Austin Review Round-Up

A recent work conference took me to Austin for the first time. I didn’t get to do as much exploring as I would have were I on vacation, but I still took in enough of Downtown to make the experience worth a few reviews. With the exception of the hotel, I omitted national chains.

Omni Austin Hotel Downtown

Location: 700 San Jacinto Boulevard in Downtown Austin.

My homebase for this multi-day business trip, the Omni was large, sleek, and spacious: lots of floors and lots of glass. My room was clean and comfortable. The location – walkable to plenty and near several bus stops – is hard to beat. Check-in and check-out were both easy and convenient.

While this didn’t affect me, those driving in should be forewarned that the Omni charges a fortune ($60) for overnight parking. Due to the hotel’s size and location, you can also expect a bit of noise every now and then.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay here. If you have the coin for it, the Omni promises a fairly pleasant experience.

President’s House Coffee

President's House is the Omni’s coffee shop, and with that comes an implicit tradeoff: overpriced mediocrity in exchange for convenience. Measured against that standard, President’s House acquitted itself well. I stopped here once for lunch and once for breakfast and found a decent selection both times. They have plenty of coffee drinks, of course, but also pastries, sandwiches, bowls, and more. 

My first visit was a late lunch, and I opted for an Italian sandwich (soppressata, mortadella, prosciutto, provolone). “Adequate” would be the best way to describe it, but it was at least filling and, at $12, not outrageously priced. Breakfast the next day was better. The jalapeno cheddar sausage kolaches offered flaky dough and a nice bit of spice. The latte I had with it was smooth and provided a needed pre-conference pick-me-up.

President’s House also benefits from a decent amount of seating and friendly staff. For a quick breakfast before you leave to face the world, President’s House was better than I expected.

Vaquero Taquero

 

Located at 603 Sabine Street with another location north of the University of Texas campus, Vaquero Taquero is a taqueria/bar/music venue. It is open Thursday-Saturday from 5 p.m. – 3 a.m. and Monday 5-11. Patio seating and online ordering are available.

This fun, funky spot is as authentic as it gets: it evolved from a street cart, tortillas are homemade, and meat is slow-cooked on a trompo. The simple menu boasts tacos (al pastor, chicken tinga, nopales, and beef with birria subbing in for carne asada at the time of my visit), chips, and drinks.

I opted for one birria and one pastor taco. Both were prepped quickly and served loaded with fillings. The pastor had excellent flavor, and I was sorely tempted to get another. I don’t know how Vaquero Taquero stacks up against other local taquerias, but coming from an out-of-towner with plenty of respectable taco options back home, this place rocks.

Iron Works Barbecue

Located at 100 Red River Street, Iron Works Barbecue offers Texas barbecue for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-9 Monday-Saturday. Online ordering and family meals to go are available.

If my earlier visit to Waco taught me anything, it is that brisket is a must during trips to the Lone Star State. I knew I wanted a place that was tried-and-true but also didn’t have a line out the door, and Iron Works fit the bill nicely. It’s a historical site with still-running wood-burning stoves and lots of old photos on the walls, so the pedigree was there. The menu boasted plates, sandwiches, desserts, and meats by the pound. While sausage or smoked turkey may have tempted me on another occasion, I zeroed in on a sliced beef sandwich, which was prepared almost immediately.

 

All told, it was good but not quite great. The brisket was very tender but didn’t quite deliver the smokiness I had hoped for. At $12.95, the sandwich came sans sides, but it was at least decently sized. Even if it didn’t blow me away, I’m glad I gave Iron Works a try.

Revolucion

 

Located at 200 San Jacinto Boulevard (with other locations in San Antonio), Revolucionoffers coffee, juices, smoothies, tacos, and more. Online ordering is available.

I had been walking around downtown in the cold and rain and needed a hot drink to forge ahead. Revolucion seemed a good bet, and it delivered. It’s a bright and bustling shop with a decent amount of space. I opted for the Revolucion latte (with lavender and honey). I could definitely taste the syrups used, but they weren’t overwhelming. Revolucion made for an ideal coffee stop though had I found it earlier in the day, I would have probably been all over the breakfast tacos.

BookPeople

 

Located at 603 North Lamar Boulevard, BookPeople is Texas’s largest independent bookstore. It includes a coffee shop and hosts events such as book clubs and author talks. It is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

BookPeople pulls off the rare feat of being huge without seeming impersonal. The vibe is welcoming, and there are plenty of staff on hand. At the same time, the selection is absurd (in a good way). There are two floors to explore here, and everything is thoughtfully laid out and clearly labeled. The worst that can be said about BookPeople is that for out-of-town visitors, it will make you mad that there isn’t one near you. 

Wee’s Cozy Kitchen

Located inside of Royal Blue Grocery at 609 Congress Avenue, Wee’s Cozy Kitchen offers Malaysian cuisine from 4-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Online ordering is available (and encouraged).

I’m no stranger to restaurants inside of other businesses, but this one took some getting used to. While there are a few tables inside of Royal Blue, Wee’s is definitely better equipped for takeout. There’s a separate register toward the front of the store for you to place your order. However, there’s a very good chance the proprietor will be in the back making food, so it’s really a spot for you to browse the menu and order online.

Once you get past the set-up, however, Wee’s is very, very good. The menu offers Malaysian curries, noodles, satays, snacks, and drinks. I opted for a beef rendang and a Thai green tea. After about 15-20 minutes, Wee emerged to hand me my order. She gave me a warm greeting and seemed invested in me enjoying my meal.

 

And enjoy it I did! The meat was tender, the sauce rich and creamy, and the coconut flavors paired well with the pickled vegetables. There was also a lot of it: for $18, I felt like I got my money’s worth.

Wee’s Cozy Kitchen is easy to miss unless you’re looking for it, but if you stop by, you’re in for a treat.

Malone Specialty Coffee

 

Malone Specialty Coffee operates a roastery/café at 14735 Bratton Lane and a trailer at 318 East Fifth Street. I stopped by the latter in search of coffee and a smoothie and found a decent selection of both (they also have bagels if you are so inclined). The helpful barista recommended a Southside Caramel, and I paired that with a Green Power smoothie. 

The caramel latte came with a dash of cinnamon, and it was quite good: sweet but not cloying. While the smoothie (spinach, pineapple, OJ, and protein) tasted good as well, it proved a bit chunky and difficult to drink (poor straw construction, perhaps?). This was neither the best coffee I had in Austin nor the worst, but at the very least, it’s a convenient option for those near the Convention Center.

Fareground

Located at 111 Congress Avenue, Fareground is Austin’s food hall. It features French, Venezuelan, Mexican, Mediterranean, a bar, and a coffee trailer. It can be booked for private events.

My experiences with food halls have been mixed, but I’m still interested in checking them out when I come across them. Fareground is probably the most nicely appointed I’ve come across. It’s busy without being overwhelmingly noisy, and there’s a decent amount of seating and space. 

That said, there simply aren’t enough vendors here. Only four actual restaurants makes for disappointingly slim pickings for a city of Austin’s size. Hopefully, that can change in the future.

 

Austin Rotisserie

“Fast French” seems almost oxymoronic, yet this eatery inside the Fareground food hall (there's another Austin Rotisserie location on Lamar) offers an approximation thereof. You can get varying quantities of rotisserie chicken, soups, salads, and baguette sandwiches. I opted for the latter. 

At $14 with no sides, my Norwegian baguette (smoked salmon, goat cheese, arugula, tomato, vinaigrette, and roti sauce) was no bargain though it managed to be reasonably filling. The flavor was good though the sauce dripping through the sandwich made for a messier-than-expected meal. Sadly, the baguette was a letdown: chewy and lacking the softer inside. Très meh.

Carve American Grille

Located at 7415 Southwest Parkway (with another location in Central Austin), Carve specializes in steaks and craft cocktails. Patio and private dining are available. An on-site butcher can prepare cuts to go. The restaurant is open from 11-10 Monday-Saturday and 11-9 on Sunday.

Carve’s gimmick is copious use of smoke and fire: even the desserts involve taking a torch to some Smores. As steakhouses go, this helps give it a unique identity, but thankfully, Carve proved to be more than just sizzle.

Our group of seven split a spinach artichoke dip starter and a few sides for the table: truffle steak fries, mac and cheese, and charred brussels sprouts. I then went with a smoked sliced New York strip. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and we didn’t have long to wait for anything.

 

Across the board, the food was very good. This was my first time trying a smoked steak, and it won’t be my last. It was tender with a nice crust, and it paired well with caramelized onions and a truffle merlot sauce. The “steak fries” were definitely closer to potato wedges, but they were crisp, salty, and tasty just the same. I tend to avoid Brussels sprouts unless they are prepared especially well, and Carve’s qualify: the char and the sweet sauce eradicated any trace bitterness.

Carve exceeded expectations even for an upscale (read: expensive but not fine dining) meal. If you have an occasion to celebrate, it’s well worth a look.

The Hideout

Located at 617 Congress Ave, The Hideout bills itself as Downtown Austin’s oldest independent coffeehouse. It also shares a building and a name with an improv theatre that offers shows and lessons for kids and adults. The coffeeshop is open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7-10 Thursday and Friday, 8-11 Saturday, and 8-5 Sunday. Online ordering is available.

 

Though overpriced ($7 for a 16 ounce vanilla iced latte), The Hideout is otherwise everything you’d want in a local coffee shop. There’s local art for sale on the walls, they stock bites and baked good, and the baristas are friendly and fast. The coffee was good though not appreciably better than similar drinks that cost less elsewhere.

Mexic-Arte Museum

 

Located at 419 Congress Avenue, Mexic-Arte Museum features Mexican and Latin-American art and culture displays. It is open Monday-Thursday from 10-6, Friday and Saturday from 10-5, and Sunday from 12-5. The museum offers tours and workshops and sponsors events such as an annual Taste of Mexico.

Occupying a single floor, Mexic is small: a mere handful of rooms. Given that size, the $8 admission seems like a reach. Look past that, however, and Mexic offers unique art ranging from murals to photos to an elaborate room-sized nativity display. The gift shop is well worth a look as well.

As museums go, Mexic-Arte’s size and scope are underwhelming. However, this place serves an important mission and gives you a chance to see art you probably won’t find elsewhere.

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

 

Located at 303 Red River Street (with another location at West Parmer and Avery Ranch), Moonshine serves comfort food and cocktails. It is open from 11-10 Monday-Friday, 10-10 on Saturday, and 9-2 (brunch) and 4-9 on Sunday. Online ordering, patio seating, and catering are available.

Housed in a historic building, Moonshine exudes charm, which is why it was packed even on a Monday night. I was lucky enough to find a seat at the bar. While the bartenders were great, the noise levels prompted me to make mine a quick meal. Had I caught Moonshine during a less busy time, I suspect I really would have enjoyed the experience.

Instead, I’ll have to settle for “only” really liking the food. Moonshine’s menu is a fun mix of Mexican and Southern influences with steaks, chops, and burgers thrown in as well. I usually pounce on shrimp and grits and would have here had not a blackened catfish caught my eye.

Thankfully, it proved to be the right call. It came topped with crawfish tails, a not-hot hot sauce, and pecan meuniere and served with stone ground grits. The fish was flaky, the grits were creamy and cheese, the pecans added a welcome crunch, and while hot sauce may have been a misnomer, damn if it wasn’t good. It paired well with an Austin Eastcider (when in Rome…) Blackberry, and at under $30 pre-tax, it felt like a good deal for a good meal.

If I’m ever back in Austin, a return to Moonshine seems like a must. I’ll just need to catch them during a slower hour…if such exists.

Capital A

The Omni’s restaurant, Capital A is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a bar that serves until midnight. As with President’s House Coffee, Capital A is best approached with the knowledge that you’re paying for the convenience of not having to venture outside. And, as with President’s House, it’s respectable by hotel dining standards. 

I stopped by for breakfast on my last day in town and was seated promptly. After considering the assortment of omelets, sandwiches, and other fare (including, surprisingly shakshuka), I opted for the migas tacos. They came filled with beef, eggs, jalapenos, pico de gallo, and cheese, and they were paired with potato wedges. The tacos were definitely a knife-and-fork rather than a handheld affair, and they delivered all the right flavor notes. The accompanying potatoes were well-seasoned and perfectly crisp. All told, it made for a salty but satisfying and filling meal.

Fleet Coffee

 

Located at 804 Congress Avenue with additional locations on Webberville Road and on Manor Road, Fleet Coffee serves coffee from several local roasters as well as teas, tacos, pastries, and more. It is open from 8-3 on weekdays and closed weekends. Online ordering is available.

 

This location of Fleet is a walkup counter rather than a full-blown shop, but if you don’t need space to sit, you’ll probably be satisfied with what you get. There was a short line when I arrived though it moved quickly thanks to very efficient baristas. I went with a cinnamon toast crunch cold brew. While it was expensive ($7.25 for a 16 ounce), it was possibly the best coffee I had in downtown Austin: smooth, sweet, bold, and complex. It also contained actual Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces, so Fleet gets points for novelty.

Waco Review Roundup

My brother-in-law’s wedding took me to the Lonestar State for the first time and gave me a slew of things to review, so here goes. Hours and locations can be found by following the businesses' links.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

A large airport with seemingly endless runways, DFW has a few bright spots but overall did not make for a particularly pleasant experience. The airport seems to be in good shape and looked neither dated nor depressing. The terminal-connecting Skylink train ran reliably every two minutes. Each terminal that we visited had a variety of shopping and dining options.

Like other large airports, foot traffic can be intense at times, and that much was to be expected. Less expected was our outgoing flight changing gates and terminals multiple times in quick succession or sniffing dogs handled by police in tactical gear, both of which made for a stressful layover.

 

Waco Regional Airport

The antithesis of DFW, ACT is a tiny regional airport that manages maybe three commercial flights per day. It offers no amenities – expected given its size – but the few folks working here are friendly. That said, TSA certainly took its time opening the security line for our outgoing flight, which made clearing security longer and less efficient than it could have been.

 

Springhill Suites Waco Woodway

Located a short distance away from Waco proper, this Springhill Suites location made for a comfortable home base during our trip. The front desk staff, housekeeping staff, and Jim the bartender were all pleasant and courteous. The room was spacious and the bed comfortable, and everything worked as intended. Aside from a brief spell of what sounded like hammering, the building was mercifully quiet. The nightly rate wasn’t unreasonable, either. The bathroom lacked a ceiling fan, but otherwise, there was little fault to be found here, and I’m glad that we went with Springhill.

 

Union Grove

Coming from a city where “food hall” is synonymous with “overpriced,” I found UnionGrove to be a breath of fresh air. That isn’t to say that the offerings here were dirt cheap but rather that I didn’t feel like the food hall setting was a license to jack up prices.

Union Grove boasts a respectable variety of vendors for its size, and the offerings range from Cajun to Asian to pizza and wings and more. I opted for the ironically named Health Camp, the Woodway outpost of a longstanding Waco burger-and-shake joint. While the shake selections looked tempting, I limited myself to a Health Burger (cheeseburger), tots, and a drink.

At the risk of courting pitchforks, the burger was a bit underwhelming. It was a fast food style single patty, very thin, and though tasty enough when dressed (lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup), not really worth $7. I realize that for locals, nostalgia is a powerful lure (Greensboro’s Beef-Burger had similar adherents), but if you didn’t grow up with Health Camp’s burgers, I’d have to believe that you could do better. To their credit, the tots were perfectly crisp and priced right.

One final note: Union Grove has plenty of seating, but it can also get rather loud. There’s an adjoining arcade, so expect kids running around. If the acoustics don’t bother you, however, then the warehouse atmosphere can be fun.

 

Common Grounds Woodway

The Woodway branch of this Waco coffee vendor is everything you’d want in a local coffee shop. There’s a drive-thru for patrons on the go, but there’s also plenty of room inside. With Slow Rise housed in the same building, you needn’t look far to find food to go with your drink.

Common Grounds’ menu is surprisingly deep and varied. You can get a classic drip coffee or espresso drink here, take on a fun flavor from one of the house specialties, or go with a multi-shot selection from the Sleep is Overrated section if you need an extra pick-me-up.  Common Grounds’ calling card is a housemade “Secret Sauce” syrup (spoiler alert: you can buy it by the bottle and ingredients are listed if you’re curious) and the Cowboy Coffee concoctions that feature it. If that isn’t enough, there’s also a rotating seasonal menu. Fortunately, the staff here are patient while you make up your mind, and they’ll promptly prep whatever you order.

I ended up getting an iced Caramel Coffee Crunch: a latte with caramel and Secret Sauce. It was rather sweet (owing to the aforementioned sauce), but on a hot day when I was somewhat frazzled, it was exactly what I needed. Were I a local, I could see making Common Grounds a regular stop. It offers too many options to pass up.

 

R & S Barbecue

Named for its owners Richard and Shannon, this tiny hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint is the real deal. It offers sandwiches, meats (chicken, brisket, ribs, sausage, chopped beef, ham, or turkey) by the pound or in combination plates, and desserts. From slaw and mac n cheese to peach cobbler and banana pudding, the accompaniments are BBQ classics though you can also get nachos and tacos here too.

I stopped by for a brisket sandwich. At $14 with chips included, it wasn’t cheap, but it was absolutely worth it. For starters, the sandwich was sizeable, a two-hander if there ever was one. It was also very tasty. The moist, smoky brisket was among the best I’ve ever had, and it paired well with pickles and onions. Though the meat delivered plenty of flavor, the housemade sauce added a welcome tang.

 

R & S may not be as big, as storied, or as well-known as some of Waco’s other BBQ establishments, but if you’re coming for the food above all, you can’t go wrong here.

 

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Home to a dig site featuring a slew of Columbian mammoth fossils, the Waco Mammoth National Monument is good for a quick diversion. $6 gets you a guided tour of the dig site. It isn’t particularly large, but it’s a welcome reprieve from the sun on a hot day, and the work undertaken to unearth and preserve the fossils is impressive. Guides are friendly and knowledgeable.

 

Fabled Bookshop & Café

This quaint downtown Waco bookshop offers a strong selection of books, bites, and beverages. It’s easy to lose track of time here taking in all they have to offer. While books are the primary focus, Fabled also features games, puzzles, stationery, and more. Shelves are clearly labeled, and staff seem upbeat.

 

Union Hall

The OG older brother to Woodway’s Union Grove, Union Hall is a bigger operation in downtown Waco. It boasts an impressive selection of vendors, including those specializing in Cajun, Cambodian, Thai, sushi, pho, Mexican, burgers, wings, pizza, juices, teas, and edible cookie dough, among others. As befits its size, Union Hall draws plenty of foot traffic though there is enough seating to go around.

My wife and I split a barbacoa pupusa plate from Pupusa Paradise and a tamale bowl from Wacool Tacos & Tamales. We then followed that up with iced matchas from Zuke’s Tea Bar and chocolate chip cookie dough from Cookie Dough Bliss. The pupusas were thin, crisp, and quite tasty, and the accompanying slaw was wonderfully tangy. The tamale bowl went heavy on the cheese and sauce, but the actual tamales themselves did not disappoint. The teas were refreshing though one was ordered with boba, which they forgot to include.

 

Nothing at Union Hall was terribly expensive ($7 for the pupusa plate and under $5 for a 24 ounce matcha), and the variety makes it hard to pass up. It may not offer the best of anything, but if you want to try several different cuisines in one spot, look no further.

 

Pivovar

A combination Czech brewery/restaurant/hotel/beer spa, Pivovar offers a one-of-a-kind experience. We paid the restaurant side of the operation a dinner visit and had an all-around terrific meal.

The ambiance here is attractive, blending wood and green leather with a view of the brewery. Our server for the evening (Ian?) was also tending bar, and he handled both roles capably without breaking a sweat. A manager later came around to check on us, which speaks to a dedication to customer satisfaction.

Pivovar’s drinks menu features pilsners and lagers brewed in-house while the food offerings have a Germanic bent. You can still eat lighter here (salads and sandwiches), but anyone looking to indulge in sausage, schnitzel, or steak will be pleased with what’s available.

My wife and I split a pretzel starter and then opted for the sausage platter and the classic pocket schnitzel, respectively. The pretzel was large, soft, and well-salted, and it came with a trio of dips. Of them, the beer mustard was commendably robust, but the honey mustard and beer cheese were more enjoyable. The sausage platter included what appeared to be a bratwurst and two other sausages alongside corn ribs and sauerkraut. All of the sausages were tasty and offered a firm bite while the corn tasted fresh from the grill. While the schnitzel would have benefitted from a vegetable pairing, everything on the plate was excellent, from the garlicky mashed potatoes to the schnitzel’s crisp batter, juicy pork, and cheesy filling. Dessert options included a crème brulee cheesecake that I couldn’t pass up, and I’m glad that I had enough room for it. The graham cracker crust had spice notes that reminded me of carrot cake, and the thin layer of sugar topping was very satisfying. My wife also spoke highly of the dark lager.

 

Pivovar isn’t cheap, and some of the menu offerings seem like reaches (i.e. $18 for a meatless salad). However, our entrees ($21 and $19) were reasonable for the quality of the food.

That Pivovar offers a kind of cuisine I don’t usually find made it attractive, but the combination of ambiance, service, and well-executed food made it memorable. Do yourself a favor and Czech it out.

Zac Rates Colorado: Day Five

Recently, Lara and I spent a few days in Colorado for a belated honeymoon. Using Denver as our base of operations, we took in plenty from that city as well as from Boulder and Colorado Springs. Here is the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Denver Zoo

Located at 2300 Steele Street, the Denver Zoo contains 80 acres of animals in both indoor and outdoor settings. A train is available that loops around the bird and primate areas, and the zoo offers regularly scheduled shows and feedings. Parking is free.

When it comes to zoos, it’s easy to be jaded. If you’ve seen one giraffe, you’ve seen them all, and the welfare of animals in captivity is always a concern. That said, Denver Zoo manages to acquit itself fairly well. None of the animals seemed miserable, and there were quite a lot of them. Biodiversity is a strength here, as the zoo offers a look at everything from snakes and frogs to penguins and polar bears to elephants, zebras, birds, monkeys, and more. Tigers were unavailable during our visit, but c’est la vie. 

One caveat: come during the summer, and you will encounter throngs of overly excited children. This can make navigating some of the indoor exhibits a bit of a challenge, but once outside, there is plenty of room to walk around. It’s also worth mentioning that this is not a safari-style zoo: most animals are penned in, with the notable exception of peacocks, which roam freely. Lastly, some may balk at the price ($17 for adults, less for kids and seniors), but considering all there is to see here – and the lack of an additional charge for parking – it’s a worthwhile expenditure.

If you loathe zoos, Denver Zoo is unlikely to make a convert of you, but if you have a bit more tolerance, this one will reward you.

8/10

The Atomic Cowboy

Located at 3237 East Colfax Avenue (with other locations on Broadway and on Tennyson), The Atomic Cowboy is home to Fat Sully’s Pizza and the Denver Biscuit Company. There is a full bar, limited outdoor seating, and the establishment is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

The Atomic Cowboy blends a fun, funky atmosphere with solid food and a few noted idiosyncrasies, some good, some not. It was jam packed at the time of our arrival, and rather than hand us a pager, The Atomic Cowboy sent me a text when our table was ready (good idiosyncrasy).

Once inside, we found that the menu reflects the dual branding. One side is pizzas (by the slice or pie) and salads; the other is biscuit sandwiches, biscuit platters, and sides. Though The Atomic Cowboy is presumably run as one business, the food actually comes from two different kitchens, so if people at your table order from different sides of the menu, you won’t get everything at the same time (bad idiosyncrasy). The service also lagged a bit due to the volume at the time of our visit, but I’ve experienced far worse.

As far as the food is concerned, the pizza slices are huge, and the toppings fresh. I opted for a shrimp and grits biscuit platter, however, and was not disappointed. The shrimp and pancetta were plentiful, and the biscuit added a nice textural contrast.

The pricing here is hard to pin down. The $10.95 I paid for my shrimp and grits was reasonable, filling as it was. However, pizza starts at $3.50 a slice, with 45 or 65 cents for each topping (depending on the topping). This can easily put you at $5 a slice, which would be outrageous if the slices weren’t as big as your head.

The Atomic Cowboy is an interesting concept and worth a visit if you have the time to spare. But if you’re starving or sporting a headache when you walk in, this place will wear you out fast.

7.75/10

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Located at 2001 Colorado Boulevard, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science features three floors of exhibitions, an IMAX theater, and a planetarium. Special exhibitions rotate every few months, and parking is free.

Though some exhibits are stronger than others, the DMNS isn’t a wasted experience. Its pricing structure, on the other hand, is maddening. Adult admission is $14.95 and does not include IMAX, the planetarium, or the rotating special exhibit (Robot Revolution at the time of our admission). Want to see everything? Be prepared to shell out $26.95, something which we opted to forgo.

Among what we did see, the Gems and Minerals, Expedition Health, and Prehistoric Journey exhibits were the strongest. Even if rocks aren’t your domain, you can’t help but be awed by the massive glistening crystals on display. Meanwhile, the Expedition Health features an array of interactive biometrics that gauge everything from heart rate to wingspan, culminating in an amusingly disturbing aging simulation that gives you a glimpse of yourself at 70. The Prehistoric Journey then gave a good sense of just how much life has evolved and changed over the years. On the other hand, the Space Odyssey exhibit was rather dull, the Egyptian Mummies exhibit disappointingly small, and the Wildlife Exhibit couldn’t hold a candle to the actual wildlife found at the zoo a short distance away.

Children who have frequented few museums may get more out of the experience, but the DMNS simply wasn’t a “wow” to me.

7.5/10

Thai Chili and Sushi

Located at 16221 East 40^th Avenue in Aurora, Thai Chili and Sushi serves pan-Asian cuisine daily for lunch and dinner. Delivery is available, and discounts are given for every $15, $25, or $35 spent on an order.

As it was across the street from our hotel, convenience more so than anything prompted us to give Thai Chili and Sushi a try. The menu is fairly extensive, covering everything from Chinese to Thai to sushi. Beyond Menu made online ordering quick and painless. As other reviewers noted, the staff here can be somewhat curt, but I got out order without incident.

The food ended up being hit and miss, with more of the former than the latter. The potstickers were dry and bland, and the egg rolls (free when you spend $15) were so-so. On the other hand, the miso was surprisingly tasty, and the panang curry featured tender beef and lots of rich sauce. The portions were also fairly generous for the prices ($4.95 for six potstickers, $1.95 for a pint of miso, and $8.95 for beef panang curry) paid.

Thai Chili and Sushi is a no-frills eatery that isn’t likely to top any “best of” lists, but if you’re staying in one of the hotels on 40^th Avenue and craving Asian, don’t be afraid to give it a try.

7.25/10

Bonus Tip: Tattered Cover

This local bookstore chain (locations on 16^th Street, East Colfax, in Littleton, and in the Denver International Airport) is well-laid out with plenty of seating and has a fairly comprehensive selection. They sell plenty of knick-knacks in addition to books, and the 16^th Street location even has an Espresso (on-demand book machine). The prices charges for new titles are fairly high, but Tattered Cover does sell pre-owned books as well, often at much better rates. Though Amazon beats just about all as a book source these days, as brick-and-mortar stores go, Tattered Cover is a nice local alternative.