Al Forno - Providence, RI

Dirty Steak, Anyone?

Two weeks ago was my wife's birthday. We’ve grown into a tradition of celebrating what we’ve termed the “Birthday Week” or “Weekend” at bare minimum. So in order to keep up the legacy, I planned a full 4 days of activities starting with an amazing birthday dinner at Al Forno in Providence. If you’ve ever been so lucky to eat there then you know what an absolute treasure it is. How lucky are we to have one of the best restaurants in the country in our own backyard? That’s not just my opinion - but the opinions of many of the country's best chefs and foodies alike.

When I got the idea to go there, I did what any responsible person would do... I tried getting a reservation. Don’t waste your time -they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. We went right after work - problem solved. Parking isn’t a major issue because the restaurant has their own lot and there is plenty of on street parking in the surrounding area. The building that houses the restaurant is a large brick structure with huge floor to ceiling mill windows that overlook the Providence River. On this particular night (...)

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

Saturday night was warmer than expected, so after heading home from our favorite 3 year old's birthday party to take care of Dave and Grux, Melissa and I decided to head to Roger Williams Park Zoo for the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular and some great photo ops. The event runs now though November 1 from 6 pm-11 pm (last entry at 10) and includes thousands of hand carved pumpkins with various themes. One of my favorites was

22 Bowen's - Newport, RI

Lunch over a three hour period usually means you’re working hard at the office on a huge proposal that absolutely needs to get done “today”. In fact in most cases, the legend of the three hour lunch is largely considered a myth. But for a select few, Saturday, September 12, 2009 was a lunch to rival all others. It was a lunch of such epic proportions that when it was over, we stared at each other in disbelief, wondering where the time went.

Ok, so maybe that was a little dramatic.

This past Saturday Melissa, my mother and my brother Justin and I dined at 22 Bowen’s in Newport, RI. Melissa and I decided that it would be a great idea

Plaid and Stripe - Providence, RI

Last week, Melissa and I had lunch at one of our favorite places, Haruki East in Providence. After I enjoyed yet another delicious beef asparagus bento box and she enjoyed the Wayland maki, we realized we had some time to kill, so we started walking down the street for a coffee. We stumbled upon this great store, Plaid and Stripe.

We were greeted by Robin Bugbee, aka the “lead dog” in the store. Robin introduced us to his two beagles for whom the shop is named, Plaid and Stripe. What a couple of hams. We loved them and can’t wait to get back to the store to visit with them again.

The shop is full of unique gifts for pets and their people, as well as practical items like leashes, collars and treats. Robin is very knowledgeable and friendly, asked lots of questions about our pets and helped us pick out a new harness for Grux.

The thing that made the experience for us though, was definitely the service. It’s so nice to walk into a shop that is owned by someone who is a) there b) happy to be there c) happy that YOU’RE there. Good customer service makes all the difference in the world and it’ll keep us coming back for sure.

Next time you’re walking around on the East Side, pop into Plaid and Stripe and say hi to the gang for me!

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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North Paws Veterinary Center

Trust. It’s the single most important feeling a person must have in order to continue to use the services of another. At North Paws Veterinary Center we found exactly that. We had been looking for a quality vet for a long time and I’m happy to say the search has ended. Dr David Bergmann immediately put us at ease with his calm demeanor and informative conversation. He took the time to really listen to what we had to say, ask lots of questions and addressed each of our concerns… all the while paying particular attention to our dog, Grux.

It’s so important to feel heard when visiting any doctor. I’m not just talking about telling the assistants what’s ailing your pet or explaining to the doctor why you’re in their office. I’m talking about really being heard. I feel that it’s a lost art in any service industry, so when you experience it, make sure to hold on with both hands because that’s usually someone who really cares about what they do and how they do it. Dr Bergmann and his technician Wendy were simply amazing in many ways, but most importantly the way they instilled trust in us. On the ride home Melissa and I kept talking about how impressed we were with both of them and how we couldn’t wait to get our cat Dave over there to be seen by Dr Bergmann as well.

I’m sure there are a few pet owners out there who are looking for reassurance that their pet is in good hands. With North Paws Veterinary Center you can feel confident that your pet’s needs are being met and you’ll sleep easier knowing they actually care about Fido’s health. Thanks, North Paws.

564 Putnam Pike

Greenville, RI 02828

401-949-5030

http://www.northpaws.com/

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!