Thank you, Bullseye Resource Center
January 19, 2008
Tonight I discovered I was fresh out of a number of glassy things, so I got in the car and headed over to the Bullseye Resource Center to renew my supplies.
Got there about 4:15 or so–they close at 5:00pm–and discovered I was at the tail-end of the last day of the BE winter sale. People come from all over to hit up this sale, and from the crowds you’d think they were giving away free money. So…the last 45 minutes of the last day of week-long and exhausting, gazillion-people-clawing-at-you-for-bargains glass sale is not exactly the best day to stroll through the store and expect good service, right?
Wrong. These dudes are pros, and moreover, they’re genuinely friendly pros who care. They were clearly tired, but smiled, greeted me by name, and asked what they could get for me. I probably had five different employees head over to say hello and offer to help within the first 10 minutes.
Now, maybe they just wanted to get me the heck out of there (understandable), and I’m always bugging them for a class or help with a glass problem, so knowing my name is pretty much a given.
But still–these were folks who wanted to make sure I got what I needed and didn’t feel rushed. I cannot begin to say how valuable that kind of customer service is, or how little of it still exists. It’s why I like living in glassland, it’s probably why I spend so much time (and money) at the Resource Center, and I sincerely hope that the folks at Bullseye realize how much it’s appreciated.
And dad-gummit, I forgot to go upstairs (again) to see what was in the gallery. Drat.
Genuine disadvantage
January 19, 2008
Uhm…don’t mean to pick on Microsoft but I’m gonna use them as an example of why tone and voice are so important in writing. (And why usability isn’t just corporate buzz)
Excel 2007 has many clever and useful new features, including a fascinating library of all sorts of templates (there’s even one to track NFL player statistics, for some reason). Clicked on one to try it out, and got this:
So in order to download this template I’ve got to prove I’m not a pirate, and this is somehow a genuine advantage for me?
It would seem that the only genuine advantage is Microsoft’s, which gets an additional opportunity to check up on me. Now–this is by no means exclusive to Microsoft (I could tell you stories about Lenovo that would curl your hair) and intellectually, I’m happy that Microsoft is chasing after crooked pirates who eat into profits and make things harder for everyone.
But when I see screens like this I’m not really happy. I’m irritated.
Costello’s Travel Caffe
January 18, 2008
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Location: Hollywood district, off 84 across from that big fireplace store
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Price for two, drink and snack: $15
Costello’s is across the street from the Blue Nile. We saw it after trying the BN cuisine, and this little bistro was so intriguing that we stopped in for dessert. We will DEFINITELY be heading back. The smells emanating from the kitchen nearly made me want dinner all over again. (And, frankly I was more interested in dishing with my cousin than actually eating dessert, so that’s saying a lot).
Costello’s serves sandwiches, a few entrees and some soups, mostly northwest stuff, with desserts and coffee. They offer lovely live music, a travel motif, and somebody’s travel movies in LCD panels on the wall. Relaxed, friendly service, great hot beverages (and given the wet windstorm outside a hot drink was most welcome).
This is one of those friendly neighborhood joints where you could curl up with a latte and a book for several hours. Good apple crumb tart, too.
Arawan
January 12, 2008
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Area: Vancouver
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Price to fill up two people: About $30
You go to Typhoon for the exotic/authentic kinda Thai meal; you go to Arawan for suburb Thai. It’s up in northern Vancouver, WA, and the food is fresh, bright, inexpensive and tasty. Don’t expect anything unusual (no “beef with grapes” here), and don’t be surprised if items from Japan and China slip in…but it’s a nice, standard Thai dinner place.
Alicia Lomne’s class, Part II
January 12, 2008
Nicola’s Italian
January 10, 2008
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Area: St. John’s
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Price to fill up two people (minus booze): About $30-$35
A colleague had a small art show opening at a little shop in St. John’s (Jason Lucey, actually, who by day is an SEO expert, but also is a photographer).
Robyn and I met there, mentioned our restaurant quest and the crowd unanimously suggested Nicola’s, a nearby Italian restaurant on Lombard. “It’s the closest thing to New York Italian you’ll find in Portland,” they assured us.
OK, not quite. And I suspect Nicola’s pizza is really where it shines. But the other food is not bad, the folks are friendly, and it’s a kitschy enough Italian place that it’s kinda fun.
Robyn had the “small” calzone (which still filled up the plate and was more than enough for two). I had the tortellini pancetta, which violated my new Italian restaurant rule (order the picatta or something bolognese, which are two things any Italian restaurant tends to do well). Probably should have stuck with my rule because while it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t just over the moon sin like a tortellini in cream sauce oughta be.
(I should note that neither of us felt like chicken florentine, which we were assured was the best thing on the menu, so there’s still an exploration to be made if you’re interested.)
But it was OK food, nice people, dinner for two with beverage was about $30. I don’t think I’d drive all the way to St. John’s just to eat there, but it’s a nice little neighborhood find if you’re there.