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Showing 2,689-2,784 of 3,337 items
Super 8 - Romeoville
Super 8 Romeoville Bolingbrook hotel is located in the Heritage Corridor, convenient to Interstates 55 and 355 at Exit 367, and provides a comfortable, central place to stop near Chicago. Close to attractions like Chicagoland Speedway, O'Hare and Midway airports, and Empress Casino, our pet-friendly Romeoville hotel offers convenient accommodations near the Windy City.
CITY: Romeoville
King's Mill Refinishing
Beautiful hand-rubbed finishes, brass & metal polishing & repair, hand painting & stenciling, gold leafing, hand carving, woven cane, Rush splint & wicker, upholstery & slip covers, and hand-tied Oriental rugs.
CITY: St. Charles
Museum Shop of the Art Institute of Chicago, The
The Museum Shop offers a wide selection of gifts, jewelry, and museum adaptations, many derived from works in the museum's collections or special exhibitions hosted by the museum.
CITY: Chicago
Dick Pond Athletics
Dick Pond Athletics is America's running shoe store specializing in footwear, clothing and accessories for runners, walkers and triathletes. Open daily. Across from Salerno's on the Fox Restaurant on Second Street (Rt. 31)
CITY: St. Charles
Walsh Natural Health
Visit the most unique natural health store on the North Shore. If you have a need for homeopathy, herbs or supplements while in town or just want to explore aromatherapy, flower essences and more, stop and see us.
CITY: Evanston
48th Annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival
Chicago magazine once hailed the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival as "one of the best buys for your jazz dollars," and its easy to see why. Each February, the best college jazz bands in the country converge on the Elmhurst campus for three days of performances and education. The bands take turns performing for some of the greatest names in professional jazz today, who offer critiques and award a variety of honors. The professionals cap off each night of the Festival with a rousing performance of their own.
CITY: Elmhurst
Red Oak Nature Center
A visit to the center will help folks learn about the native plants and animals of the Fox River Valley. Interpretive center, hiking trails and tours of "Devil's Cave."
CITY: North Aurora
Cross Rhodes Restaurant
Gyros, feta burgers adn souvlaki are the specialties and the reasons Evanstonians flock to this authentic Greek diner.
CITY: Evanston
The Fireplace Inn
Main dining room has a ski lodge atmosphere. Exposed brick walls. All season outdoor garden. Seventeen TVs for all major sporting events.
CITY: Chicago
Around the Corner Candy
Old-fashioned neighborhood candy store.
CITY: West Dundee
Athena Greek Restaurant
A Greektown favorite. Charming ethnic atmosphere, friendly service in a beautiful setting with outdoor dining and great city views.
CITY: Chicago
Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen
The celebrated Deli is getting harder to find, but thankfully Manny's keeps making the best tasting Deli fare in the city. Located in Chicago, tucked among the giant skyscrapers is where you can get a real corned beef sandwich piled-high on rye, or matzo ball soup that warms every inch of your body.
CITY: Chicago
Weber Grill Restaurant, The
Classic outdoor grilling from the company that set the standards for outdoor cuisine. Steaks, BBQ, burgers and seafood all grilled on authentic Weber charcoal kettles in an open kitchen.
CITY: Chicago
Shelby Campbell's "Almost Famous"
Shelby Campbell's goal is to offer a quality menu at a reasonable price. Located in Elk Grove Village, serving specialty steaks and chops, flame grilled burgers, sandwiches, fresh wraps, salads, and one-of-a-kind appetizers. We also feature an extensive draft beer selection and global wine list. Whether you are dining with the family, out with coworkers, or looking for a great place to watch the big game. Come in and experience our timeless service and atmosphere, perfect for any occasion.
CITY: Elk Grove Village
Le Bouchon
This intimate storefront bistro has been serving authentic French fare in the Bucktown neighborhood for years.
CITY: Chicago
Hampton Inn & Suites - Bolingbrook
Centrally located for business or pleasure and features spacious rooms, regular suites, and whirlpool suites. Along with earning Hilton Honors points and miles, you enjoy high-speed wireless internet access throughout the hotel.
CITY: Bolingbrook
Prairie Moon
Offering seasonal regional American menu in an award-winning setting with two full bars, outdoor dining, and a large party room in the heart of Evanston. Lunch, dinner, and a late night grill are offered every day, along with breakfast on Sundays.
CITY: Evanston
Leopold offers Belgian inspired food + drink, sourced locally whenever possible, in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. European-influenced, our menu highlights Belgium and draws from the elegance of French cuisine and the heartiness of German. A neighborhood place, join us for dinner at the bar, in the lounge or in our dining room featuring repurposed raw materials and natural woods all coming together to produce a warm and inviting space that allows the food to shine. Enjoy seasonal cuisine crafted by chef Jeffrey Hedin, complemented by an extensive selection of Belgian beers, food-friendly wines and classic - and new classic – cocktails.
CITY: Chicago
PC's Pancake Café
Serving the greatest breakfast or lunch in the southwest burbs. Serving oven baked omelets, oven baked pancakes, the thickest cut bacon and our own special blend of Kona Coffee. We are 1/8 mile east off the I-355 tollway and 127th st interchange. Open daily from 7am-2pm.
CITY: Lemont
Nuova Italia
Breathtaking dining experience in classic, 160 year old church. Serving authentic Italian food. Dine in & carry out. We also offer catering for all your special occasions.
CITY: St. Charles
Black Steer Charhouse
A suburban classic restaurant located in the heart of Elk Grove Village. Black Steer Charhouse offers incredible service and great food in a modern space. Known for having one of the area's best house cut steaks, creative martinis and fresh seafood, Black Steer Charhouse is the perfect place for small groups, families and parties up to 100.
CITY: Elk Grove Village
Chez Moi
Chez Moi is a unique French bistro in the heart of Lincoln Park. Chef Owner: Dominique Tougne
CITY: Chicago
Hackney's on Harms
Hackney's has been run buy the same family for nearly 70 years. Ever since great aunt Bebe started selling hamburgers and beer on her back porch during Prohibition, Hackney's has been making people very happy. Today Hackney's is famous for their big juicy hamburgers on dark rye and one-of-a-kind onion rings, as well as a bevy of other fantastic foods they serve. You don't want to miss out on a Hackney's experience.
CITY: Glenview
Town House Books & Cafe
Cafe connected to independent bookstore. Features homemade sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, beer and wine.
CITY: St. Charles
Rochester Big & Tall Clothing
Clothing for Big and Tall.
CITY: Chicago
Grace O'Malley's Restaurant - Pub
Irish restaurant and pub. Perfect neighborhood spot in the south Loop. Offers a friendly bar and casual dining room. Irish-American cuisine, Sunday brunch. Plenty of beer, wine and speciality drinks. Private dining. Mon.-Sat. 11:30am-2am; Sun. 9:30am-12am.
CITY: Chicago
Park Grill
Atmosphere, great service and spectacular dining are guaranteed at Park Grill.The menu features contemporary American cuisine infused with distinctive Chicago flavors and seasonal ingredients, offering something for the whole family.
CITY: Chicago
Restaurant at Conrad
The international cuisine of The Restaurant at Conrad accounts for the minimal carbon footprint of key ingredients, accented with a taste of rich culinary diversity and unique Midwest-centric lifestyle.
CITY: Chicago
Savor the pleasures of an intimate cocktail lounge located just off the lobby of the Homestead. This warm, cozy spot is perfect of a quiet drink, light supper, or an impromptu cocktail gathering with friends. Guest can order from either the eclectic bar menu or from the Quince dinner menu.
CITY: Evanston
Nancy's Pizza
Award Winning Pizza served in 4 crusts - 2 1/2' stuffed, 1 1/2" stuffed Lite, Original Thin, Super Thin. Also serving Appetizers, Salads, Pasta and Sandwiches. Pick Up - Delivery - Catering. Open Daily 10 AM. Complete menu available.
CITY: Bolingbrook
Grand Victoria Buffet
If you believe what they say about variety, visit the Grand Victoria Buffet. You'll have an overwhelming selection of entrees, salads and desserts from which to choose. Bring your appetite!
CITY: Elgin
Towneplace Suites by Marriott
All suite hotel featuring our "Morning Break" breakfast, "In a Pinch" market, and complimentary high speed wireless internet. Our Suites are 30% larger than a standard hotel room and feature fully equipped kitchens.
CITY: Joliet
SG Too
Select consignment, antique store with items for home, garden and more.
CITY: St. Charles
Slurping Turtle
Slurping Turtle strives to recreate for guests Chef Takashi's childhood culinary experiences in Japan, and the essence of Japanese Comfort Food. The turtle is a symbol of longevity in Japan. Come and slurp to your hearts content.
CITY: Chicago
Greenline Wheels
Greenline Wheels rents ecologically friendly and affordable transportation - bikes, electric bikes, and neighborhood electric vehicles. Easy to use maps with self-guided tour loops and easy access to many of Oak Park's independent tour guides makes Greenline an ideal starting point.
CITY: Oak Park
Kane County Fle Market - June 2015
"The best in the Midwest or Anywhere". Up to 1000 dealers. Held the 1st Saturday of the month and the following Sunday. Food served all day.
CITY: St. Charles
Pegasus Restaurant and Taverna
Authentic, contemporary Greek and Mediterranean cuisine in a casual setting, featuring renowned lamb specials, chops, fresh seafood, and regional pastas
CITY: Chicago
The Filling Station Pub and Grill
Offering a variety of meals, burgers, sandwiches, fajitas and roasted cod (all you can eat on Fridays). Old gas station memorabilia.
