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Barnes and Noble in Cary in the first bookstore I've ever seen where it's impossible to get parking on a Friday night. It's always packed in there - in part because it's the only Starbucks in the...
Barnes and Noble in Cary in the first bookstore I've ever seen where it's impossible to get parking on a Friday night. It's always packed in there - in part because it's the only Starbucks in the immediate area - which can be quite fun. You can meet some interesting people browsing the aisles in sections you're interested in (but beware of the folks who seem to think that this is the best approach on Friday night to finding a date for Saturday night). All the people are awesome, but can make it quite a bit loud in the store - definately not a bookstore for quietly reading and studying. If you prefer quiet book stores, you may want to try another location.
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The Fresh Market is an upscale grocery store. It's not a full-fledged chain but there are many in the area. It's a fabulous place to go when you're looking for the ingredients to complete a meal...
The Fresh Market is an upscale grocery store. It's not a full-fledged chain but there are many in the area. It's a fabulous place to go when you're looking for the ingredients to complete a meal in true gormet fashion. They also have excellent and impressive desserts ready for you to take home. My favorite thing about Fresh Market is all the gorgeous flowers. They're impressive and relatively inexpensive - treat yourself or a friend to flowers today without even denting the bank.
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Remington Grill serves some of the best hamburgers in town - large with generously sized buns. Even the smallest size is very filling. You provide your own toppings for the burger (aside from...
Remington Grill serves some of the best hamburgers in town - large with generously sized buns. Even the smallest size is very filling. You provide your own toppings for the burger (aside from cheese, bacon, or other "orderables") at a toppings bar. All the sandwiches come with french fries and *free french fry refills* making this place a much better deal - of course you can order the smallest burger, you're about to have refills on the fries! The fry sauce, somewhat like a thin thousand island dressing, is absolutely amazing - and I even hate thousand island dressing! Try sticking some on your burger too.
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Chili's is a national chain restaurant serving American Tex-Mex style food. This particular location can be difficult to find - despite its prime location near the corner of Kildare Farm Rd and...
Chili's is a national chain restaurant serving American Tex-Mex style food. This particular location can be difficult to find - despite its prime location near the corner of Kildare Farm Rd and Cary Parkway, there isn't a lot of signage (zoning laws) and its well hidden behind a row of hedges. Getting back out of the parking lot is also somehwat of a challenge. However, the food is good even if predictable - I'm a big fan of the Southwestern Egg Rolls and the Grilled Chicken sandwich. Try not to arrive on or shortly after the hour on weeknights - the staff tends to "get behind" if there's a drink order and you could sit fifteen minutes before someone comes by to get your drink orders.
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This Target is pretty much like every other Target in America - clean and well organized with the clearance for each department tucked on aisle ends. Their housewares department usually has at...
This Target is pretty much like every other Target in America - clean and well organized with the clearance for each department tucked on aisle ends. Their housewares department usually has at least 80% of the things that people who did their wedding registry online or at a SuperTarget has, which is nice. The women's clothing clearance is better at this Target than most - there are usually racks for 25%, 50%, and 75% discounts, and the merchandise circulates fairly quickly through them. Very easy to pick up a good deal on trend items that are still pretty trendy.
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A friend of mine recently went on his honeymoon at the Biltmore Estate's on-site hotel. The experience was amazing. For instance, they were able to arrange a private dinner on a terrace with an...
A friend of mine recently went on his honeymoon at the Biltmore Estate's on-site hotel. The experience was amazing. For instance, they were able to arrange a private dinner on a terrace with an incredible view - for which he was able to don his tuxedo, and his wife put back on her wedding dress, and dine and dance in their own, well-served, little universe for the evening. Every detail was taken care of for them. Though not the cheaptest place to stay in the area by any means, they will never forget their very memorable honeymooon. This is a great place to stay for special occassions, or to make an ordinary weekend getaway extraordinary.
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Of all the restaurants at Biltmore Estate, Deer Park is the only one I've had the pleasure of visiting. The food is excellent. They have a buffet available, but my group and I made reservations...
Of all the restaurants at Biltmore Estate, Deer Park is the only one I've had the pleasure of visiting. The food is excellent. They have a buffet available, but my group and I made reservations ahead of time to enjoy a family-style lunch. When a meal begins with five types of salad on a lazy susan before me, I know I'm in for a treat. Traditional Southern cooking, gormet style, is the best way to describe the food. I still salivate remembering the Waldorf salad and the plumpended dried cranberries. Though a little pricey, a meal here is memorable and quite worth it.
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Anytime I go to Washington, especially with a group, the Marrakesh is a must-visit. They are very accommodating, even for groups of forty, with prior reservations.
The prix fixe menu is...
Anytime I go to Washington, especially with a group, the Marrakesh is a must-visit. They are very accommodating, even for groups of forty, with prior reservations.
The prix fixe menu is excellent - the seven courses include the most amazing lemon chicken known to man (it falls off the bones, and I've sat with people poking between the bones trying to find just one more succulent bite). I'm not a fan of the minty tea at the end (tastes like my toothpaste) but I have friends who gladly take it off my hands).
As with many such restaurants, soft drink refills (on those small, small glasses) are not free. Stick with water as your base beverage.
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The Hilton Houston Plaza Hotel has everything you would expect from an upper-level hotel chain. The suites are spacious, the bedding wonderful, and the amenities are quite nice. There was a mix-up...
The Hilton Houston Plaza Hotel has everything you would expect from an upper-level hotel chain. The suites are spacious, the bedding wonderful, and the amenities are quite nice. There was a mix-up with our room service breakfast one morning (no one picked up the cards overnight). When we called to ask about it, they took our orders over the phone and called us when our breakfast was ready and waiting for us at tables in the restaurant downstairs - excellent service really is when you can cover up a flaw in a way that turns it in to a delight. Very convenient to all the Medical Center hospitals and Baylor College of Medicine.
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The Inn at Penn is a Hilton Hotel, so it has the amazing sheets (for starters). Though large and imposing in inner decor, it also manages to be warm. Be sure to check out the couches by the...
The Inn at Penn is a Hilton Hotel, so it has the amazing sheets (for starters). Though large and imposing in inner decor, it also manages to be warm. Be sure to check out the couches by the fireplace in the library (there's also a bartender on duty in there in the evenings!). The attached restaurant is a little overly pricey, but there a lots of good restaurants in the area surrounding the hotel and the Penn campus. The location of this hotel simply can't be beat if you're in the area to visit Penn!
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