Departing From: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
Traveling To: Washington Dulles (IAD)
ETD: 09:15pM April 21, 2006
ETA: 11:54PM April 21, 2006
Est. Duration:
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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?
Friday, April 21, 2006
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
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Canadaire Regional Jet
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Traveling To: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
ETD: 04:58AM April 21, 2006
ETA: 07:35PM April 21, 2006
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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!
Flight: United #7273 IAD-AUS
Departing From: Washington, DC (IAD)
Traveling To: Austin, TX (AUS)
ETD: 08:35AM April 20, 2006
ETA: 11:10AM April 20, 2006
Est. Duration: 3 hr 20 min
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Canadaire Regional Jet
Miles:
Other:
Traveling To: Austin, TX (AUS)
ETD: 08:35AM April 20, 2006
ETA: 11:10AM April 20, 2006
Est. Duration: 3 hr 20 min
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Equipment: Canadaire Regional Jet
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Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Hotel: Marriott Austin at the Capitol
City: Austin, TX
Chain: Marriott
Property: Marriott Austin at the Capitol
Address: 701 East 11th Street, Austin TX 78701
Phone Number: 512-478-1111
Check Out: March 29, 2006
Marriott business hotel meeting the expectations you would have for a Marriott business hotel. Clean, pleasant.
In room dining was good, and surprisingly not the pocket emptying experience room service has become. A few blocks from the convention center, not too far from one of the dining and entertainment areas of downtown.
Shower was perfect for those 5 foot in hight or less.
Rating:
Directions:
Last Visit: March 29, 2006 ($$$)
Chain: Marriott
Property: Marriott Austin at the Capitol
Address: 701 East 11th Street, Austin TX 78701
Phone Number: 512-478-1111
Check Out: March 29, 2006
Marriott business hotel meeting the expectations you would have for a Marriott business hotel. Clean, pleasant.
In room dining was good, and surprisingly not the pocket emptying experience room service has become. A few blocks from the convention center, not too far from one of the dining and entertainment areas of downtown.
Shower was perfect for those 5 foot in hight or less.
Rating:
- Safety: 1
- Dining: 1, room service only.
- Bar: 1, untested
- Internet: 1, although $10 a night at these rates seems over the top.
- Wireless in Common Areas: 0 (not really any common areas)
- Work Space, Power: 1
- Shower: 0 (perfect for people 5 ft tall)
- Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
- Common Areas: 1
Directions:
Last Visit: March 29, 2006 ($$$)
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Flight: JetBlue #309 IAD-SAN
Departing From: Washington, DC (IAD
Traveling To: San Diego, CA (SAN)
ETD: 06:30PM February 12, 2005 PDT
ETA: 09:10PM February 12, 2005 EDT
Est. Duration: 4 hr 55 min
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Airbus 319
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Traveling To: San Diego, CA (SAN)
ETD: 06:30PM February 12, 2005 PDT
ETA: 09:10PM February 12, 2005 EDT
Est. Duration: 4 hr 55 min
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Airbus 319
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Thursday, February 23, 2006
Flight: Southwest #1721 PVD-BWI
Departing From: Providence, RI (PVD)
Traveling To: Baltimore Washington International (BWI)
ETD: 4:30 PM February 23, 2006
ETA: 5:45 PM February 23, 2006
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Equipment: Boeing 737
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Traveling To: Baltimore Washington International (BWI)
ETD: 4:30 PM February 23, 2006
ETA: 5:45 PM February 23, 2006
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Equipment: Boeing 737
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Flight: Southwest #400 BWI-PVD
Departing From: Baltimore Washington International (BWI)
Traveling To: Providence, RI (PVD)
ETD: 7:55 AM February 23, 2006
ETA: 9:00 AM February 23, 2006
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Boeing 737
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Traveling To: Providence, RI (PVD)
ETD: 7:55 AM February 23, 2006
ETA: 9:00 AM February 23, 2006
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Equipment: Boeing 737
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Friday, February 17, 2006
Hotel: Paradise Point Resort & Spa
City: San Diego, CA
Chain: No detectable chain involved.
Property: Paradise Point Hotel & Spa
Address: 1404 West Vacation Road, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone Number: 858-274-4630
Check Out: February 17, 2006
Resort property out a bit from San Diego proper. Near the Sea World area.
A resort - not a hotel - not convenient to the convention center and other downtown things. The property is not a high rise, but a collection of small bungalows that hold two or so units in each. Very spread out, the staff usually drove you around in golf carts.
Very pretty to walk around. All palm trees and tropical gardens. The rooms were very nice. Although looking at the brochure I obviously had a less desirable room, as I didn't have a view of anything except the back of another bungalow. But, the grounds were exceptionally lush for walking around and the weather was great while I was there in that "the weather is always great in San Diego" kind of way.