CITY: St. Charles
Seven Ten Lounge
This Art Deco bowling and billiard mecca makes for a fun night on the town.
CITY: Chicago
The 3rd Coast Cafe and Wine Bar
Located in the heart of the historic Gold Coast since 1985, a must for visitors wanting a local experience. This gem is unrivaled in ambiance. Extensive menu with breakfast all day, full bar, serving late night. Live music nightly!
CITY: Chicago
Il Mulino Chicago
Il Mulino, considered by many to be New York's top Italian restaurant, is located in the old Biggs mansion in the Gold Coast. Menu's focus is on the freshest fish, meats and game. Flavors from Abruzzi region of Italy.
CITY: Chicago
Anyway's Chicago Restaurant & Pub
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Neighborhood restaurant and pub serving classic American fare. The restaurant specializes in banquets from 25 to 75. The bar has been newly remodeled and now offers a screened in porch and an outdoor patio.
CITY: Oakbrook Terrace
Saffron Restaurant
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Our chef uses the ancient, traditional cuisine of India to create richly-flavored, healthyfully-cooked, lower calorie dishes. Visit Saffron Restaurant for a culinary voyage and discover both the exotic flavor of India and the hospitality of its people.
CITY: Westmont
Chicago Prime Italian
Locally-owned Chicago Prime Italian is a warm & inviting, upscale casual restaurant. Enjoy the bold flavors & simple comforts of classic Italian fare featuring generous portions & fresh ingredients. Steak, veal, chops, fresh seafood & signature Italian dishes are complemented by the wine & cocktail menu. Seasonal outdoor patio.
CITY: Schaumburg
Pat's Place
Pat's Place is a traditional diner in every sense with traditional home cooking, great prices and of course friendly service. Newly remodeled.
CITY: Skokie
China Buffet - Carpentersville
Great Chinese food - wide variety buffet.
CITY: Carpentersville
The Little Traveler (Restaurants)
Dine in the Atrium Cafe or at the Victorian Buffet Luncheon served daily in the store's Antique Department where you will enjoy fresh entrees and delicious desserts elegantly served on silver, china and imported antique dishes.
CITY: Geneva
Rookies All American Pub and Grill
28 TVs to watch all sporting events. Serving some of the best burgers, ribs, steaks in the area. Kids' menu and more.
CITY: St. Charles
Community Thrift Store
Resale business.
CITY: East Dundee
Golden Corral - Bolingbrook
Family style restaurant offers the biggest and best buffet and grill. Banquet room available. Offering senior discounts daily. Fresh baked goods and "all you can eat" sirloin steaks.
CITY: Bolingbrook
Custom Furniture
Two stories of quality, solid wood furniture since 1938. Huge selection of finished, unfinished home, office furniture by Amish and other American manufactures.
CITY: St. Charles
Ayla's Originals
More than a fabulous bead store, Ayla's is also a haven for the creative soul in serach of instruction, support, supplies, jewelry and even repair. Come and enjoy the beauty, friendship and spirit!
CITY: Evanston
Pensiero Ristorante
Among the North Shore's finest Italian restaurants tucked inside the historic Margarita European Inn. Pensiero Ristorante serves Italian fare prepared from the finest imported ingredients. The moment you enter the room, you know you are in for a special dining experience. The menu is seasonally inspired and the wine list is sure to compliment your dining experience. During the summer, dine outdoors in the lovely garden terrace.
CITY: Evanston
Billy Goat Tavern - The Original
There are few things as identifiable to Illinois and Chicago as the Billy Goat Tavern. Made popular by the SNL; the Billy Goat Tavern serves up no nonsense fare: Burgers, cheeseburgers, no fries, just chips – and definitely no Pepsi, just Coke. However, if you want something stronger to drink they also have a full bar. Don't worry Billy Goat Tavern has much more to their menu, but why miss out on the food that made them famous.
CITY: Chicago
Au Cheval
Au Cheval is not your typical greasy spoon diner. It's house-made foods, creative interpretations on classic dishes and a comfortable, easy-going atmosphere - it's big cozy eats. Playful takes on old-school favorites like a fried bologna sandwich, or a pork porterhouse; all made to order right before your eyes in the open kitchen. At the bar, 30+ international beers are on tap, specialty cocktails and a rockin' wine list make Au Cheval an inviting place to kick back.
CITY: Chicago
Blackberry Farm Holiday Express
All aboard for the Blackberry Farm Holiday Express! Experience the holiday spirit of a magical train ride with Yuletide music and thousands of twinkling lights. Scheduled ticketing for fast service! New this year - caroling hayrides, storytellers and craft stations. Make a reindeer treat and warm up at the hot chocolate bar. It's all at Blackberry Farm first three weekends in December.
CITY: Aurora
Le Peep Pancake House & Grill
All your breakfast favorites in a relaxing and comfortable environment.
CITY: Evanston
Nick's Fishmarket
Fine dining seafood restaurant with the freshest seafood and impeccable service with attention to detail.
CITY: Chicago
Shula's Steak House
Offers fresh seafood, lamb and live Maine lobster. Relax in the "No Name Lounge" for a martini.
CITY: Itasca
Drawing Room at Le Passage
This Chicago restaurant is a jewel that also serves a chic culinary cocktail lounge where people can share their lives over sumptuous American Contemporary cuisine and classic cocktails.
CITY: Chicago
Klay Oven
Come enjoy the ambience, fine food and service of this warm, inviting restaurant. Choose from lobster tails, rack of lamb and quails prepared in our traditional Tandoor (clay oven) or dishes from Kathai.
CITY: Chicago
Rosebud Prime
Enjoy classic steaks, chops, tender chicken entrees and seafood specialties. The sophisticated atmosphere, impressive wine list and impeccable sevice create an unforgetable culinary experience.
CITY: Chicago
Italian Fiesta Pizzeria
A South Side favorite since the 1950s, this pizza joint boasts creamy butter in the dough and toppings such as black anchovy and shrimp.
CITY: Chicago
India House Restaurant
Enjoy dining in India House - a restaurant that offers over 250 unique menu items and ambience full of Indian fine arts and crafts, and our commitment to provide you with delicious, creative and healthy foods.
CITY: Chicago
Khyber Pass
Established in 1995, a culinary passage through the land of exotic spices and aromas. Received "Four Forks", the highest rating from the Chicago Tribune. Strongly recommended by Sun Times, Chicago Magazine, Where Chicago, etc. Live entertainment and bellydancing on weekends. Lunch buffet.
CITY: Oak Park
Mon Ami Gabi Lincoln Park
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro featuring fare such as French onion soup, trout grenobloise and steak frites in a warm and cozy setting.
CITY: Chicago
Westwood Tavern & Tap
The place to be for a warm and fun atmosphere with good food, cold beer and friendly people. Custom beer taps dispense cold beer right at your table. Beautiful outdoor bar and two fireplaces. Fresh sushi, tacos, great burgers and sandwiches - everything made from scratch including our corn tortillas and our freshly ground burgers.
CITY: Schaumburg
Vivo Restaurant
When it comes to true Italian cuisine, few restaurants rival this rustic yet stylish veteran. Vivo opened its doors almost two decades ago, triggering a culinary landslide in the Randolph Street market district, the impact of which is still being felt today.
CITY: Chicago
Wyndham Garden O'Hare/Elk Grove Village
The Brand New Wyndham Garden O'Hare/ Elk Grove Village is a contemporary urban retreat convenient to both O'Hare and Midway Airports, downtown Chicago, and Woodfield Mall. We are conveniently located in the center of Elk Grove Village Business Complex. Get energized in our state of the art deluxe fitness center. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, or cocktails in our trendy restaurant and lounge. Our wonderfully inviting rooms and suites feature 32" HDTVs, Wyndham Be Well® Bed, wired and wireless Internet, MP3 capability, granite bathrooms, cordless speaker phones, desk with ergonomic chair, microwave, refrigerator, safe, iron and ironing board, and so much more. It's more than hospitality - it's an escape from the ordinary!
CITY: Elk Grove Village
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar
A fun, family-friendly restaurant with a full menu that features award-winning traditional wings, boneless wings, chicken tenders, naked tenders, spun in one of 14 signature sauces. From barbeque to blazin', there's a sauce for everyone in the family. The menu also includes burgers wraps, salads, ribs and more. With a multitude of plasmas and big screen tv's it's the perfect place to watch your favorite team.
CITY: Evanston
Cru Cafe & Wine Bar
Cozy neighborhood wine bar with exceptional wine list and light food. Two fireplaces in winter and a bustling sidewalk cafe in the summer.
CITY: Chicago
Marilyn Miglin Institute
Experience Marilyn Miglin's exclusive beauty products. Fragrance. Skin care. Cosmetics.
CITY: Chicago
Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca
Contemporary decor with stylish furnishings including divided living and sleeping areas, two double plush Hyatt Grand Beds™, state-of-the-art media and work center with a 42" flat-panel high-definition television that easily integrates with laptops and other electronic devices, an over-sized Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper, wet/dry bar and bathroom vanity with granite counter tops. Enjoy complimentary hotel-wide WiFi and continental breakfast buffet.
CITY: Itasca
Fado Irish Pub
We consider Fadó a different type of Irish pub. We blend the best of the old with the best of the new. Our decor and friendly staff evoke images of the great old pubs of Ireland, whereas our style of operating - our music, food, beverages - connects more so with the contemporary pubs and bars of modern Ireland.
