My husband and I really enjoyed the Time Zone party at Natasha's last year. It's so nice to be part of an event where you feel like a friend, rather than merely a customer! The warmth and fun are contagious, and the food was great.
Why spend New Year's Eve with strangers? We're looking forward to experiencing the new bar, too. So glad they're doing this event again this year!

Panda Garden was always my favorite Chinese restaurant in town, but now it has moved, changed name, and is EVEN BETTER!! You'll find it in the new shopping center where Medical Heights used to be, on Nicholasville Rd just before Malibu.
But the food...oh, the food, it's so wonderful!! They've added tons of new and unusual offerings, but kept all the old favorites like Cold Sesame Noodles and Yu Shiang Eggplant, but there are new offerings well worth trying like the East Indian Fried Rice, Pine Tea Smoked Duck, and loads of very Traditional Chinese dishes. Give your taste buds a treat, try something new. The prices are great so you'll be able to get one old fave and a new, exotic "small plate" without breaking the bank. Most dishes are between $7 and $18. Did I mention that it's completely gorgeous decor, too?? Treat yourself!! This place is amazing. Well done, well worth the wait while they moved. Excellent!

The pizza at Pazzo's is really great; they have a nice selection of topping choices, and it's that old-fashioned kind of pie with real pizza crust that's getting so hard to find these days! The Calzones are delicious, too. But what really sets this place apart is the beer selection. Check out their list of bottled beers, and you'll get an education in fine beer appreciation! The prices are reasonable, too. All in all, a lovely place to hang out for the classic pizza-and-beer (GET A REALLY GOOD BEER!!!). The only downside? It's a popular campus destination and usually crowded, but well worth checking out. Also, parking can be a little dodgey. Still, the beer selection is worth a little extra effort!

Dinner at Punjab II was a pleasant experience and a great surprise! When the restaurant (formerly called Kashmir) changed owners, we were nervous, because it had been my husband's and my favorite place in town. No need to have worried, though!! The food at Punjab II is even better, with more dishes to choose from and extremely friendly service. Chicken Tikka Masala with Peshawari Naan is our favorite meal to split, and we were delighted with the whole experience. A real gem!

With the onslaught of new, corporate "natural food" markets in town, it was really nice to go to Good Foods Co Op and find that it is better than ever. The people are friendly and helpful, and they have really competitive prices which don't leave you feeling bad--you know that the vendors received a fair price for the goods, but also feel you are paying a fair price as well. Their Cafe is excellent, the food is always fresh and I love that they list the ingredients on all the buffet/salad bar items. It's an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon, shopping for groceries and having a snack; or even for dinner with friends. Always pleasant, always done right. Thank heavens that Good Foods is still alive and well, and beating the corporate machine!!

What a wonderful evening; seeing the Rakadu Gypsy Dancers at Natasha's was out of this world! The food was delicious, the service was good, and the entertainment was unlike anything else I've ever seen in town. We were transported to Morocco or something, and it was so cool to feel like a part of the event as the dancers moved through the tables. We'll definitely be back to this unusual nightspot, and we'll be bringing friends :) My only issue was that it was just a bit cramped, but I understand they are expanding the dining and performance spaces, so that'll be great!