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The Dream South Beach

1111 Collins Ave., Miami, Fla.; dreamsouthbeach.com; 108 rooms with winter rates from $279 (U.S.). no eco-rating.

Walking into the Dream South Beach feels like entering another dimension of art deco glamour, Eastern sensuality and Bollywood charm.

Open since July, the Dream South Beach brings whimsical Moroccan fantasy to Collins Avenue’s fabled swagger. with a chic rooftop pool lounge and neighbourhood restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Geoffrey Zakarian, this gorgeous 108-room boutique hotel is the latest addition to the Dream brand (an offshoot of Chatwal hotels).

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With properties in New York, Thailand and India, the Chatwal’s hip luxury lifestyle formula clearly works. Like other Dream joints, this one feels authentic to local culture, but also subtly radiates jet-setting glamour and accessible urban cool. It’s pleasantly quirky, too.

Vikram Chatwal, the 40-year-old son of hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, is the brand’s founder. Well known for his personal life and global gallivanting, he has achieved some success as a film actor, yet in person he is a gracious, chilled-out host. at the Dream’s opening party, he kept a low profile. Nicky Hilton was in attendance, as were fire-eaters and models sporting teeny gold shorts and Marie Antoinette wigs. And did I mention the vodka popsicles? delicious.

Design

Located behind the former Versace mansion, the gorgeous Dream merges two historic art deco hotels, the Palmer House and the Tudor Hotel, which opened in 1939. while creating their French Moroccan concept, design house Architropolis honoured the site’s architectural legacy and preserved many existing features (the former check-in desk of the Tudor, a stunning marble surface, now serves as the bar of the Tudor House restaurant). Adjacent to the restaurant is an exotic, bright orange Moroccan lounge, with plush fabrics, rugs and sofas. It’s eye-popping.

The second building houses the lobby, and the hotel’s main entrance is a lovely courtyard between the two that is landscaped with bamboo, fountains and an underlit pathway.

Designed with Vikram Chatwal in mind, lush fabrics make the ornate two-storey penthouse feel tastefully decadent. a marble table was built specifically to be danced upon, and a massive hookah pipe is fully functional. Yet the Dream’s crowning jewel is its rooftop infinity pool and deck, which doubles as local hot spot Highbar.

Rooms

To say these rooms are made for after-dark high jinks would be an understatement. when you first walk in, blue backlight hits you and the dim halogen lighting – while less than ideal for makeup application and other grooming – is soothing, otherworldly and sexy. Blackout curtains stretch twilight to 24 hours a day. The bed takes up most of the room, so comfy you might never want to wake up.

Separating the bathroom and entrance area from the bedroom are white mirrored double doors carved with an intricate Moroccan pattern that creates a “jewel box effect.” Sparkly crystal chandeliers add to the fantasy.

Now, for the open-concept bathroom: The toilet and shower are on opposite sides of the narrow entrance hallway, and while the loo has a door that closes, only transparent glass separates the shower from the rest of the boudoir. It’s sensual and beautiful, but don’t bring your mom here, or anyone else you don’t want to see naked.

Amenities

If you manage to leave the compound, the Dream offers beach towels and chair service through the Boucher Brothers’ stand on the sand. In-house, complete concierge services are available.

Service

Warm and personal, yet professional. Staff was warm, gracious and eager to go beyond the call of duty to take care of you.

Food

The Tudor House restaurant features simple American cuisine (with Mediterranean accents) and indoor and outdoor seating – its casual, airy ambience makes it as much neighbourhood beach café as fine-dining destination. The restaurant provides room service and takeout, and the dishes I sampled were fresh, light and flavourful.

Verdict

Magical. nothing like some art deco glamour paired with Eastern sensuality and humour to spice up your South Beach sojourn. Plus, Dream’s ideal location makes its restaurant a local hangout. My only complaint? The Tudor building only has one (slow) elevator.

Special to The Globe and Mail

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By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) — two of the most common and dreaded illnesses in America may share a connection, with new research suggesting that having insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes raises your risk of developing the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

After adjusting for other risk factors, the Japanese study found that people with the highest levels of fasting insulin had nearly six times the odds of having plaque deposits between nerves in the brain, compared to people with the lowest levels of fasting insulin.

Those with the highest scores on a measure of insulin resistance (where cells become less able to use insulin effectively) had about five times the odds of having brain plaques vs. those with the lowest scores on the insulin-resistance test, the study found.

