November 22nd, 2011
Monday was the perfect day to write this post. First of all, I am back from Delray Beach, Florida. And, second of all, because it was, actually, one of those misty, rainy, Fall days in Rehoboth Beach. Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying it. But, I am also remembering last Thursday when I had the day all to myself in Delray….yes, in that Village by the Sea.
Last Thursday was gorgeous. I decided to go and sit on the beach for a few hours. Knowing that I was coming back to the cold weather, I was trying to get the last bit of sun. That was a good thing, since Friday was a stormy day in South Florida.
I have told you before about the beach in Delray. No buildings to block the sun. All you see is the beach. The water was so blue and crystal clear. I had all my beach essentials; a chair, hat, sunscreen, and water. Actually, I think my chair is too low. I need a new one. A little trivial… but that’s what you do when you are on vacation.
I have been wanting to cruise the Intracoastal. Right from Veterans Park on Atlantic Ave., by the bridge, you will find the Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray. I wanted to go on one of those. Departure? 1:30 p.m. for the 2 plus hours of sightseeing.
Delray Yacht Cruises is located at 801 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483. Tel. 561-243-0686. Website? www.delrayyachtcruises.com.
There is parking available so don’t worry about that. Remember that this is now the holiday season and these cruises will book early.
The other day, it was pretty easy since it was not that crowded. The Lady Atlantic was our yacht and you can start boarding at 1:00 p.m. Promptly they will leave at 1:30 p.m. My cruise was what they called a Daily Two-Hour Narrated Sightseeing Cruise. They have one at 10:30 a.m. and one at 1:30 p.m.
The cruises are Tuesdays through Sundays. If you are visiting Delray this week and would like to book a cruise, please check the website above mentioned.
 Intracoastal looking North from Lady Atlantic. They have special event cruises and you will need to make a reservation. For example, Sunset Cruises, Brunch Cruises, Thanksgiving Day Cruises which will include a Turkey Feast, or a Twilight Cruise on Thanksgiving to relax after eating so much Turkey.
December will bring a whole new schedule of cruises with Holiday Lights Cruises, Boat Parades, (Boyton & Delray Beaches and Boca Raton), Holiday Luncheon and Dinner Cruises, New Years Eve Cruises….call 561-243-0686 for details.
The Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray are available for private charters, as well. Please call for more info.
Lady Atlantic was ready and we were all aboard trying to get the best seats. Some were already sitting on the first level. I went inside to see how the boat looked. Beautiful woods and understated decorations.
The Lady Atlantic is fairly new. This 105 foot yacht was delivered in 2008 and was designed for South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterways.
The Intracoastal runs most of the length of the Eastern Seaboard. Natural inlets, salt water rivers, bays and sounds; some are also artificial canals.
Some of us chose to sit outdoors on the upper deck. On such a pretty day you had an advantage point.
Breanna, my server, was great. I ordered a blackened mahi mahi sandwich. Just as we started the cruise it arrived and it was truly delicious.
This was a narrated cruise. We were going south and we were about to cross 3 bridges; Atlantic Ave., Linton, and Spanish River en route to Boca. The same on the way back.
The narration started with the safety of the yacht and the history of the intracoastal. We would not be going fast; there were manatees to worry about. Some parts of the intracoastal are wide and very deep and others; so narrow and shallow.
The narrations kept us all entertained. Who lives on the intracoastal? Which are the tear downs and who owned those magnificent houses along the intracoastal? Some are specs; others gifts to someone special. You will have to go on the tour and learn more and even see them decorated for the holidays.
  
