Celebrity Equinox cruise, a day in Athens

Acropolis

By Jane Feehan

Check labels for additional Celebrity posts on this blog.

Quite a day we had in Athens. We hired a driver  instead of opting for one of the Equinox tours. Our guide, Stelios Spinoulas, was knowledgeable and charming. I will be writing a post about him when we return.

One of the first "sights" we encountered driving into Athens was a pack of about four or five dogs looking right and looking left as they were attempting to cross a busy street. I feared they were about to be run over but Stelios assured us this is a common sight in Athens. Strays are picked up by the police, brought to a vet where they are examined for disease (and probably neutered) and set out again with collars. People are quite good about feeding these creatures; we didn't see a thin stray anywhere. Fat cats also abound ... and I'm an animal lover.

Stelios showed us so many highlights of Athens, I can't remember them all: Parthenon, Acropolis, ancient markets, President's palace, old city (Plaka), the Olympic stadium, where the modern games commenced in 1896, and the port city of Piraeus.  It was a day we will long remember, thanks to our guide.

Happy dogs at the Temple to Zeus where they are cared for

More cruise tips and info:

Equinox tours for Athens run about $40 to $140 per person. We arranged our private tour months ago.

The food on the ship continues to amaze us. We have not had a bad meal and have eaten in a number of venues, including specialty restaurants. 

Shopping is not great on the Equinox. There are very few sundries such as shampoo and mouth wash on two or three shelves in one store. There are clothing shops but with a limited selection of items and sizes such as T-shirts and hats. A high end cosmetics shop is available but again, limited in items.

Many people from around the world are on this ship, but Americans are in the majority.

Temple to Athena

Check labels for additional Celebrity posts on this blog.

Tags: Celebrity Equinox cruise, vacations, Athens, tours in Athens, Stelio Spinoulas

Celebrity Equinox Mediterranean cruise, Malta

By Jane Feehan

We docked at Valletta, Malta this morning at sunrise. This island of about 400,000 residents is steeped in the history of battles for its ownership. For centuries it was said that the country or power that held Malta controlled the Mediterranean. 

We took a three-city bus ride and hour long harbor cruise and left knowing it was the right excursion choice (about $50 each for four and a half hours). The tour guide told us we had seen about half the island of 300 square miles. Lunch was back on ship and the Equinox sailed at 5 p.m.  I left Malta hoping to return to the place where St. Paul was shipwrecked as he spread the Gospel and where vestiges of battles throughout the centuries are embedded in its fortress walls.

Tags: Celebrity Equinox Mediterranean cruise, Malta

A Mediterranean voyage on the Celebrity Equinox, Day 1

We're off for a 13-day Mediterranean cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox.The ship,which will serve as hotel for about 2,800 passengers, left Barcelona yesterday and will dock in Malta tomorrow. From there we're headed for Greece, Turkey and Italy, ending the voyage in Barcelona.

This is a premier cruise line, not a Seabourn, Crystal or Silverseas, but with exceptional food and a spacious stateroom, the Equinox will be a top tier vacation venue.

I'll be posting here about the trip as we make way through the Mediterranean. Though November 2, it's warm with temps expected to be near 80 as we approach Malta.

Traveler tips: 

* There are no irons in the staterooms. Some say they are not allowed on board. Prepare to send your items for pressing and they will try to return them by dinner the first night. Luggage is delivered between 2 and 3 pm the day of embarkation, so it may be a problem getting clothes pressed in time for an early dinner.
* Guest Relations will change dollars into the currency of countries on the itinerary.

Check labels for additional Celebrity posts. 

Tags: Celebrity Equinox Mediterranean cruises, photos of Celebrity Equinox staterooms

Cheap, fast and sometimes late into the night: Diners in Broward and Palm Beach counties

Summit Diner, Summit NJ, photo by 
Jeff Boyce who uploaded to 
Creative Commons, Lic 3.0 

By Jane Feehan

Some say the first diner was developed by Jerry O’Mahony (1890-1969) of Bayonne, NJ. His company, the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Co. produced 2,000 pre-fabricated diners from 1917-1952. Others credit Philip Duprey and Irving Stoddard of Worcester, MA who established the Worcester Lunch Car Co. and delivered the first lunch cars along the Eastern seaboard in 1906. No matter the genesis or whether they are prefab structures, diners are defined today as restaurants serving a wide range of food in a casual atmosphere, usually featuring a counter; many serve late into the night. In Florida, some diners serve just breakfast and lunch.