In fact, “the risk of plaque-type Alzheimer’s disease pathology increases in a linear relationship with diabetes-related factors,” according to one study author, Dr. Kensuke Sasaki, an assistant professor in the department of neuropathology at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan.

Results of the study appear in the Aug. 25 online issue of Neurology.

Both type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease have been rapidly increasing in incidence, so much so that experts worry the illnesses may overwhelm the health-care system in the coming years if nothing is done.

While numerous studies have found a link between cognitive decline and dementia in people with type 2 diabetes, the current study sought to determine the reason for that link.

Using autopsies from 135 Japanese adults, the researchers were able to compare if different indicators of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes correlated with the development of plaque deposits between the nerves in the brain (neuritic plaques) or neurofibrillary tangles, which are found in dying cells in the brain. Plaques and tangles are thought by many to be the two main causes of the destruction of brain tissue seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

All of those autopsied died between 1998 and 2003. in 1988, they had undergone numerous tests as part of an ongoing study on brain and heart health. the tests included an oral 2-hour glucose tolerance test, fasting blood sugar and insulin levels, and a measurement of insulin resistance using a test called homeostasis assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

The researchers adjusted the data to control for age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol, body-mass index, smoking, exercise and cerebrovascular disease.

They found no association between diabetes risk factors and the development of tangles. however, higher levels of blood sugar two hours after eating, high fasting insulin levels and an elevated HOMA-IR score were associated with an increased risk of developing plaques. Fasting blood sugar levels were not associated with an increased risk of plaques, according to the study.

When the researchers compared varying levels of diabetes risk factors, such as fasting insulin, they found a linear association with the development of plaques. for example, fasting insulin was broken into three groups: low, medium and high. the low group didn’t have an increased risk of plaques, while the medium group had more than twice the risk of brain plaques, and those in the high group had a six times higher risk of plaques than those in the low group.

The researchers also performed a separate analysis to see if the presence of a gene long implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (ApoE4) would have an effect on the association between diabetes risk factors and the development of plaques. It did: Those with the ApoE4 gene has the strongest association between high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels and the development of plaques.

“Research has been linking diabetes to dementia, and probably to Alzheimer’s, and this study is one more bit of evidence to say that we’d better get a handle on this,” said Dr. Richard Bergenstal, president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association.

Bergenstal said this study’s findings are likely applicable to people with both type 2 and type 1 diabetes, and possibly to those with pre-diabetes, as well.

“this study fits into a body of literature looking at the relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. this area is being pretty aggressively researched for a number of reasons. Would better control of type 2 diabetes improve the cognitive fate of those with the disease, and is there some way we can intervene in glucose metabolism that might affect Alzheimer’s?” said William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“If you have diabetes, it’s certainly a good idea to keep it under control while we’re sorting out the research,” Bergenstal said.

“Although we don’t know anything that can prevent Alzheimer’s disease right now, I do think there are a lot of good reasons for people to try to prevent type 2 diabetes, much of which can potentially be avoided with regular physical activity and weight maintenance,” said Thies. “Preventing or controlling diabetes is good for all kinds of reasons, and also because it might contribute to your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”

More information

Learn more about what steps you can take to help maintain your brain health from the Alzheimer’s Association.

Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. all rights reserved.

<a href="http://www.wggb.com/2011/12/30/proposal-to-close-worthington-street-on-busy-nights/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.wggb.com/2011/12/30/proposal-to-close-worthington-street-on-busy-nights/Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:42:59 GMT”>WGGB abc40/FOX 6: News, Weather, Sports: Springfield, MA – Home

Chow, Baby is not good at maintaining automobiles. I often wish I had a grown-up around to nag me about things like getting my oil changed and my tires rotated. So it wasn’t that big of a surprise when my car broke down the other day. I had it towed to a mechanic in Arlington, near where I lived during my lengthy tenure at the University of Texas at Arlington (I was on the 8-year plan). my transmission may have gone on the blink, but my food karma was working like a charm. Thanks to the breakdown, I ended up enjoying good meals at two very different eateries.

By the time my car and I reached the mechanic’s shop, it was lunch time, and I was famished. Luckily, his garage is on Pioneer Parkway, not far from a place I’d been dying to try: Shisha Cafe (2301 Pioneer Pkwy., Pantego.), a new-ish Mediterranean grill and hookah lounge.

