Here it is, lucky 7...though, with my training schedule for my new job, it was a tough one to think up, orchestrate, and complete....oh well, at least i managed to focus enough to fulfill my commitment. Social Column 7
This is my first spring in Delmarva, and I find it breathtaking. I have never seen more beautiful flowering trees and bushes, and everything is magically green and lush already.
You know from last week's column on the first Ocean City Marathon that I am not athletically inclined, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the great outdoors. The "great outdoors" here is truly that. What I find fascinating is that there is so much diversity. Like a peaceful walk along the beach? Go to Assateaque. Like a beach studded with bronzed bodies and 3 miles of boardwalk chock full of shops and an amusement park? Go to Ocean City. Want a serene forest with a meandering river? Go to Pokemoke State Park.
My personal favorite is Assateaque Island. Last year, as I contemplated my move here from the midwest, the wild ponies at Assateaque were an almost mystical draw for me. Where else in the world could I experience that? And to live in a place where seeing them was as easy as going to the corner store for a paper? The park is located 8 miles south of Ocean City, and may be reached via MD RT 50 to MD RT 611. Assateaque has the distinction of being Maryland's only ocean park ,and is a barrier island bordered on the west by Sinepuxent Bay, and the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the recreational activities include fishing, swimming, canoeing, biking, crabbing, and clamming. Both the state park and the national park offer camping, too. A good bet if you want a full list of things to do is to stop in at the Barrier Island Visitor Center, located to your right before you cross the bridge to the island. Speaking of the bridge, it is awesome to park your car in the provided parking lot, and walk across the bridge. There are telescopes set up, and it's a scenic and painless way to enjoy the view and get exercise at the same time.
If miles of pristine beach, unbroken by manmade structures is too quiet for you, head out to Ocean City. I haven't experienced the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk in the summer yet, ( I think that will be a column of it's own), but even my winter walks have given me a taste of what that will be. The boardwalk stretches for almost three miles, from the inlet in South Ocean City to 27th St., and is chock full of shops, food pavilions, and amusements. In 1902, the first boardwalk was just a few blocks long and built of wooden planks that hotel keepers rolled up and put on their porches during high tide. The boardwalk as we know it today was lengthened and renovated in 1962, after a March storm leveled the existing structure. It is a great place to stroll , shop and people watch. A must is to ride Trimper's Carousel, which is the oldest continuously operating carousel in the county, with two tiers of painted and carved animals. It is also the location of the celebrated Spring Fest, a four day festival of entertainment, arts and crafts, and food, celebrated Thursday through Sunday, May 5-8. ( I will be there!).
Pokemoke State Park? I wouldn't do it justice if I squeezed it into my limited space in this week's column. I am planning a picnic there next month, with a tour of nearby Furnace Town, so look forward to an in depth story on my adventure. Enjoy our beautiful spring, and see you at Springfest this weekend!
omplete....
Monday, April 25, 2005
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
April 12th~~
I thought i had escaped the birthday....My mom was born on April 9th. Those of you who know me realize that it is a date, along with her death-date, that is a flag to my emotional health, my life.
She died the day before my 14th birthday...she was my friend, my best friend. She understood me as no other, and being with her was being with myself, because I never saw the boundaries that proved she wasn't me. Crazy? Probably....especially if you have never been that comfortable, that safe, with another human being. And yet, it wasn't all comfort and roses...there was plenty of pain caused by her drinking, and it wasn't a BORING kind of comfortable, rather an intellectual playmate, with deep, metaphysical succor, surrounded by a sense of innocence and fun and love for God, people, animals and nature.
WHEW! what a person to lose...Is it any wonder I am on a subconscious quest, trying to find/be/recapture those things, with every human being i am intimate with?
I thought I had escaped this time...for her birthday and her deathday have triggered intense emotional meltdowns for me.
The first year, at 14, I held a razor to my wrist, and wanted to die. ( I was to chicken, too full of desire, to do that)
The rest of my teenage years, I stuffed myself with chocolate and books and straight A's, which was a chubby yet productive way to hide the pain.
