My Life on the road | Peaches Prattlings

{March 4, 2017} A new hotel, a new level of being spoiled!

As if Hilton didn’t spoil me enough, I had a new level of being spoiled this week. I’m not sure if I’ll be easy to live with after this!

First…I did not realize that the Waldorf Astoria was a Hilton property…I do now! And boy howdy! I did find out that I need to start checking in at the front desk to get my upgrades, checking in on the app might get me an upgrade, but not always. Next time, I might get a balcony and a fireplace, sold!

I walked in to this nice entry way, carpeted, look to the left, bar, fridge is actually a drawer, fancy [said with accent to make you laugh] And closets, one with my robe and extra slippers, yeah…

To the right is my ginormous bathroom, marble floors and deep tub with the tray that has bath fizzy tablets. Did I take a relaxing fizzy bath…while watching a movie on the tv in the mirror? You bet your sweet bippie!

The room itself was nice, nothing extraordinary, comfortable and cozy, hard to get out of the sheets comfy bed. What the extra step was…

Let’s start with the turn down service. Every night someone comes in to turn the sheets down, I imagine that’s where the expression comes from. No, no chocolates on the pillow, but they do leave 2-3 bottles of water. They also leave a weather forecast card with an appropriate quote. They put a napkin down on the floor next to the bed and put your slippers on it. How’s that for service?

The staff is fantastic, you can’t blink without them ready to do… whatever! Great dining suggestions, history and knowledge of the hotel, open every door, hail every cab, carry every bag. And if you sneeze, they are worried that something may be amiss.

I walked into my room the other day and found a fuzzy work glove, not mine. I brought it downstairs and they were very concerned. Today, I got a call from the day manager who had wanted to meet me before I checked out, to say hello and ensure my stay was enjoyable. He also asked me questions about the glove and they are going to do a thorough investigation to see who was in my room if they shouldn’t have been. Wow.

So… Did Hilton have my loyalty before, oh yeah. Do they have it double now? Am I going to stay at the Waldorf as much add possible? Oh yeah. Have they created a monster? Oh, you bet your sweet bippie! [I know, such harsh language!]. Hey… why don’t you stay with me one weekend, let’s see how you like it!

P.S. happy happy SIXTH birthday to my fabulous, special, beautiful, smart, goofy, granddaughter, LB. JJ loves you!

{March 3, 2017} Reza’s… another great new restaurant!

Well, new to me anyway.

I met with WIS, a friend I met on this project in Chicago, at Reza’s, a really good Mediteran and Persian restaurant in the Andersonville neighborhood.

It was a nice, open space with an enclosed patio that doubles as more restaurant space. If you go while it’s cold, be aware that you have to go through this patio to get to the restrooms, which were equally freezing!

The space was nice and welcoming with brick walls and original artwork. Next time I’ll take pictures of the pictures. The menu was very vegan friendly, lots of great appetizers, which were also on one of the vegetarian plates, we were sold!

We asked the waiter if he thought it would be too much food… no, I have many customers who order those two dishes. Sure… only 2 people?! We each had lentil soup, which was great, it could have used a little something to thicken it up, but very tasty.

Then we got our fatoush salad, one of my favorites, but this could have been a main meal! It was delicious, so happy about that. I say that because there are places that just don’t know how to make it… and it’s not that complicated! No, I haven’t made it, I found others who do it so well! Ha ha

Then we ordered a plate that had five appetizers, hummus, banaganoush, falafel with pomegranate remoulade, Persian salad and eggplant steak, wow!

The other plate was called Vegetarian Feast and oh my! Cous-cous with eggplant, zucchini, roasted peppers, tomatoes, topped with almonds, raisins and feta.

I topped it off with hot Persian tea and we were set!

This is a great restaurant with a nice ambiance, I recommend it. And the price is right too! And guess who has lunch for tomorrow!

{March 1, 2017} The Beet Table

What a fabulous meal!

