Chris R.'s Profile

Sugar?  Yes, sugar.  At least that's what I'm told it's made from; I haven't tasted it.  But for hair removal it's been great.  No hot mess like with waxing, and when the hair comes back it's thinner every time.

Bokhara is very professional, fast, and does excellent work.  Highly recommended!

This place is very close to home and convenient for me to grab a cup of coffee before hitting the road.  I've always been greeted promptly and the coffee is pretty good.

Today I stopped in to order a sandwich thinking it'd be a pretty basic ham & cheese deal, but I was surprised when I received it hot with some great fixins on it (sprouts, etc.).  I'll definitely be making this place a regular lunch stop.

I'd been meaning to skydive for quite some time, and after a http://Groupon.com offer last fall, I took the plunge for my birthday on November 1, 2009.  I also sprang for the photo/video package, because c'mon... how many times in your life do you get your *first* skydive?

When our tandem class began, we were greeted by Jeff who explained the process, safety equipment, etc., and then we watched the (rather dated) video.  After a short wait we were called to the gear room for our jumpsuits and harnesses.  Kyle found me about then and introduced himself as my "personal paparazzi" for the jump and interviewed me.  I'm not big on being on camera, and I mostly just wanted the skydive video and photos.  But he did such a fantastic job with the whole thing I left everything the way he filmed it.

Back to the jump... AMAZING!  After the jump while I was waiting at the small cafe for my video to finish, a guy there asked me, "so, are you ready to give up your other hobbies and non-skydiving friends and do this all of the time?"  I thought he was kidding, but more on that in a min.

In my opinion, one of the best things about Skydance is they treat even your first "just-for-fun" tandem jump as your first step in learning to become a skydiver.  You get a log book and everything from day 1.

Jump #2 was on November 15th (and the coupon you get to buy your second jump after the first is completely worth it -- highly recommend you take advantage of the deal).  The class for this jump was a shorter but added on to the first class.  I was greeted by my instructor JP, who has received less-than-favorable mention in other reviews, but for my second jump he was great.  He taught me a lot of things about the mechanics of the jump, tandem system, landing pattern, etc.  (Note: JP has since moved out of state, but he's a good guy I promise.)

Since then I've completed my AFF (advanced freefall) training, student jumps, and I'm now a licensed skydiver.  Plenty of winter weekends were spent waiting for wind or clouds to clear, and the people at Skydance have become like a second family to me... or maybe first since I see them more than my real family. :)

Skydance is a great place for just your first tandem skydive, or for learning to do it solo.  Safety is top priority here, and the staff are knowledgable, professional, and very friendly.  I love this place and I know you will, too!

IMPORTANT NOTE: I've seen some comments about how long things take. I didn't experience a long wait for my tandem jumps, but many things can delay your jump, such as other students, clouds, wind, etc.  Expect your trip here (or to any dropzone) to be a day trip.  Treat it like a picnic or something -- there's food at the cafe or bring your own, a blanket, a book, some friends, etc.  It's a beautiful place to hang out and while I hope your jump goes like clockwork, you should expect there's a chance for delay.

I love this place!  Friendly staff (mostly -- see below), good food, and Chimay on tap.  It has an authentic French cafe vibe.  If you're in search of a foreign newspaper, this place has a huge selection of daily papers from around the globe.

The service is, well, French.  If you want to get someone's attention you should let them know.  French servers will typically leave you alone unless you need something.  And they're paid to be efficient, not friendly.  I expect that here and it doesn't bother me at all (hence five stars).  If you want someones nearly-full-time attention, sit at the bar.

I find it interesting that there seem to be a lot of French-speaking clients, too.  To me that seems like looking for a TGI Friday's in Paris. :)

A great, simple, no-frills place to get your hair cut and not pay a fortune for it.  I've been twice now and I've been happy both times.

Tip: No shampooing here (no frills!), so wash the gunk out of your hair before you go.

Happened to be in the area and stopped in for a sandwich.  Great food, good prices, friendly owner.

Very cute little cafe.  I recommend the Toscano. =)

Great place for a fun Friday afternoon lunch or happy hour!  Fantastic food, beer, and lots of space out back to sit around with friends.  Parking seems to be a bit tricky, but there are plenty of side streets.

One of the best Sushi restaurants in San Diego for atmosphere and great food.  Kiyo-san himself is working behind the bar and keeping his guests entertained.

Kiyo's is located on F Street near 6th, across from the Martini Ranch.  Its location makes it a great opener to a night on the town.

Moderately priced and always excellent.  I highly recommend it!