CITY: Chicago
At Benihana your food is not only cooked - it's choreographed. Our chefs will have you craving for more as they slice and dice your meal right before your eyes. Highly skilled and well-trained, your personal chef will entertain you as they cook such favorites as steak, chicken, seafood and fresh vegetables in traditional Japanese style on a hibachi table. So, come in today and witness first hand what has become the longest running dinner show in the world. Reservations are recommended.
CITY: Schaumburg
Miami Motel - Oak Lawn
New look, low rates, friendly service, great location! Lots of restaurants in the surrounding area.
CITY: Oak Lawn
Ernest Hemingway Birthplace
Visit the Victorian home where Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 and spent his early life.
CITY: Oak Park
Get the feel of a classic drive-in in the city of Chicago. Superdawg will take you back to another day and time but their food has kept up with the times. Everything at Superdawg has been created with the same attention and care, as it was when they first opened in 1948. And when you visit don't forget to say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Superdawg adorning the top of the restaurant for all to see.
CITY: Chicago
Nightwood located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago is a farm-to-table restaurant. Their menu is handwritten daily, inspired by the seasonal, local and artisanal ingredients. They work hand in hand with the best farmers in the Midwest to bring you bold simple dishes with care.
CITY: Chicago
Smak-Tak is a quaint Polish restaurant that has been located on the north side of Chicago for the past ten years. Guests just love the old world ambiance and the traditional Polish kitchen flavors. With appetizing dishes specially prepared to your liking.
CITY: Chicago
Most recently chef de partie at Alinea Restaurant and formerly of Home Bistro and Zealous, brings years of experience and culinary innovation to the Wood kitchen. Chef Aubin strongly believes that using only the freshest, most locally available ingredients not only produces better tasting meals, but also builds a sense of collective community and responsibility. The proof is in the plates: foodies and casual diners alike will remember his dishes for their exceptional flavor, quality, and execution.
CITY: Chicago
Super 8 Motel - Elgin
Begin at Super 8 Motel with free continental breakfast, and 24 hour coffee. Also enjoy free local calls and remote control TV with HBO, ESPN, CNN, Discovery and The Family Channel.
CITY: Elgin
Charcoal Oven
Charcoal Oven offers a wide variety of fresh fish, steaks, and Greek specialites daily.
CITY: Skokie
On the Border Mexican Grill
Great Mexican cuisine.
CITY: St. Charles
Kimmer's Ice Cream
Kimmer's Ice Cream is a new ice cream concept in downtown St. Charles. Serving traditional & gourmet homemade premium ice cream as well as feature the original Gramps Frozen Custard, a summer treat in St. Charles for over 10 years. Now open year round. Come check out our great ice cream and custard as well as our selection of cakes and pies.
CITY: St. Charles
El Molino
Serving great Mexican food.
CITY: Carpentersville
Sweet Tomatoes - St. Charles
Salad bar with four specialty salads, fresh cut produce and all the fixings, full hot bakery, six made from scratch soups, three hot pastas, and dessert bar all for one low price. Buffet dining.
CITY: St. Charles
Dave and Buster's Chicago
Two great Chicagoland locations featuring 60,000 sq.ft. of great food and fun. Enjoy mouth-watering delights, world class billiards, shuffleboard, and D&B's famous million dollar Midway! Sun.-Wed. 11:30am-12am; Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-1am.
CITY: Chicago
Charlie Fox's Di Fantastico
Premium carry-out & pizza delivery. Pasta, sandwiches, and more. Full service restaurant.
CITY: St. Charles
Foodlife at Water Tower Place
Why limit yourself to one restaurant's menu when you can eat what you want worldwide? Items range from under a buck to less than a lot. Foodlife is a collection of kitchens - more than a dozen—each with its own distinctive menu, all with one thing in common: food cooked from scratch, made fresh today. Foodlife is a community of eating areas. Foodlife is an assortment of shops for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook take-out foods. Wander around; see the variety. Get what you want, where you want, when you want it.
CITY: Chicago
Nacional 27
Chicago's premier modern Latin restaurant. Melding the explosive flavors and rich tastes of 27 Central and South American nations.
CITY: Chicago
Staybridge Suites Chicago/Oakbrook Terrace
The preferred, upscale all-suite hotel in the Oak Brook area! Free bountiful hot breakfast buffet daily. Free light dinner entrée Tuesday thru Thursday evenings with free beer, wine and sodas. Free internet access throughout hotel. Free local shuttle.
CITY: Oakbrook Terrace
Havana Restaurant - Pan Latin Grill - Mojito bar, Cuban fare and Latin flavor. Specialty Drinks.
CITY: Chicago
Fiorentino's Cucina
Authentic Italian, simply prepared. That's our motto. Fiorentino's is not art food, but rather comfort food for the soul. A piece of Italy on Ashland Ave!
CITY: Chicago
Bijan's Bistro
Bijan's offers bistro classics in comfort far beyond the interesting. Selections are contemporary and smart with a wide variety of possibilities.
CITY: Chicago
Ceres' Table
Cere's Table serves contemporary American food with Italian, particularly Sicilian, influences. We use local, seasonal & sustainable products when possible.
CITY: Chicago


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Puppet Theater
The Three Pigs
The famous Three Little Pigs need houses to live in to protect them from the Big Bad Wolf. Enter their old friend Danny the Dragon who has a magic word to help them get it right this time. But it doesn't always work. Will the magic word work in time to help the pigs outsmart the Big Bad Wolf?
*The Princess and the Pea
Princess Genevieve arrives at the Castle in hopes of marrying the Prince. However, the Prince's Mother, Queen Crowsilda, has other plans in mind. With the help of the Jester, Queen Crowsilda decides to trick Genevieve with a small pea. She orders the Jester to collect every mattress in the castle and places a pea at the bottom. Will Genevieve be sensitive enough to feel a pea under 20 mattresses? Or will she sleep soundly through the night?
*Puppets and script created by the late, great Lewis Mahlmann of Children's Fairyland (Oakland, CA)

subset: commoncrawl


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Get ideas and inspiration, find easy to use patterns
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BurdaStyle Magazine US
Get an inside look at the patterns from the first 4 issues of BurdaStyle US
As an early special Black Friday promotion you can now enroll in the course ($80 value) for $49.99!
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Learn how to use your bodice sloper to draft this popular collar style
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Over 250,000 Served!
Thanks to your generosity and support GrowingGreat has been able to impact and serve over 250,000 children and families! With your continued efforts, our goal is to reach at least 1 million within the next 3 years!
Through our programs and services, over 25,000 "NEW" children & families are being served every year!
Our goal is to help children and families understand where our food comes from, appreciate that food serves a purpose in our overall health and has an impact on our longevity and well-being.
GrowingGreat is a nationwide community-based nonprofit nutrition education organization dedicated to inspiring children and adults to adopt healthy eating habits, decreasing the risk of obesity & disease.
Latest News
GrowingGreat at TEDx Event in Manhattan Beach
GrowingGreat will be at the TEDx "Game Changers" event this Saturday, November 15th, from 9-3pm at Manhattan Beach Middle School – more event details here. We will be passing out tastes of a yummy persimmon "pumpkin pie" smoothie (recipe below). We hope to see you there! Persimmon Pumpkin Pie Spiced…
Meet our new Executive Director!
GrowingGreat is delighted to welcome our new Executive Director, Jennifer Jovanovic, and introduce her to you. "We were looking for someone to take GrowingGreat into the future — to bring our nutrition and gardening programs to new audiences nationwide," said Board President Maria Marrill. "Jennifer has the experience to do this,…
Eat the Rainbow
Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for better health! Naturally colored foods contain what are known as phytochemicals. These powerful nutrients are the disease-fighting substances that also give fruits and vegetables their array of colors. Adding colorful fruits and vegetables (F&V) to your diet has many benefits: A diet…
DOUBLE YOUR DONATION and ENTER TO WIN Jack Johnson concert tickets! Jack Johnson's charity is matching donations contributed to our organization through September 1st, up to a total of $2,500. Make a contribution of $25 or more now, and not only will the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation double your money, but…
Healthy Cinco de Mayo
We hand-picked these simple and healthy Mexican-themed treats, sure to delight this Cinco de Mayo. So what are you waiting for? Time to get in the kitchen – andale, andale! Pina Colada Smoothie Ingredients: 1 large frozen banana, cut into chunks 1 C fresh pineapple, chopped ½ tsp vanilla ¼ C light coconut milk from a can…
Latest Videos
GrowingGreat Introductory Lesson
This is an actual lesson from our curriculum. It's the introduction lesson featuring our wonderful instructor Lisa. It this video it will give a brief description of the lesson plan, what print materials will be needed and the approximate length of the class.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or visit our forum and chat amongst yourselves.
Thank you for your interest in GrowingGreat.
GrowingGreat Organic Gardens
Veteran organic gardener Mike Garcia gives pointers about growing an organic Garden with drip irrigation, which is a feature of GrowingGreat Great Gardens.
Why GrowingGreat?
Why GrowingGreat? Watch this video and find out!


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Olives i Més
Guest house | 2 bedrooms | sleeps 6
|Key Info
Self catering guest house from 1 to 6 people.
Attached to our own house on our 3,5 ha big olive farm in the south Catalonian hills, close to the sea (Costa Daurada) and the beautiful fishing towns L'Ampolla and L'Ametlla de Mar with their excellent fish restaurants.
