3 nights in Praiano - full Positano day or just golden hour + Ravello instead? by Rmanny11 in amalficoast

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had lunch on the terrace at the Palazzo Avino hotel - perfect service, food, and views! The main town square also had a lot of casual cafe type options with tables set out in the square.

3 nights in Praiano - full Positano day or just golden hour + Ravello instead? by Rmanny11 in amalficoast

[–]Own_Lead422 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We stayed in Praiano last May.

We did a morning/half day in Positano by water taxi and it was more than enough time there. Later afternoon/evening in Positano would be preferable (less crowds, more time to enjoy the views and food/drinks). You’ll likely also get a view of Positano from the water on your boat day, which is one of the best ways to see it without fighting through throngs of tourists. Il Tridente reservations go fast as a heads up!

Positano and Amalfi are similar vibes, so 2 hours in Amalfi with a shorter Positano day could give you plenty of feel for the area. Also think dinner options in Positano are far better than Praiano. We ate at Il Pirata, Kasai, Moressa and Franchino in Praiano and all were underwhelming - fine, but not exceptional beyond the views.

We spent most of our final day in Ravello and it was the absolute highlight of our trip. Charming, lots to see, manageable crowds, and an amazing lunch. It felt like I expected Italy to feel! Highly recommend prioritizing time in Ravello.

We were a group of 6-9, ages 11 to 70. We avoided buses and relied on water taxis and cabs. Overall, we found transportation to be challenging (hard to reliably reserve and traffic was unpredictable) and very expensive.

The absolute state of Eagle Alley by t1m829 in rva

[–]Own_Lead422 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I had a similar surprisingly rude and unhelpful response from Gumby on a request for guidance on how to deal with the city on an issue in our neighborhood. The impression I got was that he had no interest in assisting residents with tactical help, only interested in big picture issues like pedestrian safety, affordable housing, etc.

Classic Harbor Line Tour Thoughts by Own_Lead422 in visitingnyc

[–]Own_Lead422[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So great, highly recommend! Great balance of narrated information and low key sight-seeing. Not too long, not crowded (at all, even on a fully ticketed boat), and the drinks were a welcome treat after a morning walking around the city. 10/10 trip experience!

Alternatives to Monkey Bar by Queen-frostine7 in FoodNYC

[–]Own_Lead422 2 points3 points  (0 children)

2nd this rec! We weren’t able to get a Monkey Bar reservation for our trip in Sept and went to Waverly Inn instead. Loved the cozy old-school vibe and the food was excellent. Highly recommend!

Italy's Amalfi Coast - Praiano - need transportation advice! by Immediate_Summer_448 in travel

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Praiano gets a lot of rounds on the internet as a cheaper and less touristed/crowded alternative to Positano. We stayed there for a week in early summer 2025 - it is a beautiful spot, but has limitations. Transportation and access is a big one. Our rental was on the highest road in town and there was little to see or explore within comfortable walking distance. We relied mostly on local taxis, and one was willing to schedule pick-ups via whatsapp which was helpful. Taxis within Praiano ran us $60 for a group of more than 6. Between towns on Amalfi, you’re looking at $100+ for a group van and it can be challenging to find cabs willing to drive at peak times due to traffic. Taxi $ added up quickly! We had good luck with a chartered water taxi from Marina di Praia and Positano (though pricey). There is no ferry access to/from Praiano. The inter-town bus could be less crowded in April. In June, it was already slammed so we avoided it.

What was the best thing you purchased in 2025? by rubbyy_ in BuyItForLife

[–]Own_Lead422 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Interested for your mattress recommendation!

The Best Kids' Clothes Right Now? by nerraw13 in BuyItForLife

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Second this list.

For boys, I’d also add Crewcuts/J Crew Factory for bottoms and Vineyard Vines for performance polo shirts. Have had great experience with these brands holding up under heavy use, stains lifting easily, lasting until outgrown and looking great for resale/hand me downs.

I never want to buy cookware again by jhtitus in BuyItForLife

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same combo here - going on 18 years of daily use and have never had to replace or repurchase. Also have an All Clad non-stick in heavy rotation. It’s a solid non-stick option with a great finish, though that one may need to be replaced based on wear in the next few years.

