Reviewing Whatever

Alas, Babylon!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:28:00 +0000

Alas, Babylon!

By Pat Frank, 1959, from the library

You should know

I love good science fiction, and this is apparently considered among the best science fiction out there.

So?

In this story, the United States is hit by multiple nuclear attacks, and a small town in Florida narrowly misses being hit by fallout. Randy Bragg, the protagonist, takes it on himself to protect and care for his family, his neighbors, and soon, the town.

In addition to being a compelling story (I read most of it in a single night), it is one that offers much to think about. Much of the story is a product of its time, the late fifties, and it spins out what would be considered most valuable as time goes by. No doubt you've thought to stock up on canned goods and bottled water in case of an emergency, but I for one never thought of salt, flour, yeast, or needles and thread. Which I really should have.

There are some mildly sexist themes in the book, but nothing unexpected given the context (the women are considered strong and indispensable... but relatively useless when lacking the guidance of a man) and race issues are handled carefully, the author pointing out the issues of the 1950s south without becoming too preachy or self-satisfied when his heroes overcome their biases with ease. (NB: I say this as a white northerner, so feel free to disagree if your personal context allows you to see something I missed.)

It's a great post-apocalyptic survival tale, all told.

Rating

Read it if...
You like survival tales, post-apocalyptic fiction, or just really well-written fiction.

The rest of the Internet

A reflection on the book and its author, 50 years later.
LobaBlanca found Alas, Babylon to be far superior to The Road.
You can like the book on Facebook
Dhymna at Culinary Carnivale finds the book horribly underrated and overlooked on many lists of the best post-apocalyptic books.
Dame Durden at Dewey Decimal Shenanigans take issue with the idea that this is just another boring required-reading assignment.
Q at The Science Fiction Expert remarks on how optimistic the book is given the subject material.
The obligatoryWikipedia, LibraryThing and SparkNotes pages.

Lawrence of Arabia (Post in Progress)

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:18:00 +0000

Cover via Amazon

Lawrence of Arabia

1962, from television

You should know

For some time, I've been wanting to view the AFI's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. It recently occurred to me that, since we have a TiVo, all I have to do is plug the names of the movies in, and every few days a new film will be waiting for me. Nice.

So?

This movie is a dramatization of part of the life of D. H. Lawrence. I want to say it was fascinating and full of drama. Parts of it were.

Basically, Lawrence, a British officer, takes it on himself to work with the local Arab population where he is stationed. He takes on their dress and some of their habits -- and, of course, their cause -- and becomes a local hero. The British don’t want to take him seriously, but his unorthodox methods eventually make him the only man for the job when the British and Arabs need to broker agreements.

But, as an epic of its time, the movie was full of panoramic shots of sandy desert dunes or colorful camps. Lovely cinematography, but in every case, after a minute or two of it, I would get distracted -- and the next thing I know, there’s important dialogue happening that I can barely follow. So that didn’t help.

Abundence (Post in Progress)

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:08:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Abundance

By Sena Jeter Naslund, 2006, from the library

You should know

I'm not really into the French Revolution, but I do enjoy compelling biographies and well-written historical fiction from time to time. This was recommended via Twitter.

So?

This is a novelized version of the life of Marie Antoinette. I don’t know enough about her historical life to tell you how accurate it is or is not, but it was an engaging read.

The book begins as the Marie is leaving home for the first time to marry the young prince she has never met. It continues as she adapts to French life in general and the royal court in specific, hears about wars and revolutions abroad and at home, and finally ends at the guillotine. This is presumably not a spoiler, and if you didn’t know going in how it ends, shame on you.

Much of the book is presented in the form of letters between Marie and her family and confidantes. This adds some nice outside perspective to a novel that is otherwise told from the protagonist’s point of view.

Rating

A pretty good beach read.
Much of it reads like a period romance novel, but the intrigue gives it a bit more weight. Obviously, it doesn’t have a happy ending, but it’s light enough overall.

Other People's Reviews: Split Decision

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeGame nights are fun. Ken Jennings is really smart. So when Ken and his family play-test a new board game, I pay attention to his response.

Split decision looks like a lot of fun, and an Apples-to-Apples style good time for adults who want to kick back and goof off as they compete. I'd be willing to play it, and you should read the review and see if you'd like to, too.

