Category: Notes From The City


If you have ever visited a Best Buy location I’m sure you have checked out the Magnolia Room. This is where all of the top-of-the-line equipment for home entertainment can be found. This area has some of the worlds most sought-after speakers, receivers, headphones, hi-res audio products and so much more. Magnolia’s March AudioFest is one month of remarkable deals of the premium audio gear of your dreams! With weekly savings, great deals online and other amazing offers they can only offer in their stores, you’ll want to check back often. Some notably home audio deals include 30% Off Select Klipsch Speakers, Up to 50% Off Sony Core Series Speakers, Save up to $100 on Select Onkyo, Denon, and Sony Receivers, Save $200 on Combined Bose Purchase, and Featured Sound Bars Starting at $39.99.

 

Audio is at the heart of who Magnolia is. Because even though they offer plenty of video gear, it’s the audio that takes you from just watching, just listening, just playing, to experiencing your movies, music, and video games like never before. I was once skeptical and thought a sound bar is a sound bar, a receiver is a receiver, and a speaker is a speaker. Until one night I walked into a Best Buy right before they were about to close, I walked into the Magnolia Room and asked an employee to show me the best sounding system they had. I’ll never forget the smile on his face as he slowly shut the doors and turned up the volume. It’s not that the sound was earth shattering and the bass vibrated through your bones but rather the quality and ability to bring the music to life. We also watched an intense space battle that took place in Star Trek Beyond and I felt as if I was fully submerged in the movie. By the end of the night the kind employee was basically dragging me out of the store. Quality makes all the difference in the world, especially when it comes to audio. When you’re ready to experience premium audio at amazing prices, stop into your nearest Magnolia store and start hearing things in a whole new way.

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

 

 

Norton Core is a secure high-performance WiFi router that helps protect your home network. This router has state-of-the-art security at network level -fending off cyber threats before they can infiltrate your home and compromise your personal information. You can connect an unlimited number of devices including computers, smart phones, gaming consoles, and smart home devices against malware, viruses, phishing tactics, hackers, and even botnets. This high performance router allows you to stream all your favorite movies in 4K, play online games or download content with Core’s powerful dual core processor with a maximum download speed of 2.5 gigabits per second. The 1.7 GHz dual core processor has more memory and flash storage than typical routers, to ensure optimal performance for WiFi and security features. If you really want to get some bang for your buck, check out the bandwidth optimization which allows you to give priority to any device or activity in the house with a touch of a button. For example, if you want to dial down your game console and supercharge your 4K movie that your streaming, its done with a press of a button. It also has smart parental controls to monitor and manage screen time by person, control time limits by device, and set content filters. Norton core discovers smart devices, identifies vulnerabilities, and helps secure them. If a device is breached, Norton Core quarantines the threat.

 

The first thing you may notice is its’ very unique shape and design. It looks like an abstract structure with its spherical design which makes it perfect for setting it on top of a coffee table or shelf. Unlike other routers which have rows of blinking lights, the Norton Core has a subtle lighted ring underneath which glows. Under the Core’s dome are a single WAN port for your broadband router and three LAN network connections. It also has a power port, reset button, and two USB connections. The Norton Core WiFi router comes with a complimentary subscription to Norton Core Security Plus that provides security protection for your personal devices, plus smart parental controls. The mobile network control allows you to manage your home network, right from your phone. The app shows you exactly what devices are on your network at any given time. There is even a security score! Norton Core monitors data from your home, identifies security issues, and sums it all up in a single, powerful number. If there’s a problem, Norton Core jumps in with timely insights and tools to get you back on track.

In today’s day and age we can never be too careful on the internet. One little virus or phishing tactic obtained by simply opening up an email from an unfamiliar source can set off a chain of unfortunate events. This router not only gives you optimal power and speed, but provides peace of mind by protecting you and your loved ones from malicious cyber attacks. This router is a huge step up in security from standard routers provided by cable companies. I couldn’t be happier with this router, aside from all the amazing features – its’ futuristic design is always a great conversation starter!

 

 

All posts must include the following disclaimer:  The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Ahhhh, Christmas. The most magical time of the year. When slay bells jing-a-ling and yule tides ring-a-ling and everyone has sweet dreams of sugar plums dancing. The highlight is always the chance of hearing from or seeing Santa! Santa.com is a fully immersible experience for ages 0-120. It’s the oldest Santa site on the internet, registered in 1994 and gives children the opportunity to hear from Santa! Nothing on the site hints to Santa not being real and by the time you finish your visit, you will be convinced that Santa.com was made by elves at the North Pole. Santa.com promotes positive lessons and the spirit of Christmas rather than presents. So whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Santa will send you a customized message which is perfect for family gatherings.

