Christina "The Enabler" G.'s Profile

The first thing you need to know about this place: It's a mall kisosk. So if you're squeamish about being on public display while having hair ripped from your face with a piece of string, this is not going to be the place for you. The booth was unattended when I arrived, and after waiting a few minutes, I called the number listed. I asked if I could make an appointment for that afternoon, but the person I spoke with said it wasn't necessary, and the girl who was working today should be by shortly. She did show up a bit later, but another woman beat me to the brow station. After a quick five minutes, she was done, and I took a seat. There are several chairs (though only one person working on this particular day), and they are pretty cushy, and recline. My brow work was quick, but a little less precise (and a little more expensive) than my experience in Cary; one of my brows lost a little shape. But she didn't over-thread, and was adept maneuvering the thread. As this is a closer drive than Cary, I'm likely to return.

The epitome of a hidden gem, Taste is hiding in a rundown-looking building in a ghost-town strip. Inside, it couldn't be cozier! The once tea-house has been converted into a warm restaurant with fresh flowers in the windows, and drink specials in chalk above the bar. They serve a tapas menu, that I wish was a little more diverse. Still, I ordered 3 items, and a cheese plate, and was pretty pleased with everything.

Grilled Flatbread -- the chicken was too dry, which detracted from an otherwise tasty dish. I kept thinking a little truffle oil might have helped.

Shrimp Wontons -- sometimes something like this comes off tasting no better than frozen dumplings. Not the case here. Very well put together, and stuffed full.

Beef Slider -- melt-in-your-mouth beef. And your choice of cheese. I got the chevre, and it was close to magical.

Cheese Plate: I opted for saint nectair, pleasant ridge, and stilton. The saint nectair is wonderful. The plate came drizzled with balsamic (which I wish had been confined away from the cheese), and a few blueberries. They should toss in some crostini and apple slices, in my opinion. Maybe a dollop of local honey.

They seem to specialize in martinis, so I made my first drink a sparkling grapefruit-tini. I thought it would be refreshing, and have fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. But it's more of a martini with grapefruit bitters, and a splash of bubbles. Not bad, just not what I was expecting. For my second drink, I chose a glass off the wine list -- reasonably priced selections.

On a Thursday night, they were surprisingly lively. Let's keep it that way! I want to come back for the brunch menu...

A brightly lit, well-organized vintage store that has some housewares and crafts as well. I was pulled in by the fun window displays of vintage dresses, but enjoyed browsing racks of those (some -- like flapper frocks -- brilliantly available for rent or purchase!), as well as oddities like little cloth troll dolls, and antique-y Victorian furnishings. One of the best things, in my opinion, is the shoe selection. Several pairs of awesome cowboy boots. Lots of '40s-era pumps in pretty good condition. I spotted a pair of Emilio Pucci pumps in near-perfect condition priced at just $64! Size 6, damn you, fate!! I had a Cinderella moment trying to cram my foot into them. To no avail. But I did land a cute pale smoke-blue pair of slingbacks for $12. Definitely a fun spot to browse through when walking through DT Greensboro.

This cute store calls to you from the sidewalk with a little mounted birdhouse spouting a steady stream of bubbles. The inside is just as fresh... lots of beautiful displays, mostly jewelry, some candles, cards, and scents. And a handful of frocks. A couple of furniture items for sale, along with housewares. And a back room with kids clothes and locally made stuffed toys. Didn't find anything I couldn't live without today, but would stop again to browse or gift-give.

I've been looking forward to a pedicure to treat my feet all week. But I don't think I've :ever: had a more disappointing spa experience! Ladies... brace yourselves... there was NO. FOOT MASSAGE. Weep with me...

Sadly, that was just the cardinal sin to top many dislikes. This makes only my 3rd one-star review (out of 1,200), and I still hate to write it, but this pedicure was unbearably bad. And perhaps they can grow from some constructive criticism.

