Departing From: Indianapolis, IN (IND)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (IAD)
ETD: 07:10PM July 24, 2006
ETA:
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Seat: 15A
Equipment:
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Monday, July 24, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Restaurant: Cafe Deluxe, Tyson's Corner
Go here frequently. It's casual, usually crowded but not too long for a table, and the menu is creative but not too long. Love the Ahi Tuna, and the little pizzas they make are great.
Only downside is the noise level in the place is off the hook. Even when not full the crowd noise is so loud its difficult to have conversation sometimes. Something bad about the acoustics in there, or they have a lot of unusually loud talkers who frequent the place.
Visited again, August 6, 2006
Only downside is the noise level in the place is off the hook. Even when not full the crowd noise is so loud its difficult to have conversation sometimes. Something bad about the acoustics in there, or they have a lot of unusually loud talkers who frequent the place.
Visited again, August 6, 2006
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Restaurant: Panera, Aspen Hill MD
13521 Connecticut Ave
Wheaton, MD 20906
301-598-7190
Kind of a deli, kind of a copy of Cosi or Einstein Bros., but more about the bread.
Wheaton, MD 20906
301-598-7190
Kind of a deli, kind of a copy of Cosi or Einstein Bros., but more about the bread.
Restaurant: Chipotle, Bethesda
7600 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-907-9077
They're all the same. Big burritos, not expensive. The only down side - always crowded.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-907-9077
They're all the same. Big burritos, not expensive. The only down side - always crowded.
Restaurant: Legal Seafood, Washington DC (MCI Arena)
701 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-347-0007
Across the street from the arena, so very convenient when attending an event. Not very large, however, and fills up fast. You need to get there early - 2 hours before event time should do it.
Like other Legal Seafood locations - generally very good although the service at this one can be spotty due to the rush an event represents to them.
Metro: Chinatown/Arena station - go out the arena exit, up 7th street a block on the other side.
Last visit: October 10, 2006
Washington, DC 20001
202-347-0007
Across the street from the arena, so very convenient when attending an event. Not very large, however, and fills up fast. You need to get there early - 2 hours before event time should do it.
Like other Legal Seafood locations - generally very good although the service at this one can be spotty due to the rush an event represents to them.
Metro: Chinatown/Arena station - go out the arena exit, up 7th street a block on the other side.
Last visit: October 10, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Restaurant: Claim Jumper (Lake Forest Area)
http://www.claimjumper.com/hypertext/locations_ca.htm
Portions too big. Kind of a "gold rush" theme to the place (obviously), but not a very strong theme. Outside the wait staff wearing sheriff badges, the theme is decor only.
Very good quality food, but all in the "american" category. The chocolate cake is humorously too large - one slice is dessert for 4 or more. Moderately priced.
Portions too big. Kind of a "gold rush" theme to the place (obviously), but not a very strong theme. Outside the wait staff wearing sheriff badges, the theme is decor only.
Very good quality food, but all in the "american" category. The chocolate cake is humorously too large - one slice is dessert for 4 or more. Moderately priced.
Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Foothill Ranch
City: Lake Forest, CA
Chain: Marriott
Property: Foothill Ranch SNAFR
Address: 27492 Portola Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92610
Phone Number: 949-951-5700
Check Out: May 5, 2006
Out in the middle of nowhere, California's Orange County. Not too far from Anaheim, but not really part of that scene. It seems to be a part of the state that LA is just speading out into with mostly new development and highways. Didn't realize there were places not yet part of LA, frankly.
Relatively new, clean Courtyard experience. A real bar, which I didn't know Marriott's were doing in these. Not a great place for a family stay - mostly business guys blowing off steam with beer at the end of the day. Rooms were very well furnished, everything was good. What you would expect.
Rating:
Directions:
Last Visit: May 5, 2006 (169 plus tax)
Chain: Marriott
Property: Foothill Ranch SNAFR
Address: 27492 Portola Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92610
Phone Number: 949-951-5700
Check Out: May 5, 2006
Out in the middle of nowhere, California's Orange County. Not too far from Anaheim, but not really part of that scene. It seems to be a part of the state that LA is just speading out into with mostly new development and highways. Didn't realize there were places not yet part of LA, frankly.