The grounds were crawling with wildlife at night munching on room service trays left out of the buildings (all the building open directly to the outside). Cats mostly, but a skunk at night left quite an impression (and fortunately nothing else).
Overall impression was that it was great to look at, but not as special as the room rate would have indicated.
Rating:
Directions:
Last Visit: February 17, 2006 ($$$)
Chain: No detectable chain involved.
Property: Paradise Point Hotel & Spa
Address: 1404 West Vacation Road, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone Number: 858-274-4630
Check Out: February 17, 2006
Resort property out a bit from San Diego proper. Near the Sea World area.
A resort - not a hotel - not convenient to the convention center and other downtown things. The property is not a high rise, but a collection of small bungalows that hold two or so units in each. Very spread out, the staff usually drove you around in golf carts.
Very pretty to walk around. All palm trees and tropical gardens. The rooms were very nice. Although looking at the brochure I obviously had a less desirable room, as I didn't have a view of anything except the back of another bungalow. But, the grounds were exceptionally lush for walking around and the weather was great while I was there in that "the weather is always great in San Diego" kind of way.
The grounds were crawling with wildlife at night munching on room service trays left out of the buildings (all the building open directly to the outside). Cats mostly, but a skunk at night left quite an impression (and fortunately nothing else).
Overall impression was that it was great to look at, but not as special as the room rate would have indicated.
Rating:
- Safety: 1
- Dining: 1, only tested the bar/casual dining (great), main dining was highly recommended but untested.
- Bar: 1, very good
- Internet: 1, although $10 a night at these rates seems over the top.
- Wireless in Common Areas: 0 (not really any common areas)
- Work Space, Power: 1
- Shower: 1 (very decadent)
- Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
- Common Areas: 1
Directions:
Last Visit: February 17, 2006 ($$$)
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Flight: JetBlue #314 SAN-IAD
Departing From: San Diego, CA (SAN)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (IAD)
ETD: 06:00AM February 15, 2005 PDT
ETA: 02:35PM February 15, 2005 EDT (Actual 2:10 AM)
Est. Duration: 4 hr 55 min
Departure Gate: 37
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 23D
Equipment: Airbus 319
Miles:
Other:
Traveling To: Washington, DC (IAD)
ETD: 06:00AM February 15, 2005 PDT
ETA: 02:35PM February 15, 2005 EDT (Actual 2:10 AM)
Est. Duration: 4 hr 55 min
Departure Gate: 37
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 23D
Equipment: Airbus 319
Miles:
Other:
Friday, December 30, 2005
Restaurant: City Lights of China
City: Bethesda, MD
Location: 4820 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Phone: 301-913-9501
Website: http://www.citylightsofchina.com
I'm a regular here now because of proximity to work, and they have some of the consistently best Chinese food. It's in a nice area of Bethesda with a lot of shops, service is quick, and its a pleasant place to sit. The sauteed sesame chicken is a favorite.
Update Feb 25, 2006 Had dinner there 10 PM on a Saturday night. Nice to see a few places in Montgomery County that realize not everyone eats dinner by 8 PM.
Location: 4820 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Phone: 301-913-9501
Website: http://www.citylightsofchina.com
I'm a regular here now because of proximity to work, and they have some of the consistently best Chinese food. It's in a nice area of Bethesda with a lot of shops, service is quick, and its a pleasant place to sit. The sauteed sesame chicken is a favorite.
Update Feb 25, 2006 Had dinner there 10 PM on a Saturday night. Nice to see a few places in Montgomery County that realize not everyone eats dinner by 8 PM.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Restaurant: Nova Europa
City: Wheaton, MD
Location: 1311 Lamberton Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20902
Phone: 301.649.6690
Website:
Went there for a birthday dinner, tucked away in an off-the-beaten-path shopping center not far off University Blvd. Portugese style cooking. Not real expensive (15-20 an entree), not a large place, but good food and exceptional service. If every neighborhood had a little place like this in it the world's diners would be much happier.
I had an orange roughy special (very good), tried the grilled salmon (pretty good) and someone's duck (first time I had it - interesting but don't have any comparison reference). Great desserts, good strong coffee.
Location: 1311 Lamberton Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20902
Phone: 301.649.6690
Website:
Went there for a birthday dinner, tucked away in an off-the-beaten-path shopping center not far off University Blvd. Portugese style cooking. Not real expensive (15-20 an entree), not a large place, but good food and exceptional service. If every neighborhood had a little place like this in it the world's diners would be much happier.
I had an orange roughy special (very good), tried the grilled salmon (pretty good) and someone's duck (first time I had it - interesting but don't have any comparison reference). Great desserts, good strong coffee.
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