Michele "with one L" D.'s Profile

Here's what you'll find useful:

1.  We have never been to Frederick and had no idea what we should see or where we should go.  We spoke to a woman working the desk and she kindly gave us a map, asked about what interested us, then pointed out a route on the map that would be good for us to walk.  Her recommendations were appreciated.

2.  The exhibits/displays are nice for learning about the history in Frederick and some of the local offerings for visitors.

3.  The mini movie theater shows a film that's about 14 minutes long and consists of 7 "segments" or topics, if you will, that provide you with a snapshot of all the wonders of Frederick.

4.  Lastly, because I've saved the best for last: they will validate three hours of parking in the parking garage closest to the visitor center (the All Saints garage).  My suggestion is to park your car in the garage, walk back over to the visitor center to have them validate it, and then head on your merry way.

Frederick is suuuuper charming; the main streets for lots of shopping and eating are Market Street and Patrick Street.  If you're looking for a little Voltaggio experience and can't get in to or afford Volt, you can always hit up Lunchbox, which is straightforward and tasty, or you might try the Wine Kitchen, which is next door to Lunchbox.

Can't wait to return when the weather warms up!

This is an affordable, well run place that is -well- worth a visit.

All soups are $3, sandwiches are $5 (two are only $4), and salads are $4.  

When we walked in, there was quite a line of people waiting to order and every table was taken.  The good thing is the seats open quickly because, thankfully, most diners are aware that their seats are needed and are kind enough to eat, linger a moment, then leave.  He ordered the Cuban sandwich and the celeriac with chicken and buttermilk dumplings, I ordered the Pilgrim and shitake mushroom soup.  

There are more people working behind the counter than you'll find at any Subway (or any sandwich shop, for that matter) that help ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.  

On to the food:  the Cuban sandwich was great!  Really good bread, the pork was very flavorful and it just tasted GOOD.  The celeriac soup, in my opinion, was lacking.  I didn't see any dumplings at all; it seemed like there were soggy croutons in the soup.  Perhaps those were supposed to be the dumplings, but if you dropped some small croutons in your soup, waited a few minutes and then scooped them out, I'd like to know if you'd consider that a dumpling.  Just sayin'.  My Pilgrim sandwich was very tasty; no skimping on the turkey at. all.  It was filling and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again.  I enjoyed the shitake mushroom soup, although I know Serious Eats dissed it in a review of theirs.  I thought the mushroom flavor was on point (you know that earthy, unique flavor shitakes have, right?) and had a touch of cream added to give it some extra flavor.

The menu can be seen here:  http://www.zagat.com/b...

The staff is attentive...we were asked a couple of times if we were enjoying our food and as soon as you finish your meal, they'll come by and scoop up your lunch plate.  

Even if I can't get into Volt any time soon, I'll at least be able to enjoy some of the Voltaggio talents by visiting Lunchbox.

And next time?  I'm totally getting the Cuban and the butternut squash soup.

I've had my eye on this place for a very long time, but we only made it for the very first time last week.  

Conveniently located in downtown Leesburg, there is a huge parking garage (free) behind the building and is connected by a walkway at ground level.  

Cute, quaint, and very cozy, this is the type of independent restaurant I'm in total favor of supporting.  We were seated immediately and presented with menus.  To our delight and surprise, we were told that on Tuesday nights, all wine flights are 9.00 each.  Their list of wine flights is quite extensive, but if you have any questions at all about what you should choose, these folks are very, very helpful in helping you make a decision.  6'5" went with a Local Flavor wine flight and I went with the Grape Unknown flight.

On to the menu.  This is the amazing part:  I think the most expensive thing on the menu that night hovered around the 20.00 mark.  Are you kidding?  I chose the espresso rubbed pork chop (came with kale & bacon, a root vegetable mash and apple chutney) and 6'5" chose Martin's beef sirloin steak (came with roasted fingerling potatoes and a green been & mushroom bake).  Our food was delicious!  My pork chop had very little fat, it wasn't over cooked at all, and the side dishes were very tasty.  What I loved the most were the portion sizes--they are just right.  They're not so small that you feel like you could have just a bite or two of something else, and they're not so huge that you feel compelled (i.e. are too weak like me to leave it alone when you know you're full) to keep on eating and clean your plate.  During the meal, we decided to order another set of wine flights.  Livin' large, right?  You know it!  I went with the Tuesday Night Flight, he went with the Roll Out the Red Carpet flight.  Drink up, it's all good.

