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Wal-mart shouldn't be overlooked. I know people boycott it because of their importing and the way they treat employees, this has been discussed in the news, on JB, and all over the net.
I don't...
Wal-mart shouldn't be overlooked. I know people boycott it because of their importing and the way they treat employees, this has been discussed in the news, on JB, and all over the net.
I don't feel that any of the corporate politics of a business makes a difference on my shopping. They can pay their workers a nickel an hour and if I don't work there I don't let it affect my shopping habits. We all work hard and nobody is subsidizing my shopping so if it's cheaper somewhere that imports clothes from sweat shops and companies in violation of child-labor laws, then I'll shop there and save a buck.
Personally, I don't shop at Wal-Mart for my own reasons. I don't by generic clothing or put together yourself furniture and I don't discount shop for those items. However, now that there's a Supercenter in the area, I will go there for all my food items and name brand electronics. The prices can't be beat and it's always open.
For those that complain about workers salaries I have only one thing to bring up. An E-5 in the military is halfway up the pay grade chart (goes from E-1 through E-9). With a spouse and 2 children, that member qualifies for food stamps. These are the people who get shot at every day. Times are tough, we are at war and we don't have the economy of the late 1990s anymore.
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I'm a poster boy for the golden arches (when I can turn off the health nut inside and splurge). McDonald's is probably the least healthy of the burger joints but it's my favorite. Especially the...
I'm a poster boy for the golden arches (when I can turn off the health nut inside and splurge). McDonald's is probably the least healthy of the burger joints but it's my favorite. Especially the french fries. There's no better fry than those from McD's. Unfortunately, they just put one maybe 100 yards down the street from me and temptation is greater than it's been, especially when it's 9pm and I'm in no mood to cook a huge meal for one.
I'm a burger guy all the way. I've never even tried their chicken sandwiches and who knows what else they offer these days. A classic quarter pounder of a double cheeseburger and large french fries is the way I go each time.
Here's a question for you all... anyone notice that Coke from McDonald's has a unique flavor? It tastes different from coke in a bottle or can, but identical to every other McDonald's.
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Best Buy
Category:
Home Electronics
410 State Route 10
East Hanover, New Jersey 07936
(973) 515-4994
It would be BestBuy without a doubt and it would take me about 5 minutes. I'd walk in and get the biggest plasma High Definition TV I could buy with that money.
I chose bestbuy over other stores...
It would be BestBuy without a doubt and it would take me about 5 minutes. I'd walk in and get the biggest plasma High Definition TV I could buy with that money.
I chose bestbuy over other stores for several reasons.
1) They have a good selection - some stores will have higher end things but bestbuy eliminates the bottom of the barrel as well and gives a great mid to upper middle quality range.
2) Their salespeople are non commission. They don't care what you buy because it doesn't affect their paycheck. That means they are less likely to sell you something you don't need just for their own sake
3) Accessories - They have a great assortment of remote controls, speakers, wiring and all the other "necessities" to go with your later electronics purchase
4) Service plans - Of all the service/replacement plans I've experienced, they have the best. The fine print on the policy is geared toward the consumer and is reasonably priced considering how well it covers the product and the ease of use should something go wrong.
5) Look of the store - they are cutting edge in the products the sell, the departments are organized nicely and the stores are kept neat and clean.
I used to work at a bestbuy because I liked the way the company was run and even seeing the "behind the scenes" perspective of it all, it's not a scam. Best company in its market, hands down!
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I'm sitting here typing to you with 5 tattoos (so far); 3 of which came from the same place. My first experience was at a highly renowned, highly recommended place and it's the only one that I...
I'm sitting here typing to you with 5 tattoos (so far); 3 of which came from the same place. My first experience was at a highly renowned, highly recommended place and it's the only one that I absolutely can't stand. I designed it and still like the tattoo but the work was poorly done.
I then found Electric Lotus Tattoo in Boonton, NJ. This guy also came recommended but now better armed with information and a bit of experience, I knew what to look for.
This guy, Jae, impressed me 100% with his knowledge and attitude and approach to his craft.
Off the bat, he's COVERED in tattoos and he explains that every time he gets one in a new place, he better understands the feeling and sensation and can better perform on others. Partially he's just a guy with tattoos, but also an artist that wants to understand what his customers experience.
2nd, I went in with a design that included a banner with the name of an individual that was part of a memorial tattoo for someone. He asked if I wanted shading and I said no or that I didn't really think about it. He explained that it would give it depth and that purple is a common memorial color. You can't imagine the difference made by some light shading in the corners. I also had black lettering on blue ink in the same piece of work and he made some suggestions with using negative colors (the absence of color in a tattoo) to "punch it up." Again, he was right on the month.
On 2 other occasions that I had him to work on me, he was constantly making suggestions, some impromptu as he saw things, to improve it.
All of my tattoos from him are incredible work at great prices and I will never go anywhere else as long as Jae is in business.
What impressed me most was how he saw things from an artist's perspective and he's not just some guy that's good with a tattoo gun. I trust him with his suggestions. I give him my design and let him make the necessary artistic changes to make it look proper on the "canvas" and then he goes to work.
I couldn't have had a better experience in getting at tattoo.
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I was recently travelling to Arizona for the Air Force. I was in a little town called Sierra Vista about an hour outside of Tucson. It's not known for anything other than being close to the...
I was recently travelling to Arizona for the Air Force. I was in a little town called Sierra Vista about an hour outside of Tucson. It's not known for anything other than being close to the legendary Tombstone.
