| Restoration of Middlebrook store blends modern, antique
MIDDLEBROOK Details, details, details. Mike Pelton took a screwdriver to one of them Monday morning. Pelton, one of four owners of the soon-to-open Middlebrook General Store, finally jimmied open a rolltop card file. There were plenty of other chores on the list, and the clock was ticking. .
GUIDE
Great Russian and vegetarian food served all day. Jazz, cappuccino, fresh juice, specialty teas. Happy hour from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Weekend brunch. Used English-language books and magazines, plus an art gallery. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. 82 Nab. Moiki. Tel.: 315-1675. Cafe Jam Probably the cosiest place in town! Dear guests, We would like to welcome you to Caf Jam where we serve Scandinavian, European and some Russian dishes. We are both from Denmark, so while Berit is prepa-ring the food, Alexander is doing his best to take care of the guests. Friday jazz duet, Saturday pianist. Best regards Berit and Alexander Open daily noon to 11 pm 12 RyleevaUl., 7 12 min. from Chernyshevskaya. Reservations: 719 69 33. CATERING Tandoor Restaurant We provide small to medium-sized outdoor catering services for parties and banquet functions.
Records tie Japan to art theft / Italian prosecutors discover link ...
Italian prosecutors have obtained records and photographs that they claim show the head of an international smuggling syndicate that was behind the illegal excavation of antiquities in Italy had dealt with a Japanese antique art dealer, it has been learned. The Italian prosecutors suspected that a number of antiquities housed at some museums or owned by individual collectors in Japan might have been illegally dug up at Italian archaeological sites. The prosecutors named Gianfranco Becchina, an Italian art dealer, as the head of the antiquities smuggling syndicate. One of the prosecutors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Becchina is from Sicily and is suspected to have links with the Mafia. The prosecution searched a warehouse owned by Becchina in Basel, Switzerland, in 2002 and 2005 on suspicion he smuggled illegal items.
ROGER ON RISK Customer Disservice
All businesses are people businesses. The level of customer service depends entirely on the qualities of the people delivering it. Honesty, determination and dedication are among the most important characteristics in a good employee. Punctuality, charm and all that sort of thing are valuable, as is the ability to anticipate the customer's needs. All these fine attributes, however, must be tempered with flexibility and the ability to listen, or they are for naught. An example might make the point. The locus of the story is a 13th century convent in Lisbon, Portugal, some years ago. The ancient building had been turned into a "Pousada," one of a chain of national treasures, the absolute top end of the international hospitality experience. Antique furniture, fine dining and all-around smarminess: the currency of fine travel experiences.
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