Blog Posts

Enjoy a Seafood Thanksgiving

Seafood isn’t usually on the menu when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, but this year might be the exception. Enjoy making a few of these Thanksgiving-inspired seafood recipes, courtesy of our team at the Saint James Place apartment community in Milwaukee, WI. One of the staples of Thanksgiving is stuffing. We found this great-looking recipe for Savannah Seafood Stuffing made with bell peppers, crabmeat, shrimp, and more. With more than 46 positive reviews, this is definitely one worth making. One reviewer said, “I made this one Thanksgiving and it has now become a family favorite. It is very good. I do a few things differently. I use red and yellow peppers instead of green. I like the taste of them better. I also mix regular bread crubs with cornbread crumbs. This is also very good. A great dish.” Julian Brunt shared a few ways to include a “morsel of salty sea on our Thanksgiving tables.” In this article for Bradenton Herald about why you should include seafood in your meal , Brunt shares recipes for fried oysters and seafood stew, all while inviting people to consider having a seafood Thanksgiving. Lombardi’s Seafood of Winter Park, Florida claims that the first Thanksgiving meal actually featured “a ton of seafood,” including mussels, bass, lobster, and clams. With an invitation to “revitalize the original Thanksgiving meal,” Lombardi’s invites us all to include fresh seafood options at the Thanksgiving dinner table. “If you want to incorporate seafood into your appetizer menu, one option is a delicious crab chowder. Chowder is a comfort food that’s perfect for cooler weather. The chowder can be served in small ramekins, presenting small portions in a beautiful way. If you’re not a huge fan of crab, you can also try mussel chowder or a dish of mussels and curds. “Crab cakes also make a great appetizer. Crab cakes are always fun because you can make them as small or as large as you like, and you can even have fun experimenting with different sauces. Don’t just limit yourself (and your guests) to remoulade and tartar sauce. Try a lemon-dill, spicy mustard, lemon-herb, or avocado sauce. You can also put crab cakes on a bun and make crab cake sliders.” Read about more suggestions, like oyster dressing and swordfish, by reading the full article . Still not sure about adding seafood to the menu? Do a test run! With more than two weeks left until Thanksgiving, why not make a few of these meals beforehand to see which one you like best? Share your experience in the comments. Happy Thanksgiving!

Its National Seafood Month

This month, the Saint James Place Apartments Blog is bringing residents suggestions for celebrating National Seafood Month. Check out local restaurants like J J Fish & Chicken, Hook Fish & Chicken, Milwaukee Sail Loft, and Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack. Get out of your Milwaukee, WI apartment and sink your teeth into some of the best seafood around. J J Fish & Chicken We have the perfect way for you to celebrate National Seafood Month. Visit your local seafood, J J Fish & Chicken today! On March 8, 1982, James J. Green went in search of the American dream, he founded JJ Fish, a small store where he sold fresh fish to his customers and then charged $1.00 to fry it for them in his secret batter. Through his love and dedication, he turned his small store into a very successful business. J J Fish & Chicken is about a 7-minute trip from St. James Place Apartments. Enjoy the tasty shrimp, oysters, catfish, ocean perch, and more! Never tried catfish nuggets? Now you can! Hook Fish & Chicken Here, they specialize in crafting mouth-watering meals and providing superb customer service. Enjoy deliciously cooked Tilapia, Catfish, and more. Hook Fish & Chicken is about an 18-minute drive from St. James Place Apartments. If you’d rather not wait for your food, feel free to order online and then pick it up! Milwaukee Sail Loft “Our mission is to make each visit nothing short of the finest experience. With our friendly staff and waterfront location, we strive to provide you with seamless service and a remarkable experience.” In a short 20-minute drive you’ll be able to taste delicious entrees like Crawfish Gumbo, Fresh Halibut, and Tequila Lime Mahi. Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack This riverside seafood shack offers a variety of fresh seafood, crab, ribs and specialty drinks. After taking a 20-minute drive you’ll find a menu filled with enough crab and other seafood options to satisfy your cravings. What are your favorite seafood restaurants in Milwaukee, WI? Leave the name in the comments so that we can check it out. Thanks for reading!

Stay Positive in September

We all know the lyrics to the famous Bob Marley song — “Don’t worry; be happy.” In this post, the St. James Blog is featuring a few tips to help you feel happy this month. We are highlighting a book, TED talks, and a movie that we think will help cheer you up this month. We hope that you have a very happy month here in Milwaukee, WI! Book The Happiness Project (Revised Edition) by Gretchen Rubin “ Award-winning author Gretchen Rubin is back with a bang, with The Happiness Project . The author of the bestselling 40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill has produced a work that is ‘a cross between the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love .’ (Sonya Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want ) In the vein of Julie and Julia, The Happiness Project describes one person’s year-long attempt to discover what leads to true contentment. Drawing at once on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world applicability, Rubin has written an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation.” TED Talks There are plenty of great TED talks out there about achieving happiness. Check out the official TED website to find a TED talk that will cheer you up and make September seem a lot brighter and happier. We are featuring one of our favorite TED talks, by the great writer Pico Iyer, below. The art of stillness by Pico Iyer “So, in an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still. So you can go on your next vacation to Paris or Hawaii, or New Orleans; I bet you'll have a wonderful time. But, if you want to come back home alive and full of fresh hope, in love with the world, I think you might want to try considering going nowhere.” Movies Moana (2016) “ An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.” Almost Famous (2000) “Almost Famous” has everything we love in a good story — romance, comedy, and Jimmy Fallon as an eccentric band manager. Teenager William is hired as a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine and heads out on the road to write about a new band, Stillwater. William learns a lot touring with the band, but the best advice he receives comes from the legendary rock critic, Lester Bangs: “The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.” Do you have any advice to help us cheer up? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Book Club