Little kids can visit Santa.com to print out coloring pages. Older kids can print out Santa ad-libs and read Santa’s personal blog with historical events and fun facts like how fast reindeer fly.  Children of all ages can e-mail Santa and get a personalized response from Santa@Santa.com for free. If you’re a parent you can send daily text messages from your child from December 1st until December 25th for just $9.99 per child. Teaching lessons and responsibility is factored into each response for a happy Santa and happy parents! If you wish to see your kids light up like Christmas trees, don’t pass up this amazing unique experience! It’s the gift that keeps on giving and helps spread cheer and joy to your loved ones.

Enter to win one of 3 blog prize packs below!

Santa.com Christmas Giveaway

 

Are you trying to save money on your utility bill?  Are you trying to help the environment? Maybe you’re tired of your clothes getting ruined in the dryer from immense heat.? You can knock out 3 birds with one stone when you purchase a certified ENERGY STAR® washer and dryer from Best Buy. ENERGY STAR certified washers use sophisticated cleaning methods that are overall gentler on your clothes. ENERGY STAR certified Dryers use less heat and have advanced features such as senor drying technology, which reduces over-drying and helps your clothes look better longer. These washers and dryers are about 25 percent more efficient than your typical washer and dryer which help protect the climate and preserve the planet for your children and other generations for years to come. Clothes washers and dryers that have earned the ENERGY STAR deliver superior efficiency and use 45 percent less water than other models. Respectively, your energy bills will go down because you’re saving energy. You can save as much as $490 over the lifetime of an ENERGY STAR certified washer and dryer and save 33,000 gallons of water! That’s enough money to replace a washer or dryer and enough water to fill two pools! In fact, if all clothes washers sold in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR certified, we would save more than $4 billion each year and prevent more than 19 billion pounds of carbon pollution annually. This is equal to the emissions from 1.7 million vehicles!

Best Buy has ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers that incorporate the following advanced features: Mutliple Configurations- available in either front-load or redesigned top-load configurations which include technology innovations that help save energy and water. Sophisticated Wash Systems- these machines use sophisticated wash systems to cycle through a mixture of water and detergent, allowing the clothes to be cleaned without using excess water or detergent. High Spin Speeds- efficient motors spin clothes two to three times faster to extract more water. Less moisture in the clothes means less time in the dryer and less energy spent drying clothes. ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryers incorporate these advanced features: Low Heat Setting- Longer drying cycles on a low heat setting use less energy. Steam Cycles- Many ENERGY STAR dryers also include convenient features, such as a steam cycle that can help save time on ironing clothes by preventing wrinkles.

Make laundry better with ENERGY STAR. It’s better for you because these appliances save energy which in turn, help you save money on your energy bills. Many are also equipped with advanced features that make cleaning and drying easier and more effective. It’s better for your clothes because ENERGY STAR clothes washers use a variety of sophisticated cleaning methods that are gentler on your clothes, while the ENERGY STAR clothes dryers use less heat and sensor drying which reduces wear and tear on your clothes from over drying. But most importantly, it’s better for the environment. We all need to contribute in any way shape or form possible to reduce our carbon footprint. Best Buy is committed to sustainability. Saving energy means that ENERGY STAR certified washers and dryers help protect the climate, which means your kids and the planet will benefit for years to come. You can learn more on the Best Buy blog here.

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

Get ready to bring in the holiday season with some brand new kitchen appliances from Samsung! These products offer the latest and greatest features and technology to help simplify your kitchen needs. From refrigerators with built in cameras to Wi-Fi enabled temperature probe ovens, Best Buy has you covered!  I’m super excited to tell you about some of my favorite features on these amazing kitchen appliances from Samsung.

The first product that caught my eye is the Samsung Family Hub 2.0. 4-Door French Door Refrigerator. Help manage your home with food management, family connection, and entertainment capabilities- all controlled from a 21.5″ Wi-Fi enabled touch screen. It allows  you to stay connected with your family by sharing multiple calendars, memos, notes and photos! You can also stream videos, music, and even watch your Samsung TV directly from your Family Hub! And if that’s not enough to impress you, Samsung Voice by “Bixby” enables integrated voice activated features. This large refrigerator has 22.2 cu. ft. capacity which is enough to fit all your favorite foods. The FlexZone drawer lets you have four different temperature control settings with Smart Divider. This beautiful stainless steel appliance has a special coating to help prevent finger prints and smudges which gives it a very sleek, clean look. It also has high efficiency LED lighting for brighter, cooler and more energy efficient lighting. But I haven’t even got to my favorite part yet. Brace yourself, because this Samsung refrigerator has an auto water fill with infuser. This means you can easily create delicious, refreshing flavored water right from your refrigerator! The Ice Master produces 8.8 lbs. of ice per day so you can have your favorite ice cold flavored water on tap! Another one of my favorite features is the Food Management. You can create shopping lists and see inside the refrigerator from anywhere with 3 built-in cameras! You can even set expiration notices to make sure everything is fresh! Last but certainly not least, the Samsung Family Hub 2.0 is 2016 Energy Star Certified.