Blackbirds (Post in Progress)

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:02:00 +0000

I was chatting with a fellow blogger recently, and mentioned to him that I have a ton of half-written reviews waiting to be finished and posted. He suggested I just post what I have and finish them as I go. If this is a good idea, he gets the credit. If this is a bad idea, he was kidding and it's all on me. Either way, go check out his blog: The GIN is IN.

Blackbirds

41-19 30th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11103

You should know

Chris and I decided to go for a walk in the new neighborhood late one Sunday night and see what kind of dining establishments were still serving dinner.

One little place had drink specials and wing specials during all football games, and since one was on at that moment, we figured, "Why not?"

So?

So of course Chris was nice and distracted by the game, but I expected that. He got the wings ("1/2 dozen or one dozen. Hot, medium, sweet & sour, and honey bbq, and I got a Blackbird's Burger("8-oz. burger served with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion. Add 50¢ for a topping of your choice: bleu cheese, american, cheddar, mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms, sautéed onions, or bacon. Add 1 dollar for avocado or goat cheeseburger.") Of course, the game night menu is not as clear as the online menu as to what does or does not count as an additional topping, so I ended up paying a little more than I expected, but it was still good. The food was good, but not especially impressive.

To drink, I got a Coney Island Lager ("A hybrid mash up of styles between European brewing traditions. Very unusual malt bill and hops that nod strongly at American craft"), which was nice but not amazing, and Chris got a Franziskaner.

The burger was excellent, and Chris enjoyed their wings, though so many places have wing specials that he won't get them unless he's getting the beer included, as well (which is a feature of their late-night menu).

Since then, we've gone back multiple times, usually when we want a late dinner and everyone else has stopped serving food.

Rating

Check it out if you're in the neighborhood
It's definitely worth stopping by if you're around, but I don't know if I'd go so far as to recommend traveling to get there.

Your Mission: Children's books edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:18:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaNow that I'm at an age where friends are beginning to have children, I've decided that I'm going to be that family friend -- for good or ill -- and try to give the gift of a love of reading.

I'm collecting a list of beloved children's books, from board books through first readers into YA and teen-friendly adult books. The current list spans from Where's Spot through East of Eden, if you're looking for a range. I'm especially hoping for books I remember loving as a kid, but have forgotten (but there's a handful of people whom I'll let vouch for a book, if I've never read it).

So your mission is to let me know which books you read until the covers fell off when you were a kid.

Note: if it's a series, no problem, but ideally I'll just pass along the first book unless/until the child expresses an interest in it. See: The Baby-Sitters Club (#1 Kristy's Great Idea); Animorphs (#1 The Invasion); Goosebumps (#1 Welcome to Dead House).

And don't worry -- if I give your child a book she already owns, I encourage you to pass it along to a friend or a charity. Spread the words!

Mothers and Other Liars

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:52:00 +0000

Mothers and Other Liars

2010, by Amy Bourret

You should know

I got this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program.

So?

Ruby Leander, a young woman who lost all her ties to her old home, decided to randomly head west, where she found an abandoned baby. She took the child in and built a life for herself and her new daughter, Lark.

Years later, Lark's true origins come to light, and Ruby must face her daughter's horror, her boyfriend's conflicted morality, Lark's biological family's demands, and the justice system's insistence that Ruby is a heartless kidnapper. Ruby is faced with sorting through her years of lies and omissions to get to what is best for her family.

Rating

Consider it for a beach read
It’s a cute book, engaging enough while I read it but fairly forgettable once I put it down.

The rest of the Internet

Amy Bourret’s official site.
The LibraryThing page.
The Facebook community.
Read an excerpt at She Loves Hot Reads.
Nely at All About (n) praises the book.
Lazygal at Killin’ Time Reading finds certain themes in the book problematic.
Jacki at Lovely Little Shelf compares the book favorably to the works of Jodi Piccoult.

Other People's Reviews: The Muppet Show Comic

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:21:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaGranted, the authors of the Muppet Mindset blog are coming to this graphic novel with pro-Muppet bias, but it looks like an entertaining read.

So check out their reviews of the multiple issues of The Muppet Show. I for one am holding out for the trade.

Issue one

Issue two

Issue three

Issue four

Other people's Reviews -- In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:31:00 +0000

Cover via AmazonI guess I'm just a sucker for reviews where the reviewer claims a book changed his or her life.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson is about God's calling for our lives, and Mary at (In)Courage really took this book to heart. It doesn't sound like my thing at the surface (though Mary said the same thing...) but her review makes me really curious about the book, which is of course a sign of an effective review. Check out her review!