The ambience at Shisha is a cross between a smoky bingo hall and a Middle Eastern fast-food chain. Plumes of smoke hung in the air from hookahs. Blaring on the television was a Middle Eastern music video channel that I found alternately fascinating and annoying (to be fair, I would have found an all-English-speaking video channel just as annoying and not at all fascinating). the red pleather tablecloths were dingy and full of what I assumed were burn holes from rogue tobacco embers. It’s pretty clear that the building itself started life as a fast-food outlet, and the Shisha décor neither hid nor improved on those origins.

On the server’s recommendation, I ordered the chicken shawarma, which comes with a choice of salad ($7.49). I went for the Greek salad with a tangy Greek dressing over lettuce, olives, tomatoes, and goat cheese. the tomatoes looked dull and tasted bland, like they’d been pre-sliced by a food distributor, but the tang of the dressing rescued the salad. the shawarma — shaved pieces of marinated chicken breast — tasted unbelievably fresh. the garlicky, mayonnaise-like sauce blended well with the chicken’s curry and lemon marinade. the dish was served with moist rice and more of the dull tomatoes.

My car needed an overnight stay, so I hitched a ride home with a friend and resigned myself to being stuck at Chow, Baby HQ all weekend. I’m a fan of delivery, but I’m an even bigger fan of the fact that Winslow’s Wine Café (4101 Camp Bowie Blvd.) now serves lunch and is within walking distance of my current apartment.

Late on a Saturday afternoon, the dining room was mostly empty, but it’s still a very inviting environment. Winslow’s oozes chic from every molecule of its bright wood-tone décor and stylish blue banquettes.

My guest and I started with the fantastic clam chowder ($4), a classic New England version with potatoes and a bit of spice in the broth. we were a little less impressed with the salmon bruschetta appetizer ($8). the raisin and tomato chutney overpowered the salmon — all I could taste was the sweetness of the raisins and the layer of goat cheese slathered on the toast points. It wasn’t bad — I just wanted to taste more salmon.

The entrées were both excellent. the crab cake sandwich ($15) was more of a DIY project than a sandwich. Small but flavorful crab cakes sat atop toast points brushed with olive oil. A bacon-and-blue-cheese remoulade was spread on top, with lettuce, red onions, and fresh tomatoes on the side. the chicken pesto pizza ($15 for a small) was thin-crusted with grilled basil pesto chicken, mushrooms, artichokes, and a creamy bechamel sauce base. I’m usually leery of gourmet pizzas, but this was remarkably restrained, elegant, and delicious.

I still don’t know when my car will be ready, but I know that Winslow’s is going to be seeing a lot of me until it’s fixed. I probably won’t stop at Shisha when I pick up my car, but the food there is well worth a try. I just don’t care for the smoke — whether it’s billowing from a hookah or from under the hood of my car.

Contact Chow, Baby at this e-mail address is being protected from spambots. you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

<a href="http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5217:on-foot-for-food-&catid=69:chow-baby&Itemid=395tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content”>On Foot for Food

Paul Jatta’s Brøndby eliminated in the Danish Cup

Gambian youngster Paul Jatta and his Danish superligaen outfit Brøndby IF presented little opposition for FC Copenhagen on Thursday night, allowing a trio of goals in a rough 15-minute span to come crashing out of the Danish Cup.

With Copenhagen entering the game on a rare three-game winless streak, the best hope that the continually struggling Brøndby squad had was to take advantage of any residual desolation on the part of their visitors.

Paul Jatta’s Brøndby had fired former head coach Henrik Jensen earlier in the week after a run of poor results left them on the edge of the drop zone, with assistant Auri Skarbalius taking the reigns on a permanent basis.

With his first task a daunting visit from powerhouse Copenhagen, the former Lithuanian player saw his team effectively lose the game in a relatively short span of beginning several minutes before the break.

A 37th-minute was left to fall into the area by the Brøndby defense, and 25-year old Senegalese midfielder Pape Patè Diouf rushed in to send it over the line for 1-0. they struck again one minute before the half, as Cesar Santin found Dame N’Doye with a nifty back-heel, allowing the Senegalese striker to hit a low shot for the two-goal lead.

