Carly F.'s Profile

I'm sad that Vella is gone, but I'm comfortable with the fact it's Bill Kim that moved in. The food here is great and the partnership with Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate is rad, but it's definitely no Urban Belly (otherwise I would have given it a solid 5).

I personally never notice the Blue Line noise and never have, but maybe it's just being accustomed to living in a noisy ass city. Kim's kogi melted in my mouth, but it just didn't send me into a taste bud coma like the brandy lamb dumplings or ramen at Urban Belly. Also, have to agree with James V that I'm not a fan of how the "sandwich" is not a sandwich.

BUT, the bacon chocolate chip ice cream, on the other hand, Belly Shack definitely has an edge over Urban Belly, most likely because UB doesn't have dessert to begin with, but also because it blew my mind.

I mean, before having a membership here six months ago, my ass was definitely fat. Now it's just phat. I strongly suspect a direct correlation.

Pros:
- No waits for machines
- Really clean facilities
- Awesome classes and included in the membership
- No cancellation fees. Month-to-month contract
- A lot of hotties with bodies work out at this gym. Seriously, if you dudes want to hit on me while I look like a piece of shit, I'd probably really like it.

Cons:
- Kind of expensie
- Apparently this place is bankrupt so the other location is closed now
- I don't drive, but I would imagine parking is a bitch

I've been to a few other gyms in Chicago and think that Crunch is definitely the best. It's way cheaper than FFC and I like the atmosphere a lot more. It's more expensive than Bally's, but really, you get what you pay for with that situation. I've never had to wait for a machine, it's really spacious (2 floors) and it's nice you can actually wipe down machines because when I used to be a Bally's member, it was so gross how there were never any spray bottles available ever. Plus, during summer, there's a really awesome view on the deck where you can sun bathe and love life.

Real talk: If I didn't love the burgers so much here, this would be demoted to zero stars, f'reals.

This is the type of bad customer service -- consistently, mind you -- that motivates me to not do assigned work and have to shout it out loud and proud. It's not even one server. It's like, every server. It's the "repeat offender" type of bad service that makes you spend a good portion of your meal discussing how bad the service is.

Like, when you go to Wendy's, you know what you're getting and can deal with the fact that the woman who is taking your order probably goes home at night, takes a deep hit and thinks "Is this what my life has amounted to?" You can really empathize with a person like that. But when you go to a restaurant where your server was either unfortunate enough to be named after a stripper or has carefully chosen her awful pseudonym , you can expect a notch or three above in service.

That said, as I mentioned above, I love the burgers here. The beers are really good too and not terrrrrribly over priced. But it's like, when weighing how bad your experience is vs. how good your food is, it's a real pickle, you know?

I normally wouldn't give a place 5 stars on a first try, but I was blown away not only by the coffee and atmosphere and the overall customer service. Definitely one of the few times that I haven't encountered completely disinterested and totally dick barista (with the exception of my pals at Dollop, but you guys are way too fucking far for a west sider like me).

I had one of the best and most affordable cups of coffee here and the baristas couldn't have been kinder. The owner personally made my cup, while giving an overview of their roasting process and the flavors in each blend (the Brazilian blend is totally off the hook, by the way). This is a man who knows and loves his coffee, which is something I totally respect.

Popular, but spacious enough to find a seat, it's the only cafe I've been able to find outdoor seating that caters to my dependency on a power outlet because my computer's battery is fucked and keeps me sequestered from daylight while I try to find a fucking job. Frankly, I'm shocked I hadn't come here sooner because this place is wonderful.

I'm trying desperately not to judge DC's taste in food based on my experience here because these were some of the most mediocre and overpriced tapas I've ever had. As a rule of thumb, it's typically best to avoid using enough salt in gazpacho that is the equivalent of three times the required daily intake. Same thing goes for all three tapas I ordered. Also, a little customer service would be nice. If your bartender is incapable of serving, don't have a full menu available at the bar.

This hotel sort of reminds me of a haircut I got once. It was way too trendy and immediately made me feel like I should dress nicer to match my hair. So, it's kind of like that, except this hotel is really modern and trendy that it makes me wonder what sort of standards I really hold for myself with other hotels. Man, have I had it rough. I really must have hit the jackpot with a bargain steal, because I can't imagine that rooms at this hotel typically run cheap. I honestly have no idea what was wrong with this hotel before construction because I can definitely say this is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed in -- and I stay in hotels constantly. Seriously, a two star rating? This place is not a shithole so I don't know why it got such a downgrade.

Deets on local transport: It's located just a few steps away from the Rosslyn metro stop, so getting around city center shouldn't be a problem. I actually chose this hotel mainly to be closer to DCA airport, but if you're flying out of Dulles, the Rosslyn stop has a bus that goes directly to the airport. The area itself is a bit more conducive to the business traveler, which is reflected in the prices of restaurants, but it's not a far throw from Georgetown and George Washington University if you want to find impressionable youth to corrupt.

Why are all the good hotels located in places I'd never want to stay? Were it not for a required business trip, I would probably not stay in this place nor would I pay the sky high prices. Though, this may be the case for other hotel patrons.

Located in Sterling, Virginia, the Marriott Courtyard boasts scenic views of the Dulles Town Center, its parking lot and that's pretty much it. Having stayed here on two separate occasions, I can attest that staff has always been kind and in terms of cleanliness, this hotel gets five stars for its Courtyard standard of polished furniture and wrinkle-free sheets.

So why the three stars? For the price, there are some nice amenities like Monday-Wednesday cocktail hour, giant flat screen tvs and extra perks for extended guests. But for that same price, there is a fridge without microwave, a breakfast buffet that isn't complimentary and the inconvenience of being stuck across from a mall when looking for dinner when your options are limited to the agony of $17 burgers from the Cheesecake Factory.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Your convenient location to the Broad St. Station and proximity to New York lured me in once again, Comfort Suites! However, the creepy armpit known as Newark combined with a mostly inept staff really downgraded.

Basically, don't waste your money. As a person who stays at Comfort Suites frequently, the rooms are worth the price and definitely aren't up to par with the usual company standard. Also, they like to add on really unnecessary charges.

Communication seems to be at an all time low, with three being the magic number of times you'll have to repeat yourself for any given request. For example, even if you stay there three nights and request to simply leave your car there for a little longer the next day, they will charge you a minimum of $30 and then conveniently forget that you've discussed this with them only three times. Or, when booking an appointment, they might not spell your name correctly, despite spelling it out THREE FUCKING TIMES and then overcharge you, as I learned from calling the Comfort Suites corporate line and getting my rates adjusted by a good $50.

For shame, Comfort Suites!

One of the nice parts about vacation is that you really pick up a solid amount of pub experience, and The Churchill Arms definitely stood out to me. Kind of dark, very cozy, it has great character. The amount of antique crap hanging off the walls and ceilings at this pub makes it look like you've walked into the house of your alcoholic, hoarding extended family. But, like, a really warm uncle who hands you a beer and lets you sit in his favorite chair.

Man, what's with everyone knockin' on Arturo's? For a 24-hour joint, this place definitely serves some wicked lomo. If it's a toss up between Arturo's and Lazos, I'd pick Arturo's every time. Yes, it's a dive. That's why it's a tacqueria. If you want Frontera-style Mexican food, go there. If you want to spend under $10 and eat some delicious and relatively unhealthy tacos, go to Arturo's. It's convenient to the el, it's always open and it's cheap. No fail.