I did other things to try to bring her back...not ready nor able to discuss them now., but some stand out in my memory...
At 26, holding my first born, fantasing that he was SHE, reincarnated, and holding my baby tight, looking for signs of her spirit...
At 35, working as a bartender, drinking Rum and Coke like water, until i was so dead drunk i was terrified of the loss of control, and walked around the building after work mumbling to her, begging her to come back.]
At 42, the age she herself died, putting an empty chair across from me, trying to DIALOG with her, forgive her for leaving me, and ending up wailing like a lost child, such an eerie keening that I ended up laughing at my desperation...
And now, the eve of being 50, letting the date pass without frantic calls to my sisters, without seeing her reincarnated, without getting pie-eyed...Almost smug in my surety that I am over her...
Until i realized yesterday I made "Mommy's chicken" a dish i haven't made in over two years. Until I made "stuffed cabbage" tonight, a dish i haven't made in at least five. I used to help her squish the meat, and was very serious as she instructed me how to wrap the filling around the cabbage...
So, I haven't escaped, have I? Each redbird, OUR bird, I see, makes my heart catch. The chicken was delicious, and the stuffed cabbage smells delightful.
This year, Mom, I cooked with you. It was always a favorite thing we did. You are still my best friend, and always will be. Happy Birthday...love, LeeLee
Ps. I still miss you.
I thought i had escaped the birthday....My mom was born on April 9th. Those of you who know me realize that it is a date, along with her death-date, that is a flag to my emotional health, my life.
She died the day before my 14th birthday...she was my friend, my best friend. She understood me as no other, and being with her was being with myself, because I never saw the boundaries that proved she wasn't me. Crazy? Probably....especially if you have never been that comfortable, that safe, with another human being. And yet, it wasn't all comfort and roses...there was plenty of pain caused by her drinking, and it wasn't a BORING kind of comfortable, rather an intellectual playmate, with deep, metaphysical succor, surrounded by a sense of innocence and fun and love for God, people, animals and nature.
WHEW! what a person to lose...Is it any wonder I am on a subconscious quest, trying to find/be/recapture those things, with every human being i am intimate with?
I thought I had escaped this time...for her birthday and her deathday have triggered intense emotional meltdowns for me.
The first year, at 14, I held a razor to my wrist, and wanted to die. ( I was to chicken, too full of desire, to do that)
The rest of my teenage years, I stuffed myself with chocolate and books and straight A's, which was a chubby yet productive way to hide the pain.
I did other things to try to bring her back...not ready nor able to discuss them now., but some stand out in my memory...
At 26, holding my first born, fantasing that he was SHE, reincarnated, and holding my baby tight, looking for signs of her spirit...
At 35, working as a bartender, drinking Rum and Coke like water, until i was so dead drunk i was terrified of the loss of control, and walked around the building after work mumbling to her, begging her to come back.]
At 42, the age she herself died, putting an empty chair across from me, trying to DIALOG with her, forgive her for leaving me, and ending up wailing like a lost child, such an eerie keening that I ended up laughing at my desperation...
And now, the eve of being 50, letting the date pass without frantic calls to my sisters, without seeing her reincarnated, without getting pie-eyed...Almost smug in my surety that I am over her...
Until i realized yesterday I made "Mommy's chicken" a dish i haven't made in over two years. Until I made "stuffed cabbage" tonight, a dish i haven't made in at least five. I used to help her squish the meat, and was very serious as she instructed me how to wrap the filling around the cabbage...
So, I haven't escaped, have I? Each redbird, OUR bird, I see, makes my heart catch. The chicken was delicious, and the stuffed cabbage smells delightful.
This year, Mom, I cooked with you. It was always a favorite thing we did. You are still my best friend, and always will be. Happy Birthday...love, LeeLee
Ps. I still miss you.
Monday, April 11, 2005
April 11th~~
So much is happening in the gladiator world of my finances; Romans 10/Christians uhuh. My back molar is aching and pulsing, and I wrote my column to the staccato beat of pain. Doesn't matter. All those things are just what is, right now, not who I am, not who i will be.
