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Off the Menu: OpenTable produces its Top 10 list for Western Mass

Robert C. Williams 1 day ago

Best restaurant around? It’s a question the answer to which will vary widely depending on of whom it is asked.

There was a time when such pronouncements were the prerogative of food writers and professional critics, but in the 21st century we all have a way to make our opinions widely known — online reviews.

OpenTable, the online reservation service, collects and analyzes over 400,000 new diner reviews it receives every month. Periodically they use those summaries to generate a crowd-sourced overview of those establishments OpenTable users consider to be the best of the best.

Their recent Top 10 list for Western Massachusetts proved to be an interesting cross section of local dining destinations. Out of the 10 restaurants Open Table afforded “Best Overall Restaurant” status, six were from the Pioneer Valley.

Restaurants on the “Best Overall” roster include B Napoli in West Springfield, with its contemporary Italian fare; Johnny’s

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Here are 11 special picnic menus from top Seattle chefs to take to the park or lake

Robert C. Williams 1 week ago

Spots on our best restaurant patios will be coveted this season even more than before, so how about grabbing a friend and making your own al fresco fun with the view of your choice at a favorite park, along the nearest lake or gazing out at the sound? These top Seattle chefs are ready to send us into summertime with the greatest food that’s ever graced a blanket. (And since drinking in public is still illegal here, the cocktail/beer/wine pairings are most definitely for carrying home afterward to drink there, for sure, absolutely — who would do anything otherwise?)

An Italian feast from Bar del Corso

Beacon Hill; 3057 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle; 206-395-2069; bardelcorso.com

Clockwise from foreground: the la vignarola stew, the baccala fritters and Margherita pizza seen on the patio of Bar del Corso on Beacon Hill. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

Clockwise from foreground: the la vignarola stew, the baccala fritters and Margherita pizza seen on the patio of Bar del Corso on Beacon Hill. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

Jefferson Park, the sixth-largest city

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15 best all-inclusive hotels with top reviews

Robert C. Williams 3 weeks ago



a large pool of water: Hello! Magazine


© @Copyright HELLO!
Hello! Magazine

All-inclusive hotels are great: no need to feel guilty about spoiling yourself with an extra cocktail or a lavish dinner and no worrying about hidden extras. Whatever your budget, there is a vast array of choice when it comes to all-inclusive holidays, from luxurious and family to cheap and cheerful. We’ve scoured the globe to find real reviews and the best-rated hotels out there, whether you are staying in Europe, heading off to the Caribbean or living it up in Mexico.

RELATED: What you need to pack for a holiday: Must-have items

MORE: Flying during the pandemic? Essential items to take on the plane

Best Luxurious All-Inclusive Resorts

Creta Maris Beach Resort, Greece



a pool next to a body of water: Crete-hotel


© Provided by Hello!
Crete-hotel

This Greek hotel boasts six outdoor pools, a waterpark, open-air cinema, Hamman spa and diving centre. One review said: “It’s a very Cretan style hotel with excellent

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Charleston, Columbia SC named top places for new graduates

Robert C. Williams 4 weeks ago

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Two South Carolina cities rank among the nation’s best places for college graduates to start their careers.


Paul Erickson

Two of the best places for college graduates to start their careers are in South Carolina, a national report finds.

Columbia is ranked No. 5 and Charleston is No. 6 on a list of U.S. cities with environments that make them ideal places for college graduates, according to results published Monday by WalletHub.

To determine the top destination to land, the personal finance website said it studied “182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state.” Using data from the federal government and other sources, analysts gave each city scores for quality of life and jobs.

Both Columbia and Charleston ended up high on the list after getting nods for their professional opportunities, results show.

Among all cities,

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