Nov 29, 2009
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Zing Zang Zoom, United Center Chicago IL - November 28
Rating - 10.o0
This is the annual circus in Chicago at the United Center at 11:30 on Saturday after Thanksgiving.....we arrived around 11 am (parked in the lot for $10) and were too late to go on the floor with the circus performers. I headed right to the concession stand because I had the "meal deal" included with the tickets.
I bought 2 $7 pop corns first and figured I was in for an expensive day, then got in line at the concession stand. When I got to the front they said the "meal deal" vouchers were good only at the line in the next stand, but I bought a $4 pretzel, and headed over to the other line.
It moved SLOW, and it probably took me 20 minutes to reach the front.....it was so slow because the girls in the stand were filling all soft drinks to the top (don't they have a machine for that??).....but the "meal deal" did include a dog and drink. There were a bunch of people in line who had picked up their tickets at the box office and received only 1 "meal deal" voucher...they needed one for each person and were pissed (I got my tickets in the mail).....I did miss the start of the show while I was in line....
Once I got in the kids were completely engrossed with the show....it was EXCELLENT and we all enjoyed it. About an hour in they had a 15-20 minute break (the line at the women's room was LONG) and I took the little guy out to the bathroom and had to drag him back in because he wanted to buy all the spinning/light things.....starting at $20........
The show went for another 45 minutes or so and was just as good in the second half. The arena was maybe 40% full and it was easy to get out of the UC and very easy to exit the parking lot.
We sat in Section 113, row 15, seats 1-5.
Everyone agreed it was the BEST show ever and the little guys only missed the motorcycles in the cage.
Well done..............
This is the annual circus in Chicago at the United Center at 11:30 on Saturday after Thanksgiving.....we arrived around 11 am (parked in the lot for $10) and were too late to go on the floor with the circus performers. I headed right to the concession stand because I had the "meal deal" included with the tickets.
I bought 2 $7 pop corns first and figured I was in for an expensive day, then got in line at the concession stand. When I got to the front they said the "meal deal" vouchers were good only at the line in the next stand, but I bought a $4 pretzel, and headed over to the other line.
It moved SLOW, and it probably took me 20 minutes to reach the front.....it was so slow because the girls in the stand were filling all soft drinks to the top (don't they have a machine for that??).....but the "meal deal" did include a dog and drink. There were a bunch of people in line who had picked up their tickets at the box office and received only 1 "meal deal" voucher...they needed one for each person and were pissed (I got my tickets in the mail).....I did miss the start of the show while I was in line....
Once I got in the kids were completely engrossed with the show....it was EXCELLENT and we all enjoyed it. About an hour in they had a 15-20 minute break (the line at the women's room was LONG) and I took the little guy out to the bathroom and had to drag him back in because he wanted to buy all the spinning/light things.....starting at $20........
The show went for another 45 minutes or so and was just as good in the second half. The arena was maybe 40% full and it was easy to get out of the UC and very easy to exit the parking lot.
We sat in Section 113, row 15, seats 1-5.
Everyone agreed it was the BEST show ever and the little guys only missed the motorcycles in the cage.
Well done..............
Capri, Yorkville IL - November 27
Rating - 9.9999
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent.
We arrived around 6:45 and it was very quiet the night after Thanksgiving.....we sat in the bar and it was very cozy and warm for the six of us......we started with the Calamari Capri (very tasty and spicy), followed by salads and soup (just ok), and then the entrees.
I had my favorite (chicken parm) and it was great as always, everyone else also LOVED theirs (homemade rigatoni with Mamma's vodka sauce, veal, some other pasta). For dessert we had a few cannolis, tiramisu, and Chocolate Martinis...........
Great night, tons of fun with great food, friends and drinks. Excellent spot to relax and enjoy a night out!!
Total - $90.00 each
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent.
We arrived around 6:45 and it was very quiet the night after Thanksgiving.....we sat in the bar and it was very cozy and warm for the six of us......we started with the Calamari Capri (very tasty and spicy), followed by salads and soup (just ok), and then the entrees.
I had my favorite (chicken parm) and it was great as always, everyone else also LOVED theirs (homemade rigatoni with Mamma's vodka sauce, veal, some other pasta). For dessert we had a few cannolis, tiramisu, and Chocolate Martinis...........
