http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/Matt Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:45:10 GMT Reviews by Matt http://www.viewpoints.com/Blades-of-Glory-review-60ec4 This movie is so stupid that it is side splitting funny. The premise, the acting, the one liners.  The whole package.  It is a truly un-redeeming time waster at its finest. — Will Farrell could make almost anything seem funny. —... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:45:10 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Blades-of-Glory-review-60ec4 Matt 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Twin-Anchors-Chicago-IL-review-934c5 Well, here we are on July 5th.  What else is there to do but take the family out for ribs?  We live in Lincoln Park which is a neighborhood in Chicago.  Fortunately we live within walking distance of a famous ribs joint called Twin Anchors. — For $20 you get a slab of ribs about 14 inches long. These are fall off the bone pork ribs.  I ordered mine with "Zesty Style" which means sweet, not spicy.  The ribs and the sauce were among the best I have ever had.  The kids loved them too. — The fries left something to be desired but the onion rings were first rate.  The cole slaw was a bit heavy on the mayonnaise. — We sat outside which was a nice treat on a beautiful day. — Twin Anchors has been open since 1932.  Frank Sinatra made it a regular stop back in the 50s. — It is not fancy and not large and you should call ahead to find out what the wait will be, but if you are a rib aficionado, you need to check it out. —... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:09:08 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Twin-Anchors-Chicago-IL-review-934c5 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Snakes-on-a-Plane--112607-review-af860 I had remembered that Snakes on  a Plane generated lots of buzz so when I saw it on the HBO schedule I thought I would watch it.  I turned it off about 30 minutes into the movie.  The entire premise, the acting, the crazy fake snakes were are so ridiculous that it was so not worth my time. — — This movie is preposterous and a waste of time. — — Now, as my friend Leon says, "With a name like Snakes on a Plane what were you expecting?" — — Good questions Leon. —... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:59:08 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Snakes-on-a-Plane--112607-review-af860 Matt 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Naha-Chicago-IL-review-75033 I went to Naha for lunch today.  It had been several years since I was there with my wife.  The design aesthetic is modern, very chic and ultra cool.  The service was outstanding.  What really surprised me was the level of quality, innovation and thoughtfulness of the cuisine. — They say on their web site that "Chef Carrie's cooking style is a combination of her Armenian roots and a California lifestyle that she enjoyed during her years as executive chef for the Four Season's Santa Barbara and Beverly Hills" Menus change seasonally. — We started with the Naha "Mezze" of Hummos, Babaganoush, Warm Pita Bread,"Tel Baneer" Armenian String Cheese, "Yalanchi" Grape Leaves,Kalamata Olives, Mediterranean "Greek" Salad, Feta Cheese Turnovers and Spiced Beef. — The presenstation, freshness and flavor of this starter were all top notch. — I also ordered the cucumber soup with some fresh salmon and capers which was outstanding.  For the main... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:01:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Naha-Chicago-IL-review-75033 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Coal-Fire-Pizza-Chicago-IL-review-53432 After reading several glowing reviews of Coalfire I decided it was high time we went.  Boy was I disappointed.   Despite being voted by Time Out Chicago as one of the best pizza joints in the city of Chicago, I found it to be only slightly better than average. I prefer Spacca Napoli or Sapori Di Napoli  or La Madia. if you are looking for great Napoleon style pizza. — Don't get me wrong, it didn't suck. In fact it was pretty good.  But the best in the city?  No way. — And, I will have to say, our waiter had a serious bad attitude.  He was rude and unfriendly and for whatever reason decided he did not like us the minute we walked in there.  I stiffed him on the tip (meaning 10%) which is something I almost never do. — All that said, I saw my friend Matt Maloney from Grub Hub who swears by it. My advice?  If you are northsider don't bother making the trip. — For the record we tried the white pizza... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:45:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Coal-Fire-Pizza-Chicago-IL-review-53432 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Microsoft-Office-Small-Business-2007-Full-Version-for-PC-5534080-review-144e Here is my disclaimer. I have been a regular and heavy user of Microsoft Office for the last 15 years.  I worked for Microsoft in the early 90s.   — For the last year I have been using Microsoft Office 2007.  