Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco Visits Walt Disney World

On Monday, Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, joined Mickey Mouse for the traditional "I'm Going To Disney World" parade down Main Street USA.  Flacco, who threw 3 touchdown passes for the win over the San Francisco 49ers was joined by family and friends for a blockbusting celebration in Orlando where tens of thousands of visitors cheered and congratulated him on a great win over a great team.

Crowds were huge and the weather was great for this day.  Congratulations to Flacco for a great season.

Basin at Walt Disney World

Basin Stores are a great place to get any kind of bath salts, scrubs, soaps, moisturizers, perfumes, etc. for the discerning shopper.  Basin has the top of the line in any kind of bath items. There are two locations at Downtown Disney,Orlando, and the Grand Floridian, in Florida. Those on the west coast will enjoy the Basin Stores at the Venetian Resort and Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Whenever we visit Downtown Disney we visit the Basin, and now, with their reimagined design there is more shop space and larger hand washing stations so customers can browse and try their salt scrubs before buying.

Does this look like it's just for the ladies?  Well, it really is but the guys like to browse if for no other reason to get gift ideas for the woman in their lives. Sign up for the free Basin Newsletter and order your favorite products at:

                                                            www.basin.com

When you're in Orlando or Las Vegas, Basin is a definite stop.  See what it's all about by visiting it on-line but we'd rather you come on down and visit in person.  Thanks.

Cafe Cubano - Downtown Disney

At Downtown Disney right next to Bongo's Cuban Cafe, you can have a sandwich or cup of Cuban Coffee at the Cafe Cubano.  It's a little express sandwich shop right next door.  A quaint, comfortable little nook right on the street where folks can sit and socialize and imagine old Havana.  It must be similar to Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place".

Grab a cup or a Cuban sandwich and have a seat under the umbrella's while you just relax. It's even more tranquil at night.  It's a good place to go for a no frills lunch.  It's a short story but worth telling and certainly worth the mention.  Enjoy and thanks for reading.

Raglan Road Irish Restaurant - Downtown Disney

My son and I went to Raglan Road again Saturday night.  We haven't been there in a few months but we were very pleased.  Our waiter was Vinny.  He looked out of place but was quick to tell us he was half  Irish with a grandmother who came from Cork.  He was a good man - gave us exceptional service with some great "Irish-Italian" personality.

We started with an appetizer of breaded skewered sausages ($11).  Haven't tried them before but will certainly have them again. They come on upturned forks , 9 of them, and a semi-spicy sauce.  They also serve a generous portion of soda bread with a honey and oil dipping plate.  Very good.  Ryan had a cheeseburger with chips ($15) and I had Bangers and Booz ($18).  Never tried it before but it was quite good.  Bangers and mash they call it in the old country with a serving of stew on the corner and a suggestion of rosemary. I really liked it found it to be as close to authentic as I've ever had in the States.  I took a picture of my plate to the annoyance of those seated around me.

I got the photos a little out of sync but the picture above shows the Irish dancers stepping.  We usually don't go in the evening but this day we did.  After hours, say 7:00 pm, there is entertainment in the form of dancing, singing, or a 3 piece band singing old and new Irish tunes. The atmosphere is one of "we're all here - let's enjoy this life".  Everybody loves the setting in an Irish Pub.  I give the place an "A".  I didn't add the plus because my seat was very uncomfortable.  Ever sit on a bench and there's an uneven board up your behind?  They must know this but plop you there anyway.  Oh, well.  Everything else was fine so I just sat there.  If you visit try Raglan Road.  I hope you find me telling you the truth!  Thanks again for reading.  More to come.