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
Oct 20, 2009
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
Oct 15, 2009
Boudin Bakeries, SFO - October 15
Rating - 9.9
Walked over to the United terminal to meet my buddy, and they have a great food court.....lots of different places to eat, clean and new.....completely unlike the AA terminal.
I had a turkey/cheddar on the sourdough and it was EXCEPTIONAL.....great fresh sourdough roll, it was large enough that I am still full on the plane. Worth a walk over there.......
1 turkey sand 8.29
1 root beer 2.19
1 chips 1.39
Total - $12.97
Walked over to the United terminal to meet my buddy, and they have a great food court.....lots of different places to eat, clean and new.....completely unlike the AA terminal.
I had a turkey/cheddar on the sourdough and it was EXCEPTIONAL.....great fresh sourdough roll, it was large enough that I am still full on the plane. Worth a walk over there.......
1 turkey sand 8.29
1 root beer 2.19
1 chips 1.39
Total - $12.97
Harding Park Golf Course, San Francisco CA, October 15
Rating - 10.0
We played the course the Thursday after the Presidents Cup and arrived around 7 am. It was busy in the club house and they had a sign posted that you had to check in 1/2 hour prior to tee time.....what a great concept. There were a bunch of guys there who were trying to get out and were on the waiting list, we had made our tee time a week prior with no problem. It was pitch black at 7, but they told the first group to head to the tee. Only problem was the grill didnt open until 8 am, and our tee time was 7:50.
There had been a terrible rain storm on Tuesday, and they told us they had lost a bunch of trees and there was debris on the course....it was true, but the course was in GREAT shape.....except for the long wet rough that I was in all day.
It was a strange day, sun, mist/rain, clouds........and very damp. Being off the fairway was brutal and my score showed it (92). I would give one piece of advice, I am a 12.2 handicap and I played the blues at 6500 yards and slope of 125---it plays much longer and much tougher!! It was really cool to get to play with all of the bleachers and corporate tents still in place!
As for the course itself it is solid, a very good muni track. On the front side there are 3 holes that run side by side like a traditional muni course, and balls were all over the fairways, but it was in great shape. 17 and 18 are great finishing holes.
Best part of all was the pace of play.....we walked and finished in just under 4 hours!!!! Never felt rushed and only waited a few times for the groups in front of us.
Oh, and the course hot dog at the turn was SPECTACULAR......a great roll and huge dog.....
At the price point however I would be tempted to play Presido instead.......
Total - $135.00
We played the course the Thursday after the Presidents Cup and arrived around 7 am. It was busy in the club house and they had a sign posted that you had to check in 1/2 hour prior to tee time.....what a great concept. There were a bunch of guys there who were trying to get out and were on the waiting list, we had made our tee time a week prior with no problem. It was pitch black at 7, but they told the first group to head to the tee. Only problem was the grill didnt open until 8 am, and our tee time was 7:50.
There had been a terrible rain storm on Tuesday, and they told us they had lost a bunch of trees and there was debris on the course....it was true, but the course was in GREAT shape.....except for the long wet rough that I was in all day.
It was a strange day, sun, mist/rain, clouds........and very damp. Being off the fairway was brutal and my score showed it (92). I would give one piece of advice, I am a 12.2 handicap and I played the blues at 6500 yards and slope of 125---it plays much longer and much tougher!! It was really cool to get to play with all of the bleachers and corporate tents still in place!
As for the course itself it is solid, a very good muni track. On the front side there are 3 holes that run side by side like a traditional muni course, and balls were all over the fairways, but it was in great shape. 17 and 18 are great finishing holes.
Best part of all was the pace of play.....we walked and finished in just under 4 hours!!!! Never felt rushed and only waited a few times for the groups in front of us.
Oh, and the course hot dog at the turn was SPECTACULAR......a great roll and huge dog.....
At the price point however I would be tempted to play Presido instead.......
Total - $135.00
Buena Vista Cafe, San Francisco CA - October 14
Rating - 8.5
Headed in for a night cap around 8:15 pm.....the place was packed....no seat at the bar and almost every table filled....we found a table at the back. It is kind of funny because if your party is small (we had two) they will sit others at the table.
We had a GREAT waitress who got us a couple of beers. She was friendly but gave us our space.
Its a historic old place, that in 1952 became the inventor of Irish Coffee-----I am not a coffee drinker but most people in the place were. Its right by the end of a cable car line and the Ghirardelli Chocolate factory. Neat spot to have one and move on.
Once again I didn't have to pay the bill.....Pete has too much left in his expense budget (mine was gone around June)
Headed in for a night cap around 8:15 pm.....the place was packed....no seat at the bar and almost every table filled....we found a table at the back. It is kind of funny because if your party is small (we had two) they will sit others at the table.
We had a GREAT waitress who got us a couple of beers. She was friendly but gave us our space.
Its a historic old place, that in 1952 became the inventor of Irish Coffee-----I am not a coffee drinker but most people in the place were. Its right by the end of a cable car line and the Ghirardelli Chocolate factory. Neat spot to have one and move on.
Once again I didn't have to pay the bill.....Pete has too much left in his expense budget (mine was gone around June)
In-N-Out Burger at Fishermans Warf, San Francisco CA - October 14
Rating - 10.00
AWESOME chow....the BEST BURGERS anywhere.....and great hand cut fries....and exceptional service....and clean place.....and fast service.
Have the #1 (Double Double) and be set for the evening.
I love it so much I bought the $14.95 t shirt.
It is worth it to fly to California and have lunch/dinner here!!!!
2 #1
2 Dbl Dbl 6.60
2 fries 2.78
2 drinks 3.00
1 shirt 14.95
Total - 29.33
AWESOME chow....the BEST BURGERS anywhere.....and great hand cut fries....and exceptional service....and clean place.....and fast service.
Have the #1 (Double Double) and be set for the evening.
I love it so much I bought the $14.95 t shirt.
It is worth it to fly to California and have lunch/dinner here!!!!
2 #1
2 Dbl Dbl 6.60
2 fries 2.78
2 drinks 3.00
1 shirt 14.95
Total - 29.33
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