I met people from Ohio and from Chicago. Just on vacation they were; taking a day off from the beach, shopping and restaurants.
The yacht was smooth and very relaxing. Those 2 hours were gone in no time and pretty soon we were back in Delray.
I totally recommend it. I had a great time.
Have a great Holiday!! Talk to you later….
November 20th, 2011
Three restaurants in 24 hours…not bad; all different too. Still looking for the elusive stone crabs. My husband had them on his mind. The funny thing was that Everglades City, which is in Collier County, just like Naples and Marco Island, is, really, the capital of the universe for stone crabs. They should be found at a lot of restaurants. The season for stone crabs runs from October 15th until May 15th.
Jay suggested The Dock. For so many years this restaurant has been right at the City Dock overlooking Naples Bay. It is located at 12th Avenue South. Tel. 239-263-9940. Website? http://www.dockcraytoncove.com. It opens daily at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner. On Sundays they offer brunch. On that location you will also find the Naples Yacht Club and other eateries and shops.
This is Crayton Cove which was Naples’ first sheltered mooring.
The Dock offers open air dining in a very casual atmosphere. Sandwiches, salads, pastas, ribs and raw bar are among some of their offerings.
Finally, the stone crab claws were ordered; large ones, served cold. They were good, he said. To tell you the truth, I am not crazy about them. I think I like the sauce better. To me, there is nothing better than the taste of the Maryland crab. There are different, I know, but they just don’t do anything for me.
Our, Naples resident, Jay, had the Grouper Sandwich, grilled, on Cuban bread, creole remoulade sauce and cole slaw. He was happy too.
I had the Havana. It was their “Cubano” sandwich; grill pressed Cuban bread filled with roasted pork, smoked han, Swiss cheese, and pickles with mustard sauce served with black bean and rice.
I must admit that it was delicious. I had not had one in some time and just like the bread of a lobster roll, the bread of a Cuban sandwich makes the sandwich. Then, “a la plancha” to get all the extra ingredients nice an hot.
The Dock has a full bar and is available for holiday parties and Christmas lunches. Please check the website above mentioned.
So totally satisfied we headed back to the east coast of Florida and to the town of Delray Beach…talk to you later…oh, and thank you Jay…
November 18th, 2011
It was so nice to let our friend, Jay, do the driving and talking. I just sat back and took it all in. It was a pretty day to be on the Gulf of Mexico; Historic Naples is certainly quaint.
I found a few facts from this Paradise Coast. The average temperature is 75 degrees. Collier County is the largest county in the State of Florida.
An estimate of 134 art galleries are in the Greater Naples area.
The western side of the Florida Everglades is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles are known to cohabitate.
Collier county is also the home of the endangered Florida panther.
A walk; a nap and pretty soon it was time to check out the restaurant that Jay had picked out for dinner. He said that it was unique, the chef was daring, to say the least. He made the reservation for 8:00 p.m., hoping that the patrons were heading home and we would have the place to ourselves. No such luck.
The chosen restaurant was USS NEMO, located at 3745 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34103. Tel. 239-261-6366. Website? http://www.ussnemorestaurant.com.
There were a few tables outside, but our preference was, definitely, inside. Upon entering USS NEMO there were the comings and goings of a busy restaurant. The room was open with booths, as well as single tables.
 
