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November 29th, 2007 by PG Chic
I hadn’t been to The Blvd. in a while and just discovered a new store near Nine West and Ann Taylor Loft called Peculiar Ladies Dress Shop. The staff was friendly and helpful. Also, the selection of dress styles (and other clothing) was current. I will definitely return especially when I am looking for unique evening wear. I am deciding on what to do for New Year’s Eve now. (The Inner Causus Gala is always fun.) Anway, I’m sure I will be able to find a suitable dress at Peculiar Ladies Dress Shop for the event.
Related Link:
Peculiar Ladies Dress Shop
Posted in Beauty & Style, Mystery Shopper, Prince Georges County | Add Comment »
November 20th, 2007 by PG Chic
Have you been to the remodeled Westfield Annapolis Mall? There are 60 news stores and restaurants. I was impressed. Here are a list of the new and/or remodeled stores:
H&M, ESPRIT, Ruehl, Martin + Osa, Janie and Jack, Metropark, Ann Taylor Loft,Aerie, Banana Republic, The Buckle (opening 2008), Garage, GUESS, Levi’s®, Lucky Brand Jeans, Madewell 1937 (Opening 2008), Downtown Locker Room (opening 2008), J. Crew, Pumpkin Patch (opening 2008), Pottery Barn, Under Armour, Alta Jewelers, Bare Escentuals, CJ Watch, The Disney Store, Fossil, L’Occitane, Lush(opening 2008), Perfumania, Quiksilver, Right Start, Ritz Camera, Select Comfort, Sephora, Shaw’s Jewelers, SKECHERS, Sole Mio, Solstice, Sterling Optical, Swarovski (opening 2008), Vans, The Walking Company Inc, Williams Sonoma,Zumiez
New restaurants:
Austin Grill (opening 2008), Chipotle, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Noodles & Company, Salad Creations, Starbucks, Stoney River Legendary Steaks (opening 2008), Teavana (opening 2008)
Side - On my search for Dr. Susan Taylor’s Rx for Brown Skin last weekend, I went to the new Sephora at Annapolis Mall. I was disappointed that the Westfield Annapolis Sephora did not have Rx for Brwon Skin. More disappointing was that they did not sell Carol’s Daughter either. The sales reps showed me another product that was an arm and a leg, but I passed. My heart was set on Dr. Susan Taylor’s Rx for Brown Skin. I should have know. I am going back to my plan to buy the products online.
Posted in Entertainment, Beauty & Style, Mystery Shopper, Did You Hear About? | 2 Comments »
June 25th, 2007 by PG Chic
Finally! Acknowledgement to what I have experienced for years at SOME restaurants and other establishments in Prince George’s County. Read the recent Washington Post article, “In Pr. George’s, Learning to Put Smile in ‘Service With a Smile’” about improving “shoddy customer service” in the county. Not to say I have not had bad customer service in Montgomery County or Washington, DC…I have. My bad customer service experiences are one reason I created the Mystery Shopper category on this site. Customer service and genuine hospitality really make a difference. However, it can only get better if you complain. Don’t just accept bad customer service as the norm. I have had my share of conversations with managers and, yes, I am a letter writer…lol.
Feel free to share your horrid customer service experiences. Stay tuned for more Mystery Shopper posts!
Posted in Speaking Our Minds, Mystery Shopper, Prince Georges County | Add Comment »
June 7th, 2007 by PG Chic
I had the pleasure of having afternoon tea last Sunday at the Four Seasons in Georgetown, Washington DC with my mother, sisters, and nieces. We had an absolutely fabulous time! The service was great and the atmosphere was pleasant. We were greeted with the highest customer service and hospitality from everyone whom we encountered.
Our server was good with kids and left a wonderful impression on my nieces about afternoon tea. The light fare was delicious and just enough to satisfy. The Four Seasons Afternoon Tea at the Garden Terrace Lounge includes individual tea, light fare, and a variety of desserts for $37. Champagne may be added for $10 more. Overall, the experience was memorable and I would definitely return.
Posted in Mystery Shopper, Washington DC | Add Comment »
June 3rd, 2007 by PG Chic
Lounge 201’s monthly event 1st Saturdays was packed. I guess the summer has arrived in full effect. (Wait…does anybody even still say “full effect”? I think I just showed my age…for some reason Wreckx-N-Effect’s “New Jack Swing” just popped in my head. lol) Anyway, I have to give a shout out to one of the guests tonight who looked like D.C.’s version of R. Kelly–dressed in a full white suit with a brim hat. You know he was hot with those long sleeves on in the club! I wish I could post his picture, but I don’t want to put him out there like that…I can’t knock him, he was doing his thing. Anyway, the crowd was cool and people looked like they were having a good time. Our drinks were a little strong, but the bartender did not have a problem adding more cranberry juice for me and my girlfriend.
