Good Stuff — Page 3

My Most Recent Barber Has His Own Business Card

August 13, 2015 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

I just got my 1st haircut since my wedding week, which I went into some detail about here. My wife was very pleased to say the least.

And so was I. My haircut is pretty standard fare and it was a fine experience. But that wasn’t the most interesting part about my haircut.

It was the fact that my barber had his own personalized business card.

It shows his personal hours, so you can schedule your appointments around his schedule. That’s pretty smart, although not having the address on the card isn’t the best decision in case a customer forgets where it is & they’re too lazy to Google it.

Apparently, all of the barbers at Pro Haircutters have their own card including Paul, the guy I used. And this other guy Ace, whose business card I took from the Muscle Maker Grill right near Pro Haircutters, had one too.

Similar to the Sansone Auto Mall business cards I found in 2013, they all appear to be different in design than each other and the Pro Haircutters card for the Parsippany NJ location I went to by a gym I go to.

Business Card Count: 30,831

Filed Under: Good Stuff

Paying Tribute to My Dad Through Golf

July 22, 2015 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

Golf was my dad’s favorite sport. For the past 5 years since his passing, my siblings and I have put together an annual golf outing in his honor.

It’s always a fun event since I get to see some old friends of mine and my father’s. And the fact that there’s good food. And the fact that golf is not my sport.

In fact, I think golfing is about the least talented thing I do on occasion. I played for a fraction of a summer when I was in high school with my dad & brother, including a couple of 9-hole & Par 3 courses. Let’s just say that I take more strokes than Michael Phelps.

But I digress. This year, we did it at the Sunken Meadow Golf Course in Kings Park. I went to a driving range the week before to practice and felt confident enough that I would get below a 125.

Right before I was about to tee off, it started pouring & thundering. That meant the game would be delayed. And of course shenanigans ensued when our party was making fun of the overly grumpy golf course attendant with the safari hat. I had my lowest score of 0 so far. Then the game went on.

I must say that Sunken Meadow Golf Course really didn’t feel like it got rained out after the stormy weather dissipated. There were no puddles on the green or anything. However, the sand was quite wet and very tough to hit out of. I would know, I fell into more traps than the Wet Bandits fells into during Home Alone.

I wound up winning a trophy at the tournament also.

Of course it was for highest score: a 126. Hey, at least I took 10 strokes off my last score.

If you have an experience at Sunken Meadow Golf Course, tell me about it in the comments or tweet me @ChrisKeuling!

Business Card Count: 30,725

Filed Under: Good Stuff

Wedding Blog: Bachelor Party Madness in Atlantic City

May 18, 2015 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

I recently wrote about my fiancee’s bridal shower and bachelorette party. This past weekend, my brother Brian & my two groomsmen (Jerry & Jon) threw me my bachelor party.

It was quite the fun experience. It actually started on Friday night at my apartment when they all came to spend the night. We wound up new wrestling (TNA, which nobody seemed to like) and an old WWE pay-per-view from 1998 (Fully Loaded) that brought back memories while playing Uno, Phase 10, Sorry and Scattergories. We carbed up on Domino’s and wound up going to bed at about 2 am.

The next day, we went to our hotel, the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and spent some time gambling. First, it was the slots (or what I call reverse ATMs as they take your money). Then, it was let it ride and craps where I got my money back and then some.

Then, came on the traditional tacky shirt you see above. Hitting the town.

Saturday Night

We went to dinner at The Continental at Caesars. There was some good food and drinks there for sure. My drink of choice was watermelon and blackberry sangria (a great break from the vodka/cranberries I was getting on the casino floor).

We started off with 3 appetizers: beer-battered shrimp & calamari, Cantonese ribs and French onion soup dumplings. All were equally good in their own way.

My entree (pictured) was the Chilean sea bass with miso glaze, Chinese broccoli and sweet potato mash, which was all delicious together and separate. I also had one of my brother’s cheesesteak eggroll that’s the product of a Chinese man making love to a Philly gal in my mouth.

The Night Was Still Young

Then came the surprise: tickets to a live WWE house show (non-televised). It was a fun event that featured a steel cage match and the saltiest popcorn I’ve ever had. I felt like I sucked the moisture from my tongue and roof of mouth with a vacuum cleaner.

We walked back to Resorts and gambled some more. A combination of blackjack and let it ride. My groomsmen never gambled playing cards before, so it was fun seeing them get used to the game. Especially Jerry playing his first hand of let it ride all wrong and Jon needing to get advice from the blackjack dealer (and the rest of the table) whether to hit or stay.

Afterwards, we went to a bar for a cocktail and a then to a club where a fun time was had by all.

Late Night Shenanigans

The most interesting part was the walk back to the hotel where a fight broke out in the back of a casino. One guy who was held back by his buddies eventually got around them and chased the other guy. Both men stripped down to their shorts and took off their shirts.