      

Below is a list of diners operating in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Fort Lauderdale area

Lester’s Diner – 3 locations

Lester's Diner (954) 525-5641 - Only this Lester’s is open 24 hours
250 W State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, 33315 

Lester's Diner (954) 979-4722
4701 Coconut Creek Parkway 
Margate, FL 33063 

Lester's Diner (954) 838-7473
1399 Northwest 136th Avenue, 
Sunrise, FL 33323 

84 Diner – (954) 423-1787

11432 W. SR 84,Sunrise, 33325

Moonlite Diner (24 hours)

6201 N. Andrews Blvd. Oakland Park 33334

Peter Pan Diner – (954) 565-7177 (24 hours)

1216 E. Oakland Park Blvd., 33334

The Floridian - (954) 463-4041 (24 hours)

1410 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 33301

Egg and You – (954) 564-2045 (24 hours)

2621 N. Federal Hwy., Wilton Manors 33306

Diner By the Sea - (954) 481-0642

215 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale by the Sea 33308

Sea Ranch Diner - (954) 784-7422

4743 N. Ocean Dr. Fort Lauderdale 33308

South Broward

Flashback Diner – 954-454- 8300 Open 24 hours

220 N. Federal Hwy., Hallandale 33009

Grampa’s Bakery and Restaurant -(954) 923-2163

17 SW First St., Dania Beach, 33004

Jack’s Hollywood Diner - (954) 929-2888

1031 N. Federal Hwy., Hollywood 33020

Moonlite Diner - (954) 924-2012

3500 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood 33020

Lighthouse Point

Red Fox Diner - (954) 783-7714 Not open late

3640-1 N. Federal Hwy., Light House Point 33064

Deerfield Beach

Marlee’s Diner - (954) 428-7464   (open until 9, check seasonal hours)

699 S. Federal Hwy., Deerfield 33441

Shelby’s Kitchen - (954) 570-8773 open until 9 most days

3952 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield 33442

Olympia Flame - (954) 480-8402

80 S. Federal Hwy, Deerfield 33441

Delray Beach

Odyssey Diner – 561- 638-9393 – last seated at 8 p.m.

15200 Jog Rd., Delray 33484

Boca Raton

Boca Diner – 561-750-6744 Closed at 9 p.m.

2801 N. Federal Hwy. Boca Raton 33431

Tequesta

Time to Eat Diner 561-744-9768
716 US Hwy 1, Tequesta

Tags: Diners in Fort Lauderdale, Diners in Broward County, Diners in Palm Beach County, 24-hour diners

Love you Whole Foods Markets, but not the fingers, noses and butts

By Jane Feehan

I love Whole Foods. I shop there four or five times weekly and when I travel (frequently), the first thing I look for after arriving somewhere is a Whole Foods Market. That said, what I don’t like about this mecca for lovers of organics and freshly prepared fare is customers sampling with fingers, lifting soup and other ladles to their noses and their exhibiting a host of other ill-mannered, unsanitary behaviors that could affect food safety.

What prompted this post was the final straw: a kid sitting on the side of a case at the deli department with his butt draped over a container holding a tuna cranberry wrap with his non-plussed, irresponsible mother standing at his side. I would have taken a photo had it not been of a child.

A month ago my sister observed what appeared to be a mother-daughter team opening and sampling cartons of fresh blueberries and raspberries at the Whole Foods Market in Palm Beach Gardens. Sister went over to a produce staffer and told him about it. They both watched as the team continued grazing. The employee approached them, told them to stop and picked up the opened containers to throw away. He told them off. There were probably other ravaged cartons, but this is all the staffer saw personally.

I won’t buy loose walnuts or almonds from Whole Foods bins. People (mostly men!) dig into the bins for large handfuls of the stuff for immediate consumption. Yesterday, I saw one gent carefully wiping his hands on his shorts after he plunged into some dried fruit and then moved on to the next barrel.

Another day, I observed a man digging out a piece of fresh pineapple from the salad bar with his fingers and plopping it into his mouth. On one of her daily trips to the market, my sister witnessed a woman sticking a finger into soup – ostensibly to test its temperature.

Then there are kids who run to the samples of cheeses, cookies and other foods who reach up with their dirty hands for a morsel before parents notice or can catch up with them. If they can reach, they do the same at the hot food and salad bars.

I know it’s not Whole Foods’ obligation to teach good manners and hygiene, but they are responsible for keeping their food safe.  I applaud their efforts to keep the moochers at bay with signs (albeit tiny) prohibiting “self-sampling.” This is not enough.

Raise the sampling trays, empower your employees to step up and approach customers, appoint a monitor – something. There’s a website that posts pictures of the hideously dressed at Walmart. Let’s hope no one thinks about posting pictures of Whole Foods moochers and ill-mannered customers with their noses and fingers in soup.

Tags: Whole Foods Markets, South Florida markets, bad customers

SOFLA 2013 betting venues - racing, casinos, bingo and more

Below is a list of South Florida gambling venues, including parimutuel betting, casinos with slots, bingo (many have bingo) and more. Check websites for days/hours of operation. They may vary throughout the year.

