Lip Massage

A friend started a massage business. I helped out the website with a few yelp-like recommendations. Carrie-Anne does not exist.

with apologies.

Testimonials from Deceased Authors for the Website of Carrie-Anne Fulton, LMT #16446

“And I got a massage from Miss Carrie-Anne Fulton when I was a younger man. A very long time ago! Not so long ago! Miss Carrie-Anne took care of me. Great! I needed someone to take care of me. I had reached my limit. No more, thank you! I was done. I went in to see Miss Carrie-Anne with a stiff neck and came out with my head rolling around on my shoulders like a dead pumpkin. My neck was a limp string. Carrie-Anne had taken care of me. She had raised my limit. I would have gone back but work intervened and I found myself living the Northeast section of America. It’s cold here. And pretty. If you are searching for a provider of healing care, I highly recommend her services. She’ll take care of you!”

-K. Vonnegut

Mr. Vonnegut

“He entered the parlour, met eyes. Come in, come in, she says. Welcome. Effleurage, pettrisage, tapotement, shiatsu, acupressure, vibration, a stretch, a feather. Kneading, kneading. An hour passed. No lethargy then. Gradually changes your character. He dressed himself again in dinner attire, clapped on his topper, feeling looser. Liquid muscles, squeezed as a sponge, no damn nonsense. Carrie-Anne Fulton. Never nicer a nice girl did it. If you are searching for a provider of healing care, he highly recommends her services!”

-J. Joyce

Mr. Joyce

“I approached Carrie-Anne Fulton as your acquaintances will approach the cold body at your funeral. Reverent and confused. My friend B—, who is a frotteur, suggested I go see her as a way of getting my mind off things. We shook hands and I knew my life had changed, but couldn’t know how or to what extent. She was wrapped in a silver Persian rug the size of Australia when I entered her salon. I was told to disrobe, my body tight from stress and the lugubrious monotony that only we lucky writers know. I lay down. There are hands on me, hands on me, soft, soft. I remember that I’ve memorized Henry Grey’s Anatomy in a past life. Hieronymus Bosch is feeding me oranges. Nietzsche enters the room with his mustachio, bends over and whispers, “There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.” Carrie-Anne Fulton, LMT formed my body into some peculiar religious text. With her fingers she rifled through my pages and taught me to see myself from within. She showed me God, and she did so with excellent technique. Deep tissue, Swedish, fingernails— Carrie-Anne Fulton, LMT manipulates ch’i like the mind-warped jazz man plays piano. She rubbed my pains away. She wrung me of lactic acid. She tore my brick-like Teres Major from my body and replaced it with a healthy jellyfish, supple and strong. I am supple and strong and I owe it to Carrie-Anne Fulton, LMT. My neck is loose, my headaches vanished and I’m drinking water like she told me to. I’ll see her every two weeks until the stiffness of death sets in. Thanks to Carrie-Anne Fulton, LMT, I am the newest man. If you are searching for a provider of healing care, I highly recommend her services!”

-H. Miller

Mr. Miller & a Bike

In an ongoing effort to unearth the best Pho in the city I ended up @ Pho Tien Thanh, located on the ever-expanding increasingly trendy Ossington Ave.. This Viet venue came highly recommended from several of my peers and in my research I was pleased to find that even celebrity chef Susur Lee loves this place off.

Upon entering the restaurant you will notice that there is not much difference between the décor of PTT and nearly every other Pho restaurant you’ve been too. It is not that big, the bar is located at the back of the room and the aroma in the air is comforting.

Anxious to devour this bowl I quickly ordered a large rare beef pho along with some standard deep fried spring rolls. Within a few minutes the rolls arrived and within a few seconds they disappeared. Shortly afterwards came the highly anticipated critically acclaimed pho. Before adding any condiments or herbs into my bowl I immediately dipped my spoon in to taste this legendary broth. It was truly incredible. What I noticed most about it was how pure and clean the taste was. As it went down my throat and into my stomach it felt as though I was being empowered by it and physically and mentally becoming stronger, a similar phenomenon like Popeye and his spinach.  

The beef in the soup was tender, thinly shaved and bountiful. The noodles were standard vermicelli but not meant to be the main attraction. The herb plate which accompanied the pho consists of crisp bean sprouts, cilantro/coriander, sawtooth/sawleaf, limes and beautiful sprigs of basil which are acquired from a grower/supplier right on Ossington Ave. The bowl itself already contains onions, green onions and cilantro, but I highly recommend adding some basil and lime as it compliments the already near perfect broth with a hint of tart freshness.

Recap: Broth is outstanding, I would like to bathe in it. The staff is attentive and the service is prompt. All food items are fresh, savoury and well priced. The bathrooms are… bathrooms.

EAT IT

Copacabana

Copacabana is up there with some of the most enjoyable dining experiences of my life.  If you seriously heart meat in large quantities, especially steak, this is the venue for you.

Copa is a Brazilian Steakhouse, also known as a Churrasacaria. The dining experience is rodizio style, this means that the customer pays a fixed price, and the waiters bring to the table all types of meat speared on a skewer which they then shave off to your satisfaction.

No word of a lie, I’m in a trance when I’m in this restaurant. I’ve been to both the Niagara location and the Yonge & Eglinton location. They are both stellar as folk but Niagara’s does it up bigger and better fo sho.

You begin your meal by hitting up the “Harvest Table”. This section consists of various breads, pastas, salads, fruits, cold cuts, cheeses, and tons of other finger food madness. Always a good idea to hit up this table lightly as you’d want to be saving space for the slayer spree ahead.  

At your table will be a signal card with a green and red side. Green indicates to the servers flying by with the food you’re down to get down, and red of course means you’re not down.  In terms of the meal and the meats you can expect to devour, you will most likely run into most of the following on large skewers:

Prime Rib w/ cheddar
Flank Steak
Skirt Steak
Trip Tip Steak
Buttermilk Steak
Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon
Peppercorn Steak
Top Sirloin
Braised Beef Ribs
BBQ Pork Ribs
Beef Kebabs
Moroccan Chicken
Garlic Chicken
Slow roasted leg of lamb
Lamb Chops
Parm encrusted Pork Loin
Brazilian Sausage
Grilled Salmon
Turkey wrapped in bacon

Believe it or not I’m definitely missing meat items, pending you go on the weekend when the menu is at its full capacity. In addition to the T-Rex Jurassic Park Fest are other wonderfully delectable items. The pineapple for example, stacked two per skewer and soaked in a marinade consisting of at least cinnamon and sugar before being roasted and caramelized to sh!t. Bananas are rolled in a similar dry rub like the pineapple and then deep fried…! Fresh baked piping hot cheese balls graced my plate, and the cornbread is to die for. It comes steaming out of the oven and is perfectly moist and seasoned, it was so good that I had 4 pieces despite all the delicious meat you would think I’d have saved space for. That good.

