February 2nd, 2012
I don’t get to stay at the hotels in Rehoboth Beach, or in any of the other hotels at the Delaware Beaches. Why should I? I live in Rehoboth Beach.
But, I was just thinking that there are more than a few events in Rehoboth Beach during the month of February. For example, this week-end is the Polar Bear Plunge. If you decide to become a brave soul then, maybe, you need to pamper yourself a bit and stay at The Bellmoor.
The Bellmoor is located at 6 Christian St. Tel. 302-227-5800. Website? www.thebellmoor.com. It is casual, yet elegant and sophisticated. It is within walking distance of everything Rehoboth Beach has to offer; the Boardwalk and beach, shops, restaurants, bake shops and coffee shops.
Don’t let the words luxurious and elegant intimidate you. It has a casual atmosphere, as well. The Bellmoor offers concierge services, pools, and gardens.
At this time of the year it is the perfect place to stay. Competitive prices and great special packages make staying at the Bellmoor very affordable. Please check the website.
The Day Spa is wonderful, small and intimate. And, if you are a Polar Bear this week-end then, you know who to call. You will need it after the plunge. Tina, can set the appointment with Erin. She is great.
That’s all I have to say; straight to the point.
Talk to you later…have a good one!!
November 29th, 2011
I have never been one to shop in big malls. I know, I know, the majority of people do. I don’t even go when there is not a holiday around the corner. So, why would I go when at the holiday season all I will get is full parking lots, long lines at the cash register, attendants are busy and a little short?
I like those small shops that you find in every single town, or city. In these shops you get the personal attention you need. My favorites are the local shops in the Delmarva Peninsula; the towns of Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, Ocean View, Ocean City, and Berlin among them.
So, no hustle and bustle; peace and serenity is what I want. One such shop is TaDa in the Historic town of Berlin, Maryland. I have written about it before and I just wrote a post on its sister store, TaDa Home. These are the shops that are worth visiting over and over again. New merchandise gets updated all the time.
TaDa is located at 18 N Main St., Berlin, MD 21811. Tel. 410-641-4430. Website? http://www.blairelizabeth.com. At any given time you will find Blair, Patty, Christine and even Brooke. They are responsible for everything on the store to look just right.
Being that the Holidays are upon us I wanted to show you some of the items that make TaDa a must stop shop in Berlin.
TaDa has a Children’s Corner with lots of cute presents for babies. The store has tote bags, scarves, shoes, bags, personalized items and even fun presents for the bride to be.
New colors had just come in – the flats
   
TaDa carries jewelry but the one that attracted by attention is the one designed and handmade by Blair Elizabeth. The stones and color combinations are, definitely, fun, casual with an understated elegance.
      
TaDa and TaDa Home are part of the merchants that make the town of Historic Berlin special during the Christmas Season. Please check out the following events when both shops will be involved.
December 1 through the 24th – Join them for refreshments, gourmet tastings, and free gift wrapping. The stores will open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Fridays in December – Sip and shop with TaDa at Burley Oak Brewery. Stop by TaDa any time to fill out your wish list and send your Santa to Burley Oak located in a building originally built at the turn of the century at 10016 Old Ocean City Blvd. 5 – 7 p.m. shop and enjoy some delicious local brews.
Food Drive, December 3rd – Benefitting the Maryland Food Bank. For every non-perishable food item donated, receive a coupon for $1 off your $5 purchase. No limit on coupons – coupons must be redeemed that day.
Have a great day!! Talk to you later…
November 5th, 2011
They say you have to see the town that Hollywood fell in love with….Remember? Runaway Bride? Or, Tuck Everlasting? These movies were filmed in the town of Berlin. And, even though it has been years since the streets were turned into a movie set, I always refer to both of those movies to see if people have a recollection.
The funny part is that when you do visit Berlin, it does remind you of the perfect movie set. One thing, for sure, is the fact that this Historic Village is vibrant with an influx of shops, arts, entertainment and restaurants. The shopkeepers? Friendly!!
You cannot miss in the center of Berlin, the beautiful and historic Atlantic Hotel. It is located at 2 North Main Street. Tel. 410-641-3589. Website? www.atlantichotel.com.
The Atlantic Hotel was built in 1895 by Horace F. Harmonson and his wife, Virginia Lingo Harmonson. “Drummers” were traveling salesmen that crisscrossed the area during the turn of the century and they stayed at the hotel.
In those early times there was a livery stable in the back. Here the sales of mules and horses took place. Livestock would arrive in Berlin by rail, then it would be driven up through the town to the Atlantic Stable.