At first we thought it was bit dark. Maybe the reason was that the candle was out. Then the lights flickered some. Finally, we asked and they were having a problem with their lightning that evening.
Melania was our server. She was from Romania. She was friendly; a big smile. Bread was brought to our table. Hummus and condiments too.
The menu was a good one. I saw the Branzino and thought I had to have it. After talking to Melania she said that the signature dish was the Miso Broiled Sea Bass. Okay, say no more, that’s exactly what I did have after having a Seafood Ceviche which had white sea bass, shrimp, salmon, grilled pineapple and lime. Refreshing and very good.
Then, my sea bass had a citrus ginger butter sauce, steamed rice, asparagus, and a carrot tempura that was soooo good. Melania hit it right on. This sea bass melted in my mouth.
Jay decided on a salad, watermelon adding the extra touch.
Then, even though he had been at USS NEMO several times, the only dish he had tried was the Prime Tuna. A choice of cooking styles were East, West or Indian. Jay chose the West style. The blue tuna would be flash seared and rare. It had a peppercorn crust, exotic mushrooms, asparagus, fresh thyme potato gratin, sauteed garlic spinach and a cognac demi-glace. On this particular evening, Jay thought they cooked it a few seconds more than he would have wanted but it was delicious, anyway.
My husband was not that hungry but he had a very interesting appetizer. Bone Marrow; in the bone, a side of sea salt, and a condiment. The dish is a conversation piece. It is considered a delicacy and it was Julia Child’s favorite. Because of his gluten allergy he could not have the crostini. I tried it and it was good. Not gelatinous as you might think; marmalade would be a better term. And, a little tricky to get out of the bone. All I could think of was my dog, Addy. If he had not ordered it, I was going to. It was hard to resist.
Then he had a Black Truffle Risotto which was a side dish; he just had it as his entree. Very flavorful.
For our dessert we shared a flourless chocolate cake. It was fudgy, rich, delicious and believe it or not, jut a tad sweet. A perfect sweet ending.
We talked to Melania for a little bit and want to thank her for taking care of us in such a special way.
Talk to you later……lunch in Naples again….
November 17th, 2011
Since a good friend has made his home in Naples, I decided I needed to learn a little about this town that is known for its beaches, its simple elegance and its wonderful restaurants, relaxing cafes, fun bistros and shops.
Naples is also known as Paradise Coast. It is in Collier County and it was founded in the late 1880s. I did not know why it was called Naples bu,t apparently, when it was founded, stories telling of the mild climate in the area, as well as having abundant fish and game, likened it to the Italian peninsula. Then, the people promoting the area described it as “surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy”.
So, after driving a couple of hours from Delray we were a little hungry. Having someone with a gluten allergy, at times, it can be tricky as where you find a restaurant that can accommodate you. Of course, on my husband’s mind were stone crabs, having seen them at the Delray GreenMarket on Saturday. That might have to wait.
We arrived in the historic district of Naples; Historic Third St. South and we set our sights on a restaurant called Handsome Harry’s Third Street Bistro, located at 1205 Third Street South, Naples, FL 34102. Tel. 239-434-6400. Website? www.handsomeharrys.com.
Our friend, Jay, had never been, but the restaurant had been recommended some time ago. This was the perfect time to try it out.
The restaurant was not very crowded when we arrived. You could sit outdoors, or, in a dining room that opened on all sides, where you could still enjoy the warm weather, but sheltered from the direct sun.
Handsome Harry’s also has an indoor dining salon that is more sophisticated and reserved than the other casual and relaxing dining choices.
Thirsty; drinks were ordered. Looking through the menu; definitely American Cuisine. There was an extensive wine list, which by the way you can check on their website.
Following is what we ordered:
The “Lobster” Salad – Chilled Maine Lobster meat tossed in their unique dressing, and served over a nest of greens with sliced avocado and fresh mango; finished with a lemon chive aioli. A generous serving and my husband thought it was very good.
The Lobster Roll – It was the lobster salad served in a toasted hoagie roll New England style with sweet potato fries. Jay thought it was delicious.
When I opened the menu, my eyes went to their Char Grilled C.A.B. Cheese Burger - Cooked medium and served on a seeded Kaiser roll with aged cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and French fries. This burger was big and, yes, I ate it all, including the fries. Very good.
We did not have dessert; just our own conversation was enough at this time. The day was still young, plenty of time for dessert later.
Handsome Harry’s has entertainment in the evenings. You can check the schedule on their website.
If you are an early diner, they have available a very good offering; a starter, entree and dessert at a reasonable price.
Note: It will be closed for Thanksgiving.
So far, so good, Jay….next…
November 16th, 2011
All these years in Florida and I had never visited Naples. Some of my friends are on the east coast of Florida, while others have opted for the gulf. So, after an invitation was extended to visit a friend, off we went, taking Alligator Alley and in a couple of hours we were there.
With only 24 hours to explore Jay took us around, introduced us to Historic Naples, fed us and housed us, as well.
I wanted to see the beach. I used to go to Venice, Florida, but it was so long ago. It really was a pretty day, so we stopped at the Naples Municipal Beach.
The sand on this particular beach was powdery white; quite different than the sand found on the east coast of Florida. I can see why it is such a big hit for those that love to sand sculpt.
At a distance the famous Naples Pier stood, just as it has stood since 1888 when it was built as a freight and passenger dock. It is a landmark and in the early 1900’s freight and baggage were transported by a narrow gauge train spanning the length of the pier.
On the Naples Pier you will find a concession stand, and a bait shop. No fishing license is required for fishing from the pier. The City of Naples has a bulk fishing license for the actual pier.
During the day you can also find a game of volley ball since there are nets on the beach; and if you want to stay to see the sun set, please do so because it is gorgeous and every day is an experience.
I found that there is a marked difference from the beaches on the west vs. the beaches on the east. It is a different sensation. The east has that salty smell and the sounds of the waves which are special. The gulf is quiet and pretty too, but I guess I am partial to the east coast. It is just something in the air; maybe the way the palm trees move or its ocean breezes…yes, I think that’s it!!
Have a great day!! Great restaurants in Naples…coming up next.
November 14th, 2011
Last March I was walking up and down Atlantic Avenue when a store caught my eye. I had not seen it before so I decided to stop and that’s how I met Michele Ramirez, the proprietor of Varietai. You will find Varietai at 812 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483. Tel. 561-455-2767. Website? www.varietai.com. Find Varietai Delray on Facebook.
Since I started my blog, I have, definitely, met a lot of people. Most of them have been so charming and friendly. But, others, stand out. Michele is one of them. We just hit it off. A friendship is developing; so nice to see her again.
It is almost a year since she opened Varietai. She has a following. But, Michele is not new to this business. Years ago she had a store in Delray called Durango’s Attic. You might have even met her then.
If you have not stop by Varietai, please do so. The shop is full of beautiful items; some are fine consignments. Others, are quirky; many have their own sophistication.
       
