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2014 Reviews - 100 or Bust! (Bust)
Didn't quite make it. Only 78 reviews in the 2014 list.
- 223
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78 Places
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Jerry’s 4-star review: Nardo's is not exactly easy to get to but the local residents know that the journey is worth the reward at the end! If you're headed north on US 41-45, it's right there, maybe a football field away from the freeway. But to get there? Well, Goldendale Road isn't a frontage road and there's no convenient exit. More on that in a little bit. There has been a popular restaurant at this location for decades. Nardo's has been there several years, a successful variation of the old Wisconsin supper club model. With a name like Passport Inn, you might guess that the theme is international and you would be right. Shadow boxes celebrate several interesting destinations, including a Russian military uniform. Nardo's offers a simple, but diverse menu with daily specials. The menu offers some standard dinner entrees and during colder months, a special selection of "comfort food" that one might traditionally see in a supper club. On Wednesday nights, during football season, Nardo's offers a special "Lambeau Leap" menu that includes a drawing for an invitation to a football party. Wines are a specialty here (be sure to check out the east wall in the little alcove at the end of the dining room.) They also offer some interesting beers. On a recent Wednesday evening, we ordered a regular entree, tenderloin tips over egg noodles, that included a large garden salad. The meal was a well sized portion. From the Lambeau Leap menu, I ordered a prime rib sandwich with melted cheese and mild horseradish sauce on a large roll. It was a nice sandwich and far more that I could eat in one sitting. One entree, one sandwich, a beer and a glass of wine came to about $45.00. And they didn't pick my ticket. :( Now, since I'll be going back again, it's only fair to tell you how to get there: If you're headed north on US-41/45 and you see Nardo's, take the next exit, Holy Hill Road. Turn right (east) then turn right on Goldendale Road and follow it to the restaurant. If you're coming from the south on US-41/45 or if you can remember to do so, exit at Lannon Road. Go east on Lannon Road and turn left on Maple Road (at the Kwik Trip.) Turn left on Mequon Road (the 4-way stop) then turn right on County Y (Goldendale Road) to the restaurant. Nardo's is worth the effort! EDITED TO ADD: I checked the obituaries this morning and my name still isn't in there. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: This us an extraordinary place. There is an enormous Czech, Slovak and Bohemian community in Cedar Rapids which is well demonstrated in this beautiful facility. It was freshly built and a gem of this city when the flooded Cedar River devastated it in the Floods of 2008. The building was picked up and moved 480 feet further up the bank. It was not only rebuilt on top of a parking garage, the museum was tripled in size. It is now three feet above the 2008 flood level, which should raise the collection well above any future potential flood plain - and it makes parking very convenient! My initial visit was to attend a lecture in a beautiful theater. I was not able to visit the museum during that visit, but I was able to peruse the marvellous gift shop that is loaded with imported glassware, crystal, art glass, Christmas ornaments, artwork of all kinds, dolls and books with most everything imported from the Czech and Slovak region of Europe. The lecture I attended was about the World War II tragedy of Lidice, a village in Bohemia that was the victim of the Nazi atrocity in 1942. It was an excellent presentation by the author of a book about the desecration of Lidice. The lecture was one of a series of informative presentations that are offered by the museum. The museum is located on 12th Avenue at the Cedar River, convenient to downtown Cedar Rapids and just a few blocks off I-380. If you are visiting Cedar Rapids, and have any interest in history and culture, I highly recommend that you stop here for a visit. I will be returning often and soon. You can learn more more about the museum at its impressive website. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: My review has been moved to the new listing for this location. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: This review is specifically for the MAM After Dark event, which I am attending on March 21, 2014. This is a wonderful event, although I've not seen any other Yelpers here. (Yet?) the mixture of youth, aged and high energy is indescribable. MAM After Dark is a great way to experience this crown jewel in the Milwaukee skyline. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: I just completed my annual visit to my favorite coffee vendor to pick up a year's supply, and there's not much I can add to last year's review. The Kaffeeklatsch is still the home of heavenly aroma, friendly folks, great Kaffee...er...coffee and my family's special blend. I wonder if I could open a branch in Milwaukee? -