It looks like one trend for the summer for ladies will be dressy shorts paired with high-heel sandals. But ladies, please remember that everybody cannot wear shorts. I need to work it out in the gym before I even attempt to try that look. The good thing is that I didn’t see any violators on the shorts front, so that’s always a good sign of the type of crowd. 
This is compared to what I saw as I drove pass a club on New York Avenue called Mirrors…two people looking a hot mess with stressed jean short-shorts and patent leather heels.
Actually, I went to Lounge 201 for a birthday party at last month’s 1st Saturdays event and I had a great time. Last month’s event coincided with the big Oscar De La Hoya / Floyd Mayweather boxing match. They actually showed the fight, which was an added bonus to the guests at the birthday party.
Overall, next month’s 1st Saturday is definitely on my calendar. Every third Saturday is their jazz night, which I would love to check out in a couple of weeks.
Posted in Entertainment, Mystery Shopper, Washington DC | 2 Comments »
June 2nd, 2007 by PG Chic
I went to Lucky Strike Lanes at Gallery Place in Washington, D.C. recently to celebrate a friend’s birthday on a Saturday evening. Here’s my experience (the review you probably will not see in the Washington Post)…
STRIKE ONE - I know there are knuckleheads who exist in the world that ruin it for everyone. So, I suppose that I “get” not wanting to let a certain element into an establishment by having a dress code. However, when rules seem to be tailored too specificially to a certain “kind”, that’s more of a problem for me. It’s bowling, not fine dining. It didn’t make me feel welcome to know some of my guests had to undergo scrutiny to be let in when I saw counterparts wearing the equivalent of beach wear…tank tops, flip-flops, and shorts, which would not be acceptable in many establishments.
For example, one of our male guests was asked to take his hat off…fine. But, he couldn’t just take it off and go in. They collect baseball hats and display them on a table at the entrance. What? Ridiculous. What manager signed off on the bright idea to display the hats there? It looked like a flea market table selling peoples sweaty hats in front an “upscale” bowling alley. Leaving hats at the door, in my book, is equivalent to having your receipt checked before you leave Target in “certain” areas. Or, going to buy Enfamil at the Mitchellville Food Lion to realize it’s not in the baby aisle, but locked up in a case at the front of the store with the cigarettes. Offended. (rant complete) Anyway, the specific rule on hats is “No headgear” but the last time I checked a hat was not headgear. On the real, I was envisioning some crazy orthodontic equipment…
The dress code rules are vague and left up to the discretion of some guy at the door. Also, another rule is “No MC colors” — I had to ask about that one. I saw it on the website before going and had no idea what they were talking about. It was explained to me that MC stands for “motorcycle colors” which could be motorcycle group affiliations, leather pants, leather motorcycle jackets, etc. You have to wonder why “motorcycle colors” is not written out on their website. Maybe because Hell’s Angel Harley Davidson riders would be up in arms across the country? LOL. I bet “Grease 2″ mystery motorcyclist Michael (Maxwell Caufield) would’ve been allowed in because does Michael really fit the MC colors profile?
STRIKE TWO - I arrived at 5:30pm and hardly anyone was there. However, my party was told the wait would be 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I agreed to wait and the lane was ready in 30 minutes. Another guest of mine arrived at 6:00pm and put his name on the list for a lane and was told that the wait would be 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Hmm? My point…sounds like certain people are being discouraged from waiting for the lane reservation. Most people would say, “Forget it…that’s too long of a wait.” There was hardly anyone there! I have heard that it gets packed after 9pm, so I would assume a 2 to 2 1/2 hours wait would be common during that time, but not at 6pm. Did I mention that the place was practically empty? Just a quick note — my guests were not “riff raffs” (whatever that means). We are all 30+ professional folks.
STRIKE THREE — While ordering at that lane, my friend asked the waitress if there was a drink menu. The waitress proceeded to point to the area behind the main lane to tell her where it was. Um, thank you? Would it have hurt to actually walk a few steps to actually physically give us the drink menu?
The last straw involved the rule about guests under 18 not being permitted without an adult before 9pm. After 9pm, you must be 21 or older to enter. My 30 year old girlfriend arrived by herself around 7pm dressed in a trendy summer outfit. She was carded!! There is no way in the world that she looks under 18. Profiling. Discouraging guests. It is not completely overt, but you know when it happens. It made our group feel unwelcome and put a damper on the birthday celebration, which is unfortunate.
Overall, the customer service to get shoe rentals, my initial waitress (while I wanted for our lane to open), and lane concierge were good, but the rest of the experience was the typical “profiling” treatment that I have sadly grown accustomed to in some parts of the Washington D.C. area. I enjoyed the general atmosphere, which put me in mind of Arundel Mill’s Jillian’s (now D&B) circa 2002. Last, but certainly not least — the food was just okay, but nothing to write home about (as my mom says). lol
Posted in Entertainment, Mystery Shopper, Washington DC | Add Comment »
May 28th, 2007 by PG Chic
I had the pleasure of going to two different Chuck E. Cheese parties in one day on Saturday. One in Laurel, MD and the other in Largo, MD at The Blvd.
