I was chatting with a fellow blogger recently, and mentioned to him that I have a ton of half-written reviews waiting to be finished and posted.  He suggested I just post what I have and finish them as I go.  If this is a good idea, he gets the credit.  If this is a bad idea, he was kidding and it's all on me.  Either way, go check out his blog: The GIN is IN.

Blackbirds

41-19 30th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11103

You should know

Chris and I decided to go for a walk in the new neighborhood late one Sunday night and see what kind of dining establishments were still serving dinner.

One little place had drink specials and wing specials during all football games, and since one was on at that moment, we figured, "Why not?"

So?

So of course Chris was nice and distracted by the game, but I expected that.  He got the wings ("1/2 dozen or one dozen.  Hot, medium, sweet & sour, and honey bbq, and I got a Blackbird's Burger("8-oz. burger served with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion. Add 50¢ for a topping of your choice: bleu cheese, american, cheddar, mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms, sautéed onions, or bacon.  Add 1 dollar for avocado or goat cheeseburger.")  Of course, the game night menu is not as clear as the online menu as to what does or does not count as an additional topping, so I ended up paying a little more than I expected, but it was still good.  The food was good, but not especially impressive.

To drink, I got a Coney Island Lager ("A hybrid mash up of styles between European brewing traditions. Very unusual malt bill and hops that nod strongly at American craft"), which was nice but not amazing, and Chris got a Franziskaner.

The burger was excellent, and Chris enjoyed their wings, though so many places have wing specials that he won't get them unless he's getting the beer included, as well (which is a feature of their late-night menu).

Since then, we've gone back multiple times, usually when we want a late dinner and everyone else has stopped serving food.

Rating

Check it out if you're in the neighborhood
It's definitely worth stopping by if you're around, but I don't know if I'd go so far as to recommend traveling to get there.

Image via Wikipedia

The Rondout Inn

79 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401

You should know

When Chris and I celebrated out first wedding anniversary, we decided to spend the weekend in the town we were in when Chris proposed. We didn’t want to stay in the same hotel (which was a dump at the time and is now under new management), but we weren’t thrilled with any of the chain motels, which were away from the parts of town we liked and kind of expensive.

Chris found this little not-quite-bed-and-breakfast, and we decided to take a chance.

So?

It was great. The Inn is owned by a couple who also appear to own the antique store next door (you have to go into the store to check in). As a result, the rooms in the Inn are furnished from the store -- and the Guest Information book includes a price sheet in case you want to take any of the furniture or decorations home with you. The bed and couch were incredibly comfortable, the decor was charming, the full kitchen was incredibly handy, and there were a few fun surprises as well. All this for only $175 a night -- not dirt cheap, but better than those motels I mentioned above. We plan to use them again next time we visit Kingston.

You can get breakfast for the B&B experience, but it's part of a more expensive package, so we were happy to forgo it.

Rating

Go there
OK, odds are you won’t have much reason to go to Kingston, but if you do, be sure to stay here.

The rest of the Internet

Few, but good, reviews at TripAdvisor (disclosure: Chris left a review there, too).
A write-up of this and another inn in Kingston Happenings

We all have our flaws.  One of mine is reading too many self-help books.

Here are some books that might be able to teach you a thing or two -- at the very least, you should learn the areas in which I think I need help!

Books I've previously reviewed are linked to the appropriate post; in between are some quickie reviews, which are linked to Amazon.com through an affiliate link.

The Automatic Millionaire : A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach -- The idea behind this one is pretty simple.  You've heard the old maxim, "Pay yourself first," right?  That's pretty much what this book is about.  Figure out how much you want to -- and can afford to -- save, and then have that amount automatically transferred to savings (or investment) on a regular basis.  You don't miss money you never see.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell  -- This is a "Trust your gut" sort of book.  You know things, and frequently you know them before you realize that you know them. A great example kicks off the book, telling about a museum worker who was completely certain that a new statue was a fraud.  This worker was eventually proven right, but the telling details were so subtle that the only thing giving it away was that it "felt off."  And you can do stuff like that, too.

Everything twitter: From Novice to Expert

Fear Less: Real Truth About Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism by Gavin de Becker -- Here is another "Trust your gut" book, this one from the author of The Gift of Fear (see below).  When you're afraid of everything, your natural, protective sense of fear can't figure out what is a threat and what isn't.  If you spend your day watching disasters on a constant loop on the news, worrying, and telling yourself you have nothing to worry about, then when that creepy person in the dark parking lot at 2 AM sets off your warning sirens, you'll be in the habit of squelching that, too. And that's just not safe.