The Rondout Inn

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:33:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

The Rondout Inn

79 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401

You should know

When Chris and I celebrated out first wedding anniversary, we decided to spend the weekend in the town we were in when Chris proposed. We didn’t want to stay in the same hotel (which was a dump at the time and is now under new management), but we weren’t thrilled with any of the chain motels, which were away from the parts of town we liked and kind of expensive.

Chris found this little not-quite-bed-and-breakfast, and we decided to take a chance.

So?

It was great. The Inn is owned by a couple who also appear to own the antique store next door (you have to go into the store to check in). As a result, the rooms in the Inn are furnished from the store -- and the Guest Information book includes a price sheet in case you want to take any of the furniture or decorations home with you. The bed and couch were incredibly comfortable, the decor was charming, the full kitchen was incredibly handy, and there were a few fun surprises as well. All this for only $175 a night -- not dirt cheap, but better than those motels I mentioned above. We plan to use them again next time we visit Kingston.

You can get breakfast for the B&B experience, but it's part of a more expensive package, so we were happy to forgo it.

Rating

Go there
OK, odds are you won’t have much reason to go to Kingston, but if you do, be sure to stay here.

The rest of the Internet

Few, but good, reviews at TripAdvisor (disclosure: Chris left a review there, too).
A write-up of this and another inn in Kingston Happenings

Your mission: Question edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:04:00 +0000

OK, so the whole premise of this blog is that I'm all over the place, but if you're reading this, there must be a reason. So what do you like? What do you want to see in the future?

More full length reviews? Of movies? Books? Restaurants? Tourist sites? Random crap like post offices and libraries?

More quickies?

More "You should know" gossip about my life and friends and what they have to do with the review?

More advice to people who are in the situation I was?

More links to other blogs?

Something else I haven't mentioned? Something I haven't done yet but you'd like to see?

No polls, because I want to hear (read?) your opinions.

Other people's reviews: Sammy's Halal Cart

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:27:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBaseI got my mother a copy of Mark Bitman's How to Cook Everything cookbook for Christmas a few years back, and she uses it all the time. I'm waiting for the latest edition to come out in paperback, then I'm buying it myself.

Bitman has a blog on the New York Times website, and has contributing and guest bloggers appear regularly. At one point, the contributor was Luca Marzorati, a high school student and street-cart food connoisseur.

Marzorati's writing is excellent -- you wouldn't guess he was in high school when this was written if the article hadn't made mention of it. And his praise of Sammy's Halal Cart is glowing. I'm tempted to track the cart down for lunch one of these days.

Check out the review for yourself.

Quickie Round-Up: Self-Help edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:07:00 +0000

Cover via Amazon

We all have our flaws. One of mine is reading too many self-help books.

Here are some books that might be able to teach you a thing or two -- at the very least, you should learn the areas in which I think I need help!

Books I've previously reviewed are linked to the appropriate post; in between are some quickie reviews, which are linked to Amazon.com through an affiliate link.

The Automatic Millionaire : A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach -- The idea behind this one is pretty simple. You've heard the old maxim, "Pay yourself first," right? That's pretty much what this book is about. Figure out how much you want to -- and can afford to -- save, and then have that amount automatically transferred to savings (or investment) on a regular basis. You don't miss money you never see.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell -- This is a "Trust your gut" sort of book. You know things, and frequently you know them before you realize that you know them. A great example kicks off the book, telling about a museum worker who was completely certain that a new statue was a fraud. This worker was eventually proven right, but the telling details were so subtle that the only thing giving it away was that it "felt off." And you can do stuff like that, too.

Everything twitter: From Novice to Expert

Fear Less: Real Truth About Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism by Gavin de Becker -- Here is another "Trust your gut" book, this one from the author of The Gift of Fear (see below). When you're afraid of everything, your natural, protective sense of fear can't figure out what is a threat and what isn't. If you spend your day watching disasters on a constant loop on the news, worrying, and telling yourself you have nothing to worry about, then when that creepy person in the dark parking lot at 2 AM sets off your warning sirens, you'll be in the habit of squelching that, too. And that's just not safe.