Jerry’s 4-star review: If Neu's doesn't have it, you don't need it. This old line hardware store, that primarily caters to the trades, has been a fixture in Menomonee Falls for a long time, it even predates Ernie. The store went through an extensive remodeling several years ago, the main entrance moved, the alignment of the aisles changed, and items became much easier to locate. You'll find them to be very competitive, and often Neu's has better pricing than the orange, the blue, and the green guys nearby. Need something special? You name it, they have it. Power tools, hand tools, a full selection of saw blades, router and drill bits, taps, dies, polishing wheels, paint and sundries, adhesives, hand tools you'd expect and hand tools you never dreamed existed, safety gear, dryer vents, tubes, pipes, bulbs, sockets, compression fittings, washers, gaskets, nails, nuts, bolts, chain saws, string trimmers, table saws, lathes, power washers, lawn mowers, cleaning supplies, electric jackets, in fact, you could say Neu's has everything but the kitchen sink - but SURPRISE! They've got the kitchen sink and faucets to go with it. Next time you need that little thing-a-ma-jig that goes into the whaddya call it, or a new flapper so you don't have to jiggle the handle in the middle of the night or you want to make your Moen stop dripping, see the folks at Neu's. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: When you think of Brown County you immediately think of Lambeau Field. It has a great tour, too, but Brown County is also home to the National Railroad Museum. I remember coming here as a little kid, when everything was outside. Somewhere, I have a photo of me, a young brat standing on the catwalk of the Union Pacific Big Boy, arguably the largest steam locomotive ever built. Today, that same Big Boy is inside a large building, it has been cosmetically restored, and it is still a most impressive piece of equipment. And I have a photo of me, as an old fart, behind the throttle. There's no going on the catwalk today, the lawyers have pretty well made sure of that. The museum has an interesting collection of unusual rolling stock, including a Railway Post Office, a caboose that looks suspiciously like it was built by the Milwaukee Road but sporting C&NW livery, a bi-level passenger car that was used in the Chicago market for commuter trains and by the C&NW on the Ashland Division run to Northern Wisconsin, a Pennsylvania GG-1 electric locomotive, several steam engines including a British steamer named for Ike (General Eisenhower) an unrestored Shay and a GM Aerotrain. The Aerotrain was an attempt by GM to use bus and automobile technology to bring a stylized, lightweight and economical train set to the railroads. It might have sounded like a good idea in 1956, but it turned out to be as bad an idea as you can imagine. The train was streamlined, the cab looked like a jet fighter and the cars were basically GM aluminum busses on flanged wheels. The end of the train resembled a Chevrolet Nomad wagon. As grand as it looked, it was terribly impractical. The lightweight cars didn't ride like a train, or even a bus, but more like a logging truck. They were noisy. The locomotive was underpowered. GM built two train sets. They were tested by both the Pennsylvania and the Union Pacific and both railroads were unimpressed. The locomotive was underpowered. The Union Pacific tested the Aerotrain between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but it needed a helper freight locomotive to pull it over Cajon Canyon. Both railroads took a pass and returned the test units to GM. The Rock Island bought them and used them in Chicago commuter service for about 10 years. One is in St. Louis and the other one is here. There is also a scale model on display in the museum. While the Aerotrain is a static display, you can take a train ride around the perimeter of the museum grounds. You can climb an observation tower for an overview of the museum, the region, and the tallest building in Green Bay: Lambeau Field. If you're a real train enthusiast, you can easily spend a day or two here. If you're a more casual rail fan, plan on at least half a day but it deserves a full day of your attention. Be sure to visit the gift shop! -
Jerry’s 4-star review: In recent years, it seems like the only place you could find a J.C. Penny's store was in a shopping mall. In years past, a J.C. Penny's store was a staple of a downtown area in smaller cities, too. With the decline of the mega mall and the growth in big box stores and shopping areas that harken back to the days of a downtown, it stands to reason that smaller shopping centers might also be making a comeback. This JCPenny store is located in the Crossroads Shopping Center, on County Line Road between Menomonee Falls and Germantown, in the heart of a developing retail area. JCPenny is the major anchor here, A new Pick 'n' Save is the other. The center recently had a major facelift It is located within a circle of familiar big box stores. You'd have to know this building started out as a gray, cinder block discount store that resembled a prison. The building has been extensively remodeled, besides a major facelift, the entire interior has been redone. If someone dropped you in the middle of a department store and asked where you were, you might not be able to guess. You'd know here, because this store is uniquely JCPenny. There are attractive displays throughout the store and there are several store-within-a-store kiosks. There are several checkout registers and JCPenny does it right - there is one line for shoppers, and the first in line steps to the first available register. The store has a large parking lot that is easy to get to, just west of US 41-45, Turn left at the Culver's. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: There has been a great deal of remodeling since I wrote this review. The wine and beer selections have been expanded as has the specialty cheese area. It's a cheese store within a market that could stand alone. The Model T huckster was pulled out a few years ago. (I was told it leaked, but old Fords don't drip oil, they mark their territory!) I'm pleased to report that there is a Model T huckster in the store again, a different one fir your perusal. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: These guys are amazing.Johnstone Supply is known nationwide by professionals in the trades, so you're liable to be rubbing elbows with pros in heating, air conditioning, refrigeration. When I need appliance parts, these are my go-to guys. If you know what you're doing, this is the place to go. If you're a rank amateur at appliance repair, you'll find the counter men here to be helpful in making sure you get the right part. You might want to avoid going first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, because it's prime time for field guys to be replenishing supplies and getting parts for their immediate tasks. Also bear in mind that these guys are parts pros, and not repairmen. Don't be looking for advice on diagnosis of a problem nor advice on what is wrong with your dryer/refrigerator/washer but you can expect to get the parts you need for your repair. Parts are sold here at a fair price. (They usually have lower prices than the Internet parts depots, and you'll have your parts today.) This location has been keeping my furnace, washer and dryer operating for many years. Well, okay, I've been keeping my furnace, washer and dryer operating for many years but it's been with parts supplied by Johnstone. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: Grand Opening today! With all the vendor samples, it was like a free lunch. Kudos to Two Fat Guys sauces and Eli's Cheesecakes. This new store is huge, with all the amenities. The deli/bakery has a seating area for dining in. There is a large produce section, fresh seafood, a pharmacy and large selections of everything. (If you've been to the PnS on Port Washington Road at Green Tree, you know what this store looks like.) The new store is next door to the old store in the Crossroads Shopping Center. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: I've taken about 30,000 digital photographs over the last 10 years or so, but I have seldom printed any. Recently, one of my fellow photography fans (a retired professional and my mentor) suggested that I start selecting some of my favorites, have them printed, and put them into little albums so I can share them. Actually, I think he's just tired of trying to view my work on that dinky LED screen on the back of my camera, and frankly, so am I. I tried the self-serve one-hour kiosk at a certain large store with a name that happens to start with Wal but isn't Walgreens. I found the service to be acceptable, but inconvenient for several reasons. First of all, the photo department is usually as far away from the front door as it can be and still be on the property. Secondly, the kiosks are completely menu-driven, designed to be idiot-proof for the technology challenged who can barely figure out how to use a digital camera, let alone, print from it. As a result, the process is slow and cumbersome. Thirdly, if you don't have any shopping to do, about all you can do is your impression of Snow White and sing, "Someday, my prints will come," while you twiddle your thumbs. Lastly, when your order is ready to go, good luck finding a blue shirt to process the order and check you out. Overall, not bad for 28¢ a print but a little cumbersome and time-consuming. Today, I decided to use my Walgreens account to print photos. According to my Walgreens app, prints are 29¢, I figured the 1¢ per print premium pretty palatable to not have to bother with the big box. I was preparing myself to do battle with the photo kiosk at Walgreens, figuring it would be similar to the other Wal-place. As Ron Popeil would say, "But wait! There's more!" I discovered, on my phone app, that I could use the Interwebs to send my photos to Walgreens electronically! I uploaded my selections to photo.walgreens.com (under my account, of course, you can create an account if you don't have one,) used an online coupon code to get a significant discount, and submitted the order to the photo department for pickup at my local Walgreens store. The site promised my prints to be ready in about an hour. TIP: You can get online coupons right there on the photo website. I found the process to be simple (it was harder to decide which photos to print.) Their uploading routine is fairly fast, and pretty much idiot-proof. About an hour later, I drove over to my local store and VOILA! there were my prints, in a jacket, and ready to go! By the way, while I was in the store, I received an email, telling me that my order was complete. This was a great experience! I can upload from my computer, and I can upload photos from my cell phone to print at any Walgreens, a great feature when I'm on the road. I'm a fan of this service, and I'll use it again in the future. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: A shiny new store that hasn't been open long. I hate Dodge Street because there is too much traffic for the design of the road, which means DD has a perfect location! Eastbounders, on their way to downtown for work, have easy access to get in and out for donuts and DD's coffee. DD's coffee, by the way, is loved by a lot of people. I don't happen to be one of them, I find the flavor a little off, but that's my personal taste. Not to mention, DD is one of the last places that offers a French Cruller that is made with enough eggs and enough air holes in it to make it tasteful and light. I'll be back, next time I'm in town. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: This is a shiny new store that hasn't been open long. I can't help but wonder if this location is connected to the Dodge Street DD in Dubuque, which seems to have opened about the same time. Dunkin' Dounuts' coffee is loved by a lot of people. I don't happen to be one of them, I find the flavor a little off, but that's my personal taste. If it wasn't popular, they wouldn't bag it and sell it in grocery stores. DD is one of the last places that offers a French Cruller that is made with enough eggs and enough air holes in it to make it tasteful and light. On this visit, though, I ordered one their flatbread breakfast sandwiches, egg, turkey and cheese. It's a little pricey for a breakfast sandwich (compared to the hockey puck at Chez Ronaldo's just down the street) but it was served up quickly. I found it to be a little on the bland side but still tasty. The edges of the flat bread are a little more crusty than I like (hard and difficult for me to bite through) but once I got past the edges, it was soft and easy to eat. It's nice to have a DD in Platteville, and I'll be back next time I'm in town. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: I seem to be craving Chinese dishes with vegetables this week, or maybe it's a craving for Chinese restaurants with names that start with "G." Last night, it was the Green Garden in Woodstock, Illinois and tonight it's the Great Dragon in Dubuque, Iowa. (I wonder if Linus ever ate here?) I decided to give it a try, based on Yelp reviews, and I am glad I followed the advice of fellow Yelpers! This little gem is located in a shopping center just south of Dodge Street, the major east-west road (US Highway 20) in Dubuque's West End. It's located in a center with a Hy-Vee. I placed my carry-out order from their enormous menu that was prepared very quickly. The menu has many offerings, the restaurant is reasonably priced. There is a small, but comfortable, dining area. The restaurant was spotlessly clean and appears to be a family operation, as a young man was doing his homework behind the cash wrap. (And good for him!) The clean kitchen is visible from the cash wrap, equally impressive. (I'm still trying to figure out why the golden cat is waving.) If you read my reviews on a regular basis, you know that four stars is high praise from me because I reserve five stars for places that are really special or unique. You might also know that I don't eat much, and the regular portion was more than enough for me. It might be a little small for large appetites but there is a wide variety of appetizers to fill you up. I ordered Chicken with Chinese Vegetables. The dish had lage, tender and tasty bits of breast meat. Vegetables in the dish included pea pods, mushrooms, bok choy, celery, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, carrots and broccoli, all in a light, flavorful sauce, all served with rice. The dish was prepared in standard cardboard carry-out boxes, so I helped myself to a styrofoam carryout box to use as a plate, along with plastic utensils, soy sauce packets and some napkins. I enjoyed a good dinner that was a wonderful alternative to the usual franchise meal. The owners are friendly and courteous, and more than happy to assist you in any way they can. You can bet that I will return! -
Jerry’s 4-star review: This is a gem of a restaurant, located in a strip center just north of the major highway intersection on the south side of town, virtually across the street from my hotel. I placed a carry-out order that was ready incredibly fast. The menu is large, reasonably priced, with numerous offerings from mild to hot. A unique feature of the menu is offering entrees in regular and small portions. I don't eat much, and the small portion was more than enough for me. I ordered Chicken Kow. The dish had bite size, tender and tasty bits of breast meat. Vegetables in the dish included pea pods, mushrooms, bok choy, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, carrots and broccoli, all in a light, flavorful sauce, all served with rice. The restaurant doesn't seem to cater to travelers, though, with no utensils or dishes included. If you're in a hotel, see if there are place settings available, or you'll end up eating out the box, like I did. That's a minor inconvenience for a good dinner that was a wonderful alternative to a franchise meal. I will return! -