The second product I’m totally digging is the Samsung Microwave Combination Wall Oven. The oven has a Steam Cook feature which delivers moisture at precise times for a crisp, browned outside, and tender inside so you can bake and roast with professional, mouth-watering results. In the microwave oven, Speed Power Convection technology reduces cooking time. You can enjoy the comfort of Analog-Knobs combined with the advanced technology of a touch controlled digital display. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and Wi-Fi Enabled Temperature Probe which means you can turn on/ off, preheat, or change the temperature of the oven directly from an app on your smart phone. The Flex Duo feature on the oven allows you to cook three different dishes at three different temperatures simultaneously with the Smart Divider. So there’s no longer a need to stress over hosting Thanksgiving dinner because cooking has never been easier! One of my favorite dishes to cook over the holidays is my famous sweet potato casserole. However, it was quit the challenge to ensure the potatoes were thoroughly cooked without burning the marshmallow topping. Being able to cook three different dishes at three separate temperatures is not only a huge time saver, but incredibly convenient. This technology not only improves my cooking but gives me the peace of mind to do mutilate tasks at once from the convenience of my phone. One of my absolute favorite features of this Samsung kitchen appliance is the Hybrid Clean feature which makes it very easy to clean grease and residue at low temperatures with less odor. So not only can this amazing device make it easier to cook and bake, but clean up is a breeze!

Right now, you can get 10% off your purchase when you buy four or more Samsung kitchen appliances at Best Buy! If you really want to go above and beyond in this holiday season, give your loved one the gift that keeps on giving. Whether they’ve been naughty or nice, who doesn’t deserve the freshest food and mouth-watering meals? These amazing products not only simplify your life, provide peace of mind, and give your kitchen a sleek, new look- but they will absolutely impress any guests you have over this holiday season. Its time to spread the love and it all starts at Best Buy!

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Just add at least two movie tickets to your cart and use the code: DEALSTHATCLICK9 in the promo code section during checkout. Your order will be automatically reduced.

Tomorrow, September 22nd 2017 you can head to your local participating Edible Arrangements to grab smoothies, fro-yo and fruit salads for just 99 cents!

 

LG’s InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerators tinted glass panel lets you knock twice on the panel to view the contents inside. Normally the tinted glass is dark and blends in with the natural color of the refrigerator, however once you knock twice on the panel you will notice that the section will light up and illuminate allowing you to view and select items inside without having to open up the refrigerator!  By not letting any cold air out while selecting items with the door closed, this energy efficient method will reduce your energy costs.  The ColdSaver panel reduces cold air lost to extend the freshness of food.

 

LG’s InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerators also offer a very sleek design with tinted glass, finger resistant and smudge proof stainless steel, and a smooth, sophisticated finish. There is also up to 31 cubic feet of usable space in these super-capacity refrigerators, depending on which refrigerator you purchase. Which means there is more than enough room to store a generous amount of food for your entire family’s needs. All of the refrigerators include a water and ice cube dispenser which is always a very convenient and must have feature.

Anytime I write a grocery list, I end up standing in front of the refrigerator with the door wide open for ten minutes trying to figure out what was expired or needed to be replaced. I had no idea how much energy was needed to get the refrigerator back to its target temperature once the door had been left open for that amount of time. The idea of knocking on a glass panel and being able to see everything inside the refrigerator without opening the door is  cutting edge technology.  Not only is this energy efficient refrigerator a great way to save money on utility bills but it is also visually appealing. The sleek design with fingerprint resistant stainless steel is a very warm, clean look that would make the perfect addition to any modern kitchen and you can purchase it directly from Best Buy.

 The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

All children, except one, grow up… Captured live at the National Theatre, the acclaimed London stage production of JM Barrie’s much-loved tale will be broadcast to cinemas nationwide. When Peter Pan, leader of the Lost Boys, loses his shadow, headstrong Wendy helps him to reattach it. In return, she is invited to Neverland, where Tinker Bell the fairy, Tiger Lily and the vengeful Captain Hook await. A riot of magic, music and make-believe ensues. A delight for children and adults alike, Sally Cookson (NT Live: Jane Eyre) directs this wondrously inventive production, a co-production with Bristol Old Vic theatre. The National Theatre’s production of Peter Pan arrives at a cinema near you with a tale of magic, music and make-believe on Sunday, June 11. Get tickets today and prepare to be Hook-ed!  You can win 5 tickets to see Peter Pan in a theater near you on June 11th in this exclusive one day giveaway!

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Last month, Ticketmaster settled a $400 million lawsuit regarding high ticket fees. They are repaying anyone who bought a ticket between October 21st 1999-February 27th 2013 in the form of FREE tickets and discount codes. The lawsuit affects almost 50 million people, and you did not need to file to be apart of the suit. Simply log in to your Ticketmaster account and check the active vouchers HERE.