Maren "Squid Pro Quo" P.'s Profile

I used to really like Folli Follie jewelry. I got some amazing pieces at the Folli Follie store in Hong Kong a few years ago. Beautiful quality and gorgeous. I finally went to the NYC store and was a bit disappointed. Perhaps the store in HK is different and/or perhaps the jewelry is seasonal, but the stuff at the NYC store wasn't as impressive or unique. That being said, they do have unique designs and if you're looking for a nice gift for someone under $200, this is the place to go.

Tons and tons of random stuff. A panoply of someone else's leftovers... A lot of fun to poke around in - furniture, dishes, books, clothes, you name it, you can find it. Old fur coats, shoes, hats, gloves, scarves. Random books/collections of books, dishes, Christmas decorations, etc. Last time I was there, I almost bought a set of Fu Manchu Books and a wooden jewelry box with a dog on it. But, I resisted. The amount of stuff they have to offer just goes on and on; if you're looking for a random and eclectic gift for someone, def go here! Prices are pretty good, too, ranging from very cheap to very expensive (and awesome) Henry Miller chairs.

We go here all the time for breakfast. Lots of seating area, very casual and really nice people working there. They also have a set of computers (I've never used them) as well as WiFi. I'm honestly not sure if the WiFi is free or not, but I suspect it is for anyone who is eating/drinking there. You definitely have to pay (by the minute) for the computer usage.

Their menu has lots of omelettes, frittatas, oatmeal, yogurt, bagels and other bakery items for breakfast as well as salads and sandwiches galore for lunch and beyond; great coffee and also some unique and delicious smoothies. Try the "Quetzal Frittata" or the "Turkish Breakfast" - yummy!

This is a tiny spot with only a few seats, but they have delicious chicken schwarma wraps. The service is quick and they are super nice. Late at night, a great place to grab a cheap and delicious bite to eat; the one time I went, i was the only female there, but it wasn't a big deal. I'd highly recommend getting takeout.

If it's late at night and you are jonesing for a slice, Pizza Pino is the place to go. It's pretty tasty pizza and their turnaround is fast. The crust isn't super thin, but it is on the thinner side. The tomato sauce and cheese are evenly distributed and are both on the slightly plain side.

There are a few seats to sit down if you want to eat-in, and they even have a bathroom that is tolerable. I always have just a slice of plain and haven't tried any toppings or even a whole pie. On a few occasions, I've ended up here late at night for a slice and a soda; it's one of the few places that's open late and serves slices. You'll get your usual crowd of semi-drunk people hanging in the door way and it can get crowded. But, it's well worth the wait.

Fantastic store. Lots of unique and interesting items and very helpful and friendly staff. Found the perfect engagement ring there, and they resized it perfectly. Their prices are very good/competitive and they are honest as well. They always have different items since it's from estate sales, so you never know what you're going to find. You might want to go a couple times if you're looking for something specific as the inventory can change quickly. A great place if you're looking for a unique (and non-blood diamond) engagement or wedding ring. Highly recommend!

Everyone loves this place. Or so it seems. I want to love it, but I just don't. I just like it. It's "A-OK". The food is pretty good, they have brown rice, a plus and the service is good. The restaurant itself isn't super great ambiance-wise. It's big, but it doesn't feel modern or fresh or super clean. The food is often not hot enough - we had to send our chicken dish back 3 times to get the temperature to a point where we could see steam and/or not have the insides feel cold. Bok choy with mushrooms is good and so are the "atkins-friendly" items.

This place is huge! I had no idea it was so massive. The acoustics are a bit challenging given the size and layout. But, there's a huge bar area and a reasonably sized dining area as well as an upstairs that supposedly can be used for private parties. This is mostly a place for beer-drinkers; however, they did have an assortment of decent cocktails as well as one type of bottled cider. Not sure about their wine selections. Food is pretty much tapas style and the service was quick and efficient. The food was decent; however, it seemed a bit over seasoned. A good place if you're meeting a group for drinks/snacks. Not a great place if you want to have meaningful conversation.

This is my new favorite casual food place in SF. I love the choice of brown rice or quinoa in the bowls; both the tofu curry bowl and the grilled chicken bowls are delicious, flavorful and with just the right amount of spice. Lots of prepackaged to-go stuff, too and many salads, sides and sandwiches; a bit overwhelming, actually! Not a lot of room to sit and eat, but it's okay for a quick lunch or afternoon snack. It's all supposed to be local and/or organic, and you can really taste that this is true. That being said, it isn't cheap - a rice bowl with chicken and a side of bokchoy set me back $17. Their website is chock full of ingredients and nutritional information, so you really do know what you're putting in your bod.

This is a really difficult review to write because I am a big fan of Yelp and have been to a few other Elite events that have been pretty good. Overall, they organized a great event with a lot of vendors with the potential for fun. But, I have to be honest in my review of the Unwrapped! Holiday Party...

They were not organized and ready to handle the crowds. We waited in the cold for 1.5 hours in the "Elite" line; however, at a certain point, they merged the lines together. The check-in process needed major improvements - more people, more organization, etc. Once we got in, we were so numb from the cold that it was difficult to warm up. We ended up only staying 15 minutes because it was impossible to get food or drink or to even move through the people.

Yes, it was a free event, and I was excited to go and grateful for the invite. BUT, just because something is free doesn't mean I have to suffer and/or be uncomfortable and/or be extra tolerant. When I spend my time going to an event,  I expect to be treated with the same respect as I would treat people coming to a party I was hosting. I would never let my guests stand in the cold for 1.5 hours and/or not plan to make my space easy to navigate and/or comfortable to hang out in.

The music was insanely loud, the crowd was beyond your imagination - it was impossible to move around. Lines for foods and drinks were 50 people deep as was the coat check. I had one meatball and one cupcake and a vodka drink. It was not enjoyable at all.

It might have been a great event in theory, but it was sadly impossible to enjoy it due to the lack of organization and crowd control. Next time, they need to plan better and come up with a way to keep their loyal and very patient fans happy (and warm).