Amazing BBQ Ribs NowBBQ Ribs

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Located in Tennessee, the Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center is a luxurious getaway in the heart of downtown Pigeon Forge. The proximity of the hotel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park attracts many visitors.
Guests rooms in the Grand Resort Hotel include big screen TV’s, kitchens and a fireplace. An indoor Jacuzzi pool with a five-storey waterfall and an outdoor heated swimming pool is available for guests to enjoy. Free breakfast, along with a complimentary newspaper, is served every morning. The staff of the Grand Resort Hotel is available 24 hours a day to cater to any customer need. A concierge is also available so guests can book trips and activities during their stay at the hotel.
Numerous activities await visitors upon their arrival at the hotel, from hiking and trekking trips along the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, to a challenging boat ride through the white waters down the Tennessee River. Guests can also book a scenic helicopter tour of the Great Smoky Mountains or try Zorbing, a slippery ride inside a huge plastic sphere that is like a cross between a waterfall and a roller coaster.
The Comfort Suites Pigeon Forge is a first class hotel, sitting among the Great Smoky Mountains. Rooms in the Comfort Suites are spacious and stocked with standard amenities like a private bathroom and TV sets to make your stay pleasant and comfortable. The Comfort Suites offer a fully equipped business center complete with high-speed Internet access. Guests can take a dip in the swimming pools and a Jacuzzi that are located on the premises. The hotel staff is always available to cater to whatever needs the guests may have.
Guests may choose a number of restaurants located near the Comfort Suites. The Alamo Steakhouse & Saloon offers hand cut, aged Black Angus steaks cooked over an oak fire making it flavorful and tender. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que offers the Best Ribs and the best BBQ in town. Tourists visit the incredible Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies where over 10,000 exotic fishes are housed.
The MainStay Suites in Pigeon Forge is ideally located in a farm beside a running stream near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Main attractions like the Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, which is within five miles of The MainStay Suites.
Guests of the MainStay Suites are given free continental breakfast with brewed coffee and free weekday newspaper every morning. Having a dip at the indoor heated pool and hot tub is a relaxing way to spend an evening at the MainStay Suites.
There is a lazy river ride located inside the premises of the MainStay Suites. A guest laundry facility is available for guests who need to have their clothes washed. A jogging trail is available for health conscious guests who want to run in the awe inspiring foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The well trained staff of the MainStay Suites is on standby 24 hours a day to cater to the needs of the guests.
Whether you visit the foothills of The Great Smoky Mountains on a romantic getaway, on your honeymoon, on a leisurely trip or on a family vacation, expect to be spoiled with excellent hotel and accommodation choices.

Looking for an affordable family vacation, and you want it to be at an Antigua All Inclusive resort, then look no further than the Grand Pineapple Beach
An affordable family vacation is something we all want, and in the tough economic times we all face, how good is it that we can still travel to the Caribbean, to the island of Antigua to find an Antigua holiday at the All Inclusive Resort called Grand Pineapple Beach.
The very affordable Grand Pineapple Beach is situated in a 25 acre site, on a lovely and secluded stretch of beach on Antigua’s east coast in the town of St John’s. The powder white sand beach curves in a perfect arc around LongB, and the sea seems to be a permanent shade of turquoise blue.
Although graded at three stars this popular Antigua All Inclusive Resort offers a very decent Antigua Holiday at a price that is affordable. There are 180 guest rooms which are in eleven pastel painted very West Indian styled wooden buildings with re corrugated steel roofs. These buildings have either one, two, or three storey buildings surrounded by well maintained tropical gardens.
In terms of food and drink the Grand Pineapple Beach features dining at the open air Topaz Restaurant, , with BBQ’s and West Indian Buffets. Chef Pietro which is a beachfront restaurant serves Italian Food, and the Pineapple Grill in the middle of the tropical gardens serves Caribbean food. There are six poolside and beach bars serve almost every drink you can think of, and lots more besides, with the added thrill of live entertainment.
This is not to forget the Grand Pineapple Beach’s best kept secret which is Miss Mary and the Outhouse, set high above Long Bay. It’s a great place for a cold beer, and Miss Mary will make you a snack, ribs and chicken are big favourites, so just relax, play board games, and enjoy the view from on of most glorious spots in any Antigua All Inclusive resort
To keep you occupied during daylight hours, there is an air conditioned fitness centre, and Limbo contests and Bingo games are held daily either on the beach or at the adjacent outdoor pool, and then of course the all inclusive vacation means, windsurfers, Sunfish, Hobie Cats, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment on and in the water, and four tennis courts on dry land are all available and of course free!!
Most visitors really enjoy the Grand Pineapple Beach, especially as an affordable family vacation, but a few of the comments would indicate that the rooms are perhaps showing their age. On the other hand they are cleaned to a high standard every day, and as the whole theme is one of West Indian style, then perhaps the decor fits the theme.
Although the affordable family vacation bit is true, there isn’t a whole lot for little children to do, so you need to bear this in mind if you have an under five.
Another slight challenge to bear in mind is that if you are a social animal, and want to get out to shops and bars then Grand Pineapple Beach is on the wrong side of the island, being on the east coast. This means taxis to get to the busier west coast. If however you love beaches, want to stay in the one place, then the Grand Pineapple Beach will give you the ideal affordable family vacation in a good Antigua all inclusive resort.