The guest house is for a maximum of 6 persons with an open kitchen, dining room, living room (with TV and DVD player), two bedrooms, one bathroom with spacious shower and a terrace.
Towels (except for the beach and swimming pool) and bedding are present. There are 4 single beds and one sofa-bed for 2 persons(children).
Our swimming pool (12x4m) can be used freely.
The energy we use for our own house as well as for the guest house comes from our solar panels.
Our water comes out of a 200 m deep water source.
|Sleeps up to 6, 2 bedrooms
|Nearest beach
|L'Ampolla 12 km
|Will consider
|Long term lets (over 1 month), Short breaks (1-4 days)
|Car essential
|Nearest Amenities
|10 km
|Nearest travel links
|Nearest airport: Reus 70 km, Nearest railway: L'Ampolla 12 km
|Family friendly
|Great for children of all ages
|No pets allowed, No smoking at this property
Features and Facilities
|Log fire, DVD player
|TV, Wi-Fi available
|Cooker, Fridge, Freezer
|2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms of which 1 Family bathrooms
|1 Sofa beds, Single beds (4), Cots (1), Dining seats for 6, Lounge seats for 3
|Linen provided, Towels provided
|Balcony or terrace, Private garden, BBQ, Bicycles available
The Catalunia region
Some other interesting destinations are the cities Tarragona and Reus, the port towns L'Ampolla and L'Ametlla de Mar, the honey village El Perelló, the coastal cities Cambrils and Salou (with its theme park Port Aventura), the mountainous Els Ports Natural Park and the Ebre-Delta National Park with its numerous rice fields.
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Added Feb 29, 2008
by mmicare
Richmond, Virgin...
I got the inspiration for this hat from my three-year-old son's nursery school — they have a party each year to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. I thought, what better time to make a silly hat? When my son saw my blue-on-blue striped prototype, he requested one of his own.
I freehanded this pattern separately rather than shrinking my old pattern, because this red sweater scrap was a bit oddly shaped. Stitched on the ear details and the ornament by hand, again. Ornament is made from scraps of the red felt, a crocheted wool twirl, and a vintage button. I'm a little disappointed that this came out so snug on his growing head, but it's not too snug to wear. It's quite a challenge sizing things right for a little growing body.
Felted wool sweater, mystery fabric scrap, wool yarn, vintage button
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Baby Elijah
Caitlin + Jon's Engagement Portraits: Boyd Big Tree Preserve and Fort Hunter - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Kyle & Kelsy's Wedding at McCulloch's Highland Vue Farms: Newville, Pennsylvania
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I'm honored to be posting these photos of my dear friend Jori and her husband Chris's gorgeous spring wedding. Jori and I have known each other since we were in elementary school, so it's difficult to express how meaningful it was to photograph this special event. I hope that the beauty of their union is conveyed through my photos, as Chris, Jori, and their families were bubbling over with joy during the entire eight hours I was with them.
A few of the wonderful vendors from Chris and Jori's Wedding:
Ceremony Venue: Cumberland Valley Church, Mechanicsburg, PA
Reception Venue and Catering: The Catering Barn, Mechanicsburg, PA
Flowers: Garden Bouquet, Mechanicsburg, PA
DJ: Soundwaves Entertainment, York, PA
Special thanks to my wonderful assistant for the day, Meredith Askey.
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The Trayer Family
Rachel's Maternity Portraits
Heather & Bryan: Engaged
Renée and Bruno's wedding was one of those days when I couldn't stop thinking, "How'd I get so lucky?" A day of sunshine, cacti, dusty feet, kisses, and paper planes, it's among the most picturesque weddings I've had the honor of photographing or attending. I'm lucky to have photographed it not only because it was such a gorgeous day, but also because my photographing it almost didn't happen.
When Renée first contacted me, she and Bruno had been looking for a wedding photographer for quite awhile, and had finally stumbled upon my website while searching for non-traditional wedding photographers in Mexico City. Throughout the past few months, we've sat down in Mexican cafés over coffee and empanadas to get to know each other and discuss wedding-day details.
Click photos to enlarge them!
Looking at these photos, I'm filled with gratitude to have a job that allows me to connect with wonderful new friends, to document one of the most precious moments of their lives.
View more photos from this wedding on the Julie Hagenbuch Photography Facebook page.
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Black Knob with Yellow Line 0.62'' Diameter for 1/4'' D Shaft
A useful knob, either as a replacement or for new projects.
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55-1856 - 4'' Aluminum Cone Woofer
Versatile driver offers high power capacity and wide frequency response making it ideal in applications including full range and midbass in compact monitors. Large vented magnet, heavy duty voice coil and thick aluminum cone provide tremendous durability in high S...
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6.5" Polypropylene Cone Woofer
Low cost general replacement woofer is ideal in a two way cabinets or as a compact subwoofer. It is perfect for a wide variety of home or autosound applications and is ideal for either ported or sealed enclosures.
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I have always had the best of service and response from MCM. Highly recommended!


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My boyfriend and I (age 30s, no kids) spent 5 nights/days on the North Shore of Oahu. He had only spent 8 hours (layover) on Oahu prior to this visit, while I had visited a friend in Aiea in March 2011. After seeing the island last year, I knew the North Shore is where I wanted to return!
We rented unit 502 at Haleiwa Surf (VRBO #97274). Kim was great to work with - very responsive and friendly, and provided some local contacts in Haleiwa should we need assistance. The unit itself was beachfront which was great. It's a basic/simple unit and *very clean* (didn't even see a single bug which is a first for me in Hawaii). No a/c was a bit rough, and the bedroom was a bit loud, so we ended up sleeping on the mattress on the living room floor...lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves, and enjoying some better air circulation from the ceiling fan and slider doors to the balcony.
* Cholo's - Decent Mexican food; amazing Li Hing Mui margaritas. Dined here twice for lunch.
* Lui Bueno's - More decent Mexican food; highlight here was guacamole. Lui Bueno's also has the latest open kitchen on the north shore which was a welcome find after our 8:30 p.m. arrival at HNL.
* Halewia Joe's - Pretty good, and pretty expensive. I enjoyed my Ahi tuna more than my boyfriend enjoyed the fish of the day special (swordfish I think?). I would get the ahi again. I would NOT, however, get the sampler platter again - it was way too big for 2 people, and the only things we liked on it were the calamari and the spring rolls.
* Romi's Shrimp Shack - This is my "must eat" on the North Shore. Garlic and butter shrimp are to die for. Love, love this place.
* Ted's - Didn't eat any baked goods. Instead had breakfast sandwiches (egg and cheese, or egg and cheese and ham) which were surprisingly really good. Very fluffy, fresh tasting bread. Would have eaten here a second time if we had the chance, but most breakfasts were enjoyed in the condo or on the run.
* Coffee Gallery - Next to Cholo's. FAB lattes. This was also a really pleasant surprise. We enjoyed coffee here every day. Pumpkin and cream cheese muffins and the chocolate chip banana bread were tasty treats as well.
* Cafe Haleiwa - We enjoyed both breakfast and dinner here. For dinner, I highly recommend reserving a table outside behind the wine/beer store for extra ambience. Great omlettes and french toast for breakfast. Excellent pasta and fish for dinner. We also thought the savory "cheesecake" appetizer was worth ordering again in the future.
* Kua Aina - Burgers and sandwiches. I am not really a big sandwich (or burger) person, but I will admit my hot roasted turkey sandwich was really good. Good fries, too.
* Kona Brewing - NOT ON NORTH SHORE. We are beer lovers and could not visit Oahu without a trip to Kona. Excellent pizzas and salads, and really delicious beer. Worth the drive East!
* We spent one day literally driving around the island. Lots to see - didn't make a ton of stops but did enjoy some scenic pull offs.
* Visited friends - spent some quality time with my friend, her husband, and their new 3 month old teeny tiny baby. So fun to see them and have some "family" on the island.
* Scuba - Went diving at Three Tables and Firehouse with Deep Ecology. My friend recommended dive master Ray, and he was awesome. Super friendlly shop with good equipment. Would dive with them again in a heartbeat. Saw some cool nudibranchs, an eel, 2 baby sharks, lots of turtles, and a ton of other critters. Great swim through caverns at these sites too, especially Three Tables (my favorite).
* Paddleboarding - We own paddleboards at home (Seattle) so didn't need lessons. Just rented a couple from Surf and Sea. They're pretty beat up but they float and that's all that matters. It was a windy day, so we opted for the river paddle where we saw some flying fish and turtle swimming along.
* Surfing - Took surfing lessons from the only male instructor at North Shore Surf Girls. Super fun time - got up every time (except twice when the waves stalled). Only bad things were kind of a damper though - 1) I didn't wear board shorts and basically rubbedd off most of the skin on both my thighs (OUCH) and 2) the water was really shallow and the reef was sharp...boyfriend was mangled and bloody (really bad cut on his hand) from falling here. The location was Chun's Reef which had perfect waves for beginners, but the reef itself was pretty unforgiveable.
Loved our time on the North Shore. Vacation always goes by too fast, but we've got Maui to look forward to in September...this time traveling with a couple who have never been to Hawaii, so it will be amazing to experience it again through the eyes of first timers.
North Shore of Oahu - May 2012
My boyfriend and I (age 30s, no kids) spent 5 nights/days on the North Shore of Oahu. He had only spent 8 hours (layover) on Oahu prior to this visit, while I had visited a friend in Aiea in March 2011. After seeing the island last year, I knew the North Shore is where I wanted to return!