Mr. Harmonson had a horse-drawn bus. He met incoming trains. The bus would carry passengers directly to the Hotel. “Drummers” would check into the Hotel and order up a horse and buggy from the stable to make their rounds.
Other frequent guests at the Hotel were those on their way to the ocean, those interested in hunting and fishing; guides were readily available, and those who simply loved good food.
Move forward many years and in 1986 the Atlantic Hotel was purchased by 10 local businessmen who were interested in preserving this gem. The Hotel now looks like it should have looked in its early days.
The Drummer’s Cafe opens daily with delicious food. The staff is more than happy to take you through a tour of the hotel and even show you some of the rooms, as long as there are no guests.
During the filming of the Runaway Bride, The Atlantic Hotel was used for many of the scenes in the movie.
The Hotel stands by itsel, but on Jefferson St., next to the Hotel, there is a Gardener’s Cottage. This cottage is also part of the Hotel and available for rent. It is so cute.
The Historic Village of Downtown Berlin is perfect for strolling. Just park your car; no meters, by the way, and take off exploring. So many new things coming to this town; it is becoming a destination.
It is just 10 minutes West of Ocean City, Maryland, 7 minutes West of Assateague Island, 25 minutes East of Salisbury and 45 minutes South of Rehoboth Beach.
Note: Some info. for this post was taken from The Atlantic Hotel.
Have a good one!! Talk to you later….
July 27th, 2011
Taking a walk after such a satisfying meal, on Saturday evening felt good. Susie had found out that the Inn at the Black Olive was just around the corner from The Black Olive. It is owned by the same family. Besides wanting to check out the Inn we wanted to also check the rooftop restaurant called The Olive Room. Looking over the city at that time of the evening was going to be beautiful.
What a surprise!! We were right in front of it. We just could not believe how big it actually was. The address is 803 South Caroline St., Fells Point, MD 21231. Tel. 443-681-6316. The website? www.theblackolive.com.
We went in and noticed that there was a market on the first floor. It is The Agora Market. If you are staying at the Inn at the Black Olive you can get a variety of provisions for your room.
We asked if there was a possibility to see one of the suites. There are only 12 suites in the whole building; 2 on each floor.
The Inn at the Black Olive considers itself the greenest hotel in Baltimore. The Inn provides the most gentle and healthy environment possible for their guests. To see more info. on the green aspects of this Inn, please visit their website www.theblackolive.com.
We entered one of the rooms and each of the rooms is equipped to handle all technology needs using some solar electricity.
The rooms have organic furniture and bedding, olive oil/limestone bath walls, pipeless whirlpool, geothermal radiant heating and cooling. Organic breakfast and complimentary wine selection is available, as well.
The suite that was shown to us was comfortable with a good size bedroom and bathroom.
I cannot say the same thing with the living area. It seemed that the scale of the furniture and art were not in proportion to the size of the room. Something was missing.
Off to the rooftop we went. It is called The Olive room. We did not have dinner there, having just eaten at The Black Olive.
We met Pauline, owner. She was sitting outside and we chatted a bit. Then outside you will experience a brethtaking view of the city.
You can dine or have drinks outside, as well. Really, it is gorgeous.
Inside, the restaurant is well appointed. The menu looked divine with small plates to choose from or regular entrees. You can see the menu on the website above mentioned.
We said our goodbyes with the promise that we would definitely, come back and make an evening of it.
Note: Their website, www.theblackolive.com is a very good and comprehensive one. You will find so much on the history of the area. You will also find what makes this family of restauranteurs and innkeepers tick.
I think that our Saturday evening was over…..spending the day with Susie was…priceless!!
July 26th, 2011
No, no and no. I am not moving. I love living at the Delaware Beaches. Just curious to see how this historic and industrial area is up and coming. That’s all. Oh, they also had an open house. No appointments were necessary.
Susie and I took off from the Basilica. We zipped through the ever in construction streets of Baltimore with no problem.
It has been now years since this industrial area has caught the eyes of developers. One of the first firms in the area is Under Amour, which makes its home in Tide Point, where a former soap factory once stood.
Historic Locust Point was once the center of Baltimore’s Polish, American, Irish-American and Italian-American communities.
The building Susie and I were interested in seeing was called Silo Point, located at 1200 Stewart St., Baltimore, MD 21230. Silo Point is in its second stage and they told us that the building is 65% sold.