Aside from the food there is live entertainment. A live band plays while the beautiful and extravagantly dressed Rio Samba Divas dance away. At the Yonge and Eglinton location, you can find 2 gentlemen doing some serious Wushu style martial arts to the music as well, flashkicks, sweeps and full aerials. These live shows are roughly on the hour and definitely add to the whole experience.  

In closing, there is nothing I didn’t enjoy. I’d like to list off the specific meat items that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I’d pretty much be writing out the majority of menu list above. All I can say about the meat is that none of it is over cooked and the steak is typically medium rare, the way it should be. A word of caution to future patrons, to fill up trucker belly appetite guests they put a lot of salt on the meat, if you really can’t handle a lot of salt then you will struggle with a lot of the meats. It’s not salted to the point where it’s not even edible, but there is quite a bit.

The Copacabana’s are spacious but always packed especially on weekends. Ensure you make reservations and arrive on time. I would also suggest getting into the mindset before you get there so you may slay at full capacity.

EAT IT

“Best sushi in Richmond Hill/Markham.” -Me

I used to frequent Tomo back in the day as it was a solid sushi venue extremely close to my home. Recently they went under massive renovations and this ordinary looking sushi restaurant was converted into a chic, elegant, and classy venue with outstanding Jap grub.

I highly recommend gathering 5+ sushi aficionados and calling ahead to reserve a booth. Sitting in a booth at Tomo is not mandatory, but the shoeless accommodation definitely enhances the experience.

I am a self-proclaimed sashimi monster, and the cuts and freshness of Tomo’s sashimz is eloquently gangster. They are consistently thick, cool, beautifully shaped and probably the best tasting sashimi I have ever had in the GTA. At many places after eating a lot of sashimi I encounter a weird chalky taste in my mouth, but not at Tomo. I could eat there all day and night and still order desert as they’re closing.

If you attend with a large group, they have pre-set combos that include sashimi, maki rolls and sushi. I was skeptical to order these pre-set combos as I always am at restaurants, but at Tomo the chef really puts a phenomenal spread together and it is definitely worth it to venture the pre-set route.

The menu itself is extensive, and Tomo boasts many delicacies that you would not find at most Sushi restaurants. From the miso to sake bombs, truly a great experience from beginning to end.  Little things such as the citrus infused asian orange salad dressing and overall presentation of boats are simply stunning and captivating.  I would also recommend the spicy Korean bulgogi, it is deep with flavour and riddled with caramelized onions and gochujang (fermented pepper paste).

Do it, you will not be disappointed. 5/5.

Ideal Order (5-6ppl)

Green Dragon Roll (8)
Hamachi Negi Maki (6)
Preset Sashimi, Sushi and Maki combo (s, m, l)
Spicy Bulgogi Dinner
Salmon Teriyaki
Sapporo
Hakutsuru Sake (only chilled)

EAT IT

to be jolly…and to spread some holiday cheer!  The question, as usual, is how much “cheer?”

As we get further into the season, there is more concern about appropriate tipping for the holidays. We want to be vigilant about keeping up to date on the subject so, in addition to the links on Holiday Tipping, are referencing some other recent discussions we’ve come across.

From publications such as Consumer Reports to The New York Times, from Yelp to blogs such as Bargaineering, holiday tipping is a hot topic.

Consumer Reports publishes results from a survey on tipping during an economic downturn. Not the most complete list, in our opinon, but possibly a view of what is most relevant to many!

The New York Times presents a three-part series with questions and answers about holiday tipping etiquette from expert, Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute: Part I, Part II, Part III

A Reuters article puts a positive spin on the current economic challenges, suggesting that cutting back on holiday tips provides the opportunity to really say “thank you” – a concept undoubtedly met with mixed reactions!

Bargaineering, a personal finance blog, looks as tipping as an investment – The Best Investment Ever – rather than as simply a matter of etiquette, but also includes a holiday tipping guide compiled from many of the sources we have also referenced.

Yelp also has perplexed consumers looking for advice about how much to tip for the holidays – with questions about the appropriate amounts to give – from doormen to hair stylists.

Located on Gerrard in Little India, Lahore brings you Pakistani Vs. North Indian cuisine. If you seek an explosion of flavour in your mouth, and maybe somewhere else, this is the spot. Because North India is so close to Pakistan, many of the dishes have elements in common. These commonalities make for a fusion orgasm.

From the Pakistani side you are graced with various karahi’s and nihari (curries), tawa qeema mutter (minced beef w/ peas), and various kebabs and biryanis. Lahore boasts the best kebabs in Toronto. Yea I said it. Order seekh, beef, lamb or chicken kebabs, they will arrive at your table minutes later popping and sizzling with heat from the tandoor (clay oven), covered in caramelized onions and glorious seasonings. Their kebabs are so good, that I just drooled a bit into the keyboard.

From the North Indian side you are graced with the classics: Butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, channa masala (pea curry) aloo gobi (potato/cauliflower), & matter paneer (peas/cheese) just to name a few. Take my word, Lahore has some of the best butter chicken I have ever had, and I have eaten butter chicken from all over the GTA to India itself. Remember I spoke of how powerful the fusion can be? Well this dish is the perfect example of that. It arrives at your table bubbling in cast iron skillets, so silky, so rich and has a smoke infused taste. Not sure if it’s all the ghee or almond butter (2 key semi-secret ingredients to making amazing butter chicken) the tandoor or just plain love, but this BC is phenomenal. Many will argue Moti Mahal down the road has better butter chicken, but see for yourself and you be the judge. My vote remains with Lahore.

My ideal order for 4.

2 orders of Seekh Kebab (4 total)
2 orders of Lahori Beef Kebab (4)
2 Lamb Kebab Rice Sizzler.
2 Butter Chickens
1 Karahi Beef
1 Matter Paneer
4 Butter naans

After the meal I recommend grabbing a pistachio kulfi (ice cream) on your way out to cool down.

In your research of this restaurant you may find a fair amount of negative reviews; however I feel these reviews are based on individuals ordering the wrong items and one off experiences that I feel every restaurant has. If you stick close to my ideal order above, you too will catch yourself drooling into your keyboard. “Lahore Tikka House pwns kebabs and butter chicken, simply ghee-licious ” – Me

*Lahore has been under renovations for only god knows how long now. Washrooms are new and well maintained.

EAT IT

There are more similarities than there are differences.

Marketing is marketing, and whether you do it in the traditional manner or you use social media, the objectives are the same.  You are trying to increase your audience’s awareness of your product and you are trying to increase your business.

Social media has advantages.  It emphasizes social interaction.  Not only are you doing the marketing thing, but you are personalizing your message to the individual by the possible interactions with them.  You are establishing a relationship with members of your audience before doing business with with. This brings a humanizing element into marketing.