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Forgot to mention that we also had shave ice at Aoki's. This was the first time I've ever had shave ice. If I were to do it again, I would not get the cream on top, and I would DEFINITELY not get the beans!!
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Love reports like this. Will read it in more detail later.
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Romy's Shrimp is my favorite too. the lines there could be very, very long though. i hope you didnt have to wait very long to get your food. i've seen people there wait for an hour.
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Glad to hear about a wonderful Oahu vacation. Thanks for the report.
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Thanks for the diving tips - and will try to visit those places next time. We went in "Sharks Cove" - and didn't see any sharks. (Which - if they were big sharks - may not have ben a bad thing)
Can't believe the Surf company didn't give you - or recommend - some bettr protection for your legs (as a beginner surfer) and also - that they had you "learning" at/above a sharp coral reef where you BF got cut.
You can not only get some nasty cuts from the coral, but infections too.
Pretty bad show IMO.
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Lee Spencer
Mr. E's Five Damn Facts - Michigan Edition
Jimmy Spencer drops his knowledge on our NASCAR fans, giving them his facts about racing and other topics.
Jimmy Spencer's Take: Hamlin, fines & driver's speaking their mind.
you decide whose side you prefer. BTW Mr. E., who's Dennis?? Well a little known Cliff Clavin fact: Denny's real name is James Dennis Alan Hamlin. Shake And Bake \ Jimmy Spencer \ NASCAR \ Tony Stewart \ Jeff Gordon \ Denny Hamlin
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Denny Hamlin talks to Lee Spencer and Jeff Gluck the day after a violent crash at the Auto Club 400 sent him to the hospital.
Jimmy Spencer takes over Charlotte Motor Speedway, hilarity ensues
Charlotte Chase race to visit with some old friends such as Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush, FOX Sports' Rutledge Wood and Lee Spencer , and even NASCAR president Mike Helton. During his trip, Mr. Excitement tried to persuade prez Helton to let him drive
Sights And Sounds: Chicagoland
NASCAR Rick Hendrick said he didn't go to the #nascar hauler on Saturday night after Richmond because he was disgusted — Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) September 15, 2013 1:25 p.m. -- Promoting responsible drinking this weekend, it seems like Kevin
Live Blog: Sights and Sounds From Eldora
Mudsummerclassic . @KyleLarsonRacin had a 1.343-second advantage over @austindillon3 before 39 took lead #NASCAR — Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) July 25, 2013 Ain't this the truth!! Even debris on dirt ruins racing. RT @kaseykahne : Caution
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Laem Set beach Villa Rental Photos and Description
Villa, 3 Bedrooms + day bed , 3 Baths, (Sleeps 6 to 7 )
Imagine your own private exotic villa surrounded by stunning nature and beauty of Thailand's Koh Samui - this is the ' Private Exotic Villa ' .
The villa is a private home owned by a lovely French- American couple ..They rent their home from time to time to special people that will appreciate and love living in style Then they travel around the world .
The villa is part of a lovely hillside exclusive Estate located down the South of Koh Samui .
Private Exotic Villa features Southeast Asian design with all modern amenities and Balinese style bathroom with outdoor shower, and private verandahs and garden. It is easily accessible and its beautiful views of the Gulf of Thailand, make it a very special place to unwind, as well as a base for your trip to this magical island.
Here your senses will be stirred by magnificent vistas of a shimmering sea and distant islands, big blue skies and glorious sunsets, birds in flight, sandy beaches and coconut palms as far as the eye can see. All you hear are the sounds of nature, birds calling, crickets chirping, squirrels chattering and cool balmy breezes through palm fronds.
In this idyllic setting, you can choose to simply relax and recharge in the company of nature.. You can be as active as you want . Eat great food, swim in crystal clear waters, have unforgettable Thai massage, practice yoga and so many other wonderful activities designed for a healthful lifestyle.
While staying at Private Exotic Villa you will experience the uniqueness of living in style in nature's beauty
Keywords: Stylish home with breathtaking ocean views in nature's beauty from every room..Peaceful inspiring setting ..Memorable sunsets.Outdoor living in style
- Suitability:
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- wheelchair inaccessible
About Frederique deleage
Frederique Deleage, an energetic French woman, setup her beauty empire in Hong Kong 35 years ago. A forty-year career in the beauty field has earned Frederique a reputation as one of the leading international spa and beauty experts in Asia. Known as a pioneer in the spa industry, she has extensive experience designing and setting up spas worldwide.
Frederique broke new ground in the Health and beauty industry with the introduction of a new concept of holistic health and beauty nonexistent in those times. Her constant travelling abroad broadened her outlook on different cultures and lifestyles. Her spa experience helped her design her magical home on the island of Koh Samui with her partner in life, Dr. Patrick Caviness.
Patrick runs a small construction management company that supervises the building of Five Star private villas. Combining their talents, visions and high standards, the couple took two years to build their dream home. They have lived full time in Samui for over three years. Four lovable Samui cats, a faithful housekeeper and Thai gardener delight in sharing their elegant home, spacious grounds and tropical gardens.
Frederique deleage purchased this villa in 2009
Why Frederique deleage chose Laem Set beach
After a successful and intense business life in Hong Kong Frederique and Patrick chose to relocate in Samui to create a more harmonious balance between their personal life and those of business in Hong Kong. Koh Samui presented many advantages for them---convenient location, great accessibility from Hong Kong, Bangkok and other major Asian destinations and a year round healthy lifestyle.
They enjoy the incredible romantic setting around the island, sleepy villages, boat trips to outlying islands, fine dining, many affordable restaurants, beach massages, health retreats and spas, fantastic medical care and hospitals, and the being surrounded by idyllic sweeping views of jungle and ocean every day.
They chose to built on Nagalaya estate because of its international residents. The safety and comfort of 18 beautiful homes on the hill, hiking trails, yoga sala and infinite pool. About 60% of the community is heavily landscaped common areas. The entire estate is comprised of stunning granite boulders, stately coconut palm trees, tropical plants and flowers surrounded by pristine jungle environment and majestic breathtaking views of the ocean.
What makes this villa unique
In its simple elegance, our Private Exotic Villa is a chic, stylishc getaway for 6 to 8 people. It symbolizes a fresh lifestyle for the healthy and conscious people. It's an ideal holiday getaway for friends- mother and daughter, girlfriends, buddies, couples - to feel relaxed in a wonderful open, breezy, private environment.
Because of her spa background, Frederique luxurious home breath a unique concept in personal well being and vibrant health, spaces for yoga practice, and meditation. Outdoor bathing integrated with nature. The design reflects Frederique's diverse taste acquired during her extensive travels, her spiritual nature, her French flair, and above all, her love of nature.
All logistics are taken care of with the owner's personalized attention to each guest including your own local mobile phone provided free of charge during your stay, goodies delivered during the day like fresh fruits, homemade yogurt and other daily surprises.
Other extras include a specially prepared fresh spa meal upon request.


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Lei is such a trunkie junkie! She snorted all my lines when I wasn't looking!
by heartsamess March 22, 2008
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2 Mormon moms in international video blog competition
Mothers who blog have been the focus of news articles for years, but one type of online journaling that hasn't been discussed as much is the world of video bloggers, specifically the moms who produce these video blogs.
Circle of Moms website is currently hosting an international competition to determine the top 25 mom video bloggers. There are more than 151 video blogs nominated, and one Mormon mom, Mindy McKnight, creator of 'Cute Girls Hairstyles,' currently holds the No. 1 spot with more than 48,000 votes.
McKnight, who lives is Utah, is a mother of five daughters and one son. She began blogging in 2008 by posting hair tutorials online. She eventually turned to video tutorials which is when her video blog on YouTube began to grow.
"It's really amazing," McKnight said on the growth of her YouTube channel. "From that until now, it's been amazing the opportunities it's brought. It's been really fun and crazy and every day is something different and new."
McKnight's video blog currently has 153,774,482 video views and 822,241 subscribers to her channel.
But McKnight isn't the only Mormon mom at the top of the competition. Colette Butler, known as Katilette to her video blog followers or mommytard by the followers of her husband's video blog Shaytard, is also in the race. Currently, Butler is in the 10th spot with more than 9,000 views.
Butler first was seen in the YouTube world on her husband's Shaytards channel that has gone viral and was even recognized by Forbes magazine. The Shaytards channel currently has 564,042,247 views with 1,123,501 subscribers to the channel.
But Butler began her own channel in 2011 and has also grown a large following of her own. Butler answers questions from her viewers regarding family situations, parenting and more. She also discusses her own goals and encourages others to participate.
Although both of these moms have focused on different topics to discuss in their videos, they have each found a way to share their religious beliefs with their millions of followers. McKnight has a link on her blog that links to Mormon.org and Butler created a video specifically discussing her LDS faith.
The Circle of Moms competition ends on March 13 at 5 p.m. Voting is allowed every 24 hours per computer or device.
Sarah Sanders Petersen is an intern for Deseret News where she writes for Mormon Times and other feature articles. She is a communications major and editing minor from Brigham Young University.
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In a passive optical network that includes a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) coupled to an optical line terminal (OLT), dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) methods and algorithms designed to support a short delay as well as best effort services, while maintaining fairness between subscribers. In a preferred embodiment, a DBA allocation method comprises the steps of calibrating requests issued by each of the ONUs to obtain respective calibrated requests, allocating a bandwidth amount to each ONU based on the calibrated requests using an allocation scheme selected from the group consisting of an under-utilization allocation scheme and an over-utilization allocation scheme, and based on the bandwidth allocation, granting the ONUs a second plurality of constant delay grants per each cycle.