Gendertraps: Confronting Confrontophobia, Toxic Bosses, and Other Landmines at Work by Judith Briles -- Whether due to biology, social conditioning, or some combination of the two, men and women think, socialize, and negotiate differently. This can cause miscommunications and even major obstacles in the workplace. This book helps you deal with these situations.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen -- This is the definitive productivity blog. One of these days I'm going to finally get my hands on a copy I can mark up, and then hopefully I'll be able to start implementing some of these techniques. Highly recommended pretty much everywhere.

The Gift of Fear

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins -- An interesting breakdown of comparable companies, some of which made it big and others which fell apart, and where the pairs diverged in their tactics. More interesting than I'm making it sound, actually.

Made to Stick

The Millionaire Next Door

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi -- A guide to networking, meeting people, making business contacts, and maintaining them. Brilliant, but not easy.

Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz -- It's true: when I have too many choices, I freeze up because how can I possibly pick the best one, especially without examining each in depth. On our honeymoon, if we walked down a street and Chris asked me where I wanted to eat, I'd almost panic -- everything looks so good, and every place we eat at is one more we'll never eat at, and if it's terrible not only will we never get that meal back, but it'll be entirely my fault for ruining our dinner... but if we had a list of five places recommended by our guidebook, it was easy. Don't want pizza again, don't want to spend too much -- ooh, this place is known for its selection of local wines. Decision made.

ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse -- The author of ProBlogger.com gives his advice on starting up a blog and earning an income from it. One of these days...

Project Everlasting: Two Bachelors Discover the Secrets of Americas Greatest Marriages by Mathew Boggs and Jason Miller -- I'm not entirely sure this counts as a self-help book, but it can definitely be used as one. Two guys wander the country looking for couples with very length marriages, and asking them what their secrets are. Very sweet.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki -- This one is kind of controversial, since apparently the two dads are more metaphorical than the book makes out. This doesn't make the advice bad, necessarily, but it means you might want to take this popular book with a couple grains of salt.

Six Thinking Hats: An Essential Approach to Business Management by Edward De Bono -- When it's difficult to make a decision, either on your own or in a committee, it's important to look at things from different angles. The "hats" represent such factors as cold facts, fears, ambitions, and making sure everyone gets along.

Slow Reading

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell -- Another good one. Small but significant factors can turn a modest success into a wild one.

Wealth of Experience: Real Investors on What Works and What Doesn't by Andrew Clarke -- There's a big "you should know" here, as this book was published by my former employer. It's pretty much what it sounds like: high-end investors talking about how they got to be, and stay, high-end investors.

The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had by S. Wise Bauer -- The author notes that almost no one is self-educated anymore, then outlines tactics, and an immense reading llist, for anyone who wants to be.

What Should I Do with My Life?: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question by Po Bronson -- Bronson was sort of asking this question himself as he put together this book, which collects the stories of people who have found their callings. A good read even if it turns out not to be especially necessary, or helpful, for you.

Why Do I Love These People?

Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget

Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear by Frank Luntz -- Another one that's pretty much what it sounds like, this book talks about communication skills and how you can make sure what you mean is what you say is what people hear. Probably not a bad one to read together with Gift of Fear, above.

Go forth and be a better person! Enjoy!

Aside for my real-life blogger friends: does anyone need a guest post any time soon? Let me know.

Other People's Reviews: Winco

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:22:00 +0000

Dave Loveless at the Prodigal reviews his local supermarket, Winco, here. He speaks very highly of the low prices, high quality, and impressive ideals. Later, he revisits the store and the review, still enjoying the shopping experience, but becoming less impressed by the prices, here.

Go, check them out.

4.5-year index

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:11:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaIt looks like I forgot to do a 4-year index back in April, and these indices do make it easier to find things, so let's get back on track.

Books

Food and drink

Delaware

The Dog House

Massachusetts

Boston Beer Works
Cornwall's Restaurant
Finale
Sabur
S oulFire
Sunset Grill and Tap
Tasca

New Jersey

Cheeburger Cheeburger
Whitman Diner

New York

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Blue Point Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery
Burger Heaven
Cafe Buenos Aires
Croxley's
Grand Lux Café
Hanami Japanese Restaurant
John Harvard's Brew House
Max Brenner
Miller's Ale House
Peter Luger Steakhouse
Red Lobster
Tio Pepe
Trattoria Lucia

