Insider Tips
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Ever wonder how to make the most of your summer around your East Lansing Apartment? I have a simple clue on how to answer this question. Take a visit to any local lakes in Michigan and I can assure you that your summer will be better. East Lansing’s very own Lake Lansing is a good place to start, and is about 10 minutes away from your MSU apartment.
Lake Lansing offers horse shoe pits, boat rentals, sand volleyball courts, a snack bar, fishing dock, and a play ground at the beach! On top of this you have the beautiful water to hop in afterwards to cool down from all of the action. With all of these activities and opportunities it is sure to spice up your summer around your MSU student apartment!
What else do you like to do during the summer?
- Emily J
Tags: Beaches in the East Lansing Area, east lansing apartments, things to do in east lansing, things to do in Summer, Ways to cool down in the summer heat
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Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Ever felt like life is too busy? So many things to do day in and day out it may seem like a zoo? Well, take some time off your daily schedule, get out of your East Lansing apartment, and see what it’s really like at a zoo. Stop by your local zoo in Lansing, MI. The Potter Park Zoo is located right off Pennsylvania Ave.
For Ingham county residents admission is only $4! This is a nice,fun,easy, and affordable way to get out of your MSU apartment and escape into a real zoo.
Here at the Potter Park zoo they have an animal from almost every letter in the alphabet! Who wouldn’t want to see that?
The weather is getting nice so on the next beautiful day, stop by the Potter Park Zoo, and you won’t regret it!
-Emily
Tags: East Lansing Zoo, local zoo, MSU Zoo, Potter Park Zoo, Ways to play outside, ways to relax, What to do in spring
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Friday, February 26th, 2010
Twitter heads beware!!! Ok, I’m addicted to Twitter, so what, so are most of my friends. Everyday I wake in my apartment and reach over, grab my phone, just to tell all of my Twitter friends “Good Morning Tweeps”. I’m on Twitter all day, while working out at Chandler Crossings apartments, watching tv, or just hanging out with my friends. I am constantly updating the wonderful things that I come across throughout my day. I follow all of my buddies, celebrities and people who I do not know who follow me. And, if you can’t tell I love it!
What do you think of Twitter?
If you are a Twitterholic, follow me @erndollarsign
Until next time Tweeps!
Posted by Ernest M
Tags: College Entertainment, East Lansing Twitter, how to, MSU Twitter, Twiiter
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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
Being on a college budget conserving money is always a priority. But let’s face it, we still like to treat our selves to a nice meal. The Small Planet, located on Chandler Rd. near all three Chandler Crossings apartment communities, has an amazing deal every Saturday.
For just $5, you can receive two beverages of your choice and a 1/2 slab of BBQ ribs! Now, I know everyone is partial to their Hot N’ Ready Pizzas, but I don’t think I’m the only one who would rather have ribs for the same price. Plus, the Small Planet has tons of flat screen HD TVs to watch college football games on. Talk about game day central.
I hope you enjoy my cheap meal tip.
- Ryan Shaul
Tags: Cheap Meals, East Lansing Cheap Dining, MSU cheap meals, MSU discount dining, MSU discounts
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Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Are you ready for a change? Sometimes a simple haircut can change your whole style. Whether its bangs or a bob, new layers can really switch it up. However, sometimes cutting off a few inches puts a bigger dent in your wallet.
However, at Twisted Scissors, located in the Hannah Plaza off of Hagadorn, they know that East Lansing college students don’t have a lot to spend and when you bring in your student ID you get an automatic discount. I walked out the door with new bangs and natural sunkissed highlights for $45!!! No more excuses for those split ends and out of date hair styles.
Sometimes its hard to take a big leap into changing your ‘do’ but this friendly staff will be there and talk you through every step. They are an exclusive Redken salon and all of the technicians are trained to provide all of the latest styles and trends.
- Patrizia
Tags: Cheap Hair Cuts, Cheap MSU Hair Cut, East Lansing Hair Cut, MSU Hair Salon, Student Discount Hair Cut
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Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Halloween is just around the corner folks! Better start planning your costume, party, or night on the town. East Lansing is one of the best places to be on Halloween because you are sure to see some Spartans in hilarious costumes and there an abundance of places to have a great time. Whether you are looking to go out clubbing or just want a chill night enjoying cider and donuts, there are local places that have everything you are looking for! Here is all the information you need to make this Halloween “spooktacular!”
Places to get costumes:
Spirit Halloween- right in Eastwood Townecenter has a ton of awesome halloween apparel and party accessories for reasonable prices.
Shop online- if you start your shopping now you can probably still get your costume on time and get a great deal. Start surfin’ and you’ll start saving.