1. A method for dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) in a passive optical network that includes a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) coupled to an optical line terminal (OLT), the method comprising the steps of: by the OLT, in each given cycle:
a) calibrating requests issued by each of the ONUs to obtain respective calibrated requests;
b) allocating a bandwidth amount to each ONU based on said calibrated requests using an allocation scheme selected from the group consisting of an under-utilization allocation scheme and an over-utilization allocation scheme; and
c) based on said bandwidth allocation, granting the ONUs a second plurality of constant delay grants per each said cycle;
whereby said granting facilitates a tight jitter/delay guarantee and high fairness and eliminates grant loss.
2. The method of
3. The method of
i. reading a requested amount of bytes that represent a current report value of said report;
ii. estimating a queue occupancy by updating said report value based on grants issued by the OLT in an immediately preceding cycle;
iii. by the OLT, using said available credit to account for said updated report value; and
iv. adjusting each said request to achieve a guaranteed service level.
4. The method of
5. The method of
7. The method of
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said assigning a grant based on a respective importance factor further includes:
a) running a first loop from a lowest to a highest said importance factor, to provide an input variable;
b) using said input variable, running a second loop over all said ONUs, starting with said highest importance ONU, to provide an indication if a grant can be increased; and
c) if a respective ONU grant can be increased, increasing said respective ONU grant with a configurable byte amount
9. In an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON), a method for dynamically allocating bandwidth to a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) that are granted grants by an optical line terminal (OLT) in response to requests, the method comprising the steps of:
a) per each grant cycle, responsive to the requests of each ONU, determining an uplink utilization state that includes a state selected from the group of under-utilization and over-utilization; and
b) running independently a bandwidth allocation scheme correlated with said uplink utilization state, said bandwidth allocation scheme selected from the group of respectively an under-utilization allocation scheme and an over-utilization allocation scheme.
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. The method of
13. The method of
a) running a first loop from a lowest to a highest said importance factor, to provide an input variable;
b) using said input variable, running a second loop over all said ONUs, starting with a highest importance ONU, to provide an indication if a grant can be increased, and;
c) if a respective ONU grant can be increased, increasing said respective ONU grant with a configurable byte amount
14. The method of
15. In an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) that includes a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) interacting with an optical line terminal (OLT), a method for dynamically allocating bandwidth by the OLT to the ONUs in an under-utilization state of a cycle, comprising the steps of:
a) determining the importance of each ONU; and
b) allocating bandwidth based on said importance.
The present invention relates generally to data access methods, and more particularly, to methods for optimizing uplink data transmission in Ethernet packet traffic over Passive Optical Network (PON) topologies.
The Ethernet PON (EPON) is using 1 gigabit per second Ethernet transport, which is suitable for very high-speed data applications, as well as for converged system support (telephone, video, etc.). The unprecedented amount of bandwidth is directed toward, and arriving from a single entity, the Optical Network Unit (ONU).
An Optical Line Terminal (OLT) manages remotely the transmission of each ONU. The OLT and the ONUs exchange messages. In each cycle of such an exchange, the OLT grants a grant to each ONU, which is answered by a report message from the ONU. The ONU has a queue manager that prepares queue status information, which is transmitted using Multipoint Control Protocol (MPCP) messages to the OLT to enable smart management. In other words, the ONU �informs its internal queues status� to the OLT. The OLT management is executed using a Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithm. An efficient algorithm is essential to guarantee Quality of Service (QoS), required to fulfill a Service Level Agreement (SLA). Operator revenues will increase from selling sophisticated SLAs to customers. High bandwidth utilization allows adding more customers to the network. Thus, an efficient DBA algorithm is an enabler to operator revenues.
Ethernet as a packet protocol is not designed to guarantee transfer delay and jitter. While it is sufficient for data transfer, it lacks the ability to support Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) channels. The jitter/delay requirements cannot be met unless data a packet contains a small amount of samples. Moreover, considering that an ONU can transmit only when commanded by an OLT, and not burst when data is available, makes it more complex to support TDM traffic in the uplink. Utilizing Ethernet in the access requires supporting such requirements in order to meet user requirements.
When the uplink is overutilized, fairness determines the variance from the SLAs fulfillment for all ONUs. The variance needs to be measured upon all ONUs, as a case in which the SLA of one ONU is badly deprived and all the rest are fulfilled is considered unfair. Some sort of metric is used to combine all parameters (delay, bandwidth, jitter, etc.) to yield an error value. Fairness is measured over a period of time. The measurement becomes more accurate as the period is shortened. High fairness is required to guarantee customer satisfaction under heavy loads.
Fragmentation loss is the amount of wasted grant time that is not utilized for packet transmission. The subject is explained in detail in PCT application PCT IL03/00702 by Onn Haran et al. filed 26 Aug. 2003, and titled �Methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation and queue management in Ethernet Passive Optical Networks�, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The reason for fragmentation is lack of synchronization between the ONU queue status and the OLT knowledge of queue status. When this happens, the fragmentation can result in empty grant transmission, when the pending packets are larger than the given grant. This effect increases the transmission delay.
The methods used in prior art result in a lack of tight jitter/delay guarantee, low fairness and potentially complete grant loss, and consequently in low bandwidth utilization and high transfer delay. It is thus desirable to provide a new set of efficient management methods and algorithms that will enable tight jitter/delay guarantee, allow high fairness, and eliminate complete grant loss.
The present invention discloses various embodiments of DBA methods and algorithms. The algorithm receives the status of each ONU (number of bytes pending transmission), conveyed in �Report� messages. Using the information from the report messages, and according to the SLA, the OLT decides the amount of bandwidth to be received by each ONU, and its location on the timeline. The OLT then informs each ONU when the ONU is allowed to transmit, using GATE messages.
In a preferred embodiment, a DBA method according to the present invention comprises three main steps/stages: a) a �request calibration� step/stage, which adjusts an ONU request based on SLA and history. Each report is adjusted regardless of the report values from the other ONUs. b) a �bandwidth allocation� step/stage, during which the amount of bandwidth granted to each ONU is decided. The bandwidth allocation is based on the requests from all the ONUs, and the allocation includes a specific amount to each ONU. The fairness between ONUs is maintained. c) a �grant placement� step/stage, which assigns the grant over the time axis (timeline) to meet the timing requirement set by the SLA, namely jitter and delay for time critical services.
According to the present invention there is provided a method for dynamic bandwidth allocation in a passive optical network that includes a plurality of ONUs coupled to an OLT, the method comprising the steps of: by the OLT, in each given cycle: calibrating requests issued by each of the ONUs to obtain respective calibrated requests; allocating a bandwidth amount to each ONU based on the calibrated requests using an allocation scheme selected from the group consisting of an under-utilization allocation scheme and an over-utilization allocation scheme; and, based on the bandwidth allocation, granting the ONUs a second plurality of constant delay grants per each cycle, whereby the granting facilitates a tight jitter/delay guarantee and high fairness and eliminates grant loss.
According to the present invention there is provided in an Ethernet passive optical network a method for dynamically allocating bandwidth to a plurality of ONUs that are granted grants by an OLT in response to requests, the method comprising the steps of: per each grant cycle, responsive to the ONU, determining an uplink utilization state that includes a state selected from the group of under-utilization and over-utilization; and running independently a bandwidth allocation scheme correlated with the uplink utilization state, the bandwidth allocation scheme selected from the group of respectively an under-utilization allocation scheme and an over-utilization allocation scheme.
According to the present invention there is provided, in an Ethernet passive optical network that includes a plurality of ONUs interacting with an OLT, a method for dynamically allocating bandwidth by the OLT to the ONUs in an under-utilization state of a cycle, comprising the steps of determining the respective importance of each ONU, and allocating bandwidth based on the respective importance of each ONU.
Within the context of the present invention, �importance� also includes �precedence�, �priority�, etc. In addition to the specific way of indicating �importance� discussed below, importance may be also indicated by different SLA parameters, for example minimal bandwidth and maximal bandwidth. Therefore, the term �importance� as used herein is meant to embrace all these terms and their equivalents.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention provides, in various embodiments, a method for building an efficient dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm, based on three main stages (or method steps) shown in
Request Calibration Stage/Step 202
Request calibration step 202 adjusts the requests issued by an ONU. This stage includes preferably 5 sub-steps shown in
The ONU report message is parsed in step 300. The report message may contain up to 8 different amounts of pending bytes, one per each priority. In this step, the pending bytes from different priorities may be summed to reduce the amount of information handled by the method (algorithm).
Queue occupancy estimation step 302 updates the report based on the grants given in the immediately preceding cycle. Without this predictor (compensation process) the requests will not be accurate, as depicted in
Returning now to
In summary, the amount of bytes pending in the ONU queue is estimated by the OLT on the basis of the received report and on the grant history. The report contains also the number of bytes that are expected to leave the ONU in the cycle used for the SW processing, and these bytes are reduced from the ONU request.
