What's On

Friday, February 23, 2024

Chevy Bolt EUV (review)

Chevy Bolt EUV Likes: Starting price is attractive. Spacious for its small portions. Plenty of zip around town. An easy car to live with. Dislikes: No fast charge. It takes forever to charge. Range is limited. The Chevy Bolt EUV is one of the most affordable electric cars you can ever purchase. We’ve spent a week with one to see if it would persuade us to consider one. After the week, we’ve learned a lot about electric cars. We feel that despite it being so “cheap”. It’s a good overall package, however, it isn’t the best package out there. Here’s why. Tesla may have the best electric vehicles in terms of range. However, not everyone can afford one. Thus, the Bolt EUV is the perfect package. It starts at $28,000* and rises up to $37,000* depending upon which trim level you choose. (LT and Premier). We were given the Premier trim level which came kitted with ventilated leather seats, heated steering wheel and a very nice panoramic sunroof. However, $37,000 isn’t anything to snuff at. But, compared to a Model 3 we’ve seen. This is pretty much a decent deal. Driving the Bolt EUV is an easy affair. Its dinky dimensions make it easy to navigate around town and narrow parking bays. We love how quick the Bolt EUV feels on its feet. You can zip around town with sheer confidence. Steering feedback is good, and it handles quite nicely as well. However, on faster paced roads. You may wish you had a bit more flexibility as it struggles to keep up with faster traffic. Also, when you really put your foot down the range does suffer. And we are putting this mildly. Overall, it’s an easy vehicle to live with if you keep a light foot on the throttle. The ride comfort is decent. It’s not luxury car comfortable but it’s better than most comparable vehicles we’ve driven (non-electric). We say this in terms of pricing. Living with a Bolt EUV is more of a lifestyle choice than anything else. Let me explain. Petrol-powered vehicles you can fill up your tank in a few seconds or minutes and be done. Electric cars, you’ll have to wait for it to recharge. Depending upon the vehicle you choose. Tesla and many other electric cars out there have fast charge capability. Meaning that you can get from a low percentage to 80% in less than 30 minutes. However, with the Bolt EUV. There is no such thing as “fast charging”. You’ll be waiting the full hour or maybe longer depending upon where you are recharging the batteries from. I highly suggest that you go once you’re at half battery. The Bolt has an estimated 247 miles of range. Which in theory should be enough for a commute to and from work. However, that’s a “theory”. When you are in stop and go traffic, using the air-con or heated seats. Well, any type of accessory that will drain the battery fast. You’ll immediately see why the Bolt’s small range can be a bit of a headache. You’re forced to choose comfort over range. I don’t mind giving up a bit of comfort, however, when it’s almost 80 degrees with the sun beaming into the cabin and you’re in stop and go traffic. You’re going to want to have some comfort after a while. Again, we constantly keep mentioning Tesla. However, the Model Y we test drove seem to have a better balance of range and comfort. We had the air-con on and it didn’t harm the range as badly as in the Bolt EUV. Again, we know the price point between the two vehicles. However, we are just mentioning this because you are giving up quite a bit in terms of everyday usability with the Bolt EUV. The cabin has a nice feel in terms of materials and quality. The large 8-inch display is very easy to navigate through. Apple Carplay is seamless to use overall. The driving position is spot on good. You can see monitor the corners of the car with sheer confidence. The boot is generous in space. If you need more space you can fold down the rear seats. Do we see ourselves owning a Bolt EUV? Yes and No. We say “yes” because it’s a decent electric vehicle to own. If your commute is short and you don’t mind compromising on some comfort features. The Bolt EUV is the perfect commuter car. However, we say “no” because the range is quite limited. There’s no fast charging so you’re going to be waiting at the charging station for a while. I don’t mind giving up the time while waiting because I was able to do homework or work-related tasks. I was even able to do a few TikTok videos, edit them and post them. Yes, you will be waiting an hour for recharging. Living with the Bolt EUV has shown us that electric car technology has come a long way. We know there are better options out there. Many of them can use fast charging. We feel that those are better options in the long-term. Owners who have a garage will enjoy the Bolt EUV because you can simply plug it in at night and use it the next morning. However, those like us who don’t have that luxury. The Bolt EUV is more compromised and doesn’t make a convincing argument for us. We loved it overall, but we just wish the range wasn’t compromised and there was fast charging capability.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

San Francisco

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous city in California, with 808,437 residents, and the 17th most populous city in the United States as of 2022.