Copenhagen struck again in the 52nd minute as Sölvi Geir Ottesen Jónsson rose high to head in a corner. the silver lining of the loss is that it will allow Paul Jatta’s Brøndby to focus on their increasingly troublesome league campaign, where they will host 6th placed team Aalborg BK on Sunday.

Last Updated (Friday, 28 October 2011 15:12)

<a href="http://westcoast.gm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=532:paul-jattas-brondby-eliminated-in-the-danish-cup&catid=39:sports&Itemid=60tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://westcoast.gm/index.php?option=com_content”>Paul Jatta’s Brøndby eliminated in the Danish Cup

With fall in full swing, diners and foodies will find lots to do around town. Here are some of the latest restaurants/events to check out.

Le Pain Quotidien, a Belgian cafe-bakery chain with more than 160 locations worldwide, recently debuted in The Commons at Calabasas in the space formerly occupied by Damon & Pythias Greek restaurant. Open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays, until 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Offered are freshly baked organic goods along with breakfast, soups, salads and sandwiches. 4719 Commons way. 747-444-5163. www.lepainquotidien.com.

Mandarin Bistro, a sit-down, family-owned restaurant is new in Newbury Park in a former Pick Up Stix location. The menu features Chinese fare – with more than 100 Mandarin and Szechwan dishes available. Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Reservations taken. No liquor currently. 501 S. Reino Road. 805-375-1668.

Pyramido, a Greek/Mediterranean establishment, has opened in North Hollywood. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily. Table service. full bar. Hookah service offered on the patio. 4907 Lankershim Blvd. 818-761-0900.

Vibe Rolls & Salad Cafe opened in Glendale at 514 W. Colorado St. A fast, casual spot, order at the table or counter, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Salads, wraps, chicken meals, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and soups available. No liquor. 818-243-6103.

East West Dining Group recently debuted SmithHouse Tap & Grill in Century City. Angelo Sosa, a former contestant on “Top Chef,” is the consulting chef. Featured are classic American dishes with global ingredients and notes of whimsy. The custom-blend burger is topped with a bone marrow and Parmesan crust; slow-baked salmon is accompanied by charred bok choy and a lemon-yuzu butter; and a dry-aged new York strip steak is glazed in a ginger-soy emulsion and sprinkled with five spice walnuts. more than 120 selections of draft beers are cooled in six distinct temperature controlled zones and can be poured through Draft Master, a table-top tap system that allows diners to pour their own draft beer at the table. full bar offers an array of custom cocktails. The 240-seat restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations taken. 10351 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-432-4360. www.smithhousela.com.

An eighth location of Vosges Haut-Chocolat shop opened in Beverly Hills (other shops in Chicago, new York and Las Vegas). In a remodeled former nine West shoe store, the shop is decorated with arches shipped in from Marrakesh. There’s a cafe in front, a marketplace with products in the middle and a chocolate lab in the back. Offered are an array of exotic and interesting chocolate candy/sweet combinations, cocoa mixes and more. Consumers can purchase by the collection (Italiano, Aztec, Global), by the bar or box (caramels, toffees, etc.). Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 311 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. 310-275-3621. www.vosgeschocolate.com.

Rose restaurant has opened in West Hollywood with a menu of Provencal- and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday and Saturday brunch. full bar. Valet parking. Reservations taken. 861 N. La Cienega Blvd. 310-289-1294. www.roserestaurants.com.

The Six is scheduled to open in the former Risotto restaurant space (across from Jerry’s Deli) in Studio City at the end of this month. The full-service, casual concept restaurant will feature new takes on traditional American classics – such as burgers on brioche buns with Maytag blue cheese, potato crusted salmon with seasonal vegetables, organic jidori chicken breast, mussels and housemade banana cream pie. Beer and wine will be available. 12650 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. another location of The six has been open at 10668 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles, 310-837-6662, for a year and a half. Partners are Jake King, Will Karges and Alex Trumble.

Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air, is scheduled to open Nov. 1. The new restaurant’s fine dining culinary concept, headed by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, will focus on modern California cuisine with European and Mediterranean influences. It will showcase top quality fresh ingredients, all-natural poultry and sustainable seafood. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. full bar. Valet parking. Reservations taken. 701 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles. 310-909-1644. www.hotelbelair.com.

