Refresh your home's look inexpensively...

March 2007

Redecorating a room or house may often seem like a daunting, expensive task. Sometimes, some minor changes will refresh a room’s appearance. For example, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in anyone’s home. Tweaking something will create a new look. I recently recovered the seat cushions of my kitchen chairs. The set is white washed oak, which I brought with me when I moved here in 2000. Since then, the textured cream-colored weave of the cushions had begun to fray and look dull.

Quite accidentally, I came upon a father and son team who reupholster, repair and refinish furniture. Located in Central Square in Linwood, I found J. Argentiero while killing some time waiting for an appointment at a shop down the row from them. Fred, the father, allowed me to look through his fabric books and take them home.

When my chosen fabric came to the shop, Fred and his son John picked up the four chairs at my house, fixed the brackets, recovered and installed new cushions inside and then redelivered them, all within 24 hours. In addition to the quick turnaround, the bonus was the quality workmanship done at a wonderfully inexpensive price.

Thanks to adding a bit of color, the kitchen looks brighter and much more attractive.

DINE AND LOOK GREAT IN GALLOWAY

Risley Square in Galloway has expanded, and includes an interesting mix of stores. Last month, I used a gift certificate at the Cloud 9 Day Spa, an intimate salon for skin, nails and body treatments.

Unlike most shops that are closed Sunday and Monday, Cloud 9 is open seven days a week, which makes it very accessible for local visitors and shift workers who work weekends or daytime hours.

Driving into the parking lot, I was pleased to see a new location for one of Pleasantville’s great eateries. If you are a fan of great barbecue, try the new Kelsey & Kim’s Rotisserie Grill. The ribs and chicken are slowly smoked and grilled in a wood fired rotisserie grill, topped with Kelsey’s secret homemade sauce. The shop also features fried chicken and seafood platters, plus more than a dozen special side dishes.

ANOTHER SNAZZY SPOT AT THE HILTON

I recently attended a “meet and greet” event at the Hilton Atlantic City that hosted Jeff Garcia, the Eagles hero of the year. He was incredibly gracious, and looks the same in person as on camera, only taller.

The event was held at the Hilton’s new “Chairman’s Club” player’s club, which overlooks the ocean. What a fabulous room for the Ultra and Elite Resorts Destinations Casino Club members. The 10,000 square-foot multi-million dollar retreat, with 25- foot ceilings and high-arching windows, has a large buffet and a 30-seat bar that features a complete menu of great food and drink. The 15 plasma televisions are a great place to watch a favorite game.

It was totally impressive, and I was only sorry that I had another engagement and could not sample the complete menu from their carving station and fabulous looking desserts.

The new Chairman’s Club is the latest upgrade at the Hilton. Last year, the property converted the upstairs retail space and its original players club into successful poker and Asian gaming rooms.

MENUS CAN HELP YOU DECIDE

One great advantage of all the new Atlantic City shopping outlets is the almost unlimited choice of interesting dining spots.

I dined with a friend on a quiet, rainy January afternoon at the Quarter at the Tropicana. In the winter, you can go anywhere without running into crowds.

We strolled around the restaurant area, choosing Cuba Libre after perusing the menus. The wonderful ambiance brings old Havana to the Shore. Many of the lunchtime dishes are the same as those on the dinner menu.

I had been there before for dinner, and remembered how delicious and ample the braised duck salad was. Not only did I enjoy it just as much, but my friend ordered it and loved it too. As we left, two women who had apparently overheard me raving about the duck at the entrance stopped by to tell me they also ordered it and loved it.

If you love duck, this is the place for you, but don’t stop there. The drinks and other traditional Cuban dishes are also very good.