Volleyball Market

One of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had. I was searching online for a pair of volleyball shoes and came upon their website for a deal on a pair of ASICS. When I added the item to my cart, I noticed that the price was for their regular price and not the sale price. Since I wasn't in a hurry to buy them, I both emailed and called and left a message (for Jody) to inquire as to the price discrepancy.

No response to either inquiry.

So the next day I called the actual retail location and lo and behold, it's Jody that answers the phone. I told her I had left a message and emailed without receiving any kind of response and all she offered was that they were moving or remodeling or something to that extent and that they were very busy.

(Okay... if that's how your business is run, then do you actually expect to get and keep customers???)

Then I told her about the deal I saw on their website, which she didn't even know about until I told her to go look at the webpage, and she goes on to say that there's only one pair left in my size and that it was being shipped off somewhere. However, she could place an order for the shoes and authorize my credit for the price of the shoes and would let me know after the weekend whether the shoes would be sent to me or not. (Strange... but I went along with it, since it was a decent deal and since I'm local, I could always go down to their store and kick their doors in.) Jody even tells me she'd send me an email confirmation for my order and that she would let me know first thing Monday when she can find out whether the shoes were available to be shipped to me.

No email confirmation, no follow-up contact to let me know about the shoes.

So today, I finally had to call them up again and ask whether the shoes were available. She proceeds to put me on hold while she goes to "check" on my order. Several minutes later, she comes back to tell me that "the girl" told her they no longer had the shoes in the size I wanted...

W.T.F.!!

They probably just didn't want to honor the price listed on their website and had the balls to pre-authorize my credit card for the price of the shoe.

This company is a wreck and a scam!! I will never purchase anything from them.

One star because that's the minimum I can give, but really no stars deserved. Just terrible!

Sushi Dan

sushi dan is one of those establishments where you walk in thinking "how good can this place be?" and leave saying "hey, that was better than i thought." it's still no comparison to some of the "true" sushi restaurants along ventura blvd, but for a quick and relatively cheap sushi lunch during the weekdays, sushi dan fits into my schedule very well.

any true sushi restaurant connoisseur knows that the quality of the establishment is directly linked to the number and variety of rolls offered; the less, the better. in other words, if a restaurant offer 108 different varieties of rolls (ie, "california tempura volcano roll," "you betcha it's good roll," or "really fresh fish roll"), then the authenticity, and most likely the quality, of the sushi is decent at best.

sushi dan suprises in that it does offer a two-handful of rolls, but their nigiri sushi is not too shabby either. their weekday lunch special comes with miso soup, 5 pieces of nigiri sushi (2 tuna, 1 salmon, 1 albacore, 1 white tuna), which i think is the best part of the lunch, and a choice of some of their more popular rolls and entrees, for $10-$13. Sure it's a little pricey for average office worker on a budget, but who's telling you to go there everyday?

unless you're a sushi traditionalist, give this sushi dan a try. i think you'll find it better than you expected.

PROS: decent food, reasonable prices
CONS: parking, connoisseurs can tell

Hilliard Suites

well, i guess you just get what you pay for. we were only spending one day in lake havasu, so we decided to go cheap since we werent' planning to stay in the motel much anyway. however, this place just left a lot to be desired. it just felt kind of dirty.

room sizes were typical, but the bed linens just didn't look or feel very clean. luckily, we were playing in the lake and got all filthy anyway, but still. for i think just $20 more, we could've stayed at the hampton inn just down the road, which i have a feeling was significantly better.

oh well, you live and learn.

PROS: air con in the hallways was nice and cold, decent sized indoor pool
CONS: rooms and linens not very clean

Miyako Salon

i've been getting my haircuts from frank there at miyako for years. not too fancy, not too dull. he's consistently good and gets the job done. i don't go for outrageous styles, so consistency is a good thing. however, i have seen clients who want something more "interesting" and they usually walk out with a smile. they also keep up on all the latest (asian) hair trends too, and i've even seen an occassional non-asian client there. prices are very reasonable, especially for a men's haircut, and the premise is clean and well-maintained. they have a decent selection of high end salon hair products.

PROS: good consistent cuts, clean premise
CONS: location is a bit hidden, and parking on weekends can be crowded

Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa

this hotel and spa made my first visit to sedona much more enjoyable. we were there over the 4th of july weekend, and unfortunately, due to the recent wildfires in the area, most of the red rock trails were closed, so we spent a lot more time in the hotel than we expected, which was not disappointing in the least.

the rooms are good sized, with colorful decor and very comfy beds. at turndown, they place a very tasty little piece of chocolate on your bed every night. if you're not used to an "open" shower, it might throw you for a loop. but the fact that the showers have no curtains or sliding doors makes for a very liberating experience. if you want to soak in a tub, just head on down to the jacuzzi by the pool area.

spa and massage services were adequate. but if you've been to a burke williams, or other higher-end spas, you may not be too impressed. my girlfriend said her masseuse/therapist just couldn't quite get to the desired pressure (she likes her massages strong), but mine was just fine. the pool is a bit on the small side, but that was a minor detail.

the rate was reasonable, and all the staff were very courteous. just about everything we asked for, they provided for us. we didn't get a chance to eat at reds, or use the fitness center, but when we go back to sedona, we'll definitely consider staying here again.

