Sapori: B-

Food: 8/10 Presentation: 4/5 Decor: 4/5 Service: 1/5
Total: 17 of 25: B-

First, Sapori is an Italian restaurant. It is not Japanese! That confused us, including other Italians in the party.

I went to Sapori for a holiday party. It was a large party and we took up about a third of the restaurant. The owner gave us a sitting from 6 to 8:30. This all comes very important later on in the review.

First thing you notice is the beautiful brickwork throughout the restaurant. The owner laid it himself. It gives a very warm feeling to the restaurant. They also have very unique and distinctive lighting.

We were served a variety of appetizers. The anitpasto platter was fantastic with high quality ingredients and oil. I could have eaten that all night. Next was calamari. I'm not a fan but they were lightly battered and cooked perfectly. The dipping sauces were good but a bit light on flavor. Next were mussels. I found them to be great. They were a bit strong which had some put off. I gladly ate theirs. Next was gnocchi in a light duck meat sauce. It was absolutely great. Again, I could have eaten this for dinner. Finally, a salad. Now, these were essentially 5 courses served separately. Remember we have 2 and half hours for dinner. Also, the owner picked out the appetizer courses, not us. We just picked what entree we wanted. Everything else was taken care of for us.

The entrees were served. I had a veal cutlet which was very good. My wife had pork chops which were also very good. Most of the meals are very complicated. They come in a variety of sauces and additional ingredients. No clean and simple entrees. Luckily everyone really liked their meal.

Finally was coffee and dessert. We passed on dessert but everyone liked the squash cheesecake.

The entire meal took 3 and half hours. It's not that we ate slowly. It's that the service was very slow. We basically had a 7 course meal. There is no way to do a 7 course meal for 25 people in 2 and half hours. But that's what the owner did. Extremely bad time management. There was a line out the door of people waiting for their 8:30 reservation. Of course, they shot us the evil eye but it really was a management mistake. I saw no attempt by the staff to ease the crowd. But they did get anxious and finally at hour 3 try and "hurry us along". Terrible.

Finally, with any large party, usually they get priority treatment and the rest of the room suffers. Not this time. It was kind of opposite. We had horrible service at our end of the table. The servers would pour wine for half the table and then walk away. Others were finishing their dessert and we hadn't even gotten our coffee yet. And then just the poor pacing of the meal.

I honestly think that the owner just didn't know how to deal with such a large party. We had personally worked out the details with him a week in advance so there was no excuse for the poor pacing or overly complicated appetizer service. In fact we had 4 people not show up so the party was smaller than expected.

Would I eat there again with a dinner for two? Maybe not. The food was very good and reasonably priced for an upper-scale restaurant. You can get an excellent meal there for under $80 for two. It is BYOB which helps. But I'd probably drop another $20 and go to Catelli's.

New Pornographers - Challengers: A-

Music: 7 Vocals: 5 Lyrics: 4 Production: 4
Total: 20 of 25: A-

Sometimes you just want really well written pop music that isn't prechewed for you. Sometimes you want good male/female harmonies. Sometimes you want lyrics written for adults by adults. And sometimes you want subtle but infections melodies and hooks that will keep humming throughout the day. Enter The New Pornographers' album Challengers.

Upon first listen you won't get pulled in. It's a very simple album that is mildly interesting. After a few listens though, you won't be able to get the melodies out of your head. The songs are perfectly constructed using acoustic and electric guitar, bass, keyboards, piano, strings, horns, some kind of whistle, maybe a metal bar on a wood block?! All of these instruments weave in and out in the songs. Usually just the guitar and drums hold the songs together with very simple chord progressions and rhythms. It's all the layers and textures that make the music interesting.

By far the best aspect are the vocals. Songs are roughly split between the male and female singer but they trade back and forth with pitch perfect harmonies. They both write very singable choruses. They use very interesting and unique inflections and pacing. And both have a wide range of emotions in their voice. Particularly memorable is "Adventures in Solitude" where the vocals are very staccato until the swelling and sweeping break which just grabs you and carries you along for the ride. Awesome.

