Happy Halloween!

Have a great Halloween Rockoff Hall!  Stay safe and have fun!

The Daily Targum's Rockoff Hall Article

The Daily Targum has written a great article about Rockoff Hall.  Rockoff Hall has become a great off-campus housing alternative.   The residency will be under Rutgers jurisdiction until May 2014.  You can learn more in the article below.






For the first time, students will not have to stress over lottery numbers to snag a bed in Rockoff Hall.

The New Brunswick Development Corporation sold the George Street apartment building to McKinney Properties in January 2013, making the 674-bed apartment complex another off-campus housing alternative, said E.J. Miranda, director of University Media Relations.

Miranda said the property will remain under Rutgers jurisdiction until May 2014, at which point it will transition to a private residence.

David Strassberg, leasing manager for Rockoff Hall, said like any other commercial property, students could take tours of the building, fill out an application and sign a lease.

He said one advantage to living in Rockoff is the by-the-bed leasing model.

“If you were to go to any other apartment building in the area, and say you and your roommate were to sign a lease, you would both be held equally responsible for the lease term,” Strassberg said.

For most apartments, if one roommate cannot afford to pay the month’s rent or has to break the lease, their actions would be a breach of contract and would reflect badly on all of the roommates’ credit, Strassberg said.

“It’s shocking how many students end up having their credit ruined because they were held responsible when a roommate didn’t pay his or her share of the lease and the utilities,” Strassberg said in a news release.

At Rockoff, he said, it is no longer a problem.

“Here, it’s by-[the]-bed, meaning if you were to sign a lease, you’re only responsible for your part of that lease agreement,” Strassberg said.

Rodd Werstil, managing director of real estate investments for McKinney Properties, said this is the first time this nationally recognized student housing leasing model is coming to Rutgers.

He said aside from being out of the lottery system, Rockoff Hall is offering students a roommate matching system.

If students want to rent a house in New Brunswick, he said they need to know the six or seven others they are living with before they go to the landlord.

“With Rockoff, you can come there, say, ‘Hey it’s only the two of us, we don’t know another group of people, we don’t have another group that wants to live with us, but we would like two bedrooms in a four-bedroom unit,’” Werstil said.

Werstil said staff will assist in matching individuals or roommate pairs with two or three other students to live with based on a compatibility survey.

He said Rockoff will remain primarily student housing.

“I think it will … by its very nature, because of where it’s located and who it attracts, and because of the existing relationship with Rutgers, I think it’s likely to end up just being Rutgers students,” Werstil said.

The price is still being worked out, but Werstil predicts the apartments will be less expensive than they were when Rutgers owned them.

He said dishwashers will be added to all of the units, which can alleviate roommate stress.

“We’re highly amenitized,” Werstil said. “Business center, common areas, lounges, we’re upgrading some of those amenities, and I think that, coupled with the roommate matching system and the lease situation, will attract students.”

Strassberg is setting up a student question-and-answer session with the Rutgers University Student Assembly to publicize Rockoff’s new ownership.

“The property itself is beautiful — all amenities are included, we don’t charge for electric, water, gas, heat. … So they’re just paying for rent and a lot is included for them,” Strassberg said.

They are in the process of expanding the gym and adding a pool table for residents, he said. Some lounges already have flat screen televisions.

Things You Need in Every Apartment

Is this your first apartment?  There are always a few things that you will want to have in every apartment.  Check out this list of five objects to keep with you through out all of your apartments that you will rent and own.  Keep reading to learn more.  There are more great apartment tips on apartment therapy.

If you're in the market for your first apartment, chances are you don't have a lot of cash to throw around. But remember, kids, buying the cheapest version of what you need isn't always the smartest budgeting strategy. Investing in quality classics that will last you through many moves is worth more than all the Lack dressers you'll abandon over the years.


1. Key rack — Congrats, you're officially an adult. From now on, you'll never be keyless again so do yourself a favor and get a system in place right now for keeping track of those pesky little buggers.

2. Good tools — Just ask your dad! You'll never regret money spent on basic, good quality, long lasting tools.

3. At least one good pot and one good knife — Go for classic, useful and portable. Owning a few great kitchen basics is better than a whole drawer of plastic gadgets. Take care of them and they'll outlive you.

4. Noise Machine — As you'll soon discover, apartment living gets noisy. The sooner you find a solution, the easier your transitions to each subsequent apartment will be. A soothing noise machine can go a long way toward solid mental health, not an area worth skimping on.

5. A piece of art you love — When you find something that you just have to have, go for it. Art grows with you; the longer you keep it, the more it reminds you of all the places you've been and how far you've come.

Plan Your Winter or Spring Break

Different cities require different amounts of planning for your ideal vacation.  Take a look at these great city guides, that can help you decide what to see in each city.  There are tons of guides for different cities throughout the United States.  You can also check out grandparents.com for more info.