I'm so, so glad we finally got a chance to check this place out.  Service was top notch, the food was very good and super reasonable, and parking was super easy.  I know I'll be back for future meals, and I got a sneakin' suspicion you'll see this review go up another star.

I first tried Turkish pizza in Amsterdam and up until then, I never heard of it.  After having it then, I've been craving it ever since.  This spot fixed that craving and did not disappoint at all.

Before arriving, I did my research on Chowhound.  Came up with Koylu as -the- place to go to and then looked on Yelp to see if anyone had written any reviews.  

I was at the Christmas market and had many, many tempting choices that were trying to get my attention.  Like a loyal fan, I held out for Turkish pizza and I'm so glad I did.  

If you're at Romer Square, it's about a 5 minute walk over the bridge and into Sachsenhausen.  Once on the Sachsenhausen (sp?) side of the river, its another 8-13 minute walk to Koylu.  I was freezing, so I made it quickly.

I walked in an was the only person there.  There really isn't anywhere to sit, but there is a counter you can stand at and eat your food.  I placed my order and was asked which sauce I'd like.  I knew about the garlic and yogurt sauces from Chowhound, so I went with those two.  I skipped the spicy sauce.  

It was delicious.  I drooled.  Had a foodgasm.  And then I passed out.  Not literally, but I wanted to take a nap after.

The man behind the counter was very nice to me; asked me if I enjoyed the food a couple of times and then brought me a complimentary cup of Turkish tea.

I will absolutely return.

Location:  Short drive away from FRA, probably 15 minutes.  Some places within walking distance, and there are a couple of restaurants in front of the hotel (Japanese noodle place that I have never seen open, a pizza place and another restaurant of some sort).  It's your basic Sheraton.

Cleanliness:  It's clean, tidy, public areas are kept spotless.

Wi-Fi:  It's not free unless you're above the Gold level, which I think is Platinum (I get all the levels confused with all the various hotels).  In the lobby, you can use Link by Sheraton and receive 45 min per day for free.  

Convenience:  Directly in front of the hotel is a tram--the stop name is Burostadt Niederrad.  You can take this tram right to the main train station in Frankfurt and you can take it directly to Romer Square, as well as points beyond.  It's a short ride, not more than 20 minutes if you go all the way to Romer Square.  

Fitness:  there is an indoor pool for laps and a small gym that contains cardio equipment and weight machines.

Restaurants:  have had the breakfast buffet once and thought it was good.  It's expensive, as are most hotels, but when you have great food choices nearby and a refrigerator in your room, save your money and go elsewhere.

Happy travels!

I fly all over the world and am super lucky to experience some wonderful things in a short amount of time.  I could almost do my own layover show.  This is one thing I think everyone should make time for if they find themselves in Frankfurt around Christmas.  

This honestly is as good as it gets--I don't know what could make it better.

Here's why it's 5 stars for me:

1.  It's easily accessible by a tram so you don't have to drive and park (although I've never driven in Germany, myself).  

2.  There are plenty of food choices in all different price ranges.

3.  About 95% of the vendors are selling quality products.  There's nothing more disappointing than going to a public market of some sort thinking you'll find something special when all you come across is a bunch of dime store junk.  This isn't the case here:  think hand made; hand carved; quality, quality, quality.

4.  Although cash is appreciated and preferred at most of the seller's stalls, some will take credit cards.  I found that they always said they don't take AmEx.

I arrived after flying all night and was exhausted.  When I stepped off the tram I walked into a sea of Christmas spirit--it's crazy contagious.  It was cold (light rain and snow when we landed, but had since stopped), so the first thing I went for was what I saw everyone drinking:  Gluehwein.  I didn't think I would like it, but it warmed me up and I drank it too quickly on an empty stomach.  Walked all around and made note of where I wanted to make purchases.  Settled on two sets of smokers (never saw these things before), hand carved candle holders, some Christmas candles, and a pyramid (similar to this: http://www.christkindl...).

If you get the chance, visit it and check out the unique German Christmas decorations!

Best Yelp Elite event ever; I'll even come out of retirement to write a review on this place.

There isn't a whole lot more I can say that hasn't been said already, but here is what you really should know:

For me, personally, I'm always on the lookout for a place that I can truly enjoy myself and not feel crowded.  This is exactly the kind of venue I've been looking for.  I've been to comedy clubs in the past, but I really appreciated the layout of the Riot Act.  You walk in at street level, there's a bar there for you to kill some time with, and you proceed downstairs (which are very wide) to the theater itself.  It's clean, it's spacious, and service was top notch that night.  I noticed that our server was very conscientious about not blocking our view; that's a thoughtful touch that I appreciated and took mental note of.  There isn't a bad spot in the house, the acoustics work very well, and there are large screens mounted on the walls to the left and right of the main stage.  