If you want good adult music that will keep you humming, get Challengers. But do yourself a favor, listen a few times before making your assessment. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Octopus Project - One Hundred Thousand Million: C

After loving their new album, Hello Avalanche, I was very eager to get their first album to see how they began. First the good. There some excellent jams, rhythms, and riffs throughout the album. It ranges from laid back to frenetic paces. Overall it's a lot of fun. The bad? The song writing. Although you can here the genius behind the musicians, at this point they hadn't figured out how to turn that into 4 minute songs. Many compositions here meander aimlessly or stay stuck on one riff too long. Another distraction is their deliberate attempt to be "lo-fi". Too much on purpose noise infiltrates the mix. At one point I thought my speaker was blown. Nope, just a "cool" sound effect. One song would be great if it weren't for the incessant cymbal hiss masking the great work beneath it.

I wanted to love this album. Instead it was an interesting and promising beginning for Octopus Project. But ultimately, get Hello Avalanche and enjoy their unique mix of music and pass on this one.

Rob Garza - Dust Galaxy: C

Music: 7 Vocals: 2 Lyrics: 1 Production: 3
Total: 13 of 25: C

Rob Garza is an artist from another independent band who finally released his first solo album. In it he brought in several guest musicians to create Dust Galaxy.

First, let me say that the rhythm section of this band is excellent. The bass and drums are very tight. In fact, the bass player is the best part of the band. He creates such unorthodox bass lines that are much better than 99% of the music out there. Coupled with an excellent drummer, these two gel perfectly.

Next is the guitarists including Rob. When they add textures and flavors, they further enhance the rhythms. They should just stay away from the occasional riff where they are certainly not that good. But when they build layers and add accents to songs that is truly mesmerizing. And the sitar on a few songs is quite good.

So far we've got some very good music which ranges from psychedelic to pop. On several songs you could drift off and groove. But then it all falls apart...

Rob should never ever sing. Honestly, he doesn't sing. He kind of attempts to melodically speak with his raspy voice. It's terrible. And the lyrics are equally terrible. Rob should immediately find a real singer and redo the album. It could really be fantastic.

Rob's musical vision is special and talented. Unfortunately he ruins it with his terrible lyrics and vocals. Rob, please find a singer and make more albums. Otherwise, stay very far away from his solo work.

Meat Puppets - Rise to Your Knees: F

Music: 2/10 Lyrics: 2/5 Vocals: 1/5 Production: 1/5
Total: 6 of 25: F

In 1994, the Meat Puppets released one of my favorite albums, Too High to Die. After the misstep of their next album, No Joke, and recovery from drug addiction, the Meat Puppets return. Unfortunately, it is not a reunion worth waiting for.

The first thing I notice is the horrible recording quality. In the days of affordable computer-based studios, it's shocking that a CD could be made of such horrible quality. Most demo CDs by unsigned bands sound better. It sounds like it was done over 2 days with a few mics set up in a warehouse studio.

Next, the album just meanders on and on through the midway point. There are no catchy hooks, no great guitar work or quirky charm. It's just terrible. By the middle, it sort of hits its stride and has a few pretty good songs. But, they are ruined by the sound quality. Songs like "New Leaf" and "Disappear" are probably excellent live. But, horrible EQ, reverb, and balance between the instruments suck all the life out of these songs.

Finally, the vocals and lyrics have always been a love it or hate it trademark of the band. Curt Kirkwood by all rights shouldn't sing but has the ability to somehow squeeze out some great performances. On Rise to Your Knees, he mostly fails to bring out the charm and hooks of previous work. Coupled with uninspired guitar-work in many songs, his vocals just don't cut it this time around.

Sad to say I'm very disappointed with this effort and hope for better material in the future.

Cheesecake Factory: B

Food: 6/10 Presentation: 4/5 Decor: 4/5 Service: 4/5
Total: 18/25: B

After eating at the Cheesecake Factory several times I come to one main conclusion about people. Give them average food but with huge portions at a fair price, and they'll think the place is amazing.

The decor in the new Cherry Hill, NJ location is very nice. Very open and spacious. All the locations I've been in are good. One common theme I've noticed is that they are all very noisy.

The service was prompt and attentive including a large party of 20 we had once. Everything arrived quickly and glasses were continuously refilled. Minor note, refills on sodas are not free. But you do get a giant cup.

The menu is enormous. It has just about anything you would want from sandwiches to pizza to full meals. It covers American food and touches of other ethnic foods. So, anyone can find something to eat.