Social media tools that are currently being actively used with good results include (in no particular order) Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Yelp, and blogs.  If you are currently not using these, then you need to do so.

by Chris Buck

If you haven’t heard of augmented reality yet, you’re not alone.  The nascent technology wasn’t supposed to be a feature of the iPhone 3GS until the popular restaurant browser Yelp! placed an “Easter egg” in its iPhone app.  But it’s here now, and 2010 should see a flood of new “Aug apps” be made to available to the public across several mobile operating systems.

Augmented reality is a digital layer that you see superimposed over real life when you move your camera phone around.  One of the most interesting examples of this is the Andriod browser appropriate named “Layar.”  The browser lets you see your distance to various points of interest, information about real estate listings, and your location on a map simply by panning your phone left and right.  (See video).  The Yelp! app allows you to find new restaurants and shows you the reviews, so if you’re in a major city, you would know whether it would be worth it to start walking in a certain direction, simply by pointing your phone in that direction.

There are Aug Apps for a variety of functions, finding subway stops – a lot of them understandably deal with mapping in one form or another – finding restaurants, first person shooter games that are played hovering over a map that you put on a table, and even social networking features.  Google Latitude is most likely a predecessor to a similar augmented reality app.

There’s no denying it, the apps are really cool.  But which phone should you choose if you want one right now?  It should come as no surprise that the iPhone dominates the app market, and for that reason the iPhone has the highest customer satisfaction rating.  But AT&T is the worst network in terms of customer satisfaction.  So if you are on Verizon or Sprint, you may need to wait a little while for Aug Apps to reach either BlackBerry or Android platforms.  Between the two, Android phones currently have the edge, with Layar making waves in the mobile market.

As processing power increases in hand held devices, augmented reality applications are a natural destination for app developers.  Some sophisticated map technologies already exist (See Bing’s new Map application), and layering real-time data over location based features is a match made in heaven.  The only worry is that we may have too much information at our fingertips, particularly when it comes to social networking.  But as long as one can opt out of letting their friends know one’s location at every moment in time, the value of that information should be pretty amazing.  If Yelp!’s app is an indication of what’s to come, there may never be a need to eat at a bad restaurant again.

Sitting in the front seat of my little red Yaris, I spied the sign across the busy downtown Seattle street: Fonté Coffee Roaster & Wine Bar. Coffee and wine together! What a concept and given that it was still early in the day, the perfect excuse to go check out some more Seattle coffee. A stranger had given me his pay parking sticker and free time was running out, but the spontaneous urge could not be denied. Dashing a j-walk, I came to glass door displaying a magazine cover touting this location as one of Seattle’s best finds.

Inside, the ambiance was light modern chic and easy jazz played. The counter served as the frontline for a back wall divided by wine bottles detouring customers to either the wine side or the coffee side. Right from the start, I found myself directly in the middle, not wanting to yet commit, nature called.

“Which way is your restroom?” In truth I was only planning look around, then use the facilities and get on the road. The young lady behind the counter looked me up and down surveying the potential lack of profit.

“Just to the right and around the corner.” She said.

The bathroom was nice. It was a whole lot cleaner then the gas stations I was used to and as I washed my hands under the “bold look of Kohler” I knew I could not deny the seduction to slow down and look around.

“You can keep that menu” The girl behind the counter stated. She was giving me the world, how could I not sample just one beverage?

I ordered the Fonté Sangria and selected a crystal wrapped soft cheese with olive garnish and sliced Ficelle (what the hell is that?). I sat down at the window and reviewed the menu, watched the traffic pass through the haze of First Avenue, rushing onto Pike Place Market and the Space needle beyond. First Street was peppered with art museums, boutique clothing stores and coffee shops, feeling modern yet not overwhelming even as the parking enforcement zoomed car to car on their Segways. I mused at how busy my life had been just a few weeks before. It was such a luxury to slow down and stare out the window over the view of the delicious soft cheese and the refreshing Sangria with its cherry-like orange wedge peeking out at me.

Fonté sits adjacent to the Four Season’s Hotel, but you would never know it. It gives the impression of being the type of business you’d like to create yourself, a clever combination of two great tastes that taste great together. It’s got a following on Yelp and Urbanspoon and its coffee is award winning. Reviewing the menu gives the impression of a gastro pub but the ambiance is a whole lot brighter. It’s the kind of place that includes everyone, where you can down your Pappardelle Lamb Ragu with a 40 oz. Pabst Blue Ribbon.  May I also point out that they serve Maritime Islander Pale Ale which as fate would have it, I just sampled at 55 Degree Wine bar last night. Holy Moly! A delicious and gentle beer, not bitter at all yet craft brewed. The wines on the list I did not recognize, but Tysan Dutta is the Sommelier taking his M.A. from the International Sommelier Guild so maybe I’ll look some of his selections up. In the meantime, the Sangria was great!

One of our clients has posted us on Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/extra-elf-bay-area) check out our page and a big thanks goes out to William!

12/2/2009
Boontharika Traditional Thai Massage is a more than a 5 star experience!!!! Believe it.

Today is the second time I have been back for Thai massage at Boontharika and I absolutely adore Aoy (Pronounced Oy)! She is truly a gifted healer and massage therapist. I have searched out massage around the globe and am happy to report that the best Thai Massage is right here in the Bay Area!!! How thankful we are! My husband goes to Aoy as well. Some folks go for six hours! This type of deep tissue massage is not for the fluff and buff massage aficionado. This is true body therapy and stretching.

My father was a massage therapist, so I grew up appreciating deep tissue and pressure point work. Aoy uses her hands, feet, fingers and palms to relax and work the muscles in your body. She will only use her feet if you are comfortable with it. She has an innate ability to sense the tension and painful spots that need the extra attention, and at the same time works your entire body – sending you into a perfect state of total body BLISS!!!

The atmosphere is unassuming and tranquil with beautiful Thai fabrics and a collection of Buddha’s to delight you after treatment!

Aoy charges $60.00 for two hours and it is unheard of! I would like to help Aoy grow her business. I hear her worry and does not feel totally confident in the English language and I assured her just being herself is enough for all of us. Here is what I will do: You book yourself an appointment with Aoy, use the code name “Rochelle Carr” with Aoy when you book it. Aoy will write down your name for me and on your second visit with Aoy, I will pay $5.00 of your treatment! You will only pay $55.00 for your second incredible Thai Massage experience! I believe in her, and so will you. We need more folks in the world like Aoy. Relax, enjoy yourself, and let Aoy rub tiger balm into all your life aches and pains.

Give yourself and your friends a special treat – Boontharika Traditional Thai Massage! Magic and Miracles……..I promise.

http://www.boontharikathaimassage.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/boontharika-traditional-thai-massage-san-mateo-2

“Adventure lies not in the places we seek, but in the moments we create in the places we treasure.”

