Michelle "Shifting focus to basketball" S.'s Profile
DateWaltham, MA 02451
(781) 890-4262
Massachusetts American Lung Association
Category:
Community Service/Non-Profit
2 Previous Reviews:
-
1/20/2011
Happy 2011, Michelle S. fans! Please consider being awesome and sponsoring me for next month's Fight for Air Climb. I'm raising money for the American Lung Association in memory of my mother, Carol S. and climbing the 40+ stories of One Boston Place!
Here's my fundraising page: http://action.lun... -
11/5/2010 First to Review
How's it going, Michelle S. fans?! I'm so busy and so stressed that I'm about to rip my hair out...but enough of that.
Some of you vintage Michelle S. fans (vintage = 2009) probably remember when I wrote a long review talking about my mom who passed away of emphesema and how I couldn't find anything to really honor her until I saw a pamphlet for the American Lung Assocation. I wrote a review here http://www.yelp.c... And it was to raise money.
Well, earlier this year, I raised over $1,000 for the American Lung Association and hauled ass up the 52 flights of stairs of the Bank of America building in San Francisco's financial district.
And....it was so fun that I just registered to do it again in Boston. So, if you find yourself feeling super charitable, you should forgo a few adult beverages and sponsor me in 2011's Fight for Air Climb in Boston! At the risk of revealing my entire name, the link is here: http://action.lun...
I cannot eat soybean oil. Unfortunately, I have better luck finding tolerable Mexican food than I do avoiding soybean oil in Boston. And Boston's Mexican food ain't pretty, my friends. Truth.
However, Jacob Wirth fries with canola oil. Beautiful, non-harmful-to-poor-Michelle-S. canola oil. Forget the sausages and sauerkraut, no matter how authentic and German it is. And I'm mostly German. (If any of you ask how I can be German and NOT have big cans, I'll #@$%in' cut you!). It's a fried food holiday for Michelle S.!
Fish and chips really hit the spot. I originally hemmed and hawed at the $15 price tag, but I was able to make two meals out of it. The fish was pretty decent, but the fries clearly stole the show. The fries were a little on the thicker side, but not too thick. And they had a tasty crispy batter.
Half my fish and chips went home. I originally assumed I'd have to toast the @#$% out of the fries because leftover fries taste like nasty ass. But you know what? Those damn fries even tasted good when they were still cold. I didn't think that was possible.
The potato pancakes are tasty too. Their specials menu features reasonable prices for pitchers as well.
My main complaint is that the dining area is a little chaotic and crowded. They clearly do a great business, but I wonder if they could get away with one or two fewer tables. I had an awkward walk to the bathroom and feared my ass or crotch would end up in other diners' faces or plates. I know I've gained some weight since grad school, but I'm not *that* fat.
Listed in: Soy Vay. :/
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 783-2071
The Common Ground
Categories:
American (Traditional),
Bars
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
BUT, if I'm working on a mid-afternoon project and need a change of atmosphere, WiFi, and a beer, this place does the trick. When my friends and I needed a big table, four laptops, beer, and internet to work on a project, we found our productive Zen here.
Sadly for me, they fry with soybean oil. Pity too, because they make the crispy skinny fries I love so much. Also, they have this fried chicken sandwich that I'm sure is delicious. But, if you don't have dietary restrictions, the menu has an impressive variety and their prices aren't too steep.
So, if I need a break from the coffeehouses, this could be a regular stop for me.
Listed in: Soy Vay. :/
I paid a painful price.
It was totally worth it.
This pizza is on par with something you'd find on the East Coast. The margaherita pizza I had was pretty amazing. The crust! The sauce! The cheese! P:
My friends got the more "creative" options. They pretty much liked all of them. The "goomba" (sp?) with the spaghetti and meatballs on top was a little odd. The personals are big enough to share if you get a side as well. They're slightly too big to finish on your own (though I almost did).
Oh, great wine list too--especially organic/sustainable/biodynamic varieties. If you decide to bring your own bottle, the corkage fee is $10--which isn't too terrible. If I remember correctly, they offer a variety of non-alcoholic options as well.
Listed in: Pizza
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 250-8454
Lord Hobo
Categories:
Bars,
American (Traditional)
Neighborhoods: Inman Square, Kendall Square/MIT
OK, maybe it's the macaroni and cheese. I'm not sure if it's worth the $12 ($14 w bacon) since it's a small serving, but it's pretty amazing.