The quality is completely average. Nothing special or stands out. What does stand out is that the portions are huge. Most meals are enough for two. And the prices are very reasonable. Finally, the cheesecake is pretty excellent. Who else has dozens of varieties of cheesecake?

Given they don't take reservations (except for big parties) and there seems to always be an hour or more wait, why go? I've asked myself that for years. Honestly, there is no reason to wait for this food that is completely comparable to Fridays or Houlihans. I think people have convinced themselves that the Cheesecake Factory is a real restaurant and not another Applebees. Maybe someday people will get it and the wait will go down to something reasonable. So, if you can get in with a minimal wait, then go for it. Otherwise, head somewhere else.

Crowne Plaza Hotel - Silver Springs, MD: B+

I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Silver Springs, MD for a week on business. Overall, it is a good hotel that has only a couple of areas for improvement.

The room size was good. Given this is right next DC, I expected the rooms to be a bit smaller. But they were what I would consider a standard size room. It had plenty of room for a desk, sofa, and chair along with a king bed. The heat/AC worked fine.

The bed was solid with plenty of support. It was a bit too firm. But it was a quality bed. Oddly, it had 4 half size pillows. They worked but I can't figure out why they don't have full size pillows. Included in the room were several items to help you sleep. It came with ear plugs, an eye mask, a lightly scented "linen" spray, and a CD with relaxation techniques and some soft music. A very nice touch.

Always a source of anxiety, the alarm clock was extremely complicated. The manual should have been included in the room. The alarm clock had a touch screen which I've never seen before. It took me 10 minutes to figure out how to turn the radio on instead of the CD player for the alarm.

The TV could use a few more channels and reception on a couple of channels was fuzzy. The hotel also has free wi-fi access throughout (including the restaurant). The desk and chair were comfortable for laptop usage. A few more outlets would have been good.

The bathroom was a normal size and perfectly clean. All the normal personal care items (soap, etc.) were included and were of good quality. The coffee maker in my room didn't work.

The decor in the room was fine. What was odd was the choice of "castle brick" wallpaper in the hallway. It was truly hideous.

The restaurant in the hotel was pretty good. I ate there three times. The crab cakes used jumbo lump meat and had little filler. They were very good. The filet minion was very good and perfectly cooked. The chicken picatta was also very good with a fine caper sauce. One disappointment is the salad. It looks like basic iceberg lettuce salad mix from the super market with a slice of cucumber, some soggy crutons, and some canned sliced olives. Dressing was on the side and home quality. Another problem was the side vegetables. They were cooked well it's just they looked very tired. It was puzzling since by looking at them you'd think they were cooked to death either by boiling or steaming. Instead they were crisp. Odd.

Again, a pretty good hotel with little to detract from it. Perhaps a better choice of wallpaper and a bit more detail in the kitchen could help. But, definitely a good choice for the area.

New Golden Dawn Diner: F

Food: 2 Presentation: 1 Decor: 1 Service: 2
Total: 6/25: F

The New Golden Dawn is on Route 38 in Maple Shade, NJ. The Newness is relative. It's been there as long as I can remember, at least 25 years. I've been here a few times over that 25 years and never had been impressed. But sometimes you can't go back to the same diners every couple of weeks so you head back hoping for something different. It wasn't.

The place needs some serious updating. It looks like a very run down place. The service didn't help. It was just a bit too slow that night and not enough attention to detail. I felt as if our server had something better to do.

I ordered fried shrimp for dinner. First came a basket of worn out bread. It just didn't look fresh. Maybe it was. I didn't chance it. Next was a very normal salad. Finally came the fried shrimp. Now, I want some large or jumbo shrimp fried up. That's not what I got. I got around 30 very small and anemic shrimp. I mean, many were less than 1 inch long. They were battered en mass and deep fried together. You couldn't even tell which ends were the tails. And many were stuck together creating two headed or tailed shrimp. What a mess. What chef or owner would think this was good?

Fortunately, my wife got a chicken ceasar salad. The chicken was actually spiced and grilled very well. She enjoyed her meal while I barely stomached mine. A very different set of experiences.

Given my order, I'll never go back. I can only imagine what other horrors lurk on the menu.