–Rochelle Carr

http://www.rochellecarr.com

Fine Artist and Author: Follow Your Heart Poetry

It seems Yelp.Com is playing the favoritism game and only posting reviews that they want to rather than actual reviews of venues. I have personally made over 25 reviews recently of businesses that they would not show. Some people may think that they may be showing favoritism of accepting concessions of some kind in exchange for showing specific reviews. Thats what it sure looks like. They have even deleted two of my accounts because of me bringing this to their attention.

I came across a great article today via AbelineBiz talking about how major retails are currently utilizing social media to increase their sales around the holidays.  Well, readers, the holiday season is officially upon us.  Author Jackie Crosby of the Minneapolis Star Tribune discusses how the iPhone as well as popular social media tools are revoluntionizing retailers, especially when December looms on the horizon.

Crosby writes:

“Social media has become the newest holiday strategy for some retailers, who are hoping the technology can bring some luster to their efforts to reach customers who are holding tight to their money this year.”

Let’s take this to a personal level.  I’m a college kid, currently enrolled in a PR and Social Media class at Loyola Chicago.  It’s now a part of my education to learn about these technologies and devices (if you’ve stumbled upon my blog earlier, this is old news).  Now, one step further – I use Twitter and various iPhone apps such as Yelp and various iPhone apps to discover deals and the latest news from my favorite stores.

However, though I feel that some companies and stores seem to use these programs and tools to the point that their efforts become a little too Spammy for my taste (ahem, take a peek at Twitter), I do appreciate how retailers are actively engaging in social media.  I’m a big fan of J.Crew, and receive notifications via email for great deals such as free shipping and holiday specials curtailed specifically for their online followers.

Here’s some interesting news:

According to Crosby, “About 47 percent of retailers surveyed last month by the National Retail Federation planned to increase their use of Facebook, Twitter and other online social networks this holiday season. As for shoppers, three out of five say they’re planning to use social media to look for discounts, coupons and sales, according to Deloitte Research.”

I can’t say that I’m surprised, but I am impressed. I’m also one of those 3 out of the 5 individuals who participate.  I feel like I have constant access to the latest news and deals, regardless if I’m near my computer or on the go. My mother enjoys shopping and has recently signed up for Facebook, and even she is now a part of this crowd.  If I’m with her, she asks me if I know of any news or holiday deals for some of our favorite places to shop – and I can access this information immediately.  I may not necessarily make purchases when I visit these places in person, but the awareness garnered by the usage of social media adds to my appreciation of the companies and stores.

What are your thoughts on your holiday shopping outlook and the app trend?

Check out the article here.

A blurry shot of J.P. Licks on Newbury St.

Ever since I first stepped foot into J.P. Licks during my freshman orientation at BU, I’ve been addicted.  Whenever I’m shopping on Newbury St. or in Coolidge Corner, I just have to stop for a scoop. From their many homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors to their cow print walls to their “teacup” booth, J.P. Licks is a definitely one of the best places to get ice cream in Boston.

I stopped at the J.P. Licks on Newbury St. tonight for a kiddie size Cow Tracks in a sugar cone.  Cow Tracks is J.P. Licks’ version of Moose Tracks: vanilla based ice cream with chunks of chocolate and tiny peanut butter cups.  For under $3.00,  I had enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

In addition to unique flavors of hard ice cream like Cherry Garciapparra Ortiz and Kowlau, they also have frozen yogurt, sherberts, sorbet, soft serve, frappes, sundaes, ice cream cake, and coffe drinks.  Since their ice cream is homemade, they always have a few seasonal flavors; this month’s flavors include Candy Cane,  Pumpkin, and Apple Crisp.  They even serve a few rotating flavors of lactose free ice cream for those who can’t eat dairy and ice cream for dogs called Cow Paws!

Their prices can be a little expensive; their cheapest sundae is over $5.00, but their kiddie is big enough, and it’s around $3.00.  So that’s not too bad. It’s no 39 cent cone from McDonald’s, but I think I can splurge every once in a while for some great quality ice cream.

According to their website, J.P. Licks has 8 different locations in the Boston area and has won numerous “Best of Boston” awards.  A 4 star rating on Yelp with many positive reviews also helps boost their image as a Boston favorite.  What’s another great place in Boston to get ice cream?

So I discovered Yelp.com a few weeks ago and, after a couple of weeks of putting in a few reviews, I hit on the idea of reviewing some of the shops downtown. After three visits downtown, I came to realize that 1) it is going to take some real doing to go to all  of them and 2) every time I go I find out something neat that other people might be interested in that is more appropriate to a blog than a  review.  For example, last weekend I went down to the square to take a picture of Poppy’s Garden Cafe and, guess what?  Poppy’s sign is down and Cafe Malaga’s sign is there instead.  Now that is going to be a great combination.  Cafe Malaga’s popular tapas restaurant in Poppy’s fantastic garden setting!  Rick’s had better keep an eye out on this new contender for pre-eminent downtown dinner dynamic!

On a sadder note, One Of a Kind has a sign up (or did weekend before last) that their store will be closing and they are clearing out their inventory with a sale. I can’t remember if it was a 10% off or a 20% off but, as the name implies, each piece is a one of a kind and, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Reigning Cats & Dogs is also closing up shop and is taking advantage of the holiday shopping season to sell off the rest of their inventory.  Their web site says that they are already closed so I was surprised to see them open weekend before last. According to the cashier, we will  be getting a new ice cream shop in this location but they have some time before the new guys come in. I don’t know what kind of ice cream shop yet – if it is an independent or an ice cream chain.  Will pass along the info when I know.

Sippity Doodle is a new addition to the square that I’m dying to try out.  From what I can gather, you bring a bottle of wine and they provide the paint.  Infinity Arts Academy is another new addition, now open across the street from Coffee N Cream, offering classes in a variety of art forms to include drama, singing, dance and more.  According the Art of Dance’s web site, they are now part of the Infinity Arts Academy.

It seems like so much is happening on the square that sometimes it is hard to keep up with.  So that is what this blog is about.  What’s new on the square?

So I discovered Yelp.com a few weeks ago and, after a couple of weeks of putting in a few reviews, I hit on the idea of reviewing some of the shops downtown. After three visits downtown, I came to realize that 1) it is going to take some real doing to go to all  of them and 2) every time I go I find out something neat that other people might be interested in that is more appropriate to a blog than a  review.  For example, last weekend I went down to the square to take a picture of Poppy’s Garden Cafe and, guess what?  Poppy’s sign is down and Cafe Malaga’s sign is there instead.  Now that is going to be a great combination.  Cafe Malaga’s popular tapas restaurant in Poppy’s fantastic garden setting!  Rick’s had better keep an eye out on this new contender for pre-eminent downtown dinner dynamic!