But, beyond those things, that are colouring my perceptions, the glory of spring here in Delmarva is enough to make a poet weep. Each highly sketched work of art reveals itself in high drama: a robin, scarlet breast swollen and bright, perched on a gnarled tree of white blossoms....rich, vibrant fields,trim, emerald green against tall, bleached swatches of last years hay....pansies everywhere, like party hats, planted by delirious homeowners and shopkeepers alike, in urns, in planters, scampering down walkways.
And the scents!! Chicken shit from the farms, and brown manure being flung from huge farm trucks in the fields...Sweet magnolia and dogwood and witch hazel blooms....first cuts of grass, with the sleepy lawn mower ruuurrr as a backdrop, and , underlying it all, the smell of the sea.
Spring comes like the sudden passionate kiss of a lover here. Long anticipated, longed for,and all encompassing, when first felt.
I am in love.
So much is happening in the gladiator world of my finances; Romans 10/Christians uhuh. My back molar is aching and pulsing, and I wrote my column to the staccato beat of pain. Doesn't matter. All those things are just what is, right now, not who I am, not who i will be.
But, beyond those things, that are colouring my perceptions, the glory of spring here in Delmarva is enough to make a poet weep. Each highly sketched work of art reveals itself in high drama: a robin, scarlet breast swollen and bright, perched on a gnarled tree of white blossoms....rich, vibrant fields,trim, emerald green against tall, bleached swatches of last years hay....pansies everywhere, like party hats, planted by delirious homeowners and shopkeepers alike, in urns, in planters, scampering down walkways.
And the scents!! Chicken shit from the farms, and brown manure being flung from huge farm trucks in the fields...Sweet magnolia and dogwood and witch hazel blooms....first cuts of grass, with the sleepy lawn mower ruuurrr as a backdrop, and , underlying it all, the smell of the sea.
Spring comes like the sudden passionate kiss of a lover here. Long anticipated, longed for,and all encompassing, when first felt.
I am in love.
Social Column 5~~~I admit it. I am thoroughly infatuated with art and artists. My mom doodled pagodas and swanky ladies dolled up in furs, and both of my sisters are talented with pencil and paint. Me? I can draw a pretty good stick figure, and a bunny fashioned from a capitol B., but, that's about it. To make up for the glaring lack of talent in my family's artistic gene pool, I have become an avid art enthusiast, instead. I have traveled to some of the finest art museums in the world, but what I really love the best are local, intimate art galleries.
I used to think that they were for only for the upper crust, and I have to admit I was intimidated by going to an opening reception. Could be because of the first one I ever attended, where even the fresh strawberries were dressed up in chocolate tuxedos. Yikes!
The galleries I have experienced here are different. I think there are several reasons for this. First of all, the beauty of our bays and beach and farms draw artists here like a magnet. indeed, I consider our area a Mecca for aspiring and established artists alike. Secondly, there is a laid back, casual feel to the galleries I have attended, where people can visit in jeans and t-shirts, if desired, making art "shopping" accessible to all, yet the art itself is world class.
The first gallery I visited since moving here is a case in point. The Waterline Gallery, located in a historic building in downtown Berlin, is both elegant and casual. The caliber of art is phenomenal, yet they still do fun things like their monthly open-mic night, where they provide music and appetizers as well as art. Watch for a spectacular reception on April 23rd. Gallery information is available at (410)641-9119.
Last Saturday I was able to add a new favorite to my ramblings in the art world. I stepped into The Beachcombers Easel Art Gallery, on the corner of Routes 50 & 611 in West Ocean City, and immediately felt the excitement of a great array of creative art mediums, including hand wrought jewelry, and sculpture. The owner, Edith Vogl, is a fifth generation painter herself, and the gallery is very supportive of both emerging artists and those who are already well ensconced in the area. They were holding one of their monthly receptions, complete with snacks and champagne, but the best part was being able to meet several of the featured artists themselves. Doris Price, from Millsboro, De, has been a studio painter for more than thirty years. A diminutive woman with powerful personal magnetism, her paintings reflect a bold radiance and love of music. Jim Adcock, an Ocean Pines resident, taught art in Baltimore in the 70's, and has lived here for over 10 years. He has a special gift for taking the landmarks and icons exclusive to our area, and painting them into cherished memories. It was wonderful meeting you both, Doris and Jim. Look for Beachcombers next reception on May 14th, featuring Judith Johnson's dreamy waterscapes. The gallery can be reached at (410)213-9433.