Cow Hollow is an affluent section of town that’s popular with young professionals. Union Street, the main drag, is crawling with chic fashion boutiques, pilates studios, juice shops and beauty salons. Restaurants range from French fine dining to Italian bistros to brunch cafes, and there are also sports bars and wine lounges. The area’s historic past is on display at the landmark McElroy Octagon House built in 1861.
The scenic Marina District, on the city’s northern shore, is known for its upbeat bars and restaurants. Fort Mason, a former military base, is a multifaceted arts complex and event space. A connected grassy park, called Marina Green, has a running and bike path and expansive views of Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and yachts on the water. The Palace of Fine Arts, dating back to 1915, is a neoclassical landmark.
Presidio Heights is a serene, tree-lined area featuring many styles of high-end single-family homes, including the Tudor-inspired 1909 Roos House. The vast Presidio park borders the neighborhood, offering residents access to the Julius Kahn Playground, plus hiking and golf. Sacramento and California streets offer a mix of elegant eateries, old-school markets and stylish outposts for fashion and home goods.
Surrounded on 3 sides by parkland and the ocean, the quiet (and often foggy) Richmond District borders Golden Gate Park to the south, the Presidio park to the north, and surfers' hangout Ocean Beach to the west. Culturally diverse, its main influence can be found along Clement Street, or San Francisco's 2nd Chinatown as it's locally known. Hiking the Lands End Trail gives the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Inner Richmond, positioned between the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, is an under-the-radar, mainly residential neighborhood with a multicultural makeup. Clement Street’s concentration of dim sum joints has earned it the nickname New Chinatown, but casual Burmese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants also line the blocks, along with independent shops. The area is sprinkled with a number of Russian eateries and Irish pubs. The Outer Richmond is a low-key district with Russian and Chinese roots, and pockets of casual neighborhood eateries. The foggy area is bounded by the Pacific, sprawling Golden Gate Park, the scenic Presidio and Lincoln Park, which features the acclaimed Legion of Honor art museum. There’s surfing at blustery Ocean Beach, overlooked by the landmark Cliff House restaurant, and the ruins of the historic Sutro Baths.
The peaceful Outer Sunset neighborhood rests along the city’s foggy western shore, just south of expansive Golden Gate Park. A flat street grid is occupied by unassuming single-family homes and commercial stretches featuring brunch hot spots, Asian restaurants, beer bars and indie boutiques. Often cold and gusty, Ocean Beach is a major destination for surfing as well as walking and biking among sand dunes.
Inner Sunset, located just south of Golden Gate Park’s museums and gardens, attracts families and UCSF students to its quaint, often fog-shrouded residential blocks. Asian and Mexican restaurants, cozy cafes and dark watering holes cluster near the corner of Irving Street and Ninth Avenue. Urban hikers can climb the colorful 16th Avenue Tiled Steps to see citywide panoramas at hilltop Grand View Park.
This tranquil residential area is home to the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, 163 colorful, mosaic-tiled stairs leading up to scenic views of the city and Pacific Ocean. Venture further skywards to Grandview Park for a panoramic eyeful of San Francisco Bay and beyond. The 7-acre Golden Gate Heights Park provides a kids' playground and a tennis court, as well as more green vistas.
Forest Hill is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. Forest Hill is one of eight master-planned residence parks in San Francisco. Forest Hill is located near the middle of the City of San Francisco, southeast of the Inner Sunset and northeast of West Portal.
Anza Vista is a neighborhood in the Western Addition district of San Francisco, California. It is named after Juan Bautista de Anza, the first Spanish explorer to reach San Francisco.
Telegraph Hill is a hill and surrounding neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills".
Fisherman’s Wharf, on the northern waterfront, is one of the city's busiest tourist areas. Souvenir shops and stalls selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls appear at every turn, as do postcard views of the bay, Golden Gate and Alcatraz. There’s also a colony of sea lions to see and historic ships to tour. At Ghirardelli Square, boutiques and eateries reside in the famed former chocolate factory.
This is one of the oldest and most established Chinatowns in the U.S. Beyond iconic Dragon’s Gate, a bustling maze of streets and alleys brims with dim sum joints and other traditional eateries. Also found are herbalists, bakeries, souvenir shops, and dark cocktail lounges and karaoke bars. There are ornate temples, including the landmark Tien How, as well as the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum.
