In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that they know me by voice on takeout orders! ( but really I think it just speaks to how much I dig Thai Orchid.) My favorite food here is the red curry chicken, hands down. But if I ever feel even a hint of a cold, I go for the Tom Yum Gai (lemongrass chicken soup) made spicy. I am not usually a big seafood eater, but their shrimp summer rolls are absolutely mouth watering. Actually everything I’ve had here has been scrumptious, and lately I’ve hesitated trying new things only because I’m concerned it may take me a long time to make up my mind if I like everything. Every friend I have brought here has always come back again and again. The staff is friendly and the place is usually low key, though it can occasionally be crowded during the evenings. One of the reasons I love Thai Orchid in addition to the food is the quiet atmosphere – you can actually hold a conversation with your meal. It’s nice enough to have a business meal and casual enough to bring friends and family for an informal get together. Their food is also incredibly consistent. I’ve been a faithful patron for 7 years now. To find more great places to dine like Thai Orchid, try searching on globalYP.net, an online directory.

Following my recent move to Baltimore, I was in search of a good, no a GREAT, vegetarian restaurant in my neighborhood. I was hoping to find a place with great food, obviously, but I was also very much concerned with finding a good atmosphere to go with it. To my delight, I discovered that just such a place exists just blocks from my new home. The Yabba Pot Cafe has an excellent atmosphere, friendly staff, and most of all EXCELLENT food. I went there recently and had a wonderful meal that consisted of a white bean dish, fried plantains, and peanut tofu, all of which were delicious. The food is served buffet style, and you have a choice of several dishes for your meal. The food was well conceived and had a home cooked feel that is missing from most restaurants. There are, for certain, many wonderful restaurants and cafes in Baltimore, but finding well-made and delicious vegan fare is always an exercise in almost any city I have ever visited. The space itself is very inviting, there are vividly painted chairs and tables, and work from local artists fills the walls in the dining area. Another detail that seems worth mentioning is the fact that there is a large collection of flyers and postings for community events and organizations, which most restaurants lack. This lends a distinctly neighborhood flair to the Yabba Pot and strengthens its credentials as a community-based organization rather than simply a means for profit. For an online directory that makes finding new places in your neighborhood simple, check out globalYP.net

Even though Wadsworth, OH is still considered a small town, we have such a great store called Trade-N-Play at 123 Akron Rd. It is located towards the north end of town, just right before the major shopping district of the city. Even though parking is limited, it is a great place to stop and check out. Once you step inside, be prepared to spend awhile just looking. This store collects anything that is playable. There are games from every system displayed, from the Atari to the Xbox 360. Literally thousands of items are stacked on shelves and in display cases. Now, finding something brand new is a little harder since the primary focus of the store is on older games, but it is the perfect nostalgic gaming store. The prices there are amazing and they are always willing to make a deal with a customer. The staff is small, so if you spend some time there, you are able to get to know them and they will get to know you. Trade-N-Play is a family friendly store, great for kids and adults who still like to play games. So if you’re looking for a place that has every single game you could ever want, be sure to stop by. If you’re looking for anything else, be sure to stop by globalYP.net, an online directory.

Mud House Coffee in Springfield, Missouri is where everyone goes as a casual spot for drinks, warm or cold. The aromas you smell as you first walk in come at you pleasantly instead of harshly, like in some coffee shops. The place is fairly big but is often packed with people in line or at tables or big comfy chairs. Mud House often showcases local artwork, and the building itself has wooden floors and high ceilings. Beyond coffee, they sell different kinds of tea varieties, Italian Soda (with or without cream), hot chocolate, hot caramel apple cider, and real fruit smoothies. They sell food as well, like soup, sandwiches, and muffins. If you can’t get enough of the stuff (I know I can’t) they sell bags of freshly roasted beans and loose leaf teas. They even sell things you need to make your drinks at home. As that perfect gift to a loved one you can buy them a Mud House gift card. If you want a quiet place to sit and study after a hard day of classes, Mud House has free Wi-Fi , so it’s perfect to bring your laptop. It truly is a great place for all ages. Everyone there is friendly and they always get you what you need, as soon as you need it. The lines for the bathrooms can be a tad long on a Friday night but at least you can get something tasty while you’re waiting. To cut down on the time you spend looking for things in the phone book start using globalYP.net, an online, searchable directory.

The coffee is wonderful at First Cup Coffee House. They use local roaster Stumptown Coffee Roasters for their beans and they display local art for viewing or purchasing. It isn’t uncommon to find the spot where you were admiring a painting or drawing yesterday either empty or replaced with a new local work of art. Inside you are served by quirky barista’s who rejoice in remembering your drink before you can tell them. They pull a single shot at a time so that your coffee is as fresh and tasty as possible. If you order your coffee to eat there, it comes in a ceramic mug (of course if its’ to-go you get a paper cup with their logo, which is affixed with a rubber stamp). First Cup Coffee House isn’t just about coffee. They also serve great NY style bagels and fresh pastries, as well as a large variety of tea. And as is the style in so much of Portland, they even provide a treat for your four-legged companion. Outside is a great patio seating area with just enough shade and sun to sustain all types of weather lovers and a great place for that furry friend to enjoy their free treat, all while watching the eclectic crowd go by. To find more places to enjoy, visit globalYP.net, online yellow pages.