Isle Casino & Racing (Pompano Park - Harness, quarter horses) 

1800 SW Third St., Pompano Beach - 954-972-2000

TheIslePompanoPark.com

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - 954-327-7625

1 Seminole Way, Hollywood

SeminoleHardrockHollywood.com

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

5550 NW 40^th St., Coconut Creek
SeminoleCasinoCoconutCreek.com

Gulfstream Racing & Casino Park – 954-457-6201

901 S. Federal Hwy., Hallandale

gulfstreampark.com

Mardi Gras Casino – 954-924-3200

831 N. Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach

Mardisgrascasinofl.com

Calder Casino and Racecourse (horses, casino)305-625-1311

21001 NW 27 Ave., Miami Gardens

CalderRacecourse.com

Casino Miami Jai Alai 305-633-6400

3500 NW 37 Ave., Miami

CasinoMiamiJaiAlai.com

Dania Jai-Alai – 954-920-1511

301 E Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach

BetDania.com

Hialeah Park Casino (horses, casino) 305-885-8000

2200 E. 4^th Ave., Hialeah

Hialeahparkcasino.com

Magic City Casino – 305-649-3000

450 NW 37 Ave., Miami

MagicCityCasino.com

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Bingo and more) 877-242-6464

500 SW 177^th Ave., Miami

miccosukee.com

  

Seminole Brighton Casino – 863-467-9998

17735 Reservation Rd., Okeechobee

SeminoleBrightonCasino.com

Gambling Cruises

Resorts World Casino – Card games, roulette, sports book, and more 888-930-8688

Day and evening cruises from Miami

RWBimini.com

Island Breeze – from Port of Palm Beach – several delays, not sailing yet

See saga at: janesbits.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-owners-for-gambling-ship-docked-at.html






Tags: Gambling venues in South Florida, casinos in South Florida, racing in South Florida, bingo, gambling cruises

Howells & Hood, Chicago: Crafted food, craft beers and ...

Howells and Hood

435 Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60611

312-262-5310

Open seven days; brunch on Sundays with music

www.howellsandhood.com

Named for the esteemed architects of the Chicago Tribune Building built in 1925, Howells and Hood is best known for its stylish setting, good food and large craft beer selection. It’s a large eatery and bar occupying the ground floor of the building with one of the best outdoor patios along the Magnificent Mile. Business types frequent the place during weekdays; tourists tend to predominate on weekends.

No doubt patrons return here for the good food. Howells and Hood presents a somewhat conservative, grill house menu with steak, seafood, pork tenderloin and smoked chicken at night. Lunch includes burgers, some seafood, steak sandwiches and daily soups.  

Fellow diners claimed the onion soup, delivered in a lidded mini-crock dish with a small French bread roll, to be some of the best they’ve

tasted. Fried oysters, fresh, with a slight kick in the breading, earned kudos from companion diner. This was high praise coming from a native Louisianan.  A generously portioned lobster roll, accompanied by enough house-made fries for two, and a steak sandwich prepared as ordered, left the three of us wishing we could return. The highlight of the meal was the restaurant’s signature dessert—Blackberry, Orange Buttermilk Cake, served in a small pan with vanilla bean ice cream. A Grand Marnier orange compote sat at the bottom of this piece of art, making for a delightfully decadent, delicious and memorable end to the meal.

Howells and Hood claims to have one of the largest craft beer selections in Chicago. It takes up three pages of their menu. Beers, a wide variety of mixed drinks, 29 TVs and a great menu of “shareables” appeal to the after-work crowd. I also recommend a meal at Howells and Hood when returning from a boat tour on the nearby Chicago River.

Tags: Chicago restaurants, restaurants near Chicago River boat tours, restaurants near the Architecture Boat Tour, lunch in Chicago, dining at Chicago Tribune Building, patio dining along the Magnificent Mile 

Hotel Arista - City slicker digs in Chicago 'burb worth a stay

Hotel Arista

2139 CityGate Lane (at I-88 and Rt. 59)

Naperville, Il. 60563

630-579-4100

888-504-0088

www.calamos.com/                                                                     

www.hotelarista.com/

www.sugartoad.com/

www.citygategrille.com/

By Jane Feehan

City Gate

Holding best-hotel-in-town distinction, Hotel Arista provides a modern counterpoint to nearby historic downtown Naperville, Illinois. It’s owned by Calamos, a global investment manager, located on the same campus.

The hotel, 28 miles from Chicago, attracts business travelers to the area, home base to a long list of

corporations. Rates are reasonable, amenities such as free WiFi and a fitness center abound, and a few excellent restaurants help maintain Hotel Arista’s popularity.

Several restaurants on campus draw area residents as well as business types. Upscale Sugar Toad, and Zorbas operate in the hotel. Zorba offers good food, a great bar menu and stays open until 1 a.m.  A modern tavern, Tap In, is in the same building and CityGate Grille, also a Calamos property, sits a short walk from Arista. With a lake view, and a sleek, earthy-toned interior, this eatery serves up sophisticated fare to match. Original art lines the entrance to CityGate Grille; these paintings, including Anthony Quinn's self portrait, are well worth a few minutes of study.

Hotel Arista, with its luxury decor, outstanding staff, and good food also serves as a popular venue for weddings and business events. 

Naperville, the hotel's home, offers attractions for the entire family. There’s plenty of shopping and restaurants in its historic district. Oak Center, about 10 miles away in Oak Brook, has a Macy’s and a Lord & Taylor. Mike Ditka’s restaurant lies a few blocks from the mall.  Train service runs regularly on METRA to Chicago.

Chicago area hotels, Naperville restaurants, Naperville hotel, film researcher