Reviewing Restaurants: Bad PR or Be Polite?

Tuesday night was Pittsburgh Restaurant Week's bi-annual Blogger Dinner, this time featured at Sausalido in Bloomfield {thanks for the delish wine, Pittsburgh Winery!}. An interesting topic was brought up among the blogger folk:
When you have a somewhat bad to really terrible dining experience, do you go ahead and blog about it? 

A few fellow bloggers were on the fence, but several said they would not blog about it period, quoting everyone's proverbial mom, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it!"  I do remember my own mom telling me this, then proceeding to ignore it and say what I please. The claim Tuesday night was that you wouldn't want the negative comments coming back and reflecting negatively on you, as a professional, parent or community member. Perhaps because I do not hail from PGH, this isn't a solid issue for me, but I completely understand this for others.

As someone who frequently writes food reviews, I believe in letting them know if they've done something... unsavory, let's say, so they may try to fix it. I'm not a prestigious Pittsburgh food blogger with hundreds of readers, but I'd hope someone would read the review and take something useful from it. In a weird way, choosing to not post a review seems a tinge dishonest.

Readers, what do you think? Would you rather read the good, bad and ugly of a restaurant experience, or just read positive reviews? Is relying on word-of-mouth sufficient for hearing about bad restaurants?
Restaurant folks, what are your thoughts on bloggers writing a negative review?

New Year: Birthday and Resolutions

I was born in the most hopeful, transitional month of them all: January. To have a birthday in this month each year adds a freshness to becoming another year older.  A sense of endless possibility.  This month starts off a new year, a time of new goals and second chances. You didn't pay off your credit card last year? Here's another chance. You didn't hit your goal weight? This year is your year. It's uplifting, really.

Goldenrod or some such bursting from a rock in Ohiopyle State Park

After a long, wonderful break over the holidays in Texas, I came back to celebrate the new year with new friends, surrounded by a blanket of beautifully white snow.  There's nothing more dazzling than the site of soft, unblemished snow.  Side note: For those that don't live in Western PA, I'd tell you that driving here after it's just snowed is not a big deal at all, unlike trips on the treacherous icy roadways in Texas. The snow stays snow rather than transitioning into ice, as it remains below 32 degrees usually. Also, the salt helps.

I wasn't always so chipper about my birthday, however.  When I was younger, I used to mentally prepare myself for the possibility of smaller Christmas and birthday gifts, as money is tight directly after the holidays.  To a kid, this is most terrible hand you can be dealt.  I'd be so jealous of my classmates who had pool party birthdays in July, stacking their large present boxes on their patio tables.  Now, in my late twenties, being a 'January Baby' is a delight.

With my birthday comes a chance for new beginnings.

A Toast

In less than 48 hours from now, I'll be sitting in my first graduate school class.  I haven't been in a classroom {to take notes and learn} for more than 4 years, but why be so detailed?  Let's just say it's been a while.

I am anxious, but ready for this long, long road. Since I'm going to school part-time, it will take me about three and a half years to complete my 60-hour program, residency included. Somewhere in the midst of all of this, I'll be working a 40+ hour week, every week.

Pursuing this degree is important to me. 

And, yes, it's completely worth the effort.

So, let's raise a glass to being a poor University student again, eating egg salad sandwiches many nights for dinner, having cocktails with new classmates who are my new competition, and keeping my nose in the books.

Get ready for public blogosphere meltdowns;

the lack of quality writing, or posts at all;

and the idea that I might be a sane person.

But, the silver lining can't be overlooked.  At the end of all of this, I will be one step closer to undeniably improving the lives of those living in this country.

Here's to GRADUATE SCHOOL!

Quick Hello!

Hi there.
Yes, hi to you.
There’s really no reason for this post, but only for me to stop by and say “hi.”
What do I want to be doing with this post? Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to dedicate to typing a PGH Dining review, as I so desperately want to because of the multitude of food photos and the STACK of reviews I have lined up; however, while promising nothing, I am planning to write up a storm this weekend. No pun intended, considering the monsoons we’ve been having.

My days this week have been full of coffee, reading, a tad of cooking, listening to new music, trying to get back into spinning, and making holiday travel plans. What can I say? This planner married a planner, thus, we plan.

So, how are y’all doing? Anything new in your lives?

Blog Revision & News

The time has come again to rethink my vision and outlook for this blog – over the next few weeks, minor changes will come in the form of subject and text rather than aesthetics.  The ‘core’ of what this blog is about is really the ‘core’ of who I am and how I live my days.  I’ve wanted to make some sort of ‘statement’ post regarding these changes for many weeks now, and a silent push of encouragement from a good friend has made it finally happen.

Some ‘featured posts’ I typically do {or have done frequently in the past}, are being let go.  For one, who really cares what I’m wearing for the day?  Is that truly why people are reading this blog?  I don’t want any readers confusing me for any fabulous fashion blogger they may know, and subsequently expect daily outfit posts from me.  Fashion is not what drives me in the least.  I do have a respect for the art form, but mostly, I just want to be assured that I look put-together and decent for the day’s events.

Another point begging to be mentioned is my love for public health.  It’s my chosen profession, and I post about it over on my other blog, Well Aware, from time to time.  Anything personal that I want to share (i.e. Weight loss, working out, and eating healthy food) does not necessarily fall under the large heading of public health, and therefore will remain on this blog.  Keeping things compartmentalized is how I roll.  Please go and enjoy Well Aware if that’s your thing!

On that same note, I have some exciting news to share – 

I’ve been accepted to attend a Master in Public Health program to get my MPH degree!  

I’ll be starting in the fall, attending classes part-time, until I finish the degree in 2015.  It’s a long road, but it will do nothing but help my career in the end.  I’ve taken about 5 years off from school at this point, and I’m ready to delve back in.

I'll also be continuing {or starting?} my book reviews.  Sure, I have my Goodreads page at the top of the blog, but I'd like to share more of my reading opinions here.  After moving to the area, I joined a book club - these folks are usually my sounding board for my thoughts on the books we read.  Look forward to a post on our most recent read soon!

I hope you like the changes I'm making around here!  One last thing - I LOVE when people comment.  Even if you think you don't have anything good to write, please make a comment anyway.  It lets me know folks are reading this garble I'm writing.  Thank you for reading!

Time Off!

As you've probably noticed, I've been taking some time off from the blog.  Life has gotten super crazy with life, work and everything in between.  But, I promise I'm still here. Just... not here.

More family and friends are coming in over the next few weeks, so I'll likely be taking some more time off from {A Dash of Spectacular}.  I'll try to pick back up on Kyla's {31 Blogging Days of May} challenge soon, even if it's not in May! 

New Blog Address

Hi there! I have a quick update for my {lovely} readers.

I've been getting a ton of traffic to {A Dash of Spectacular} lately, and I felt the need to match up my blog address with the blog name. 
Sounds logical, right?

The new blog address for {A Dash of Spectacular} is

http://ADashOfSpectacularBlog.blogspot.com

Save it, and love it!

I have a few other 'blog housekeeping' updates to make in the upcoming weeks, so be on the lookout!

Post Type Poll

Check it out, {A Dash of Spectacular} Readers!

I've made a poll for you to express what types of blog posts you'd like to see more of. It's located on the left-hand side of my blog page, towards the top.

I'd love to know what you like, can't get enough of, and yearn to read! Yes, that was slightly snarky. However, the point of this poll is to make sure I keep happy readers!

Enjoy your day, and please vote!