First, park near the theatre. Blue Diamond is located in the building on that end of Northgate. They have used lots of windows and mirrors to brighten up a mall space, and the effect is pretty pleasant. I filled out some paperwork on arrival, and was served a beverage. They came out later to tell me the nail tech was running late. Luckily, I wasn't in a hurry; but my appointment didn't start until 20 minutes after my reserved time.

The pedi station is upstairs on a little loft. Just one chair -- and it's an oldie, not a goodie. One of the ones that just vibrates continually. At an upscale spa, I really do expect the more modern shiatsu roller-ball chairs. I was left alone while my feet soaked. When the tech returned, she removed my old polish and pumiced the soles. That was probably the best part.. she used good pressure and scrubbed hard to wear down some mean calluses. She also offered some advice on how to upkeep between visits. However: there was NO cuticle trimming or pushing. From there, she did a sugar or salt scrub -- 5-second application. No joke. Rinsed that off. And then slathered a mask on my lower legs and feet. She departed for it to take effect for about 10 minutes. Returned. Rinsed it off. Applied a warm towel for a bit. And put my feet in flops. I repeat: NO FOOT MASSAGE. At this point I was devastated. But figured, at least my nails would be tailored for the weekend's events.

After the application of polish, we walked downstairs to where the drying station is. The chair AND the station are on wheels, so sliding in and out without smudging proved challenging! The dryer is a standalone plug-in one. I waited until it was time to check out, paid the piper -- $40! -- and walked to my car where I could closely inspect the job. This was the breaking point from 2- to 1-star for me: My nails are uneven, no shaping at all was done. And the paint job is terrible! One big toe is gloopy. One pinkie toe is bare, missing a whole patch of polish. Yet, polish was left where it's not supposed to be: on my cuticles and the skin near my nails.

To pay a steep $40 (plus a generous tip) for this was insulting. I've paid less for the same quantity of topical treatments, plus a lengthy rub-down, and perfect polish job, at many standard nail salons. When you visit a spa, you are paying to be pampered in a posh way, with expert care. And sadly, they completely missed the mark today. I'd hoped this would serve as a nearby retreat for me (rather than driving into South Durham); but am not sure I'd be willing to test-drive a facial or full-body massage after today's let-down. :(

I'm told, well-groomed fields if you're playing. But from a spectator's perspective, they seem pretty great too: well-lit fields, and bleachers with good viewing for games. Parking is on the grassy expanse outside of the fields, and never a problem, though you do you have to pay for access. The stadium has standard 'ballgame' food fare; personally, I'd love to see more of a local beer selection. But all in all, it's an affordable -- and enjoyable -- date- or family night

I am all about brunch all day, any day, every day. So this place piqued my interest when it opened recently. Given the menu, I expected it to resemble a diner. And was surprised to be greeted by a hostess, and surrounded by Tuscan orange walls and olive green chair upholstery. It's made to feel like the warmly decorated kitchen in your aunt's home.

Since I was dining alone, I opted for the bar, and was very pleased with my service there. Patient, friendly, johnny-on-the-spot with water refills. I was a little disappointed in the breakfast selection -- the menu is definitely quite large, but most of the dishes are (rightfully so, given the business name) eggs, so omelets & scrambles are the main focus. That said, there's quite a variety within those offerings... from the traditional to low-country to coastal creations. And they offer sandwiches and other fare as well.

I chose The Works omelet -- that's mushrooms, bacon, and sausage, topped with cheese. It was quite stuffed, and so filling, I could only conquer half. A touch salty for me... probably from the meats. The side of hashbrown potatoes was basic but yummy. The dish comes with an English muffin, but they subbed it for a biscuit for me, at no charge.

I had to join an online conference room for work at 2, and was pleased to see they have wifi, and it's strong. The meeting was delayed, and didn't start until 2:15. Twenty minutes later, as they were counting down their register, I remembered they closed at 2! So nice to not have kicked me out.

