Chris "Don't Call Me Christy" D.'s Profile

I am a Chinese food addict, which is strange given I was raised in an Italian family where Chinese was something we did maybe twice a year. If I go much more than a few weeks without having it, I become very, very unhappy with my surroundings. So having said that, imagine the desire... nay, need... to find my "go to" Chinese restaurant after moving to Seattle.

Golden City is not that place.  The food was overly greasy (I actually prefer it to have *some* grease) and each dish was a slightly different shade of the same color. It seemed like all the ingredients were just a bit past their prime; something confirmed when I uncovered the dish after one night the in the fridge (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Maybe it's just me, but I prefer my food not end up as a brown, muddled mass of mush 24 hours after cooking.

Blech.

We have since moved out of the area, but I felt it worthwhile to say the folks at Stream Valley are not only great at what they do, but they also seem to truly care about the animals. In addition to regular veterinary duties, we had an aging cat go through a battle with skin cancer (I didn't even know cats could get that!) while under Dr Cory's care and we have absolutely zero complaints about anything.

Everyone at Stream Valley was honest, straight forward, sympathetic and... perhaps most important of all... didn't appear to bullshit us at any point along the way. I respect anyone who doesn't take advantage of those in a compromised situation. The best news? They gave our cat 12-18 without opting in to the aggressive, multi-thousand dollar treatment... that was 28 months ago and he's still kickin'. I'm okay with them being wrong, just this once.

I remember two things about Rostas.

1) A central PA incarnation of The Captain and Tennille singing lounge-style covers in the bar.

2) Bacon cheese fries (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)

Actually, I remember three things... the third thing was an evening of good conversation with a great friend. I think there may have also been beer, but that weekend is such a blur I can't remember what was real and what I've since imagined. I'm glad we were able to visit his hometown and sample some of the local greasiness.

Let me guess... you're going to see the Thunderbirds and you are trying to find a place to have dinner beforehand? Don your jersey, join dozens of your fellow fans at Mama's, enjoy a few cocktails and eat predictably satisfying Italian chain food. I can't recommend Mama Stortini's as a destination restaurant, but if my previous sentence describes you then by all means.

The portions are massive.
The fish is unctuous.
The beer is cold.
The owners are friendly.
The prices are reasonable.

Simply put, the best sushi I've had in the United States.

Period.

The simple fact I'm able to write this review means Skydive Orange did their job. Granted I broke both my ankles due to a bad landing, but I can't really fault them for that. Can I? That 20 page waiver I signed said I couldn't, so I can't. Legally. I keed. I keed. I didn't break anything... except maybe the air speed record of awesome!

Your experience, and the video if you buy one, will be very dependent on the people you jump with. I don't know enough to recommend anyone, just know there are some VERY different personality types and they have a big impact on the "feel" of your jump. I think they can be a bit laid back at times, but that's likely a function of them being crazy (and comfortable) enough to jump out of a plane 10 times a day.

Wanna jump out of a plane? Visit Skydive Orange.

"That's a pretty fuc#&!$ good hamburger. I don't know if it's worth thirty dollars but it's pretty fuc#&!$ good." To paraphrase Vincent Vega.

So, I had a $30 hamburger. I wasn't going to order it, but a bit of peer pressure from the bartender and I succumbed like the food slut I am. I know, I'm easy. I was going to go for the $15 one, however the promise of foie gras AND short rib on a half pound of cow was more than I could handle. I have a hard time paying twice that for a HAMBURGER, but I figured I only live once so I went for it. You know what? It wasn't worth $30. It *might* have been worth $20 had they cooked it medium, as I ordered it, instead of well done. Yeah, that's it. A $20 properly cooked burger would be damn near fantastic.

Other highlights included $2 Tecates for Cinco De Mayo and $5 "Beer and a Shot." They also have a decent selection of absinthe, although they were missing half of it and managed to serve us one that didn't louche at all. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but you don't serve it if it doesn't.

A good restaurant, but I'm not sure I'd go were it not for the happy hour specials.

I love hockey. I love hockey so much I used to attend anywhere from 10-20 games a year of an NHL team I didn't give two poops about because it was a way to see hockey live. My heart lies with football, but when it comes to watching sports live, there really is nothing better than hockey. Don't argue with me, just accept it.

So, it comes with high praise that I say attending a Seattle Thunderbirds game takes everything great about live hockey and turns it up to 11. The crowd is extremely passionate about their team and just plain rowdy. The action is fast and super close. Best of all, the tickets are reasonably priced.

I just wish it wasn't a 40 minute drive from my house. If they were closer, I would seriously consider paying the $20 per game for season tickets against the glass. AGAINST THE GLASS. On second thought, maybe it's good they're that far away.

Boo Silvertips!

It's kinda impossible to find, if you don't know where to look. They don't deliver. The pizza can take forever. Yet, it's still the best pizza in Loudoun County. Hands down. Mangia! Mangia!

Color me both surprised and impressed.

When I heard we were meeting friends of a friend at a pub in Capitol Hill, I thought for sure we were in for a crappy meal sitting alongside a bunch of kiddies trying entirely too hard not to be trying anything at all. I was certain we were going to be too old, not cool enough or a multiplication of both. Come to find out, there's a great eatery that even grown ups will enjoy in the heart of Trendy Town.

Make no mistake, there is no shortage of beautiful people at Quinn's. Whether it be sport jackets with logo tees, atypical colored loafers or oversized glasses, it's here. The good news is you're in Seattle, which means no one really gives a crap if you show up looking like you just came off a three day bender in Reno, Nevada. Smile, have a good time and you'll do just fine.

Then there's the food. I can't remember the last time I had a hard time picking from the five things I *really* wanted to order. I ended up going with the foie gras and bone marrow "small plates," leaving the beef tartare, braised oxtail and pig face nuggets for another visit. Hey, I'm watching my figure. Both dishes were an excellent specimen of their respective classes and wifey's pork terrine thingy was equally as delicious. I was well and truly caught off guard by how good the menu and food was.

I docked a star for two reasons. The first is it was so freaking loud, you couldn't hold a conversation with someone two seats away. I don't expect any different given what it is and where it is, but I'm starting to get to an age where that gets old after two hours. The second reason is the detached and seeming overworked staff. Our waitress was nice enough, but she seemed befuddled and inconvenienced when I asked for her opinion before ordering.

Oh! Oh! They have Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly on tap! Rejoice!