Blake "Blake & Katrina" W.'s Profile

Seedy Business!
The negative reviews on here are a bit lengthy. But read them before signing up! I am glad I did!
So, my review is based on my interaction with them only over the phone and I am already irritated. Not a good sign.

I live in the area, so I am looking for a gym close by, I noticed briefly that the reviews for the place were not positive,something to the effect of old run down equipment, and sketchy contracts. However, I wanted to compare prices with the other gyms in the area, so I gave them a call. They said that all sales reps were busy and took my name and phone number and said they would give me a call back. Well, they did.

I explained to the woman on the phone that I am price shopping, after a few annoying questions beating around the bush and trying to make me come in or a "tour", I told her frankly I don't have time and I am price shopping before I come in.
She immediately cut to the chase and told me it would be $70 a month for two, that they have two pools, and are replacing all their old equipment with new stuff, and renovating the locker rooms AND to hurry before the rates go up with the renovations.

Sounds good, right?

Well, if you read the other reviews that price is for a 3 year contract!! And they have been making promises to update the facilities for a long time. Well, I have yet to come in to sign up, and this sales rep (her name is Madison) has called me TWICE this week already, once while I am busy at work, and once on the weekend trying to get me to come in to sign up. I never gave them permission to use my number to call at their disposal to pressure me into a 3 year contract! Next phone call is not going to be so nice. Ugh! Stay away from this place, seedy seedy seedy!

Well with 294 reviews, is there much point in writing a review?

I have eaten here twice, and I really enjoyed it this time. The menu changes with season, so it was, for the most part, an entirely new menu this time around.
We started with a garlic soup with fried garlic crisps, it was great! We also had the pan with ghee, which is always a treat. For our entrees, we had the spinach and ricotta dumplings with a garam masala sauce, which was fantastic, there were some crisped greens in there that had so much flavor and added texture. We also had the thin noodles roti, delicious, with egg, roasted cashew, thinly sliced vegetable, and a rich curry sauce. ALL of this for Only 34!!?

In Santa Cruz, it is very difficult to find a place that serves up a well-cooked meal. Note: This is one of the very very few!

Service leaves a little to be desired, the waiters are prompt and well-meaning, but a little bit cold and somewhat hasty, there were two things that I would have ordered that evening had I been given the chance.
However! I think this to be a cultural difference and not ill-intended by any means. The owner is a kind and gentle soul.

This has become my favorite record store.  A great selection of new and used LP's.  You can also get a cartridge, stylus or entire turntable there.  Great prices.  I don't know the owners name, but he's super nice and I asked him to pick out a German electronic record for me, and I ended up really digging it.  

He always has great music playing on a really nice turntable and speakers with fantastic sound.  I wish he'd setup a little stand to put album covers on that says "NOW PLAYING", so I could check out what awesome music choices he's playing for the store, without bugging him.

A+

Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Brian is a man that can be trusted and is good for his word.  If you are a first time customer, I recommend seeking him out for good, honest service.

My boyfriend and I stayed at the bed and breakfast across the street for an anniversary get away. I researched a nice place for us to have dinner, and after reading the reviews and gawking at the photos, (the photos really sell you here) I decided on this place.
I almost went for one of their prix fixe menus for two as I wanted to really go all out. It wasn't necessary and actually more cost effective for two not to. I really loved the front of the house, charming white table cloth establishment.

We started with the P.E.I mussels with fennel and pernod cream sauce. Wow! Perfection- enough said.
I went for the lasagne. Lasagne is not something I typically order at a fine Italian restaurant, but wow what a treat! Again-perfection! My boyfriend had the Tagliatelle Bolognese and he enjoyed his dish as well.

For dessert we had a brownie made with good olive oil and flaky sea salt. This was the best brownie I have ever eaten, and believe me if this changes, I will update this post! Espressos and a glass of wine each, and we left for about $100 after 20% tip.
For you neurotic types that get all worked up about customer service, our waiter was extremely polite, attentive and courteous (and it was busy).

This place has great rolls! Nice maki size, good, fair prices, AND fresh fish.
Note! There is no fried anything here, so tempura or sushi with fried ingredients are not available. Don't worry the quality is good here, and it won't be missed.
I really don't know if the owners are Japanese or Chinese, apparently quite a few reviewers here are not convinced that the couple who runs the place is Japanese.
The service is very shall we say... attentive?
Perhaps, so much so, that it border lines neurotic! Here I go...
For instance, on one occasion, the wife/owner/waitress must have been sipping a little heavily on the sake that evening, because she held us up at the end for 15 minutes talking endlessly about something I believe to do with life and relationships, and not one recognizable word! All we could do was sit there and listen without a single pause.
A request for a side of spicy mayo as usual is never appreciated and miraculously never came today. :)
I told her before I am willing to pay, but she doesn't charge me for it, and gets annoyed. I really believe this to not be an overbearing request, with a very simple solution.
Another example, they forgot to make a roll that we ordered and we brought it to their attention, no big deal, but for the remainder of the meal what ensued was nervous laughter and profuse apologies over and over again. Yeesh!

