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November 01, 2007

A New Decade And A New Look For Evolve

Introducing the bold new look of Evolve for the next decade and beyond and a new tag line that sums up the goals for our business endeavors, plainly and succinctly... "live better".

New Evolve Logo

Evolve turned 10 years old last October!  Not bad considering most new small businesses barely last a year or two.  A few things have changed in that time.  Evolve started as a development company with just 1 property and 24 apartments on October 8, 1997.  Today Evolve offers property management and leasing agent services to more than 200 properties throughout Washington, DC. 

Our team has more than tripled in size in the past decade and we are THRILLED with the talented and dedicated team that we have assembled.  We've learned a lot of things in the past 10 years and we've made a few changes along the way but we continue to be committed more than ever to keeping the key philosophies that have made Evolve so popular with our residents, property owners and neighbors: top locations, quality buildings, appealing amenities, responsive service and most of all, Evovle will continue to recognize the central role each property plays in the structure of it's local community by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life of each neighborhood they are a part of.

We look forward to seeing what the next ten years will bring as we continue to look for new and innovative ways to help you live better.

Posted by Christopher Swanson at 08:25 AM |

Going Green: Change A Lightbulb

Compact Flourescent BulbThere's a good reason every article on the environment sings the praises of compact flourescent bulbs (CFLs) and they're lining shelves of home centers.  Installing one is the quieckest, easiest way to save energy- and money.  So the next time an incandescent bulb burns out, replace it with a CFL.  Unlike incandescents, CFLs convert most of the energy they use into light rather than hat.  They sonsume about 75 percent less electricity and last up to 10 times longer (10,000 hours as opposed to 1,500).  Though, remember most CFLs release a small amount of mercury if disposed of incorrectly.  Check with various hardware stores for tips about disposing of used CFLs. 

Green Light BulbGOOD FOR YOU:  When you replace one 75-watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt CFL you'll save up to $83 over the life of the bulb. 

Posted by Christopher Swanson at 07:40 AM |

Cooking With Chris: Next Day Turkey Soup

  • 2 quarts chicken broth Turkey Soup
  • 1 turkey carcass, all meat removed
  • 1 onion, halved, plus 1 onion, minced
  • 1 carrot, halved lengthwise, plus 1 carrot, minced
  • 1 whole stalk celery, plus 1 more stalk, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cups dark turkey meat
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 carrot, minced
  • 1 stalk celery, minced
  • 3 cups leftover cooked Thanksgiving side vegetables (Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, green beans)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
Put chicken broth, turkey, onion halves, carrot halves, 1 celery stalk, and 1 bay leaf in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer about 1 1/2 hours. Finely dice the remaining onion, carrot and celery and reserve.

Dice the turkey meat. Make sure meat pieces are no larger than the size of a soup spoon. (If preparing soup the next day, be sure to store leftover turkey meat in an airtight container before placing it in the refrigerator, top with 1 or 2 ladles full of broth to keep meat moist.)

Before straining broth, remove large bones and carcass with tongs. Strain the broth through a sieve, covered with wet cheese cloth. Discard the solids. Transfer broth to a bowl set in a bath of ice water, which will cool the broth quickly and help keep it fresher longer. This can be done the night before and stored in the refrigerator until the next day.

In a large soup pot, heat garlic cloves in the olive oil. Allow to brown slightly and add minced carrots, celery, and onion. Sweat over medium-low heat until softened, about 7 or 8 minutes.

Dice the leftover vegetables (here Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and green beans). Add the chopped sage to the soup pot along with the turkey broth and the remaining bay leaf. Bring to a simmer. When simmering, add Brussels sprouts, green beans and diced turkey meat to the soup. Bring it back up to a simmer. Finally, add the sweet potatoes to the center, and gently push them down. Turn the heat off and cover. Allow to sit and steam for 5 to 7 minutes.

Let simmer for 5 more minutes and serve.

Posted by Christopher Swanson at 07:34 AM |

Drinkin' With Jeff: Thanksgiving's A Breeze, Seabreezes

Thanksgiving Seabreeze1 cup orange juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup vodka
Mint sprigs, for garnish

Mix all in a chilled pitcher filled with ice. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with mint. If desired, place a dollop of leftover cranberry sauce in the bottom of each glass before filling with Seabreeze mixture.

Posted by Christopher Swanson at 07:30 AM |

Evolve Urban Arts Project: Final Weeks For Kindred Spirits

 

Marcel Taylor #2Final Weeks To See

Kindred Spirits

thru November 24, 2007

Monday - Friday 1 - 4PM

featuring works by Marcel Taylor

Additional appointments available by appointment.

Marcel Taylor #1Marcel Taylor’s work is noted for the urban spontaneity of his Cityscapes series, to the seductive imagery of his nude paintings, to his culturally inspired contemporary work.  The latter work, often impressionistic by design, draws upon cultural narratives, historical events, or his imagination to capture a moment in time or a single instance within a story. More expressionistic works, such as his abstract paintings of women, metaphorically reflects timeless ideas of feminine sensuality and strength.  Utilizing acrylic paint, Marcel formulates compositions of rich color palettes and texture. As the artist embraces artistic canons of his ancestors, the work often exhibits traditional artistic sensibilities such as pattern, symmetry, and symbolism. With vibrancy and texture, Marcel creates imagery of universal appreciation influenced by ancient aesthetics.

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More about this Featured Artist:

Marcel Taylor #3Marcel Taylor was born in 1970.  Raised in Houston, Texas, Marcel has been creating artwork for most of his life. Childhood influences included the art of John Biggers and his symmetrically intricate compositions, and the work of  Ernie Barnes and his elongated human figures.  Furthermore, as Marcel approached adulthood, a burgeoning interest in world history and culture begin to take shape.  Marcel found endless inspiration for his readings.  Encouraged by family, friends, teachers and patrons, the arts became the  natural path for his career pursuits.

In 1988, he was accepted as a scholarship recipient of the fine arts program at Howard University, in Washington, DC. He received artistic training under Professors Alfred Smith, Winston Kennedy, Frank Smith, Winnie Owens-Hart, the Skunder Boghossian and others.  Simultaneously he studied the works of  Lois Mailou Jones, Aaron Douglas, Charles White, Archibald Motley, Jacob Lawrence, and others.  Here Marcel developed a signature painting style, which displays vibrant hues, pattern, and high contrast.  In 1992, Marcel graduated from Howard and received a BFA degree in 1992.

Since graduating, Marcel has shown in numerous galleries and exhibition spaces.  In 1997, Marcel was also awarded residency at the Art-Omi International Artist Colony in upstate New York.  There he worked and studied along side many international artists, and benefited from the counsel of renowned artist Sam Gilliam, who participated as a lecturer.  His studies have also taken him abroad to locations such as Mexico and Italy, where Marcel admired and studied the varied structure of land and buildings in those locations.

As Marcel gained artistic acclaim with his dynamic body of work called Cityscapes in 2002, he began exhibiting the first of many paintings at Artjaz Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. Marcel has also exhibited at Gallery Guichard in Chicago, IL, The Puck Building in Manhattan, NY, The Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, and other cities such as San Diego, CA., Washington, DC, and Mitchellville, MD, and others.

Currently, Marcel Taylor resides in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Posted by Christopher Swanson at 06:10 AM |