Thanks, Chama! That's very good to know.

I haven't had this problem recently but I used have this problem all the time with particular drivers. I had many conversations with FedEx about it and what I was told is that it is entirely up to the discretion of the driver. Even if no signature is required, a driver can decide to require a signature if they think it's the right thing to do. Very frustrating, and they gave me no other alternatives. I even asked if there was some kind of blanket waiver I could sign to have packages left and they said nope, it's totally up to the driver. I had better luck contacting the shipper and asking them to intervene with FedEx, although this sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. Good luck.

I was there last Saturday at 8:00pm and they were still open. Maybe it was a one off.

Quote:

I've been there two times since reopening. Once we were seated immediately at the only two remaining seats (on a very busy Thursday night) right in front of the TV at the counter thingy. This past Saturday we had to wait about 5 minutes for them to clear a table. But I'm sure there are times with much longer waits. I'd imagine whatever they tell you the wait is, it's probably more or less accurate.

And sometimes the line by the door is the line for take out, not for a table, so just make sure to ask people what they are waiting for and get on the correct line.

Just called. They have a new message with today's date saying renovations are almost finished and they should reopen within a week or so.

Just ate here. Really great and can't wait to go back! The borscht and the chenaya soup were both delicious. Stuffed cabbage was easily the best I've ever had. My companion got the baked chicken and it was awesome. I am sooo full.

I'll send you a PM about where I am now.

I don't have kids, but I'd have to say that I wouldn't be too concerned with them playing in a fenced back yard during the day. But I'd be a little concerned.

Re: school spill-over, which half of Astor are you looking at? The half closer to Summit or the half closer to Monticello? I imagine it's the half closer to Summit. That's the half I lived on. I never saw any students from the school. Not ever. I did see a lot of people hanging out around the school on the weekends getting wasted. I was never bothered by this, but seriously, be prepared for falling-down drunk people at like 10:00am on Monticello & Astor. They were always very nice and polite, and didn't bother me at all, but again, no kids so...

I lived on Astor Place from Spring of 2010 until the end of summer 2011. It's a beautiful neighborhood, people are lovely, but when it comes to feeling/being safe, that's a really subjective thing. As you know, random crime can happen anywhere, at anytime. I would be very surprised if you had anyone bother you or your children on Astor Place during the daytime. However, my bike was stolen part by part while chained up inside the fence in our front garden. Of course it was just a low garden fence with no lock, but still, the space invasion is weird. Once I came home from a night out at about 4:00am and the bike was fine. By the time I woke up at 8:00am, the back wheel was gone (not quick-release). I didn't really like the bike much, which is why I continued to leave it out front. A neighbor told me that some of his bikes were stolen out of his backyard, which had no alley and was surrounded by a 6-foot fence. Our garbage cans were stolen over and over again. Also, cars tend to go really fast down Astor. Never could figure out why, but if you move there, be careful your kids don't play in the street. There are a lot of people on that street that have been there for years and care deeply for the neighborhood and each other. I moved just a few blocks away and it's much more anonymous -- which I happen to prefer -- so it all just depends on what you're looking for.

I would have to say I did not find it "super quiet." There's a lot of people who hang out, laugh, play their radios in the front yard, which is all fine and dandy, but I found it kind of loud, actually. There was a neighbor a few houses away whose kid would set up the TV and video game console in the backyard in the summer and play it super loud. I mean, so loud it sounded like an action movie was being filmed there. And a neighbor whose yard bordered ours that played the same 30 seconds of a song over and over and over while become more and more intoxicated pretty much everyday. I live on a much busier street now, and before I moved I was worried it would be a lot louder than Astor Place. In fact, it is much, much quieter.

Another thing to consider when moving there is upkeep. Most of those places are so old, and they are beautiful, but keeping them maintained can be a fortune. Oh, also, I have lived nearby since I moved from Astor, and I have to say almost all of the houses that were for sale when I moved to the neighborhood in 2010 are still for sale now. Not sure what that means, if anything, but I would be very worried about unloading property in the area. Seems like there just aren't a lot of takers.

Best of luck.

I got a PATH alert at 3:41pm confirming what Tommy said. Also, it's on the PATH website.

Also, don't know if you have a car, but I just learned about this place through Trap/Neuter/Return:

http://www.pfaonline.org/wellness/

As others have mentioned, Dr. Green at Westside is amazing, and they are very reasonable (maybe $65 base office visit fee). They also give you a list of all procedure charges before they do them so you can say what you want or don't want. They do not charge visit fees for rechecks -- meaning, if you bring your pet in for an ear infection and they say bring him back in 2 weeks, you will not be charged for the recheck visit. You will be charged for any additional medication, etc., but not for the office visit. Dr. Gaylord - also at Westside - is great too.

I've also seen Dr. Hansen several times through mobile vet dispatch and I love her too. She is great. They are also very reasonable. Only reason I stopped using mobile vet dispatch is sometimes it takes a long time to get an appointment and usually I need to see a vet right away.

I'm sorry I cannot remember vaccination prices, but I would be shocked if either Westside Animal Hospital or Mobile Vet Dispatch didn't give them to you over the phone.

Good luck.

Does anyone know of a good dog walker near Lincoln Park? I'm at Kennedy Blvd & Belmont. Thanks.