Teresita "Gimme more" C.'s Profile

After my mad struggle to wrangle our blanket (too big for the dinky apartment stack up washer/dryer) into a plastic shopping bag I boarded the bus for the journey to Transformation Surprise.

I promptly walked in the wrong direction, causing an unseasonable sheen of sweat to break out on my otherwise chilled face. After getting my bearings I found the 'mat, snuggled up in a tiny row of businesses on 8th and NW Market.

What a strange, peaceful, pleasant spot. The laundry attendant greeted me with a beatific grin, no doubt due to her years of meditation and stillness practice.

The laundry is spotless, bright and snooze-inducing. After I got the blankie in the wash I settled on a cushy little chair to write down my musings and watch the dryers go round. Time faded away and I became one with the clean garments.

If two loudmouths hadn't interrupted by reverie I could have sat for hours..thanks T-Surprise, you're my new favorite hangout.

First visit-dinner, decent food (gumbo that can't compare with the real stuff in New Orleans but that's expecting a lot) good service but such a tremendous lack of light that you need a head lamp or book light to see the menu.

I get the ambiance thing, candles are sexy and everyone and everything looks better by candlelight but it makes reading the menu a nearly impossible endeavor.

Second visit-lunch, excellent visibility and a much quieter place with a slow pace and time to enjoy every bit of my food.
My friend and I shared the giant, gorgeous fruit plate before tucking into our Eggs Benedict, his with ham and mine with avocado. The Hollandaise was phenomenal, tangy and savory and so rich. I was thrilled to see that the breakfast menu is served until 2:30pm because the lunch side was not giving me any inspiration.

You should know they have breakfast happy hour from 9-11am, dishes are $6. I need to come back and get my dish on the cheap, it's worth even the $9.50 I paid at lunch.

One last thing, the music at dinner was insanely good, BRMC and Jesus and Mary Chain among others but lunch was a crazy mix of 80's stuff that made me want to scream. Show owner comment »

Alright, so maybe it takes an earth-shattering meal or major illness to get me back to yelping, but here I am.

Feeling sort of funky, and not in the George Clinton way, I searched desperately for a new GP.

I'm hoofing it these days and my new doc needed to be walking distance from our digs in Ballard.
After looking online I found a physician using the website search on the Swedish hospital website.

The office is located on Market St. in Ballard and the team there is spectacular, maybe the nicest, most efficient group I've encountered in my years of doctor visits.

From the front desk team's efficiency, to the nurse and finally my doctor (Dr. Deans-rock star) every step was effortless, prompt and courteous.

Thanks guys, for everything!

Cleanliness generally ranks high on my list of requirements for fun but since I don't intend to eat off the floor (or even from the concession counter) I can give Ultra-Star that extra star, even though it is a dirty, slovenly little theater.

Why then do I come to a theater with sticky floors and back-breaking seats? It's half nostalgia and half being a cheap ass.
I can't stand paying $8.00 or more for a matinee and FORGET about paying $10 for a night-time show, I'll skip it and go watch a band instead.

But at Ultra Star they have bargain Tuesday where almost all showings are $5.50 or $6 and the first showing of every film is also cheap, every single day.

As a bonus it's in the strangest mall I can imagine, a sad little assortment of one-of-a kind kitsch shops with the occasional recognizable anchor.

I can't help it, been coming here since I was a wee one and I still feel it's charms, though they are a bit tarnished and unsightly.

Baby, baby, I'm falling in love, falling in love again.

Yes, this yogurt is so delectable it inspires me to croon obscure 70's hits by soft rock wonders like Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds.

After the yogurt slinger suggested cake batter, which I find rather revolting, I instead opted for cinnamon, which sounded fresh and festive.

Joy of joys, the spice gods were smiling on my concoction that day because it was the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. My taste buds danced to those fine, 70's tunes bouncing around in my brain and on my tongue.

Strangely enough the chocolate malt was a less-than-enjoyable b-side, which made me a sad, sad lady. I am first and foremost a chocoholic and after that cinnamon intro I expected greatness from the other half of my cup, but none was to be found.

At first the prices seemed high but the small with toppings, of which you can choose three, was very full and satisfying and rang in just under $4, which is less than I spend at my other fro-yo hangouts.