Alan Morse - Four O'Clock and Hysteria: A-

Music: 8/10 Production: 5/5
Total: 13/15

Alan Morse is the highly talented guitar player from Spock's Beard. He breaks out with a fantastic solo album. Spock's Beard is a great prog rock band. Unfortunately, Alan and his brother Neal on keyboards and vocals split a few years ago. SB lives on with Alan and isn't quite as good.

For Alan, his solo album is a jazz rock tour de force. He's managed to assemble another fantastic lineup of musicians. Everyone in the band is a virtuoso in their own right. But, the music is led by Alan and some amazing guitar playing. A couple of songs pay homage to old Yes, but mostly it's original and moving.

The production on the album is sparkling and crystal clear. Anyone who wants to learn to record and master should put this on their reference list.

Overall, if you want to hear some great jazz rock, this is a great album to get. Highly recommended.

Octopus Project: B

Music: 8/10 Production: 3/5
Total: 11/15: B

The Octopus Project sounds like an 80s video game. It beeps and buzzes. And it uses that basic synth sound we're used to hearing out of an old TV while playing Atari. Accompanying this is modern guitars, bass, piano, drums, and a drum machine. Except for the last song there are no vocals. It makes for very unique listening. Some songs rock. Others make you want to get up and dance. The whole thing runs out of steam a bit at the end. But with 9 really good songs out of 13, it's a very fun album to listen to. Definitely worth a listen and something you'll dig up every now and then for the sheer fun of it.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: C

Music: 6/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 3/5 Production: 3/5
Total: 15 of 25: C

The release of Spoon's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" got a lot of indie hype. They were on the cover of many indie and mainstream music mags. Given this I had to see what the buzz was about.

First, this certainly isn't mainstream rock music. It's a medium tempo, laid back rock music. The singer has a catchy voice which is a bit rusty sounding. The music itself ranges from simple guitar to some horns, hand claps, piano and strings. It works but clearly isn't traditional. Listening to it, I try to image even how they went about writing it.

Two songs that clearly stick in my mind are "Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" and "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case". Both are very catchy and have some great little hooks in them.

In the end, the quirkiness is fun but not lasting. It's good for a few spins. But ultimately isn't an album I would want to replay 6 months from now.

Chris Cornell - Carry On: B+

Music: 6/10 Vocals: 5/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 19 of 25: B+

Chris Cornell has the best voice in rock. But, he's getting older (born 1964) as are his fans. Audioslave had minor success. The thought of creating the next Soundgarden is probably impossible at this point. So, Chris is evolving and somewhat mellowing. Are 14 year olds going to be cranking Carry On? No. But I will.

From a musical standpoint, the instruments paint more of a canvas for Chris' voice than stand out on its own. A few exceptions such as "No Such Thing", "Ghosts", and "Your Soul Today" show some good talent by the band. But in the end it's Chris' voice and lyrics that sell this album.

The lyrics are mostly fantastic. A lot of well written material on loves gained and lost, and on lifes trials and successes. I especially love the "Arms Around Your Love" speaking of your ex moving on and feeling the guilt and jealously that it brings. The flip side is covered on "Ghosts" where the ex comes calling but you're not the same person and have moved on.

A few bad songs sprinkle the album. "Poison Eye" kind of rocks but the lyrics and hook just don't sit well. Chris also delves into some bluesy country type songs that are okay. In fact, "Finally Forever" and "Safe and Sound" both kind of sound the same at the start.

Two interesting footnotes for the is album. Chris does a great cover of Micheal Jackson's "Billie Jean" sung with much angst and power. This album also has the James Bond theme song "You Know My Name" which is great for Bond but not so great for music.

Overall, I really like this album and recommend it. It's not going to blow you away. But it's solid and very enjoyable.

Don Ross - Music for Vacuuming: A

Music: 8/10 Production: 5/5
Total: 13 of 15: A

Don Ross is a phenomenal acoustic guitar player. He perhaps has the best picking right hand in the business. He has won the US National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice.

This is an instrumental album of just Don and his one guitar. There are no overdubs. There are only other rhythm instruments on 2 songs. This is music done in one take. Little mistakes and half notes make it into the recording, but that's what makes it so human and real.

Clearly there are standouts on the album. The opening track "How to Eat an Avalanche" is a fast and furious piece with amazing up and down the fretboard movement. "Tochigi" is a swirling rhythm that hypnotizes. It gets you into a trance and then breaks out into new directions only to come back to the original. It's a very nice ride. Finally, "Never Go to Pernambuco" is a sad and soulful number making you think of loves lost on rainy days.