I was looking for a dinner option, I looked up the places that the hotel suggested and wasn’t thrilled, they had things they could ‘veganize’ by removing items, not what I was looking for, so I kept looking and found The Beet Table.

I sat at the bar, that eating alone decision, bar/table. I made a good choice, I liked the bar, easy to sit at and the bartender was very nice and helpful.

Most of the options were vegan, so you can imagine I was a happy camper! I started with the sweet pea guacamole, wow! It still had avocado, tomatoes, onions and seasoning. It could have used a bit more salt, but the chips were nice and crisp with a fair amount of salt, so that helped. I followed that with the butternut squash and quinoa, wow! There was a butternut squash under the quinoa and big slices of acorn squash on the side, spiced almonds, some other veggies and cranberry purree to cut the spice, it was fabulous!

I loved it and I’m looking forward to going back to try some of the other options!

I also found out they are in New York City, enjoy northern vegans!

{February 28, 2017} Ristorante Merlo

Fabulous!

Tonight I asked at the front desk for a recommendation for dinner and I was given Ristorante Merlo. I know, you want to add a t to the end of it!

This restaurant is in a house set on the street amongst larger buildings, slightly hidden in its own way, one of those places that unless you know you’re looking for it, you miss it.

I walked in, no reservation and was taken downstairs past a bar and dining room with banquet seating, less intimate. Downstairs it looked like a place for a nice romantic dinner, family gathering, more intimate, like you might be with family.

There were only about eight or ten tables in the room

They sat me at a corner table and for about twenty minutes, I was alone in the place, a little weird, but I had my server’s attention and he was prepared to make my experience special.

It is not a vegan restaurant, but they accomdated me. I had the minestrone and it was fabulous, the broth was wonderful and the vegetables were barely cooked, nice and crisp. Then the pasta came out, tagliatel, spinach, asparagus, garlic and olive oil, really nice and flavorful; I didn’t even have to add salt, lovely. It was on the al dente side, because it was fresh that day, love it! What I liked was the portion size, appropriate, not too much.

The bread basket had fresh, crisp, flavorful foccaccia and crisps that were actually flash fried fresh pasta, that didn’t taste like pasta, it was great!

I had really nice dinner, can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!

{February 27, 2017} What a weekend!

This weekend was great!

I flew to Denver Friday evening and checked into the only hotel I’ve stayed in since I moved from Denver. It’s a nice Homewood Suites in the center of the city with easy access to restaurants, nightlife, museums, the highways to get to the mountains and anywhere else you want to go.

I got to the hotel, had to get some work done and eventually got some sleep. I set the alarm, but that snooze button is too tempting. The phone woke me up, oops. I got up and headed to the airport because I was picking up my honey!!!

PSM is going to a meeting in Iowa this coming week and needed a place for a layover and Denver was one of those options and decided to make it a weekend, so here we are! Together!

We went back to the hotel and met his mom’s cousin and her husband for breakfast, a very nice couple who have lived in Denver for over thirty years. We had a really nice time getting to know each other, hearing stories about PSM’s family and PSM as a little kid.

After breakfast, it was time for a little break and some rest, after a bit PSM got up and prepped for his presentation next week.

Later we headed out into the city and ended up at a Machete for dinner, PSM was craving what we can’t really get in Hawaii, Mexican food. It was a noisy, energetic, eclectic restaurant with an impressive list of tequilas, someone was happy!

We were meeting APM, someone I’ve been friends with since high school, we met in youth group. Thursday and now Saturday, friends from youth group, fabulous! I also found out that his middle name is PSM’s first make, go figure!

After dinner we walked around, got some coffee and tea for a minute then wentb to another bar to hang out a bit longer, then on to the hotel and closing the blackout curtains, we were sleeping in!

Sunday brought a sleep in, brunch, a little more practice and then a tour of Boulder. It was nice to be in a place that I love together.