Well worth a visit is A Step Above, another art gallery in downtown Berlin. With over 4,000 square feet of display space and over 100 regional artists showcased, I was fascinated by all the different types of art available. Rustic birdcages, hand painted bottles, pottery, carvers, hand-woven clothes, stained glass, as well as a painting gallery, the owner, William Outten, has done an outstanding job promoting the work of local artists. They also hold monthly receptions; and the gallery can be reached at (410)629-0988.
These are just a few choice gems in my foray in the art world here. Do call and find out monthly receptions, hours of operation, ect. They are food for the soul and alot of fun, too, and you might just take home a precious memory of the Eastern Shore.
See you next week!
I used to think that they were for only for the upper crust, and I have to admit I was intimidated by going to an opening reception. Could be because of the first one I ever attended, where even the fresh strawberries were dressed up in chocolate tuxedos. Yikes!
The galleries I have experienced here are different. I think there are several reasons for this. First of all, the beauty of our bays and beach and farms draw artists here like a magnet. indeed, I consider our area a Mecca for aspiring and established artists alike. Secondly, there is a laid back, casual feel to the galleries I have attended, where people can visit in jeans and t-shirts, if desired, making art "shopping" accessible to all, yet the art itself is world class.
The first gallery I visited since moving here is a case in point. The Waterline Gallery, located in a historic building in downtown Berlin, is both elegant and casual. The caliber of art is phenomenal, yet they still do fun things like their monthly open-mic night, where they provide music and appetizers as well as art. Watch for a spectacular reception on April 23rd. Gallery information is available at (410)641-9119.
Last Saturday I was able to add a new favorite to my ramblings in the art world. I stepped into The Beachcombers Easel Art Gallery, on the corner of Routes 50 & 611 in West Ocean City, and immediately felt the excitement of a great array of creative art mediums, including hand wrought jewelry, and sculpture. The owner, Edith Vogl, is a fifth generation painter herself, and the gallery is very supportive of both emerging artists and those who are already well ensconced in the area. They were holding one of their monthly receptions, complete with snacks and champagne, but the best part was being able to meet several of the featured artists themselves. Doris Price, from Millsboro, De, has been a studio painter for more than thirty years. A diminutive woman with powerful personal magnetism, her paintings reflect a bold radiance and love of music. Jim Adcock, an Ocean Pines resident, taught art in Baltimore in the 70's, and has lived here for over 10 years. He has a special gift for taking the landmarks and icons exclusive to our area, and painting them into cherished memories. It was wonderful meeting you both, Doris and Jim. Look for Beachcombers next reception on May 14th, featuring Judith Johnson's dreamy waterscapes. The gallery can be reached at (410)213-9433.
Well worth a visit is A Step Above, another art gallery in downtown Berlin. With over 4,000 square feet of display space and over 100 regional artists showcased, I was fascinated by all the different types of art available. Rustic birdcages, hand painted bottles, pottery, carvers, hand-woven clothes, stained glass, as well as a painting gallery, the owner, William Outten, has done an outstanding job promoting the work of local artists. They also hold monthly receptions; and the gallery can be reached at (410)629-0988.
These are just a few choice gems in my foray in the art world here. Do call and find out monthly receptions, hours of operation, ect. They are food for the soul and alot of fun, too, and you might just take home a precious memory of the Eastern Shore.
See you next week!
Friday, April 08, 2005
Friday, April 8th
I feel like a nomad in duststiffened jeans and worn shoes. I don't know how i made it thru this winter, struggling like crazy with bosses intent on making me their concubines, pay that i made when i was 20, and juggling finances and justin and my heart vrs. my head.