The only real issue is that it is very hard to write solo acoustic guitar songs that last more than 3 minutes. Nearly all Don's songs top 5 minutes. So, at times songs repeat too much or stay on the same refrain too long. I can imagine actually playing these songs or being in close proximity that it would be easy to lose yourself in the music. But the experience doesn't translate as well to the car or office.

Slightly too long songs is hardly a bad criticism, especially when the guitar is so amazing. If you like acoustic guitar or perhaps want some excellent ambient music, this is fantastic stuff. I highly recommend it and look forward to getting more albums by Don Ross.

Awake and Alert - Devil in a Lambskin Suit: B+

Music: 7/10 Vocals: 5/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 20 of 25: B+

Awake and Alert is a fantastic new indie band out of Arizona. Maya Peart fronts the band. She has a tremendous voice. Soulful yet ethereal. Powerful yet beautiful. She is a true talent that hopefully will have a long and successful career.

The rest of the band is good but not fantastic. They do much more than a typical backup band of a Norah Jones or Fiona Apple. But they're not quite a stand alone band either. They provide a very diverse canvas for Maya to sing upon. It ranges from dark and brooding to cinematic and even an occasion at rock.

Being a relatively new band, I see a few junior mistakes. There are definitely hooks in the music and lyrics. But too often it all meanders a bit. All the songs sort of blur together until the hook in most of them hits and then you remember the song. Hopefully they will all find their way on their 2nd album.

The lyrics are mostly personal of relationships gone wrong. Nothing trite and most of the lyrics are original.

One of the highlights is the vastly beautiful "Let Autumn Lift Me". It is a great showcase of Maya's vocal talents. The title track is a nice rocker for the band. Finally, "Hollow Bodies" provides some very memorable music and a great vocal hook in the chorus. These are the three that stand out the most but everything else is good. There are no clunkers on this album.

Given the music industry is in shambles right now, I wouldn't be surprised if this band never sees the real light of day. Especially since they are not mainstream. But, they do deserve better. Hopefully they will get some airplay and be given the opportunity to mature over the next several years. Do yourself a favor and get on board with Awake and Alert.

Smashing Pumpkins Zeitgeist: C

Music: 7/10 Vocals: 2/5 Lyrics: 1/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 14 of 25: C

Half of the Smashing Pumpkins (Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin) return for their first album since 2000. Being arguably the most successful 90's rock band, can this be the reunion to bring the back to their former glory?

First, Billy was never a good singer. So, his voice still sounds like a bandsaw drenched in lemon juice.

Second, Billy never really wrote very good lyrics. Most are horrible and then a few great ones come through.

Third, Jimmy is the best rock drummer alive today. Period.

Forth, Billy plays a real mean guitar.

Fifth, Billy writes some pretty crappy music sometimes.

So, Zeitgeist kind of sums up all of these points. Their good songs are really good, and their bad songs are really bad. Unfortunately, there is more bad than good. Out of the 12 songs on the album, I keep 7 on my iPod though I could easily trim that to 5.

The highlight is "Tarantula". A super saturated guitar with angry lyrics and booming drums. Oh, and lets not forget the rusty chainsaw guitar solo that melts into a turn reminiscent of their awesome song "Mayonnaise". A song that could easily be on any of their previous albums except Adore.

Next is the real oddball "Starz" (yes with a totally 13 year old teenager spelling). The lyrics about, well, Stars in the sky are absolutely horrible. Perhaps the worst he's ever written. But the crunchy guitar is spot on. And the drum. My god the drums. It is a masterpiece in drum work. The music alone makes this song a 10 but the lyrics bring it to an 8.

There are other good songs such as "Doomsday Clock" and "Come On (Let's Go)" which range from pure rock to more pop.

But then there is the other half of the album. I really don't care about Billy's revolution talk in "United States". Just let it rock. It doesn't. Oh, and it's over 9 minutes long. Crappy lyrics. Boring music. Terrible song.

There are others like the plodding "Bleeding the Orchid". Why does Billy love these types of songs? There's always one on every CD and it always sucks (except for the decent "Blue Skies Bring Tears"). Or how about the song that sounds like it was written and recorded in someone's basement "Pomp and Circumstances".