Ontario

Fressen
Groucho’s Gourmet Market
Kelsey’s
Naz’s Falafel House
R ichtree Market Restaurant
Smokeless Joe’s
Swiss Chalet
Wayne Gretsky’s

Pennsylvania

Allentown Brew Works
Bistro Cassis
California Pizza Kitchen
Crossroads Coffee
Derek's
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Flanigan’s Boat House
Irish Pub
Iron Hill Brewery
Kildare's
Macaroni Grill
Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant
Melting Pot
Old Eagle Tavern
Pei Wei Asian Diner
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
Roller's at Flying Fish
slainte
Sonic
Stoudt's Brewing Company
Zake’s Café

Recipes

Wasabi Pea Tuna Salad

Movies

2006

Alpha Dog
Cars
Clerks II
Lady in the Water
Man of the Year
Monster House
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
The Prestige
Snakes on a Plane
Superman Returns
X-Men: The Last Stand

2007

300
Amazing Grace
Ghost Rider
The Golden Compass
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I am Legend
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
The Simpsons Movie
Spider-Man 3
TMNT
Transformers Wild Hogs

2008

Cloverfield
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Prince Caspian
Wanted

2009

Star Trek
Up
Watchmen

Internet

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Video

Cast Away
Clerks.
Driving Miss Daisy
March of the Penguins
Much Ado About Nothing
Shattered Glass
Sideways
To Kill a Mockingbird

Music

The Dream of Gerontius
Symphony of 1000

To Do and See

Massachusetts

Sam Adams Brewery Tour

New Jersey

G reen Room Billiards

New York

American Museum of Natural History
Bronx Zoo
Cooper Station Post Office
Rockefeller Center Tour

Ontario

CN Tower
The Guvernment
Steam Whistle Brewing

Pennsylvania

The Barnes Foundation
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia

Television

West Wing Series Finale

Your Mission: Kindle edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:25:00 +0000

This mission is a little different, folks.

The Situation

See, having discussed e-books, I'm thinking about Kindles. I know for some people, it can save them a ton of money in the long run. For othrs, it's a massive money sink. For some, the portability adds much-needed flexibility. For others, the inability to borrow or lend takes that flexibility away.

Your Mission

Give me your best argument as to why I should -- or should not -- get a Kindle.

Suggestions of alternative e-readers are awesome, too, if you can make a case for them.

I'll share your responses with Chris, and maybe they'll influence his/my/our Christmas shopping this year. Heh.

Your Mission: E-Book edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:07:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

The Situation

You know, I don't read a lot of e-books. PDFs just don't feel comfortable when I'm looking to read and learn. But some are totally worth it.

Your Mission

Folks, I'm looking for your suggestions of the best e-books out there (free ones are even better!).

Leave a recommendation -- with the appropriate link -- in the comments below. I'll try as many as I can in the weeks ahead, and give you a round-up with the results.

Thanks!

Your Mission: Sangria edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:13:00 +0000

The Situation

You know what's great with tapas? Sangria.
For one of my wedding showers, Brian actually made mass amounts of sangria (and mojitos. Go Brian!).

Your Mission

There are a million recipes out there, and while I'm willing to try some, what I want right now is your recommendations of where I can go get the best sangria in Manhattan, Queens, or Nassau County, NY; Philadelphia or Montgomery County; New Jersey; or Dover, DE.
Leave a recommendation in the comments below -- I'll try as many as I can in the weeks ahead, and give you a round-up with the results.

Thanks!

Your Mission: Healthy Food edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:29:00 +0000

The Situation

Last time I gave you a mission, it was for French fries. Delicious, but I think we need to combat them by finding some awesome healthy food.

Your Mission

My stomach appeals to you, folks: where can I find the best healthy food in Manhattan, Queens, or Nassau County, NY; Philadelphia, Montgomery County, or Chester County, PA; South Jersey; or Dover, DE?

Leave a recommendation in the comments below -- I'll try as many as I can in the weeks ahead, and give you a round-up with the results.

Thanks!

Quickie Round-Up: Watering Holes edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:39:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
Slainte was a disappointment because of the food, but if we had just gone for drinks, it would have been great.

I don't review a lot of bars, because the real appeal is enjoying a beer with my friends. But I have reviewed some -- places with especially great selection or especially bad service, or restaurants whose drinks really impress.

Establishments I've previously reviewed are linked to the appropriate post; in between are some quickie reviews.