We first started going to Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes when it opened two years ago. When we saw the sign go up that a cupcake place was opening in our town, we eagerly awaited their grand opening. We were not disappointed. Common Ground has everything I look for in a coffee shop, whether I am looking for a cozy coffee shop that offers free Wi-Fi or a place for me and my children to hang out. The owners really have thought of everything. Their leather chairs are comfy, their children’s play area has toys and rocking horses (they currently have 3!) and children’s books that they check out from the library. They also have a collection of books for adults that you can read there or purchase for $1.00. The shop is large enough that you can sit at a table and be far enough away from the kids on the rocking horses so you can get your work done. Now, let’s talk cupcakes. They make their own cupcakes and you can see them baking batches and icing them throughout the day. In addition to the regular-sized cupcakes, they also have minis that you can purchase. I have found that these are the perfect size for my three year old. Their cupcakes are always covered with a thick layer of icing made from butter cream. I’m not normally a fan of frosting because I find it’s too sweet, but theirs has the perfect amount of sweetness. They have some seasonal cupcakes that they rotate throughout the year. Their current seasonal cupcake is their Campfire cupcake which is a chocolate cupcake with marshmallow frosting and crushed graham crackers on top. Common Ground is the friendly sort of place where they like to talk to their customers and get to know them. I recently went back after a long absence and the owner remembered that I recently had a son. They are more than just coffee and a cupcake, they are part of our growing community. To find more places in your community start searching on globalYP.net, local directory listings available online.

Have you ever eaten in a school bus before? How about underneath a stage where Elvis is performing in a white and aqua sequined jumpsuit? If you’ve been to Mike’s Place in Kent, Ohio, the answer is probably yes. Mike’s Place is located on the corner of Route 261 and Route 59. You can’t miss it; it’s the building with the airplane in the front and the catapult on the roof aimed toward the Bob Evans down the road. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. The menu features food names that you may feel weird asking for (such as, “Gyro-Umpa, umpa, umpa!” and “The Walleye That Ate Cleveland.”), but the staff is so friendly that you don’t feel so awkward when it comes time to order. After ordering, you can spend time reading the placemats, which are originally handwritten, describing things such as their cheesecake, upcoming events, beer choices, and of course, The Stuanator, which is a 60 ounce burger with all the condiments. It costs $29.99 and if you can eat the whole thing, it’s free and you get your picture put up on the wall. Overall, the food is pretty good and the prices are very low. I would recommend this to young college students or even to a family looking for a new and fun place to eat. If you’re looking for new places to try start with globalYP.net, an online directory.

Party Concepts is a local Memphis area party and event equipment rental store. I have been to at least five parties in the past two years in which Party Concepts was used to furnish and decorate the events. They literally brought everything that was needed, and then they come back and pick up their equipment on site after the party has ended. One party that I attended and helped plan recently was just delightful. One of the other party planners suggested that we use Party Concepts to supply the equipment, and after that we never looked back. We really didn’t need to do much after that. Another planner just looked at their online catalog while talking on the phone with one of their representatives; and then the next day the dishes, silverware, tables, chairs, cloths, and table cloths were promptly delivered before the party. They also helped set up, which was great. After the party ended, we waited until the morning after and called in that the party was a huge success, and then they came and picked up their equipment that afternoon. There is so much to worry about when planning a party, like the food, the guests, and the location. It is a relief to know that Party Concepts offers good products at a reasonable price, available for rental at any time. For online yellow pages that’ll save you time, visit globalYP.net

It took me a long time to discover Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market in Glen Allen, Virginia, because this modest produce market is tucked behind a big electronics store in a very busy shopping area. However, I am secretly glad that it is not on the main road, because it would probably be so much more crowded! This clean and well-stocked produce and meat market is definitely one of the best kept secrets in the area. With only minimum advertising, they manage to hold their own in a neighborhood that has five major supermarket chains within a half-mile radius. What sets Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market apart from the other stores is its reliance on local produce whenever possible, so you know that what you’re eating was probably still on the vine, bush or tree just a day or two ago. Although Tom Leonard’s is not the cheapest place to buy produce, they do have the highest quality and best tasting fruit and vegetables around, so it is well worth the few cents more that you’ll pay. They also have a nice variety of meat, poultry, bread, cheese and some assorted snack products and drinks. Homemade garlic oil spread and homemade salsa are two of their signature products. They are delicious. Samples are usually available in the store, so you can try before you buy. Our area is lucky to have Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market selling us such high quality, local produce at reasonable prices. To find more places in your area, visit globalYP.net, an online directory.

The Pre-Flite Lounge is a well kept secret in downtown Sacramento, CA. It is located in Downtown Plaza, on the lowest floor at 515 L Street. You can see the sign for it on L Street between 5th and 6th Streets. In past years, the offices that are a half floor down housed airline ticket offices. The airport limos and shuttle services would pick up passengers in the alley between K and L Streets. While waiting for their ride, many travelers stopped first for a cocktail at the little bar called the Pre-Flite. Those days are gone, but the Pre-Flite remains. While not a true sports bar, there are 3 televisions going with whatever games happen to be playing. There is also an old jukebox that still takes quarters and plays 45’s. There are 3 tables and a bar on the upper level along with several tables and an electric fireplace on the lower level. There is a shelf of books that make up the “take one, leave one” library. The décor includes the usual sports and beer posters as well as trophies won by various regulars. The day and evening bartenders, Nancy, Brian, and Russ all strive to make customers feel like regulars from day 1, and the regulars are pretty friendly, too. Sometimes, there are homemade munchies available; other times, you can purchase chips and nuts at the bar. Stop in and enjoy a beer or a cocktail. Also stop in at globalYP.net, yellow pages that are online.