Jerry’s 4-star review: I found myself needing a place to stay in Woodstock recently and the only place I could remember is a chain that always seems to be booked. Enter Yelp - the entire reason I joined Yelp in the first place was for situations like this one. Sure enough, Yelp listed several hotels I didn't know were in Woodstock, including this property. It's hidden in plain sight where US 14 intersects with Illinois 76. It has good reviews, so I booked a room. My room was large and comfortable with lots of electrical outlets - plenty of places to plug in your chargers, laptops, cell phones, tablets, what have you. Amenities included a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, all the amenities a business traveler expects. The bedding was newer and attractive, The mattress was firm and comfortable. I found the room to be clean and well cared for. There is also a standard breakfast included in a bright, cheery dining area. This will bet go-to location when I'm in the area. Be advised, this is a pre-ADA facility. There are two floors but there is no elevator. If you require a ground floor room, be sure to make that request when you book your room. -
Jerry’s 3-star review: This bridge is a typical Interstate Highway System steel stringer that carries I-80 across the Mississippi River between Le Claire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois. It opened to traffic on October 27, 1966. The bridge is signed as a memorial to Fred Schwengel on the eastbound (Iowa) side of the bridge. Frederick Delbert Schwengel (1907-1993) was born in Franklin County, Iowa, educated in Missouri and Iowa, and was a teacher in Missouri early in his career. He left teaching and moved to Davenport, where he went into the insurance business.In 1944, he was elected to the first of five consecutive terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He was also elected to serve eight terms in the US House of Representatives. Mr. Schwengel was a noted historian and founded the United States Capitol Historical Society in 1962. He was also an original member of the Highway Beautification Committee in 1971. He attended the ribbon cutting of this bridge in 1966, and it was named in his honor, two years after his death, in 1995. I-80 is the busiest of the Interstate Highway System, if you are checking in on this bridge, you are in good company.
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Jerry’s 5-star review: The John Deere Pavilion provides a chance to get up close and personal with John Deere equipment that one usually sees from the car window. It is also Deere's showcase for prototype and unusual equipment. The display does rotate (contrary to others' reviews) and currently there is a rice combine, sold only in Asia, on display. A new exhibit highlights the John Deere Tango E5. Highlighted as an "autonomous mower" the Tango E5 is a robotic lawn mower that operates any time, in any weather. It's an impressive demo, the Tango wakes up, "mows" a small lawn of artificial grass, then parks itself in its station, while virtual people watch from their virtual front door. It's currently only sold in Europe, but I'd sure be interested in one if they start to market it here in the States! I try to make a visit to the Pavilion whenever I get to Moline because you never know what you might find here! -
Jerry’s 4-star review: Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of America's favorite authors. Wilder wrote a series of children's books known collectively as the "Little House" series that documented pioneer life in the 19th Century. Her works inspired several stage and movie adaptations but she is best remembered for inspiring the hit television series, "Little House on the Prairie" starring Melissa Gilbert and the late Michael Landon. It all started near this wayside, in the "Little House in the Big Woods." The wayside features a log home, a reproduction of the Ingalls home where Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born on February 7, 1867 to Charles and Caroline Ingalls. Charles Ingalls seemed to have wanderlust, for he uprooted his family and took them, by covered wagon, to Kansas to farmstead at a new location. The farmstead was actually on the Osage Indian Reservation (near modern Independence) and after being evicted, the Ingalls family returned here, to the Big House in the Woods. Eventually, Ingalls moved his family again, and Laura moved to Minnesota,Iowa, Missouri and Dakota Territory. Laura became a teacher, although she did not care much for the profession and didn't last too long. She married Almanzo Wilder and eventually, the couple settled in Mansfield, Missouri. Ingalls became a columnist in a Missouri newspaper. In her later life, under the encouragement of her daughter, she wrote of her youth in a series of books, aimed at elementary school children, that became the Little House series. "Little House in the Big Woods" was inspired by her early life in Wisconsin, near this location and was published in 1932. In 1971, an unpublished manuscript was discovered that documented the first years of her marriage. It was published as "The First Four Years" and is considered to be the ninth book in the Little House series. The wayside is located about 7 miles north of Pepin, Wisconsin, on Pepin County Highway CC. There isn't much here, the Ingalls' log home, the barn and even the Big Woods are all gone. The house is a reproduction but is a great illustration of the hardships encountered in 19th Century pioneer life. The wayside also offers picnic grounds, rest facilities and fresh water - although you have to pump it yourself, just as Laura's family did. A historical marker in Pepin, and one here, commemorate the birthplace and writing career of Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder. She is claimed as a favorite daughter in a half a dozen states, but her life started here, at this spot in Pepin County, Wisconsin.