On a sadder note, One Of a Kind has a sign up (or did weekend before last) that their store will be closing and they are clearing out their inventory with a sale. I can’t remember if it was a 10% off or a 20% off but, as the name implies, each piece is a one of a kind and, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Reigning Cats & Dogs is also closing up shop and is taking advantage of the holiday shopping season to sell off the rest of their inventory.  Their web site says that they are already closed so I was surprised to see them open weekend before last. According to the cashier, we will  be getting a new ice cream shop in this location but they have some time before the new guys come in. I don’t know what kind of ice cream shop yet – if it is an independent or an ice cream chain.  Will pass along the info when I know.

Sippity Doodle is a new addition to the square that I’m dying to try out.  From what I can gather, you bring a bottle of wine and they provide the paint.  Infinity Arts Academy is another new addition, now open across the street from Coffee N Cream, offering classes in a variety of art forms to include drama, singing, dance and more.  According the Art of Dance’s web site, they are now part of the Infinity Arts Academy.

It seems like so much is happening on the square that sometimes it is hard to keep up with.  So that is what this blog is about.  What’s new on the square?

Mister Diplomat welcomes guest blogger THE Molly Buckley.

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You don’t have to believe me, but I’m being honest. I was once picked up in a bar with the line, “AY! Yo female, lemme get that backslash!” At first I was taken aback by this pickup line. What in God’s name did this boy mean, my “backslash”? I thought it was something vile, dirty, and disgusting. I immediately retorted, “Uhh, no?” I’m really good at being passive aggressive towards potential suitors.

You don't need a book. You need an imagination.

I later found out that “Lemme get that backslash” is actually referring to my MySpace username. That’s right – myspace.com / = backslash. I should have told him that it is actually a forwardslash, but I might have been slapped. And domestic abuse is no way to pick up a lady. Regardless, I did not go home with the gentleman in question that evening.

Well, after mulling on that particular event for a while, it prompted me to think about this idea of using “social networking” terms to pickup members of the opposite sex… in person. And thus, I held a contest. The contest was to see WHO could come up with the BEST social networking term pickup line pun. And I got some hilarious submissions.

Here are some of the best:

• Aaron K.: Wanna go to my place and #eachother? You do? Tweeeeet.
• Jonathan B.: Baby, add me to your friend’s list, and we can poke each other all the time!!!
• Sylvia T.: I can blog all night long, and this entry is definitely not tweet-length.
• Luke D.: Hey baby, how ’bout we ditch this party and head back to myspace?
• Matthew N.: It’s Friday and my only recommendation is that you follow me
• Rare Bird S.: I’ll invite you to an event, and I want to poke you’ tube. I like to comment when you download on my boobs.
• John B. Jr.: Hey baby. Wanna get Linked in Myspace or yours?

And the winner is…

• Jim W. (@digitaldrivel): I wanna put my Facebook in your Yahoo and Digg your Twitter until you Yelp!

Congratulations, Jim. You’ve won a grab bag of awesome comedy stuff from the Dirty South. That’s right. We’re dirty and we’re in the south. Rawwr.

So remember boys (and girls), next time you’re in a bar, don’t use that “did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” crap. Be creative. Use your imagination. Get to poking.

Word.

So Thanksgiving is here and there is nothing like taking stock of where you came from/currently are. A little over a year and a half ago I went from being in a relationship where I completely defined my identity though my girlfriend, to being single, in a one bedroom , with not even a cat to talk to. Getting back out there was a lot different than I imagined. Sure, I went to bars and cruised for tang the old fashion way, but I was surprised to find that those “It’s okay to look” match.com commercials were actually right–tons of young singles are using the internet to find dates, partners, whatever. The stigma that everyone you met online was a middle-aged, fat man were gone (i.e. the web was a great place to find you souldmate before…assuming he was a middle-aged fat man). Since I understand the internet better than I understand bars, I was more than excited. Initially I started with Match.com since it seemed like the most popular, but as time went on I began to look to other sites as well. I’m not sure it was some compulsion or a desire to find love, but by now I’m kind of a self-proclaimed expert on the topic of internet dating, and with that I’d like to share my list of dating sites for the Boston area, from worst to best:

8. Craigslist–1 star rating/5 stars

You may wonder: how will I know when I hit rock bottom in the dating scene? Well let me be your gauge and tell you that when you post on craigslist personals, yes, you have hit the bottom. It doesn’t get much more sketchy or craptastic than this…well that isn’t completely untrue, you can’t find real life hookers on AdultFriendFinder (that makes it less craptastic, but it is still the sketchiest). Posting to Craigslist is like posting to an old school personals paper, you have no idea who is reading it, what they look like, or whether or not they plan on cooking and eating you (though you may be into that last one). People, we have the technology! When it comes to online dating, or even trying to get a booty call, the evolution of the internet has allowed us to weed out some of the crazies. This is like the half-man, half-fish that eventually gave birth to us meatbags. Of course the 3/5-man, 2/5-fish is OkCupid since it has ALMOST as little monitoring of who is posting. Now I shouldn’t alienate those who are actually looking for freaks, or professionals, to them I just say beware, and if Chris Hanson walks out from behind a door or something then remember that the cops are outside waiting for you.

7. AdultFriendFinder.com–1 star rating/5 stars

It’s things like this that make me think I’m the dumbest (or at least most inept) person in the world. Thinking back on it, with a name like AdultFriendFinder, it should be pretty obvious what it is (swinger site), but being completely naive I thought it was a place to find other adults to be friends (yeah, you heard me–friends–ain’t nothin’ wrong with building a relationship based on friendship first). Once I figured out what it was, I found that it was posted all over the site, I had just been too in the zone from signing up for match, eharmony, okcupid, etc, to even notice. After putting in the basic info about you (i.e. that I am a man looking for a woman), and this is when I started to suspect something was strange, it asked me what i was looking for. The long term and short term dating choice were non-existent, but things like cross dressing, bdsm, group sex…yeah, those were all present. Can’t say I have an interest in dressing up like a ladyman. I managed to find a Discreet Relationship option, which sounded the most like dating (strangely enough fetish didn’t sound like something I would want to try). It turns out this site is full of creepers (both guys and girls). Now I have only heard stories of the female creeper, thinking it was just a myth, an urban legend told to fellow frat brothers to give then sweet dreams before passing out from their keg stands, but no, they actually exist. I never, never in a million years, thought I would be repulsed by a someone asking for sex (with me), but now I know that isn’t the case. Also it turns out this site is just a new age porn site, you need to pay to see people profiles, email them, etc.

Bottom Line: If you don’t want herpes or for it to burn when you urinate then I would suggest looking elsewhere for a date.