Fall festivities:
Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns is only a hop, skip and a jump away from your MSU apartment to a great time! With hayrides, pumpkin picking, home made cider, live music, wine tasting, donuts, a really cute little store and plenty of Fall fun, you have to go there. I went there a couple years ago on a cold, rainy day and still had fun. The cider and donuts are amazing and they have really good baked products that they create right in their bakery, not to mention an awesome corn maze. If you check out their website you can also make plans to stop by on a day where they have live music, or special events for kids.
Trick-or-Treating: East Lansing holds Trick-or-Treating on Halloween day, October 31st from 6 to 8pm.
Corn Mazes: Its a good thing East Lansing is surrounded by vast farm land, because it definitley makes Fall that much better. Check out the corn mazes in Williamston and Mason for a awesome time full of adventure! Rates are pretty cheap, especially if you bring a group. (about $7-$10 per person)
Nightlife:
The local radio station 97.5 is supporting a local restaurant hop that supplies free entry and transportation to make your Halloween extra fun and safe.
A night out at Small Planet, October 31st starting at 9pm. Full of prizes, and live music! Everyone 18 and up welcome!
- Katelyn Moore
Tags: East Lansing Halloween Activities, East Lansing Halloween Events, MSU Halloween Events, MSU Halloween Ideas, MSU Halloween Parties
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Monday, August 10th, 2009
Picture by egotvonline.com
I know as a student in East Lansing, it is important to carefully monitor my piggy bank. I thought I would share my ideas for saving some cash and I hope that you will add your ideas in as well. You can never have too many great ways to save money so here are a few more!
1. Sell your unused clothing or buy gently used clothing at places like Plato’s Closet. There is one right in East Lansing, and several other locations throughout Michigan. Many Michigan State and Chandler Crossings residents have found great deals here.
2. Ebay! Buy or sell, you can always get a great deal on items like electronics, books, clothing and decorations. You can also get really cool, unique items that you might not be able to find anywhere else. Craigslist and AllMSU are other good local sites for shopping around for new and used items.
3. Shop around and save! I know stores like Meijer and Kroger post weekly ads online so you can view them and see which place has the best deals on the items that you need.
4. B.I.B. Buy in Bulk! Hit up your local Sam’s Club or Costco for bulk items like T.P. and snacks. They usually offer student discounts on membership fees. You can save even more by going in on a membership with your roommates and shopping together!
5. Buy generic brands! Many major stores such as Meijer, Walmart, Kroger and Rite Aid will have their own store brand or generic labels for many items that we use everyday. Buying these products can save you a significant amount of money and they are still great quality products.
6. Bottle your own water! Buy a Brita Filter and a few eco-friendly water bottles and refill them on your own. Buying bottled water is a big waste of money and damaging to our environment. Keep a few ready in your fridge for you to grab on the go!
7. Pay your bills on time! Get a calendar or planner and keep track of due dates. Many places will charge at least $20 for late fees on large bills and movie rentals returned late are also a wasted expense.
If you have any shopping secrets please share them here!
-Katelyn Moore
Tags: college budget, East Lansing money saving ideas, msu students save money, Save money
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Friday, August 7th, 2009
After living in East Lansing for three years, I thought about all of the great places we have to offer. From the beautiful MSU campus, downtown life and shopping centers at Eastwood, the Chandler Crossings Crew has narrowed down the list to our favorites. This is a great opportunity for you to be a tourist in your own town, whether you have been here for a while or are new to the area! Please let us know if there are any places you would like to add on to the East Lansing Favorites List!
Best Places to Live:
Duh! The Club, The Landings and The Village at Chandler Crossings!
With their amazing amenities, all inclusive living and fun atmospheres it is the perfect home for East Lansing residents. All three sites have fitness centers, computer labs, swimming pools, spas, basketball courts, volleyball courts and many fun resident activities. Its all about convenience, rent includes FREE Internet, cable, water and sewage! Your college life isn’t complete without an apartment at one of these great locations!
Best places to eat:
Applebee’s has a great deal, two for $20 and half off appetizers after 9pm Sunday through Thursday. I love the atmosphere and the friendly staff.
PF Chang’s in Eastwood Town Center has the greatest Chinese food in town! With a beautifully themed interior and great service, you can’t go wrong. Enjoy the evening inside, or get take out for a reasonable price.
Hall of Fame Cafe, this sports grill is all MSU! This place has a great atmosphere with plenty of MSU memorabilia and features all of the games on many big screen TV’s. I recommend catching a game or two here for sure!
El Azteco, this list wouldn’t be complete without great Mexican food! El Azteco has great specials and a fun atmosphere with awesome Mexican cuisine. Come here for a night out with your pals, or just for a good meal.
OMI Sushi has awesome California Rolls and Potstickers, it’s right off of M.A.C and Grand River. Also, if you’re feeling feisty for dessert, ask for the fried Green Tea Ice Cream! There’s nothing like it!
Knight Cap is a great steak house, perfect for a date night since it is a little pricier. It has a really nice, small but intimate atmosphere.