Stay Golden, Spoon.

Goooooooooorgeous!

I mean, beyond-your-wildest dreams fabulosity.

Be forewarned that the majority of items sold here are still designer pieces, some haute couture creations that are discounted from the thousands to just hundreds, or low thousands.

I am a fashion geek. I don't dress the part due to my current economic status but I appreciate a finely made garment as much as the next blue-blooded society doyenne.

I stood in awe of a Rodarte skirt for almost ten minutes, caressing the fabric like some pervy fetishist at a PVC warehouse. It was almost the most beautiful thing I'd seen until I saw the Chloe jacket or that Prada dress.

Yet even with substantial and hefty discounts they were still around $800 lovely bones.

I am not happy that they did away with the home goods section, it was my second favorite reason for coming. I did find a few impeccable gift items and they have a great selection of Godiva, a few dollars off of the retail price.

Finally.

Finally I get my ass to Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill.

Finally I give out five stars when it seems that all the culinary world has to offer is four.

Finally, a place in San Diego that lives up to the promise of fresh seafood, a simple setting and reasonable, NO, bargain prices for top shelf grub.

The line is long but moves fast, especially at lunch when people need to get back to their collapsible-walled worlds. I imagine that they take a bite of this freshly caught goodness and feel a little less stressed, a little more satisfied with their 9-5pm.

My blackened red snapper sandwich was savory and simply dressed allowing the flavor of the fish to shine, shine on you crazy diamond.

Moms and Pops had the fish and chips, deep fried but not coated in heavy batter, served with waffle fries that require the jaws of life to separate you from their crunchy goodness.

One last thing-have someone in your party claim a table while you go up and order. The joint is jumpin' but well worth the wait.

I will admit that I thought Hana Tokyo was a front for some contraband smuggling operation.

Why else would you find a completely elegant, well-staffed and sumptuously decorated sushi bar in the middle-of-nowhere southern Arizona desert?

This restaurant would not seem out of place in NY/LA/San Diego but here it is just bananas.

We arrived for in time to catch the tail end of lunch. Freshly caught sushi chunks landed on my plate, delivered by a slew of sweet servers and sushi chefs.

The prices at lunch were so low I was embarrassed. I ordered too much food and ended up taking half of it with me. I couldn't resist trying three different things on the menu.

I still remember the crispity crunch of the veggie tempura and the sweetness of the tuna.
I wish that Hana Tokyo was here, instead of down a dirty old highway south of Tucson.

I've been lazy, absent, neglectful.

But Loving Hut, because of the blissful sustenance it gave me, shook me out of my stupor.

This food is exclamation mark good.
The pho broth was so tasty I wanted to bathe in it, on the roof, a la Leonard Cohen.
The fresh rolls were fresher than I have ever had in roll form and HUGE. Notice the cap lock here, a giant portion for under $4.00!

A recurring problem with veggie joints is baby portions. These portions are hearty and so well-priced I felt a little guilty when I got the bill. Either it's the Four Noble Truths-style wall sayings or the pristine white interior but this place makes me feel virtuous after eating.
Kind of like church, which is a direct tie-in to the guilt. See how that works?

On the way out my buddy and I snapped up a slice of vegan cheesecake for later. It was side-of-the-container-licking good. There I admit it, I licked the side of the container to obtain the last speck of raspberry topping.

I can't wait to become a regular here.
*hugs Loving Hut*

How can one adequately extol the virtues of a master stylist/colorist so skilled he turned my fright wig of a 'do into a shining mane of glory in just about an hour?

Seriously. My 'do was a don't when I stepped into Steve's little shop of glamor. I love that he is decisive about things, asks about my desires but doesn't let me get my way if it's not the absolute best thing for my hair.

And he is FAST. Lightning, "did you see that flash and was it even human?" FAST.

Granted you would never, EVER guess that you could get such a great cut and amazing color in his salon/travel agency office but it's true. Look beyond the packaging and see the gift inside. Drive from Pittsburgh to Moon Township  to get your 'do done by this man.

And if skill and an all-round lovable character weren't enough his prices are rock-bottom. That's it, you've been told. If you don't come here it's your loss Pennsylvania. So there.