- 3/11/2008
4/5 stars
Generally I wait until I've used a place's facilities at least twice before reviewing it, but I think I'll break that rule for a wedding chapel…
Elvis, a pink Cadillac, and the strip. Yes, we were married here. Just the two of us. I can't imagine a large group here, but it was perfect for us. As soon as they realized we were sober and serious, they were great. It was fun. Elvis rocked. And I married my wonderful wife.
Our only not-so-great part was that the video quality isn't so good. They had increased funding shortly after our marriage (a certain celebrity started her first short-lived wedding here), so they probably have better equipment now.
- 3/11/2008
5/5 stars
The people at Hoffmann's know and love their lizards. (They also have spiders, but I hate spiders, so I try my best to ignore them.) We haven't used their boarding services, but we would trust them if we needed to board our geckos.
And our cat highly recommends their crickets. He thinks they're fun and delicious.
Half Price Books Records Magazines
1935 Mount Diablo St
Concord, CA 94520 USA
(925) 288-9060
- 3/11/2008
5/5 stars
The name of the place says why so many love 'em. And this branch often has a good selection of less obvious books. I've made some excellent math finds here, more even than in Berkeley. Many good food-related and cookbooks, too. And there's a great coffee shop on the same square (Panama Red), so you can pick up a book and head over to relax. Or sit in the nice park.
Yan's China Bistro & Bar
2929 N Main St
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 USA
(925) 944-5968
- 3/18/2008
5/5 stars
We arrived with the beginning of the dinner rush, but also just before the dinner rush help, so service was frantic at first. Once the rest of their staff arrived, everything was smooth. The food was well-flavored and plentiful. The seasoning was throughout the dish and not just in flecks, the sauces were balanced with the rest of the meal, and the ingredients tasted fresh and cooked just right.
The spice level on my dish (General Tzo's, up to transliteration) was a little below what I wanted, but it more than made up for it by having a full and rich flavor. My wife's curry dish was HUGE. It lasted for three meals. Again, not too heavy on the curry, but that's how we prefer it.
Given the quantities, Yan's is not expensive. Limiting yourself to proper serving sizes will leave plenty of leftovers. And it's telling that the leftovers did not taste as good as fresh. The sauces and seasonings already were married to the dishes; more time did not bring out more flavors as it does with many restaurants.