In any event, while I was there I ate at a Pizza Hut Bistro. It was different so I figured I'd try it out and while I wasn't totally impressed, it was a step up from a regular Pizza Hut.
The interior decor was higher quality and more classy than a regular Pizza Hut and the menu was much mroe expansive.
It offered much more than pizza including several pasta and Italian sub sandwiches.
It certainly wasn't any healthier than a normal Pizza Hut but at least gave me a greater variety. Let's say that if there was one of each in my town, the 4 times a year I eat at Pizza Hut would be the Bistro type.
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So we've run through the popular stops in midtown east and here's the last on the list before moving onto the next Manhattan neighborhood.
The first thing you'll notice is the huge front windows...
So we've run through the popular stops in midtown east and here's the last on the list before moving onto the next Manhattan neighborhood.
The first thing you'll notice is the huge front windows letting you see exactly how over crowded this place is - always. This is the Joshua Tree of midtown east in the way that it's a place for pickup artists. The only difference being that the guys will generally have more luck here than further downtown; earning is a nickname of "Slutton Place." This is something I didn't believe to be true until hearing it from several sources that are not connected to one another. Unfortunately, it's well known for it. I hesitated to include that but it's reputation precedes it.
That aside there are some plusses to being here; especially for the sports nut. There's 15 TVs and 4 Big screens - and surround sound.
There's another lounge that sports a fireplace. And even better, just like Mica there's a roof top bar. The crowd is friendly and it's always a good time. The music is always good and not deafening. I wouldn't make Sutton Place the bar where I spent my entire evening but worth a stop before heading out of the neighborhood.
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...is called Divine Bar and it's one of 2 in the city. This one is right on 51st street on the east side. The other one is on 54th street. There was one down down on Nassau Stree pre 9/11 that...
...is called Divine Bar and it's one of 2 in the city. This one is right on 51st street on the east side. The other one is on 54th street. There was one down down on Nassau Stree pre 9/11 that remained open shortly after.
This place will be more cowded than Mica bar but it also has other things to offer like an extensive wine list of 65 "by the glass" varieties and 50 international beers.
I haven't spent as much time here as others so can't go as in depth as I have before..
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Opal is in the same area as Mica bar; somewhere around 51st or 52nd street. It is 2 floor with 3 individual rooms. There is a live DJ and flatscreen TVs strewn througout the entire place (usually...
Opal is in the same area as Mica bar; somewhere around 51st or 52nd street. It is 2 floor with 3 individual rooms. There is a live DJ and flatscreen TVs strewn througout the entire place (usually with a game playing on them). They host many private parties and dedicate one of the rooms to it but there's always room for individuals.
Another happy hour place where the "suits" end up but they're not the same kind of crowd as you'll find in Joshua Tree down in the 30s. And people here stay all night long. Oh, happy hour isn't just Monday through Friday; 7 days a week at Opal
Their menu features more than just bar food and pickins' with steak and pasta selections, however it's nothing particularly special, but decent.
Pricing is as low as the attitude you'll receive from the staff, which is a novel concept in alot of places in that area. You will surely find the crowd to be a bit older (10 years on average) from a place like Mica Bar or Joshua Tree.
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Mica Bar
Category:
Restaurants
252 E 51st St Frnt
New York, New York 10022
(212) 888-2453
Stay the course on 2nd and 3rd avenue but head north to the 50s and you'll find a TON of places to go. As you go up on street numbers, you'll go up in drink prices though. Still, if the dark (not...
Stay the course on 2nd and 3rd avenue but head north to the 50s and you'll find a TON of places to go. As you go up on street numbers, you'll go up in drink prices though. Still, if the dark (not dim), lounge type atmosphere is what you crave, here is where you'll find it.
The first is Mica Bar. This Oriental-laced decor full of plush chairs and leather couches is a lounge to model lounges after. You will pay for drinks exactly what you expect by the look of it. It's a popular post-happy hour place, even on weekend when the commuters steer clear of the city. Oddly enough, it also has happy hour appeal, due, in part, to the reduced happy hour drink prices.
It's not crowded and is quite trendy. It's great for after work with the happy hour specials and and social scene. Their martini selection is great.
You will see mixed reviews about this place depending on the night but one thing that almost everone will agree on is that the rooftop bar is great. It's not exactly on the roof. more like a roof that opens. Great idea. Wildly popular.
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So Joshua Tree is too big of a meet/meat market for you and Third and Long is a little too laid back. What's in the middle? I'm glad you asked. It's called Rodeo Bar and it's not one of it's kind....
So Joshua Tree is too big of a meet/meat market for you and Third and Long is a little too laid back. What's in the middle? I'm glad you asked. It's called Rodeo Bar and it's not one of it's kind. This one is on the same block as the other 2 I've mentioned. Third and Long is on one corner, Joshua Tree is in the middle and Rodeo Bar is at the bottom corner.
This is not a place for cowboys though. Rodeo Bar or not it's in midtown Manhattan so leave the boots and belt buckles at home. You MIGHT be able to get away with that at the Rodeo bar on the west side near Port Authority but not here. It's not quite a packed with yuppies looking to hook up as J Tree but not exactly beer chugging over football like Third and Long. This is just your average bar in a nice neighborhood. Like Joshua Tree, a nice thing about this place is in the summertime when the floor to ceiling windows open into gigantic doors, effectively taking out the front side wall.
Nothing too appealing outside of an escape from the other 2 places if you have your heart set on that area.
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