Ali P.'s Profile

After having really bad diarrhea all day and spending 36 hours awake after an overnight flight from Los Angeles, I really needed some good food that wouldn't upset my stomach. So, my friend suggested Mezzanine, which she said offered fresh fare made with ingredients from surrounding farms. I'm really glad we came here because the food was absolutely delicious and there wasn't anything that was too spicy, too fried, or too heavy.

I ordered the Maryland crab cake, which sat atop a mixture of black beans, onions, and avocado. It was absolutely delicious, and wasn't deeply fried, which meant it went easy on my poor stomach that day. My friends ordered the Thai green curry and the stuffed free-range chicken, and they were both very satisfied.

The staff here are very friendly, and even though we sat in the quieter upstairs portion, we were still attended to on a frequent and regular basis. But be warned: it is rather expensive here, the seats upstairs weren't terribly comfortable, and the menu changes frequently and is therefore written on a giant blackboard, which can be hard to read for some.

Still, it was definitely a good experience, and considering that 30 minutes later the contents of my stomach were still in place, I would say Mezzanine hit the spot- and stayed there, too!

I had always wanted to go see Monticello. Even though I lived in Maryland as a kid, and even though I came back to the DC area with my 8th grade history class, I'd still never seen Monticello until I traveled to Richmond to visit a friend in medical school.

Now, this might be gross, but I had really, really, really BAD diarrhea on the way to Monticello. We had to pull over a few times so I could take care of business, and at both the visitor center and the little hut near Monticello, I had to go numerous times. But miraculously, as soon as the tour started, I  felt so much better! Was it the spirit of ol' TJ? Probably not but that would've been cool.

As for the tour itself, there are some issues. First, it is pricey for adults: about $16 to get in. Secondly, the tour guides are a bit corny. Ours never said the word "slaves" and instead said "enslaved individuals." She also referred to Thomas Jefferson's sexual affairs with his slave as "alleged," which have actually been proven as fact.

But, our tour guide did know her stuff, ranging from his inventions to details about the piano and harpsichord he kept inside. She also let us take our time, and we definitely did not feel rushed.

Compared to Mount Vernon, I feel Monticello is definitely better for adults. It's more scientific and detailed, whereas Mount Vernon is just to celebrate an American hero by glorifying everything inside. So if you are in Richmond (1 hour away by car) or Charlottsville, I would definitely recommend visiting if you haven't already done so.

This cute little market was just across the street from my friend's apartment, so I ended up coming here to grab breakfast after the next door Strawberry Street Cafe was closed.

Prices were very reasonable. My friend and I ended up getting two pastries, a coffee, and some fresh, prepared fruit for just under $12. Plus, staff were friendly, and it looked like they sold some fresh panini in the back, too.

All in all it's a cute little neighborhood market that should satisfy any sudden or last-minute needs if you're not in the mood to go to a full-scale grocery store. Since I'm from suburban LA, I love visiting places that have neighborhood markets like this one. Check it out if you're nearby!

I really looked forward to coming here after I found out my friend lives across the street! So after flying into Richmond, the first place I suggested for a much-needed breakfast was Strawberry Street Cafe.

Walking in, we saw just how packed the whole place was! Good sign, because it means it's popular with locals. We also noticed the huge religious paintings, which was kind of odd, but still, our eyes soon focused on the menus.

Since we were there for Sunday brunch, the menus were slightly different. However, the selection was a bit limited and some of the choices were pretty pricey. I ended up ordering a bagel and cream cheese, and my friends had some egg dishes.

It took about 20 minutes for our food to come, and by that point (after an overnight flight from LA), I was so tired and hungry that I'd lost my appetite. Plus, nowhere on the menu did it say the bagel would be sourdough, which was not to my liking. I did enjoy their cinnamon-glazed apples, though, and my friends liked their dishes.

I wouldn't mind returning to try the other dishes the next time I'm in town, but I'm sure there are other options in town that are just as good.

The Richmond City Hall observation deck offers the best view of the city and surrounding region. It's at the top (18th) floor of the city hall building and offers unobstructed views in all directions.

I came up here with a friend and was really impressed. To the south you can see the State Capitol, Downtown, and James River, and the other directions give you views of the rest of the city, freeways, streets, buildings, trees, and everything else the city has to offer.

The best part is that it's absolutely free! Just go into the new city hall (across from the historic one), head to the elevators, and hit "OD" for Observation Deck. It's worth a few minutes if you have some time to kill, and if you're a tourist like me, it's fun just to see the whole city.

I've come in to Planet Cookies a few times for sweets and drinks, but today was my first time having lunch there.

Overall, I have been pretty satisfied with Planet Cookies. Their desserts and sandwiches are delicious and the staff are very friendly. My only issues with this place are the pricing and the speed of service. Most of their items are a little expensive, but I guess all that just comes with the package of being a unique bakery and cafe, and not a chain. Also, most places (that charge these prices, anyways) are offering free Wi-Fi, but Planet Cookies has some catching up to do.

I like their drinks, sweets, and food, so I will come back. But just be prepared for spending a little time and for paying a little more than what you normally would for similar food at other places.

The owner of this new Shalizar in La Verne used to be the head chef of a nearby  restaurant of the same name that burned down over a decade ago. Although not Iranian, he knows Persian cuisine like the back of his hand even speaks Farsi fluently!

The new Shalizar in La Verne replaces the older Falcon's Nest restaurant that was in the same spot. However, Shalizar is better decorated, has a better menu, and gives ENORMOUS portions of hearty Persian cuisine. I just got back from having the Kashk-e Bademjan, an eggplant appetizer, and the Chicken Kabob Soltani, which came with rice and two skewers of ground and marinated chicken breasts. Being Iranian, I know what good Persian cuisine is, and Shalizar has got it down! Admittedly, Persian food can be expensive, but the prices here seem to be within reason, if not lower than what you'd normally find at the many similar restaurants of West LA.

Look for the restaurant in the small shopping center on the north side of Foothill Boulevard across from Towne Center Drive, opposite the Shell gas station.

Tlaquepaque is worth visiting just so you can impress your friends when you finally learn how to pronounce it. Yes, there are very cute shops and restaurants inside (like Oak Creek Brewery and Secret Garden Cafe) but overall the center was much smaller than I had expected, and most of the stores were very pricey.

It is, however, very beautiful and definitely deserves a stop for pictures. You'll most likely see people strolling about, a few artists painting random scenes, and nice public art. If you have some time and money, stay for a bite, otherwise head on to Uptown where there's a much larger selection of shopping and dining for every budget.

There aren't many typical "touristy" sites in Sedona, but Chapel of the Holy Cross is definitely worth visiting. It's a little chapel built into the rock. From the top, you'll get excellent views of Sedona and the red rocks in all directions. Best of all, it's free, but a small donation wouldn't hurt.

Visiting in the morning seemed to be best because the angle of the sun really highlighted the colors of the rocks. I'm not religious at all, but this was definitely worth a look.

It was our last day in Sedona and after my friend mentioned their 101 omelettes, I knew we had to come to Coffee Pot before we left.

First off, their menu is a bit overwhelming to the point that you can very easily get lost and just end up picking something at random. But if you do pay close attention, there is a method to the madness, one that led me to ordering the number 47 omelette: egg, cheese, mushroom, onion, and tomato. All in all, it wasn't bad at all, but the veggies tasted a bit raw, especially the tomatoes and onions. The biscuit was very delicious, but I can't say the same about the grits.

Be warned, the parking situation here is horrendous. But if you really do want a unique experience, it  is still worth popping in to see just how crowded it gets inside, and just how many omelette combinations one restaurant can come up with!