Some kinda steep prices, so this will only be a special treat place.
Listed in: Beating the Blue Law Blues
I'm still gonna be pissed about the bathrooms without warm water.
1 Previous Review:
-
1/17/2011
I'm going to give this an average rating. There were parts I liked and parts that made me angry.
The peking duck is delicious. We actually got two. However, the second time the duck came, the bao that came with it was formed into useless contorted shapes. Isn't the point of that stuff to be like a taco for the duck, scallions, and hoisen sauce?! Why did you give us buns in the shape of roses?! That's ridiculous.
The other dishes that came with our duck special were OK. They weren't memorable enough...which means they were niether amazing nor terrible.
The tea, on the other hand, was foul. And I usually like tea from Chinese/dim sum places.
It was all fun and games until the next morning. I woke at 5 am to be taken to the airport in order to fly back to Boston. When I woke up, I had some strange pain in my left side. I was totally exhausted; but had to talk myself out of thinking I had an appendix rupture or something. Once I finally got through security and was ready to board the cross-country plane, I figured out that the pain was serious gas. Do you know how much it sucks to want to fart and not be able to make yourself do so?! Do you know how much it sucks to want to fart, but to be stuck in the worst possible place for it--like an AIRPLANE?! I was completely miserable. I kept getting up to use the restroom throughout my flight in order to ease the pain. By the time we landed, I felt much better. Jesus, only one other meal has made me that miserable--the vegan, raw stuff from Cafe Gratitude.
Look, I'm a lady. I may do some non-lady-like things such as dropping too many f-words or talking too openly about sex...but I never talk about flatulence unless it's important to mention. This was an appropriate time.
Other than that, the bathrooms really pissed me off. Were they clean? Yes. Were they nice? Surprisingly yes. What's the problem?! Well, if you're a restaurant that's going to go through the trouble to put up a sign that tells your employess, the people who handle food, to wash their hands with HOT water after using the bathroom....MAYBE YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE HOT WATER IN THE BATHROOM!!!!!!!!!!!! !! Argh! Restaurants with disfunctional bathrooms piss me off so much! And I started lowering my standards because I got used to not seeing toilet seat covers. Argh!
But the duck was good.
You with me?
Dogwood's libations roll that way. Especially their Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. Bourbon is my poison of choice, but I know these mixed drinks can go wrong right quick. However, if you introduce a whiskey weenie (Ha! I like that!) to these imbibables, they will convert immediately. Dogwood doesn't disappoint. Additionally, they serve up Manhattans in tumblers rather than martini glasses--which means I don't spill.
Blah blah blah extensive spirits selection
Blah blah blah meat and cheese plate
Blah blah blah Bulleit Bourbon AND Rye (which actually is rather good...and I hate Rye whiskeys with all my hate)
Jesus, I write about bourbon and sex too much.
Hi John Z.!
Listed in: Whiskey and Bourbon, 510 Represent
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-2587
Bay State Foods
Categories:
Beer, Wine & Spirits,
Convenience Stores
Neighborhood: Coolidge Corner
This place really surprises me with their selections of beer, wine, and spirits. It passed my eccentric selection tests: variety of beer from Northern California, about a half dozen wines from my hometown (Livermore, CA), and my favorite bourbons (Bulleit and Buffalo Trace). The prices for the wines are reasonable and the prices for the bourbons are on par with other Boston places. (Though, if you're me, wait until after a trip to California to price bourbons....they run a good $15 a fifth less back home. Stupid blue laws).
The place even sells Mexican Coke.
However, while they have wine selections that span the globe and they have a hefty Pinot Noir selection, they didn't have any California Syrahs. That's my only (minor) quibble. That said, I still go to this one the most even though it's not the closest to my house.
NOBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing says "Welcome home" to me more than a trip to The Vine. I only this year got to see how it's grown from a near-closing has-been to a destination indie theatre.
It used to be tough to decide what to like best about this place: the thoughtful Livermore wine list (Fenestra True Red is my usual) that the staff provides generous pours into large tumblers (Get over the fact that it comes in a tumbler, people! You get more wine in the tumblers and the tumblers fit perfectly into your seat's cup holders); the extensive tap offerings and more extensive bottle offerings; the popcorn; the Zephyr menu; the variety of movies; the classics nights; the list goes on and on....