Gendertraps: Confronting Confrontophobia, Toxic Bosses, and Other Landmines at Work by Judith Briles -- Whether due to biology, social conditioning, or some combination of the two, men and women think, socialize, and negotiate differently.  This can cause miscommunications and even major obstacles in the workplace.  This book helps you deal with these situations.


Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen -- This is the definitive productivity blog.  One of these days I'm going to finally get my hands on a copy I can mark up, and then hopefully I'll be able to start implementing some of these techniques.  Highly recommended pretty much everywhere.


The Gift of Fear

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins -- An interesting breakdown of comparable companies, some of which made it big and others which fell apart, and where the pairs diverged in their tactics.  More interesting than I'm making it sound, actually.


Made to Stick

The Millionaire Next Door
 
Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi -- A guide to networking, meeting people, making business contacts, and maintaining them.  Brilliant, but not easy.


Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz -- It's true: when I have too many choices, I freeze up because how can I possibly pick the best one, especially without examining each in depth.  On our honeymoon, if we walked down a street and Chris asked me where I wanted to eat, I'd almost panic -- everything looks so good, and every place we eat at is one more we'll never eat at, and if it's terrible not only will we never get that meal back, but it'll be entirely my fault for ruining our dinner... but if we had a list of five places recommended by our guidebook, it was easy.  Don't want pizza again, don't want to spend too much -- ooh, this place is known for its selection of local wines.  Decision made.

Project Everlasting: Two Bachelors Discover the Secrets of Americas Greatest Marriages by Mathew Boggs and Jason Miller -- I'm not entirely sure this counts as a self-help book, but it can definitely be used as one. Two guys wander the country looking for couples with very length marriages, and asking them what their secrets are.  Very sweet.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki -- This one is kind of controversial, since apparently the two dads are more metaphorical than the book makes out.  This doesn't make the advice bad, necessarily, but it means you might want to take this popular book with a couple grains of salt.

Six Thinking Hats: An Essential Approach to Business Management by Edward De Bono -- When it's difficult to make a decision, either on your own or in a committee, it's important to look at things from different angles.  The "hats" represent such factors as cold facts, fears, ambitions, and making sure everyone gets along.

Slow Reading 

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell -- Another good one.  Small but significant factors can turn a modest success into a wild one.

Wealth of Experience: Real Investors on What Works and What Doesn't by Andrew Clarke -- There's a big "you should know" here, as this book was published by my former employer.  It's pretty much what it sounds like: high-end investors talking about how they got to be, and stay, high-end investors.

The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had by S. Wise Bauer -- The author notes that almost no one is self-educated anymore, then outlines tactics, and an immense reading llist, for anyone who wants to be.

What Should I Do with My Life?: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question by Po Bronson -- Bronson was sort of asking this question himself as he put together this book, which collects the stories of people who have found their callings.  A good read even if it turns out not to be especially necessary, or helpful, for you.


Why Do I Love These People?

Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget

Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear by Frank Luntz -- Another one that's pretty much what it sounds like, this book talks about communication skills and how you can make sure what you mean is what you say is what people hear.  Probably not a bad one to read together with Gift of Fear, above.

 
Go forth and be a better person! Enjoy!

Aside for my real-life blogger friends: does anyone need a guest post any time soon?  Let me know.

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This mission is a little different, folks.

The Situation

See, having discussed e-books, I'm thinking about Kindles. I know for some people, it can save them a ton of money in the long run. For othrs, it's a massive money sink. For some, the portability adds much-needed flexibility. For others, the inability to borrow or lend takes that flexibility away.

Your Mission

Give me your best argument as to why I should -- or should not -- get a Kindle.

Suggestions of alternative e-readers are awesome, too, if you can make a case for them.

I'll share your responses with Chris, and maybe they'll influence his/my/our Christmas shopping this year. Heh.

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Image via Wikipedia
Slainte was a disappointment because of the food, but if we had just gone for drinks, it would have been great.

I don't review a lot of bars, because the real appeal is enjoying a beer with my friends. But I have reviewed some -- places with especially great selection or especially bad service, or restaurants whose drinks really impress.

Establishments I've previously reviewed are linked to the appropriate post; in between are some quickie reviews.

Boston Beer Works -- Click to read my previous review.

Cornwall's Restaurant -- Not much of a website, so I'll fill you in. You walk in, and there's a huge bar with a nice draft selection. To your right, a pool hall. To the back, dartboards and a bookshelf crammed with board games. Perfect for chilling with friends.

Crossroads Coffee -- No alcohol, but that doesn't mean you can't hang out over a nice beverage. Click to read my previous review.

