Thao L.'s Profile

What the hell would a vegetarian eat at a Sushi restaurant?  What the hell was I doing at Rise in the first place?  I was attending a NAAAP networking event.  After I blabbered away, I took some time to check out what they had to offer for my tummy.

I had the tomato tofu soup, avocado roll, and agedashi tofu.  My favorite dish was agedashi tofu.  The sauce was like homemade with dashi stock or something. Like OMG really?  I dig the environment and lighting.  The service was very professional, my waiter was very accommodating and I even tipped the bartender even though I had water to drink, hardy har har.  Rise also validates your parking ticket, if you parked at the deck across the street.

I couldn't really say much because their selection was limited for my vegetarian stomach but the service was dope and so was the atmosphere.  Take your dates here to bask in the ambiance of Rise, after strolling around the streets of Atlanta!

After lunching at L'Thai, I wanted to explore what this whole West Village was about.  Will it die like Smyrna Village or will it survive the economy? So, I'm walking around, peeking my head in and out.  It's not at full occupancy.  I stumbled into Goodness Grocery.

They had a great selection of basic food items on my grocery list, I loved their minimalist space.  

It was straight to the point, small and friendly but practical.  The service was excellent and genuine.  They've been in business for 18 months.  GG had everything I needed without taking a trip to Whole Foods or to multiple grocery stores, with the exception of produce but I didn't expect that either.

I was able to buy items like Justin's almond butter, organic marinara, neem toothpaste, and other misc. items.  The prices were about the same as Whole Foods but its location was convenient for me right now.  They have a vast selection of supplements, and health/beauty products-definitely going to hit that up next time.  Support your local health foods store!

Nom, nom, nom. For lunch, I had the Pineapple Curry Fried Rice with Tofu.  It was shaped like a huge indigenous mound on my plate.  The trees in season were dried onions, 2 mm curry balls (How do you keep curry spice in a ball?), cashew nuts, and a side of pickled cucumbers, onions and such.  The Tofu was on some Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon shindig.  I attacked the mound and lo, and behold, lightly fried tofu with spices!

Let's not forget the comforting coconut soup with Tofu, it was not overtly saturated with Kafir Lime Leaves.  It was heavenly.  The service was impeccable, she was aware of my needs!  The waitress asked if I needed a box for my food-I had a cup of rice left.  I'm against wasting food, or perhaps it's because we're both Asian?

Everything is Organic!  How awesome is that?  I'm definitely coming back.  L'Thai West is located in a mixed development use complex.  You have business people lunching and people who live there, but as with all new development in a transient city, who knows how long it will last.  Let's hope it does!  Cheers to L'Thai!

Oh my darling Isabella, her nine lives have been saved here.  Her pearly white shine and 137,000 + miles with malfunctioning organs come here to become resurrected when I was a poor undergraduate student.  Oh, wait I'm still poor and I still bring my vehicle here.

I've gotten the best price in town for a catalytic converter.  At first my oxygen sensors were failing, I did a little research and so did the shop.  I ran my car a little further in hopes that it would turn off.  They told me it was fine until the check engine light comes back on again.  I wasn't prepared to buy a brand new spanking catty, but in due time, it was due.  She had her operation.

Isabella was running well until the check engine light came back on, it was the catalytic converter again!  Well, I took it back to the shop and they were willing to replace it.  How awesome is that?!  Who does that?!  Well, Fast Lane does!

I come here for my oil changes because I'm lazy and I don't have a strong arm or tools or time to do my own oil change. I've been coming to this shop for 2 years now, for every little symptom my Isabella has.  They allow you, the consumer, to make informative decisions and they won't charge you an arm and a leg.

The shop is locally owned with two Infiniti automotive specialists but they work on all cars.  The owner was an automotive repair manager in a Infiniti dealership prior to opening up his own shop.  You will not be conned but do try to be informative and ask questions!  They are friendly and very knowledgeable.

As an alumni of GSU and self-proclaimed inner gypsy, this radio station allows my insides to get down.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week, the day I escaped from my mother's uterus and also for the following music shows!

From the website (http://www2.gsu.edu/~w...),

6PM-8PM:   Georgia Music Show

The Georgia Music Show is a look into all things local. This show has been on the air since the 1970s and continues to be an Atlanta staple. The show features new music and old favorites. The "GMS" has spotlighted bands live on the air through out the years and artists seek out the exposure a performance on the Georgia Music Show can bring. Hosted by Tyler Atomic

8PM-10PM:  Hush Hush

Hush Hush brings you nothing but the best in Hip Hop instrumentals for the M.C.'s in all of us. Featuring some of the best DJ's Atlanta has to offer, including DJ Sky, DJ Fudge and DJ Hardcastle. Hosted by Jasmine, Hush Hush is hereto help you get over hump day with instrumentals to nod your head to for hip hop heads and anyone who just likes good music. Hosted by Jasmine.

10PM-12AM:   Beatscape Lounge

The Beatscape Lounge is a forward looking musical program, which features lounge and electronica. Lounge incorporates elements of jazz, Brazilian bossa nova rhythms, a retro 1960s modern breezy atmosphere with a touch of electronica, kitsch and tight production techniques. The electronica on the Beatscape Lounge is progressive and varies from dark to down tempo to glitch to playful.

If you attend GSU, do stop by for goodies!  They have a basket near the door with posters, stickers, and cds.

WRAS rocks!

I'm sold, I really do love Flick!  Jenna is the Scorpio rising in my natal chart as Cherita was the Sun in Gemini.  She was detail oriented when she carved layers out of my hair, the 10 lbs. of dead skin cells covering my scalp.  Her quiet nature made me sound like Inspector Gadget blabber mouth, she reminds me of me when I have go to dinner with 30 people.