The process in compensating credit with fragmentation loss step 304 is a process that compares the actual transmitted number of bytes with the granted number of bytes in the respective cycle. Each ONU has a limit number for the average number of bytes it may transmit The accounting of bytes is maintained using credit If an ONU transmitted less than the granted amount then it should not be accounted for that, and the value of the unused portion of the grant is returned to its credit. Step 304 requires a delay of two cycles. Using the same example of
As an example for queue occupancy estimation, let us assume an ONU that reports 20000 bytes in cycle 1, and was not granted in the previous cycle. This means that 20000 bytes were added to its queue and should be handled. Of these bytes, the software (SW) decided to grant 15000 bytes. Assume that in the following cycle (2), the SW receives a report of 40000 bytes. This time (in cycle 2), 40000-15000=25000 bytes need to be handled, as this is the amount of data in the queue that was not handled in cycle 1.
In summary, in this stage, the ONU might not completely have utilized the previous grant. The utilized amount is returned to its credit, meaning the ONU will not be charged for it. The amount of actual transmitted bytes is measured and decreased from the amount of granted bytes. The difference is added to the credit.
The process in adjusting request for guaranteed service step 306 is a process that assists in supporting guaranteed services. Guaranteed services are identified by a fixed amount of bandwidth (e.g. a T1 service requires 1.544 Mbit/sec, meaning 193 bytes every cycle of 1 msec) that should be granted regardless of amount requested by the user. This enables shortening the transmission delay to minimum, as the packets are transmitted at the next grant opportunity, without the need to wait for two additional cycles for report and grant procedures. In step 306, the request is compared with a value configured per user (and potentially per priority/flow), e.g. continuing the T1 example above, 193 bytes plus the required encapsulation overhead. If the request is smaller than a configurable threshold (same value), then the request is adjusted to the threshold, which is equivalent to �request=max (request, configurable threshold)�.
The limiting request by available credit step 308 is the last phase in the request calibration. The present (current) credit limits an ONU request. The credit is added with the amount allowed for an ONU to transmit in a cycle e.g. if the maximal allowed bandwidth is 100 Mbit/sec and the cycle size is 1 msec, then the bucket is increased with 12.5 Kbytes every cycle. Preferably, the well-known leaky bucket method is used as the credit method. An optimization suggested herein that reduces the computation complexity may include utilizing the fact that the cycles have a fixed length in order to add a fixed value, instead of a value multiplied by a time-dependent variable. This simplifies the leaky bucket management.
An example of credit behavior is given next Let us assume that the initial credit value is 0, and that the ONU is allowed to transmit up to 100 Mbit/sec, meaning its credit is increased by 12500 bytes every cycle of a size of 1 msec. Let us further assume that 40000 bytes entered the queue. In the first cycle, the grant is limited to 12500 bytes. In the second cycle, 27500 bytes are still pending in the queue, and the grant is given again as 12500. In the third cycle, the measurement results of the first cycle grant are known, and the unused portion of the grant is returned to the credit This means that the grant will be between 12500 and 12500+MTU (Maximal Transmission Unit). The grant in the fourth cycle will have again the same size of 2500 and 2500+MTU. The grants in the fifth and sixth cycles will just compensate for the unused portion in the third and fourth grants respectively, and their size will be 0 to MTU.
In summary, the maximal number of bytes granted to the ONU is limited by its available credit This guarantees that it will not exceed its maximal bandwidth as specified in its SLA. A leaky-bucket mechanism is preferably used to keep the credit The request is adjusted to be not larger than the bucket content.
Once the request calibration stage is completed, the method goes to the next stage, i.e. the outcome of stage 202 is now ready to be fed to the bandwidth allocation stage (stage 204). Stage 204 thereby receives ready-made values for allocation, already calibrated based on credit, and on each ONU's SLA.
In the context of the present description, �flow� is defined as the amount of bytes reported from a specific sub-queue (specific priority�), while �handling all ONU traffic as a single flow� means summing all sub-queues reports (summing all priorities). The ability to perform operations at the specific sub-queue (priority) value as opposed to the summed report value enables to handle services precisely, since priority is just a way to identify a sub-queue and can be viewed as a traffic flow of a service. In other words, maintaining variables per priority and not per single variable for the ONU, e.g. looking at the number of pending bytes for each sub-queue separately instead of looking at the number of total accumulated bytes from all sub-queues, enables to service each flow based on its specific SLA parameters.
Bandwidth Allocation Stage/Step 204
Bandwidth allocation step 204 decides the amount of bandwidth to be allocated (granted) to each ONU. The main sub-steps in this stage are shown in detail in
The number of bytes required to fulfill the requests is calculated in step 500. Again, since priorities actually represent traffic flows, the sum of some priorities can be calculated separately.
The algorithm decides which ONU will receive the opportunity to transmit a report message in a next cycle in step 502. In other words, the OLT decides if the ONU should transmit a report in the next cycle. Since the report message �costs� in terms of consuming uplink bandwidth, both in the amount of bytes required to convey the message and in the required overhead as well as in additional processing in the following cycle, it is desirable to minimize the amount of report messages. One possible way to limit sending of a report message (i.e. to allow some ONUs to transmit while prohibiting others, in order to average the required algorithm processing) is to compare the available credit, e.g. the value used in step 308, with a configurable value, and to suppress the report message if the credit is too low (i.e. if the available credit is lower than the configurable value). The configurable value is typically the MTU, which in Ethernet, equals 1522 bytes. Another efficient way includes using a simple timer that allows reporting by the ONU to the OLT only once after a few cycles. The amounts of bytes allocated for the report are summed for use in the next stage.
The OLT will allow the ONU to transmit a report message in the next cycle only if it expects that it will be able later to grant the ONU based on the report that will arrive in the cycle immediately following the �next cycle�, The OLT may control the number of cycles between two report messages using a counter. This allows the OLT to minimize the amount of bytes requested for the current cycle, as well as to reduce the software computation time required in the next cycle. If the ONU is not allowed to transmit the report, then the OLT will not receive the report in the following cycle, and of course will not be required to handle the report. This will decrease the burden from the OLT.
The sum of overhead bytes is calculated, in order to predict cycle utilization, in step 504. In other words, the OLT decides if the ONU should transmit data, report, or should do both (transmit data and report) in the next cycle. The calculation must take into account the number of grants to be given in the cycle. The number of grants equals the number of ONUs that need to receive report grants, as calculated in step 502, plus the number of ONUs that need to receive a data grant, as calculated in step 504. In other words, some of the ONUs will transmit only data, some will only report, and some will do both. The amount of overhead required depends on the number of transmissions. If an ONU transmits both data and reports, then only one transmission grant is required. Naturally, an ONU must not be counted twice. Some ONUs receive more than one grant in a cycle to meet the delay requirement, based on requests arriving from specific flows. The overhead required by these ONUs needs to be added several times, based on the expected number of grants.
Note that each transmission from the ONU requires an overhead for the laser turn-on and turnoff and stabilization of the OLT reception circuitry. The sum of overheads thus depends on the number of expected transmissions.
A congestion state determination is made in step 506. This determination involves one decision if the requests from all ONUs could be entirely fulfilled, meaning that the cycle is under-utilized, and involves another decision if the requests could not be fulfilled, meaning the cycle is over-utilized. A comparison is made between the total number of bytes in the cycle and the sum of the number of bytes required for data, the number of bytes required for the report message, and the number of bytes required for the optical overhead. There are two modes of allocation: over-utilization, which means that not all of the requests can be fulfilled, and under-utilization, which means that all of the requests can be fulfilled.
The under-utilization case is handled in step 508, and the over-utilization case is handled in step 510. To make the decision between fulfilling all requests from all ONUs or not, the sum of overhead and requested bytes is compared with the available number of bytes in the cycle. Inventively and advantageously, the method provides an ability to run two completely different allocation schemes, one for each case. Each of these schemes acts differently, and optimizes the performance for the specific case.
In the case of under-utilization, ONUs are handled based on their importance factor in step 508. The requested amount of bytes is adjusted to the maximal grant quantity allowed per each ONU, until the total number of bytes yields a fully utilized grant cycle. An ONU will not receive a higher grant than its credit In the under-utilization state, the ONU receives more bytes than it requested This reduces the delay of a packet entering the ONU, until received by the OLT, because the ONU does not need to report the packet, as the OLT already granted in advance.
Inventively and advantageously, step 508 shortens the delay because the ONU does not need to wait for 2 grant cycles, and may transmit data whenever the data is pending.
An example for under-utilization allocation follows next. Let us assume a cycle of a size of 50000 bytes, and assume that four ONUs are attached to the network. Assume that each has requested 8000 bytes. Assume that the importance of each ONU equals its index, i.e. that ONU #4 is the most important and ONU #1 is the least important�. The cycle is clearly under-utilized, since the sum of requests is 32000, while the amount of available bytes is 50000. For the sake of using easy numbers, the amount of bytes added to each ONU is 2000 (in practice, 1522, the is Ethernet MTU, will be selected). In the first cycle, all ONUs receive the additional amounts of bytes, so that the grant for each will be 10000 bytes. The current grants sum is 40000 bytes, which still leaves us with an additional amount of bytes to grant. In the next cycle, the ONU with the lowest importance (ONU #1) will not receive additional bytes, but the rest will, so ONU #1 will remain with 10000 bytes, and all the others (ONUs #2-4) will have 12000. In the following cycle, ONU #1 will remain with 10000 bytes, ONU #2 will remain with 12000 bytes, and both ONU #3 and ONU #4 will have 14000 bytes. Since the grants sum is equal to the cycle size, the allocation stops. As a further addition to this example, let us repeat the last step (loop execution) when the cycle is 48000 bytes long instead of 50000 bytes. Two ONUs are eligible to receive additional bytes: #3 and #4. However, since #4 has higher importance, it will receive the additional bytes, and the final grants will be 10000, 12000, 12000, and 14000 bytes respectively.