Croxley's -- An international beer menu and 10-cent wing nights. The beers can get pricey, so practice moderation and enjoy your chicken.

Derek's -- Click to read my previous review.

Flanigan's Boat House -- Click to read my previous review.

Irish Pub -- No, really, that's the name of the pub. Limited selection of really nice house beers. The everyday menu is not all that remarkable (though there's nothing wrong with it), but their specials are great -- especially the $10 dinners. I got an amazing steak dinner for a Hamilton once!

Kelsey's -- Click to read my previous review.

Kildare's -- A fun experience, but pick your moments; I've been unimpressed with their dinner menu, and on Friday nights it's way too crowded to be fun enough to justify the cover charge. Stopping for a pint between crowds is nice, though, as there are lots of booths and corners for you and your friends to hide in.

Miller's Ale House -- One of Chris's favorites, with good, affordable food; good, affordable drinks; lots of specials; and tons of games on the big-screen TVs. Watch your moments here, too, as different crowds tend to come in waves. Definitely worth learning when the frat boys arrive, whether to attend or avoid.

Old Eagle Tavern -- Within walking distance of my parents' house, it's where I go at the end of an evening with friends. Says Dan: "Great food and beer selection. Reasonable prices. Manayunk atmosphere, Roxborough prices."

Slainte -- Click to read my previous review.

Smokeless Joe's -- Click to read my previous review.

Sunset Grill and Tap -- Click to read my previous review.

Wayne Gretzky's -- Click to read my previous review.


Go forth and drink responsibly -- and have fun!

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Maybe I'm a little bit of a beer snob. I really don't like mass-market beers. And I love microbrews -- and fake microbrews. And there's a lot to be said for brewery tours and tastings if you're looking for something to do in your hometown, or the town you're visiting.

So here is a round-up of some breweries I've toured and microbrews where I've dined.

Allentown Brew Works -- Tasty food, tasty beer, reasonable prices, and they're open on Sunday evenings after everyone else has closed.

Blue Point Brewery -- Chris got me into their Blueberry beer. After the brewery tour, try free samples of most of their beers and cheap samples of the rest -- and buy a jug of your favorites.

Boston Beer Works -- Click for my previous review.

Brooklyn Brewery -- Learn about the history of the brewery and the making of the beer, then settle in their tasting room to try different varieties, order in a pizza, and maybe pet one of the cats if they'll let you.

Iron Hill Brewery -- They have several locations and some great food, and there's typically a real nice dinner special on Sunday nights. Every location I've been to has parking issues, though, so arrive a bit early to look for a spot.

John Harvard's Brew House -- They have good beer and great food. There used to be several locations in the Philadelphia area, but it's probably for the best that there's not anymore -- I could easily get addicted to their lobster bisque. And then there's the burgers and wings and specialty steaks...

Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant -- The food is hit-or-miss and the beer is a matter of taste, but it's quite pleasant to sip a sampler while overlooking the Manayunk Canal.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery -- A tiny bit pricey for dinner, but if you get there while happy Hour is still on, you can fill up on half-price appetizers and inexpensive beers. The King of Prussia location has a brew called Billy Penn's Curse that I love.

Sam Adams Brewery Tour -- A really nice tour, and great tastings -- typically, samples of the Boston Lager, a seasonal, and a specialty brew. The suggested donation of $2 goes toward charity; you get to keep your tasting glass, which costs $2 in the gift shop anyway.

Stoudt's Brewing Company -- If you're lucky, like we were, your tour will be given by Ed Stoudt himself. The man has some very strong opinions about beer. We didn't stay for dinner, but we did snack at the oyster bar, which was very nice.

Steam Whistle Brewing -- A tour and tasting at this Canadian brewery takes place in a historical building in Toronto. They collect, sterilize, and reuse their heavy-duty bottles. Good times.


So, go forth and drink responsibly, and if you're underage or driving, just enjoy the good food.

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Tapas. I love tapas. Chris loves Tapas. You know this.

Here is a round-up of some tapas places we've been to, linked to the appropriate post.

Cafe Buenos Aires

Fressen

Tapas y Tintos

Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurant

Enjoy!

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Chris and I are settling nicely into our new place and new routines. Who knows how long this will last?  We may be moving again soon.  But when things are calm, I have time to read!

Frugal Duchess at Wise Bread notes that the book Small Change was life-changing. Her review definitely makes me want to read the book -- so go ahead and read her review!

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I usually don't have a lot of time on weekends, but as of writing this I'm coming off of two wedding showers in a row (three if you count the one at work) and a meet-up and ballgame with Chris, Brian, and Paul, so I'm setting this up in case I need to skip a week.

