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I almost don't want to say this, for fear it will become a popular spot and I'll not be able to get a room next time!!! But, for the sake of the hotel, I have to give it 5 stars. After walking in...
I almost don't want to say this, for fear it will become a popular spot and I'll not be able to get a room next time!!! But, for the sake of the hotel, I have to give it 5 stars. After walking in from a very long flight from New Hampshire, it was a real treat to walk into the room we were given at the Little Italy. Very clean, comfortable king memory foam mattress, beautiful whirlpool and a spacious bathroom. Antique furniture, pine floors, Italian décor, marble and stone bathroom, oriental carpets. Very nice staff - all at the front desk were extremely pleasant and accommodating. The lobby is very clean and pretty, and the hallways are wide and spotless, decorated very nicely. The room even had a safe and a mini fridge which was great for storing drinks and treats for late night snacks. We stayed for 6 days and loved it. The location was excellent - we walked everywhere without having to rent a car. The hotel is only 4 blocks or so to the trolley and Sante Fe station which takes you around to the hot spots. The room was private, I could not hear conversations or hallway activity at all and I'm very sensitive to sound. I could hear planes since the airport is nearby, but after 10pm, flights were usually over so you couldn't hear anything during sleeping hours. I appreciated this section of San Diego, "Little Italy", because it has great Italian eateries, shops, and beautiful property that lines the streets. Very friendly locals, too. You really get the "pulse" of the city - the real San Diego - in this section of town. It's not clogged with tourists, bums, party goers or kids; which I find very stressful about staying in the more "touristy" spots in the city. In "Little Italy" you hang with the locals which was simply unbeatable. The Little Italy Inn was excellent. We'll stay there every time we visit San Diego.
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Giant of Siam - a no frills, great food restaurant located right outside of downtown Nashua. The service is polite, the food is inexpensive + delicious, and the decor is typical Thai style and very...
Giant of Siam - a no frills, great food restaurant located right outside of downtown Nashua. The service is polite, the food is inexpensive + delicious, and the decor is typical Thai style and very pretty. The waitstaff all wear pretty Thai clothing and the offer unbeatable lunch specials and also offer take-out. I really enjoy Giant of Siam - the food is fresh and the establishment is very clean and quiet. People tend to have closer, more intimate conversations - it's a very nice dining experience without the noise of the usual restaurants with screaming kids and loud music. If you love Thai food like I do, you'll really love the authentic tastes of Giant of Siam!
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I'm so happy they've renovated the Monument Square Market into a little country pizza shop. They now have a great deli featuring "Boar's Head" meats (the best!), and they also have fresh Green...
I'm so happy they've renovated the Monument Square Market into a little country pizza shop. They now have a great deli featuring "Boar's Head" meats (the best!), and they also have fresh Green Mountain coffees. Monument Square also has excellent pizza with many toppings - like ricotta cheese, ham, pineapple, black olives, etc. If you need beer or wine, they stock that too - and the beers are actually pretty darn good - they stock a nice international selection. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff, although not warm or friendly, are helpful and polite. The only "downer" is that when you order deli meat, it takes them forever to cut it, so don't go there in a rush. They also don't do delivery yet - but I'm hoping eventually they will - especially when the snow is back up to waist high this winter! :)
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I've been attending this school for some time now for classes and workshops and I have to say that I've really enjoyed it. The only "negative" is that they don't offer more classes! This small art...
I've been attending this school for some time now for classes and workshops and I have to say that I've really enjoyed it. The only "negative" is that they don't offer more classes! This small art school is very tailored to the student, a service you don't get in most major art schools. The teachers work very hard and really get to really know their students work and offer help. The registrar's office is a bit difficult when it comes to returning phone calls or advising of class or course cancellations in a timely fashion - but if you can deal with the chaos in the office, you will certainly enjoy the classes at NHIA. The tuition afforable -- not as expensive as most Boston schools. You can take a course (non-credited) for around $350.00. I have to say that it was one of the best classroom experiences I've ever had simply because the classes are small and I consistantly felt challenged and inspired by the students and teacher alike. I plan to return to NHIA again in January for more courses and I'd rate this school tops for Art schools in New Hampshire.
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Brookdale farm is truly adorable. I've been going there for about 4 years now, and it's just the cutest restored barn shop around. I prefer Lull Farm for produce + food, but Brookdale has a much...
Brookdale farm is truly adorable. I've been going there for about 4 years now, and it's just the cutest restored barn shop around. I prefer Lull Farm for produce + food, but Brookdale has a much broader selection of plants, flowers, outdoor garden decorations + pots, cool vintage reproduction iron gates, a beautiful finch cage complete with finches inside to enjoy, pony + horse rides on Saturday, and great gifts. They have the best stuff stocked around the holidays in 2 very large gift emporiums. I don't know the owners, and I don't get a very "friendly down home" feeling when I shop at Brookdale like I do when I shop next door at Lull Farm, but I do return for the gift shop and on Saturdays, to pet the adorable mini horse. :)
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Croma
Category:
Restaurants
271 Newbury St
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 247-3200
When I first approached Croma, I thought... "Swank...." As I tugged at the large silver handles, shaped like a "C" but resembling Pac-Man, I thought, "Very cool". When I walked in, covered in snow...
