Leighann "Like Rimes, if that helps you" F.'s Profile

Though we hardly need an excuse to get together and enjoy a few drinks, the fourth edition of Thirsty Thursday brought up a very good point:

Yelpers love a good reason to gather at a bar, mix and mingle with old and new friends, and check out a great local place to toss some beer, wine or cocktails down the old hatch.

Constructed, fabricated and elegantly pulled of by the lovely Miss Kat V, Thirsty Thursday is gaining momentum, drawing a crowd of about 30 yelpers to Green Street on Thursday night for a few hours of commiseration with some really cool peeps. Tonight, we congratulated Ben K on his grad school success, welcomed Ben L back from Japan and discussed, of course, the newest of restaurant/bar openings: Lord Hobo & Woodward Tavern.

Looking forward to more tipsy evenings with the Thirsty Thursday crew!

For fear of being subjected to the humiliating feeling of opening my mouth too soon, I've put off reviewing my zipping experiences. After several rentals, with minimal issues, excellent customer service and so much convenience it's hard to believe, I feel confident that my experiences are the norm and not the exception. Please Zip Car, don't let me down.

Though I often have trouble locating exactly where the cars are (sometimes the address is vague or, in one case, wrong), my car has, without fail, always been there. And, in relatively good shape. Normal use, normal bits of dust on the floor from shoes or, once, an empty coffee in the cup holder...but nothing I would categorize as unacceptable or dirty.

Each time, the car has been gassed up and ready to go, save for a missing parking card--but that was easily remedied by the nice attendant at the garage who let me pass with no questions. In my last experience, my pristine Prius was making a terrible beeping sound and I couldn't figure out why! The customer service team was friendly and helpful and we eventually determined it was because the parking break was on! Panicking, I couldn't find it...because someone had kicked the pad off of it and it was hidden back beneath the underside of the steering wheel, looking like a random metal piece with no purpose. The person in customer service was helpful and patient--without her, I would have drove myself nuts trying to quell the beeping.

So maybe it's a few more bucks than Hertz. But, it comes with gas AND insurance AND I don't have to go to the airport to get it. Once you tack all that onto the rental price, it all evens out. And if paying a few extra Washingtons to for a whole lot of convenience makes sense to you, then give Zip Car a whirl. My favorite part? You get to pick your car. And this is how I found the Toyota Prius, the car with which I fell immediately in love and will one day own. But that's a review for another day.

Buena Vista Bistro really pairs it down--and focuses on what's important for a lady who likes to brunch:

Fantastic, inexpensive food
Chill, non-invasive service
Relaxed atmosphere

First, the food here is totally satisfying and totally cheap. $5 for a giant serving of french toast?! With or without raisins, that is a ridiculous deal!

Second, the awesomely tattooed man who both greeted us at the door AND acted as our server was attentive but not intrusive, and pleasantly soft-spoken. Though this was one instance where a hangover at brunch was NOT present, these qualities are greatly appreciated in such situations.

Third, no one is hustling and bustling up in here. The conversations are low, the pace is slow and the music is audible, but not conversation killing. The basic black-and-white paint job with framed photos is easy on the eyes, while the patio provides a little sunshine if you're in the market for al fresco.

On the brunch approval scale, this joint clearly hits the mark.

Bread. Cheese. Prosciutto. These are three things I would like to have with me if I were stranded on a desert island(slash)would save from a burning building(slash)could live solely off of for the rest of my life. Imagine my delight in finding all three of these unlikely scenarios satisfied in one low-key Pizza joint in Miami's Design District.

For a quick snack after a long plane ride (with delays, of course!), I opted for the mozzarella bar, choosing an order of bufala mozzarella with tomatoes and prosciutto and a side of garlic bread. So simple, yet so gratifying, the large portion sated me beyond expectations with fresh tomatoes and soft mozzarella atop a plentiful garden of of arugula and spinach. I could have done with a wee bit less balsamic, but the garlic bread completely distracted me. Imagine a pizza, with no sauce or cheese, smothered in butter and garlic, with just the slightest char. Or imagine carb heaven. Either will work.

I know what you're thinking. How could it possibly get better than this? I will tell you how: They serve Coca-Cola with REAL Sugar.

Clearly this corner shop offers up more than just gelato, but my experience here is rooted solely in that creamy, cool refreshing Italian treat.

After dinner, a walk along Ocean Drive warranted something sweet, and a dish of this is what my palate longed for in the evening warmth. Offering up ten fresh flavors to mix and match, Fresh on 5th caters to all tastes and the price, well, that's what you pay for chilly desserts served up at waterfront property in the one of the hottest cities in the country.

Fresh? Absolutely! Plentiful? Not so much. While my salad was crisp and the dressing was really tasty, there were a total of six teeny tiny shrimp on top, making the entire meal just a box full of lettuce with half an avocado and two bites of shrimp.

The strawberry lemonade made my afternoon, though. A delightful balance of sweet and sour, made with fresh strawberries and just the right amount of lemon and sugar.

The consumption of a really good sandwich is a beautiful thing. Fresh bread, perfectly proportioned ingredients all in one hand-held meal. Unfortunately, this is not one of those lunch moments. A Cuban cafe in Miami that actually makes a sub-par Cuban sandwich? Until today, I didn't think that was possible.

Ordering takeout from David's, I was disappointed in the construction and general quality of the sandwich. The bread was a little soggy and not even pressed or toasted. The ham was super-thick and there was entirely too much of it, while the pulled pork was literally flavorless. Though the pickles were crisp, their abundance completely overpowered the miniscule amount of mustard on the sandwich.

In summation, if you're looking for a Cuban Sandwich, this is not the place to go.

Every now and then, an establishment surprises me and actually lives up to the adjective that it has bestowed upon itself. In this case: BIG. The portions at this place are itis-inducing large, from the overstuffed sandwiches to a lunch option that encompasses all that is naptastic about Thanksgiving in one neat plastic delivery box.

For delivery, I ordered a BLT with avocado on whole wheat, chips and a bottled root beer, and I was not disappointed. Plenty of fresh avocado, sprouts, tomato and loads of crispy, juicy bacon. The pickle on the side, however, did not tickle me at all! Flacid and flavorless, I took one bite and tossed the rest!

Despite what you've heard, when it comes to some things, size DOES matter, and Big Pink will satisfy even the most voracious of appetites.

Though some say it's unfair to review something based upon its comparison to another, in the case of airports, exceptions (and even encouragements) are considered, for lining these massive transport hubs up and ticking off the pros and cons is the only responsible thing to do for our fellow travelers.

I, for one, travel quite a bit. Mostly domestic, but a smattering of international fares have become a part of my repertoire, and I have flown into many airports. Smelly airports (Philly), disorganized airports (Heathrow), airports with stupid long lines to retrieve your baggage (Miami), airports with ridiculous shuttle cars to get from one side to the other in nothing but an untimely fashion (Washing ton DC, Dulles), airports with constant delays (Philly), airports that lose your luggage (LA) and airports that are just a plain clusterfuck (JFK).

Considering the above, and the consistency I've experienced at Logan, I am thankful to live in a city with a very decent airport with, (from my experience) minimal delays, friendly employees (for the most part) and plenty of US and world-wide direct destinations. Though improvements could always be made (better food choices in the United terminal) Logan is an airport I feel I can count on, and have, for reliable service and clean restrooms and a fairly logical, easy-to-comprehend signage system for internal navigation.

Just don't ask me how to get here in a timely manner. That, you'll have to pray for!

For general consistency and a better broth than I originally considered, Le's gets another star from me. The service is always friendly and quick, and for around $7, you cannot find a better, more filling lunch in Harvard.