It took three hours, I was a student model after all, but it was amazers!  The owner evaluated every strand of hair being used. My head was pushed and held at different angles to get the perfect haircut.  The ADHD child in me wanted to get up and leave,  I can't sit still, let alone hold my head at different angles.

I got a corporate/hipster/whatever label you want to insert here haircut.  My is thick and it has natural waves.  Jenna removed the 10lbs of dead skin cells, I got awesome layers.  The new 5lbs. of dead skin cells will not require any blowdrying, just love and Aveda products.  Most of the time, I just let it wildly exist but now this tamed mane can play ninja star in the professional world.

I've had notorious inner outcries against the people who touch my hair, but this place has been kind to me.  The energy is amazing in their space.  The women here really know what they are doing.  I've been searching for you, Flick Hair Studio, for twenty four years of my life and now, I've found you.  I'm home.

YOUR EXPERIENCE AT GSU IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!

I had a memorable time at GSU, I spent the majority of my time studying in the library, volunteering, and working outside of campus.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry.  I was able to land a job upon graduation within a month. Unplanned.  I formed meaningful networks with professors, students, and other alumni.   You really have to put yourself out there, if you want what GSU has to offer.  I've met wonderful business owners who were always willing and able to hook me up with more food and to share conversations with me.  I made contacts in the Registrar's office, making the scheduling process a lot easier.  I visited my advisors and I kept track of what I was doing. I used the opportunities given to me!

ACADEMIA:  Georgia State is a Tier 4 school.  You do get what you pay for.  It's a State school afterall!  Yet, I had the best professors who prepared me for my pharmacy school application process-I was accepted and I did not attend.  The professors in the Biology Department come from the UC (University of California) system, Penn State, China, India, Brazil, and so on.  Professors are people, some are apathetic and some aren't.  What can you do about that?  Research them.  You are paying for their services.  Email them before the semester starts, come sit in their office and pick their brains.  Time is essential, but if you're willing to put the leg work in then you'll be better off in the semester.

SPACE:  GSU is in the middle of downtown Atlanta.  Remember that.  You are going to be faced with parking, traffic, crazy lunatics, and stupid situations but you have to be ready.  It's not even as vast as NYC.  With parking, schedule your courses around 8:00 a.m. to find parking at Turner Field or schedule them later on during the day so you don't have to worry about traffic.  If you don't want to pay 5.00 or take the shuttle, then why are you even at GSU?  Parking and all the nuances of being in a city is apart of your life at GSU.  Know when the Braves are playing so you can avoid traffic and other parking hassles.  Never walk alone if you're a female at night and always be aware of your surroundings.  As for registration issues, be nice to the people who handle your schedule changes or requests, they hold a lot of power in what you can get or not.  Reach out the businessmen and businesswomen sitting around the parks you bypass or restaurants, you never know what opportunities you'll gain from making small talk.  

MY PERSONAL SUMMARY:  I chose to attend GSU for its tuition rate, urban dynamic, and diversity.  My other choice was UGA.  It was a great fit for me, I learned a lot and I was able to have every experience/internship to forecast what Biology could do for me upon graduation.  I personally believe anyone can thrive anywhere depending on their desire to achieve.

The Good:

The food was great.  I ordered the following (I don't know their names from the menu): Fried Green Beans, Spicy Potatoes, Ceviche, Empanadas, and to drink, Confusion.  Everything was seasoned to perfection and hot when served.  Our waitress was very accommodating to our group of 30.  Water and drinks were consistent, she did not miss a beat on a crowded Saturday evening.

The Bad:

The high ceilings amplified the live music and crowd.  You could not have a decent conversation.  Our food arrived sporadically.  The decor is very sterile compared to the one on Miami Circle.  Imagine a rectangular space with paintings on three walls, and some randomly lit snowflakes.  It was absolutely saturated with bodies to the building's max capacity.  The band was within arms length from one table, somehow people started to dance and that table's night was ruined.  They had to move!

The Fugly:

It was congested and the atmosphere felt like Eclipse Di Luna was trying to squeeze as much people in to make a profit.  Tables were scattered everywhere.  There was not enough leg room or elbow room to walk to your table, let alone leave your table.  Saturdays seem to be cougar and cheetah nights.  Be aware young souls!

When all else fails at 2-4 a.m. in the morning, Taco Cabana to the rescue!  I am a fan of quality food and getting the job done.  The place is somewhat dirty but there's a free salsa bar.  There are monsters and frightening characters through the night but Taco Cabana can make it alright.

When I get the munchies, the ones that munch on and on throughout the night, this is my spot for Nachos and Tacos.  They have Jarrito's and non-alcoholic sangria, they have beer too.

Taco Cabana gets the job done, it's fast and edible.  I'm a fan in regards to the convenience factor, do check this spot out for nachos and thangs.  I mean come on, one has to get sick of Waffle House, IHOP, and any other 24-hr spot sometimes.

I think Thai of Austell really does have a monopoly in West Cobb.  I am willing to pay for this expensive Thai food because it is made fresh to order and they really do use the finest ingredients, of course no one beats Thai of Norcross but this place sure does come close.  

Their Thai tea is not too sweet, just right and the serving is plenty-no refills though. One cannot go wrong with Chicken Satay, and most recently I've tried the Potato Puff.  It has sweet potato and regular potatoes sauteed in spices then wrapped in a fried Thai pancake. Yumm!

I've tried all of their curries, Pineapple curry fried rice, Pad Thai, and Cashew Chicken-everything was delicious!

Their lunch prices are a bit better than dinner, you can get entrees with salad, soup or spring roll for $6.95.  Main dinner entree dishes range from $9.95 and up, you do get a bigger portion too.  As for the salads, not so much.

I love the quality and care in their food.  It's a mom and pop shop, a bit small but well worth your money.