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

No matter how friendly the support staff, or how comfortable the furniture package, you still may experience some homesickness while staying in corporate housing.  Here are a few tips to help you personalize and take ownership over your space: (more…)

The New York Times reported that Universal Studios in Orlando is unveiling a theme park within their theme park, fashioned after the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.  The park, called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, cost an estimated $265 million to construct and will relieve some of Universal’s dependency on Marvel characters for attractions, as Marvel was just purchased by Walt Disney.  Wizarding World will feature rides such as Flight of the Hippogriff, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  The park is fashioned after the fictional Hogsmeade, a wizarding town described in the series.  There’s also Hogwarts Castle, which although only 150 feet tall appears to tower at a height of 600 feet due to special effects.  The park is expected to capitalize on the books popularity and draw in a percentage of the millions of fans that love Harry Potter.  The Harry Potter Books have been translated into 67 languages, and when the final installment of the series was published, it sold 11 million copies in the first 24 hours.  If Wizarding World can cash in on even a fraction of this popularity, it will surely recoup its investment. And if you’re staying in Orlando corporate housing, be sure to check out what is sure to be a popular new attraction.

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…)

Tampa is at first glance a 9-to-5, all-business kind of city.  If you’re in town on a temporary assignment or relocating to the area, you may want to carefully weigh your options for corporate housing.  After all, the right neighborhood can make a difference in your stay.  Here are four neighborhoods that will leave you feeling as though you’ve discovered the Fountain of Youth: (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.”

Forbes.com recently reported that Minneapolis-St.Paul is the least expensive place to live according to its geographic region.  In order to reach this conclusion, Forbes.com compared elements such as cost-of-living with quality of life measures such as crime rate and divided the country into regions.  The city ranked number 3 overall, and its high ranking was attributed to good salaries and the wealth of cultural opportunity that the city affords.  Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.com, was quoted in the article as saying “The best place to be is on the fringe of one of those cities.   An hour or so outside of town, you’re still close enough to feel the influence of the high wage areas.”
Here are three suburbs of Minneapolis to consider when relocating to the area, or if you’re on temporary assignment and staying in corporate housing there: (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…)