To sum it up, delete half the album and call it an EP and this thing is an A-. Throw in lots of crap? C.

Tokyo Police Club: C-

Tokyo Police Club hails out of Canada. They have a few EPs and singles. I checked out 12 of their tracks which is pretty near their full catalog. Given I only listened to them once, this is an abbreviated review.

The best way to describe TPC is they sound exactly like a clone of The Strokes "Is This It?" In fact, I thought it could be the B sides to that whole album. Everything from the quirky rhythms to the warble of the singers voice. Given the Strokes have moved a bit away from their original sound, this album may be exactly what you need to keep that sound going. Otherwise, buy the Strokes and play that until the bits wear off and leave Tokyo Police Club on the shelf.

Mikado - Maple Shade, NJ: C+

Food: 7 Presentation: 3 Decor: 2 Service: 2
Total: 14 out of 25: C+

Mikado has turned into a local chain of Japanese restaurants. It has a reputation of having good sushi. Given so many top notch Japanese restaurants in South Jersey and Philadelphia, let's see if Mikado rates up there.

The restaurant is not in a great location next to the mall. Walking into the restaurant there are three sections. Directly in front is the sushi bar. I guess front in center gets your attention. But if I were bellied to the bar, the last place I'd want to be is right in the front next to the people waiting for a table. Horrible location.

To the left is a long, narrow section of booths and tables. It's not very attractive at all. To the right is a separate section with the teppanyaki grills. That was the nicest section. Unfortunately, we were in the tunnel.

I order a California roll and tuna roll. My one table mate ordered a platter of sashimi. My other table mate ordered some form of tempora. All the meals came with hot tea, miso soup, and a salad. We also ordered edamame, chicken yakatori, and some pan fried dumplings.

The tea was generic "asian" tea. The miso soup was also generic with bits of seaweed and tofu. The salad was again generic with that ever-so-popular asian ginger dressing which somehow is bright orange. I could get all this stuff at the mall food court. Oh, and the soup and salad came out together.

Next was the appetizers, oh, and the main courses together. The place was busy but hey not that busy. The table was jam packed with dishes. Insane.

The edamame was fine. Yakatori was fine. And the dumplings were actually pretty good. I could have eaten 10 of them.

My rolls were very good. Not great, but very good. It seems the new way to make many rolls is to finely slice the cucumber/radish so you get a loose bite but a good snap. Same here. The tuna rolls were probably a bit too tightly wrapped. But it was all fresh.

My friend's sashimi was excellent. He commented many times on how good it was. He's very critical of food so this was a great endorsement of their fish.

My other friend was doing most of the talking and we didn't talk about his food.

The check came quickly even though the restaurant was emptying for lunch with no one waiting. The service could have been worse by being extremely slow. This was the opposite and definitely not welcome.

Except for the sashimi, the food was average to good at best. Given I like Japanese food, just not all sushi/sashimi, I was not impressed with Mikado at all. If all you want is raw fish, Mikado is a very good place. But if you're looking for a more balanced restaurant, keep moving.

Camden Children's Garden: A

I had heard about the Camden Children's Garden but didn't really know much about it. It is right next to the Adventure Aquarium. After looking it up, I decided to head over with my son, Brandon, to check it out. It was awesome!

First, the entrance is through the gift shop. In there they have a Thomas train table which is always a plus. Up along the ceiling is a large scale Thomas train running along a track and a mock up of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Equally cool.

Walking outside, the first thing to see is the fountains. These are the sculptures and holes in the ground that "spit" water every now and then. Kids were running through it, holding their hands over the holes, and getting water shot at them. Brandon could have stayed in this part forever.

Next was the train ride. They have a very nice 3 car train that goes around a very nice track. Throughout are small train tracks in village settings, one through a mountain, a waterfall, etc. Very cool. The ride is $1.50 for each passenger and goes around the track twice. Maybe 3 minutes. It was great.

They have a large covered picnic area which a school group was using. Next is a small butterfly greenhouse with dozens of butterflies and plants. Additional donations taken at the door.

There is a nice "tree house" which is really just a platform overlooking a maze. Kind of neat. The maze is pretty good. Lots of plants and flowers and paths. Some of the paths go through tunnels.