Then off to the airport, our flights were ably the same time, he walked me to my gate, we got to spend a little more time together and we realized that this would be a good place to meet for a weekend, easy for us both to get to, sweet!

Then I was off to Chicago and PSM is off to Iowa. I’ll be in Hawaii in a few weeks to see him again and we have a plan for my April trip! Wahoo!

Have a great night!

{February 24, 2017} A blast from the past

Thursday night brought a real treat!

I got to see a blast from my past. JM is someone I was in youth group with when I was in high school.

We lost touch after high school, as so many do and then reconnected through Facebook. I saw that he was traveling to Chicago on Monday and I reached out.

I was teaching and be had plans but had a window before going to see Hamilton. That changed a bit and we ended up meeting after the show. My hotel was just a few blocks away and it was like time had stopped. He looks the same, a little less on top, but the same face, smile, sense of humor and good nature.

We walked to the Palmer House to get a drink and sat and talked about everything. Hamilton, theater, musicals, literature, marriage, kids, movies, family, life, work, you tube, holidays, games, geeks, travel. Yup, I think that about covers it.

About 1am we were both starting to get a little woogie so he went off to his home base for the evening and I walked back to the hotel and boy, I’ve never seen State Street deserted before!

When we were talking, it felt like we had just seen each other a few weeks ago, how fabulous!

We parted company with the promise to keep in touch, I’m looking forward to that.

Such a treat.

{February 23, 2017} A sweet celebration!

Happy birthday DLP! Let’s celebrate!

Today is DLP’s birthday, and she was feeling better so celebrate we did! [She has had what a lot if people are going thru this season].

I am staying at a Doubletree hotel and if you know Doubletree, you know they’re famous for their chocolate cookies, so on my way into the office, I had to get some for my friend! I left them on her desk and went to teach.

After work a select few of us, well, we were hand picked and selected of course! We went to a restaurant that opened in Chicago a few weekends ago, The Sugar Factory.

The Sugar Factory is a candy store with an elegant restaurant attached. They have drinks that smoke and filled with candy treats, drinks that taste like candy and desserts that sparkle!

We had good food, good conversation and a celebration for a great friend. A great evening!

{February 22, 2017} It’s so small…

The Smart Car.

It’s so small! Wouldn’t you agree?

I don’t have much else to say. If you enjoy your Smart Car, more power to you, I just don’t get it.

I feel like you can pick it up and carry it places. I think it could fit in my hotel room! With room to spare!

{February 21, 2017} I was dressed for bear…

Ok, I apparently have been using that expression incorrectly for a while.

I thought it meant dressed warm for cold weather, oh well. I was coming back to Chicago this week expecting it to be cold and no, I didn’t check the weather, that would be the smart thing to do.

I was wearing jeans, knee socks, a sweater and winter boots. For a freezing plane or a winter day, I was stylin’! The outfit looked good, I thought so and someone else said so, put together and work appropriate, we could wear jeans today!

I get to Chicago and it was warm! I didn’t need a coat, that was in my checked luggage, never took it out of my bag! The office was warm, I was sweating and my bag was at the hotel, so I couldn’t change my top!

It was even warm walking back to the hotel, I got into the room and dropped jeans, sweater and socks! I even turned the air on and sat there in my skivvies to cool off.

I remember being here in Chicago in April last year and it was still cold! I was going on that! And I’ve been told that it might be coming again, hmmm…gotta check the weather for tomorrow!

{February 19, 2017} They said what?!

PICNIC, PEBCAK, ID TEN T…huh?

You call IT for support, you call customer service for help. You’re really not getting anywhere and you’re frustrated and you hear a term you have never heard before, but the technician says it, you don’t know any better, so you just accept it.

Let me let you in on a little secret…

PEBCA… Problem Exists Between Chair and Keyboard.

PICNIC…Problem In Chair, Not In Computer.

ID TEN T…write it out…ID10T.

Type

You’re welcome!

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