Boston Beer Works -- Click to read my previous review.

Cornwall's Restaurant -- Not much of a website, so I'll fill you in. You walk in, and there's a huge bar with a nice draft selection. To your right, a pool hall. To the back, dartboards and a bookshelf crammed with board games. Perfect for chilling with friends.

Crossroads Coffee -- No alcohol, but that doesn't mean you can't hang out over a nice beverage. Click to read my previous review.

Croxley's -- An international beer menu and 10-cent wing nights. The beers can get pricey, so practice moderation and enjoy your chicken.

Derek's -- Click to read my previous review.

Flanigan's Boat House -- Click to read my previous review.

Irish Pub -- No, really, that's the name of the pub. Limited selection of really nice house beers. The everyday menu is not all that remarkable (though there's nothing wrong with it), but their specials are great -- especially the $10 dinners. I got an amazing steak dinner for a Hamilton once!

Kelsey's -- Click to read my previous review.

Kildare's -- A fun experience, but pick your moments; I've been unimpressed with their dinner menu, and on Friday nights it's way too crowded to be fun enough to justify the cover charge. Stopping for a pint between crowds is nice, though, as there are lots of booths and corners for you and your friends to hide in.

Miller's Ale House -- One of Chris's favorites, with good, affordable food; good, affordable drinks; lots of specials; and tons of games on the big-screen TVs. Watch your moments here, too, as different crowds tend to come in waves. Definitely worth learning when the frat boys arrive, whether to attend or avoid.

Old Eagle Tavern -- Within walking distance of my parents' house, it's where I go at the end of an evening with friends. Says Dan: "Great food and beer selection. Reasonable prices. Manayunk atmosphere, Roxborough prices."

Slainte -- Click to read my previous review.

Smokeless Joe's -- Click to read my previous review.

Sunset Grill and Tap -- Click to read my previous review.

Wayne Gretzky's -- Click to read my previous review.

Go forth and drink responsibly -- and have fun!

Quickie Round-Up: Beer Tour edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Maybe I'm a little bit of a beer snob. I really don't like mass-market beers. And I love microbrews -- and fake microbrews. And there's a lot to be said for brewery tours and tastings if you're looking for something to do in your hometown, or the town you're visiting.

So here is a round-up of some breweries I've toured and microbrews where I've dined.

Allentown Brew Works -- Tasty food, tasty beer, reasonable prices, and they're open on Sunday evenings after everyone else has closed.

Blue Point Brewery -- Chris got me into their Blueberry beer. After the brewery tour, try free samples of most of their beers and cheap samples of the rest -- and buy a jug of your favorites.

Boston Beer Works -- Click for my previous review.

Brooklyn Brewery -- Learn about the history of the brewery and the making of the beer, then settle in their tasting room to try different varieties, order in a pizza, and maybe pet one of the cats if they'll let you.

Iron Hill Brewery -- They have several locations and some great food, and there's typically a real nice dinner special on Sunday nights. Every location I've been to has parking issues, though, so arrive a bit early to look for a spot.

John Harvard's Brew House -- They have good beer and great food. There used to be several locations in the Philadelphia area, but it's probably for the best that there's not anymore -- I could easily get addicted to their lobster bisque. And then there's the burgers and wings and specialty steaks...

Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant -- The food is hit-or-miss and the beer is a matter of taste, but it's quite pleasant to sip a sampler while overlooking the Manayunk Canal.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery -- A tiny bit pricey for dinner, but if you get there while happy Hour is still on, you can fill up on half-price appetizers and inexpensive beers. The King of Prussia location has a brew called Billy Penn's Curse that I love.

Sam Adams Brewery Tour -- A really nice tour, and great tastings -- typically, samples of the Boston Lager, a seasonal, and a specialty brew. The suggested donation of $2 goes toward charity; you get to keep your tasting glass, which costs $2 in the gift shop anyway.

Stoudt's Brewing Company -- If you're lucky, like we were, your tour will be given by Ed Stoudt himself. The man has some very strong opinions about beer. We didn't stay for dinner, but we did snack at the oyster bar, which was very nice.

Steam Whistle Brewing -- A tour and tasting at this Canadian brewery takes place in a historical building in Toronto. They collect, sterilize, and reuse their heavy-duty bottles. Good times.

So, go forth and drink responsibly, and if you're underage or driving, just enjoy the good food.

