http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/Brooklyn77 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:20:36 GMT Reviews by Brooklyn77 http://www.viewpoints.com/Jailhouse-Inn-Newport-RI-review-58f8 My husband and I stayed at the Jailhouse Inn in Newport, RI for one night in October (2007).  The Jailhouse Inn is located in 'downtown' Newport, RI - so you are able to walk to plenty of dining options, bars, shopping (novelty and chain) and theaters.  The Inn is a restored Jailhouse - while there are some signs of the building's historic intent, it's not totally over-the-top 'jailhouse' themed (a good thing).  — Our room was very comfortable - and quite large.  We had a sitting area with a sofa and television as well as a bedroom with a television and personal air-conditioning unit that worked quite well.  The bathroom was fine.  While the room was very comfortable, it certainly was not 'luxurious.'  We received complementary 'snacks' like Kashi bars and the most WONDERFUL hot cider I've ever had.  — My take on the Jailhouse Inn is that it's a great place to stay in Newport, RI at a wonderful price, but it's not amazing or... Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:20:36 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Jailhouse-Inn-Newport-RI-review-58f8 Brooklyn77 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Gault-Montreal-Quebec-review-405e1 While Montreal left a little to be desired, I found the Hotel Gault to be an amazing urban oasis.  The Gault is housed in a beautifully restored building in the heart of 'Old Montreal.'  There are 30 'loft-style' rooms to chose from.  (We were really amazed by the sheer size of our room - it was enormous.)  The rooms are outfitted with all of the modern standards - TV, DVD/CD, stereo - and the furniture selection will appeal to any design-consious minimalist.  Something my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed was the ability to keep the French windows open while we slept.  — — A great amenity is the free breakfast - one can enjoy it in the dining room or in the confines for their room.  (The breakfast selection is robust - not just your standard 'continental choices.')  While the hotel bar is relatively small, we did enjoy several cocktails and some mixed nuts - a great place to be just to take in some of the art -... Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:56:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Gault-Montreal-Quebec-review-405e1 Brooklyn77 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Morrill-Mansion-Portland-ME-review-f90c0 I am not a 'Bed & Breakfast' person, but the Morrill Mansion has totally changed my opion of 'B&Bs.'  This 1800s era townhouse has been meticulously restored to its original Italianate elegance.  Architectural details, that make the Morrill Mansion Bed & Breakfast unique, have been restored and modern amenities have been added to make your stay in Portland comfortable.  — We stayed in the McGuire - a nice room with a small fridge, television, DVD player and a very comfortable bed.  The room was a corner room, so we got plenty of fresh air - a nice, light breeze running through our quarters.  The house was stocked with DVDs, board-games, magazines - and treats like fresh cookies and chips.  The rooms in the house were all very private and we didn't hear a peep from other guests.  The rooms are very reasonably priced - between $90-$200.  I believe we paid a little over $100.  — The Morrill Mansion in Portland, ME is a charming... Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:39:13 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Morrill-Mansion-Portland-ME-review-f90c0 Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Millennium-Knickerbocker-Hotel-Chicago-Chicago-IL-review-ac7d The Knickerbocker, located in downtown Chicago, is a historic hotel that actually delivers.  Classic style and gracious service have been the trademark of this elegant hotel since 1927.  This was apparent when, after checking-in and finding our room, we were startled by a knock on the door from management, asking us if we wanted to upgrade to a suite.  My husband and I travel often, and that's the first/only time that has happened.  I also think, relative to other historic hotels in Chicago, the Knickerbocker has been able to keep rooms up-to-date while paying homage to its rich history. — The Knicerkbocker is located at the gateway to Chicago's "Magnificent Mile" - it's one block from Water Tower Place, steps from Rush Street's legendary dining and nightlife and within walking distance of most major attractions, the hotel offers the personalized service and attention not found in most other larger hotels. — — The hotel features The Martini Bar... Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:16:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Millennium-Knickerbocker-Hotel-Chicago-Chicago-IL-review-ac7d Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Museum-of-Useful-Things-review-5fe8 The Museum of Useful things is not only a real museum (in Cambridge, MA), but a great online source for...well...uh...useful things.  — The offering of products are bucketed into four areas:  House & Home, Personal Use, Office & Home Office and Organize.  They have around 70 products total which I think is great because obviously everything is hand selected.  It's refreshing to find an online store that isn't totally overwhelming, brimming with some good products, some bad products.  While some of their products have a distinctly retro look, others are 100% minimalist.  They have something for everyone - from can openers to staplers to storage bins. — I love this site because everything is very simple, utilitarian and well made.  Based on quality/standards, the items are reasonably priced.   Standard shipping rates and practices apply.  —... Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:51:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Museum-of-Useful-Things-review-5fe8 Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Vacancy-review-d362 Vacancy is the scariest movie I've seen in some time - perhaps ever.  And if you plan on staying in a roadside motel anytime soon, I would steer clear of this terrifying movie. — Vacancy is the story of a couple - played nicely by Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson - in the last phases of their relationship.  After some car trouble, they decide the only thing to do is to check into a dumpy roadside motel.  Soon after entering their Honeymoon suite, Luke Wilson's character finds snuff tapes - and even more horrifying, they all have been shot in their room.  The rest of the film is a fast-paced cat-and-mouse game with a killer ending.  Frank Whaley is dynamite as the bad guy.  — Vacancy is stylishly subtle and very well-paced.  I didn't have a problem with its run time of less than an hour and half - as a matter of fact, I thought that made the move even more terrifying (nothing worse than a long drawn-out horror/thriller flick).... Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:57:31 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Vacancy-review-d362 Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Funny-Games-review-cd610 I think Michael Haneke, director of Funny Games, is as brilliant as he is twisted.  Funny Games is a German film that is currently being made into an American film - by Haneke - so I thought I might write about the original before everyone goes to see the American version. — General plot:  A family is settling into their lakeside vacation home when a young man comes to the door asking to borrow eggs.  Immediately, you can tell something isn't quite right.  The young man asking for eggs is wearing a pair of white, plastic gloves - a creepy image, for sure.  The mother/wife is alone in the house while her husband and son are off swimming and deals with the man asking for eggs.  A friend soon joins the gentleman asking for eggs, and when the husband and son return, the pair takes the family hostage.  The two young gentleman begin to play sadistic games with the family for the rest of the film.  Without spoiling anything, it's pretty... Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:34:18 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Funny-Games-review-cd610 Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Denver-Marriott-South-at-Park-Meadows-Littleton-CO--100600-review-37e3 I'm definitely not a huge fan of the Marriott chain.  However, if you are in Littleton, Colorado for business, the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows is decent - it's everything you would anticipate in a Marriott. — The location is essentially in the middle of a bustling suburban area.  I would highly recommend renting a car while in Colorado - particularly outside of Denver - since things are relatively spread out.  They have a large lot and parking is free.  The lobby is quite nice and there are areas to sit and visit/or work.  The staff was very sweet, but didn't appear to be very area knowledgeable.  My room was clean but the air didn't work as well as I would have liked it to.  (I was visiting in July when Denver tends to be very warm, so the air was an issue.)  There wasn't anything particularly stand-outish about the room, but they did have white linens, comforters and pillows, which is always a plus.  One really cool... Sat, 04 Aug 2007 20:05:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Denver-Marriott-South-at-Park-Meadows-Littleton-CO--100600-review-37e3 Brooklyn77 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Crust-Chicago-IL-review-c0f9 Crust is the first and only pizzeria that's certified organic in the Midwest, and just one of four restaurants with that claim in the US.  Crust is located in Chicago's Wicker Park area and is a very convenient visit for my husband and I, but probably would not be for most tourists.  — Crust specializes in flat-breads - just like pizzas, but flatter? - I really have no idea why they don't just call them pizzas.  They have about 10 different custom pizzas.  We've had three of the pizzas thus far.  Two of them were so-so - the Mexicali and the Pepprocini.  The best of the bunch was the BLT.  Their salads are excellent and they have a 'living salad bar' that they utilize for ingredients.  All of the listed beers, wines and liquors are 100% organic certified.  They have a wide variety of custom cocktails and I would highly recommend the grapefruit mojito.  Overall I would rate the food 6.5 out of 10.  It's not the... Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:37:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Crust-Chicago-IL-review-c0f9 Brooklyn77 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dwell-At-Home-in-the-Modern-World-review-d158 One of my top three magazines is Dwell.  Their tag-line is "At Home in the Modern World," which does a fairly nice job of summing up the book.  As a clarifying note, one of the most recent Editor's Note explored "At Home in the Modern World" and was very clear to explain that Dwell isn't composed entirely in the 'expected and fashionable modern style.'  It's far more about sustainability - utilizing modern materials that are more eco-friendly or renovating something that is old; leveraging past and current materials better, wiser.  Most importantly, one's shelter is about exploring personal style, being comfortable with who you are and reflecting that in one's nest(s).  I think it's important to note all of this, otherwise, at first glance, their will be confusion regarding what Dwell is about.  Net/net, it's very assessable. — Dwell always starts out with an intriguing litany of letters that range from mostly positive to occasionally... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:19:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dwell-At-Home-in-the-Modern-World-review-d158 Brooklyn77 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Project-Playlist-review-25cf If you are a nerd like me and have MySpace and/or Facebook profiles, check out www.projectplaylist.com.  It is a really cool site that can musically enhance your profile.  Even if you don't partake in such pop culture phenomena as MS and FB, you can put lists together utilizing Project Playlist's gigantic catalog of music, creating personal play-lists, housing them on PPL.  Another cool feature is the ability to browse other play-lists.  Once you've identified someone who has similar musical tastes, you can tap into some of their stuff you may not be familiar with.  There are also blogs and community forums of discussion. — The site is extremely easy to use.  Essentially, you start by creating a profile - which is free and takes several minutes.  Then you can begin making your play-lists.  Each play-list holds about 70 songs and you can make as many different play-lists as you want.  You can not download the songs for free, but you... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:55:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Project-Playlist-review-25cf Brooklyn77 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Quartino-Ristorante-Chicago-IL-review-621d While I'm recommending this restaurant, I would be somewhat hesitant to go back (just given the extensive number of dining choices in Chicago).  — My favorite aspect of this restaurant was definitely the decor.  Quartino is reminiscent of a traditional Italian cafe and I found the ambiance very comfortable.  The interior design is somewhat in conflict with the exterior (from the outside it just looks like a large, chain-y restaurant). The location is in tourist central, making it quite convenient for visitors. — The concept is smaller plates to share.  I typically like that, but some of the prepared foods were just not meant to be shared on smaller plates (risotto, gnocchi).  I found the process of choosing foods to share a little painful, taxing.  The service suggests that 1-2 plates per person works, but because there are so many different food sub-categories - pizza, carpaccio, salads, pasta & risotto, fondue, soups,... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:14:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Quartino-Ristorante-Chicago-IL-review-621d Brooklyn77 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Hannahs-Bretzel-Chicago-IL-review-e5ae Top-line:  Hannah's Bretzel is my favorite sandwich spot in downtown Chicago.  HB is all about fresh and natural foods, with a focus on whole grains. — Manta = Get Organic, Get Whole Grain & Get Green:  HB utilizes nearly all organic products, so the prices are a bit higher, but you can really taste the difference (relative to other more 'mass' lunch spots like Corner Bakery and Cosi).  HB is really big on whole grains and the health benefits that come from eating them.  They utilize Barley, Spelt, Wheat, Rye, Millet, Kamut and Oat in their bread products.  For those of you scared of healthier products (like my mother), don't let any of what was posted above dissuade you - bottom-line is that the sandwiches are amazing.  — Menus:  My favorite sandwich is the blackforest ham - but they have about 10 different kinds of sandwiches.  Each sandwich comes with a side - homemade chips, grilled veggies or almonds.  Soup... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:50:46 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Hannahs-Bretzel-Chicago-IL-review-e5ae Brooklyn77 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sheraton-Yankee-Trader-Ft-Lauderdale-FL-review-5613 I think I may just hate Sheratons in general, so perhaps I should stop staying at them.  I'm typically visiting Sheratons on business, so avoiding them is difficult.  And, I believe they are relatively inexpensive, so for families, the Sheraton might work - but if you're traveling to Ft. Lauderdale and looking for something a bit more special, I would suggest looking for an alternative to the Yankee Trader. — The Yankee Trader hotel looks quite nice from a distance, but the two-building design is really quite bizarre (when I was there, renovations were being made and I imagine that renovations are ongoing given the age of the hotel).  We had to trek across some strange bridge connecting the two buildings (check-in was in one, our room in the other).  This minor inconvenience somehow really annoyed a 'tired-of-traveling' me.  — From an amenities standpoint, while the hotel is ocean front with easy beach access, I found the pool area to be too small... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:02:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sheraton-Yankee-Trader-Ft-Lauderdale-FL-review-5613 Brooklyn77 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Cadieux-Cafe-Detroit-MI-review-6bf4 For those living in the Detroit-metro area or planning a visit, I would highly recommend the Cadieux Cafe, a classic Belgium haunt.  Teetering on the edge of Detroit and Grosse Pointe, dumpy looking from a distance (and definitely situated in a sketchy neighborhood), one might drive (quickly) by - so, hopefully this review will inspire more people to check it out.  — The Cadieux Cafe has been owned by the same family since the '60s. Since its days as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, the Cadieux Cafe has been a social hub for metro Detroit's Belgian population. Flemish culture flourishes at the Cadieux, which is or has been the unofficial headquarters for an array of clubs promoting pastimes from across the pond, including pigeon racing, archery, bicycling, darts and, of course, feather bowling. The highlight of Cadieux Cafe is definitely feather bowling - but make sure to make reservations WAY in advance (weekends may even require year-in-advance... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:16:25 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Cadieux-Cafe-Detroit-MI-review-6bf4 Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Ice-Storm-review-c6e1 I so vividly remember going to see 'The Ice Storm.'  I was in New York City.  It was October 1997.  A friend and I decided on 'The Ice Storm.'  A movie I will never forget.  Just a wonderful depiction of the 1970s and suburban life. — The film is directed by Ang Lee ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' 'The Hulk,' 'Brokeback Mountain.').  It features so many amazing actors:  Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tobey Maquire, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Adam Hann-Byrd and Katie Holmes.  Rick Moody is one of the two writers.  So, we have a powerhouse of talent from the get-go. — 'The Ice Storm' is a film that's hard to describe.  Part suburban deconstruction, part societal interpretation.  It's a movie you will hate discussing because it's too perfect to discuss.  It's got it all.  Dealing with affairs, young love, drug abuse, death and everything in between.  I highly recommend this film to... Fri, 03 Aug 2007 02:08:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Ice-Storm-review-c6e1 Brooklyn77 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Tretorn-Tretorn-Shoes-review-c92d As a kid, I loved sneakers.  I was definitely into Converse high-tops as a little grammar school tot - had some outrageous colors and designs.  Then I graduated to Tretorns in junior high.  Most people I meet have not heard of Tretorns.  Tretorns were a preppy requisite in the late 80s.  And a few years ago, I started seeing them advertised again (in Dwell magazine, my modern living guidebook).  Then I saw them popping up at Puma outlet stores (I believe Puma bought the company).  I was jazzed. — At any rate, Tretorn is alive and kicking and better then ever.  While their more traditional prepster shoe was definitely on the plain side - typically white with a smallish, sometimes colored - sometimes plaid - 'swooshy' type logo, their new shoes are really unique (see pictures I've selected).  They carry standard sneakers, more interestingly designed kicks, slips ons/garden shoes and rubber boots.  They have both men's, women's and... Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:58:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Tretorn-Tretorn-Shoes-review-c92d Brooklyn77 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/W-Mexico-City-Mexico-City-Mexico-review-ef35 As you will note, the only 'con' I could find was the cold room service soup.  And please let me say that I like my soup nearly boiling, so it's never right when I order it out.  The W Mexico City is exactly what a W should be - well designed, detail consious and accommodating as heck.  — The W Mexico City is located in the very charmign Polanco neighborhood, where shops (think standard 'nice area' shops - Tiffany, Lacoste, Zenga, etc.), galleries, restaurants and nightlife are plentiful.  We started our stay with a pleasant check-in.  The lobby is great, not too big, not too small - with a bar handy for any immediate cocktail needs.  The room was huge (we had the 'spectacular room') - particularly for an urban area such as Mexico city - there was a small sofa/sitting area.  The bathroom was really cool with a huge 'rainforest shower/space' and hammock.  (Some of the rooms come with tubs, ours did... Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:52:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/W-Mexico-City-Mexico-City-Mexico-review-ef35 Brooklyn77 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sheraton-Centre-Toronto-Hotel-Toronto-ON-review-aef0 A couple of years ago when my husband and I utilized Hotwire and Priceline a lot, we ended up 'winning' our stay in the Sheraton Centre Toronto.  With all of the lovely hotels in Toronto, I would recommend NOT staying at the Sheraton.  While the Sheraton has a very central location (rental car not necessary), it's just a very large, boring place to be.  — The low-light of our stay was when all of the key cards in the hotel decided not to work.  Given that the Sheraton Centre Toronto has 1,377 guest rooms, this was not a good thing.  The lobby became very congested with families and the only conciliation was a free soda or water.  This was at night and went on from about ~9:00 - 11:30.  We decided to hang out in the hotel bar, thinking the drinks would be comped, but they were not.  From my perspective, this was a huge inconvenience to tired travelers and all food/drinks should have been complimentary.  — Aside from that... Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:26:25 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sheraton-Centre-Toronto-Hotel-Toronto-ON-review-aef0 Brooklyn77 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Grid-Skipper-review-f1d9 Grid Skipper describes its site as:  Gridskipper, the decadent urban travel guide. Scouring the globe for chic hotels, hot restaurants, sweet nightlife, and pretty people.  When it comes to vacationing, those are all of things I'm typically looking for - particularly chic hotels and hot restaurants.  Grid Skipper is a great 'off the beaten path' resource AND it's very targeted.  So either you'll love it or you'll find it highly un-useful, which I like - there's nothing worse than info-overload; niche sites trying to appeal to everyone. — Gridskipper is basically like a very well-organized blog.  You can search by top cities like Paris, New York or Berlin (to name a few) or by more obscure cities (e.g. I quickly searched Milwaukee, WI and 5 articles came up).  You can also search by date of posting OR by category (e.g. $100 per day, Sushi or Jack Baur - 3 of the many normal to odd categories to view). The Gridskipper has... Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:30:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Grid-Skipper-review-f1d9 Brooklyn77 4