Then, the police came as a car came barreling down the boardwalk. We stumbled back into the hotel and ate a late-night meal at Plate American Cafe in our hotel. I had some grilled chicken and pepper jack burger (I took the bun out) and well-done french fries to satisfy my munchies.

The next morning, we checked out and ate at the buffet in Caesars. I had an eclectic mix of prime rib, an egg white omelette, hot sausage, turkey breakfast sausage, fried chicken (which sucked) and edamame topped off with banana sherbet for dessert.

I reflected on the ride home about how fun my Atlantic City bachelor party was, including the two new inside jokes: the RKO Outta Nowhere! and the Geico coldcuts/bupkis dance. Tell me about your bachelor party experience in AC or elsewhere in the comments below or on Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Filed Under: Good Stuff, Wedding

Mother’s Day Brunch at One Main Restaurant & Bar

May 12, 2015 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

Mother’s Day just passed and as per the usual with holidays, I had to travel to Long Island early in the morning to arrive for brunch with family.

Of course there was traffic, but that’s what the Long Island driving experience is all about. However, I want to focus on the food I ate at our eatery of choice: One Main Restaurant & Bar in Babylon NY.

I decided that I wanted something light to eat although I was hungry. I chose the Kristin Omelet (not just because it’s almost my name) that comprised of spinach, tomato, onion, mushroom and goat cheese. I made mine an egg-white omelet.

I knew going goat might be risky since I usually like a sharper cheese, but I like goat cheese a lot in salads. It works equally as well in an omelet. The only problem was that it felt like they put the whole goat in my omelet.

There was enough goat cheese for the egg whites and a majority of my breakfast potatoes. I even dipped my sausage in the goat. Kinky.

Other family members of mine got pancakes the size of an actual pan, which made me full just looking at it. Overall, it was a good morning and a good meal with good service.

Ever eat at One Main Restaurant and Bar? Tell me about your experience in the comments or tweet me @ChrisKeuling!

Business Card Count: 30,267

Filed Under: Food & Drink, Good Stuff

1 More Reason Skylark Diner is My Fave

April 19, 2015 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

I’ve written about the Skylark Diner in a previous blog post. I’ve dined there on several occasions and love their food, whether it’s the roasted chicken with mashed potatoes & green beans or the Mexicali chicken burger with avocado/cheese/pico de gallo & chick pea salad.

This time, we chose to use their online ordering service. I am wary of trusting technology without having to speak to a person. You can’t count on machines to do it all. Not yet at least until the androids rise up.

But I digress. The Skylark Diner online ordering system failed. I went to pick it up and the order did not go through all the way. It didn’t print out at the restaurant, although the manager I saw received an email indicating my order had come in.

What did the guy do? He rushed the order and threw in 2 free desserts without even asking. I wasn’t even going to prod into getting a freebie, but Beth loves cheesecake and I wanted to try the flourless chocolate torte (which was pretty heavenly). I love how they go above and beyond to be my favorite diner, even though it’s on the expensive side.

Tell me about your experiences ordering food online in general or your experiences at the Skylark Diner in the comments below or on my Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Business Card Count: 30,199

Filed Under: Business Card Collector, Food & Drink, Good Stuff

The Old Man Rafferty’s Sunday Brunch Buffet Experience

January 5, 2015 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

Old Man Rafferty’s is one of my favorite restaurants I’ve eaten at in NJ because of the great food they have on their regular menu. Me and my fiancée have eaten there several times for lunch and dinner.

Sunday brunch is a whole different animal. A couple of weeks ago, we (along with her family) went to the Old Man Rafferty’s location in New Brunswick went for brunch. It was packed and for good reason.

The food setup was good, although I didn’t want to eat a lot of the carb-heavy, fatty choices they offered like scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, bagels, pastries and pre-dressed salads. I enjoyed a couple of veggie egg white omelets, some roast beef & turkey slices, shrimp, crag legs and salad, even though it all tasted as expected and didn’t stand out aside from the omelets.

There were also several cakes and cookies that were offered. I had a couple of cookies just to satisfy my craving for something sweet. They were generic, can-get-them-anywhere type, but still good.

It was definitely worth of trip in spite of being sat at a cramped table in the back corner of the restaurant near the kitchen with almost no means of escape. I especially enjoyed the experience since this is the 3rd business card I’ve taken from this location, but the first without a General Manager’s name on it.

Tell me about your Old Man Rafferty’s experience in the comments below or on Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Filed Under: Business Card Collector, Food & Drink, Good Stuff Tagged With: business card blog, business cards, old man raffertys, old man raffertys new brunswick nj

There’s a New Mechanic in Town

November 23, 2014 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

I previously wrote a blog post about why I was no longer going to Pep Boys. I found a new mechanic to go to, although I had gone there before.