Other rides include a carousel that was unfortunately out of order. Another was a row of seats that shot up in the air and back down. That was off as well. Don't know why.

There is a storybook section which has some "scenes" from Alice in Wonderland, Jack and Beanstalk, and Three Little Pigs. There is also a secret garden to sit in.

The dinosaur section was neat. They have a large brontosaurus metal sculpture. A stone dinosaur with some empty eggs next to it that kids can stand in. And a sand pit with fake bones to discover.

There is also a stage area. There were no shows that day but it was a nice area that could easily hold 100+ people.

Throughout the Gardens are of course plants and flowers. Signs abound on what they are and perhaps some information about them. So, if you looking for garden ideas this would be a good place to take a look.

Overall, the place was awesome. It could use a food court. It is an excellent place to take toddlers through grade school children. Getting there and out are a bit difficult as Camden has no direct route to the riverfront. But, parking is plenty with a garage and ground lot right next to the gardens and aquarium. Also, the price is right. $6 a person. Children 2 and under are free. And a year long family membership is a paltry $40. (All prices from 2007). So, head on over. It's well worth it.

Rush: Snakes and Arrows: B+

Music: 8/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 19 of 25: B+

Rush releases Snakes and Arrows 5 years after the much derided Vapor Trails. Interviews with the band leading up to the release, they stated that it would be much stronger and heavier musically and very dark lyrically. Though Rush has never been an uplifting band, they certainly weren't "dark". This raised several eyebrows as to what that meant.

First, the lyrics are very dark. Dealing with themes such as "your best isn't good enough" are throughout the album. Right off their first track, "Far Cry", the lyrics deal with a world that isn't perfect and we fail but keep trying. The title track has the lyrics, "Sometimes the fortress is too strong or the love is too weak." It is so dark that Alex breaks out an acoustic 12 string number called "Hope". This is definitely an album for those harder moments in your life.

Musically this is a very strong album. "Snakes and Arrows" itself is one of their strongest pieces in 15 years. It weaves through thundering rhythms to plodding acoustics to airy choruses. I find it to be a masterpiece of music. There are plenty of other musical standouts on the album including "Faithless", "Far Cry", and "We Hold On".

The true standouts are the three instrumental songs. Alex has his solo acoustic "Hope" which is beautiful. But the "Main Monkey Business" is a tremendous instrumental weaving through several styles and themes. Musically it is amazing. It's no "Xanadu", but then what is. Finally, their jam session, literally, "Malignant Narcissism" is a great funky piece of work.

Given that Rush is made of three of the best musicians in history, no one truly stands out individually. Instead they play off of each other well weaving rhythms and layering textures. It is a mature album that couldn't possibly be created by people 20 years their junior.

Vocally, Geddy puts in a very good performance. He keeps well within his range. But more importantly he stays away from sing-songy choruses that have ruined a few songs in songs in recent memory. Geddy is no pop singer. He stays true to his abilities which is not a master course in singing, but defines Rush very well.

The album is not without flaws. One is its pacing. It starts strong, fades quickly, and slowly works its way back at the end. The 3rd song, "Working Them Angels" is a terrible piece of musical and lyrical work. "Spindrift" should be cool song but it never really takes off. "The Way the Wind Blows" is a horrible hodgepodge of music including a blues riff, straight rock, and acoustic uplifting moments. The wind does blow. Oh, and the phrase "elemental war" should never be used in music unless you're doing Tolkienesque prog rock or death metal. Rush is neither.

Another knock on the album is Alex's pretty much lack of solos. There are a couple of minimal ones but mostly he sticks to strong rhythms and layered guitars that play off each other. I do miss his amazing solos that he is capable of.

Production is light years ahead of its predecessor, Vapor Trails. The tonality is balanced. It's not over compressed. It's not a jumble of noise. You can actually hear what's going on. It's a thick recording with multiple layers which is very hard to produce. I think S&A did a nice job of it.

Overall, the CD delivers pretty well. Cutting out 3 or 4 songs would have greatly improved itself musically and its pacing. I give it a B+ for another excellent piece of work from the longest lasting trio in music history.