Last week, I finally learned what I love best about this theatre--watching games on the big screen. I got to watch the 49ers cream the Steelers on the big screen in a theatre filled with other rowdy 49ers fans. It was a crazy awesome time. If they're showing a game (local sports, Final Four, Superbowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, etc...), the admission is free. [Of course, that's with the understanding that you will get popcorn and beer.] If you're too mainstream to appreciate their movie selection, then do check them out for a game. I promise it's a lot of fun.
And tip the kind folks behind the counter, will you?
Listed in: Allow me to entertain you....
1 Previous Review:
-
3/7/2009
I got the cutest "Save the Date" from Lea B. and her fiance a month or so ago. Before I get into their wedding, I need a little intro for them. "Golden Girls" style.
Picture it. Bus ride going north on I-5 from Livermore to Oregon, 1998. Destination: Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Time: Shortly before Sr. Prom. Michelle S. and Lea B. are discussing who/what/should I bother of the prom. Lea B. recently started working at the Vine with a few other guys from Lea and Michelle's high school class.
Michelle S.: I don't know, why don't you go with Jesse C.?
Lea B.: Hmmm. I don't know. Maybe...
A few months later, Lea B. and Jesse C. go to Sr. Prom together.
A few months later, Michelle S. gets this phone call:
Lea B.: Michelle, Jesse and I kinda like each other.
A few (ok, nearly ten) years later:
Lea B.: *flashes diamond in my face* I'm engaged.
Michelle S.: It's about damn time! I was gonna be all, "Jesse, $#@% or get off the pot!"
A few months later, I get the sweetest "Save the Date" card. It is a photo of Jesse and Lea sitting on a park bench while eating popcorn in front of The Vine. Written on the marquis (like, actually on the marquis, not Photoshopped) were "Jesse and Lea, May 23, 2009."
How %#@$ing precious is that?!?!?!?!?!? Most wedding things make me vomit. That is the sweetest thing ever!
What? You wanted something USEFUL for the theatre?!?!?!?!? Two people meeting and falling in love while working as teenagers is not USEFUL enough for you!?!?!?!?!?
FINE!
They are actively involved with the CA Independent Film Festival, they're being in some "oldies but goodies" movies, "Sound of Music" Sing-a-long Castro Theatre Style next weekend, AND the word on the street is that they're going to try to do the Parkway thing with the pizza and beer.
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 454-8770
Victorine Valley Farms
Category:
Specialty Food
It's a pretty neat little place. (And it's certainly tiny, but they fit a lot into that tiny space). I wouldn't get everyday cooking oil here (I use a lot for cooking), but it's good for (local, independent) gifts.
25 Lists
|
"It's a simple question, Doctor. Would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs?"
- 603 Friends
- 779 Reviews
- 105 Review Updates
- 33 Firsts
- 18 Quick Tips
- 81 Fans
- 18 Local Photos
- 5 Events Submitted
- 25 Lists
-
Rating Distribution
Loading...
- View more graphs »
Review votes:
5826 Useful, 6545 Funny, and 6118 Cool
Brookline, MA
Yelping SinceJune 2007
Things I Love49ers, bacon dog cart, XKCD, lobster, Pandora, taco trucks, Chuck Taylors, Central Coast Syrahs, New England IPAs, bourbon, NPR, Green Collar Baseball, Carolina Tar Heels, post-punk, surf guitar, Ted talks, Mother Jones, Slate
Find Me Ina summer cottage on the edge where I live year-round
My HometownProposed element 116
My Blog Or WebsiteNone, I use an Etch a Sketch.
When I'm Not Yelping... Why You Should Read My ReviewsSince moving to Boston, I curse more?
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadThe New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance
My First ConcertProbably some busker at a BART station.
My Favorite MovieHarold and Maude
My Last Meal On EarthChicken and Waffles
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...My favorite movie is really "Beavis and Butthead Do America"
Most Recent DiscoveryJoan of Arc is not Noah's wife
Current CrushI'm crushing your head.
Why would I wake up early on a Saturday and race up the stairs of a skyscraper? I do it because my mom, Carol S., died from emphysema and pneumonia caused by decades of smoking. I run and raise money in her memory,
I held of registration because it's kinda up in the air whether I'm staying in Boston or moving away, but I'll at least be in Boston next weekend. So, instead of betting all your drinking money on the Patriots for the Super Bowl (and I make that comment out of jealousy because I'm a bitter 49ers fan), please set aside some to sponsor me for this event.
At the risk of revealing my entire name, you can sponsor me at this secure site here: http://ala.convio.net/...