Once home to the mansions of the Big Four railroad barons, Nob Hill retains a sense of wealth and privilege. Some of the city’s swankiest hotels are here, as are the ornate, Gothic-style Grace Cathedral and charming Huntington Park. Steep streets are dotted with restaurants and nightspots like the Top of the Mark lounge, with its 360-degree views. The Cable Car Museum exhibits antique cars alongside live machinery.
Japantown, also known as Nihonmachi, is a compact historic enclave in the Western Addition. Large indoor/outdoor complexes house an assortment of sushi, ramen and shabu-shabu restaurants, plus specialty grocery stores, kitschy gift shops, karaoke bars and Asian-style day spas. A courtyard plaza with a striking, 5-tiered Peace Pagoda regularly hosts community events such as the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
The famously gritty Tenderloin has underground art spaces, classic concert venues such as the Great American Music Hall and historic theaters staging Broadway and indie shows. Its funky, colorful streets feature a mix of upscale, trendy and casual restaurants. Nightlife ranges from dark dives slinging beer and shots to speakeasy-style bars mixing craft cocktails. Little Saigon is known for its Vietnamese eateries.
Cole Valley is a small, family-friendly community in the geographical center of the city. Tree-shaded streets are lined with well-kept Victorian homes, and a variety of mom-and-pop shops and relaxed restaurants, including a 1930s-inspired soda fountain. The neighborhood offers hiking at the compact Tank Hill Park, with its panoramic views, or through the dense eucalyptus forest of the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve.
Eureka Valley is a neighborhood in San Francisco, primarily a quiet residential neighborhood but boasting one of the most visited sub-neighborhoods in the city, The Castro. The neighborhood is popular with families and the LGBT community.
The Castro District, in Eureka Valley, is synonymous with gay culture. Revelers often spill onto the sidewalks at numerous bars, like Twin Peaks Tavern, whose floor-to-ceiling windows were revolutionary when it opened in 1972. The lavish Castro Theatre and the GLBT Historic Museum are also found here, as are homey restaurants and adult shops. On Market Street, 19th-century F-line streetcars head to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Named for the 1776-built Mission Dolores, the Mission District is an exuberant, evolving neighborhood with Latino roots and a hipster vibe. Old-school taquerias and eclectic live-music clubs mix with chef-driven eateries and craft cocktail lounges. There are also tattoo parlors, gourmet ice cream shops and Dolores Park, a popular weekend hangout with skyline views. Vibrant murals line streets such as Clarion Alley. Part of the lively Mission District, Mission Dolores is home to Misión San Francisco de Asís, an ornate, Spanish-style church from the late 1700s. Notable Californians are buried in the church’s cemetery, set in gardens planted with native trees and shrubs. Locals bring picnics from nearby bakeries to Mission Dolores Park, a popular green space with a large playground and sweeping skyline views.
Family-friendly Potrero Hill is an often-sunny, hilly area with bay and skyline views and a mix of condos and classic Victorians, plus parks with sports facilities. 18th Street has quaint eateries and shops. Nearby are gritty music spots and the historic Anchor Brewing Company, which offers tours. On the neighborhood's eastern edge, industrial-cool Dogpatch, with hip bars and eateries, runs along the waterfront.
Mission Bay is a 303-acre neighborhood on the east side of San Francisco, California. It is bordered by China Basin to the north, Dogpatch to the south, and San Francisco Bay to the east.
Noe Valley is a quaint, in-demand place to live that’s geared toward young families. The neighborhood features tidy rows of Victorian and Edwardian homes, and thanks to surrounding hills, has some of the city’s sunniest weather. Stroller pushers and dog walkers jostle along 24th Street, which is stocked with bakeries, wine and cheese shops and relaxed cafes. A weekly farmers' market is held in the modest town square.
The Parkside is a neighborhood in the western part of San Francisco, California, usually considered to be part of the Sunset District. It is located in the southern part of the Avenues south of Quintara and north of Sloat Boulevard.
West Portal is a small neighborhood in San Francisco, California. West Portal is a primarily residential area of the city. The neighborhood's main corridor, West Portal Avenue, serves as a principal shopping district of southwestern San Francisco.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Manhattan

This is the city's buzzing financial heart, home to Wall Street and glittering skyscrapers. Sidewalks bustle during the week and, after work, young professionals fill the restaurants and bars of the South Street Seaport and pedestrian-only Stone Street. The sombre National September 11 Memorial and Museum, in the footprint of the Twin Towers, is also here. Above it all is the observatory atop One World Trade Center.
