Rachel "Co9 Mom" C.'s Profile

Location, location, location! Isn't that what it is all about? The real estate you select can make or break your business.

Even if the product/service is great, if you have to venture too much out of your way you probably will find another business that is a stone's throw closer to your normal flight pattern, wouldn't you? You bet! We all do that!

Well, this location of Dazbog loses one star just because it is on a terrace and you have to be a Mensa candidate to figure out how to get into it . . . but, I did so my grey matter is still functioning!

Well after months of watching this place take shape and finally open, today I decided to check it out and see if they had a drive-thru. (You see I was in my pj's and didn't want to get out of the car. Don't even ask what I was doing driving around Denver in my pj's! It's a L.O.N.G story!)

The first thing I discovered is that you need to be very good at navigating a vehicle to get to their drive up window. And second they aren't hiring the shapest tacks or possibly they need more training - yes, she was extremely friendly - but she obviously had trouble with the order for the car up ahead, had trouble taking my simple order over the speaker box, tried to charge me for 1/2 my order (I had to tell her that I was sure that it should be more), and then almost forgot to give me 1/2 the order. But she did it all with a smile!

Would I go back? Sure I will try it again. The coffee was excellent! (Latte, whole milk please!)  I probably won't order the scones again though - they were kind of like sweet biscuits and seemed a tad expensive. But, hey, the coffee was really, really good, it's on my normal flight path and, most importantly, I didn't have to get out of the car!

A Post Office is a Post Office, right? Generally they are pretty dull with long lines and not enough customer service reps, right? They are proving grounds for learning patience.

Well, the main PO on Alameda is true to reputation . . . . with one exception:

ZEKE! He's smiling, friendly and generally has the good customer service thing down pat. Even more important is that he is professional and provides service in a quick and efficient manner all the time while he is smiling and making you feel like you are the most important customer he's served today.  

Why can't all USPS customer service reps be like Zeke?

Take a number? No thanks, I'll wait for Zeke!

Le Central, a French restaurant in Denver, CO, has already received 106 reviews on YELP.

So why should I really care to add to that number?

106 reviews should be enough to tell the average diner that either many Denverites are seeking really great French food . . . . or that they have already heard that Le Central is worth a try.

Recently I was with a group of friends whose primary dining goal was to celebrate a birthday; a 21st birthday for a foreign exchange student . . . from France!

I see no sense in going into details on food and drink. All the good reviews on Yelp (which are the majority!) are spot on. Our French student confirmed our choice. The service was friendly and helpful . . . . although, as other reviewers have noted, it was a tad slowwwwww.  Too much time passed between coarses. We found ourselves twiddling our thumbs!  

I will return, but only when I am not in any hurry!  If they step up the pace, Le Central will definitely be worth FIVE STARS!

Birthday Dinner!
Spinach Manicotti!
Pumpkin Cheesecake!
. . . and  . . .
Tiramisu!
Good Italian wine . . .
(Pass on the soup & salad . . . kind of non-descript!)

Recommended by a friend!
Nice atmosphere!
Friendly family folks!

I will be returning . . . birthday or not!

In a past life I fancied myself an artist. I spent years trying a little of this and a little of that - everything from Navajo & Hopi weaving to throwing and firing Raku pottery. I even married a couple of artists - one who could create beauty in any medium and, yet to this day paints only to sell - and one who created a life sculpture that continues to inspire and, yet he only did it once and never again.

But I have always felt a kindred spirit to creation. So, after some time exploring, I finally settled on technical art, which I made my living at for a number of years. But creation, even if I'm not good at it, is in my soul. So I learned that using my hands, mixing colors, creating designs, drawing lines & circles & abstract reality makes my heart sing and calms my head.

Today I was invited to go to "Into the Fire," a paint your own pottery studio. Naturally, I scoffed. Painting greenware? I think not! No self-respecting artist would do such a thing!  But it was a very good friend who had received a gift certificate, so off we went. In the back of my mind, I was just going to watch. But when we arrived, I saw all the options, both raw and already fired, and I thought "Heck, I can do this. Piece of cake." Besides, if it turns out I will have my first Holiday gift. And, if it doesn't, no one needs to know that I fell Into the Fire!

