Angela "SpunkyGidget" B.'s Profile

These guys helped me move out in the midst of everything going chaotic around me.

I called and they came the next day, a lovely woman packed my kitchen up while the guys got me moved from my apartment (hallways, stairs galore!) into my storage unit.

It's now four months later, and I'm embarrassed to see I forgot to review them on Yelp. Wish I had, it took me a while to remember the name of the company so I can use them again!

Recommended. Great price, thoughtful and thorough movers!

I had to abandon the coffee shop I was at when the wifi went out for the morning, and that lead me to the Central Cafe around the corner.

Central serves up Intelligentsia coffee which I know and love from LA. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, making sure your experience is as enjoyable as can possibly be.

I loved my pesto mozzarella panini and lingered longer than I needed the wifi. Be sure to check out this new neighborhood gem, it's just a little skip away! ;)

I just wanted to post an update because I finally got to hand over my new (used) car to Gerard for detailing, and I wanted to rave about the job. The car was used by a mom with two kids, and was dirtier than I had realized when I purchased it. But it was nothing Gerard couldn't handle! The interior is totally spiffy. He shampoo'ed the cream colored carpets and they look nearly new! Even parts of the car that I thought didn't look so bad before are shiny and new. It was a busy day (it had rained earlier in the week) so I just had him do the interior and a quick wash. Next week he's going to focus on my exterior and get it in tip top shape.

I'm a little embarrassed by my enthusiasm, but I have to say it feels like "my" car now, and not someone else's hand-me-down. I didn't even know how good it could look!

A note for "Melanie Q", you should try to connect with Gerard again. I'm surprised at your experience. We've all known and used G in our office for quite some time, and never have had any complaints. I'm sure he'd work with you to figure it out - though I'm surprised that anything could have gone so wrong in the first place. :(

Jim is fast and funny, and if you've got time, say hi to Chico his singing Chihuahua!

Just bring Jim your smog test DMV paper (with a bar code he scans) and he gets to work. Grab a snack and a drink at the adjoining 7-11 and when you're done, chances are he will be too!

If you have a question about whether or not your car will pass (for example, if you have a check engine light on) ask first. He'll let you know what's up, and save you the $$ running a smog test that you'll fail anyway.

Oh! And you can find $10 off coupons online, with the coupon it's $49. (Coupon: http://www.smogtips.co...)

Also, if you need to do DMV services, save time and do it through AAA. If you have AAA they'll save you a lot of time and hassle at the DMV office and do it for you. There is a AAA office right next to Jim's smog test center, that's how I found him!

Steve roasts his own beans and his girls make a proper Italian-style cappuccino. I pretty much go in every morning before work, and when I'm lucky I get to linger and work from there until the last possible moment of needing to go into the office.

They get their pastries fresh each morning and I love the yummy scones and blueberry muffins. When you're inside you can forget the strip mall by the highway exterior and enjoy little bit of espresso cafe ambiance complete with the wafting aroma of fresh roasting beans.

While you're there, don't forget to pick up a bag of freshly roasted and ground beans for your French press at home!

I walked in and liked the San Francisco vibe, reminiscent of Four Barrel. There's free wifi, outlets, and our espresso drinks were good. I only wish it were closer to where I live!

My girlfriend, who was visiting from San Francisco, and I went to Urban Solace for my birthday. I fell in love with the menu immediately. They have a comprehensive list of items that made me feel like they grasp the concept of Southern food, and added just a little flair to classics.

I had fried green tomatoes as an app, and we ordered the cheese biscuits with honey butter. She had the scallops and I was entirely into my "Not your Momma's" meatloaf. Maybe the flair was a bit much on this one, but I enjoyed the lamb, feta and fig meatloaf recipe... just wish there were as many figs.

They also had a good selection of wine, and a tempting list of inspired cocktails.

A week later I returned for brunch on a Sunday and was just as happy with my Kitchen Sink Sausage & Eggs with biscuits, and my companion had the cheesy mac & cheese. Both were delicious and reasonably priced.

Yummy, yummy, yummy!

My friend took me in as this is his favorite coffee shop. I loved the house-style atmosphere, and though it was a rainy, we were able to take up seats at the bar on the front porch.

My cappuccino was good, and I loved the Greek eggs (they came with a bialy!). My friends are fans of the quiche and salad combo.

This place seemed like a good place to come and chill out and get some work done, coffee-shop style.

I've been to the Coffee Cup twice now, and have loved it both times. It's a tiny cafe with the kitchen in the corner and a lovely happy hip atmosphere. I've dropped in mid-week and haven't had to wait. Both times I've succumbed to the blackberry banana pancakes adding two eggs and bacon for a little extra. They are delicious! My pal had the rosemary dish, and added chicken apple sausage, which he also devoured.

The Coffee Cup is a charming place with charming staff, and delicious food. It reminds me of the cafe's I miss in San Francisco.

Oh, I also was able to pick up free wifi, but it wasn't offered by the cafe.

A Microsoftie for six years, I have lived in both Seattle, and Bellevue, and now have moved away from both the empire and the city, to San Francisco and San Diego, respectively.

Today, I found myself marooned in Bellevue waiting on friends to meet between lunch and dinner. I wandered through the Bravern (um, a little shelter from the rain might have been nice?!) and spotted the Artisanal. I couldn't help but run over (okay, it was a gracefully paced walk) to ascertain if this was indeed the one, and the same, as the place I adore in New York City?!

Indeed it is. So for those who'd like to be a little more in the know, Artisanal is the best French brasserie in New York City. This is where I took my French lover for his birthday this past year. (Yes, I've been to Jean George's assorted restaurants.) He loved the experience, and felt right at home. He was also impressed with their wine selection, and the extraordinary cheese cave.

While Bellevue's Artisanal doesn't have the cheese cave, nor New York City to back it up, it does have ample room for guests they will dote over, and nearly as impressive an assortment of formage and charcuterie to linger over.

My few hours spent here killing time was accompanied by attentive and charming staff, and a willingness to make sure that I was entirely comfortable in their establishment.

Perhaps I'm just drunk on fine wine and spoiled by the formage and charcuterie but I am thrilled to learn that my favorite French experience in the United States has migrated to the Pacific Northwest. Who says New York has it all?

I'll move on to the entrée's, and perhaps I'll give you an update later... but why don't you just experience for yourself?

Oh, and geeks! Listen up! Reginald has power for your laptops all around the bar. Doug is the guy to see for cheese, Carlo has your wine needs covered, and Jill is my new favorite cocktail waitress.