In the case of over-utilization, all ONUs are calibrated in step 510. A calibration factor should depend on the SLA and the available credit Many calibration methods are known, and all can be used for the purposes set forth herein. A better calibration method leads to a higher fairness. An exemplary good calibration method is a method that reduces from each ONU an amount of data proportional to its importance (less importance causes more reduction). The total number of reduced bytes should be equal to the excess number of bytes that cannot be granted in the cycle. The importance order is a configuration parameter for each ONU, assigned to it when it joins the network.
In the case of an over-utilization state, the ONU receives less bytes than it has requested. Preferably, the present method starts to assign the ONUs with the highest importance order, and continues with the ONUs with lower importance order, until no more bytes are available for granting. If the amount of bytes required for all the ONUs of a single importance level cannot be honored, the ONUs are sorted based on their credit level, and those with the higher credit are honored first.
In a particular example shown in
In summary, the bandwidth allocation stage includes summing up all requests from all ONUs, deciding if the ONU will be allowed to transmit a report in the next cycle, summing up the overhead and deciding the allocation state.
Grant Placement Stage 206
The reduction of delay in the present invention is accomplished by granting the ONU several times in a cycle. Grant placement stage/step 206 decides the location of each ONU grant during the cycle timeline. The main principle employed here is bin-packing, meaning the timeline is divided into several areas. The purpose of this division is to be able to place an ONU several times a cycle at a fixed distance, i.e. to allow the ONU to transmit with fixed delay and hence low jitter. Although the method (algorithm) of the present invention is based on cycles, some ONUs may have delay requirements smaller than the size of the cycle. In this case, an ONU receives more than one grant in a cycle. AU of these grants must be in a constant delay to provide a fixed delay. That is, if all the grants are located close to each other, the gain is lost, because the maximal delay between grants will be high. By placing all the grants at an even distance from each other on the timeline, the delay becomes constant, and low delay services can be served. By placing the ONUs that have a delay requirement smaller than a cycle length first, there is a definition of zones that are already granted. The remaining un-granted zones may be viewed as bins, each of which should be filled completely. The grant placement is based on bin placement and depicted in
All the flows that require multiple bins are preferably placed first in step 702. Multiple bins mean that an ONU should receive several grants in a cycle, and each of these grants is located in a separate bin. In order to minimize the jitter, the same placement order should be used every cycle. For example, simply placing the flows using the flow index will guarantee a fixed order of placement. The flows that have the maximal number of grants per cycle should be placed first, followed by those with fewer grants per cycle. Several bin-packing algorithms are known, for example, first-fit, best-fit, etc. Each such packing algorithm can be used in the present invention. However, for best performance, the preferable packing algorithm includes sorting the requests based on their length, and then first-fitting the sorted output.
The rest of the flows that require a single bin are handled sequentially in step 704. A loop is run over all these, again preferably in a fixed order on each cycle. A check is run to see if the amount of data to be granted for the flow fits in the emptiest bin in step 706. If it can fit inside the emptiest bin, or even if the bin will slightly overflow, as allowed by a configuration parameter, then the granted amount of data is added and placed in the bin in step 708.
The execution then continues with the next ONU in step 706. If the bin overflows too much in check 706 (overflow means jitter, i.e. variance of distance between two grants), the grant is divided into several fragments, until the emptiest bins are filled, because the grant is divided to be placed in several bins (the nth emptiest bin should be filled, when n is the number of fragments) in step 710. The data is place in the emptiest bins in step 712. The execution then continues with the next ONU in step 706. The operation is completed when all grants are placed. In other words, the grants are placed in a bin. If the grant is too big to fit in the emptiest bin, then an overflow state is declared. In this state, the grant must be split into several grants, each to be placed in a different bin, where each bin will not exceed its maximal occupancy.
The following example illustrates the process in the paragraph above. Let us use the following numbers: the cycle is 1 msec long, meaning 125000 bytes. An ONU needs to transmit 1000 bytes every 0.25 msec. This means that 4 bins should be defined, each with a size of 31250 bytes. The grants for the ONU with the smallest delays are placed in each bin, leaving 30250 bytes available in each one. If two ONUs should be placed, one with 40000 bytes and the other with 60000 bytes, the placement sequence begins with placing the grant of the ONU with 60000 bytes. However, since it cannot fit inside the bin, it is divided into two grants: 30250 and 60000-30250=29750 bytes. Both are placed respectively in the first two bins. The second ONU is divided also into two grants 30250 and 40000-30250=9750 bytes. Both are placed respectively in the last two bins.
The invention has now been described with reference to specific embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.
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- Publisher: Namco Bandai Games America
- Release Date: Oct 10, 2006
- Also On: 3DS
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 88 Ratings
User score distribution:
Positive: 73 out of 88
Mixed: 3 out of 88
Negative: 12 out of 88
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Sep 4, 2011I love the contrast here. On the one hand you have rabid 'Tales' fans (which admittedly, include me) praising the game to no end. On the other, you have those who can't keep Tear alive for three seconds on any difficulty above Normal. Someone forgot about the A.I. settings *tsk*. Tales of the Abyss has many things going for it. An enjoyable and relatable cast, a great battle system, in depth customization, a great plot, immersive side-quests, costumes, and plenty of fanservice for anyone who could chance upon this game. The gameplay is fluid, though marred by obscene load times, particularly on the World Map, which you spend an unfortunate amount of time on. The story is equally engrossing, with twists and turns that you may or may not have seen coming, depending on how long you've spent at TVTropes. Unless you've never picked up a JRPG before, the difficulty is low, though starting out on 'Hard' as a certain reviewer did, is probably an endeavor best saved for the games eternal 'New Game Plus' feature, allowing you to keep parts of your old progress when you restart the game. The game is a vast improvement over 'Legendia' and in many ways, over 'Symphonia' as well. The 'Free Run' system is a very welcome addition to the series, and helps improve the battles flow, though the series trademark LMBS system still keeps fans attention. In short, Tales of the Abyss is a great game with really only one flaw. The painfully long load times that are only eclipsed by Sonic 2006. Get past that though, and you have one of the best games ever made, with complexity deeper than, well, and Abyss.… Expand
Feb 16, 2012Tales of the Abyss is truely a great RPG. Not mindless walking around for hours with only a main quest but lots of conversations between characters while playing. Glad I found this game for my old PS2. Tales series always had one of the best battle systems and this one keeps at it. Every lover of JRPG should have played this one. Very recommendable
Aug 9, 2012Turn annoying at times, when you don't have a clue of where is the next step. But totally worth it, the character development is awesome, how they "evolve" throw the game is simply epic. The gameplay is pretty fun and the graphics are ok. Get the 100% take a lot of extra play.
May 3, 2011This game kicks so much ass. Seriously, aside from Persona 4, this is the best PS2 game out there. Great story, awesome characters, cool soundtrack... The list goes on and on. Unless you absolutely HATE RPGs, you should give this one a shot. I promise you won't regret it.
Aug 19, 2011What make Tales Of The Abyss a great game comes with the fact that everything it does it does well. The combat is fun as always and the free run system is an nice addition. The music and character growth is done superbly. And while I'm a fan of open world roaming I tend to get lost a lot when on a boat. The game has a lot of great moments if you can forgive the repetitiveness of go here, unleash magic seal thing, repeat. Tales Of Symphonia did the same thing while I don't mind it too much it can be annoying. Another small thing that irks me is some of the more interesting places you visit in the games you only visit once. But those are small problems, although the ending may leave something to be desired.… Expand
Nov 17, 2011Tales of the Abyss is one of the best RPGs on the Playstation 2. It brings one of the best gameplay mechanics in the Tales series , great character development, incredible music and a mesmerizing storyline that will have you the player hooked in for hours. Recommended for those who are RPG fans or Loyal fans of the Tales series.
Aug 19, 2013Tales of the Abyss is a fun game that really shines at story telling and character development. The gameplay is quite similar to older Final Fantasy games, where you have a huge world to explore. The battle can be a bit chaotic due to all the unnecessary things involved, but that is my only little complaint about the game. If you like jrpg's you must play this game!
Feb 24, 2013The story and the graphics are average. But Tales of mostly is all about the battle system and in TotA the battle system is priceless. The FoF system works well once you get the hang of it.
Feb 15, 2014I have played hundreds of games in my life, and this is the ONLY one I would ever give the 10/10 grade to - truly the greatest game ever made.
Only real issue is the disc-load times and the low resolution. Both can be fixed by loading this game off a solid state drive and playing it on the PCSX2 emulator in 1080P - and while you're at it, get the undub patch which also addresses the lack of voiced skits.… Expand
Tales of the Abyss is nothing new. And some gamers will complain about that. But there's a lot to be said for taking something existing and doing it right.
While Abyss may not be an all-time classic, its charming characters and exciting battles more than make up for its little problems here and there.
The characters are great, but the numerous cliches throughout the story may leave some feeling tired, and it's curious the way the game almost seems to punish those who want to watch the optional skits.


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Water is the most diverse resource we know and it influences many different areas of life. However, it is a sensitive element and cannot be taken for granted.We as ICL Water Solutions use our expertise and decades of experience to take care of water, wherever it is needed for industrial processes or public purposes. ICL Water Solutions is part of BK Giulini GmbH, an ICL ...
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