Relatively new, clean Courtyard experience. A real bar, which I didn't know Marriott's were doing in these. Not a great place for a family stay - mostly business guys blowing off steam with beer at the end of the day. Rooms were very well furnished, everything was good. What you would expect.
Rating:
- Safety: 1
- Dining: 0 (breakfast only). Starbucks across the parking lot, though.
- Bar: 1
- Internet: 1, included!
- Wireless in Common Areas: 1
- Work Space, Power: 1
- Shower: 1
- Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
- Common Areas: 1
Directions:
Last Visit: May 5, 2006 (169 plus tax)
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Hotel: Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
City: Los Angeles
Chain: Millennium
Property: Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Address: 506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90071
Phone Number: 213-624-1011
Check Out: May 4, 2006
In downtown LA. A grand old hotel with service in the old style. Meaning that the random problems are "character" and not something to be addressed. Bathroom door didn't close, shower curtain didn't prevent too much water from getting out, elevator was old and slow, noise in room from traffic outside and punks was disruptive. Internet required getting a cable.
But, the hotel was pretty, the service staff top notch, resturant was good. The shower, while at sholder height, was a wonderfully wastefull waterfall.
Rating:
Directions:
Last Visit: May 4, 2006 (189 plus tax)
Chain: Millennium
Property: Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Address: 506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90071
Phone Number: 213-624-1011
Check Out: May 4, 2006
In downtown LA. A grand old hotel with service in the old style. Meaning that the random problems are "character" and not something to be addressed. Bathroom door didn't close, shower curtain didn't prevent too much water from getting out, elevator was old and slow, noise in room from traffic outside and punks was disruptive. Internet required getting a cable.
But, the hotel was pretty, the service staff top notch, resturant was good. The shower, while at sholder height, was a wonderfully wastefull waterfall.
Rating:
- Safety: 1
- Dining: 1
- Bar: 1
- Internet: 1, but very overpriced at $13 a night.
- Wireless in Common Areas: 0
- Work Space, Power: .5
- Shower: .5
- Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
- Common Areas: 1
Directions:
Last Visit: May 4, 2006 (189 plus tax)
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Hotel: Austin Hilton
Moved to Hotel: Austin Hilton
City: Austin, TX
Chain: Hilton
Property: Hilton Convention Center
Address:
Phone Number:
Check Out: April 21, 2006
Attached to the convention center in Houston, near the 7th street section of dining and entertainment.
Finn & Porter dining is very nice, emphasis on sushi & steak.
Rooms very nice (in a business way), quiet, comfortable. Lobby is large and not really inviting - dark lighting, tends to be somewhat chaotic with crowds. Starbucks in the lobby.
Rating:
Directions:
View Hotels in a larger map
Last Visit: April 21, 2006 ($$$)
City: Austin, TX
Chain: Hilton
Property: Hilton Convention Center
Address:
Phone Number:
Check Out: April 21, 2006
Attached to the convention center in Houston, near the 7th street section of dining and entertainment.
Finn & Porter dining is very nice, emphasis on sushi & steak.
Rooms very nice (in a business way), quiet, comfortable. Lobby is large and not really inviting - dark lighting, tends to be somewhat chaotic with crowds. Starbucks in the lobby.
Rating:
- Safety: 1
- Dining: 1, both room service & dining good.
- Bar: 1
- Internet: 1, $12 daily - over priced. Wired or wireless.
- Wireless in Common Areas: 1
- Work Space, Power: 1
- Shower: 1
- Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
- Common Areas: 1
Directions:
View Hotels in a larger map
Last Visit: April 21, 2006 ($$$)
Friday, April 21, 2006
Flight: United #382 ORD-IAD
Departing From: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
Traveling To: Washington Dulles (IAD)
ETD: 09:15pM April 21, 2006
ETA: 11:54PM April 21, 2006
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Equipment: Boeing 757-200
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The last Ohare-Dulles United flight on Fridays, always crowded, always full of tired business travelers. Departure was delayed 45 minutes due to late connecting flights coming in. Even though you're tired and want to get home, you know how you'd feel if United didn't hold this flight for you so its OK. They want to get home too, and no more flights out of Ohare usually means an overpriced hotel without your luggage for 5 hours sleep before they place you on the 6:30 out the next morning. Unless you're not carrying anything of value - then you can sleep on the floor with everyone else.