I know many people criticize it for being buggy and bloated.  I will have to say I disagree.  I have come to appreciate the enhanced features around table formatting, the tool bar ribbons and the quick links bar.  I have found the text formatting to be easier and more accessible. — The new smart art graphics features in Powerpoint are a big productivity booster for me.  I also appreciate the integrated conversion tools to PDF that can be downloaded from microsoft.com — I have had some issues with the application crashing that have been somehow related to the installation of TechSmith's SnagIt and Salesforce.com Outlook Connect.  However, they seem to have resolved themselves for the time being.  I... Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:27:12 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Microsoft-Office-Small-Business-2007-Full-Version-for-PC-5534080-review-144e Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Amazon-Kindle-review-76b83 The Amazon Kindle is a revolutionary device.  I have long been a believer that eventually books would go digital.  I even bought a Rocket Book years ago. But the Amazon Kindle is different, and better and is a sign of a changing world. — Much has been written about the Kindle, so rather the write an entire review, I will just let you know what I like about it: — 1) The lightweight form factor is very holdable. — 2) The screen is clear, crisp and quite readable.  It is not as good as a laptop but might even be better for your eyes over long periods of time. — 3) Being able to buy wirelessly is hugely convenient.  Not having to pay any type of monthly subscription for the wireless is key. — 4) The books are cheaper than the same books bought in the store or online. — 5) Being able to have many books on one small device will forever change my vacations. — My only beef is that a) they don't have all the books I would... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:09:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Amazon-Kindle-review-76b83 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Breville-BBL550XL-5-Speed-Blender-review-a1a91 I make a smoothie almost every morning that I am home.  Last year our Kitchen Aid blender crapped out after 14 years and I immediately went out and purchased another.  After an initial positive experience, I started having problems with it.  I am not sure if it was the motor or the blades, but either way, it could not get the job done. I had to shake the blender or open the top to move around the frozen strawberries to get it to blend. — So... this father's day I asked for a top of the line blender.   We looked at the VIta-Mix and the Breville.  Although the Vita Mix received the best reviews it cost twice as much ($400) and looked pretty ugly.  It was also reported to be very loud. — So I went for the Breville BBL550XL.  It cost $200.  I have now used it for the last week and found it to be much sturdier and better suited for the daily smoothie challenge. — It has a special smoothie button which allows you to walk away... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:56:00 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Breville-BBL550XL-5-Speed-Blender-review-a1a91 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Visitor-review-b7b73 The Visitor is a story of a tired and widowed college professor who finds a young and vibrant couple living in his New York City apartment.  Although unlikely the three become friends and their lives change in some ways for the better and some for the worse.  — The Visitor is a commentary on our immigration system, our politics, the loneliness of someone later in their career and the positive impact of serendipity and caring for a stranger. — Although it is slow moving in parts, I found The Visitor to be a thought provoking film well worth seeing. —... Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:45:55 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Visitor-review-b7b73 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Zaytinya-Washington-DC-review-b6485 Based on our dinner there last week I would strongly recommend Zaytinya to anyone who appreciates Mediterranean tappas.  The food is fresh, delicious and innovative.  The atmosphere is a modern, a bit loud, but overall a great vibe. The three story floor to ceiling windows lend to a very festive atmosphere. The restaurant is located directly across from the  Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop. — According to their web site Zaytinya was nominated for "Upscale Casual Restaurant" of the year and by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and The James Beard Foundation nominated José Andrés Outstanding Chef. — A few of the dishes we had the I would strongly recommend: — Htipiti - marinated roasted red peppers mixed with feta and thyme — Tabouleh  - parsley, bulgur wheat, diced tomatoes, onions, mint and a lemon vinaigrette — Crispy Skirt Steak spicy zhough sauce, yogurt... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:00:52 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Zaytinya-Washington-DC-review-b6485 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Park-Hyatt-Washington-Washington-DC--154256-review-7be98 The Park Hyatt Washington is one of the nicest luxury hotels in Washington DC.  I stayed there with my family in early June 2008.   Over the last few years I have stayed at the Hay Adams, The Mandrian Oriental and The Four Seasons Hotel, three of the nicest luxury hotels in Chicago and I have to say that I prefer the Park Hyatt above them all. The Park Hyatt is nestled on a quiet street equidistant between Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom.  Some people might feel for site seeing it is not a great location because you will need to either take cabs or walk 5+ blocks from the Metro, but the hotel is an oasis of serenity that is very nice to come back to.  — We stayed in two adjoining rooms to accommodate our three young kids.  The double beds were just big enough for one person and the hotel very quickly brought up a cot for the third.  The sheets are very high quality and the mattress is among the... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:37:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Park-Hyatt-Washington-Washington-DC--154256-review-7be98 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Chateau-dYquem-1995-review-03933 I recently attended a wine dinner for a close friends 40th birthday party.  They served Chateau d'Yquem and it was perhaps the most memorable dessert wine I have ever tasted.  It was creamy, bold, oaky, sweet and full of amazing flavor. Hints of honey and cream.  Just absolutely wonderful. — http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/product/265025/1995-Chateau-d'Yquem-Sauternes —... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:26:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Chateau-dYquem-1995-review-03933 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Bike-The-Drive-review-96c42 Every Memorial Day weekend, the City of Chicago closes Lake Shore Drive to car traffic and allows bikers of all ages and skill levels to spend four hours racing, pedaling, and meandering on two wheels along Lake Michigan.  — We participated this year and two years ago with our kids.  Bike the Drive is a wonderful event that will inspire you to ride your bike more.  It is wonderful to see the thousands turn out to enjoy the city and its natural beauty.  Bike the Drive is a true community event and one that everyone who has every enjoyed pedaling their way around should participate in. — www.bikethedrive.org —... Mon, 26 May 2008 12:34:13 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Bike-The-Drive-review-96c42 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Riccardo-Trattoria-Chicago-IL-review-51505 Located in the heart of Lincoln Park Riccardo's Trattoria is a true gem of an authentic Italian restaurant. — I started with the Endive & Red Beet Salad - with shaved pecorino and mustard vinaigrette and combined the Orecchiette - with wild boar sausage, rapini, sun-dried tomato and pecorino cheese with the Grilled calamari for my entree.  The Orecchiette was recommended by the waiter. I would not typically order a dish with wild boar sausage but I have to say I thought it was quite nice. I finished off the meal with a coconut sorbet served in a small half a coconut. — The service was good, but not great. The restaurant has a very nice neighborhood feel to it.  I didn't count but I would estimate they have about 20 tables. If you are looking for a quite or serene dining experience, I would suggest you go elsehwere. — If you want to have a few glasses of wine, great food and laugh with your friends, Riccardo's is a great pick. — Our dining... Sun, 25 May 2008 11:43:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Riccardo-Trattoria-Chicago-IL-review-51505 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Witchcraft-New-York-NY-review-80e44 Located directly in Bryant Park behind the New York Public library at 42nd and 6th avenue, Witchcraft is a walk up sandwich, soup and salad place of the variety you will only find in New York.  The hot sandwich turkey sandwich I ordered with caramelized onions, cheese and bacon was outstanding.  My wife ordered the pea soup was very good (she is a pea soup connoisseur) and the pear, walnut and gorgonzola salad was also very nice.  Our quick and light lunch was $23 for the two of us which in New York seems like a bargain.   In addition to good food, the scene at Bryant Park was really fun.  There must have been 500+ people on the lawn sitting at little green tables enjoying a beautiful sunny day in New York.  It was great people watching. —... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:36:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Witchcraft-New-York-NY-review-80e44 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Avec-Chicago-IL-review-7dc73 My wife and I have been to Avec twice and I have to say, I think it is one of the best restaurants in Chicago.  