But, make it i did. The daffadils are nodding their golden heads, and somehow remind me of the sleepy field of poppies in the wizard of oz. I want to tip each of their heads up, look into their eyes, and say WAKE UP! But, who am i to tell another living creature how to enjoy their day?
I am ablaze with the thought of flowers to plant, i can see them breaking through the earth, tiny slivers of brave green, nourished by sun and water into boisterous flowers...streaming scent and colour and winking with delight at life.
I tried on my jeans that i wore the first time i met Rikk....somehow, the comedy went like this....PULL! PULL!! TUG! TUG!! Huh? what's wrong with these pants? did they SHRINK, in storage over the winter? Must be the humidity in the attic...
Nah...my hips are wider and my belly a little buddha. Thank God it all looks better, naked, lying down. Still, that's no excuse. I will keep walking, stop eating ice cream, and get back into those cute little tiny jeans with the winking tear over my right cheek.
Got a new job...not a maybe job, not a just-ANYTHING-to-survive-job,but a sales position with a national bedding company. Full benefits, paid training, ect. I am not loving it, of course, because it isnt where my heart is...but, I will seize the opportunity to get out of debt, get ahead., while i continue my writing.
Time to go try on the rest of my summer clothes. I think i am going to be rudely awakened, and can see alot of South Beach menus in my near future....later...
I feel like a nomad in duststiffened jeans and worn shoes. I don't know how i made it thru this winter, struggling like crazy with bosses intent on making me their concubines, pay that i made when i was 20, and juggling finances and justin and my heart vrs. my head.
But, make it i did. The daffadils are nodding their golden heads, and somehow remind me of the sleepy field of poppies in the wizard of oz. I want to tip each of their heads up, look into their eyes, and say WAKE UP! But, who am i to tell another living creature how to enjoy their day?
I am ablaze with the thought of flowers to plant, i can see them breaking through the earth, tiny slivers of brave green, nourished by sun and water into boisterous flowers...streaming scent and colour and winking with delight at life.
I tried on my jeans that i wore the first time i met Rikk....somehow, the comedy went like this....PULL! PULL!! TUG! TUG!! Huh? what's wrong with these pants? did they SHRINK, in storage over the winter? Must be the humidity in the attic...
Nah...my hips are wider and my belly a little buddha. Thank God it all looks better, naked, lying down. Still, that's no excuse. I will keep walking, stop eating ice cream, and get back into those cute little tiny jeans with the winking tear over my right cheek.
Got a new job...not a maybe job, not a just-ANYTHING-to-survive-job,but a sales position with a national bedding company. Full benefits, paid training, ect. I am not loving it, of course, because it isnt where my heart is...but, I will seize the opportunity to get out of debt, get ahead., while i continue my writing.
Time to go try on the rest of my summer clothes. I think i am going to be rudely awakened, and can see alot of South Beach menus in my near future....later...
Monday, April 04, 2005
Monday, April 4th~~
I know i have been consumed by my column in the paper...rediculous, really, in the grand scheme of things, but not so rediculous, in my own scheme.
And isnt that the way it really is? I love tulips, i can sit in the cold and dirt and study their form and structure and touch their leaves, waiting to delight in their color, their intrinsic femininity, get pollen on my nose, that alien male touch, that tickles, that sticks, just as a man, in his desire, sticks to a woman.
Uhoh. I can hear those that love me starting to squack..."don't be so open! watch your boundries! have some MYSTERY!"
Truth be told, within my smile, within my words, so open and free, I am as the tulip, layered, opening only with the sun, done in by rabbits and small, nibbling creatures, closing tight, and holding fast, against the pecularities of spring.
Cold won't destroy me. Neither will rain, nor sleet, and snow. I guess the worst I can go through is a bit of frostbite, or maybe a season or two without flowering.
I can handle that. Cuz i know my roots grab deep. Later.
I know i have been consumed by my column in the paper...rediculous, really, in the grand scheme of things, but not so rediculous, in my own scheme.
And isnt that the way it really is? I love tulips, i can sit in the cold and dirt and study their form and structure and touch their leaves, waiting to delight in their color, their intrinsic femininity, get pollen on my nose, that alien male touch, that tickles, that sticks, just as a man, in his desire, sticks to a woman.
