Haven't heard of it. As for the conversation at a table for four, given the noise level ... ... cut up a couple of chunks from an old garden hose or other slightly larger hose, which would enable one to send a message from the moth(*) of one to the ear of another. It sure would delay one's meal, though, as one would need to repeat one's self two times! The information about the prolonging of the dinner would need to be communicated to one's server, as fewer table groups over the course of the evening would reduce one's tips ... ... and one could communicate the message to the manager (if the server, or other patrons, having observed the means of communication, hadn't told her/him about it and s/he hadn't come to view this [interesting?] innovation for him/herself). ole joyful (*) Please read "mouth" - this computer isn't computing well, today.

Interesting the impressions some have :-) There is a big difference between a department store......of which very few exist these days.....and large clothing stores. Nordstroms has never been a department store!! It started as a shoe store.....period! I remember shopping there in my late teenage years, as they were one of the few places around that sold Capezio shoes (which I loved and had a vast collection :-)) It wasn't until it combined with a woman's apparel store (Best's Apparel) that it became a clothing store, known as Nordstrom-Best and finally just Nordstroms. But it only sold shoes and clothes. That is NOT a department store!! Back in the day, Seattle had two, semi-upscale department stores - The Bon Marche and Frederick and Nelsons. The sold everything from soup to nuts....clothes, toys, furniture and antiques, appliances, kitchenware, fine china and crystal, linens, fine art, etc. And food.....both already prepared food, imported goods, a bakery and several restaurants. The Bon was acquired by Macy's in 2003 but still remains as the largest department store in the area. Frederick and Nelsons was even larger than The Bon and a step or two up in both quality and price. And F&N was where Frango's originated. F&N was acquired by Marshall Fields in 1929 but always operated under the F&N name. It was a huge store...12 storeys and occupied a full city block. It had multiple restaurants, a fantastic bakery, a candy kitchen (where Frangos and other candies were made), a post office, beauty salon, infirmary, a daycare facility and a reading room. It was known for its fabulous, animated Christmas windows and was where all the best Santa photos were taken :-) It was a Seattle institution! It closed with the demise of Marshall Fields in the early 90's. But that massive store is still there in the heart of downtown Seattle and is now the Nordstrom flagship store and corporate office.

I eat out occasionally. I am still in the process of getting my house ready for the market down in CT and all my kitchen is up here in MA. So while I'll roast something small in the oven (or if I'm spending the night, I might use the grill that will be trashed shortly) I'm not really cooking when I'm there. I'm out for breakfast at a local diner or deli - an omelet or an eggs Benedict isn't too pricey. I may drop by a local Asian place where I order hot and sour soup and an appetizer for not very much. They make a killer avocado salad with the whole avocado, not a blemish on any slice! (A ramen place just opened up there, too...) BLT's are my standby at diners for lunch or dinner. Up here in MA restaurants are a bit further away. If I'm in one town for errands I might stop in for a $7 bowl of Vietnamese pho, or in the other town, I hit up a lettuce wrapped burger at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. However, the closest places are just not very good. Driving back and forth between MA and CT I may stop in for a $2.50 slice of pizza, which they heat up and I can eat quickly, no muss, no fuss. There are occasions when I dine out with others - a friend may make a suggestion, and off we go. My book club meets at restaurants once a month, and usually we go for "ethnic" foods, and I'll try something unique on the menu. If I like it, I may try recreating it at home down the road. If I lived closer to NYC, I'd be eating out in the Chinatowns, Koreatowns and other enclaves of great world cuisine, often. Once I'm fully settled into MA, I'll probably only be eating out at restaurants once or twice every other week. If that. I LOVE home cooking! I do wish western MA had more quality seafood at grocery stores, so I am usually bringing some up from CT when I return here. (This isn't counting the local community center, which serves up food twice weekly by donation, and which I go to about once a week, essentially to meet my neighbors and get to know them better. If the meal is something I dislike, ie, meatloaf or turkey breast, I'll have a simple salad and maybe a veggie and a glass of water or unsweetened ice tea.)

I am too late but hope you got a burger at The Varsity if they are open. I took my children to restaurants from a young age. We chose appropriate places ( like an Italian place , not a chain, that gave the kids pizza dough to play with), took quiet books and toys. We had a plan to take them outside if they got loud or restless. We would not scold them but tell them we needed to step outside because others were trying to have a nice dinner. I feel like even as a toddler they can start learning. As they got a bit older temper tantrum type behavior that continued outside meant we went home. I at many cold meals and took home a few but by about 3 they all had impeccable manners and were able to start going to “nicer” places. Kids need to do to learn, IMO. At 2 they might not be able to express why they are melting down or just can’t sit still. Leaving because they could not was not broached as a punishment but as “ there are others that want a meal where they can talk with their friends. We will go home so they can do that” We were thanked but other patrons at times for taking them out for a few moments. My kids are grown and last week I was at a locally owned business who did some work for my youngest, pretty specialized and expensive custom stuff, and the owner asked how he was and complimented him on being so respectful and knowing how to speak on an equal level but taking the advice of an adult even if he is in his mid 20’s. I give credit in part to speaking to him as a kid on a simple but babyish level and setting expectations to respect others. I just wrote way too much but I hate seeing a kid running around in a restaurant unchecked and equally if not more a parent screaming at a 2 year old who is acting like a two year old.... take the kid aside for goodness sake. The fact that you (Beagle) asked means you are a thoughtful Person and parent!