Avec means "with" in French which goes well with the configuration and the food. The restaurant is configured as one long row of "communal" tables that run alongside the bar extending to the back of the restaurant.  It is not a table cloth type of place, but the extensive use of wood mixed with a bit of brushed metal creates a warm and contemporary setting.   Avec is clearly popular with a eclectic, hip, "in-the know" crowd of young and old, artists, business people and anyone who appreciates good food.  It would fit right in Paris or New York. — The wine and beer selection is unusual and extensive.  I don't remember exactly where all the wine and beer came from but I seem to recall it was mostly French. I ordered a prosciutto appetizer that I have to say might have been one of the best prosciutto dishes I have ever had in... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:20:47 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Avec-Chicago-IL-review-7dc73 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/A-Voce-New-York-NY-review-1d8b3 Based on my first trip to A Voce I would rate it as a solid but un remarkable upscale Italian restaurant. The service, ambiance and food were all good, they just were not great.  For $142 before tip, I would expect more. — Our table of four shared the Sheep's Milk appetizer which was quite tasty.  For my appetizer I ordered a roasted asparagus with a poached egg and shaved Pecorni Romano cheese.  It was good, but they did not poach the egg for long enough.  I have had similar dish to this (Aigre Doux in Chicago) where the yolk was inside the poached egg and you had to break it open to see the yolk.  The preparation at A Voce was more like a sunny side up (under cooked!) runny fried egg.   My wife ordered the beet salad which was good, but I have had better.  The Rigatoni with lamb entrée unremarkable, basic Italian fare.  My wife ordered the halibut but we both agreed that the XXX fish ordered by our friend was the best dish... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:09:02 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/A-Voce-New-York-NY-review-1d8b3 Matt 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Grom-New-York-NY-review-a9c12 Grom is an authentic, charming and wonderfully located gelataria in the West Village.  Although I haven't had ice cream for months, I caved and ordered a scoop of hazelnut gelato and licorice. They were excellent and well worth the indulgence.  My wife ordered the pistachio was didn't pack the same punch but was still quite good.   For three small portions it was $15.   Ahhh.. only in New York!   They even deliver! —... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:01:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Grom-New-York-NY-review-a9c12 Matt 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Le-Parker-Meridien-New-York-City-NY-review-42583 Le Parker Meridien is an upscale, conveniently located hotel in New York City within walking distance of the south entrance of Central Park.  The lobby is a sterile, imposing but at the same time impressive. Lots of marble, glass and very high atrium ceilings.  Personally I found the lobby to be confusing and a bit too over the top.  I prefer a more serene, calm and welcoming hotel lobby.  We checked in at 2pm and found our room would not be available to 3pm which is their standard check in time.  Check in was fast and efficient. Although the hotel is affiliated with Starwood it is apparently independently owned and does not participate in Starwoods Rewards program. — We paid $350 a night for Le Meridien which for New York City seems to be in the low/mid end of the range of $250 at the rock bottom.  If you are looking for a less expensive alternative I would recommend the Sheraton New York or Sheraton Manhattan. I have stayed at both.  They are... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:56:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Le-Parker-Meridien-New-York-City-NY-review-42583 Matt 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dell-XPS-M1330-Laptop-review-96c13 For the last 5+ years I have insisted on using IBM Thinkpads. I had a T60 and T40 (the tablet one) and found them to be extremely well made and very reliable and durable for lots of travel.  However they are priced a bit high and now that they are owned by Lenovo, my loyalty to them has waned. — I recently attempted to upgrade the Lenovo T60 that I have I used continuously for the last 20 months to Vista and put some more memory in it.  Long story for another review, but bottom line, I do not recommend that you do this.   Vista is just not meant to run on machines not built for it. — In any case, I digress (before I even started!) because this review is about the Dell XPS M1330 that I recently purchased. ($1300 a Best Buy) Although M1330 does have some shortcomings vs the Thinkpad, I am largely very happy with it and given a few words of warning, would strongly recommend it. — The Dell XPS M1330 is a thirteen inch, lightweight laptop.  It... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:47:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dell-XPS-M1330-Laptop-review-96c13 Matt 5