Uhoh. I can hear those that love me starting to squack..."don't be so open! watch your boundries! have some MYSTERY!"
Truth be told, within my smile, within my words, so open and free, I am as the tulip, layered, opening only with the sun, done in by rabbits and small, nibbling creatures, closing tight, and holding fast, against the pecularities of spring.
Cold won't destroy me. Neither will rain, nor sleet, and snow. I guess the worst I can go through is a bit of frostbite, or maybe a season or two without flowering.
I can handle that. Cuz i know my roots grab deep. Later.
Social Column 4
Food. Glorious Food. Having grown up in an Italian family, this is one subject I hold close to my heart, if not my hips. I can remember being swathed in a flowery apron, peeking into fragrant, simmering pots, with my grandma teaching me her "secret" recipe for macaroni and meatballs. Later, I learned at my mother's side, for she was a formidable cook, entertaining my father's business clients with savvy international cuisine.So, I am no stranger to "good eats." A very lucky woman, I have lived in Florida, and eaten fresh fish grilled in dockside cafes, in Alabama , where the BBQ reigns sublime, in North Jersey where the bread is the best and the deli's are divine, and in Detroit ,where widemouth bass is served on a charred cedar plank. But I have to tell you, for sheer diversity and delectiblity, Delmarva is winning my Salvitating Award, tongue down.
Maybe it has to do with the ocean breezes and the freshest of seafood? The fresh vegetables from the local farms? The cosmopolitan influence from our visitors from New York, Baltimore, and DC? I don't know, I don't really care, all I know is that if Chefs have a heaven, it's here.
But don't take my word for it. I asked a local Bed and Breakfast owner where she suggests her guests go eat...She looked up and to the left, as if the sky held the answer to my question, then, hand in chin, replied " hmmmn...that's a hard question to answer.. I love to suggest The Atlantic Hotel, for it's ambiance, charm, and sophisticated cuisine. The Globe Theater always has great sandwiches and now features evening specials, with great artwork and collectibles for sale., and Goober's is a favorite breakfast spot for locals.All three restaurants are located in Berlin.
Personally, I love the crabcake sandwich at Captain's Gallery,on the water at West Ocean City's Harbor.Crispy outside, sweet and succulent inside, all served in a fresh roll..YUM! This past summer, family came in from Long Island, NY, and we had a steamed crab feast to die for, courtesy of Crabs to Go, on the corner of Routes 50 & 589.It was the traditional eastern shore feast, and we served the spicy crabs piled on a newspaper tablecloth,family style, with plenty of beer and wooden mallets to crack through the shell to the tender crab inside. I love the roast beef at Bull on the Beach, at 94th St.& Boardwalk, sliced thin, flavorful, and piled high.It's great when you are oystered, clammed, and shrimped out, and just want some solid beef under your belt. Fager's Island, 60th St On the Bay, is a romantic, extravagant restaurant, which I found pricey, but worth it. The black pepper crusted blue cheese steak is to die for, and I confess I spent a full 10 minutes in the ladies room, just sitting on the plush sofa, and admiring the lavish fixtures. (it's the little things in life that count.)
There have to be a MILLION restaurants to choose from. But, what if you are sun and sea tired, and just want a shower and movie at the condo? I can't wait until Avalon opens, a upperscale gourmet market and takeout located near the White Marlin Mall in Ocean City. The owner has a vision of the freshest of vegetables, delectable salads and entrees, and citified expresso and coffees, packaged and ready to enjoy at home, at the beach, or for special social functions. Won't be bad for hard working mom's and dad's, too tired to cook, either. They plan their grand opening for early May, 2005. I love the sandwiches and bologna hotdogs at Coin's restaurant,( a little cholesterol is good for the soul, sometimes) located at 28th St, downtown Ocean City. You've got to have a pizza place, and I like Mione's, at the White Marlin Mall in Ocean City. The large pizza was tasty, with real mozzarella cheese, not that fake stuff, and big enough to satisfy even a lusty eater like me.