Great night, tons of fun with great food, friends and drinks. Excellent spot to relax and enjoy a night out!!
Total - $90.00 each
Blogging, Home - November 2009
Rating - 0.00001
Well that is the rating for my effort over the past month............horrible.......unacceptable........totally got out of the groove, but I am BACK...........and promise to share my experiences as I do my expense report (every night)........
Happy Holidays!!
Well that is the rating for my effort over the past month............horrible.......unacceptable........totally got out of the groove, but I am BACK...........and promise to share my experiences as I do my expense report (every night)........
Happy Holidays!!
Oct 20, 2009
Hyatt at Pittsburgh Airport, Pittsburgh PA - October 20
Rating - 7.8
First impressions (mean a lot to me) - Ruby was very friendly at check in, flat screen tvs in the room and its QUIET in the room.....HOWEVER on the negative side there were no king beds, no Regency Club, no cups in the bathroom (second trip in a row), no digital thermostat in the room (old school one from the 1960s), goofy parking situation and a crappy work service dominated by a small fridge with no power outlets for my pc.
It is strange to park here, although well marked, because you have to enter the long term parking lot and head to the hotel parking sign. I guess I will have to pay for it when I leave tomorrow (it was $11), but I don't know and there was nothing on the web site about it. It is also a bit confusing because you enter the property by an "entrance" sign, but really you are in the back by the meeting rooms. It is not well marked, and very awkward, to get to the front desk.
I arrived just after 5 pm and there was a line of 3 in front of me, but it moved quick because there were three people working the desk. Ruby checked me in and she was GREAT, but I was a bit ticked when told I had two doubles instead of a king bed....I just asked to be in the most quiet room they had. I was told it was, and I am in room 1127. I am surprised by how quiet it has been to this point (no plane noise at all, although I can hear hallway noise under the door).
The work space is AWFUL: there is a Haier fridge on top of the desk (don't understand why it is not under it) that takes up 1/4 of the desk. Most people I know work at night at the desk in the room. In addition there is NO power outlet to plug in my computer. I tried calling the "guest request" line and there was no answer, same outcome dialing "0", I finally got through to the front desk and the girl who answered was nice, but told me the outlets were in the corner by the window, by the clock on the nightstand and behind the dresser the tv sits on......all in a matter of fact way...when I said my power strip wouldn't reach she said there was nothing else she could do for that, but could she help me in any other way.....
I hung up and tried to move the dresser (no go), so I was getting ready to call the GMs office and dialed "0" again. This time I got John, he was friendly so I explained the issue again, and he immediately offered to send an extension cord up...why the first girl could not I don't get at all...the engineering department came right up, plugged it in, and let in less than a minute. Great service.
Went to the gym around 8:30 and its decent. 4 tread mills, 3 ellipticals, 4 bikes, few weight machines and dumbbells up to 50 lbs. Don't come here looking for a good lifting session. In addition, the controls on each of the ellipticals were broken......kinds of sucks.....
Headed down for breakfast and it was EXCELLENT!!! Great service from the host, excellent service from Allisa my waitress, and the food was really good. I had the buffet and selection was wide and varied, and there were only a few people having breakfast at 9 am. Very good, and and I would return for sure.
Overall, I liked the property, but am having issues getting past a few of the things that bothered me. There are many different choices just off the property, but it was easy for having 5 people fly in and join me for the ride downtown.
Total - $159.00 taxes = $181.26
First impressions (mean a lot to me) - Ruby was very friendly at check in, flat screen tvs in the room and its QUIET in the room.....HOWEVER on the negative side there were no king beds, no Regency Club, no cups in the bathroom (second trip in a row), no digital thermostat in the room (old school one from the 1960s), goofy parking situation and a crappy work service dominated by a small fridge with no power outlets for my pc.
It is strange to park here, although well marked, because you have to enter the long term parking lot and head to the hotel parking sign. I guess I will have to pay for it when I leave tomorrow (it was $11), but I don't know and there was nothing on the web site about it. It is also a bit confusing because you enter the property by an "entrance" sign, but really you are in the back by the meeting rooms. It is not well marked, and very awkward, to get to the front desk.
