.
Feedback

Revisiting My 2011 New Year's Resolution

Vince had a very ambitious resolution for this year.

 

As the year comes to a close, I’m sure the one thing you have been asking yourself all year long is - Did Vince have as much success with his New Year’s resolution as I did with my  own?

If that’s not the question you’ve been pondering for months and months, then I apologize to you because it’s the one that I’ll be answering today.

What, you may be asking yourself, exactly was the New Year’s resolution?

If you can’t remember your own resolution, then I suggest that next year you make a resolution that’s a little more memorable.

As for my 2011 New Year’s resolution, I wanted to eat at every restaurant in Belmont that I didn’t dine at in 2010 when I first moved to town.

See, that’s the kind of resolution that you remember. Is it the kind of resolution a person can finish? Well, we’ll get to that soon enough.

Just like many of you, I wanted to start this year off by resolving to be a better person in 2011. Unlike many of you, I didn’t resolve to be a better spouse, a better parent, or lose weight. I didn’t have to resolve to do any of those things because I’m perfect in those areas.

If you don’t believe me, then you’ll have to take my word that “perfection” is the first word that would come to mind if you were asking my family what kind of husband, father, or physical specimen I am.  

Since I’m a perfect person and not in need of improving myself in any way, I chose to spend my year doing for others. In this case, I’m talking about spending a few dollars with local merchants.  

When I made that resolution, my goal was to become knowledgeable about the restaurants in my adopted hometown. And I did accomplish this much. While I was unable to eat at every restaurant in town, I gave it a valiant effort.

As a person who went into this year as the kind of Schmoe who favored chain restaurants, the fact that I visited 32 restaurants in town is quite an accomplishment. (And yes, I do realize this was another New Year’s resolution I did not accomplish.) Are you happy now?

While I didn’t accomplish my goal, I did get to enjoy everything from burgers, crepes, deli sandwiches, pizza, to Asian cuisine. And I have to say, I was pretty happy with my dining experience in Belmont.

If pressed (or paid handsomely), I would offer individual reviews of all the places I dined this year. Barring that, let’s just say the majority of the restaurants offer good food.

There were, however, several places I went more than once. I usually went once by myself and later with the family to spend even more money.

Here are 5 places I’m glad I visited this year.  

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

While this year is coming to a close, I will eventually visit (maybe get paid to write reviews) all the restaurants I failed to visit this year. Maybe this can be one of my resolutions for 2012 (along with preventing the Mayan apocalypse from happening).

A man can dream, can’t he?

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Belmont Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
DJ May 20, 2013 at 05:51 am
Please come to the San Mateo City Council meeting tonight at 7:00 or shortly after and voice yourRead More concern about replacing our community's skating rink with a retail store. Bring something to read/do while we wait for our turn to speak. City of San Mateo 330 West 20th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403 dina.artzt@comcast.net if you are interested in updates on our cause.
CP May 15, 2013 at 10:05 am
The City has spent time working with the developer, behind closed doors it would seem, yet inputRead More from the public was an afterthought due to MANY families showing up at a May 6 City Council Meeting (not on the Agenda, yet rink to close June 1 !) So many kids spoke so sincerely and eloquently how the closure would hurt them and their friends. Does San Mateo City Hall care about the residents of our community? Especially the children. City Hall has the upper hand (the Master Plan agreement), we expect them to step up. Why has City Hall allowed SPI to make the children of our community suffer so much agony and pain over this process? Shame on City Hall for letting this drag out !!
CP May 13, 2013 at 02:30 am
Don't give up....the kids are worth it! It is wrong for SPI to be in non-compliance with the masterRead More plan. City Hall should be filing some type of injunction to stop closure of the ice center....this is not right. Repeat of what happened with 7 Eleven on North San Mateo Drive when the developer ignored our City ordinances/plans. Why is this happening again in our City of San Mateo?
Z April 5, 2013 at 03:23 pm
I suggest contacting Menlo Park Presbyterian Churh 650.323.8600 or Peninsula Covenant Church (650)Read More 365-8094 Blessings to you!
Linda Thomas April 5, 2013 at 03:14 pm
Eileen, you are heartily invited to visit the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City. WeRead More are a welcoming, caring group of about 177 people who find music, laughter, social, intellectual and social action pursuits to be eminently spiritual. Our services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 2124 Brewster St. Best work advice at this time is to keep checking Craig's List, the Peninsula section, under both Etc. and part-time jobs.
Joc C May 14, 2013 at 06:49 pm
Parents supporting Redwood Shores Schools for Redwood Shores Kids, very well said. You have my fullRead More support.
Pearl April 29, 2013 at 06:51 pm
Thanks for sharing, Ari!!!! It's been my experience that when you volunteer, you get back way moreRead More than you give! Thanks for the great example you are setting for us all.
Kelly O'Dea April 29, 2013 at 06:23 pm
Ari-Thanks for sharing the adventures of your volunteering projects! You are a great inspiration toRead More our entire community and we are all very proud to have you as a spokesperson on how volunteering can make a huge impact! Thank you very much! Keep on having fun!
Joan S. Dentler (Editor) April 29, 2013 at 04:13 pm
This is a great reminder that any other local volunteers who would like to share their projects withRead More the community may do so on Belmont Patch! Simply email the editor at joan.dentler@patch.com. Great job Ari!
KP May 2, 2013 at 09:43 pm
Again, thank you Brian for this great article about Nesbit. I'm unsure of how it turned into aRead More sounding board for the petulant to vent but those of us who know how wonderful Nesbit is sure appreciate your article.
Joc C May 2, 2013 at 09:30 pm
API of 800 is not bad but parents are comparing it with other schools in the district. There areRead More other issues that make parents unhappy. The residents in RWS and Belmont Shores are paying property tax which contributes to the building of RWSE. There is an expectation that their kids will go to the kids they help fund. The RWS parents are unhappy because they were told they would not be affected by the no boundary policy. Then, a year later 26 families are affected. No one like surprises. The board's decision to use a 'walking distance' algorithm to promote neighborhood schools is not working. Well, hypothetically if Nesbit API is over 900 and the other schools has API of 800, would we still have this discussion? We would not know for sure but something to think about if API is a factor among others.
Brannigan May 2, 2013 at 08:40 pm
I just moved into the neighborhood behind Iron Gate and we bought in Belmont because of the schools.Read More I am kinda shocked to find people bashing Nesbit. The API score is over 800, has great diversity, and the location seems to be pretty convenient. Our son has 2 more years before he starts, but we wouldn't mind one bit if we ended up at Nesbit. What's the difference of 100 points on API that an extra 5 minutes of father-son tutoring time can't fix. Besides, we all end up at Ralston and Carlmont anyways. To me, those are the schools that matter most.