Huge luggage delay once back. My bag had come on an earlier flight (one I tried to get on, but was full), but of course I didn't know this until waiting for all the bags to come out from this flight and then waiting in line at the United luggage counter. Hey United - how about using the flight status paging messages to let passengers know where their bags are?
Traveling To: Washington Dulles (IAD)
ETD: 09:15pM April 21, 2006
ETA: 11:54PM April 21, 2006
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Boeing 757-200
Miles:
Other:
The last Ohare-Dulles United flight on Fridays, always crowded, always full of tired business travelers. Departure was delayed 45 minutes due to late connecting flights coming in. Even though you're tired and want to get home, you know how you'd feel if United didn't hold this flight for you so its OK. They want to get home too, and no more flights out of Ohare usually means an overpriced hotel without your luggage for 5 hours sleep before they place you on the 6:30 out the next morning. Unless you're not carrying anything of value - then you can sleep on the floor with everyone else.
Huge luggage delay once back. My bag had come on an earlier flight (one I tried to get on, but was full), but of course I didn't know this until waiting for all the bags to come out from this flight and then waiting in line at the United luggage counter. Hey United - how about using the flight status paging messages to let passengers know where their bags are?
Flight: United #6870 AUS-ORD
Departing From: Austin, TX (AUS)
Traveling To: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
ETD: 04:58AM April 21, 2006
ETA: 07:35PM April 21, 2006
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Canadaire Regional Jet
Miles:
Other:
Traveling To: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
ETD: 04:58AM April 21, 2006
ETA: 07:35PM April 21, 2006
Est. Duration:
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Canadaire Regional Jet
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Thursday, April 20, 2006
Restaurant: Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Article moved to Restaurant: Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill)
City: Austin, Texas
Location: 303 Red River
Phone: 512.236.9599
Website: www.moonshinegrill.com
August 10, 2004
Another business dinner with a group that was attending a convention.
This may be one of the most deceptive restaurants I have ever been in. From the outside, it is a small group of buildings that seems like a house and some sheds. As you get closer, you see that some people are sitting outside. Then, when you see the valet out front you realize its something more than a drinking place.
Moonshine is located very close (kind of across the street, but in the back) to the convention center in Austin. It is not too expensive, with a varied menu, and you have your choice of sitting inside or outside. The atmosphere is casual, the clients are a mix of business people and locals. The wait staff are pretty casual, but boy are they knowledgeable!
Our waiter that night (Steve) was one of those that memorizes the orders instead of writing them down. But he had the whole menu down, and made great recommendations to everyone about what to order (I had a fish special from the gulf -- a "drumhead" fish I believe) and made a tremendous wine recommendation. The dishes were a little creative but very good, the wine went well, and the service was top notch.
A great dining experience!
Visited again April 20, 2006. Meat loaf made with ground buffalo. Very good!
City: Austin, Texas
Location: 303 Red River
Phone: 512.236.9599
Website: www.moonshinegrill.com
August 10, 2004
Another business dinner with a group that was attending a convention.
This may be one of the most deceptive restaurants I have ever been in. From the outside, it is a small group of buildings that seems like a house and some sheds. As you get closer, you see that some people are sitting outside. Then, when you see the valet out front you realize its something more than a drinking place.
Moonshine is located very close (kind of across the street, but in the back) to the convention center in Austin. It is not too expensive, with a varied menu, and you have your choice of sitting inside or outside. The atmosphere is casual, the clients are a mix of business people and locals. The wait staff are pretty casual, but boy are they knowledgeable!
Our waiter that night (Steve) was one of those that memorizes the orders instead of writing them down. But he had the whole menu down, and made great recommendations to everyone about what to order (I had a fish special from the gulf -- a "drumhead" fish I believe) and made a tremendous wine recommendation. The dishes were a little creative but very good, the wine went well, and the service was top notch.
A great dining experience!
Visited again April 20, 2006. Meat loaf made with ground buffalo. Very good!
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