This month the St. James Place Blog is featuring our favorite tips and tricks to help you start your own book club, along with a few book recommendations. Start your own book group this August and read on to learn more. We hope that you have a great month here in Milwaukee, WI! Book Recommendation The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel “ In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries...It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.” Tips Limit the Length Remember to limit the length of both your book club books and your meetings. No one wants to spend two hours discussing a read (even a very interesting read), and five minutes probably isn’t long enough to have a meaningful discussion. Try to limit your book club discussions to about thirty minutes. Have one group member lead the discussion to keep everyone on track. Once your finished discussing your book, feel free to play games, have dessert, or just catch up! Also, remember to pick books long enough to spur a meaningful discussion, but short enough to read in a month. We recommend picking books that are one hundred to about two hundred and fifty pages long. Eat One of our favorite things about having our own book club? The treats! Make a dessert or two before your book club meetings. Make a signup sheet for your group members. They can sign up to bring both savory and sweet treats to your next book club discussion. These mini oreo cheesecakes from Live Well Bake Often are amazing. If you want something a little more savory, try these 5 ingredient hummus bites from Simply Whisked. Head to Your Local Library Sometimes the best place to get a book recommendation is your local library! Head to the Milwaukee Public Library for recommendations. They actually have a whole page of recommendations and reads. You can find it here . Do you have any book recommendations for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Independence Day in Milwaukee

In this post, the St. James Blog is featuring our favorite events and desserts for the Fourth of July. Celebrate America this month by celebrating one of our favorite summer holidays. Gather your friends and host a barbecue, or head out on the road for some exciting summer fun. We hope that you have a wonderful Fourth of July here in Milwaukee, WI! Events There are plenty of great events coming to Milwaukee, WI on the Fourth of July. From fireworks to food to fun, your Independence Day options are endless. We are highlighting one of our favorite events coming to the area below: Milwaukee 3rd of July Fireworks and Kite Festival 2017 “ There’s Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and probably some other Eves. Why not for good ol’ July 4th? The skies will be set on fire on July 3rd in addition to all of the other activities you’ve come to expect when celebrating Independence Day. Get your drink on, eat some killer food, listen to some live music and set off some fireworks to give those dark skies some color. ‘Merica!” You can find a list of Fourth of July events in the area here and here . Food Red Velvet 4th Of July Cupcakes from You Cup of Cake Use a box of red velvet cake mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla extract to make these sweet cupcakes. Top them with a light and fluffy cream topping made with cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy whipping cream. Finish these cupcakes off with fresh blueberries from your local farmers’ market. Brownie Flag Recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen This brownie flag recipe is the perfect Independence Day dessert. Try making this treat with butter, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, salt, baking powder, and chocolate chips. If you’re strapped for time, use a store bought brownie mix. Do you have any Fourth of July recipes we should try? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Boerner Botanical Garden

It’s summer and the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and we are ready to get out of our apartments! This month the Saint James Blog is featuring the Boerner Botanical Garden in Milwaukee, WI. Take a stroll through this beautiful garden sometime this month. Trust us — you’ll love it! The Boerner Botanical Garden is a monument to the hard work of Charles B. Whitnall and landscape architect Alfred L. Boerner . Whitnall spoke of for and campaigned for the garden, even when everyone else thought the idea was ridiculous. Thanks to his perseverance and hard work, the Boerner Botanical Garden opened in 1929. Alfred L. Boerner’s design made the Boerner Botanical Garden one of the most interesting and beautiful gardens in the country. The Boerner Botanical Garden is the home of twelve unique specialty gardens including the stunning Rose Garden, Arboretum, and Peony Garden. The Arboretum is “ a museum of native and introduced woody plants arranged by plant family for display, research and education. At the Arboretum unusual trees and shrubs from all over the world are grown for aesthetic appeal and hardiness.” Take a stroll through this beautiful garden before the month is through. Are you a fan of magnolias? Tulips? Chrysanthemums? The Boerner Botanical Garden publishes a bloom schedule to let guests know just when they can expect to see their favorite flowers at the garden. This month the wildflowers, bog garden, flowering plums, flowering cherries, flowering almonds, viburnums, crab apples, lilacs, and more are blooming. June is one of the best months to see most, if not all, of the flowers at the garden. You can find the full bloom schedule here . Admission to the garden is about $5.50 per person and the first Tuesday of every month is free. Groups of twenty or more people can be admitted for $4.50 per person. You can learn more about garden admission here . Have you ever been to the Boerner Botanical Garden? What was your favorite specialty garden? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!