Going on around the areaDineLA Fall Restaurant Week continues today and also Monday-Oct. 14. Offered are fixed price lunches ranging from $16 to $28 and dinners from $26 to $44 per person. View restaurants participating along with their menus online at www.discoverlosangeles.com/restaurantweekv2.

Burbank’s Smoke House Restaurant celebrates its 65th birthday Wednesday with a complimentary champagne toast, birthday cake celebration and raffle drawing at 7 p.m. also, on Wednesday , every entree on the regular menu will be 50 percent off. through the end of this month, the restaurant is also partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and will donate 10 percent of garlic bread sales to the foundation. every Tuesday after 4 p.m. this month, entrees will be 40 percent off the regular menu. A special $19.46 dinner menu will be available during the month and early diners (4-6 p.m.) can still receive 25 percent off any entr e on the regular menu. 4420 W. Lakeside Drive, Burbank. for more information or reservations, call 818-845-3731.www.smokehouse1946.com.

Good Habit Foods, a gourmet market specializing in artisan, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options, opened last month in Thousand Oaks. The market is owned by Nina Burr, who offers a line of gluten free cookies. 1625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. 818-292-8599.

Los Angeles Food & Wine, a four-day festival with top chefs from around the country and events at venues in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Los Angeles and Santa Monica, is Oct. 13-16. Check website for various events. Tickets start at $50. 877-234-8425. www.lafw.com.

Morton’s The Steakhouse, Woodland Hills is hosting an outdoor, four-course puff on the patio dinner paired with wines and cigars, 6:30 p.m. Thursday . $115 per person. 6250 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills. Reservations required. Contact Ashlea gross at 818-703-7272. www.mortons.com/woodlandhills/specialevents.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company-CityWalk teams up with four Los Angeles breweries to kick-off LA Beer Week with Reverse Tap Takeover. The craft beer and food pairing event 5-9 p.m. Thursday. $20 per person. 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Universal City. 818-753-2739. www.karlstrauss.com.

To help with a cure for breast cancer, on Monday, Panera Bread will donate 100 percent of sales from its Pink Ribbon Bagels to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Also, throughout this month, 10 cents from each $1.29 Pink Ribbon Bagel sold and $1 from every Power of Pink Baker’s Dozen Pack of 13 Pink Ribbon Bagels ($10.49) will be donated to the organization. The bagels, shaped like a ribbon and baked fresh daily, feature cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries. Pick up the bagels at stores in Burbank, Glendale, North Hollywood, Northridge and Studio City. for additional locations, go to www.panerabread.com/cafes/find.php.

Boccaccio’s, Westlake Village, offers a five-course wine dinner with Pali Wine Co. wines at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Cost is $79 per person. Reservations required. 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, #110. 818-889-8300. Menu at www.paliwineco.com.

Los Angeles magazine’s The Food Event at Saddlerock Ranch is 1-4 p.m. Oct. 23. $95 per person in advance; $110 at the door. more than 40 restaurants and wineries will be participating. 31727 Mulholland Highway, Malibu. www.lamag.com/thefoodevent.

Lazy Dog Cafe is thinking pink during Breast Cancer Awareness month and from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 18 will donate 15 percent of each dinner bill to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Customers need to bring in a flier to participate (available at www.lazydogcafe.com/promotions).

The Langham hosts a five-course Farm to Table tasting dinner showcasing beer from Pasadena-based Craftsman Brewing Company 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner Oct. 19. $95 per person including beer pairings. Reservations required. 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena. 626-585-6218. www. pasadena.langhamhotels.com.

The L.A. Oktoberfest Benefit for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is 1-5 p.m. Oct. 22. It will feature German beer, food and entertainment. Tickets $25 per person. Event at Olympic Collection, 11301 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-915-8003. www.laoktoberfest.com.

If you know of any new restaurants now open or soon to open in the Valley, email the names and addresses to natalie.haughton@dailynews.com.

<a href="http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19054631?source=most_viewedtag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19054631?source=most_viewedThu, 06 Oct 2011 23:10:41 GMT 00:00″>Small Bites: Le Pain Quotidien opens in the Commons at Calabasas, Pyramido in North Hollywood, the Six in Studio City, plus more restaurant newsFall brings restaurant openings and events

As any engineer would be more than happy to tell you, college students are busy — not just a little preoccupied, but absolutely buried under an avalanche of homework, projects and exams. never mind the countless hours spent on Stumble upon or watching football — students will convince you there’s barely enough time to get work done, much less explore downtown.

