Reviews by Friends of Sayah

Matt says "Maui In Six Days with Three Kids" about Maui

Matt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:10:46 GMT

We just got back from six days in Maui. Our last trip was 15 years ago as dating couple. This time we went back with our three kids and had an amazing time. Incredibly relaxing, beautiful and re-energizing. On our last trip we stayed at The Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. This time we stayed in a house (via Ultimate Escapes) in an area of Maui called Kanapali which is in the city of Lahaina.

The Weather

Despite a gloomy forecast of partly cloudy for most of the week, we had nearly perfect weather. While it was not couldless, we went to the beach every day and what coulds there were did not stop us from doing any outdoor activity. It did rain a few times but it passed very quickly. It ranged from the 70s to 80s every day peaking around 2pm. I was never sweltering hot and never wore anymore than a t-shirt and shorts.

The scenery, views and terrain

Absolutely beautiful. Incredible views that rival places like the Amalfi coast of Italy and the pacific coast highway...

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Matt says "Ferraro's was a real treat - beautiful, delicious and memorable" about Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante - Wailea, HI

Matt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:23:20 GMT

During a recent week long trip to Maui with the family (kids 10, 8, 4) I decided we needed at least one night out to a "nice" restaurant. We had dinner the first night The Ritz Carlton so for our big night out I decided to try Ferraro's at The Four Seasons Wailea.

I will have to say The Four Seasons was bustling with activity and seemed very crowded and too much of a "see and been seen" type of place for me. However, the service, food and view the Ferraor's was nearly perfect. Set on a cliff above the ocean, the view and sounds were idyllic. The staff was very attentive. It started to pour rain right in the middle of dinner (we ate outside under large umbrellas) and they did everything they could to make sure we were not impacted. Despite being a fine dining experience and a great place for a romantic dinner, Ferraro's is also very very kid friendly.

I had the Tuna and my wife ordered the chicken. I thought both were great. Perfectly cooked, succulent, fresh and well seasoned....

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Matt says "The Melting Pot delivers a unique and fun dining experience" about The Melting Pot - Lahaina, HI

Matt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:58:38 GMT

Our 10 year old recently went to The Melting Pot in Chicago and loved it. On our recent vacation to Maui he saw the restaurant and begged us to go. Ordinarily my wife and I would prefer something healthier but of course, who can say no when the kids are so excited?

The Melting Pot is of course, all about fondue. Cheese Fondue for the first course, more traditional broth and oil based fondue for the main course and chocolate for dessert. There are all sorts of options during each course. You get to mix and match cheeses, broths and chocolates along with a large variety of mix ins. The experience is full of theatrics by The Melting Pot staff, and is very engaging and social for the table.

We had a great time. The cheese fondue comes with bread, carrots, and apples for dipping. For the broth based course we ordered the standard broth for the kids and the coco van for the adults. The adults defintetely preferred the coco van broth. We ordered the teriakyi Filet Mignon...

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Matt says "The Gazebo is a average restaurant with a great location" about The Gazebo - Lahaina, HI

Matt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:19:46 GMT

The Gazebo restaurant is a casual and fun breakfast spot in Lahaina that I would describe as a hidden gem a bit off the beaten track. The food was good but not great. However, how often do you get to eat an affordable and kid friendly breakfast just feet from the beautiful ocean?

I am a fan of great (if not legendary) breakfast/brunch spots. Whenever we travel I do my research and then drag the family to a few out of the way spots. I found pretty slim pickings in this regard for our recent trip to Maui. However, The Gazebo seemed to be the most promising choice.

The kids had the house specialty (Macadamia Nut and Banana Pancakes) and my wife and I ordered omelets. Both were good but not outstanding. The staff was very friendly. The wait was long and remained long the entire time we were there. At least 30 minutes. And they don't take your name so be prepared to have a least one person from your party wait in line.

The really special part of the meal was eating outside...

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Matt says "Good People will have you on the edge of your seat" about Good People

Matt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:04:11 GMT

Based on the recommendation of the local NPR station, WBEZ, my wife recently gave me Marcus Sakey's Good People for a holiday gift. I typically read business related non fiction so digging into a crime thriller was a welcome change of pace. Good People is a great Chicago based crime fiction book that delivers suspense, great writing, wry cultural insights, and a great twists and turns in the plot.