Dave Loveless at The Prodigal reviewed the Nicholas Cage movie Knowing.  When I originally saw the ads, I was not impressed, but Dave's review makes me reconsider: He gives it 3.5 out of 4 stars (assuming you like thrillers).  Dave's blog is one of my must-reads, so go ahead and browse around while you're there.

Trattoria Lucia

247-63 Jericho Tpk.
Bellerose, NY 11426

You should know

Chris and I are considering using this restaurant for our rehearsal dinner. In researching them, we saw that they offer a Prix-Fixe meal every day before 6:00. So we decided to take advantage of the offer and check out the cuisine.

Ultimately, we decided to go with them

So?

So the prix-fixe meal comes with a cocktail, soup or salad, an entree, cofee or tea, and a dessert, for a total price of $26.95. Definitely a good deal.

I got a Mojito (Bacardi Limon Rum, fresh lime, mint leaves, sugar & a splash of Sprite, normally $9.75), while Chris got a Golden Margarita (Jose Cuervo Gold, sour mix, lime juice, triple sec, splash of orange juice, normally $9.75). We were happy with our own drinks, but since he hates Mojitos and I hate Margaritas, we didn't sample one another's drinks. We served decent bread with a nice oil-and-spice dipping sauce, rather than butter.

We both got Caesar salads (normally $6.95) which were decent but typical. Then, I got Grilled Skirt Steak and Sausage with Mushrooms and Onions (not on ordinary menu). The sausage was good but not thrilling, but the steak was excellent.

Chris got the Pan Seared Tuna with 3 Dipping Sauces (not on the ordinary menu). It was also very nice; the orange and wasabi sauces suited it very well, but the third sauce was just normal barbecue sauce, which didn't impress.

This is the point where our service started disintegrating. Now, I don't entirely blame our waitress; after all, I noticed that several parties in our section made very complex alterations to their orders. Even so, we waited quite a while before making our dessert order.

For dessert, we both had green tea, and Chris ordered the cheesecake while I had the apple strudel (neither on the ordinary menu). Very tasty.

We then had another, entirely too long wait for our check. At this point, I was in danger of missing my train home, so we rushed out (and, sadly, forgot my leftovers, which I'd had wrapped).

Rating

Worth considering
The food was delicious, and the prices were great for what we got, but the service could have been better. Consider going during the week rather than on a weekend; that might help.

The rest of the Internet

There's not much out there, but if you know of -- or have written -- a review of this restaurant, let me know!

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Cafe Buenos Aires

23 Wall Street.
Huntington, NY 11743

You should know

I was in New York for the weekend, and had done a trial for my hair and makeup for the wedding. Because I was all done up, I wanted to do something nice for dinner. And Chris and I love tapas.

So?

Well, we had an idea of at least one thing we wanted from looking at the menu in advance. We knew going in that we wanted the Solomillo ("Black Angus, portobello and Brie cheese," $12.00).

We didn't recognize many of the red wines on the list, so we decided to take a chance on the Tempranillo ($7.00). It was very nice -- balanced and just a bit peppery; very complimentary to our meal.

We then ordered the Solomillo, as well as two empanadas ("Turnover pie (beef, chicken, spinach and corn)," $3.00 each> -- spinach for me, beef for Chris -- some Carbanzos Con Longaniza ("Chickpeas with spicy sausage," $5.00), and some Olivas Surtidas ("Assortment of marinated olives," $5.00).

Before our meal came out, we were served some nice bread -- two kinds, although I couldn't tell you what they were -- with three kinds of dipping sauces. This was dangerous -- I always eat too much bread when places do this!

The empanadas were nice -- I'm not a huge fan, but there was nothing wrong with them. Chris really liked his. The chickpeas were great, but a little too heavy alongside the steak. And the olives made for an excellent palate-cleanser.

The restaurant had several rooms; we were seated in the back, which was much more intimate than the front room, which was centered around the bar, or the middle room, which was full of large groups. Since it was really nice out, there was also outdoor seating.

Rating

Awesome for carnivores
Now, that's not to say the less animal-based foods were not great, but the Solomillo was far and away the best thing we ordered. There are plenty of options, including a whole standard menu in addition to the tapas menu, so go ahead and check it out.

The rest of the Internet

A nice review at exploreLI.com.
Joanne Starkey at the New York Times speaks highly of the restaurant.
A review at Great Restaurants of Long Island speaks highly of the desserts.