It was therapy! I painted slip on greenware slowly and patiently. I chose my colors carefully. Careful placement of color will, hopefully, bring life to a factory made piece of greenware. In a week I will pick up my creation, but for today my head is clear and my worries have all been painted over.

It was "cheaper than therapy!"  And I am still somewhat of an artist, aren't I? Besides it was a lot of FUN!

WOW!  Unbelievable! I'm still shaking my head!

I stopped in for a bite to eat while a friend was having surgery. It was a hospital cafeteria . . . I didn't expect too much, just something to stop the tummy from growling and stick to the ribs for a little while. After all, hospital cafeterias are just big box fast food restaurants . . . no one ever expects much . . . .or so I thought!

Well, I was blown clean out of the water! Peakview Cafe is not, I repeat NOT, a normal cold, you-have-no-choice except vending machines, stark, one-of-a-hundred hospital eating establishments.

Peakview is a one-of-a-kind cafe run by Executive Chef Dan Skay. The day I dropped in I had a piece of their pizza and it was actually the BEST pizza I've had in a very long time . . . and certainly the very best I've had since moving to Denver a year ago.  Yes, in a hospital!

Just imagine  . . . . a restaurant with its own herb garden . . . in a hospital.  That begins to give you an idea of how much this Chef cares about the food he's serving. It all looked and smelled yummy.

And I will come back to try his other offerings the next time I am in this neighborhood - sick person or not.

Sundberg Family owned since 1990 this little neighborhood sports bar just feels totally comfortable, cozy and hood friendly. It is the kind of place you can drop in any day, or night, and have some of their famous wings or pizza and a pitcher of beer and watch your favorite team win or lose. Today I met friends here to watch my team - the Steelers - lose.

But, good friends, good food and friendly service made for a great afternoon even though we lost. You win some and you lose some and sometimes you are extra glad to have a neighborhood place to go with friends and beer when you need them.

Emergency Rooms. Not a place you want to be. But tonight I found myself in this one. My son injured his hand at work badly enough that it required a trip to the emergency room.

There was a lot of traffic in and out while we were there. Broken leg, labor, H1N1 Flu mask, and an assortment of other illnesses. But all seemed relatively calm. The staff seemed to be handling the fairly large turnover in a calm, collected and professional manner.

We left after only an hour and 15 minutes. Two broken bones x-rayed, taped and bound. Tomorrow the surgeon will review for possible additional work. Then a cast. And 4-6 weeks healing.

I've only been in Emergency Rooms a few times in my life. Never for me. This one seemed exceptionally calm and quiet. Maybe it was a slow night, but if I ever have to come here again, my heart won't be in my throat like it was tonight.

CRICKETS! This pet store has bigger, healthier crickets than any pet store I've found in the metropolitian area of Denver. And our gecko, Leopold, is a huge fan.

Four stars based solely on CRICKETS!

P.S.  Friendly, helpful staff too.

Pizza! It seems like such a simple thing.  Dough, tomato sauce, spices, toppings & cheese. How can you mess that up?  Well, believe me it all ain't good, and some of it is downright bad. Tonight was the first time I had pizza from Anthony's. Friends said they were the best. I trusted, I was willing to give it a try.

I've eaten pizza in Little Italy in both Manhattan and Pittsburgh . . . either of these would have put Anthony's to shame. And I would be willing to bet that Chicago can hold its own in outstanding pizza. Anthony's was just ok. Some folks must really like Anthony's because they have shops all over the Denver metro area . . . but for me, I would rather go to Little Italy in NYC.

Because my friends are so adamant that Anthony's is really good pizza, I think they deserve a 2nd chance. Maybe it was an off day. An updated review will be coming. . . I just hope this time it is better than the first time; or I see a plane flight in my future!