6. Matchmaker.com–1 star rating/5 stars

This place is the Mom and Pops version of dating sites. I should say though, it has a great diverse ad campaign. I found this site in an act of desperation while looking for cougar websites (sadly I never found one that caters specifically to cougars, so I guess the hunt is on). I had come across it before when it advertised itself as free for Harvard students (though that turned out to only be half true), so I decided to join. The matching system here is pretty basic; you select your basic stats (physical appearance, height, income, etc) and then you select what you are looking for in a partner (physical appearance, race, etc). After all the multiple choice crap is done it is time for fill in the blank, you have to write a couple essays, aside from the basic who you are looking for and tell us a little about yourself they ask you which movie star you resemble most. If you are clever (and are looking for clever men/women), might I suggest putting your name down as that celebrity? The reasons are two fold: 1) no you can say you are a celebrity, 2) because if you want to email someone you need to pay for the site (so by giving your name and some basic info they can google you or facebook you…see how I am working around the system? Damn the Man, damn him!). Though it is free to “join”, unless you want to shell out the big bucks for a second rate dating site, all you can do is sent and receive notifications that someone is interested in you. These interest notifications are the internet equivalent of staring at someone in a bar, you are letting them know that the game is on and are waiting for them to make the first move. Push comes to shove it is pointless since you cant respond back. Also, another draw back to this site is that most of the women who show interest are in NYC or Jersey…a little far to travel for a date just to get shot down. Similarly, the clientele is how you say…not worth the money (except for me, who is worth every penny…well at lest 50 cents to the dollar).

Bottom Line: If you want free go to OkCupid. If you want good, just don’t go here.

5. crazyblinddate.com–2 star rating/5 stars

It’s rare to find something so varsity, so beyond anything you have ever experienced all you can do is tighten up your belt and dive right in–for dating that is http://crazyblinddate.com. The hideously disfigured brother of OkCupid! (who is kept in the basement chained to a chair in his superman t-shit waiting for a BabyRuth), this monstrosity pushes past all the bullshit of online dating and throws you smack dab into that fire we call the first date. All you need to provide is a time you are free (or a period of time) and all the locations you are able to reach, they take care of the rest (like finding you the date). For those of you who are thinking, “Wait, I have standards, I don’t want to just be matched up with any Swampthing who has decided he/she is tired of rejections and wants a guaranteed first date,” you have the option of setting up some parameters like must be within a certain height, race, eye color (though keep in mind that takes all the fun out of the experience).

Positives of the site are that it is completely free and you can be set up on a date in relatively no time, granted someone else is looking for a date at the same time. Also it has a great system that texts you once you have a potential date so you don’t have to be attached to your email (though if you have a smart phone then it’s nothing new). So why give the pinnacle of serial dating only two stars? Well because its hard to actually get a date since a lot of people are so standoffish over the idea of a completely blind date (and the possibility of getting chopped up into little tiny peaces is dramatically increased over the lame blind dates your friends set you up on). Also it’s only limited to a select few cities, so if you happen to be in the middle of nowhere for a couple nights and are looking for a date or two then you are SOL.

Bottom Line: Big risk, big reward (the crazy story you can tell later).

4. OkCupid–2 star rating/5 stars

You know how sometimes you are going out with a bunch of friends and someone wants Mexican, another person hates Mexican and wants Italian, and one guy wants beef stroganoff so you end up going to Cheesecake Factory which has all the options and every ends up disappointed with the crappy food…yeah that is kind of like this place. OkCupid is a great idea, free online dating site? Hell yes I’ll join, sign me up.

The first thing you notice is this place has massive amounts of people…and massive people as well. This site is international so you never know when you click on someone whether or not they are even on the same continent. The flood of people make it hard to find the people who are serious/worth dating. There is a little status bar that tells you all the things you need to do to get to a complete profile. They start out helpful: fill in the questions, write an intro, but then they get less helpful: mark 5 things in your profile, write to the forums, write 100 match questions. The search feature on this site is also a little week. The minimum radius is 25 miles, which in a city like Boston give way too many people (especially since only 1% of them are worth talking to). One nice feature is the homescreen, now you can stalk all the poor people who glanced at your profile. Also there is a journal, which functions similar to a livejournal, write down all the mundane crap that you think about in hopes that someone else out there thinks about the same mundane crap.

The website works using user submitted questions and tests to determine compatibility. Like communism, this works on paper, but fails in real life. “Which would you rather burn, a flag or a book?” Wait…what? How the heck am I suppose to answer that question? I can think of certain books I would burn, and certain flags I would not. Rachel Ray cookbook, go ahead burn it. White House flag, don’t burn it. Angry people in the Middle East, go ahead, burn a US flag, I don’t mind. Original copy of Great Expectations, don’t burn it. More so, how does that help me connect with a person? We have our mutual love of books over flags in common? That is like saying at least we have Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Now I’m not one to pass judgment, but let me say I may or may not get a little pissed after reading an entire profile just to find that the person is married/engaged/dating someone but is looking for some action on the side. Granted, thank you for treating me like a piece of meat (no, I actually mean that, thank you), but the fact that there are so many people with alternative situations on this site make it hard for people looking for regular monogamous dating to find each other.

Bottom Line: Pay the money for http://match.com

3. eHarmony–3 star rating/5 stars

The ying to match’s yang, eHarmony keeps you clicking back for more. This modern day matchmaker was started by Dr. lover-man himself Neil Clark Warren (an actual psychologist and marriage counselor) in the 90’s. It promises you matches based on 29 points of compatibility. I’m not sure what they are, but if you are reading this Warren and are thinking about adding two more, could they be related butts and/or boobs (hey, I have a great butt, don’t blame me if you don’t)? Oh, I should mention off the bat that the website is a thinly veiled Christian website, so if you are lookin’ to get all Leviticus with some other dude this is not the site for you (hey, I consider the Bible literature, reading is succeeding).

First thing you do is fill out your questionnaire, This questionnaire takes forever and asks you a series of questions you don’t expect. The first few are the basic: age, gender, where you live, but then you have to rate things on a scale of 1 to 7. For instance: I am good at analyzing problems…well I guess I could be a 6. I mean, I’m no Einstein, he would definitely be a 7, but if I put a 7 does that mean I will be dating or expect to be Einstein? If Einstein is a 7 then I feel more comfortable being a 4, but at the same time is 4 only average? After that it goes to the next level: Aloof. How am I suppose to rate my aloofness? It was like the SATs for dating, and just like the SATs I need a drink when I was done.

The website setup is a little unwieldy. First you have to read the profiles, not that you get any information from then. Then you rate how well you think this match was. After that you begin, what I like to call, “The dance of small talk and halos.” You have to send a round of multiple choice questions to the other person, who reads, responds, and sends you some. After that it is time for essay questions. I finished high school a long time ago, I’m not looking to go back. There is an alternative, the “Fast track” where you go straight to sending emails (something that Match lets you do right off the back. Word from experience, NEVER FAST TRACK. Remember how all the TV shows say you need to talk/listen to a girl on a first date? Nothing says I could care less about your cat Chairman Meow than trying to go straight to phase 3. If you do have the unfortunate luck of trying this, or in my case just happen to be one of few blacks on the site, you may receive the dreaded MATCH CLOSED message. Your potential mate decides you aren’t fit to talk to and chooses why from a list of predetermined options. My favorite is Other. She/he is too fat–close it with an Other. Too short–Other. Too awesome–Other. Granted I’m no saint, but when I close a match I actually try to be honest. I would be greatfull if at the end of a date she said “don’t call me,” rather than her just not pick up the phone. On the plus side, you can totally parallel question a bunch of people at a time and see which ones make it to the email stage.