I guess is that time of the year to jazz the home. Varietai is full of color, exactly what you would have expected in South Florida.
Michele is also an artist. She loves to paint. Check the floor of the store. All painted by her. The theme? The Japanese Koi.
Ask any questions you want. Michele has an eye for color and design and pays great attention to details. Her shop really is one of those must stop shops in Delray.
Varietai offers jewelry from Bali; wonderful colors and very unique, as well.
 
Deliveries? On week-ends…talk to you later…By the way, Michele; my friend loved his housewarming gift. Thanks for your help!!
November 12th, 2011
One of the attractions in Delray Beach on a Saturday mornings is the Delray Beach GreenMarket. This GreenMarket is part of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). It is held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The location is right in the heart of this Village by the Sea, just south of Atlantic Ave. on SE 4th Ave.
The Manager is Lori Nolan and she can be contacted at 561-276-7511 if you have any questions.
   
It is so nice to stroll through the vendors. Their produce was amazing; the colors and sizes were unreal. Food and music are part of it all.
 
I had never seen eggplants as big as these ones. They said they were Sicilian Eggplants; mild and creamy to sweet and bitter.
On a sunny day like today with low humidity it was the perfect way to start the day.
This little dog was there enjoying herself, just like everyone else.
The Delray Art League’s purpose is “to advance the public interest in the visual arts and to promote the development of excellence in visual arts in the South Palm Beach area”. The Delray Art League is the sponsor of Artists in the Park. Just look for the white tents right on Veteran’s Park by the Intracoastal.
It is the longest running outdoor fine art show in South Florida. Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Art League’s website is www.delrayartleague.org. On Facebook you can find both, Artists in the Park and Delray Art League.
Talk to you later…have a good one!!
November 12th, 2011
Is that time of the year when getting colder up north means that you are either a Snowbird or a Snowflake. I think I am in the category of the Snowflake. The snowflakes just come and go. Don’t get me wrong, I like cold weather, within reason. But, the other day I saw that someone had written on Facebook, where else? I love it when it gets cold up north. It was from someone that had a business in South Florida. And, yes, the season has begun. The airports are a little crowded, reservations are a most in some of the most sought after restaurants. You know the drill, right?
When I opened my computer I saw that even though it is going to warm up during the day…38 degrees in Rehoboth Beach….hmmmm this post was then much needed.
I have been in Delray Beach now since 2003. You have heard me go on and on about how unobstructed the beaches are here. No tall buildings, just a few things are needed to enjoy the beach; the water with beautiful color and it is so clear. That’s what originally attracted me to this town. Also, it reminded me of Rehoboth Beach, my home.
When my husband I first came here, we were sitting at a restaurant having breakfast and we picked up a real estate magazine. We thought we would just look around. That started a relationship with Cheran Tauriello from Tauriello & Co., located at 900 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL. 33483. Tel. 561-278-5570. Toll free # 877-509-8300. Brokers of Record & Owners: Daniel & Sue Tauriello
They have been so easy to work with. They are very professional. In Delray Beach for so many years; they know the community, neighborhoods and the company deals with a wide variety of properties.
I have suggested them to friends, as well. And my own personal feelings are that I have not had to look anywhere else. They really have been very good to us.
Tauriello & Co. is one of my advertisers. To go directly into their site, click on their website on the right hand side of this blog.
Anita Jennings Designs – I have known Anita for so many years. She is from my Humacao, Puerto Rico. That’s where I grew up. And, I found her in Delray when we bought our place. Anita is a one woman show with many years of experience in design. She is also very easy to work with and speaks several languages. Her telephone is 561-278-7473. She is one of my advertisers, just click on her website on the right hand side of this blog to go directly into her site and see what she is all about.
 Atlantic Ave. going East Beach House Management – Michael Keegan is the Property Manager that I have used since 2003. Being out of town, having a property management company to take care of your place is not a luxury, but a necessity. I have to laugh because when you visit Beach House Management’s website, you will find a list of services provided by them. If I had to tell you the services Michael has provided for us, there would be no end. Many are listed there but the majority are not. Some funny and some not so funny.
I always say that I cannot live without him; it is still true. Beach House Management is located in the heart of Delray Beach. Call Michael at 561-376-4329. Website? www.MyBeachHouses.com. Fax: 561-330-6204. Or, email him to BeachHouseMgmt@aol.com.
Beach House Management is also one of my advertisers. You can just click on their website and you will be right there. They really have been constant and attentive and great to deal with.
I don’t think I had to beg them to become advertisers; well, maybe a little. Word of mouth, a blog, a website….it all helps.
So, what are you waiting for?…..talk to you later….
 
|
1 Comment