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open: B+

Music: 7/10 Vocals: 5/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 20 out of 25: B+

Snow Patrol dishes up a very good pop/rock album. It reminds me of the style of Gin Blossoms and Vertical Horizon. The music ranges from the edgy "You're All I Have" to the ballade "You Could Be Happy". The latter is sung over what sounds like a music box. Personally, the best of the album is the desperate "Set Fire to the Third Bar" about a couple separated by a distance that longs for each other. What is equally satisfying is that there are no bad songs on this album. It remains evenly good with spikes of greatness.

The highlight of the band is singer Gary Lightbody. He's not going to win any awards, but he is a very competent singer that sounds good in front of the full band to over a simple acoustic guitar. His voice is pure with no signs of studio manipulation or massive overdubbing to mask intonation or tonal issues.

The lyrics on the album are very good. They would be great as a teenager pining over love lost or broken. But, Gary stays away from the common cliches, sappiness, or just stupidity. Instead he has penned some smart lyrics for a genre not known for smart lyrics.

The production on the album is perfectly fine. It could use a bit more brightness and a little more bass. It comes across as slightly flat but EQ seems to fix it pretty well. Otherwise it was recorded clean without overproduction. It sounds like this band should be able to reproduce its sound pretty well live.

Overall I give Snow Patrol's Eyes Open a 20 out of 25, or B+. It's relatively disposable music that is well done and deserves a few months in your CD player.

Thai Taste: A-

Food: 8 Presentation: 5 Decor: 4 Service: 3
Total: 20 out of 25: A-

Thai Taste is an excellent Thai restaurant located in the strip mall at Route 70 and 73. It's gotten some good reviews in print and on the web so it was worth checking it out.

The restaurant itself is beautiful. Very clean and warm. Upscale casual. They had a few oriental bowls with flowers floating in them. And, the hanging overhead lighting is unique and beautiful. I'd like a few in my house.

To start I ordered a Thai Iced Coffee. It came in a very tall and thin glass. Coffee on the bottom with cream on the top. Sweet but slightly acidic. It was delicious. The hot coffee was good as well.

Next was a bowl of Tom Yum Koong soup. 3 different kinds of mushrooms and 3 shrimp in the soup. The broth was slightly tart from the lime juice and a medium spiced from hot peppers. Very good.

My wife opted for the Seared Tuna appetizer. It was served on a smear of spiced mustard. On the side was a nice small salad topped with edamame soybeans. The tuna was fresh, tender, and melted in her mouth. The salad was unique and was gone before I knew it.

For our main course, I ordered the Pad Kra Pao with shrimp. It was a fantastic sautee of peppers (green and red, hot and mild), mushrooms, thai basil, and shrimp. It had a very clean flavor and wasn't overpowered by sauce or oil. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and there were plenty of them. They were of a "medium" size. With a side of rice to soak up some of the sauce, the dish went down easily. My only wish would be for it to have been a bit spicer. It was a mild heat, except for the bit of red hot pepper I bit into.

My wife ordered Pad Khing with shrimp. It was another great mix of peppers, onions, ginger, mushrooms, snow peas, and zucchini. It had a similar light sauce. My wife was very pleased with her meal. She also stated how clean the meal was. Not heavy or overburdened with anything.

Given the food and the decor are excellent, the only area for improvement was with service. It was average. But, given everything else I wanted it to be a bit quicker. We were first to arrive that evening and the restaurant was never really busy. But, the attentiveness with refills, plate clearing, after dinner coffee, and getting the check were a bit slow.

Luckily Thai Taste is an upscale restaurant that serves just Thai food. Too often these types of places are Thai French which is a distant cousin of pure Thai food. The prices are reasonable. Dinner for two was about $60 with tip. It is a BYOB. My wife and I will definitely be back. Thai food is very under explored in this area so it's great to see such a quality establishment.

Introduction

For whatever reason, I love writing reviews of things. Movies. Music. Liquor. Restaurants. Products. Whatever. Perhaps I like hearing myself type. But, everyone likes reading reviews either in the paper or Amazon. They are essential today. When do you buy something without seeing what it's rated and what people think of it? So, this is my giving back for all of the reviews that have helped me through the years.

This blog is in conjunction with my other blog - Blogobeer - which reviews liquor, mostly beer.

Also, when appropriate, reviews written here will be copied to other sites such as Amazon and BYOB Guide. But, this site will always been the most current and comprehensive.

Thanks for reading.

Tom