Two Bridges is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, nestled at the southern end of the Lower East Side and Chinatown on the East River waterfront, near the footings of Brooklyn Bridge and of Manhattan Bridge.
Tribeca is a hip area known for its old industrial buildings, many now turned into residential loft space. Cobblestone streets are lined with trendy boutiques and restaurants. Historic commercial buildings include the red-brick New York Mercantile Exchange edifice, from 1884. Weekends are quiet, though Washington Market Park and Hudson River Park draw families. The Tribeca Film Festival takes place here every spring.
Vibrant Chinatown is a densely populated neighborhood that draws foodies and tourists to its many Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants for dumplings, pork buns and hand-pulled noodles. The busy sidewalks are packed with souvenir stores, bubble tea shops, and markets selling everything from fresh and dried fish to herbs and spices. Locals hang out in leafy Columbus Park for Tai Chi, chess and mahjong.
Designer boutiques, fancy chain stores and high-end art galleries make trendy SoHo a top shopping destination, especially for out-of-towners. Known for its elegant cast-iron-facades and cobblestone streets, the neighborhood is also an atmospheric backdrop for fashionable crowds clustering at high-end restaurants and nightlife hotspots. During the day, street vendors sell everything from jewelry to original artwork.
The eclectic Lower East Side is where gritty alleys and tenement-style buildings mix with upscale apartments and chic boutiques. Nighttime draws hip, young crowds to the area's trendy bars, music venues and restaurants. The neighborhood's Jewish heritage lives on through Orchard Street's Lower East Side Tenement Museum and old-world fabric stores, as well as traditional delis such as Katz's and Russ & Daughters.
A bohemian enclave within the East Village, Alphabet City is a laid-back residential area with trendy restaurants and bars, plus craft cocktail lounges and a popular German beer garden. A mix of students, artists and young families sunbathe and walk their dogs in Tompkins Square Park. Avenue C, home to a close-knit Puerto Rican community, is dotted with bodegas, charming resident gardens and colorful murals.
Picturesque Nolita is a charming, upscale area with a trendy vibe. It's known for its chic shopping scene, and has plenty of designer jewelry shops, unique clothing boutiques and home-design stores. Fashionably casual crowds stroll the neighborhood and fill the popular sidewalk cafes, chic bars and trendy restaurants. On weekends, street vendors selling hand-made jewelry and artwork line Prince Street.
The West Village draws fashionable crowds to its designer boutiques and trendy restaurants. Quaint streets, some still cobblestoned, are lined with Federal-style townhouses and dotted with public squares. Notable venues include the Village Vanguard jazz club and the Stonewall Inn bar, site of the 1969 riots that launched the gay rights movement. The historically arty area also has piano bars, cabarets and theaters.
Kips Bay, or Kip's Bay, is a neighborhood on the east side of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by East 34th Street to the north, the East River to the east, East 27th and/or 23rd Streets to the south, and Third Avenue to the west.
Tiny but bustling Koreatown is packed with Korean BBQ restaurants, where a young, affluent crowd dines late into the night after stops at nearby karaoke lounges. Dessert cafes serve colorful rice cakes, and shops sell Asian groceries and beauty products. Numerous spas offer massages or sauna time. At leafy Greeley Square, visitors can sample creative bites from local chefs at a seasonal food-cart pop-up.
Named after the iconic wedge-shaped Flatiron Building, this commercial neighborhood is also home to tall apartment buildings and office high-rises. Locals and tourists frequent the hip bars, stalls at Italian food emporium Eataly and eclectic food trucks along Fifth Avenue. A focal point is Madison Square Park, known for its seasonal art installations and the long line at the original Shake Shack.
The lively Union Square neighborhood is anchored by its namesake pedestrian plaza and bustling park, which attracts a mix of professionals, street artists, students and protesters. The surrounding streets are lined with high-rise apartments and big-name chain stores, as well as casual eateries and cafes. The stalls of the long-running Union Square Greenmarket draw crowds for local produce and artisanal food.
Template:Attached KML/Bowery KML is from Wikidata The Bowery is a street and neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City, United States. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th Street in the north.