I arrived just after 5 pm and there was a line of 3 in front of me, but it moved quick because there were three people working the desk. Ruby checked me in and she was GREAT, but I was a bit ticked when told I had two doubles instead of a king bed....I just asked to be in the most quiet room they had. I was told it was, and I am in room 1127. I am surprised by how quiet it has been to this point (no plane noise at all, although I can hear hallway noise under the door).
The work space is AWFUL: there is a Haier fridge on top of the desk (don't understand why it is not under it) that takes up 1/4 of the desk. Most people I know work at night at the desk in the room. In addition there is NO power outlet to plug in my computer. I tried calling the "guest request" line and there was no answer, same outcome dialing "0", I finally got through to the front desk and the girl who answered was nice, but told me the outlets were in the corner by the window, by the clock on the nightstand and behind the dresser the tv sits on......all in a matter of fact way...when I said my power strip wouldn't reach she said there was nothing else she could do for that, but could she help me in any other way.....
I hung up and tried to move the dresser (no go), so I was getting ready to call the GMs office and dialed "0" again. This time I got John, he was friendly so I explained the issue again, and he immediately offered to send an extension cord up...why the first girl could not I don't get at all...the engineering department came right up, plugged it in, and let in less than a minute. Great service.
Went to the gym around 8:30 and its decent. 4 tread mills, 3 ellipticals, 4 bikes, few weight machines and dumbbells up to 50 lbs. Don't come here looking for a good lifting session. In addition, the controls on each of the ellipticals were broken......kinds of sucks.....
Headed down for breakfast and it was EXCELLENT!!! Great service from the host, excellent service from Allisa my waitress, and the food was really good. I had the buffet and selection was wide and varied, and there were only a few people having breakfast at 9 am. Very good, and and I would return for sure.
Overall, I liked the property, but am having issues getting past a few of the things that bothered me. There are many different choices just off the property, but it was easy for having 5 people fly in and join me for the ride downtown.
Total - $159.00 taxes = $181.26
Post Office Deli, Wexford PA - October 20
Rating - 10.0+++
This is a GREAT deli located in an old post office. I arrived around 3:30 pm after an appointment for a late lunch. There were no other customers in the place, and the two women behind the counter were VERY FRIENDLY!!
I got the special for the day: turkey, swiss, and bacon on a roll along with the home made chips. The sandwich was HUGE with real/fresh turkey meat and a great/tasty roll. I ate all of it because I couldn't help myself, but I only ate 1/2 the home made chips that were just as good.
EXCELLENT lunch spot, wonderful service.
Sandwich $6.95
Chips .95
Gatorade 1.60
Brownie 1.65 (for Fabian)
Total - $11.93 -- not enough for how GREAT it was!
This is a GREAT deli located in an old post office. I arrived around 3:30 pm after an appointment for a late lunch. There were no other customers in the place, and the two women behind the counter were VERY FRIENDLY!!
I got the special for the day: turkey, swiss, and bacon on a roll along with the home made chips. The sandwich was HUGE with real/fresh turkey meat and a great/tasty roll. I ate all of it because I couldn't help myself, but I only ate 1/2 the home made chips that were just as good.
EXCELLENT lunch spot, wonderful service.
Sandwich $6.95
Chips .95
Gatorade 1.60
Brownie 1.65 (for Fabian)
Total - $11.93 -- not enough for how GREAT it was!
Southwest Airlines 3224, Chicago to Pittsburgh - October20
Rating - 6.4321
Bought the "business select" package because I was buying a ticket the day before the flight....$15 more each way for free drink and "priority" boarding..........AA only has 2 or 3 direct flights.
The drive from Western Suburbs to Midway SUCKS........and so does parking at Midway.......I parked in the attached $28 a day lot....and as I look my ticket a guy handed me a blue flier saying the lot was full and to go to long term. As anyone knows that is a total pain to go over there, par, and take the shuttle. Anyway I found a spot......
Going through security at 10:30 am was a breeze, and I went right to the gate. Wouldn't you know that I was on the only delayed fight that SWA ever had???? About 15 min late, lined up in my group and boarded, HATE this process.
Got an emergency exit seat and had a nice flight!
