LOVE the Omni

If you've never seen the lobby at the Omni William Penn at Christmastime you're really missing out. The highlight is a HUGE decorated Christmas tree. Pair that with the live music and it's truly spectacular. We had relatives stay there over the holidays, and they were so impressed with the space and service. We met them for a last minute dinner at the Tap Room - and after a wonderful meal my toddler enjoyed ENDLESS running throughout the huge lobby! They even have goody bags for children staying at the hotel! We weren't the ones staying, but they gave him a goody bag nonetheless. Top notch!

Interesting times at the Westin

So, I had a very "interesting" time at the Westin a few days before Christmas. I had walked to the Strip to finish some last minute Christmas shopping, and I needed to mail one card while I was out. In search of a stamp, I stopped at Fedex on Penn Avenue - they were out. The employee suggested I try the gift shop at the Westin. It's not that far (in the wrong direction) from home, so off I go. The gentleman in the gift shop said he did not have stamps, but to try the front desk. I go up to the front desk, and ask if I could purchase one stamp. I explained to the front desk clerk that the employee at Fedex sent me to the Westin gift shop, who then sent me to his desk. He paused, and then asked if I was staying at the hotel. When I said "No, I live Downtown" he said, "I'm sorry, I don't have any stamps left." WHAT?!?! First, I find it hard to believe the Westin did not have a single stamp I could purchase, and second, the fact they had no stamps was predicated on NOT being a hotel guest!

Fortunately, I ended up speaking with a very apologetic front desk manager who seemed to be appalled for this employees actions. Sadly, I ended up leaving with out buying my 42 cent stamp but was happy in knowing that hopefully this will not happen to another Downtown resident. Not that it's a local hotel's responsibility to sell stamps - I understand it's not the post office. I just happened to be in a last minute Christmas pinch - and I guess I've gotten used to the excellent treatment I receive from most local businesses. Living Downtown is spoiling me!

Why would I ever leave?

Between the shops Downtown, Station Square and the Strip, why would anyone leave to get anything done? I have done the majority of my Christmas shopping here (a few things online, but they were VERY specific things) and will continue to do more! Even better? Fedex/Kinkos on Penn Ave. sells stamps, and they are HOLDING them for me until I can get there later this evening. How great is that? They have been selling stamps like crazy due to the holidays and they're holding them for me! Sometimes it's the little things that make my day.

Shop Downtown!!!

PLEASE!!! Support your neighbors and do your holiday shopping Downtown when possible. It was so nice to see so many people out and about shopping on Saturday. I must say running around Downtown in the lightly falling snow, looking at the Macy's windows and seeing the trains displayed at SW Randall really put me in the Christmas spirit. I saw lots of folks with many bags!

Side note - Why wasn't Ann Taylor open in One Oxford Centre? This is the second Saturday I've been by this season and they haven't been open. Talbots was though, in case anyone is interested :)

Ugh, the smoking!

Thank you cold weather, for you have forced some of the smoke off of our wonderful sidewalks! Had I started my blog in the summer this would have been SUPER high on my priority list. While I love that you can't smoke in restaurants anymore, it really forces smokers to take it to the streets. When you're walking by with a toddler in a stroller you can't help but feel like you're polluting their lungs! I remember multiple times this summer - hot humid days - where the smoke would just linger. My throat actually burned a little, so I can't imagine what it was doing to my kid's lungs.

Smoking is a choice, so I guess some would say living in a downtown environment is our choice and this comes with the territory. While I personally can't stand smoking, those that do should have a place to do so where non-smokers have the choice NOT to breathe it in! A select few are very courteous about smoking, and attempt to divert their smoke away from those it may offend. THANK YOU! The rest of you? Stop waving your cigarettes around while talking on your cell phones blowing smoke wherever you happen to have your attention averted.

My worst cigarette encounter? We were walking home from the fireworks on the Fourth of July, and as usual there was a large crowd outside of a bar near our home. I understand there's going to be smoke at a venue such as this, so I take it in stride. As we're making it through the crowd, I see a lit cigarette butt flying through the air just missing my child's stroller!!! A girl turns around and says, "oh I'm sorry, I didn't see a baby there" as if that makes it okay to send a lit cigarette butt flying through a crowd otherwise. Obviously I was less than gracious about her apology and heard her mutter something about we should not have a baby out here anyway. Fortunately I'm the non-violent type, but I can't tell you how hard it was to keep myself from knocking her out! Shame on us for having a baby downtown for the fireworks??? Shame on her for being a crappy human being!

Long story short, I know I can't stop people from smoking Downtown, but I ask our residents to be mindful when doing so, and to keep it away from the babies!

Everyone's intitled to mistakes - it's what you do to correct them that counts!

Yeah to the owner of MixStirs for reading my post and not tolerating bad customer service! Thank you for your comments. My intention is not to anger, but to evoke change when necessary. I've been to MixStirs a couple of times before with great service, which is why I was so disappointed this particular Tuesday evening. I apologize for not mentioning this before, although I did remember to note my love for hummus and veggie pitas :) I had walked many blocks with a toddler strapped to my back and was pretty darn irritated by the time I got home. Before having my kiddo I worked in a service-oriented industry and was held to wonderfully high standards, so I tend to expect the same from the businesses I frequent.

Thanks to the owner's comment, I will happily try MixStirs again - for I truly believe it's their intention to provide excellent service. Maybe I just went on a REALLY bad day.

I was specifically visiting MixStirs that fateful Tuesday because they are now open on Sundays. I want to continue to support Downtown businesses catering to its full time residents.