Since many will only have a few opportunities to check out the discounts during 30 Days of Blacksburg, it’s important to know what’s worth your time. With that in mind, here is a completely subjective guide to some of the best Blacksburg has to offer. no matter where you choose to spend your hard-earned dollars, it’s impossible to go wrong with so many great options.

Week 1: She-Sha Cafe and Hookah Lounge (Oct. 5)

What better way to kick off an event intended to bring students and businesses together than with the ultimate fusion of college life and commerce? She-Sha Cafe and Hookah Lounge is a Blacksburg mainstay, popular for its multitude of tobacco flavors and relaxing atmosphere. As far as freshmen year cliches go, sitting around a hookah table with your dorm buddies is on par with highlighter parties and being forcibly evicted by an amorous roommate.

Hookah is only part of the She-Sha experience. the soothing ambiance coupled with authentic Middle Eastern menu and decor create a great atmosphere that even non-smokers can enjoy. She-Sha also serves as a welcome study alternative to the library or soul-crushing Math Emporium, provided you’re not the easily distracted type.  

Week 2: Pretty in Pink Fundraiser (Oct. 12)

Not all of the promotions during 30 Days of Blacksburg are intended solely for promoting businesses. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, there will be a downtown-wide fundraiser benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation. ten percent of sales at locations such as Gillie’s, Mad Dog, Sharkey’s and Starbucks will go toward breast cancer research.

In addition, cupcakes and “pink passports” will be sold for $5 and $10 respectively for the opportunity to win prizes including tickets to the Lyric, a one-month unlimited pass to classes at in Balance Yoga and art from the Matrix Gallery. Participating locations will be marked with pink ribbons. More information, including a full participant listing, can be found at DowntownBlacksburg.com.

Week 3: PK’s Bar and Grill (Oct. 18)

Benny Marzano’s may have it beat for sheer size, but PK’s still holds the best of Blacksburg crown for tastiest pizza, and for good reason — the stuff is delicious. while every bar in Blacksburg is technically a restaurant as per Virginia law, PK’s rides that blurry line better than most.

Want to grab a drink and watch the game? PK’s has more TVs than the Architect in the “Matrix Reloaded.” looking to grab a good, affordable meal with family in town? Head on down and try the Italian Stallion specialty pie. Need a family meal and a stiff drink? of course you do — your parents are in town. Knock two birds out with one satisfying stone at one of Main Street’s best eateries.

Week 4: 310 Rosemont (Oct. 29)

If you belong to the demographic Lance Diamond would refer to as “frat stars,” 310 Rosemont is right up your aesthetic alley. the ostentatiously pastel look is not for everyone, but students who need their fix of margarita and salmon attire, not to mention the ever-popular fish belts, will feel right at home in this Main Street boutique.

Even with a 10 percent discount, 310 Rosemont is hardly light shopping. a starting point for most clothes is $50, with many reaching the $80 to $90 level. Hell, I spent $28 for a T-shirt last year. You’re paying for quality, however, and since new pledges are buying friends anyway, what’s another couple hundred for fresh digs?

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 30 issue of the Collegiate Times.

<a href="http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/18365/30-days-of-blacksburg-reviewtag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/18365/30-days-of-blacksburg-reviewThu, 29 Sep 2011 04:42:05 GMT 00:00″>30 Days of Blacksburg review – CollegiateTimes.com

Columbia is certainly not well known for its selection of Lebanese-style eateries.

In fact, the city boasts only a handful of restaurants sprinkled throughout the area that serve up the typical Middle Eastern fare.

However, a quick stroll down Gervais Street will land you right in the heart of the Vista, and right at the front door of Mezza, a newly opened bistro and hookah lounge that’s putting a modern spin on some classic Lebanese favorites.

From an outside perspective, Mezza somewhat resembles many of the dining establishments the Vista has come to be known for: a nicely furnished bar at the front, followed by a simple seating area with white tablecloths under low lighting that glows from fashionable hanging shades.

It is only when you are seated at the booth or table of your choice that you can really take in what is a combination of classic style molded with a few twists that keep the restaurant looking fresh and modern.

The exposed air ducts are layered over a high ceiling, and the open brick work at Mezza’s front door keeps things comfortable and far from feeling overdone and stuffy.