Chelsea is a composite of town houses, low-rise apartment buildings, luxury high-rises and trendy attractions like the High Line, the elevated park built atop former railroad tracks. Set in former factories are more than 200 art galleries as well as Chelsea Market, filled with upscale food purveyors, restaurants and shops. Though no longer quite the LGBT bastion it once was, Chelsea is still home to many gay bars.
Murray Hill's tree-lined streets are filled with townhouses, modern apartment buildings and businesses. It's a popular home for recent college graduates and young professionals, who frequent the bars along Lexington and Third Avenues. The variety of budget dining options include casual cafes, some chain restaurants and several blocks known as "Curry Hill," which has a high concentration of Indian restaurants.
Famed skyscrapers like the art deco Chrysler Building and the nearby Empire State Building define the skyline of busy Midtown East. Well-heeled shoppers head to 5th Avenue's big-name luxury stores, while tourists visit landmarks like Grand Central Terminal train station and the UN Headquarters building. The area is home to many businesses, including advertising firms on Madison Avenue, plus residential high-rises.
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton, is a neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is considered to be bordered by 34th Street to the south, 59th Street to the north, Eighth Avenue to the east, and the Hudson River to the west.
Lincoln Square centers on the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the city’s premier venue for opera, ballet, and symphony. Three grand theaters, all landmarks of midcentury design, are set around an iconic fountain courtyard with a neighboring reflecting pool. Next door, the elite Juilliard School trains actors and musicians. Large chain stores and upscale restaurants with sidewalk cafes stretch along Broadway.
Lenox Hill is an affluent Upper East Side area with designer stores along Madison Avenue as well as elegant apartment buildings and townhouses. Cultural sites include The Frick Collection, showing European paintings and decorative art in an early-1900s mansion, and the massive Park Avenue Armory, which hosts avant-garde exhibitions and performances. Second Avenue has casual spots for Mexican, Asian, and Italian food.
Yorkville is a neighborhood on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, United States. Its southern boundary is East 79th Street, its northern East 96th Street, its western Third Avenue, and its eastern the East River. Yorkville is the one of most densely populated city subdivisions in the world.
The Upper West Side is home to Lincoln Center, which hosts performing-arts institutions like the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet. Amid the grand apartment buildings of Central Park West, the American Museum of Natural History presents everything from dinosaurs to outer-space exhibits. On weekends, families emerge from stately brownstones on quiet side streets to line up for brunch or bagels.
The posh, residential Upper East Side is known for its wealthy denizens, fancy restaurants and designer shops along Madison Avenue. It's a pretty neighborhood, with a mix of classic brownstones and upscale high-rises. Museum Mile, a stretch of 5th Avenue next to Central Park, draws crowds to cultural institutions that include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and El Museo del Barrio.
Manhattan Valley is a neighborhood in the northern part of Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded by West 110th Street to the north, Central Park West to the east, West 96th Street to the south, and Broadway to the west.
Also known as “El Barrio,” East Harlem is a vibrant showcase for Puerto Rican culture. Foodies pilgrimage to its mix of Latin American and Caribbean restaurants, as well as to iconic Italian restaurants like Rao’s and Patsy’s pizzeria. Exhibits at El Museo del Barrio reflect the local culture, as do the neighborhood's colorful street art and murals, some made by famous graffiti artists like Keith Haring.
Flanked by the Hudson River, Manhattanville is home to the General Grant National Memorial at sprawling Riverside Park, and the popular West Harlem Piers offering fishing, a canoe/kayak boat launch, and events. Manhattanville hosts the circa-1890 Harlem Stage, which features regular performances by artists of color. It’s also home to the City College of New York and adjacent St. Nicholas Park.
Long known for its intimate jazz clubs, soul food institutions and African-American heritage, Harlem draws a diverse crowd of locals and visitors. Trendy eateries, stylish clubs and hip bars make for an energetic nightlife scene. The area features a mix of 19th-century brownstones and modern high-rises. Its main artery, 125th Street, is home to the iconic Apollo Theater, as well as chain stores and restaurants.
Washington Heights is a neighborhood in the northernmost part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest natural point on Manhattan by Continental Army troops to defend the area from the British forces during the American Revolutionary War.
Inwood is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, at the northern tip of Manhattan Island, in the U.S. state of New York. It is bounded by the Hudson River to the west, Spuyten Duyvil Creek and Marble Hill to the north, the Harlem River to the east, and Washington Heights to the south