Bottom Line: Great Sushi Place and Good Prices, but not so enjoyable atmosphere.

So, I am about to embark on an adventure in home beer brewing, and having seen this place before, a good friend reminds me to stop in since it is around the corner of my house.
Today, I finally did so, the parking lot is easy to miss, if you are driving towards the ocean it is the second driveway entrance on the right and drive towards the back for parking.
I almost didn't go in because of the sign that said sewing machine repairs and all the vacuums that could be seen from the window. I ventured in almost missing a small, quite elderly lady who was hidden sitting down behind the tall counter.
I said a quick hello and told her I had never been in before, and I was looking for beer brewing equipment.  She quietly told me to head towards the back. The place was an organized mess. I passed some vacuums that looked like they had seen better days and finally found a few shelves with equipment, beer brewing books, yeast, malt, carboys, etc.
As I was scanning the beer brewing books looking for a good one to break it down for beginners, I heard a rumbling behind me getting louder only reassuring my thoughts that for sure a rat and I were about to meet face to face. After a big thud, I almost let out a big scream and quickly turned, in doing so I saw the shadow of a cat's head on the ceiling. It was hidden amongst the organized chaos and I breathed a big sigh of relief.  ("My son's cat...Bah!!", she told me.)

She then came down to talk to me about how to brew beer, the equipment, what I need and don't need, and how those heady-intellectual-beer-brewing-type-young-guys think they know it "all", but are banging on her door next week for advice. She is quite the talker, you have been forewarned.
She has a credit card machine, but I would highly recommend against it, she really really doesn't know how to use it, and will swipe your card frantically pushing buttons to make something go through..."crazy machine", as she calls it. There is an ATM at Taqueria Vallarta next door. She will make your day, stop in.
She has everything you need for your vacuum, and most if not all beer brewing equipment. 3, 5, 6 gallon carboys, fermenters, soda kegs, hoses, bottles, yeast, hops, etc.
A special lady running a special store. Good prices too.

I live the down the street from this place. I usually walk along East Cliff and loop around Portola on my evening walks, and noticed this place was finally inhabited with a cute display in the window. A boutique! I peered my nose through the window, admiring the pretty clothes on the mannequin and peered at the price tags thinking this place would have "boutique prices". To my delight, the cardigan was only $10, and hurried in the next day to grab it.  This place is great for unique tops, and hip, young summer dresses, and cardigans. It is a tiny shop, but I like it this way, you can thumb through everything in an hour, and it is very cute!
They are cash only, with limited hours usually closing around 5 p.m.. Oh, and they take checks.
Their inventory consists of jeans, skirts, all kind of tops, cardigans, dresses, shoes, and really great accessories. This place is mom and daughter owned, so I always feel good walking out of this place knowing I helped a mom-and-daughter business, love it!

Went back two days in a row to get my chile relleno burrito fix...and it was horrible both times..i got a peak at the cook, who was there on both days. So, I am taking a star down because of the disappointing decline in quality, but other items are still well-made and tasty, despite my favorite.
They have really really tasty salsa, go here on a warm day and sit outside and enjoy an affordable meal and beer in the warm sunshine.

Where's Danielle?!! Not there anymore! I guess she is cutting hair in San Jose now. If anybody knows, please message me on here!

My first hair cut at Pleasure Head Salon was yesterday by Danielle.
I love it! Since moving to Santa Cruz I have tried a lot of different salons, and no luck, one disappointing, aggravating hair cut after the other.
I really assumed the hair cut situation was dire in Santa Cruz.
Well, thanks to trusty yelp, I finally found a place!
Instead of picking who to go to from the reviews, I just booked an appointment with whomever was available. I am glad I did, because Danielle rescued my hair from my last horrendous haircut. She took a lot of time on my hair, it is a quality hair cut.  
4 out of 5 stars, because it was only my first visit.
I'll be back!

Update!!
My boyfriend and I went back again today (his second time also) to see
Danielle. Yup! She's great!  My boyfriend is surprised the time she took on giving him a good cut, he's kind of used to the places where they give men a "one-size-fits-all" cut. Danielle is great for him because she gives him a good cut, and it's only $20! So bottom line, Danielle gives high quality cuts for both men and women at a good price, I highly recommend!