting venues. (more…)

Forbes reported that Chicago is the most stressful city in the United States. The magazine compared statistics such as the number of sunny days, the unemployment rate and the cost of living, among others. For the business traveler in Chicago, here are three ways to unwind after a long, stressful day. (more…)

SOFA, or Sculptural Objects Functional Art, is coming to Chicago November 6-8 this year.  Be sure to buy your tickets online.  The lecture series highlights the finest in international craft, and there is a film series as well.  Proceeds from this year’s benefit dinner honoring Sam Maloof goes toward the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Anderson Ranch Arts Center Maloof Scholarship Fund, and The Furniture Society Scholarship Program.  If you’re staying in Chicago corporate housing that weekend, be sure to check it out as it is the most significant craft show in the Midwest, and one of the most significant craft shows in the country.

For tricks and treats this Halloween there’s no place like Orlando.  If you’re staying in Orlando corporate housing, major attractions there offer themed events, such as SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, and DisneyWorld’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  While tickets to the events can be pretty pricey (moreso at Universal, where an express pass can run you close to $70), if you’re a Florida resident or an annual pass holder there are discounts available.  I’ve also heard rumors that major soft drink brands, and restaurants will offer promotion codes on their website that can be redeemed for discounts at the door.
At Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights costumes are discouraged and the intended audience are teenagers and adults.  The theme of the event changes every year, but it is always based on the company’s R-rated horror films.  The park features 8 elaborate haunted houses, “scarezones,” live shows, and many bars.  In fact, Halloween Horror Nights kind of has a reputation for being a boozefest.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party encourages children to come in costume. Costumes, I’m sure, can be purchased at the park.  Other venues for purchasing costumes in Orlando include Century Costumes, or Party City.  Each child is given a trick or treat bag that they can fill at candy stations throughout the park.  There’s a daytime parade that’s begun with a fantastic ride by the Headless Horseman, and at night there’s a fireworks spectacle entitled “Happy Hallowishes.”

Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that it will take 67 days to enjoy the more than 100 attractions that the city has to offer. The Orlando CVB recently announced the winners of the “67 Days of Smiles” social media contest. (more…)

There is a theory in social work known as the “broken window theory.” You can take a tenement building and pour money into further police patrols. Or you can fix all the broken windows. (more…)

Believe it or not, Philadelphia is a gastronaut’s paradise. (A gastronaut, in case you were wondering, is someone who plans their entire vacation around food.) (more…)

According to Liz Wolgemuth, writing in Yahoo Finance, “Economists at IHS Global Insight expect Louisiana will have lost just 2 percent of its jobs by the end of the recession and will have returned to its prerecession peak by 2012.” However, a particular star of the state is Shreveport (more…)

Relocating to Salt Lake City? Finding a job might be easier than you think. Yahoo recently reported that Salt Lake City is one of “America’s Best Places to Find a Job.” (more…)

The Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival presents nine plays this summer in Cedar City, Utah. See what The Salt Lake Tribune calls “powerfully assured storytelling.” (more…)