Delilah "dissonant muse" W.'s Profile

I am so glad I stopped into this little gem of a used book shop on my way home from brunch. Fantastically organized and presented, truly a labor of love like all used bookstores should be. I met the owner, who is passionate about the shop and a really friendly guy. I will definitely be back in even thoigh I have a Kindle! Great selection of cross-genre fiction including mysteries and science fiction.

Despite their Yelp reputation, I had an amazing meal here last week, my first time at this restaurant. It may be out-of-place in Winter Hill, which is the only reason I can think of for many of the negative Yelps. My meal was impeccably presented, with great attention to flavor pairing. Unlike many high-end restaurants, Brunello has big, satisfying portions.  Although it is expensive (expect $150 for a two person meal [3 courses and 1 drink each]) the food is fantastic and it is perfect for a special occasion. Our waitress, Margaret, was attentive and professional without hovering, and the manager even let us in a few minutes before opening so we wouldn't have to wait in the cold!

I am surprised how high the Yelp rating here is! I know what I'm in for when I go for a diner breakfast, and I'm not a picky eater at all. I came to Kellys anticipating your standard satisfying greasy American diner breakfast, as that's what I was in the mood for. The decor is cute and quite well executed 50's diner kitsch. The food was surprisingly bad. The coffee was weak, the omelet completely bland, the homefries totally unseasoned, and the bread stale!  I was completely stymied by how poor it all was. To their credit, the folks voluntarily took my portion of the experience off our bill when they saw I didn't eat much of it.

The coffee and bread I got were acceptable here, but what kind of coffee shop offers copious seating without a single outlet to charge your devices while you drink your coffee?  Seriously? Not a single outlet?

The Bedford Plaza hotel is a straight shot down Massachusetts Avenue if you are coming from the Cambridge area.  They have indoor parking at no additional cost and a heated indoor pool (only 4.5 feet deep) that was very well-maintained and not over-chlorinated.  The rooms were tidy and sanitary, and the staff were professional.  All of the rooms border a balcony that overlooks the pool area, so there is moderate noise from children playing that can likely be heard from every floor, but it wasn't too bothersome from my room on the 3rd level.    Mediocre breakfast in the common space of standard scrambled eggs, etc.  All in all a much better experience than I expected at such a bargain rate.  I wouldn't hesitate to return to this hotel or to stash relatives here when they're visiting the area.

In the years since I first bought a ride at Vespa, they've lost a couple stars.  While everyone that works there is friendly, don't even bother trying to order accessories or touch up paint or anything - they'll take the order, never actually place it, and never follow up.  This happened three times!  SAD FACE.  While I love my Vespa, do yourself a favor and hit up Scooters Go Green in South Boston for A+ customer service.

I went here for my Who's-A-Special-Girl birthday dinner a few weeks ago.  What a treat!  If you have ever wondered if there is somewhere local where you can see artistically presented food a'la "Top Chef" while on a budget, this is the restaurant for you.  Not only was the presentation of each course impeccable, but the attention to subtle and unique flavor combinations was unparalleled.   I felt that I was treated to a high-end dining experience from the moment I walked in the door, but at the same time I didn't feel like I had to dress a certain way because the establishment had that magical Somerville charm of acceptance and diversity.  One thing to note is that you aren't going to get crazy American sized portions here (go to a diner for that) so if you go with someone who doesn't "get it" you're likely to hear about it.  I highly recommend trying Bergamot for a special occasion.  Two people, three courses and two cocktails each for under $150.

I wish these folks had a location near Cambridge!   I only just discovered them after noticing lots of folks had their ads on their scooters, and took some time to zoom to South Boston to check out the store and pick up a replacement visor for my helmet.  Everyone working there is not only genuinely helpful and knowledgeable, but it has a small business feel and it's the kind of place you feel good patronizing.  In stark contrast to the mediocre service I consistently get at the Vespa joint in Allston, these folks really appreciate their customers and establishment.

It's definitely a rite of passage to have a crappy experience with Pat's Tow when you move to Cambridge/Somerville.  Although I don't at all doubt some of the lousy things people have to say I have a story from a different perspective.  I was in a vespa accident a few days ago and had to be scraped up by an ambulance while I was going SOMEONE MOVE MY BIKE OUT OF THE ROAD HOLY FRAKKING OUCH WHERES MY KEYS O NOES.  A police officer met me at the ER and left me a Pat's towing receipt so I knew where my ride was.  I called Pat's when I got out of the hospital to figure out what  was up and the guy was really nice to me once he ascertained that I didn't have an attitude problem.  I reclaimed my ride for $110 (plus $20 per day I'd left it there).  For all the times you don't want Pat's around, when you actually need them to know where your vehicle is if something like this has happened, you can appreciate them.

Standolyn Robertson is a Certified Professional Organizer.  You may have seen her on the A&E series Hoarders assisting people with chronic disorganization, cluttering, and hoarding disorders.  I hired her to help me clean and organize my ridiculous bedroom, which looked like a fourteen year old boy lived there instead of a thirty year old woman.  I have been a slob since I was a kid, and for the new year I needed a fresh start and a way to learn how to determine a 'home' for objects and an organizational methodology that I could maintain.  Standolyn is brilliant at what she does.  This isn't a housekeeping service.  In a four hour session, Standolyn helped me sort, organize, and put away my five hundred black tee shirts and assorted detritus and when she left, FOUR HOURS LATER, my bedroom was 'grown-up' for the first time in my entire life.  She helped me categorize and decide and develop a plan that worked just right for me.  I was so happy with what we accomplished.  Professional Organizing is where housekeeping ends and therapy begins, and I would recommend Things In Place to anyone that needs help figuring out their clutter, no matter how seemingly minor.  Truthfully, I couldn't ever have accomplished this on my own (I have tried over and over again) and if I believed in blessings I'd certainly say that Ms. Standolyn was an absolute blessing to my secular heart and home. 5+ stars.