Bottom Line: If you want to try picking from 20 people simultaneously, are straight, aren’t worried about random rejection, and have all the time in the world, this is the place for you.

2. match.com–5 star rating/5 stars

Oh internet dating, how you have become a vice of mine. My love affair with internet dating began hmmm…well about the time I realized I was 23 years old, living alone, working all the time, and my ex, who had left me for another med student, was having more fun than I was. The http://match.com ads are the ones that burn a hole through your brain: some trendy hipster in black and white talking about their trendy hipsterness followed by “http://match.com, its okay to look” (Why wont you take MY audition tapes http://match.com? I could be sooo hip).

The site is free to sign up for, all you need is to write a little profile and answer some basic questions (I like my women between 3′0″ and 8′0″ thank you very much). After that you are given a list of a couple hundred women who “match” you based on some percentage of similarity. On my first selection of criteria I only had four 100% matches, but after I went to visit my parents for Christmas and was told I was actually 5′10″ (who measures their own height, come on!) my 100% matches skyrocketed. In addition, ever day or so, you are given five new matches to rate.

With a free account all you can really do is use the instant messenger and send winks (think of the adult web-based “do you like me check yes or no” letter). If you are truly looking for love, you can upgrade to a paying account. There are multiple plans, the best deal being 6 months since if you do what they say and still don’t find love then you get another six free.

Now the fun part, the clientele. The women range from 18 to really old (come on, I’m not that desperate yet.). In the Boston area there are more women than you can shake a stick at (that is also illegal in many cases). The personality ranges from golddigger to nerd hottie looking for love. Sending winks and emails like a fisherman, expect to net far fewer than you cast out. After some mutual, “I think you are très sexy,” you can communicate through a secure email server. While a little unwieldy as I always had to sign in to reply, you can apparently just hit reply from gmail and it will take care of the rest. The dates are varied, but this writer always found them amusing to say the least.

As far as men go, I bet there are some real winners out there (especially ones that are 5′10″, black curly hair, great smile, love to write reviews about internet dating). Also if you are lookin’ for some man love (or woman love), there is a large gay and lesbian population on match.

Bottom line: Sign up, then find me. I can be a great date and I clean up well.

1. Yelp–5 star rating/5 stars

I use yelp like some people use the casual encounters page of craigslist.

Photo source: Layar.com

With the addition of a compass, GPS and associated software, the PDA/smartphone has become as powerful as ever.  Services are emerging that blend social networking and location awareness (e.g. Foursquare, Google Latitude) – in addition, augmented reality has received a lot of recent attention.  Amsterdam-based Layar has interesting technology that they call Layar Reality Browser – Version 2.0 (a mobile, augmented reality browser).

How could location awareness and augmented reality apply to events and trade shows?

Event Check-In

Source: flickr (User: Buckeye Beth)

Event planners could partner with location awareness providers to determine which registrants have appeared on site.  Attendees would need to register and opt-in to the location awareness service – but once they do, the technology can determine who’s on site and provide automated check-in.  Imagine arriving at the event, skipping past the long check-in line and going straight to a self-service kiosk, where you can print your event badge.  Once you have your badge printed, perhaps the event planner disables the location service, to give attendees the reassurance that they’re not being watched, a la Big Brother.

Eco-friendly maps

Photo source: Layar.com

You’re at the main lobby of the event – imagine holding up your PDA and having a map appear of the venue.  You no longer need to ask where the keynote session is being held – your PDA can map it for you – and perhaps guide you right there via its GPS function.  Such a service would make support overhead more efficient (less staff required to direct attendees) and be eco-friendly, since the printed event guide (and map) may no longer be required.

Augmented Reality at Exhibitor Booths

For trade shows that include exhibitor booths, augmented reality provides for some interesting possibilities.  I’m standing at the event’s most popular booth – the event staff is swarmed with visitors and I have to wait in line to speak to the exhibitor and/or get my product demo.  While I’m waiting, I bring up the augmented reality app on my PDA – it shows an image of the physical booth (right in front of me) with the following information overlaid:

1. Related content from the exhibitor that I can view (right now) from my PDA – documents, white papers, on-demand videos, etc.
2. Bios/profiles of event staffers who are in the booth right now – so I know that the most popular demo is being given by the exhibitor company’s Senior Product Manager for Mobile – I can view his LinkedIn profile, so that when my turn comes, I already know that we have a connection in common.
3. An option to view the demo – perhaps the physical booth demos are being streamed out to the web – e.g.  into a hybrid virtual event.  With a click, I’m able to view the live stream of the demo via my PDA.  I’ll admit, it’s an odd thought to watch a live demo that’s occurring a few feet from you – but sometimes at events, it is truly hard to see the demo from the back of an assembled crowd.
4. An option to join a text chat with a virtual booth staffer – again, in a concurrent virtual event, perhaps the exhibitor supplements their physical staffers with online staffers in the virtual environment.

Social gaming and following friends/colleagues

Events could incorporate a gaming aspect, with points tied to actions – and activity tracked via location awareness.  Exhibitors no longer need to scan an attendee’s badge – instead, the location awareness service tracks which booths they’ve visited.  Safeguards need to be established, of course, to ensure that a booth visit was real/substantial, as opposed to a “drive by”.  To use a Foursquare analogy, perhaps exhibitors offer a grand prize (e.g. HDTV) and award that to the attendee who holds the title of “mayor” (of that booth) at the conclusion of the event.

In a sales meeting, on the other hand, you often have colleagues who want to attend sessions together – instead of texting or IM’ing to coordinate meet-ups, a location awareness service (think Google Latitude) can allow opted-in attendees to track one another’s location on the show floor.  If your colleague is spending too long on line for coffee, go grab him so that you’re both not late to your boss’ presentation.

The important stuff – food!

Photo source: Layar.com

Layar, Yelp and Urbanspoon have all released augmented reality apps related to restaurants.  Whether it’s lunch during the event or dinner afterwards, you’ll always be a few augmented clicks away from knowing where’s the best burger, steak or burrito.

Perhaps what we need is a conference on augmented reality and location awareness – where all of this becomes reality!

My mom is Jewish and my dad’s Salvadorean, that combo makes me a Jewtina. Thankfully, there is a clothing line for people like me but there isn’t a special restaurant that combines the two cuisines. Fortunately, this last week I had the best Jewish deli sandwich of my life and some great Salvadorean food.