Alvin Starkman  M.A., LL.B.

Middle class residents of major American and Canadian cities tend to have their favorite all-day Sunday brunch haunts…relaxed, clean, diner-style restaurants dishing up home cooking in a comfortable familiar environment.  Six days a week from 1 to 6 pm Los Almendros serves such a function for local Oaxacans.   Tucked away on a cobblestone privada close to Blvd. Manuel Ruiz in Colonia Reforma, a few blocks northeast of the baseball stadium, Lionel Leyva with wife Soledad and family have been greeting friends and new devotees since 1974.  You can’t help but feel at home in this Cheers-esque setting as you watch Lionel greet his own set of Frazier Cranes .

Upon entering the quadrangle-shaped comedor you’re struck by its warmth and amiability, without a trace of pretension.  Wooden tables with traditional colorful woven cloths are covered with thick plastic.  Walls are adorned with framed photos of the owners with family and patrons of celebrity…no politicians, but rather actors, singers and songwriters.  Two mounted deer busts serve as testimony that the Leyvas do things their way, and the throngs of faithful as evidence of approval.

The menu is limited to perhaps 15 or 20 authentic Oaxacan plates, some of which are appetizers.  You can choose daily specials not often found in other local eateries.  All is á la carte, so begin with one or two of the modestly priced botanas, perhaps memelas or an appetizer sized grilled meat dish, each of which is accompanied by salsa and guacamole.  The house mezcal is noteworthy and definitely worth sampling if nothing else.  For this visit Lionel had a tobalá and a surprisingly smooth gusano.

Although we arrived relatively early for this comida, by the time we were ready to order entrées, surprisingly the Sunday staple of Barbacoa de Borrego (bbq goat) had been sold out to patrons who knew better than we did to order ahead or for take-out.  All was not lost, however, since my wife’s main dish of tender pork ribs was prepared in the same style as one of the traditional barbeque recipes, baked in a tangy sauce and enveloped in foil.  Try the black beans with aromatic flavor of hierba de conejo as a side dish to any of the grilled or baked meats.  I began with a generous, piping hot serving of absolutely spectacular caldo de espinazo with an assortment of carrots, beans, potatoes and requisite pork, flavored with chili pasillo and accompanied by a dish of sliced lime, chopped onion and serrano chili for added acidity, spice and texture.  That, after appetizers and some of the better tortillas I’ve had in a while should have been enough, but the tongue in its traditional mole called out to me.  With whole black and green olives, and a tomato based sauce flavored with onion, garlic, raisin and almond, this bowl of lean, succulent sliced meat ranked with the best.  To complete the meal, if you haven’t had cajeta, the goat’s milk caramelized sweet, try it here in a light gelatin, alongside a cup of café de olla.  

Just as the regulars returned to that immortalized Boston bistro every week, you too will be drawn back to Los Almendros time and again, if not on a subsequent visit during this trip to Oaxaca, then upon your return… and greeted just as warmly as the old gang. 

Notes:   Comida only, 1 – 6 pm

             Closed Thursdays

             Beer, spirits and liqueurs

             Full meal incl beverage  70 – 90 pesos

Comedor Familiar Los Almendros

3ra Privada de Almendros #109,

Col. Reforma, Oaxaca

 tel: 515-2863|

Looking for the ultimate venue for celebrations or corporate entertainment in London? A boat on the Thames could be just what you are looking for. There are a plethora of options you can choose from to create the perfect bespoke event. Anything from classic elegance to high energy, modern London party boats for hire.

For entertaining a small party the M.V. Edwardian is a classic beautiful Thames boat with an open upper deck that I believe is perfect for enjoying all the thrilling London sights with your nearest and dearest, accompanied of course by a glass or 2 of champagne! If it is a party with an electrifying twist you are looking for I recommend, the recently refurbished M.V. Erasmus London party boat. It has an exciting multi faceted lighting system and smooth chrome finishes making it in my opinion the sleekest vessel on the Thames, there really is none other like her. If you are looking to entertain a larger number of people, the P.S. Dixie Queen could be the perfect Thames Boat to hire. I have seen her used for everything from ticketed club nights to cooperate silver service events both of which worked brilliantly.

