A bit disappointed at Greek Fest

I'm hanging my head in shame because I talked up Greek Fest like it was the best thing since cheesecake. Sadly, we didn't have the best time this year.

I can't pinpoint what the big difference was, but we left feeling let down. The food was only pretty good. I got a chicken gyro and the flatbread was so dry it was crumbling around the chicken. I also go spanokopita and unfortunately ended up with another phyllo dough creation with potato, I believe. Hubby got a gyro platter and experienced the same bread issue, but was otherwise fairly satisfied. Both girls got a corn dog and one order of fries between then. We also got two waters and a Pepsi. The total was $31...which felt kind of pricey to me. Before leaving we also got a desert sampler for another $10.

As we wandered the grounds of the festival, our children immediately dragged us to the bouncies. The traditional bounce house was $2 for five minutes. We, of course, sent our girls right in, only to have one come out crying a few minutes later. It turns out the whole inside was wet and the kids were slipping. Not cool. There was an absolute downpour the night before and it was clear that the folks in charge of the bouncies did not properly dry them out. I'm thankful my daughter didn't get badly hurt, but I was not happy.

Another bouncey option was this HUGE slide the children had to climb up through mesh levels to get to the top. This monstrosity was $5 per child per attempt. Anyone else think that's a bit much?

Another typical favorite part of the Greek fest for me is the craft vendors. This year the stuff fell into two categories for me. 1) Damp or 2) quite expensive. I bought nothing.

We left there having spent $45 and not terribly satisfied. If you went to the festival this year, did you feel like it was up to snuff, or is it just me?

On a happier note, we ended up at North Myrtle Beach's Irish Italian festival, also on Saturday, and it was great! My girlies were able to do bouncies for $1 per "ride" and plant a pansy for free as part of Home Depot's children's workshop. We left there pretty happy. Perhaps we'll hit that one first next year. Despite my disappointment with Greek Fest, the dessert sample lasted about two hours in our house!

Clear your schedule this weekend - it's Greek Fest time!

If you live in or are visiting the Grand Strand area this weekend, make some time in your schedule for the annual Greek Fest. It's hosted and presented by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Myrtle Beach, located right on Highway 17, between 29th and 38th Avenues. The church, itself, is huge, beautiful and white - you can't miss it.

The festival is one we've attended every year since we moved here. The members of the church share the Greek culture with music, dance and food. And the food is...let me see if I can find a word here...amazing? Out of this world? The best Greek food you'll eat all year long? I'm not exaggerating when I tell you it's tempting to hit this festival every night it runs for dinner.

The price for admission is nominal and worth every penny! For more information, including vendors and the menu, click here for the pdf brochure.

Dear Kroger in Carolina Forest

Dear Kroger in Carolina Forest,

I have been shopping in your fine grocery store for nearly six years and, for the most part, it's been a great experience. Your selection is good. Your meats have always been yummy. I appreciate your array of organic products and the Private Selection and Kroger brands have rarely disappointed me. So thank you! I will continue to shop in your store and suggest it to my friends. However...and you had to know one was coming...why, oh why, does your produce suck? Specifically your apples?

I can not tell you how many apples I have painstakingly chosen only to come home, cut through them and find brown mush throughout? At this point, I can't help but to wonder if it's a problem with your distributor. Your strawberries are always crushed. Your raspberries, invariably, mold within two days of purchasing them regardless of the fact they go from your refrigeration to mine within a 30 minute time frame. It's so frustrating because you have such a great selection of fresh produce, but I can't enjoy it!

I realize I could probably return to the store with my receipt and said fruit to get a refund or exchange, but I'm, admittedly, lazy. Besides, what good would it do to bring in a brown apple? Usually when I discover the problem I'm in the throes of making my daughter's lunch and couldn't make it over to the store for an hour or two, at which time the cut apple would be brown anyway.

Now that I have this off my chest, I want to say that I'm always pleased with the courtesy and helpfulness of those you have working in the checkout area. I'm not sure if you have happy people working for you or if you train them to make me feel like they're happy to help me.

Your pharmacists rock. On several occasions they have, in my opinion, gone above and beyond what I expected of them. They are conscientious workers who care about their customers care. I even had one of them phone in a prescription, my insurance and health information over to Walgreens in Carolina Forest because you did not have the drug. He said, "I chose that pharmacy so you didn't have to get off Carolina Forest Blvd." How great is that? The most obvious financially motivated thing he could have done was phone it in to another Kroger in the Grand Strand area, but he honored the fact that I would probably want to stay close to home. How fantastic is that? I will return to your pharmacy over and over again.

I also am so proud and pleased that you employ those who may have some challenges. I'm sure there is a more politically correct way to phrase this, but the warm sentiments are there regardless. The folks I've come in contact with have been genuinely helpful, pleasant and productive. Your willingness to offer such employment opportunities is heartwarming and so very supportive. I have a friend whose son has Downs Syndrome and she cried when I said how proud a few of your employees' moms must be at the wonderful job their doing.

Thank you, Kroger, for all of your wonderfulness. Just please investigate why you're having produce problems.