It's been a long day. Real long. Don't bother yourself with the details and just take my word for it. And the way I see it, I have two choices: Go home and curl up under a blanket in a dark room, or do something nice for myself to counter the oppressive weight the world has lowered on my shoulders.

The Green Bean bustles with activity. Two baristas deftly move back and forth across the L-shaped bar. It's crowded. Monday night trivia announcements echo on the high walls. By 8 p.m. the place is packed with tables full of hunched players contemplating answers.

Some friends of mine recently visited Steak Street on Highway 68 in High Point and gave the place rave reviews, telling my wife we had to check it out. It had been a while since I had visited the place, so we left the kids at home and drove on over.

I remember it when it was the Next Door Tavern and I was impressed with the size of the place and the long, wooden bar. I remember when it became Bar Fry, and I noted the creative concept a menu based on healthy deep-frying along with fresh-fruit drinks at the bar.

Antonina Whaples is a senior with a double major in studio art and philosophy at Wake Forest University. Her piece, Unfulfilled Desires was inspired by her recent foray into the world of figure competition. Figure competition could best be described as a cross between a beauty pageant and bodybuilding.

Its only fitting that Xia, the Asian fusion restaurant, is thriving just off the beaten path in downtown Winston- Salem. You have to walk a couple of blocks from 4 th Street, but its well worth the effort. Located in the citys financial district, Xia is renowned for doing a brisk lunch and after-work dinner business.

Alex Kazakos, who studied at Johnson & Wales University, has closed his Black Pearl Grill & Oyster Bar for a more moderately priced place in the same location that he is calling Gate City Tavern.

I took two delicious Krispy Kreme doughnuts for buns, slapped on a big burger right off the grill, added cheddar cheese, two slices of bacon and dug in. Its sticky and sweet and good. The hot burger makes the donuts softer and their sugary coating gets all melty.

Saturday before the Super Bowl, I had some spare time on my hands and made a decision to go to Costco. I didnt need anything or want anything, but I jokingly told my son, You never know what youll find that you never knew you needed, and they have lots of free snacks.

Nestled just off the courtyard in the back of the historic JH Adams Inn on Main Street in High Point, is an intimate 28-seat restaurant called Hampton's.