PROS: reasonable rates, nice rooms; clean and comfortable, courteous staff
CONS: pool is on the small side

newegg.com

Simply one of the best places on the web for computer components, electronics, and goodies like that. Prices are almost always lower than other competitors. Shipping is super-fast. The selection of products they have is massive. I haven't ever had to deal with their customer service, so I can't comment on that, but everything else about newegg.com is top notch.

PROS: Great prices, fast shipping, huge selection
CONS:

Din Tai Fung Restaurant Inc

There's only one thing that stands out about this restaurant -- the dumpling wraps/skins are made well. What does that mean? Well, one of the most enjoyable things about eating this type of dumpling (xiao long bao) is the flavorful soup that comes out of the meat when the dumplings are steamed. And in that respect, Din Tai Fung earns 2 stars for making dumpling skins that rarely break. However, aside from this one highlight, I've never understood why people rave over this restaurant. It's over-priced, always crowded, and the food isn't all that tasty.

Now you may be thinking, "if a restaurant is crowded, the food MUST be good." To that I say, "this restaurant is always crowded because 1) people don't know any better/have nothing else to compare it to, and 2) its frequent patrons are pretentious folks who like to drop names in their conversations (you know the kind of people I'm referring to...)."

For comparable (maybe even tastier) food without having to fork out a good chunk of your paycheck, try this alternatives (they're both in the same little plaza in San Gabriel): Jin Jiang Restaurant, and Mei Long Village.

As someone who's eaten xiao long bao in Shanghai, I'd say I have a fairly good basis for judgement. And believe me, I'm really not being harsh on this restaurant, nor do I have any personal grudge against its owners, employees, etc. It's really just not all that.

PROS: dumpling skins
CONS: over-priced, busy, parking, everything else besides the dumpling skins

The Melting Pot

I had eaten at a Melting Pot fondue restaurant many, many years ago, and had quite fond memories of the experience. So when I found out one opened in Pasadena, I was eager to give it a try. I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint.

First off, this restaurant has great ambiance, especially for a couple sharing a romantic dinner. Most of the restaurant is lit for "mood" and if you're lucky, you can score a seat in one of the cozy booths. Our server, Matt, was excellent; personable without being intrusive.

For those familiar with Japanese Shabu Shabu, think that with a distinctly European flavor...literally, as a couple of the "cooking styles" incorporate the use of wine. There's plenty to choose from, starting with a variety of cheeses accompanied by bread and vegetables, then the main "entrees" with an assortment of meats and seafood to choose from, and of course, a fantastic selection of chocolate fondue with fruits, cakes and marshmallows. We had the seafood "Big Night Out" and it was more food than we expected, or maybe I was just saving room for the dessert, which was a white chocolate fondue with amaretto... simply delectable.

This would be a great restaurant to go to after a night on the town with friends and you're looking for a place to satisfy that late night sweets craving, as it stays open pretty late for Pasadena standards.

I'd suggest making reservations ahead of time, as turnover is not as fast as typical restaurants. We spent about three hours going through an entire four course fondue meal.

As for price - be prepared to pay a little more than your typical dinner at Denny's, as fondue is not cheap. However, I think it's worth it. And besides, it's not something you'd be eating every night anyway, although I'm sure they wouldn't mind. I personally think that everyone should try this unique dining experience at least once.

PROS: Unique experience, great ambiance
CONS: Moderately expensive, parking in Old Town Pasadena

Merkato Restaurant

I was first brought to this restaurant by a friend who had to review it for a magazine. And even though I lived in Africa, I'd never tried Ethiopian cuisine. The restaurant is decorated with colorfully with, I'm assuming, traditional Ethiopian wall hangings and artifacts. I especially like the "stools" that you sit on at the small tables.

First things first, you have to try eating with just your hands, which takes a little getting used to for most westerners, but quite fun, since the food is finger licking good. If you're adventurous, order your entrees with the injera (Ethiopian sour flat-bread). Otherwise, I believe you can substitute it with pasta. We tried several dishes, including the chicken and lamb curries (which I especially like). These dishes are stewed until the meat is really tender, and infused with all kinds of aromatic spices. We also tried the Ethiopian coffee, which is very strong, and not unlike Turkish coffee, and some kind of fragrant tea. It was all really delicious, and I've since introduced this restaurant to my girlfriend, who, in turn, did a feature of the restaurant on her TV show.

There's also an adjoining market where you can buy some of the spices and ingredients used in the restaurant, and other curios.

PROS: good, tasty food; fun, colorful atmosphere; reasonable price
CONS:

Cuban Bistro

I took my girlfriend to this restaurant when we first started dating. I'd eaten at Versailles (another great Cuban restaurant) before and was really glad to see one open relatively close to where I live. This restaurant is classy, without being pretentious. The food was delicious, although the portions are a bit smaller than Versailles. Then again, I suppose it wouldn't behoove a (ahem) gentleman like me to gorge myself on a date in a classy restaurant....

PROS: delicious food; nice, quiet, classy atmosphere
CONS: