Q: positive

A: While exploring the Charlotte area for a Bead Store I came across Beads Inc. I felt like I was walking into a Doll House. The store and it's ambiance is soooooooo inspiring, elegant, inviting, organized and well stocked. The aesthetic was unlike anything I had ever seen in a bead shop. They have big wooden work tables and stools for doing projects and taking classes. The have beads displayed in beautiful hollowed out picture frames hanging on the walls like works of art. Each room is housed with an array of beautiful and unique beads by the strand that are of great quality and reasonably priced. They even have a room full of unparalleled loose beads. I felt like a kid in a toy store. Not only can you go in to purchase beads and beading materials for your beading needs. You can drop in at anytime for assistance with your project. You can even shop and create in the same visit. On my first visit to the shop last week I was greeted by all the staff and they were all eager to assist and accommodate my shopping needs. I not only purchased beads, but one of the owners Anne made every effort to give me a tutorial on how to add a toggle closure to my bracelets. I was so impressed with their willingness to help and their stellar customer service that I returned a few days later to do more shopping and another project. I wanted to make a necklace something I had never done before. I had the vision I just didn't know how to put it together cohesively. I showed and explained to the other store owner Christine what I wanted and she stood by my side from beginning to end helping me develop my piece. If you are a creative jewelry maker like myself, a beginner or just love all things beads then Beads Inc. is the place for you. You can follow them on "Instagram" at Beadinccharlotte and on "House Account". So what are you waiting for...........rush on over to Beads Inc. Happy Beading!

Q: positive

A: I dig The Parlor. Their pizzas are great, olives are awesome... Oh man, the brussel sprouts appetizer on special last weekend was the best I've had. On this last visit I also tried their Manhattan for the first time. Good thing I did... I have finally found a place (other than Citizen Public House) with a great manhattan! It was Woodford Reserve, with the perfect amount of bitters, and a marasca cherry on a sprig of toasted rosemary. Mmmmmm! Service has always been polite and prompt. The place has a nice seat yourself bar area where you can booze it up (as long as you have a DD) and wait for your table. And if you have a big party/larger group, they will take a reservation.

Q: negative

A: Oh Dear Lord! Can I get a Xanax?! For us parents this is a necessary evil. Chuck E Cheese's, in my opinion, as a whole have gone downhill over the years. It's just not quite what it use to be. The now robotic Chuck E. makes the experience a little less special and the pizza leaves even more to be desired than it use to. Nowadays, the staff can make or break your experience. That and the parenting skills of the other patrons. Sure, this is a place for your kids to be kids but it's not an excuse to let your child do as they please and run around screaming like an animal. Do us all a favor and parent your child(ren). Will I return? Absolutely! I know the joy that my daughter gets from this place and I couldn't deprive her of that. Will we ever have another birthday party there? No way! Incredibly overpriced and there's not enough Advil in the world! The package 'upgrades' add dollars upon dollars to your final bill just to award the children with more plastic trinkets that are broken before the end of the party. If they survive beyond the party, they are in the trash within a week's time. I think the staff is hit or miss here and I think they could do a better job at keeping the place clean. I also think they need to better position the staff at the front because on countless occasions I've had to stand at the counter waiting to be served. Why don't you serve beer!?!?! Other locations do and I knew that would be the only thing to get me through a 6 year old birthday party! Talk about disappointed! What are you doing to me?!?!? Selling beer is like selling sanity to all of the dads in the place! Easy money! You're losing out on so much business! A golden opportunity to gain additional revenue. Get it together Chuck E.

Q: negative

A:
When you pay extra to go to a nice restaurant, you should get a better atmosphere, better food and better service, so one out of three rates 2 stars. The restaurant decorations were very nice. The service started out stellar but somewhere in the middle dropped off to the point where our water glasses were empty for a very long time and were finally refilled with warm water. Our waiter was very nice but took forever to get us the check and we finally had to ask for it. I ordered the Szechuan beef noodle soup and although it had a great flavor the noodles were mush. In retrospect I should have sent it back.