So who have I left out? I bet a LOT of great restaurants, alot of places that locals and vacationers alike hold tight, as the closely guarded secrets they are. Come on, share..! We all love to eat, we all want to know the "hot spots" to go..I have given you a few of mine., what's your's??? Let me know via the Bayside Gazette, or my web-address, listed below.
See you next week!
Food. Glorious Food. Having grown up in an Italian family, this is one subject I hold close to my heart, if not my hips. I can remember being swathed in a flowery apron, peeking into fragrant, simmering pots, with my grandma teaching me her "secret" recipe for macaroni and meatballs. Later, I learned at my mother's side, for she was a formidable cook, entertaining my father's business clients with savvy international cuisine.So, I am no stranger to "good eats." A very lucky woman, I have lived in Florida, and eaten fresh fish grilled in dockside cafes, in Alabama , where the BBQ reigns sublime, in North Jersey where the bread is the best and the deli's are divine, and in Detroit ,where widemouth bass is served on a charred cedar plank. But I have to tell you, for sheer diversity and delectiblity, Delmarva is winning my Salvitating Award, tongue down.
Maybe it has to do with the ocean breezes and the freshest of seafood? The fresh vegetables from the local farms? The cosmopolitan influence from our visitors from New York, Baltimore, and DC? I don't know, I don't really care, all I know is that if Chefs have a heaven, it's here.
But don't take my word for it. I asked a local Bed and Breakfast owner where she suggests her guests go eat...She looked up and to the left, as if the sky held the answer to my question, then, hand in chin, replied " hmmmn...that's a hard question to answer.. I love to suggest The Atlantic Hotel, for it's ambiance, charm, and sophisticated cuisine. The Globe Theater always has great sandwiches and now features evening specials, with great artwork and collectibles for sale., and Goober's is a favorite breakfast spot for locals.All three restaurants are located in Berlin.
Personally, I love the crabcake sandwich at Captain's Gallery,on the water at West Ocean City's Harbor.Crispy outside, sweet and succulent inside, all served in a fresh roll..YUM! This past summer, family came in from Long Island, NY, and we had a steamed crab feast to die for, courtesy of Crabs to Go, on the corner of Routes 50 & 589.It was the traditional eastern shore feast, and we served the spicy crabs piled on a newspaper tablecloth,family style, with plenty of beer and wooden mallets to crack through the shell to the tender crab inside. I love the roast beef at Bull on the Beach, at 94th St.& Boardwalk, sliced thin, flavorful, and piled high.It's great when you are oystered, clammed, and shrimped out, and just want some solid beef under your belt. Fager's Island, 60th St On the Bay, is a romantic, extravagant restaurant, which I found pricey, but worth it. The black pepper crusted blue cheese steak is to die for, and I confess I spent a full 10 minutes in the ladies room, just sitting on the plush sofa, and admiring the lavish fixtures. (it's the little things in life that count.)
There have to be a MILLION restaurants to choose from. But, what if you are sun and sea tired, and just want a shower and movie at the condo? I can't wait until Avalon opens, a upperscale gourmet market and takeout located near the White Marlin Mall in Ocean City. The owner has a vision of the freshest of vegetables, delectable salads and entrees, and citified expresso and coffees, packaged and ready to enjoy at home, at the beach, or for special social functions. Won't be bad for hard working mom's and dad's, too tired to cook, either. They plan their grand opening for early May, 2005. I love the sandwiches and bologna hotdogs at Coin's restaurant,( a little cholesterol is good for the soul, sometimes) located at 28th St, downtown Ocean City. You've got to have a pizza place, and I like Mione's, at the White Marlin Mall in Ocean City. The large pizza was tasty, with real mozzarella cheese, not that fake stuff, and big enough to satisfy even a lusty eater like me.
So who have I left out? I bet a LOT of great restaurants, alot of places that locals and vacationers alike hold tight, as the closely guarded secrets they are. Come on, share..! We all love to eat, we all want to know the "hot spots" to go..I have given you a few of mine., what's your's??? Let me know via the Bayside Gazette, or my web-address, listed below.
See you next week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