The best part is I really enjoyed myself and actually bookmarked their website so we could return for future shows.  Thank you, Riot Act, for opening your doors to us Yelpers and for providing a wonderful evening for us.  It was truly, truly appreciated and it made an eager to return customer out of me.

Thank you's also go out to the Yelp folks behind this event--without their time, coordination and skills behind the scenes, we wouldn't have the great events we have.  If you aren't at the Elite status, get there.  These events are the opportunities to see how much the CMs and above bend way over backwards to make the Elite community so great.  It's awesome and the best part of all of these Elite events?  For the most part, they are 100% free!!!  Freeeeeeee!  However, be advised that free means you tip well.  Realllllllly well.

I thought the Museum of Crime and Punishment was the best Elite event ever for me, but now, the Riot Act Comedy Theater is the icing on the cake.

:::4.5 stars:::

For all us east coasters that suffer from excessive heat and humidity, you'll understand why I had a dire need to sit on the water and catch some cool bay breezes.

I originally wanted to sit at a table but didn't realize how much quicker I could have been seated at a small table at the bar.  At the suggestion of the host, I took the vibrator-thingy (no, not *that* thingy) and perused the covered deck to see if there was a table I could sit at.  He said if I found a seat to my liking, to just seat myself and let the bar server know to return the device and I'd be taken off the dining room list.  Genius.  Looked around, found a table and chair immediately and was asked within minutes what I'd like to have to drink.  I ordered a glass of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc and took in the gorgeous water views.  

For dinner, I ordered a smaller portion of grilled rockfish on a skewer plus side dishes of steamed veggies and french fries.  The rockfish, one of my favorite, was delicious and so were the veggies!  French fries are sorta hard to mess up, but just for the record, they serve steak fries that are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

Service couldn't have been more attentive or professional.  The only thing I didn't like was the very, very long line that you encounter when you first walk in and how it practically crowds the entire entrance when you're trying to get out.

Drippy, gooey, messy, tasty, finger lickin, lip smackin...it's good.

I have had the 1/2 rack baby back ribs, which were fall off the bone tender.  I realize bbrs may not be the "true" test of ribs, but I was happy that their ribs were tender, meaty and full of flavor.  I have also had the chicken sandwich and I was so quick to eat it that it never had time to fall apart on me; good thing considering how much meat was stacked between the buns.  6'5" had the pulled pork sandwich and pretty much crushed it in a few bites.  

I'm no bbq expert, that's for sure, but their meats make me happy, the employees at the counter are always so friendly and are quick to offer samples, and the prices are super reasonable for the portions they serve.  I really can't ask for anything better short of making a long drive to distant places for piggy heaven.  Why do that when all I have to do is venture into Ashburn?

Hawt damn that's a big room I got!

I'm not a gambler or a big shopper, so when I go to Vegas these days it is mostly for work.  I've stayed at the Ritz Carlton, the MGM, New York, NY, and the Homewood Suites near the airport.  

The worst thing about staying in Vegas for me is how much they nickle and dime you for everything.  Want coffee in your room when you wake up and your hair is pointing in every direction it can possibly go?  Too bad, you'll have to get out of bed, make yourself presentable, get in the elevator and face the world to pay nearly 3 dollars and change for a basic cup of joe.  I'd rather have an in room coffee maker that I have to drop money in to instead.  

There is no denying the beauty and comfort of the rooms at The Palazzo and I would happily stay at this hotel again because of it.  I didn't really have much interaction with any of the employees other than when I checked in and checked out, but both experiences were pleasant.  

Situated on the far end of The Strip (near the Wynn hotel), it's about a 15 minute walk to the Bellagio if you want to eat at their buffet (hint: it is one of the best buffets in town).

Besides taking a taxi, the other way to get to the hotel is a 6.00 shuttle you can take just outside of door #8 in baggage claim at the airport.  There is a shuttle called Exec. Shuttle Service and they leave once per hour.  It will stop at The Venetian first, then stop at The Palazzo.  There are two other shuttles that can take you to the hotel (Bell Trans & Coach USA), but bear in mind those two will stop at other hotels along the way.  You can purchase a one way token (poker chip, cute) for Exec. Shuttle for 6.00 or purchase a r/t token for 12.00.  Be aware that the shuttle back to the airport -will- be making other stops and it could take as much as 30 minutes to get back to the airport.  That surprised me given the drive to the hotel from the airport was non stop.  Oh well.