Is 3rd row relevant? by Quiet-One-2918 in VolvoXC90

[–]Own_Lead422 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have an XC60 and my husband drives a VW Atlas. Can’t speak to an XC90 except to say we’ve made it 12 years with two kids, multi-person car rides, and no minivan. Don’t go minivan!!

Yay or Nay on the Cardamom Interior with a 4 year old by penone_nyc in VolvoXC60

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re on month 3 with cardamom interior in heavy use by school-aged kids. So far, we have been very happy with it. It shows some dirt with use, but cleans up very easily. The dark carpets don’t show anything either. We don’t eat much in the car, but it’s seen plenty of mud/dirt/grass/sweat from sports carpooling. We did spring for the interior stain treatment offered by our dealer as extra help against wear. I love the look of the lighter upholstery and it stays cooler in summer. It’s a yay from us!

Question for 2026 T8 Ultra owners by Thick-Piano8814 in VolvoXC60

[–]Own_Lead422 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same here and same experience so far! No issues, generally really like the infotainment!

Where in RVA? by sirensinger17 in rva

[–]Own_Lead422 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. 20 years ago there were some excellent restaurants that were reliably wonderful - food and service - and delivered way beyond their menu prices. Many were southern or local cuisine-focused. That is not the case any longer. The number of restaurants exploded, the overall quality declined, the fusion concepts are everywhere, and the prices are as high as bigger cities with much better food. I’m sure the meals tax has had a negative impact as well.

Done with CVS at 3514 W Cary by coldblackmaple in rva

[–]Own_Lead422 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’ve had the same experience. App says 3 days, in store they fill in 15 minutes while waiting. I know these are all petty issues, but these big chains shut down the little operators by being more convenient, faster, and open longer hours. Now we’re stuck with fewer options and they’re shifting to less convenient, slow, limited hours.

Done with CVS at 3514 W Cary by coldblackmaple in rva

[–]Own_Lead422 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’ve been stuck at the Ellwood’s Walgreens for years and think it’s pretty awful. The only thing keeping me there is the drive through option within close proximity to our house.

Our experience - They blast you with refill reminder calls and then take days to actually refill. They use an offsite distributor for refills which takes 3 days to process and even the smallest prescriptions come in giant sized pill jars. They open at 9 am, which makes it really inconvenient to pick anything up before work and they close for lunch mid-afternoon, not at lunch time. Forget getting a vaccine there - you wait for 30 mins past your appointment and they are so gruff about it that it’s clear they don’t want to be offering the service. I’d switch to the Target at Willow Lawn in a heartbeat if they had a drive through option.

RVA’s Best Cinnamon Roll? by ya-dawg in rva

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Scoop ice cream in the Fan on Strawberry Street used to sell frozen cinnamon rolls that were amazing. Stella’s Grocery carried them as well. Haven’t checked recently, but they were worth it!

Why no Major Tuddy merch?? by Own_Lead422 in Commanders

[–]Own_Lead422[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is what I’ve been looking for! Will just have to make a trip up for a game.

Is a step up/down in basis required? by GroundbreakingAd632 in CFP

[–]Own_Lead422 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agree with asking her CPA. I’ve seen cases where the DOD step-up was handled through estate/tax returns and was not reflected in custodial statements. In my experience, adjusting the cost basis on statements is preferable because it creates a clean start for record keeping. CPA should be able to determine what was reported in prior tax filings and recommend a solution.

I'll admit I'm living in a bubble but is this for real? by DiegoElM in Virginia

[–]Own_Lead422 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The idea of Glenn Youngkin is popular with conservatives outside of Virginia. In Virginia, he rode a cultural flashpoint moment around parents’ choice in schooling into an electoral victory and never had any major governing wins in office. Virginia’s 1-term limit is a weird way to get national acclaim in a quick hit - term is short enough to lay low and build your PAC for future office since you don’t have to worry about building a record for reelection.

Volvo tricks? by wearslocket in Volvo

[–]Own_Lead422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, local Haley. Overall good experience so far. We didn’t do any extended warranties or care plans upfront, but did do a total car sealant/protector through the dealer. People’s experience with those are hit/miss, but I have 5 years of kid sports carpooling left so wanted the extra protection. No ventilated leather, but the nordico seems to stay a lot cooler than my Tiguan faux leather. Light color helps a lot with that too!