And unlike many other more traditional Lebanese restaurants, Mezza’s house music of choice includes a variety of dubstep tunes that keep the vibe feeling new and hip. The walls are decorated with a culture clash of classic and modern paintings, all of which are for sale.

The best way to describe Mezza’s extensive menu of Lebanese dishes is fresh and diverse, serving up an assortment of typical cuisine mingling with some more contemporary choices.

The selection of appetizers is almost as expansive as the entrees themselves, giving diners the option of choosing between cold starters like hummus or baba ghanoush, an eggplant dish mixed with tahini sauce and garnished with olive oil.

The hummus, adequately priced at $4.95, was served chilled with soft, warm pita bread slices and tasted freshly made with a consistency that was perfectly balanced between thick and easily spreadable.

There are, of course, hot appetizers to choose from as well, including Phoenician fries sautéed in garlic and lemon and topped with feta cheese for $6.50, as well as another Lebanese favorite: falafel croquettes molded from fresh garbanza beans and served with a sides of lettuce, tomato, pickle and tahini sauce for the same price.

As for the main courses, Mezza offers an assortment of options to fit any taste and budget. there are four salads offered for under $10, including the tabbouleh salad crafted from a mixture of parsley, wheat, tomato, onions, olive oil and lemon juice that tasted crisp and light with a colorful array of textures and flavors.

There are also six wraps on the menu for less than $9 each, served on warm pita bread garnished with tomatoes, lettuce and pickles.

Diners can select from the falafel wrap or the traditional kafta kabab, a Middle Eastern style meatloaf served with hummus, as well as other wraps, including pitas stuffed with shrimp, chicken or beef.

Moving further down the menu brings diners to entrees with slightly heftier price tags.

All entrees from the grill, including kafta kababs over basmati rice and a mixed grill of chicken, beef and kafta with yogurt, are served with house salads with prices ranging from $14 to $17.

However, Mezza also offers items to share among groups of two to eight people. The petite Mezza meal serves two to four diners and comes with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, grape leaves and falafel, all for $30. Mezza serves up all these favorites and more, tacking on additional items like Phoenician fries, mixed grill, kibby balls, fattoush and shanklish at a price of $95.

The signature entrees include beef and chicken shawarma platters, which consist of meats that are shaved to order after marinating on the spit all day. The beef shawarma, served with basmati rice and tahini sauce was delicately moist and rich in flavor, and provided plenty of food at the cost of $13.

Oven selections are also available for $6 and under, dishing up manakish cheese, oven baked with mozzarella and akkawi cheese and manakish zaatar, freshly baked dough topped with thyme, olive oil and sesame seeds.

Walking out the back door of Mezza brings patrons to the hookah lounge, an open patio area just outside where customers can choose from a variety of shisha flavors to share at any one of the many seating options.

Mezza is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

<a href="http://www.dailygamecock.com/mix/item/2142-mezza-lebanese-bistro-hookah-lounge-introduces-middle-eastern-fare-to-vistatag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.dailygamecock.com/mix/item/2142-mezza-lebanese-bistro-hookah-lounge-introduces-middle-eastern-fare-to-vistaTue, 20 Sep 2011 03:21:08 GMT 00:00″>Mezza Lebanese bistro, hookah lounge introduces Middle Eastern fare to Vista

Hey,

I was talking to my Mum and I think she's agreeing to me being able to get a Hookah to smoke Shisha with. I know you can get I think 3 hose Hookahs in Joynt Venture in the city for aprox. $100. but I don't know much about them and yeah, I was wondering where I could get a good Hookah and some good Shisha (Flavoured tobacco)

Any info would be awesome!

Thanks

Where's a good place to purchase a Hookah and Shisha in Perth?

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I asked this before but only got one a couple of answers, so what is you favourite Al Fakher shisha flavour? or list of your favourites? cos im going to qatar in a couple of weeks and want to stock up on some gooood flava's!

I guess I'd go with the traditional 'apple'.

But I had coconut once, I don't know if it was Al Fakher though.

I've also had various fruit flavors mixed with 'rose' or 'rose water' flavor which were nice. Also cardamom flavor is nice mixed with fruits (like apple or peach) IMO

Nothing, extremely bad for you.

Apple, Pomegranate (Grenadine) &Mint
Mixed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get watermelon & mint

simply amazing!

What is the best Al Fakher shisha?