Most vessels have at least 1 fully stocked bar with the capacity to add anything you desire, from your favourite beer to a Pimms reception! When it comes to menu options, the sky really is the limit, as you can have anything from canapés to afternoon tea, to BBQ’s to silver service fine dining banquets. Your night really can be tailored to your every requirement.

Entertainment options are just as vast as London party boats have the ability to provide a range of live entertainment, DJ’s, magicians or even belly dancers. The professionally trained staff and crew are there to help you with whatever you desire and will constantly strive to make your charter the best yet.

Thinking out of the box? Why not try clay pigeon shooting off the back of the P.S. Elizabethan? If that’s not for you why not try a James Bond themed casino night? The boats can be decked out with drapes, balloons, flowers…the list is endless. Anything and everything really is possible.

If budget is not an issue combine several boats, a large London party boat with Thames speed boat and a power boat for added amusement for guests. Moor the party boat at a London pier and small groups can go for high speed blasts on the Thames. A good one for this is the London Thames Jet Boat which provides the ultimate adrenaline ride on the river. There are also many different shapes and sizes of RIB speed boats available including a fleet of 14 which are identical and have a combined capacity of 112 people. Imagine the photographs!

Record low temperatures are sweeping across the US.  Just the other day, a friend from the great Northeast shared with me his experience of ice-picking his car and shoveling out his parking spot in front of his house.   Here in Florida, where I reside, record breaking temperatures are also occurring…record high temperatures.

Orlando might be a big draw for visitors to this 447-mile peninsula, but there is more to this place then just a famous mouse.  Florida has more then 1,000 miles of beaches, major airports near each city, inexpensive airfare to get here, this is the destination for those who thirst for the fun-in-the-sun atmosphere.

St. Petersburg, known for its sunsets, located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, is a hidden gem.  Located a few miles to the east, St. Pete Beach occupies the entire space of Long Key.    Many more fine and casual dining spots are scattered throughout this area.  Succulent dishes like the Garlic shrimp at The Reef or one of the best places to BBQ called the Rib City Restaurant.   So much to do and see here and with rates up to 67% off, you gotta go!  Great for families and couples, Tradewinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach is offering their usual $301 Florida beach escape from only $99!  

Travel south of St. Petersburg to family friendly Ft. Myers/Naples.  A more of a laid back type of feel, the Lower Gulf Coast offers the same beach going experience; and, some of the best beaches for families and building sand-castles.  Families will enjoy re-connecting with one another as they settle in for a relaxing and stress free vacation.  On top of all the beach activities, you can rest assured that your appetite will be taken care of as well.  Families gather at the local establishments to enjoy a family meal – again to reconnect with one another.  Spots like the Iguana Mia Mexican Restaurant where the kids can enjoy the plentiful chips and salsa and mom and dad can have reasonably priced Margaritas.  The main objective is where to stay while in Ft. Myers/Naples.  There are plenty of space here – but why just settle for a one room hotel when you can stay in a condo?  Not only that, but how about getting a $100 gift card for your stay?  Sunstream Hotels & Resorts have loads to offer their guests.  With a portfolio of unique condominium resorts, it might be hard to choose just one.

If beaches aren’t enough to make your vacation complete; then how does gourmet restaurants and second to none night-life sound?  Throw celebrity spotting into this mix, and South Beach, Miami is one place that has all your vacation needs…and wants.  The night life keeps going strong here till 5am; this is a perfect destination for couples, friends or a family stop on their Florida vacation.

Big A-Listers like Will Smith & Jennifer Lopez have been known to frequent some of these same clubs; so you might get your chance to rub elbows with them.  If not, you can go over to Lummus Park which opens (surprise, surprise) at 5am.  You can watch the sun rise and get your second chance at watching some celebrities as some of them frolic in the surf, play volleyball or rollerblade on the boardwalk. 

With so many different influences; it’s hard not to find something that warms any palate – and any wallet when it comes to dining.  Whether its Cuban inspired arroz con pollo at the Little Havana Restaurant, a crab sampler at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse or a traditional steak dinner at Houstons on the Intercoastal, you really have a ton to choose from; with different prices to suit any budget.

So, if your in the market for a long over due vacation or live close by to jump in the car and experience a few days – come to Florida; the sun is the perfect anti-freeze.Click here for more information on Florida Resort Deals