Watchmen

John Adams

2008, on DVD

You should know

Call me strange, but John Adams has always been one of my favorite founding fathers (note: the previous link is not safe for work).  Also, having grown up in Philadelphia, I have a built-in fascination for the American Revolution.  I've already read David McCullough's 1776, as well as the most recent edition of the letters of John and Abigail Adams, which I still need to review.

When I first heard about the HBO miniseries, I was curious.  When it got such acclaim, from critics, fans, and awards ceremonies, I was dying to see it.  I tried to get my hands on the book (that's how I came across 1776).  But it faded back to a vague "ought to see it some day" until this year's inauguration, when a friend of mine commemorated the date by posting a link to the scene where Washington takes the oath of office.

I was sold. And then, a few weeks later, Chris got me a copy of the DVDs for Christmas.

Update 1/13/10: I've now read the book, and it is excellent.

So?

Rating

The rest of the Internet

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Derek's

4411 Main Street
Philadelphia, PA 19127
215-483-9400

You should know

I'm not all that into Valentine's Day.  Sure, I'm not going to turn down an opportunity for a romantic evening with Chris, but I don't find overpriced, overcrowded situations to be all that romantic.  

So since Valentine's Day fell two days before Presidents' Day, we decided to go out Sunday the 15th, avoiding the crowds.

Lately, we've been using Restaurant.com when we try new places, and Derek's came up as sufficiently romantic, with a good menu. It's also fairly close to where I live.

So?

Now, we managed to find pretty good parking, which for Main Street on a weekend is kind of a treat. Prepare to park on a side street or pay for parking.

We were seated in the downstairs dining room, which was pleasant but sort of cramped.  There were moments when it felt like the parties on either side of us were part of our party, instead.  Also, we were a few tables in from a door, so since it was cold out, when the large party between us and the door left, the draft swept in and I froze for the rest of my meal.

Chris and I both decided to order the three-course meal ($32.99), which includes soup or a salad, one of several select entrees, and a dessert.  We both ordered the hearts of romaine Caesar salad ("the traditional with handcut croutons & grated Romano cheese," $8.99), and pan seared flatiron steak ("whipped Parmesan potatoes, caramelized onions & roasted pepper jus," $22.99), while Chris planned on ordering the chocolate baby bundt cake ("totally rich and warm with Chantilly cream") and I had my eye on the carnival style funnel cake ("dusted with the traditional powdered sugar cloud over fresh strawberry sauce with vanilla ice cream").

The salad was good, and the bread was excellent.  The steaks were also very tasty, and the leftovers I had for lunch the other day reheated very nicely, as well.  I had a glass of Merlot ("Canyon Road [California 2006], medium bodied with crisp cherry and jammy blackberry flavors," $8 glass/$40 bottle), while Chris had a Victory Prima Pils ("[pilsner] Pennsylvania, craft brewer’s chart topping version of the popular blond style chosen by the NY Times as the world's best pilsner," $5.50), with which we were both satisfied.

Then came dessert.  The three-course menu has a few choices of dessert.  By the time we ordered, the only listed dessert left was the creme brule -- not a deal-breaker for me, but our server was nice enough to offer us any dessert as part of our meal -- not unreasonable, since all desserts were the same price a la carte ($7.99).  Our second choices had limited quantities as well; I ended up getting the daily fruit cobbler (apple, "served warm with cinnamon ice cream") and Chris got the cheesecake of the day (classic).  They were both good, if not what we were hoping for; I'm not convinced I got cinnamon ice cream, actually, but it's possible it was so mild that the cinnamon in the cobbler overpowered it.

The couple sitting next to us had a similar problem with some of their orders. Even though the shortages were disappointing, they were not altogether surprising.  We did go the day after a major dining-out holiday, and the evening after a fairly major brunch morning.  Even so, they should have accounted for this, either by ordering sufficient materials in advance, or coming up with substitutions in the face of shortages.

My biggest complaint, though, was with the bathrooms.  There were two unisex powder rooms on the second floor (which was somewhat problematic in itself, as Chris was on crutches from a sprained ankle).  One was locked; we do not know if it was occupied or out of service.  The one that was open was dirty (there was a fairly ominous puddle on the floor by the toilet), devoid of toilet paper, and featured a non-functioning lock -- not fun when you're using the facilities and the next person doesn't realize it's occupied.

Rating

Seriously consider it
You'll want a game plan for parking, and to dress appropriate for the weather of the moment, and definitely have an open mind about your order if you go during or right after a high-traffic time, but the food was great and the cocktails were sufficiently appealing-looking that I'm tempted to go back for drinks and either appetizers or desserts.  The bad things were bad, but the good things were very, very good.

The rest of the Internet

Churu Autumn at Churu was displeased with the service.
Check out the Zagat rating.