From Trip Advisor: Things to do in Columbia

     I have always used Trip Advisor to guide me when I visit a new city.  It is generally a good guide to hotels, restaurants and things to do in the city. After looking for information on a recent trip I was curious to see what was on Trip Advisor about Columbia.  I was discouraged to see that there were only 3 things listed to do.  Merriweather Post Pavilion was rated as number 1, Earth Treks number 2 and Robinson Nature Center number 3.  I wonder why more wasn't listed.  Are we that limited? Maybe we do miss the old Visitor's Center to tell us about Columbia and its features.

    Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn were rated number 1 and number 2 for hotels.  The Sheraton came in number 6.  For restaurants the Royal Taj was rated number 1.  I have never been there and think it is relatively new.  Stanford Grill was ranked number 2, Bon Fresco number 3, Pho Dat Thanh number 4 and Sushi Sono number 5.  If you polled locals on the best restaurant the only one from this list mentioned would probably be Sushi Sono. I wonder if the selections are all from visitors and not locals.  On Yelp Sushi Sono was rated number 1, Hunan Manor number 2 and Red Pearl rated number 3.  Most out of towners would probably not be aware of HowChow for picking a restaurant but it is always my choice to learn about a restaurant.

P.S. Late Flu Season
Lately I have been wondering what has happened to our flu season this year.  By this time most years we are hearing reports about the prevalence of the flu and knowing people who have had the flu.  But this year seems to be different.  According to AccuWeather the flu season will still occur but later than normal and come with the Spring allergy season:
The flu season could be off to a slow start because people are more likely to spend time outdoors — instead of indoors sharing their viruses with each other. As a result, people have been healthier this winter. "Being outside more in the winter has two benefits," according to Alex Sosnowski, expert senior meteorologist for AccuWeather.com. "The time in the sunlight can boost the level of vitamin D a person takes in and the fresh outdoor air is less likely to spread flu germs."

P.S. Maryland Public TV show of the week
MPT: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 8pm
also: February 29 at 12:01am,3am
MPT2: Sunday, Mar.11, 4pm
THE AMISH: American Experience
In an extraordinarily intimate portrait of contemporary Amish faith and life, American Experience questions why and how the insular religious community has thrived within open, individualistic American society. Discover how, despite their ingrained submissiveness, the Amish have successfully asserted themselves in resisting the encroachments of modern society and government. With unprecedented access to the Amish over the course of a year, the film deeply penetrates and explores this profoundly attention-averse communal culture