When I first approached Croma, I thought... "Swank...." As I tugged at the large silver handles, shaped like a "C" but resembling Pac-Man, I thought, "Very cool". When I walked in, covered in snow seeking a warm spot at the bar, I was approached by a hostess who was actually friendly - not the typical Newbury Street attitude that I'd grown so accustomed to in other places. Instead, she quickly sat my husband and I and the bartender had a spiked hot something in front of us before my hands were even thawed out. After having drinks, we split a dessert and continued to shop on Newbury Street, vowing to return. We did. A few months later, only with friends for dinner. The food was elegant, affordable, and very yummy. The atmosphere is so chic - very city slick with candles all over, a fireplace, and great interior design and art work. The overall feeling is relaxed and hip, without the smug overdone women walking around. I give Croma 5 stars because so far, it's the only place in Boston that I've visited that had all the elements that I personally look for + more! Wakka Wakka!
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There are two Dellaria's in the Natick Mall. I'm referring to the one that has the best stylist/colorist around - Katie Hooper. She is young, hip, energetic and most of all, talented with hair. Good...
There are two Dellaria's in the Natick Mall. I'm referring to the one that has the best stylist/colorist around - Katie Hooper. She is young, hip, energetic and most of all, talented with hair. Good with all hair types, Katie wants to make you look good. She values her regulars, and always clears her schedule to accomodate you - which makes me feel like a princess. She has been my stylist for over 4 years now and I see her for color + highlights + cut. I can't say (enough) how great she is. I know I'm proud to be hanging with Miss Hooper anyday! She rocks! Dellaria's phone number is 508.655.4493 if you'd like to request Katie. Tell her Holly in NH sent you and she'll treat you extra nice! :)
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You may not get asked this after you leave, because let's face it ladies, there's only SO MUCH a spa can do to enhance your looks - but you will leave the Portfolio Salon + Renewal Spa with better...
You may not get asked this after you leave, because let's face it ladies, there's only SO MUCH a spa can do to enhance your looks - but you will leave the Portfolio Salon + Renewal Spa with better hair. I wasn't impressed at all with the spa downstairs, but I really enjoy everytime I see "Ed", one of their metrosexual stylists that really knows his caramels from his red tones. He is really nice to chat with, but more so, he makes your hair look like you just stepped out of a Victoria's Secret catalog. I said, "your hair", not the rest of you (sorry). Ed is a great stylist and if I didn't already have a best friend who is a master stylist at Dellaria, I would go to Ed on a regular basis. If I was asked to rate Ed, I'd give him 5 stars. But, I have to give the Portfolio only 3 stars because it's just not the greatest place to go spend a day - between the lack of good design (decor) and the lack of atmosphere, I just don't feel beautiful in there. It reminds me a little of a place I use to go in Revere in the mid 1980's.
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There jingle goes a little something like this, "Now's the time, to take the time, do it for yourself and your family, Nashua Athetic Club - get in the knack of it!". Okay, it's stupid. Their...
There jingle goes a little something like this, "Now's the time, to take the time, do it for yourself and your family, Nashua Athetic Club - get in the knack of it!". Okay, it's stupid. Their website is dumb, too (especially the freaks singing the vocals to their jingle)... But, the club is good. The locker rooms in their West Hollis Street facility were recently given a facelift with new birch veneer lockers to replace the rusty metal ones. The club has a lot of equipment so I never have to wait to use anything. The club feels very focused on exercise - people get in and get out. It's not a meat market, it's not a "seen and be seen" place, and it's very low key - no attitudes. The hours are great, too - you never can develop an excuse of not having the time to exercise. They are open from 5am until 10pm, so you can go anytime you feel like it. The people that work out there come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and levels of fitness. I do have to make a comment though - it's not an "international" club - I only notice white folks - I've never seen any other nationalities represented in there for whatever reason, I don't know. I'm white, but I notice things like that since I'm a city girl that moved to Nashua for a job. Sometimes, I miss my Afro American hip hop instructor and my Indian pilates teachers! Anyway, the club is huge, nice, no one bothers you, and you can go looking like a slob and no one cares. It's not a Barbie and Ken club, so you'll feel right at home. Then, once you are a Barbie or a Ken, you can join those "other" clubs. For now though, stick with the Average Joe's at Nashua Athletic Club. Pam Anderson is highly overrated anyway. You'll find more of the Drew Carrey dad-types at this club and lots of the Helen Hunt type moms. I'm much more comfortable working out around people that are there for the good health reason for working out and not the get pumped meet chicks reason. I also like that people aren't friendly here. No one will start a conversation with you on the treadmill. You're lucky if anyone cracks a smile; folks are serious at this gym and I like it very much. They are very focused and ready to get in, do thier thing, and go home. Hurray! For once a normal neutral playing field for all workout levels. I suggest this club highly.
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When I worked in Merrimack, I went to the Merrimack DW House of Pizza quite often for lunch (across the street from Ya Mamma's). I also ordered pizza's there quite often for our office staff when we...
When I worked in Merrimack, I went to the Merrimack DW House of Pizza quite often for lunch (across the street from Ya Mamma's). I also ordered pizza's there quite often for our office staff when we worked late and needed dinner. Both the pizza and the subs are great. They are a pain though when it comes to delivery, which always got under my skin, but maybe they've added delivery with no minimum dollar amount now, I'm not sure. The restaurant is very "no frills" with plastic booths and tacky Greek travel photos on the walls from the 1980s pizza joints, but no one cares about decor when they're in sub/pizza shop. The place is clean, the staff is nice, and the prices are good. They sell my favorite, "Orangina" beverage in their drink case, along with some juices, which is a nice break from sodas. They don't have much on the dessert side - except small packs of Oreo's and those cheap chocolate chip cookies you buy at vending machines. As for snacks, they have chips, but they only offer one brand of plain chips, so there's not variety for snacks, either. However, most people are there to get in and get out and have a quick and easy lunch. I'm sure you'll enjoy the food at the Merrimack House of Pizza - it's not a chain so go and support your local small businesses!
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