Atlanta

From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta has always been a city rich in history. Explore all of this and more as you sip on a Coca-Cola (first sold in Atlanta in 1886), or take a walk through Centennial Olympic Park. Find travel information about Atlanta here >>

Austin

This capital city in the heart of Texas is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, drawing international crowds for festivals like South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. But all visitors will find Austin is full of “weird” surprises! Find travel information about Austin here >>

Boston

Historic and modern, educational and fun, Boston offers something for everyone in the family. It also happens to be one of the most “kid-centric” locales in the country. Trace our national heritage from Back Bay to Beacon Hill and points beyond. Find travel information about Boston here >>

Chicago

With its scenic skyline and riverfront, the Windy City is must-see destination for all ages. old-school meets new-school attractions. Find travel information about Chicago here >>

Cleveland

To the world, Cleveland is The Rock and Roll Capital, C-Town, and home of the sports greats. To Clevelanders, however, this is just home. But don’t let the quiet reserve fool you. This city is full of great history and culture. Find travel information about Cleveland here >>

Las Vegas

Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. . Find travel information about Las Vegas here >>

Los Angeles

The City of Angels offers countless options for a getaway. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills are irresistible, but so are funkier enclaves like Koreatown and the breathtaking views along the Pacific. Find travel information about Los Angeles here >>

Minneapolis

The City of Lakes and City of Nature — better known as Minneapolis — is a wonderful place to experience the great outdoors. The city’s parks department has been called one of the best-designed and best-maintained in America. Find travel information about Minneapolis here >>

New Orleans

As one of the oldest cities in the country, New Orleans is steeped in history, art and Southern Hospitality. Its diverse fabric has given birth to cultural icons and structures, such as the French Quarter and Garden District, and of course hip-swinging jazz. Find travel information about New Orleans here >>

New York City

NewYork City is often called the center of the universe, and for good reason! There’s always something happening in The Big Apple, whether it’s a magician doing card tricks in Washington Square Park or a mariachi band performing in a subway car. Find travel information about New York City here >> 

Philadelphia

Nestled on the shores of two rivers, Philadelphia is unmistakably urban, but the countryside is only a short drive from Center City. Bring on the cheese steak! Find travel information about Philadelphia here >>

Providence

As one of the first cities in the U.S., Providence has a lot of history, culture and water. . Find travel information about Providence here >>

San Diego

With its beautiful beaches, amazing attractions (like the famous San Diego Zoo), and mild temperatures, San Diego has all of the ingredients for a great vacation year-round. Find travel information about San Diego here >>

San Francisco

The City by the Bay has lured adventurers to its shores even before the fabled Gold Rush. Today, its reputation lies in its status as the epicenter of innovation. The kids will love the city's diversity, from the great outdoors to its cultural institutions. Find travel information about San Francisco here >>

Seattle

Rain or shine, Seattle is the most vibrant and interesting city in the Pacific Northwest. While its a safe bet to expect a few gray days during your visit, there is plenty of outdoor and indoor fun to be had. Find travel information about Seattle here >>

10 Quick and Easy Meals

Are you in a time crunch between classes, jobs, and activities?  Check out these ten great meals that you can make in under ten minutes.  You can learn more about quick easy meals at The Kitchn.

 
1. Quick and Easy Fried Rice: Fried rice can come together even faster than 10 minutes if you happen to have a good selection of leftovers floating around. It's the end-all recipe to using up leftover rice and is tasty enough to eat for any meal of the day — yes even breakfast.

2. Apple-Arugula Salad Wraps: Although wraps seem more like a lunch food, for a quick dinner they can contain actual food groups and even do away with dishes if needs be. Perfect, no clean up!

3. Thai Crab Salad with Chili, Ginger, and Coconut: Since this meal merely needs to be chopped and tossed, it's quick to throw together and has big bold flavors that will satisfy without a laundry list of ingredients.

4. Miso Soup: Miso soup is perfect for those worried about over cooking tofu as it simply warms in this rich broth and suddenly, dinner is served! Check out this version with a poached egg — extra tasty!

5.The BEST Pancakes Ever: Pancakes might traditionally be breakfast food, but they're perfect for any meal in fact... we want some right now!

6. Egyptian Tomato Soup: This recipe just barely passes the 10 minute mark, but it can be made entirely from your pantry so there's minimal chopping or prep — making it a winner in our book!

7. Friday Night Slow-Cooked Brisket and Onions: So technically speaking this meal takes 5-8 hours to make, but there's really only 10 minutes of prep work involved. Make it before you head out the door to work and when you return dinner is already done for you!

8. Spicy Grilled Shrimp: These shrimp get a quick brine before hitting the grill, but since they cook up so quick, we're willing to overlook the extra brining time (only 30 minutes). Just make sure to drop them in the brine the second you come home from work or possibly lessen the salt and brine them while you're away (so they don't get too salty) to make things extra easy.

9. Thai-Style Omelet (Kai Jeow): This recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes which might even leave you time to walk the dog or check your email before dinner!

10. Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Corn, Goat Cheese, and Oven-Roasted Tomatoes: This meal is labeled as a 10 minute dish and mixes up with many things that you probably already have on hand.

What are your favorite no-time, extra-quick weeknight meals?