This LA Fitness location is very nice. They have a wide selection of equipment for members to use, from weight training to cardio equipment. They also have a wide variety of classes, of which I have taken Yoga and Pilates, both of which I recommend. It can be very crowded at times, but that is to be expected from a gym of LA Fitness's quality and in this location. LA Fitness can be very expensive, but I felt that the price was fairly reasonable for the things they offered, though when signing up the sales person was very pushy.

An important thing people need to know about Stax is that they server "sliders," small burgers that are only three or four bites. Don't let that discourage you. These little burgers are delicious and fairly priced for the quality. The sides you can get are also delicious, such as sweet potato fries, which are my personal favorite. They also have cucumber water, which is very good and refreshing. The parking is a bit of a hassle, as it is a dirt lot with a little gravel behind the building, but the hassle is worth it. The atmosphere is very comfortable, and there is a "trendy" feel to it.

My daughter and I very much enjoy getting frozen yogurt from Ice Tango. They have a small selection of flavors, but it seems to vary daily, and their toppings are always fresh. My daughter likes to get strawberries and mochi as a topping, while I like chocolate chips and granola, so you can see there is something for everyone, even milk shakes and smoothies, and don't forget the crepes and waffles! I wish they had more locations, as this one is not very close to my home. I would frequent this over other frozen yogurt places if only it was closer.

I often frequent this Ra Sushi location with my boyfriend. We like to go for happy hour, when the prices are sensational for the food that you get. Of course, not everything is on the happy hour menu, but there is still a lot to choose from including sushi and appetizers such as pot stickers. It wouldn't be happy hour without great prices on alcohol, and they certainly have that as well. The location is very nice looking, with a slightly fancy but relaxed feel even at the bar area. And it doesn't get nearly as crowded as the Old Town Scottsdale location.

Jo-Ann's is one of the best places to shop for fabric. Of course, there aren't a lot of places, but Jo-Ann's is still my favorite. They have a wide selection of fabrics for all sorts of projects, from quilting to making a wedding dress. This location is also very generous with coupons, having them at the register for the customer if need be. I cannot say the same for all locations, some of which have been very rude when I inquired. Jo-Ann's also has a huge selection of scrapbooking supplies and also has great decorations and supplies for holidays that just get cheaper the closer the holiday gets.

If you can tolerate the clutter and general closet like feel of SAS Fabric, it can be a very good place to get some supplies for sewing. I was able to get a lot of fabric for cheap for my daughter and son-in-law's Halloween costumes, however, that involved a lot of digging through piles and roaming the shelves just hoping to spot the perfect fabric. While the people who work there are friendly, they aren't always that helpful, simply pointing you to a shelf and wishing you good luck, but that is probably due to the huge amount of inventory they have, they simply cannot know where everything is. For the price you pay for most of the fabrics, it's worth the digging and the searching, but if you have something specific in mind, go elsewhere.

I enjoy shopping at Bath & Body Works around the Christmas season, as they have great sales and lots of things that are great for stocking stuffers. They also have great holiday scented soaps and lotions. My daughter fancies the candy apple scented body wash that they released this year, but there are other good scents too, year round, such as warm vanilla sugar. The people who work at Bath & Body Works are always friendly and helpful, greeting you when you enter the store and helping you find any particulars that you are looking for. This location is a little out of my way, and there are closer ones, but I like this one best because the staff is so friendly and the store is always clean and bright.

Pets Landing is sadly out of business as of July 2009, and I was very disappointed when that happened. The staff was always happy and friendly, not to mention helpful. The puppies they sold were always clean and happy and well fed, let out to play at least once a day for an hour or more. The dog food could be a little expensive, but I shopped there anyway, happy to help a local family run business. Pets Landing had hours that accommodated everyone, not closing at five or six every day as most little places do, and they were more than happy to stay open late for their customers.

I've gotten many plants from Harpers, such as ornamental fruit trees, rose bushes, and even simple marigolds. All of their plants are great quality and the prices are very fair. The staff ranges from not very bright to extremely knowledgeable depending on who you ask. It seems like they have some employees whose only purpose is to carry the heavy plants to people's cars. On the other hand, there are those who seem to really love and understand gardening. These people are eager to help you with any gardening question you may have, such as why random mushrooms are growing in your potting soil. I also enjoy shopping there because it is a small local business, rather than a huge corporation like Home Depot.

The Super L Market Ranch may be located at the COFCO Center, but it isn't so great compared to Lee Lee and the new Mekong Market. Its selection of fresh meat and fresh produce is smaller than that of both of the other markets, and its prices are slightly higher as well. It also does not have a candy and sweets aisle, which is one of the main reasons I go to Asian markets. It is usually not very crowded with people but everything still feels crowded and the people who shop there always seem rude, such as practically running others over with their baskets for no reason. I do not fault the staff there for their lack of English, however. They always smile and are as polite as possible when they try to communicate with the language barrier. They do have a nice bakery though, and I enjoy the variety of stuffed buns they offer.