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Jerry’s 4-star review: This is a four-star coin-op laundry, is a standout member of the coin-op laundry community. It is clean, convenient and well equipped. The entrance and floor are at grade level which affords easy accessibility from the parking lot for wheeled conveyances of any kind. Expected amenities include bill changers, vending of detergents, fabric softeners and soft drinks. There are three folding tables, several rolling baskets and several of the usual plastic shell chairs. I don't usually frequent coin-op laundries except in two cases, one of them is equipment failure, which brought me here today. The other case is when I need to wash something that is too large for my washer, like a comforter or car cover. This facility has large commercial washers that can accommodate those special cases. There are 27 regular washers (15 top loaders and 12 front loaders) and 19 dryers. Along with your dirty laundry and chemicals, you might want to bring something to read (Janet Evanovich today) and maybe a chair cushion. Oh, and lots of quarters! -
Jerry’s 1-star review: Jessica, can you spell D-E-E-P T-U-N-N-E-L? Which is also the reason City Hall and most other buildings in downtown Milwaukee are sinking. Take heart, Roads Scholars. Hizzoner, Tom Barrett, came out of City Hall today and asked the state for assistance in filling Milwaukee's 997 new potholes. He also saw his shadow, so we're going to have 6 more weeks of potholes. http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/this-time-in-milwaukee-last-year-667-potholes-this-year-nearly-1000-b99203048z1-244885731.html EDITED TO ADD: Have any of you City of Milwaukee residents called the mayor's office and asked where all that wheel tax money went? You pay twenty bucks a year for street maintenance, where's all that money if it's not in potholes? http://city.milwaukee.gov/CityLegacySite/district1/WhytheWheelTax.htm -
Jerry’s 2-star review: I wasn't really that happy. I came here because it's highly recommended by friends and it has several 5 star reviews. So I went there. If you read my reviews regularly, you know I can be an awful fussbudget, and I don't consume large quantities when I sit down for a meal. I also don't like big chunks of food that are difficult for me to handle. This is especially true in Oriental cooking, where food is traditionally chopped into bite-size pieces that are easily eaten with chop sticks. I ordered chicken with vegetables. When I opened the container, I immediately encountered a huge chunk of celery, the white bottom of the stem, which didn't inspire my confidence about what else was in the mix. There were very large pieces of green pepper, a few tiny pieces of carrot and some broccoli. The sauce was of an unusual taste, more like a Teriaki than a Chinese chicken sauce. It wasn't bad, just unexpected and I didn't really care for it that much. Frankly, there weren't many vegetables in a dish named Chicken with Vegetables. On the positive side, my order was prepared quickly and correctly. There was more food than I could eat, even in the small size. (The restaurant offers two sizes for most entrees.) The dish had far more chicken than veggies. Overall, this restaurant offers a lot of value and for some, it is an excellent choice, but not for me. -
Jerry’s 5-star review: It's time for an update for these folks! I've only visited Weissman in the past for state license inspections, and I stand by my report that the inspection process here is fast, painless, and a far better experience than I ever had from the state facilities! Last week, I found myself in quick need of an auto repair, my car broke as I was pulling out of the driveway to start a road trip! I called here, they had me bring my car in and they worked it into their busy schedule for the day - I even got a ride home! The tech explained everything he wanted to do, and why. He winced as much as I did at the cost of the needed parts, one of them is an electrical component that i$ only available from the brand'$ dealer$hip - which mean$ "expen$ive" before you even know what it is. We discussed the alternative - getting a used part from a boneyard - which in the case of electrical parts isn't always a wise choice. After a good explanation, we went ahead with the needed repairs. When it was over, my car was fine (although my checking account isn't. Sigh.) The tech and the owner were friendly and informative. As I mentioned in my previous review, the shop is extremely clean. Everyone is friendly and professional. On top of it all, these are car people. They appreciate old cars and performance cars as much as modern cars. I would not hesitate to return for other needed maintenance of my vehicle. They come highly recommended! -
