This is the 2nd time we've been there - last month we used a $25 coupon, but we found this place has $25 entrees. Since it was DH's bday, this time we bought $50 coupon, I ordered a romaine salad (came grilled - yuck!), he ordered calamari appetizer, we figured we'd share. Well, his $11 appetizer turned out to be one 4" squid, 1 clam, and 2 baby octopi so he ate it all himself. He ordered a $24 entree (risotto with sausage and brussel sprouts - sounded good except for the brussel sprouts), I ordered a special lobster tail in kind of a tomato-based (turned out to be almost Fra Diavlo!) chowder that ended up being $29. Add a couple of glasses of wine, coffee, 1 dessert sampler and we had no trouble going over the $100 before tip. On the bright side, we got to open the envelope they gave us in December - DH was hoping for the $500 gift certificate or even a free meal (would be around $100), but it ended up being a cooking class for 4 people. Date TBD. I don't know if this will be a private class or if we're going to be with other winners, since they gave away 12 of these. I'm sure they won't have 48 people at a time in the kitchen LOL but maybe 12? I was thinking of asking my cousin K and her sister - will have to see if K is up to it. Dh suggested my mom but no way would she be interested in Italian (esp. fancy-pants Italian) cooking class. We did see on Restaurant.com that they've added more family-style places in our area (incl. my parents' favorite Italian place) so we're going to have to buy some certificates for those while they're half off (and with a $10 free certificate to restaurant of your choice with every order, the coupon we used Sat night ended up being free so we still had a nice meal for $88 after tip). DH wanted more kid-friendly places, DS is no problem but DD is so picky and antsy, I told him "Friendly's (local ice cream parlor chain, burgers, hot dogs and such) doesn't participate, sorry!" But a nearby pizza place (not our favorite but OK) does, we'll have to see if it's good for dine-in only or takeout OK. Hey, I came back to show you this CL ad (went a little farther from home, Fairfield Cty where the formerly rich Wall st types live). Do you think this "china table" might work for b/t my windows, to put DVD player on, if dimensions are right? It's got plenty of storage, and even glass doors if I want to put components inside instead of on top and still use remote. Here is a link that might be useful: china

@Ashley George - if you’re asking about the photo right before your question, I’ve seen many of these for sale. The least expensive option that has good reviews is starting with IKEA pieces of furniture. I’ve never bought anything from IKEA but am trying to decide about how to arrange a media wall. IKEA has some pieces that can be floated even though they aren’t marketed that way. Some of their consoles are meant to be hung on the wall. I am still considering this option: Samsung - the frame TVs. Really cool. Come with a lot of art loaded. You pick your frame. TV sits flat against wall.

We have the same basic layout and we mounted the TV to the side wall and used a swing-out to aim the TV toward the sitting area. You will never get the optimum mounting height if you place the TV above the fireplace with mantle and that is the most important thing for comfort. Out fireplace is 65" and the TV is 55" (soon to be replaced).

I like the layout you have. One can stretch out on the wall sofa to watch. Just move everything back a bit. It looks like the sofa facing the TV could be moved back a foot. Move the wall sofa almost to the floor vent. The armchair in the corner can be in front of the stationary side of the slider and at an angle facing the TV. I agree, lower the TV. Only the upper two thirds of a TV should be above eye level when seated. Get a TV stand at proper viewing height. There a lots of choices but a wide one would be nice. P.S. I took a while to post and just saw the diagram but I prefer my TV a little higher than that-- with the eye level not in the middle of the screen but 2/3's down from the top. These photos are concepts and not meant to determine your viewing height.