Total - $359.20 (round trip)
Bought the "business select" package because I was buying a ticket the day before the flight....$15 more each way for free drink and "priority" boarding..........AA only has 2 or 3 direct flights.
The drive from Western Suburbs to Midway SUCKS........and so does parking at Midway.......I parked in the attached $28 a day lot....and as I look my ticket a guy handed me a blue flier saying the lot was full and to go to long term. As anyone knows that is a total pain to go over there, par, and take the shuttle. Anyway I found a spot......
Going through security at 10:30 am was a breeze, and I went right to the gate. Wouldn't you know that I was on the only delayed fight that SWA ever had???? About 15 min late, lined up in my group and boarded, HATE this process.
Got an emergency exit seat and had a nice flight!
Total - $359.20 (round trip)
Oct 18, 2009
Tom's, Huntley IL - October 18
Rating - 10.0++++++
Outstanding pumpkin patch and farm!!!!!!!!!!!! We had such a GREAT day........arrived around 1 pm and went right inside to buy their World Famous donuts and taffy apples....had to have something to snack on. This is a family tradition, and while development has been creeping in all around the farm, they still have enough land to feel like you are in the country. And everyone who works here is very friendly and will go out of their way to help. Parking is in their paved lot and in the grass fields. There were a lot of people there but it never felt crowded.
I headed to the ticket booth and unloaded some dough....$5 for each of us to get into the corn maze, petting zoo, kids stuff.......and 20 tickets for rides (only $15).
The kids LOVED the corn maze, and the little guy loved the train, animals, hay pile, but most of all the huge pile of corn that all the little ones could play in. We probably spent 2 hours there...
Then we went to the ride are and rode the pumpkin train (lots of fun and worth the 20 minute wait), pumpkin jumpy/bouncy, and train slide/fun house, and Kara had her face painted.
Then it was finally time to pick some pumpkins......and the display was HUGE.....every size and shape. You could ride the hay ride into the field, but there were more than enough on display....and they were pretty cheap at $3.99, $5.00 and $7.99 (although I don't know how much pumpkins cost elsewhere).
Then I made the mistake of going inside to pay......they have all kinds of neat Halloween "stuff' and we bought some candle holders and other nicknack's........
A great day of family fun!!!! If you have little guys this is a great place to spend a few hours.
Total - $135.00 (for all of our stuff....I asked the girl who was at the register if that was the record for the day and it was!)
Outstanding pumpkin patch and farm!!!!!!!!!!!! We had such a GREAT day........arrived around 1 pm and went right inside to buy their World Famous donuts and taffy apples....had to have something to snack on. This is a family tradition, and while development has been creeping in all around the farm, they still have enough land to feel like you are in the country. And everyone who works here is very friendly and will go out of their way to help. Parking is in their paved lot and in the grass fields. There were a lot of people there but it never felt crowded.
I headed to the ticket booth and unloaded some dough....$5 for each of us to get into the corn maze, petting zoo, kids stuff.......and 20 tickets for rides (only $15).
The kids LOVED the corn maze, and the little guy loved the train, animals, hay pile, but most of all the huge pile of corn that all the little ones could play in. We probably spent 2 hours there...
Then we went to the ride are and rode the pumpkin train (lots of fun and worth the 20 minute wait), pumpkin jumpy/bouncy, and train slide/fun house, and Kara had her face painted.
Then it was finally time to pick some pumpkins......and the display was HUGE.....every size and shape. You could ride the hay ride into the field, but there were more than enough on display....and they were pretty cheap at $3.99, $5.00 and $7.99 (although I don't know how much pumpkins cost elsewhere).
Then I made the mistake of going inside to pay......they have all kinds of neat Halloween "stuff' and we bought some candle holders and other nicknack's........
A great day of family fun!!!! If you have little guys this is a great place to spend a few hours.
Total - $135.00 (for all of our stuff....I asked the girl who was at the register if that was the record for the day and it was!)
Capri Ristorante, Yorkville IL - October 17
Rating - 10.0+++
Excellent dinner experience. We arrived around 6:45 pm and the place was PACKED with Yorkville high school students......it was prom night. So we happily headed to the bar....love the bar with the flat screen tv and excellent service......
