Is this a particular random place in podunk Ohio - or is the entire state podunk? ;)

So do more shots
that should clear you right up :p

I can second that, it's a gorgeous hotel and even better when you score an upgrade. :)

Well you know... They are building more gates as we speak. There's the new South Gate complex, which could handle up to something like 30 more gates. It's down by the new runway (the one that goes over the freeway). And there's the new international terminal, which will be just east of the current Concourse E. It's going to have gates, a new federal inspections area, baggage claim, and check-in facilities for international flights.

Oh, that's just a reference to a conversation had last Thursday night at the Houston Micro-Do that almost had ALCO making his designated driver haul him up to rural northwest Ohio for a HUGE (but very good) steak at a pretty cheap price, and the posts that followed in here on Friday morning.

*drool* I love the palm, currently my favorite of all the fancy-schmancy steak places. Ruth's and Flemings have fallen by the wayside as far as quality.

So this is completely off topic but do any of you Houstonians have suggestions for a reasonably priced townhome or apartment place near the Galleria or in Midtown?

Regarding ATL, is lack of runways really their problem? I always thought that they suffered more from ATC delays. Given where they are situated geographically (right in the middle of corridors between Dallas/Houston and New York, as well as Florida and the Midwest) this seems to be a big minus for getting planes up and down.

What do you consider "reasonably priced "?

I suspect DL would never allow that and given their overly relationship of cuddling and heavy petting with the state of Georgia, I doubt anybody would ever push the issue.

I've always wondered what would happen to DL if ATL was to endure a catastrophic failure for a day or two.

The Ruth's Chris in ACY never reached the wayside so as to fall...there and Bobby Flay's place are the only two places that I actively advise against. And if you haven't already: next time at the Palm, don't get a steak, hard as that might be. Chicken Parm is the way to go. She hates when I say it, but my girl refers to the dish as "sex on a plate".

Back when I lived in the dirty south there was all this talk about a high speed rail between CHA and ATL. The discussions always centered on someone's hair-brained scheme of quasi annexation of the 'nooga.

Don't get me started on SkyBus and how fundamentally flawed that whole operation was. I forget where the discussion took place, but it might have been here in the CO forum (it might have even been right here in our fair box). For the SkyBus business model to have succeeded I maintain that some sort of cataclysmic event would have had to take place, where the basic laws of logic and common sense would go out the window. I often refer to this type of event as the "When Kathy Griffin becomes funny scenario."

In other news, is the Palm ya'll are referencing the same as the NYC one(s)? If so, best prime rib I've ever had, but the filet wasn't up to snuff.

To chime in on the Dallas discussion, the best night I ever spent on an unintentional layover was in Dallas. It involved a really good pork chop, Fat Tire, the Westin DFW on the first week after converting from the Harvey, and a professional model who also hadn't intended on spending the night in Dallas. :D

I agree. I've had a few good prime ribs at the Palm but never a good fillet. Overall, not a bad steak house but I prefer more of a local place off the beaten path.

Re: the filets, the Palm is known for being extremely conservative when it comes to their definitions of doneness. Always order one step higher than you're used to. And for the Manhattanites, go to Palm West (250 W. 50th) for lunch and get the "Bozzi Burger". Just trust me on that, and apply the doneness thing to the burger as well.

Gene and Giorgetti's in Chi-town is pretty good and probably fits the bill for what you're looking for.

Although I also remember the steakhouse at the Hyatt in downtown Chicago to be excellent. Of course, you need to put that one in context as I ate there the night after the Chicago marathon and I would have eaten porcupine and enjoyed it.