Bradley B.

Shop Rite Supermarket

This is pretty much what you'd expect. As a recent new arrival to the Philadelphia area I spent some time trying out the various supermarket options. This Shop Rite has, by far, been the best option. Many of the local markets seem to be going for a "low price" look -- they charge a couple of cents per bag for bagging groceries, they leave the food in boxes on the cheap shelving, etc.

Shop Rite doesn't do that. Their prices are comparable to Food Basics, or Cousins, or any of the other area stores, but their selection is consdierably better and the feel is much better.

Hong Kong Supermarket Inc

Rivalling the size of many traditional supermarkets, the Hong Kong Supermarket is a great place to go for supplies for any type of asian cooking.

Huge variety, good prices. As a huge fan of Asian food, if not the best cook in the world, I love stopping by just to pick up some of this or that and to get ideas for what I should make for dinner.

PROS: large selection
CONS:

Abington Free Library

The computers in Abington are slow, especially if multiple people are using them, and you can only sign up for an hour per day. They are available for use to non-residents/non-library card holders, however, which is nice.

My girlfriend was recently doing a job search from the library and using their computers to write cover letters and resumes. One Friday she left, leaving her disk in the computer she'd been using. That night, when she panickly realized what had happened we went back and left a note on the door.

We had to go out of town early the next morning before the library was open. We got a call about the lost disk, which they were nice enough to hold onto until she could get back there on Monday.

That consideration saved her many hours of lost work and a huge amount of trouble.

PROS: slow computer speeds
CONS: friendly circulation desk staff

Fencing Academy-South Jersey

Andy Ma, the coach/owner of FASJ is a very strong coach. The program has been producing a number of top level fencers in both foil and sabre. FASJ jas a strong program for both men and women, something that you don't always see, and has already produced a number of national points level fencers despite having been in existance a relatively short amount of time.

Recently moved to a new, larger, location in Cherry Hill. Very strong junior/cadet program with a few high-level veteren sbare fencers to bring some experience to the mix.

PROS: Andy Ma
CONS:

Bucks County Acad Of Fencing

Bucks County (which is no longer in Bucks County, having moved across the river) has a phenominal space. Something like 14 strips set up for electrical fencing between two connected rooms. Nice armory area, decent lounge/waiting area.

I love the decorations and fencing-related paraphenalia around the club.

The club itself has a number of strong fencers, primarily in epee. Significantly weaker in the other two weapons.

Los Tacos

I'm fairly certain that I've been the only native english speaker in the restaurant every time I've gone except for one guy who stopped by to pick up a take-out order once. The menus are clearly poorly translated from spanish.

That said, the food is what matters, and it is phenominal. Huge quantities, low prices. For $6 I always get the "Azteca" which is a combination of several different types of meats grilled with onions, peppers, and cheese and served with grilled tortillas. Easily enough for dinner and then enough left over for dinner the next night.

They do tend to close early (hours are officially until 9:30pm, I've had them not willing to serve (take-out) when I've come as early as just before 9pm).

PROS: Great food, low price, huge quantities
CONS: they close before official closing time

Amerada Hess

Okay, first of all, they need to get pay at the pump. They have the scanners installed, they just aren't using them. I want to be able to pay when I pump my gas. I pay by credit card, I don't want to have to go over to some island, hand over my card, then pump my gas, then go retrieve it from the attendant (who meanwhile has manged to screw up the process twice requiring two additional trips to the island and hopefully not ending up with my paying for someone else's gas also).

Second, they absolutely need to clear out the loiterers who accost every driver, asking to pump their gas in exchange for tips. I didn't feel safe here and they had a lot to do with it. I won't return to this station because of that experience.

PROS: cheap gas
CONS: felt unsafe, incompetent employee

Jenkintown Running Co

Great personal service. I met/interacted with Bob. Very personable, very friendly, and clearly very knowledgeable. He helped with getting a group of 17 fitted, both in the appropriate sizes and styles of running shoes. We all felt very comfortable with him and his approach and it was easy, fun, and relaxed. I highly recommend trying this company out if you're planning on doing any amount of running and want to make sure you have the right shoes on your feet.

PROS: friendly, knowledgeable
CONS: none

Hibachi Of Jenkintown

I love hibatchi places. They're just fun. And I love the food.

That said, this was probably my least favorite of the 4-5 that I've eaten at. The food was fairly typical for the genre. I like it, which helps, but this place certainly wasn't particularly special.

I went with my girlfriend, for whom this was a first hibatchi experience. She enjoyed it, but I think she sensed my disappointment.

Our chef was clearly somewhat new. His "tricks" weren't very polished, he didn't have that good a variety, and none of them were particularly impressive. He missed a couple of fairly basic tosses that he attempted.

Love the type of restaurant, the food was good, but what you're paying for here is the entertainment as your food is prepared. Our chef, at least, was somewhat lacking.

PROS: good food
CONS: chef needed more experience

Banana Republic

It's a chain, they're all basically the same.

Way too expensive, but very nice, trendy clothes. I like what they offer, and there's very little here that I dislike. But there's no way I'd spend $88 for a pair of jeans.

Went this weekend because I had a gift certificate. Found a nice polo shirt for only $29 (on sale from $54). For that price I might have been willing to buy it even without the certificate, but that's been rare in my experience with Banana Republic.

PROS: Great clothes, very trendy
CONS: $$$$