Jennifer G.

North Laurel Animal Hospital

I have two golden retrievers that I've taken to North Laurel Animal Hospital since we moved to the area. They both have had allergies, and I had spent years trying to get it under control for my older dog. The vets here finally put her on the prescription dog food that she needed and the quality of life for both dogs have greatly improved. Dr. Bob has done surgery on both of my dogs, and saved one with Lyme disease. The care they've given my dogs has been great.

The vets and the staff have been friendly and supportive. They know us when we call and are always willing to accommodate our schedules.

P F Chang's China Bistro

The food here is amazing. I sometimes dream about the Ma Po Tofu and, of course, the Great Wall of Chocolate. PFs is located right by the AMC in Columbia, but it's impossible to go there after a movie. The wait is always over an hour. Even with reservations, they will sometimes have you wait for up to 20 minutes. It is very frustrating, but the food is always good enough so you will leave happy.

Lasik Plus Vision Ctr

I had my Lasik performed 3 years ago, and not a single day has passed since then that I have not marveled at how great it is. My life is orders of magnitude better since I had it done.

At Lasik Plus, the first visit, where they do an exam to determine if you are a good candidate for the surgery, is free. They show you a video, do the exam, and then explain the process. If you are a good candidate, they will schedule your procedure during this visit.

On the day of my surgery, I showed up and got to watch other people having it done. Their waiting room looks in on the surgery room, and a TV showing the patient's eye is positioned so people waiting can watch the process. It was fascinating, and also comforting to watch it being performed first.

The doctors were nice, supportive, and answered all of my questions. The process was totally painless, as they had said it would be, and the moment I sat up after they finished I was able to read the clock across the room! I feel like I could have driven home aft

Bang Salon Spa

Bang Salon is one of those hip places starting to show up on U St. They have good prices, excellent products for sale, and a very friendly staff. They also have a doctor on staff who does laser hair removal for men and women. She is excellent, very pleasant and knowledgeable, and is great to deal with.

Silver Moon

Silver moon is a great vintage shop in lakeview. They have pieces from a big range of periods, with inexpensive to quite pricey items. The whole store has a rock-n-roll feel to it (the owner does wardrobe work for Aerosmith, which explains a lot). It's a fun place to shop and you're sure to find something interesting when you go in.

Lehmann Sports Club

This is one of those health clubs up against the sidewalk where people get to look in and watch you running on the treadmill. In the cold Chicago winters, the people walking by just see the steamed up glass and think about how they had better stop slacking and get in and work out.

The gym is nice. Because it's a local place, you don't deal with the craziness or harshness of a Bally's atmosphere. They have a lot of good equipment - plenty of treadmills, elipticals, stair climbers, etc, weight machines and a big room for free weights. There's a yoga studio (though I never attended those classes) and an abdominal room. Locker rooms are clean and nice, though relatively small.

The number of machines seem to fit the number of people who go there. At peak hours it is crowded, but I rarely had to wait for a machine.

There is a typical Lakeview crowd here - young and hip. I personally found it to be a female friendly place because of the largely gay clientele - it's nice not to get scoped out while you're s

Specialty Video & Dvd

Tired of the same Hollywood tedium of Blockbuster ? Specialty Video is the antidote. This is not a chain video store, but an independent place in the heart of Lakeview. They have the usual new releases, but their focus is really on the rest of their collection. They have a great selection of cult classics, independent films, classes, and documentaries, in addition to the usual sections of horror, drama, comedies, etc. This is the type of place where you can go in with no idea of what you want, and find 4 or 5 really interesting things to rent that you never new existed. The people who work there are great, and are really part of the neighborhood. I love this place for the selection, and also for the true community atmosphere that is there.

The Capital Hilton

The Capitol Hilton is great. The rooms are spatious, nice, and well appointed. The staff is friendly, and the hotel as a whole is upscale. The location also can't be beat. It's only a couple blocks north of the White House, and it is within walking distance of the Metro, Georgetown, monuments, and the Smithsonians.

Comp USA

I've been to many CompUSA stores, and while none of them are clean and wonderful (like you'd see in an Apple Store), the one in Gaithersburg is particularly bad. The sales people are not around when you need them to get things, but if you have a question and find one, they push their warranty program endlessly...sometimes to the point where they basically refuse to sell you an item unless you buy it. The store is a mess on top of it. In a pinch, you can probably find parts or software there. If you're looking for service and help, though, get yourself an Apple and go to the Apple store.

All Seasons Florist

All Seasons Florist has been great to me. I can call them around noon, and they have always been able to deliver to my husband's office on the same day, usually within just a few hours. The prices are the same as you would pay at most florists, and the flowers are always fresh and beautiful.