The Laurel party was at 2pm and the Largo party was at 6pm. At Laurel, the crowd was smaller than anticipated and the kids were pretty tame with an occasional wild kid here and there.
The Blvd. Chuck E. Cheese was off the hook! There is a mechanical Chuck E. Cheese on a mini-stage behind a curtain and when it’s showtime, the curtain opens. Well, several different groups of kids decided they would open the curtain to climb on Chuck E. Cheese’s back. I witnessed this at least three times in an hour period. One little boy (well, he could’ve been 10 years old actually), decided he would climb on top of a mini-moon bounce — putting him at least 12 feet off of the ground. Where were the parents?!
Lastly, during the birthday song, the real Chuck E. Cheese sang along while doing various dances, including the motorcycle dance (you know, the Yung Joc dance to “It’s Goin’ Down” that Tom Cruise tried to do on 106 and Park last summer).
Don’t believe me? I have proof!
I give you Chuck E. Cheese at The Blvd. caught in mid-motorcycle dance…
Posted in Random Thoughts, Mystery Shopper | Add Comment »
May 12th, 2007 by PG Chic
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mie N Yu for lunch. The restaurant, located in Georgetown restaurant near Urban Outfitters and Johnny Rockets, includes a menu of contemporary American cuisine with flavors from Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. I had a reservation, so there was not a long wait time once my party arrived. Once we were seated, I order a Silk Road cocktail, which included Cruzan Pineapple Rum, white cranberry juice & pineapple juice, splash of lime. Delicious!
My only note — as I ordered my drink, I mentioned my love of pineapple to the waiter. However, the waiter suggested that I try a different drink, the Lotus Blossom (Absolut Kurant, Blue Curacao, cranberry juice), which clearly has no pineapple. My only guess is that he just wanted to suggest a more expensive drink (it was $3 more) because there was no other reason for him suggesting the other drink. After my visit to Mie N Yu, I read other reviews complaining of staff suggesting more expensive items, just for the sake of it, which is unfortunate.
My only other issue was the amount of time it took for our table’s main starter to arrive. We had the Mie N Yu Dim Sum starter, which included calamari fritters, crab potstickers, wonton shrimp, Japanese mustard. The fritters could have been anything fried though, which is my opinion about any fried calamari. (Fried junk…as my sister calls it.)
For lunch, I decided on the three-course meal for $20, which was a steal. I selected the Smoked Salmon Bruschetta for a starter, Tandoori Chicken Kabob Pita for the entree, and finished with the Asian Pear Strudel. The meal was delectable! I should preface that with…for adventurous taste buds. This is not the palce for you if you are a American-steak-and-potatoes-type of diner.
Overall, the atmosphere was very Mediterranean and looks great for a date night. Honestly, it is a very unique setting for DC. I would expect a place like this in NY, maybe even Philly, but DC? I was impressed. I heard that Christina Aguilera and her husband had a few cocktails there when she was in town last week. Another thing to note — during dinner, the restaurant has belly dancers who perform at each table. Aside from the timing of the starter and the questionable cocktail suggestion, I would love to go back!
More detailed reviews–
Washington Post
World’s Best Bars
Posted in Entertainment, Mystery Shopper, Dining | Add Comment »
May 5th, 2007 by PG Chic
I had a great experience on Saturday at the Ann Taylor Loft at The Blvd. I went into the store at 7pm looking for a wrap dress to wear to a birthday party at Lounge 201 that evening and time was running out! I was supposed to be at the lounge between 9-9:30pm. After this stop, I still needed to get my eyebrows waxed, run to DSW to check out shoes, and I needed matching accessories. I have heard that Lane Bryant is a hot spot for quick accessories. The sales person helping me jumped into action when she heard about my time constraints.
I randomly mentioned to the sales person (as I rambled my life story to her) that I wanted to wear wedge shoes with the dress and she had three styles ready for me to try on by the time I left the dressing room. I obviously did not have time to go to DSW, so I made the executive decision to buy the shoes too. The sales person was very attentive and quick on her feet. Also, the women at the register were pleasant and welcoming, which makes me want to return to the store.
I have to note that I wasted time in Honeycomb Hideout earlier. I just wanted to see what the kids were wearing these days. Needless to say it just made me feel old…lol. After walking around the store, the CCB go-go song, “Classy Girl” (”classy, no not trashy…”) popped in my head and my voyage continued to find something “grown and sexy” at Ann Taylor Loft.
Side note - If you are ever in a bind, Target (prounouced “Tar-jzah”…of course) hooked a sister up with the matching accessories…earrings, necklace, purse, and gold clutch purse. A little before 8pm, I stopped at my back-up (“way” back-up) eyebrow waxing place, Salon Plaza at Largo Town Center. I arrived at Lounge 201 right on time (well, “my time“) an hour late, looking fabulous!
Posted in Beauty & Style, Mystery Shopper | Add Comment »
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