Jerry’s 3-star review: Well, ya gotta be able to stay somewhere and my first choice was filled. I remembered this older property and made a reservation. It used to be a top-notch hotel, locals tell me it has operated under several banners over the years. No one remembers exactly, but it probably started out life as one of the Hoffman House properties, based on the skylight dome over the pool area, an iconic symbol of the Hoffman House properties in their salad days. But it's not a Hoffman House anymore, it's a Ramada. At one time, Ramada Inns enjoyed a great reputation with several 4 and 5 star properties but not so much anymore. The iconic sign with "Ben" in the long coat and trumpet assured a traveler of a good night's lodging. Well, Ben is gone and there is no longer a Ramada corporation that owns properties, all Ramada Inns today are franchises with little consistency between the properties, there are good and bad throughout the line. Although this is an older property, it has been refreshed. (The lobby is being remodeled as I write this review.) There is newer carpeting throughout. There is a restaurant on the property (probably the only hotel in Janesville with a restaurant on site) but I did not take advantage of it so I have nothing to report about it. I was assigned a spacious, comfortable room, just steps from the huge pool/whirlpool area. My recently refurbished room had new carpeting, a remodeled bathroom and new wallpaper. It was equipped with a flat screen tv, single-cup coffee maker and an ironing board and iron. There was no microwave and no refrigerator, but the ice machine was steps from my door. Overall, this property offers slightly above-average lodging. There were several little annoyances, like a rotational clunk in the old heater, 3-way light fixtures with 1-way curly French fry light bulbs and a single, unexpected step here and there. The elevator didn't align with the floor (it stops a little high) making it an effort to get my rolling suitcase into the car. The exterior doors are pretty beat up and don't appear to have operational security locks. There aren't enough handicap parking spots and it appears to only have one handicap entrance. There is free Wi-Fi but it is slow. Getting into the property is easy enough and the entrance is just off I-90/39 on Wis 26 north. Getting out is a bit more tricky, a one-way street going the wrong way means you must drive around the back of the hotel. Turn left to go back to Wis 26 and turn right to get to US 14 going east. Despite the little annoyances, the hotel was quiet, the bed was comfortable and the price was a little high but in line with rates in the Janesville area. (The Holiday Inn Express is in three digits.) Overall, it was fine. If I were to ever return to Janesville for an overnight stay, I would seriously consider this property because it offered a good value for a night's lodging. -
Jerry’s 1-star review: My review that was posted here has been moved to the proper listing. There is no way on God's Green Earth that one of the Wauwatosa elevated water tanks is located in West Allis. I don't know how the proper address was ever changed to this dumb address, so someone created a new listing for the old address. Thanks to whoever did that! To see my original review, please visit the Wauwatosa Water Tower listing for the location on Burleigh Street. Thanks! -
Jerry’s 5-star review: The discussion of this landmark is certainly elevated. Wauwatosa has three elevated water tanks (the proper name for a water tower) and three reservoirs, this one being the largest elevated tank and the most obvious. In fact, this 2.5 million gallon torosphere is the largest tank in the State of Wisconsin. Think how many six packs of Riverwest Stein Beer that would make! If you happen to live in Wauwatosa, you should be happy to know that in 1998, the entire 33,000 square foot interior was blasted to bare steel, under the SSPC-SP10/NACE No. 2 specification and coated with special aromatic urethane zinc-rich primer, then topped with two coats of a fast-curing, water-safe, polyamide epoxy. Like you care. It just means the interior is a safe pitcher for water. The exterior was painted in 2001, a most amusing procedure to watch on a daily basis over the summer. Each day, the tower was completely covered with a canvas shield that resembled a giant condom. It was blasted to bare steel, primed, and painted the lovely blue color that you see today. The top coat was applied with rollers on very long extension poles (several yards too long for you to use on your ceiling.) The entire procedure was entertaining to watch over the summer. The guys who painted the tower must have nerves of steel or no nerves at all. Whatever they used for the top coat, it must have been a good product because the tank looks like it was painted last week, not 13 years ago. I will admit to being a closet fan of elevated water tanks but let's keep that our little secret, okay? Tanks a lot! -