I had gone to Pep Boys because of the more convenient hours, but always enjoyed the work of Quality Auto Centers better at their Highland Park NJ location. That made me decide to go back.

And I did not regret it.

Since the last time I was there, new management came and it just so happens he grew up in the same town that I did. That’s some sort of sign.

Not only was there time to get me in when I called & went early enough, but I feel more secure about knowing that my car is running right. My car is at 185K miles and went there 3 times for various issues that have come up in the past couple of months.

All of them have been fixed as quickly as possible. I was even told 1 issue was minor, so I don’t feel that I have to waste $300 doing it until I feel it’s absolutely necessary.

Any problems I had were explained to me thoroughly and what the best solutions were (and I didn’t feel like I was being ripped off). I’m going here from now on.

What has your experience been like at the Quality Auto in Highland Park NJ? Tell me in the comments or on Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Filed Under: Business Card Collector, Good Stuff Tagged With: business card blog, business cards, quality auto centers, quality auto highland park nj

The Clothing Center Suited Me Just Fine

November 1, 2014 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

I needed to get a black suit for my good friend Jerry’s wedding. Yes, the same friend whose bachelor party was at the East Windsor NJ Quality Inn. I’m a tall guy who is big, but not obese like who big & tall stores cater to.

Suit shopping for me typically isn’t about what store has the best deals, but what store has my size. After going to Men’s Wearhouse & Jos A Bank (who doesn’t carry three-piece suits like I need), I went to Casual Male XL where the salesperson turned me onto The Clothing Center.

Once I got there, Richard Morton was the one to help find me the right suit for a good price. I told him what I needed the suit for and the quick turnaround time to get it (3 weeks). He was quite helpful in suggesting the right look of a suit to match the tuxedos my friends & his dad were wearing.

He told me about how he’s been in the suit selling game since he was younger and his time working at Jos A Bank & how they mark up suits to mark them back down. I wound up getting a good-quality suit for a fair price.

I think I’ll even go as far as to say that Richard Morton at The Clothing Center is my suit guy.

Let me know if you have a “suit guy” and your suit buying experiences in the comments or on Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Filed Under: Business Card Collector, Good Stuff Tagged With: business card blog, business cards, clothing center, clothing center east brunswick nj, richard morton

Why I Enjoyed the Quality of This Inn

October 19, 2014 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

Last weekend, I threw the bachelor party for Jerry, one of my good friends. It was an all-day thing at Six Flags Great Adventure, where we rode on 11 rides since it rained right before we arrived.

This blog is about the hotel we stayed at after running around: the Quality Inn in East Windsor NJ. As soon as we arrived, it was a bit scary since it shares the same land as a sketchy motel, the Town House Motor Inn.

The type where you find a used heroin needle in the nightstand drawer next to the Bible.

But I digress. My first impression of walking in the room was great. It was much bigger than I imagined it to be and felt like we didn’t need the cot we couldn’t get with four of us staying there. Everything was clean and the bed was quite comfortable to pass out in. Yeah, I said it. Don’t judge.

The customer service was also great. I asked where the nearest bar was (since I did research and forgot the name). Not only did he tell me where it was, but gave us a 15% off coupon. Awesome.

They offered breakfast, but we didn’t partake. It looked like a typical hotel breakfast with juice, coffee, yogurt, cereal and maybe a hot item or two. I’d definitely stay here again if I had to, although I really don’t see why I would since it’s only 40 minutes from home.

Tell me about any experience you had at the Quality Inn East Windsor or the neighboring Town House Motor Inn in the comments below or on Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Filed Under: Business Card Collector, Good Stuff Tagged With: business card blog, business cards, quality inn, quality inn east windsor, quality inn nj, town house motor inn

So Lucky to Find This Saloon & Grille

October 12, 2014 by Chris Keuling Leave a Comment

I was driving home from an event I was doing out in the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania when I got hungry and needed a bite to eat. It was 10:45 when I was looking up restaurants & saw that there were a couple of chains open.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see either of them since I probably got confused about the direction I was going in. However, I just so happened to run into a local place in Lafayette Hill PA. I couldn’t guess the name of the town if I tried.

Anyway, I went to the Lucky Dog Saloon and Grille and was grateful they were open. When I asked if they were cooking, they said “anything that’s easy.” Easy worked since I wanted to eat and drive.

I saw their burger choices and I must say I was quite shocked by the customization options available for the beef or chicken burgers they offered. I chose a chicken burger with guacamole, salsa and pepper jack and it was a wise decision. The burger was great, as were the french fries.

The service was also very good, as the food was made quickly and the bartender/waitress was quite nice & helpful. The dog on this business card looks quite cool.

I’d definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone passing through. Tell me about your experience at The Lucky Dog Saloon and Grille in the comments below or on Twitter @ChrisKeuling!

Filed Under: Business Card Collector, Food & Drink, Good Stuff Tagged With: business card blog, business cards, lucky dog saloon and grille