I could not put the book down and tore through in within the second day of vacation. If you live in the city of Chicago Good People is particularly interesting. Many of the scenes in the book took place blocks from my office and home. It was fun to know many of the precise locations described in the book.

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Jolie says "Meet my Granddaughter Lexi, an American Girl Bitty Baby " about American Girl Bitty Baby

Jolie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:41:35 GMT

My daughter asked Santa for a baby doll for Xmas. That was all that she wanted and nothing more. When she got her American Girl bitty baby she was an instant mommy and I was an instant Grandma to baby LEXI (yes, that is what my daugher named her American Girl bitty baby.)

The bitty baby is blond and blue eyed, just like my daughter, and made of sturdy construction. She is also small enough to carry around easily.

Since bitty baby came into our family, bitty baby has been to the movie theater, out to dinner, Xmas dinner, her Great-grandma's house and more. She is a full member of the family now and is with my daughter 24 x 7.

I, (I mean Santa), had originally picked out a baby from Target for $30. But, I have to admit, for $10 more, the American Girl bitty baby was so much nicer. She is actually normal looking with a cute little face and a button nose. Some of the babies look a little demented. But, the American Girl biddy baby is actually pretty cute!!!

Now, if I can just avoid buying the......

Jolie says "I am not a huge Brad Pitt fan, but he was good and "hot"" about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jolie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:19:25 GMT

Yah, what Mike said! That was a thorough review!!

I liked Benjamin Button and I even cried during the movie a few times. The acting was good, the story line well developed, and it was such a touching love story.

I did think that the movie was a little slow going for the first hour, but when Brad Pitt turned into a man and he was courting his "love", it captured more of my attention. Hehehehhe. Again, I am not a huge Brad fan, but his acting was good, he looked good, and the storyline was touching.

I would consider seeing Benjamin Button in the theater but dont read too much-- it is a little over-hyped in my opinion.

For whatever it's worth, I thought Angelina did just as good of a job in Changeling. They are quite the duo.

My rating: a solid B
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Matt says "Call Me Ted is inspirational, well written and thought provoking" about Call Me Ted

Matt — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:30:14 GMT

I just finished reading "Call Me Ted" which is an autobiography of Ted Turner, the iconoclastic business man who brought the world CNN, The Cartoon Channel, and Ted's Montana Grill among many other business and charitable contributions. As a reader I found the book engaging and easy to read, well written, informative and thought provoking. As an entrepreneur I found the book inspiring. However as father of three young boys, I found myself disappointed that Turner threw himself into time consuming and life threatening sailing competitions at the expense of spending time with his children.

By reading "Call Me Ted" I gained a better appreciation for the trials and tribulations that Ted Turner went through to transform a sleepy billboard company founded by his father into an owner of television stations, creator of the first "SuperStations" and then the innovator of the 24 hour news channel with CNN. His vision, confidence, persistence, passion and incredible work ethic come through...

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Jolie says "Redmoon Theater offers a magical theatrical experience!" about Redmoon Theater- Winter Pageant Redux

Jolie — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:10:17 GMT

I took my kids this past weekend to the Redmoon Theater to see their Winter Pageant. Honestly, I dont even know how to describe this 50 minute show other than magical- simply magical.

The Winter Pageant at the Redmoon is a visual wonder- celebrating the 4 seasons of Chicago with limited language and extravagant sets and visuals. There is use of lights, bubbles, darkness, movement, and more. Think a hybrid of blue man group and circ de solei and a broadway set.

I didnt know how my kids would react to the play but they were soooo taken by the show. The actors and actresses start 15 minutes early and engage the kids from moment one. The 50 minute show continues to engage them every step of the way. And, at the end, they even bring out cookies and parts of the set to look at closely.

If you can fit in a visit to the Redmoon Theater before the 21st of December, I would strongly encourage you to go. The Winter Pagent is amazing for both kids and adults and for only $10-$15 per ticket- it is a must......