There are some iconic LA restaurants that I am simply in no rush to try. For instance, it took me 5 years to try a Father’s Office burger. The reason for my hesitation is normally anticipated and then actual disappointment. That is not the case with Langer’s Deli. I have wanted to go for the last 5 years but their hours, never open past 4pm and closed on Sundays, have been a barrier for me. When Josie called and said that she was so sorry she missed roller disco and asked how she could make it up to me, I immediately had a resolution. I had to get my car serviced and suggested that she pick me up at Toyota and that we grab lunch at Langer’s. She was totally game and we arrived with rather large appetites. The location of Langer’s, in the heart of MacArthur Park, brings to mind smells of urine and memories of purchasing my first fake ID. We are tough girls and walked in to a packed lunch crowd. The hostess took down my name and said it would be a 20 minute wait. I spotted a seat at the counter and there was a second that appeared to be opening up quickly. A nice Jewish man was in the middle of the two empty seats offered to scoot down for us. He ended up chatting with the cute younger woman, soon to be seatmate, all about her upcoming wedding. Josie and I were thrilled and I told her that all of our Twitter friends said we must stick to the Number 19. We didn’t stray. Josie, not a huge rye fan, asked for sourdough and we decided to split an order of fries. The waitress was quick talking and clearly a New Yorker. When Josie asked me if we needed to clarify to the waitress about the order, since she didn’t write anything down, I stopped her. I could tell this woman has been doing this for years and had the order perfect and with no confusion. I was correct.

The number 19 has thick pieces of pastrami, swiss cheese, coleslaw, and russian dressing. In the words of Joe Jackson, “Nineteen Forever!” It was so OMG! Anyone that knows me knows that I am a huge bread snob and this rye was fresh and perfect. I think Josie ended up regretting her sourdough choice. I would normally be the quintessential Jew and complain about paying nearly $14 for a sandwich, but not here. It was so worth it. Those complaints can be saved for the always disappointing and overpriced Jerry’s Deli. I do not necessarily heart New York but I do love a good NYC deli where people come from all walks of life and chat over a good sandwich. That is what happened at Langer’s and it was all delectable! If you live in LA and have not been, this is a place that is not to be missed.

Josie and I share some Salvadorean blood but rarely do we eat the food together. We are far more likely to head to Highland Park together for huaraches and tacos or to San Gabriel for Chinese food (the other food of the Jewish people) than to seek out some pupusas. Although, we were asked at one point if we like to bump pupusas together. It’s on tape, in case you don’t believe us. Anyway, Josie is now on her 11th iPhone and while she was at the Apple store, or as she like to call it the home of her saviors, I handed her my BlackBerry (I am only on my 2nd) and told her to use the Yelp app and find us somewhere for dinner. She chose La Caravana, which is pretty far up Lake in Pasadena, nearly at the Altadena border. I agreed but walked in with very low expectations. After my first sip of the ensalada, a fresh fruit drink, I was sold. Never have I had such a refreshingly delicious beverage. As soon as I saw the menu I knew that I needed the Plato Tipico Loco, which translates to the typical crazy plate. We are Uncouth Gourmands how could we not order that? It came with your choice of pupusa, a sweet corn tamale, fried yucca, plantain, mixed rice and beans, a slice of queso fresco, and sour cream. I went with the chicken and cheese pupusa and Josie was torn between the zucchini and cheese and the loroco. Despite the vast amount of food, she ordered both. All the food was delicious and the plate was only ten dollars, which is a good deal considering an individual pupusa is $3. I know that it isn’t that much but I have a hard time justifying more than a $1.50 for a taco and more than $2.50 for a pupusa. All of the food was superb and Josie and I were screaming at each other to try this or try that. We had identical plates but that didn’t stop us from sharing.

Whatever your cultural background may be, might I suggest that you partake in gobbling its culinary roots. You will feel proud, satiated, and it is a good thing to be on the hunt for. Everyone loves finding the “Best” something and it might as well be something that your ancestors have loved and enjoyed.

Every time I go “home” to San Diego I have to at least stop at one of my favorite spots. Ok, well this spot happens to be on the list of “To Do’s” every trip. Again on this recent trip I went and rekindled my love with Extraordinary Desserts.

Extraordinary Desserts

Extraordinary Desserts has two locations to choose from. Although they are very different from each other they are close in proximity. I tend to visit the Hillcrest location because it has a more “homey” feel and is quieter. I have been to the other one located in Little Italy and it is more of a restaurant with food options and a modern warehouse feel.

If you love sweets then you are in for a treat! Extraordinary Desserts not only has the best dessert I have ever tried, but also a great selection of teas, coffee and other drinks. I make it a point to always try a new combination. I had “Falling in Love” tea, which I fell in love with! Hahaha! No, but really it was amazing!

Yummy!

Another great thing about this place is that it’s the perfect spot to go in a small group, order a bunch of different goodies and share them family style. Afterall, you are given a generous slice/piece of heaven soooo why not share!

I do have to say the funny thing about this place is that there is always a long line as it gets later in the night so if you’re looking to grab a table, make sure you get there early. Who knows maybe I’ll see you there!

Raves and reviews of Extarordinary Desserts

BM

Recent data indicates it is time to embrace rather than fear online reviews.

A recent RatePoint survey found that of the 30 percent of small business retailers who had integrated product reviews into their Web site, 43 percent said reviews had resulted in more sales. And 28 percent said reviews had resulted in more traffic. A RatePoint study in July also found that reviews were six times more likely to impact a business positively than negatively.

A recent Wall Street Journal article points out that while a stellar review is ideal, detailed criticism has unique benefits. Said one businessman: “I see these sites [and reviewers] as providing a free type of market research,” he says. “They are in a unique position to tell us not only how we’re doing, but also how we can improve the business.”

 Some of the most respected review sites are:

• Yelp
• CitySearch
• UrbanSpoon
• Yahoo Local
• MenuPages

Consumer reviews are powerful. Your website should at the least link to respected review sites. Even better, integrate the reviews for all visitors to see.

I wrote word number 50,356 at about 9:15 this morning. I feel great. My post-completion to-do list looks like this:

• Tweet so the world can congratulate me.
• Post to blog.
• Fix year-number typos in yesterday’s blog (yes, I was so excited and lost in my novel that I forgot what year it was!)
• Donate to NaNoWriMo. Today is Donation Day!
• Verify and WIN! at the NaNoWriMo site.
• Take myself out for a cupcake.
• Get back to work.
• Pack for Thanksgiving vacation.

And when I return, this blog can get back to its regularly scheduled programming. A whole lot of you click on my first Sexy Grammar lesson almost every day, so I’m looking forward to posting new ones for you in the coming weeks. I’ve also spent a good amount of time this month writing in cafes, so I have an awful lot of cafe reviews to Yelp.

I’m sorry I don’t have a harrowing tale of lost data and drunken desperation to wrap up this year’s experience. Read last year’s–it’s still funny.

These Foursquare badge pins are just too cute!

Foursquare Pins by marsbot

If loving these makes me a nerd, well then, give me the FLAIR!