Clara’s Lansing Station, Restaurant is a unique and fun place to eat because it used to be an actual train station at one time. Great food and cool historical setting.
Bravo, has amazing food! This is a nice classy place for dates, or special occasions. There is a nice variety on the menu, but they are famous for their Italian cuisine.
Yuki, this is an awesome Japanese Steakhouse a little on the pricey side but it is great for a group outing.
Woody’s Oasis, this is a cool place with healthy Mediterranean Cuisine. Also a fun place to go with friends for drinks.
Best places to shop:
Meridian Mall(this is actually in Okemos, but close enough right?!) This mall has all of the most popular stores and many restaurants too.
Eastwood Town Center, I love this outdoor mall because it is nice and convenient for Chandler Crossings Apartments since its only a mile or two away. Stores like Forever 21, Dicks Sporting Goods and American Eagle are top favorites of many students. Don’t forget to stop by the many restaurants in Eastwood too! (Check them out under the Best places to eat section)
The East Lansing Farmer’s Market is a great seasonal place to get fresh foods from our local vendors. Enjoy the great atmosphere on Sundays from 10am to 3pm in downtown East Lansing at Valley Court Park.
Downtown East Lansing, Urban Outfitters, Mad Eagle, The Refinery, Moosejaw and SBS bookstore. Always a fun stroll down the strip, and right on campus!
Best places to go out:
The Small Planet is a great place to eat and to catch concerts too! I caught a Thriving Ivory concert here and it was a ton of fun. I liked the setup because we were really close to the stage and the prices were great too. They also offer a big menu featuring all sorts of appetizers and entrees that are definitely worth trying!
Conxxtions Comedy Club, hilarious fun! Fun place to go out with friends and they have good deals to see semi-famous comedians.
Harpers, half off deals before midnight and great food! Downstairs is a pretty cool club with a nice dance floor. Cool place to catch a game, or chill out on the patio.
Buffalo Wild Wings, also a great place to eat, but an even better place for nightlife. Always a good choice to watch sports events. Of course their wings are deelish too!
NCG cinema in Eastwood Town Center, a nice updated theatre with really comfy chairs! They also have student deals!
Best places to play:
Hawk Hollow Golf Course is a beautiful course with reasonable pricing and fun times.
East Lansing Soccer Complex, home of the East Lansing soccer team, you can always catch a good game here, or start a game of your own! It is also a great place to throw a ball around with your pals or your puppy pal.
Hawk Island, dog parks, beach, walking trails, boat rentals, picnic pavilion’s and volleyball! Fun is a sure thing!
Family Aquatic Center, off of Abbott Rd there is a fun water park, dog park and baseball diamonds. It also has trails running through it that are nice to walk.
Best places to study:
Biggby Coffee has many locations throughout East Lansing and offer create coffee and baked goods along with a cozy and quiet atmosphere. Not to mention the founder of Biggby was a MSU graduate himself so its great to help out one of our very own!
MSU Union, comfy couches and plenty of food choices all in one area!
So tell me, did I miss anything? Do you have any favorites that are not on my list? If so, please share. What can I say other than I love East Lansing!
-Posted by Katelyn Moore
Posted in Insider Tips | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
MSU's Grand River Shops and Restaurants
As an MSU student, East Lansing has made quite a home for you during your education. So what’s there to do? We hear that all the time. That’s why we’ve created a pretty sweet East Lansing lifestyle list of what to do, where to shop, dine and what to see. We want to give you the ins and outs to make your college experience complete. See something that we’ve missed? Please share it with us so we can add it to our ongoing list. We love to hear about the small “hole in the wall” restaurant that serves the best food you’ve ever tasted.
Thank you East Lansing for helping us make our MSU student apartments more than a home.
- Joanna
Tags: Chandler Crossings Websites, east lansing, east lansing shopping, MSU Lifestyles, MSU restaurants, MSU Shopping, MSU Students, What's to do around MSU
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Friday, May 29th, 2009
I don’t know about you, but every now and again I need to do something different. I can only play so many games of Madden, (of which, I dominate), before I get restless. My friend had told me about a DJ he saw earlier in the week at The Small Planet, and said that I just had to see this guy. Admittedly, I was initially skeptical. How different could a DJ be from any other DJ?
I stand corrected.
DJ Rod P mixes music, puts the chorus on loop, and then plays his violin along with other instruments along with the beat!
Click here for The Small Planet Event Calendar
In all my years being a Michigan State University student, I’ve never been more entertained and blown away from a performance.
If anyone is looking for a night out, and something different to do, check him out every Monday night at The Small Planet, located at 16800 Chandler Rd, next to The Village Market. The show starts at 8 PM, and if you’re a Chandler Crossings resident with a Small Planet Chandler Card, admission is free.
You wont be disappointed. Feel free to share your thoughts when you go see him for yourself.
-Ryan
Tags: Chandler Crossings Events, Cool DJ's, East Lansing Night Life
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