Bar was pretty crowded with all the adults waiting for tables....but the bar tender is excellent and had drinks in front of us right away.....then papa brought some bruschetta in (it was GREAT). We waited about 45 minutes and then were seated......same table as last week.....
The place was packed when all the adults were seated....but service was good (better than last week)....although the waiter forgot to put in one of the orders and the entire tables dinner was delayed by 20 minutes....but Andy made up for it with a bottle of wine on the house.....
Food was spectacular! I once again had the chicken parm, 2 others had the lobster diablo (they LOVED it...I think Mike licked the plate) and Allison had the salmon special (it was great, I almost always get it)......I also had the tortilla soup (fantastic)......and we finished with chocolate cake and cannoli (exceptional).
We then headed to the bar for a "night cap" that I didn't need....and to listen to "Gigolo Johnny" who was AWESOME......just a lounge lizard who was funny and worked the crowd. A great night!
Pre Dinner Drinks
Bottle of Cannonball $30
2 Heiny's $8
Total - $38
Dinner for the 4 of us
*no itemized bill, but maybe 2 more bottles of wine, many beers, dinner for all (includes salad and soup) and 2 deserts
Total - $200.00
After Dinner Drinks
2 chocolate martinis $12
Beers
Total - Don't really know (except that I had a lot less cash in the morning)
Excellent dinner experience. We arrived around 6:45 pm and the place was PACKED with Yorkville high school students......it was prom night. So we happily headed to the bar....love the bar with the flat screen tv and excellent service......
Bar was pretty crowded with all the adults waiting for tables....but the bar tender is excellent and had drinks in front of us right away.....then papa brought some bruschetta in (it was GREAT). We waited about 45 minutes and then were seated......same table as last week.....
The place was packed when all the adults were seated....but service was good (better than last week)....although the waiter forgot to put in one of the orders and the entire tables dinner was delayed by 20 minutes....but Andy made up for it with a bottle of wine on the house.....
Food was spectacular! I once again had the chicken parm, 2 others had the lobster diablo (they LOVED it...I think Mike licked the plate) and Allison had the salmon special (it was great, I almost always get it)......I also had the tortilla soup (fantastic)......and we finished with chocolate cake and cannoli (exceptional).
We then headed to the bar for a "night cap" that I didn't need....and to listen to "Gigolo Johnny" who was AWESOME......just a lounge lizard who was funny and worked the crowd. A great night!
Pre Dinner Drinks
Bottle of Cannonball $30
2 Heiny's $8
Total - $38
Dinner for the 4 of us
*no itemized bill, but maybe 2 more bottles of wine, many beers, dinner for all (includes salad and soup) and 2 deserts
Total - $200.00
After Dinner Drinks
2 chocolate martinis $12
Beers
Total - Don't really know (except that I had a lot less cash in the morning)
Halsted Street Deli, Chicago IL - October 16
Rating - 9.0
Headed over at 1 pm for a sandwich and chat outside the office. They had a good crowd, but there was no line to order. I had #11 Big E (the beef sand), it was HUGE and EXCELLENT!!
The bread was amazing, the beef was thinly sliced and great, and the mozzarella cheese melted just right, smothered in tasty beef gravy (it also had a marina sauce that it didn't need).......and it was HUGE. I did not need to finish it, but I did.
It is a nice place to have a conversation also, comfortable with many other full tables, but quiet enough to have a private chat.
This is also the home of the Original Rainbow Cone.........you HAVE to try that (even though I have not yet).
#11 Big E $5.00
Combo $1.89
Total - $8.79
Headed over at 1 pm for a sandwich and chat outside the office. They had a good crowd, but there was no line to order. I had #11 Big E (the beef sand), it was HUGE and EXCELLENT!!
The bread was amazing, the beef was thinly sliced and great, and the mozzarella cheese melted just right, smothered in tasty beef gravy (it also had a marina sauce that it didn't need).......and it was HUGE. I did not need to finish it, but I did.
It is a nice place to have a conversation also, comfortable with many other full tables, but quiet enough to have a private chat.
This is also the home of the Original Rainbow Cone.........you HAVE to try that (even though I have not yet).
#11 Big E $5.00
Combo $1.89
Total - $8.79
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