Brazilian Restaurants in Scranton? There's at least one...

If you search Yahoo! local for Brazilian restaurants in Scranton, here's what you get: Sorry, no Brazilian Restaurants found in or nearby Scranton, PA. Funny, there's one about half a block from me here in North Scranton. Ipanema Grille is most definitely Brasilian in tone, flavor, presentation and the food on the menu!

Of course, given that local listings from a huge, impersonal search engine can be mistaken, I feel it's my duty to set the record straight. This is an authentic Churrascaria with a special flair.They describe it this way: “Churrascaria is a traditional Brazilian Steak House that distinguishes itself from others with its specialty, Rodizio...”

Their rodizio has to be seen to be believed! Oven roasted meats (more than a dozen varieties, with grilled pineapple as a delightful “foil” to those flavors) are presented on skewers at your table and hand carved directly onto your plate. There's a method to this madness, too. You get a “flipper”, which is red and green:

Green means "Bring it on"

Red means "Stop for now"

1st Stage- Keep the flipper Green side up, the carvers will keep on visiting the table.

2nd Stage- You always can slow it down or take a break by turning the flipper to Red.

3rd Stage- When you are ready to indulge again, turn the flipper to Green and keep on enjoying.

4th and Last Stage- Remember you are in control of how much your stomach desires. Your Rodizio meal is only over when you ask your waiter to remove your plate.

There's a sumptuous salad bar, a varied menu that includes American and even Italian cuisine and incredible desserts. They have a fully-stocked bar that offers all your favorite cocktails, Sangria and Brazilian caipirinha.

They're open for lunch and dinner:

Tuesday to Friday -- Lunch : 11:00 am/3:00pm. Dinner: 5:00pm/10:00pm
Saturday & Sunday -- Lunch: 12:00pm/3:00pm. Dinner: 5:00pm/10:00pm

Call for reservations! You may walk in on a night when they're packed and have to wait, stomach growling, as some table turns their flipper to green. The number in Scranton is 570-558-0742.

Ipanema Grille: the answer to the question, “Are there any Brazilian restaurants in Scranton?”

Scranton Malpractice: Doctors and Lawyers and...Counties?

Professional malpractice, whether it's involving doctors or lawyers, is a hot topic in our increasingly litigious society. That's why this article in The Times-Tribune caught my eye. For those of you who inevitably won't click through to it, the article lays out a case for possible "municipal malpractice" in hiring 5 local lawyers with questionable qualifications to work on a bond issue. It turns out that "none is a member of either the National Association of Bond Lawyers or the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers."

Wait, it gets better. Some don't even practice in areas of finance and municipal law. Sure, there's at least one who does medical malpractice and personal injury. But where's the expertise in finance, municipal law and bond issues in particular? I especially liked this quote from the article: "Mr. Munchak conceded that hiring an attorney who does not have a background in finance to work on a municipal bond transaction doesn’t make sense." The real issue here is one of transparency and accountability, not finger-pointing.

This brings up the point as far as The Scranton Front Door Pages: is there a need for a new classification: scranton/municipal? That'd be the place for Scranton Lawyers Municipal Malpractice and Scranton Insurance Municipal Malpractice to promote themselves. While I invite local law firms who specialize in medical malpractice and insurance agencies who issue malpractice insurance for professionals to avail themselves of the service, I'm not sure I want to get involved with any municipal malpractice at all!

Scranton Chiropractors and Their Advertising

Chiropractors in Scranton put in many years of their lives to become health care providers. Many of them banded together to push for insurance coverage for their services. They've bucked the medical establishment and thumbed their noses at allopathic medicine as the only "cure" for disease. You'd think they'd have learned something about promoting themselves.

They haven't, at least in Scranton. Despite the fact that more than 50% of all people looking to avail themselves of services do so by searching on the Internet, not one local chiropractor shows up on the first page of the search engine results for Scranton Chiropractors. Instead, a bunch of directory listings and Yellow Pages classifieds show up. But that's not the whole story.

If you go to the local Yellow Pages book and look up Chiropractors, lo and behold, page after page is filled with full-page display ads for this profession. Never mind that they cost a fortune and cannot be tracked or measured like a Web page. These display ads represent the state-of-the-art in promoting chiropractic health care. That's so 20th Century!

Fortunately, there's an alternative for at least one local Scranton Chiropractor. It's a great spot in the search engines for the most motivated of all Scranton Chiropractors. The Scranton Front Door Pages have unique qualities that no other resources for businesses and professionals can offer: targeted local traffic that is looking for services like this one. The most motivated and savvy professional or business owner in each niche represented by the portal can get what no one else has in Scranton -- a top spot in the Search Engine Results Pages.

Alas, there can be only one. Are you the one?

The Portal is Officially Online with Every Niche Filled...

After a few delays, all the current niches are filled with "placeholders" for appropriate businesses, professionals and targeted local traffic. You can also find active listings for local businesses that are special favorites of the portal manager. If you are considering getting in on this chance to get your business in the best possible place in the Search Engine Result Pages, decide quickly. Your competition may beat you to it!

Right now there are listings available for:
Accountants
Architects
Chiropractors
Consultants
    Building
        Code
    Business
    Executive Search
    Financial
        Planning
    Forensic
    Lighting
    Zoning
Contractors
    Building
    Concrete
    Drywall
    Electrical
    Equipment
    Excavating
    General
    Heating and Air Conditioning
    Insulation
    Landscape
    Painting
    Paving
    Roofing
    Swimming Pools
    Waterproofing
Cosmetic Surgery
Dentists
    24-Hour
    Braces
    Emergency
    Endodontists
    Neuromuscular
    Orthodontists
    TMD-TMJ
Doctors
    Cardiology
    Dermatology
    Gynecologists
    OB-GYN
    Obstetrics
    Ophthalmology
    Orthopedic
    Plastic Surgery
Engineers
    Civil
    Consulting
Fences
Golf
    Courses
    Equipment
Insurance
    Adjusters
    Auto
    Aviation
    Brokers
    Business and Commercial
    Consultants
    Contractors
    Health
    Homeowners and Renters
    Life
    Marine
    Motorcycle
Lawyers
    Aviation
    Bankruptcy
    Construction
    Contracts
    Corporation
    Estate
        Planning
    Immigration
    Incorporation
    Medical Malpractice
    Real Estate
    Securities
        Fraud
    Tax
    Trusts and Wills
Mortgages
Physical Therapy
Plumbers
Podiatrists
Real Estate
    Appraisers
    Developers
    Managers
Surgeons
    Cardiac
    Maxillofacial
    Oral
    Orthopedic
    Plastic
Tree Service

Remember, there is only one first place in the search engines. These listings are available on a first come, first served basis. If it is your desire to get targeted local traffic to view your business in the best light, this is the place!

Scranton Attractions: The Zoo at Nay Aug Park and The Houdini Museum

Last year, an old friend (okay, we're both old) came to visit me here in NEPA. For a few days, we did all the touristy things you should do if you're visiting from out of town. Two of the local Scranton attractions we "did" were the Zoo at Nay Aug Park and the Houdini Museum.

For a couple of old fogies, the Houdini Museum was a hoot! With all the wide-eyed kids gawping at the illusions and the tour of the Houdini memorabilia, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dorothy Deitrich and Dick Brooks have devoted their lives to this museum, and their dedication shows!

Our trip to Nay Aug Park was unfortunately cut short because of a scheduling conflict. We did get a quick look at the Scranton Zoo there. While it ain't the Bronx Zoo by any means, it does itself proud as a genuine Scranton Attraction.

You can find out more about both at the Scranton Portal