Jerry’s 5-star review: Today was a special event at the cathedral, the annual Kirkin' o' th' Tartans, a celebration of Scottish heritage and culture. The origins of the kirking are the stuff of legend, and like most legends, it is probably based in some fact but where the fact leaves off and the fantasy starts has been lost to history. First of all, what does it mean? The Scottish Gaelic word, "kirk" means church, and in this context, "kirk" means "blessing." Tartans are the traditional plaid emblems of Scottish clans, woven into (typically) wool cloth. According to legend, in the mid-18th Century, the British rulers took revenge on Scotland in retaliation for a failed attempt to regain Scottish independence. The wearing of tartans, kilts and any highlanded symbols was forbidden. Legend says Highlanders wore tartans under their garments, in defiance of the law, with their tartans blessed in church. 46 years later, the law was rescinded and the wearin' of the tartans returned. The problem is that no real history of the secret wearin' o' the tartans is known in Scotland. So this tradition may be a uniquely American tradition, going back to World War II. Either way, the Kirkin' o' th' Tartans takes place in churches all across the county on April 6 each year. Sometimes it's celebrated on Reformation Sunday the last Sunday in October, sometimes on St. Andrew's Day (St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland) on November 30, or, as in Milwaukee, on Tartan Day on April 6. At the kirking of the tartans, there is lots of bagpipe music, Scottish dancing, remembrance of those who left us in the prior year, the reading of the 23rd Psalm (with a Gaelic accent) and, of course, the blessing of the tartans. The joint bagpipe/pipe organ rendition of "Amazing Grace" could bring a tear to your eye, and it was the first time I've ever heard a pipe organ almost overpowered. Now I'm looking forward to the Highland Games, but I'm marking my calendar for April 6, 2015. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: I didn't feel like going out again once I checked into my hotel, so I decided I'd like something delivered. There is no Domino's here and based on other Yelp reviews, I decided to try the Red Apple. (How can there be no Domino's in a college town? There's one in Waverly for Wartburg not in CF for UNI? Whoda thunk it ? On top of it all, the Dominos in Waterloo won't deliver to Cedar Falls, so to heck with them!) I tried to place an order online. Many restaurants, as Red Apple has done, now subscribe to third party vendors to post as their own website which adds online order capabilities. Red Apple's third-party ordering site doesn't seem to allow delivery to an address other than the billing address for your credit card. Kinda dumb, as that eliminates folks like me, who are in a hotel room. (Maybe I just didn't figure it out, I was using my cell phone and the text is really, really small.) So I gave up and just called in my order. My order was taken quickly, my credit card info was processed quickly, and my order was on its way. I ordered chicken with mixed vegetables and I also had to order vegetable soup in order to get my order up to their $10 threshold for delivery. In about 45 minutes, a smiling delivery guy was at my door. The soup was average at best, beef stock with a few vegetables in it, if I ever return to CF or Waterloo, I'll pass on the vegetable soup. But my chicken dish was grand! Instead of white rice, I substituted chicken fried rice, an option I've not encountered in a Chinese restaurant before. The fried rice was a bit on the dry side but with the addition of the sauce from my chicken dish, it was very nice alternative to the usual white rice. In the main course, I found several pieces of breast meat, sliced thinly, tender and juicy. The vegetables of varying kinds (broccoli, carrots, water chestnuts, mushrooms, onions, celery) were flavorful and cooked just right, on the al dente side. The sauce was of the right consistency, flavorful and topped off the dish perfectly. Next time I am in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area, I will keep the Red Apple in mind, perhaps I'll even visit there. I gladly recommend the Red Apple. -
Jerry’s 4-star review: A great family restaurant in the heart of Oconomowoc! I recently went to Amalia's as part of a family gathering. It's located in a building that has been a car dealership and (I think) an appliance store at one time but now has been converted to a mini-mall. Amalia's is a warm and welcoming spot with mostly booths. The daily specials are hand-written on a chalkboard that is right in front of you as you enter the restaurant. Of course, no one pays attention to them anyway, but our server was happy to tell us about them. The five of us ordered rather disparate entrees, a club sandwich, a fish fry, veal parmigiana and two of us had pan-fried lake perch. My lake perch was delicious, cooked just right, firm and juicy. It was served with lemon and a container of great cole slaw. I opted for potato pancakes, which were tasty although not of a consistency I'm familiar with. The server offered syrup (um, no thanks) and apple sauce, which is always my topping of choice for potato pancakes. The veal parmigiana was reported to be very good with a portion too large to finish. The fish fry was excellent. The club sandwich was huge, and after struggling with it, my friend wound up taking it apart and eating it with a fork. We all had large portions, our meals were great, and the price for the five us of was more than reasonable. I don't get to Oconomowoc much anymore but when I do return, Amalia's will be on my radar screen!
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