Your Mission: French Fry edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

The Situation

I've written about burgers in the past. I like burgers. But... where are the fries?

Your Mission

So, folks, tell me: where are the absolute best french fries in Manhattan, Queens, or Nassau County, NY; Philadelphia, Montgomery County, or Chester County, PA; South Jersey; or Dover, DE?

Leave a recommendation int he comments below -- I'll try as many as I can in the weeks ahead, and give you a round-up with the results.

Thanks!

Melting Pot

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:39:00 +0000

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Melting Pot

1219 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

You should know

So for my bachelorette party, the guys took me out. Yes, the guys: Dan and Brian, plus Dave and Michelle. They said we could go anywhere I wanted, it being my party and all. I figured this would be sufficiently fancy and different, plus it was a good excuse to finally check the place out.

Brian, being Brian, tipped them off that it was an event, so they hooked me up with a little logo'ed teddy bear and a framed group picture. Very cool.

So?

So we had five people, including one with lactose sensitivity (me), one with assorted allergies, and one vegetarian.

We started with drinks; I lost track of what others ordered, but I got a glass of Riesling.

Melting pot meals come in four courses: salad, cheese, entree, and dessert. Our salads were tasty but not memorable; I don't actually recall what we got.

For our cheese course (and yes, I took a Lactaid before I started), we got two pots of Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue ("fontina, butterkäse, and buttermilk bleu cheese with white wine, scallions, and a hint of sherry," $16 for 1-2 people). They came with apples, bread, veggies. Almost everything was excellent, but it seems I will never like cauliflower. Oh well.

Oddly, even though both pots were supposed to be the same, one tasted far more of the sherry base, while the other one tasted very strongly of blue cheese. That was kind of nice -- it gave us a little variety.

For the entree course, we again got two pots of the same flavored oil, and kept one for meat and the other for veggies. We ordered The Vegetarian ("fresh vegetables, tofu, artichoke hearts, portobello mushrooms and spinach and Gorgonzola ravioli," $17), Land & Sea ("a collection of new york strip, marinated breast of chicken and white shrimp," $23), and The French Quarter ("Cajun seasoned shrimp, filet mignon, breast of chicken and andouille sausage," $22).

With the meals came several types of sauce, some to go on the food before dipping, and some to season the food after dipping. The posed some interesting challenges (such as, "How many layers of tempura can you put on a potato, anyway?").

My only complaint was that in the French Quarter meal, everything was so heavily (and deliciously) seasoned that you couldn't quite tell the chicken form the beef until you cut them open -- whcih is really a concern when you consider that the two meats have different cooking times.

For dessert, we got The Original ("this original recipe features our signature milk chocolate complimented with a swirl of crunchy peanut butter") (amazing on bananas!) and one Pure Chocolate ("dark chocolate, melted for the most pure of all chocolate fondues." Both $16)

The chocolate fondues came with Dippers ("fresh strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, tasty marshmallows, pound cake and brownies for you to dip into any of our decadent chocolate fondue creations"). There was easily something for everyone.

Rating

Tasty but a bit pricey
We technically didn't order enough food for five people, and we still had leftovers -- if you're going with a group, that's a decent option. Either way, definitely save it for a special occasion, but give it a try.

The rest of the Internet

Sabah Karimi at Associated Content explains what to expect at the restaurant.
The Wikipedia page.
Patricia Schaefer at FranchiseTrade discusses the restaurant from a business perspective.
Jenna Brucoli at Jenna Sais Quois posts some great pictures of Melting Pot food.
Online and logged in reviews the restaurant.
The Beeze at The Beeze's Tales from the Fish House enjoyed good food but suffered bad service.

Quickie Round-Up: Tapas edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Tapas. I love tapas. Chris loves Tapas. You know this.

Here is a round-up of some tapas places we've been to, linked to the appropriate post.

Cafe Buenos Aires

Fressen

Tapas y Tintos

Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurant

Enjoy!

Other People's Reviews: New apartment edition

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:53:00 +0000

Image of Wise Bread

Chris and I are settling nicely into our new place and new routines. Who knows how long this will last? We may be moving again soon. But when things are calm, I have time to read!

Frugal Duchess at Wise Bread notes that the book Small Change was life-changing. Her review definitely makes me want to read the book -- so go ahead and read her review!

Reviewing Whatever

Alas, Babylon!

Alas, Babylon!

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