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    Patio Wow

    Have the coolest patio on the block with these hot summer trends

    Madeleine Crenshaw
    Jun 27, 2016 | 12:15 pm

    It's once again that time of the year for barbecues, pool parties, and sprucing up the patio. But have no fear, the design experts at Zillow Digs' 2016 Home Trends Forecast are here to help you have the coolest patio during the hottest season.

    Gathered from both a survey collected by expert interior designers and popular photos from its site, Zillow Digs predicts what's in and what's out this summer.

    "Clean, simple, and contemporary is the vibe for outdoor living in 2016," says Zillow Digs home design expert Kerrie Kelly. With the hottest year on record, designers say ditch the high-maintenance decor and go for sleek, chic, and easy to upkeep.

    Concrete, mainly in the form of coffee tables, is predicted to be the patio statement piece for the summer. With the ability to transition seasons and withstand harsh weather conditions, a concrete coffee table provides an easy but sophisticated element for the backyard.

    Teak and other natural woods are also coming in strong. Both Adirondack chairs and modern platform furniture help soften the look of a contemporary backyard. Daring decorators take note: Teak furniture with stainless steel and concrete elements are also predicted to be hot.

    Intricate or busy floral patterns on furniture, however, are out. Expect bold, bright aquamarine to be the color of the season. The refreshing shade of blue brings a pop of color while tying together both classic and modern styles.

    "Easy" and "effortless" are the keywords this summer, so Zillow Digs says ditch anything high-maintenance or complicated, especially when it comes to landscaping. Why waste time keeping up with your lawn when you could be relaxing on the patio with a cocktail?

    A concrete coffee table is an easy and chic way to give your patio a lift.

    Zillow Hottest Patio Trend 2016, Concrete table
      
    Photo courtsey of Zillow Digs
    A concrete coffee table is an easy and chic way to give your patio a lift.
    trendszillow
    news/home-design

    Toy News

    Japanese collector toy store to open at Firewheel center in Garland

    Teresa Gubbins
    Jun 11, 2025 | 12:25 pm
    Gashapon store
    Gashapon
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    A new store for people who like to collect small plastic objects is coming to Garland. It's called Gashapon Bandai Official Shop, and it's opening in June at Firewheel Town Center, where it will sell "capsule toys" — miniature plastic toys packaged in clear plastic capsules.

    Gashapon is a type of vending machine that dispenses capsule toys. The concept is popular in Japan, with machines found in train stations, arcades, convenience stores, and other locations. (The name "Gashapon" is derived from the sounds of turning the handle ("gasha") and the capsule dropping ("pon").)

    The toys inside Gashapon capsules can be characters from cultural realms like manga, video games, or Japanese anime franchises. Or they can be coasters, or food miniatures, or charms you attach to your purse or notebook, or little animal figures, or little whimsical animal figures, or little statues, or an assortment of little plastic hats, or a quartet of tiny jewelry stands in pastel colors (buy them all!).

    The machines take tokens which cost $2 to $2.50 each; most toys "cost" 2 to 4 tokens each.

    The idea of capsule toys — coin-operated vending machines — actually originated in the U.S. in 1907 along with bubble-gum machines. Japan embraced it in the 1960s, and the Gashapon chain was launched in Japan in 1977.

    The first U.S. Gashapon Bandai Official Shop opened in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district in February 2023.

    The entire thing is driven by collector frenzy. The toys are produced in limited quantities, and in sets, which encourages customers to acquire every member of the set.

    Customers do not know what they will get until they turn the vending machine handle — not unlike slot machines. Like gambling. Or as Gashapon says more delicately, "The element of surprise brings excitement during the purchase and gets everyone hooked!" … furthering the frenzy even further.

    Garland will make the fifth location in Texas; following Hurst, which opened in May; Grapevine Mills Mall and Houston, which opened in 2024; and Mitsuwa Marketplace in Plano which opened in 2023 (There's also a kiosk at Grapevine Mills Mall.)

    openingsshoppingkids
    news/home-design
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