To be honest, because of its proximity, varied menu, and the fact it's locally owned, I would choose Elmo's over this. But if craving brunch, and ambiance a little more "restaurant" than "diner," this would fit the bill. By the way, they don't do reservations; but they do accommodate call-ahead seating.

One of my faves for First Friday! Always a good variety in the gallery from art-art to practical pieces like stationery. And though I guess the label for some of this is "low-brow" art, the truth is that it's affordable, attainable, and often fun. Strikes me as a great option for local gifts!

I was supposed to meet my cousin and his fiance for dinner at Taste... but I showed up at Oryx instead. The senility -- it happened sooner than expected.

Anyhow, I decided to make the most of my misadventure. Started things off with one of my favorite cocktails, a French 75. I'm not exaggerating when I say: It was awful. I was surprised to see it served on ice, and even more surprised that it came in a Collins glass with a straw. Traditionally, this drink comes in a flute or martini glass, which helps the flow of bubbles. And uh, with no straw. Appearance aside, the ratio of lemon juice was far too great. It tasted like sour mix. After a few sips, I went to the bar and asked the bartender if she wouldn't mind topping it off with more prosecco. She did so, and added a bit more sugar for good measure. I was pleased that she tried to help doctor it, but there wasn't much that could save the drink. On the other hand, my husband really enjoyed his Manhattan -- so much so, he ordered two! For my second drink, I decided to try the white sangria... the menu describes it as having lots of fruit -- raspberries, cherries, among others. I noticed it wasn't pre-mixed; but it also didn't come with raspberries. Still, it was very enjoyable, and not too sweet.

On to the food! We started with a crab cake -- it's plenty large for 2 to share. Don't be frightened off by the pickled jalapenos in the description; they're diced small, and hardly noticeable. Loved that this was more crab than other stuff, and the pepperjack sauce it comes with is generous and delicious. Phil opted for the mushroom masala steak. I wanted to order the sweet potato ravioli, but sadly, though on the menu, they are no longer making it. Our waitress told us this was because it's more of a winter item. Though seeing as how it's nearly summer, I do wish they'd replaced it with something else! I made a quick decision, and ordered the scallop risotto. It arrived with four jumbo scallops, that were cooked well, but not tough. Topped with an apricot chutney that was interesting, but sparse. The risotto itself was made with fennel. I thought the dish had an understated quality to it, showing a chef's expert restraint.

The dessert however left much to be desired. There were three options, and we chose the one we found most intriguing -- a baklava with strawberry and "black pepper" pastry creme, berry coulis, and kiwi. We were served two large triangles of this dessert; the phyllo dough was flaky, but not light & layered like you would expect of baklava. The pastry creme felt heavy... the texture thick, the flavor flat (sadly, I couldn't detect the black pepper). And no sign of kiwi! We didn't bring it up, but the waitress mentioned that desserts have not been their strong point; however, Oryx will be introducing a variety of cheesecakes in the coming weeks, that she's very excited about.

Our service was great -- personable and helpful. And I do like the ambiance -- intimate spot with club-chic accents. Aside from the four-top tables and VIP room with bench seating, there are some high-top tables -- but the chairs don't have backs. So I'd recommend reservations.

PS) The bathrooms alone are 5 stars. Seriously. Gorgeous. Beautiful teal tiled floor and walls, subtly iridescent wallpaper, vessel sinks, rare-and-appreciated fully private bathroom stalls. Thanks, Oryx, for caring about the details!

A girl can never have too many dresses. And apparently, the Triangle can never have too many Bevellos! This is the third location in the area, and compares favorably although smaller. It has a good focus on statement accessories, like the Cameron Village store, but also a nice mix of cocktail and casual, like the Chapel Hill store. Hudson and True Religion jeans, luxe yoga-wear, alongside BCBG and max and cleo. After feeling completely overwhelmed by the noise, crowds, and disarray in Crabtree stores like Forever XXI and H&M, I was happy to stumble across Bevello -- a cozy boutique that stands out with quality garments in a range of prices, and friendly sales associates to boot.