For well over 30 years, the Altobeli family’s old-fashioned Italian restaurant has been a cornerstone of life in Alpharetta, Georgia, a rapidly growing suburb of Atlanta. Although the world has changed quite a bit since Altobeli’s first opened its doors, and the restaurant itself has changed locations to accommodate an ever-growing clientele, inside the restaurant, things are the same as they’ve always been. You’ll still see entire families celebrating graduations and birthdays, couples holding hands on their first date, and couples holding hands after 25 years of marriage. You’ll even see the occasional celebrity or well-known public figure; the night my boyfriend and I attended, we were seated near the manager of the Atlanta Braves, who was commanding a bit of attention despite doing his best to be unobtrusive. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you can see what the restaurant might have looked like when it first opened its doors. It is still unpretentious, and the walls are still papered with photos of generations of family history, but now you’ll see the occasional movie star or athlete up there, too. The waiters are unobtrusive, and though the service is a little slow, it’s only because they seem to know the best things in life shouldn’t be rushed and a quality meal with family and friends doesn’t include a waiter hovering over your shoulder every 10 minutes. As soon as you’re seated, order a drink, and maybe an antipasto. Relax and chat a bit as the pianist plays standards, jazz classics, and a few more modern pieces. Pretty soon, Altobeli’s kicks it in to show mode, as they have both professional singers and wait staff who perform throughout the evening. The level of talent is high, the repertoire is entertaining, and, yes, they do take requests. The food itself is of the old-fashioned Italian variety, and the drinks are well-mixed and anything but weak. They’ve got an extensive wine list that would please an experience sommelier, and the homemade garlic bread is to die for. This is the food your grandmother cooked, or the food you wish she did. Everything is simple and fresh, and if there’s something about a dish you’re not so sure about, they’re happy to make substitutions. The portions are huge, so you may want to request a to-go box before you even pick up the fork, and don’t forget to leave room for dessert. With choices between tiramisu, cannoli, chocolate mousse, and crème brulee, you may just choose to have them all. The next time you’re in the mood to celebrate with the family, or to rekindle some romance with that special someone, or even just want to get away from it all for awhile, spend a few hours with Altobeli’s. Spend less time with the phonebook and more time getting out there. Find tons of local listings online at globalYP.net.

While driving out in the country my friends and I came across a quaint little place called Colet Inn Bar & Grill and to our surprise it turned out to be a delightful stop. This restaurant is located on the west bank of the Coleto Creek. The atmosphere was friendly and appealing to all ages. The food was excellent with a wide range of items on the menu for a place in the country. The evening that we happened to stop in they had live entertainment in the form of a piano man, which was a hoot. You have the option to choose to sit inside, or outside on the deck overlooking the Coleto Creek. This restaurant opened originally in the late 1990’s but burned down due to a lightning strike and had to be rebuilt in 2008. Since the rebuild it has gained in size and customer satisfaction. The prices at Colet Inn Bar & Grill were very reasonable. If you are ever in the neighborhood or looking for a nice ride out in the country you should definitely give this place a try and you won’t be disappointed. You should definitely check out globalYP.net, an easy to use online directory.

Clearman’s North Woods Inn has some of the best food in the greater Los Angeles area. They specialize in steaks, but really all their good is delicious like their famous cheese bread and their cabbage salad. It feels like Christmas all year long at Clearman’s with their snow covered roof, cabin interior, beautiful tiffany lamps illuminating throughout, and the moose and bear heads that are mounted on the walls are also quite interesting. The restaurant is fun for all ages, especially since they allow you to throw your peanut shells on the floor. Even though they specialize in steaks, they have a wide range of dished from fried chicken to Halibut, which is one of my favorites. If you ever want to see some of the biggest baked potatoes imaginable, stop in for lunch or dinner, they are about the size of a man’s size 10 shoe, not kidding. They serve the potatoes with their cheese butter, which is delicious and can also be bought at many large supermarkets. One other rarity is the piano in the bar area, you do not see that in any of the chain restaurants nowadays. The piano player is not there all the time, but he is there during the Christmas Holiday. So if you are looking to eat some great food and enjoy a great atmosphere, then Clearman’s North Woods is for you. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory. 

When my daughter needed a violin, we asked around and everyone suggested The Music and Arts Center. When we went down to the store they were very friendly and helpful. They helped us to make a decision to just rent the violin instead of buying it. They even had a special rent to own program. The program even covered the issue of her changing her mind and wanting another instrument later. Through the program the money could be switched to a new instrument. Besides having a huge selection of instruments, they have musical lessons to go with them. They had experienced instructors and the lessons were reasonably priced. They even offered to let my other daughter take lessons along with her sister for free and even loan her a violin for the lesson. They also had a huge selection of music and accessories for the music lover. They had special cards and trinkets for special occasions. We were able to pick up music that appealed to the girls and it was even made especially for beginners. They also had stands, cases, and every other gadget you could possibly want. We were also told if anything happened to the equipment they could fix it. If you need help finding other great businesses use globalYP.net, yellow pages that are online.

The motto and mission of the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts in Bemidji, Minnesota is to “seek music, engage the arts, and build community”. On these fronts, the non-profit entity is successful. Private music lessons are offered for bass, clarinet, euphonium, fiddle, flute, guitar, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, violin, viola and voice. Instructors are well qualified, with either degrees in music or membership in professional organizations. Headwaters also facilitates a Suzuki Institute, in addition to classes in visual and performing arts, as well as in writing. Classes and private instruction are available for both adults and children of all ages. From humble beginnings in 1992, the Headwaters School has added a variety of programs that enrich the artistic lives of community members. Youth Orchestra was added in 2005, and offers opportunities to perform with the local symphony. A full schedule of private lessons, workshops, and group classes emphasizing visual and performance arts is offered throughout the year. A satellite office in an adjoining county provides studio instruction in piano, violin, viola, and guitar. The Headwaters School of Music and the Arts is an entity that welcomes involvement. Local support and donations have made is a vital component of the community. See what else your community has to offer by finding local listings online with globalYP.net.