Silo Point in itself is very industrial looking; inside and out. During the construction, they kept some of the silos/grain elevators, which is great because this is what stood here.
Silos are used in agriculture to store grain; mostly bulk. The Port of Baltimore is a major port in the mid-Atlantic states. It is also the furthest inland port in the U.S., and it is over 300 years old.
I have had a few days to digest my visit to this condominium. I found it very interesting. Urban living with an edge. There were a lot of people looking through the building and as interesting and dramatic the views were; I am not sure if that type of arrangement would suit my lifestyle.
After meeting in the lobby, we were directed to a roof top. This area can be rented for parties, dinners, etc. if you are a resident of Silo Point. If you don’t want your apt. dirty, then this would be the place to rent. Fully equippped; balconies and those dramatic views.
On one side you can look at the city of Baltimore, which is not far away, on the other is Fort McHenry.
Fort McHenry is a must see historical site if you are visiting Baltimore. Another first for the city of Baltimore; it was the first fort built by the U.S. government.
Fort McHenry is known for the War of 1812. It defended the Harbor from attack by the British Navy in the Chesapeake Bay. It was also during this bombardment that Francis Scott Key got his inspiration to write the Star Spangled Banner. The poem, which would become the U.S. National Anthem. But, you knew that, right? Just a reminder on how important the city of Baltimore has been through history.
On the southern part of Locust Point I saw a cruise ship about to leave port. I don’t know about you, but I just never hear anyone taking a cruise from Baltimore. Apparently is a busy terminal. The cruise terminal is 65,000 square feet in a converted warehouse.
The major cruise lines using this port are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Celebrity. Please check http://www.baltimorecruiseguide.com/cruises.html.
It was time to see some of the inside of these condos. They were very modern with different size ranges and prices. Monthly condo fees apply. No pool but gym and other facilities are an attraction.
So, here is a picture of how it looked.
And here are pictures of the different models. Large glass windows give you ample views. The train tracks are there and the train passes by a few times per day.
One of the restaurants that has opened at Silo Point is Miguel’s. I had to laugh. My brother’s name is Miguel. I did not eat at the restaurant, but went inside to get him a t-shirt. Interesting and colorful. I did hear that it is actually, pretty good and in a most unique location. Their website is www.miguelsbaltimore.com.
Next stop?…the Black Olive in Fells Point….see you…
July 22nd, 2011
I have to laugh because last week when I went to Florida, one of my neighbors asked me, Not hot enough for you here? Florida has been, actually, cooler than the Delaware Beaches these past few days and I believe this week-end, as well.
I was very interested in seeing this B & B. There are so many people from our area that visit Florida. B & Bs are so popular. I want to pass this info. to my readers, just in case this might be something they might like to try. Besides the fact that most B & Bs, like the Historic Hartman House, serve its guests a gourmet breakfast, they all offer a different atmosphere. You also get to enjoy that personal touch of the owners, as well as their local knowledge. Where to go, what to do? Real tried and true information.
I finally met Benita; I will make sure I meet Jordan next time. She welcomed us (Rosalyn and I) with a smile on her face. And, I knew she was busy, but she still took the time to show us around.
The Historic Hartman House was built in 1923. It is located at 302 NE 7th Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483. Tels. 866-787-2302, 561-278-2302. E-mail address is historichartmanhouse@gmail.com. Website? www.delraybeachbedandbreakfast.com.
Please visit the website because there are packages that are so attractively priced, as well as the history of the B & B, and so much more.
There are 4 rooms in the Historic Hartman House. On the first floor the room called Pineapple Grove, just like the neighborhood in town, is wheelchair accessible. It was occupied, so we did not see it.
The other 3 rooms were upstairs.
There is Las Palmas.
The Blue Seas.
And the Highland Park Suite with an adjacent room with a sofa bed. This room has a mahogany dressing table, and a beautiful bathroom.
In the first floor, a fully equipped kitchen. That day they were preparing stuffed baked apples.
A breakfast room, and sofas and chairs to lounge and relax.
There is a small sunroom as well, with someone watching the door.
When you are their guest, you will get soft spa robes, plush mattresses, wireless internet, flat screen tvs, gourmet breakfast, late afternoon treats, and a gorgeous yard.
The 75 foot lap pool is very impressive. It takes center stage in that yard, surrounded by seagrapes, mango trees, key limes, avocado and orange trees.
I am not kidding, you really could sit out there all day. It is beautiful. Benita and Jordan have outdone themselves in preserving this historic house. The pine floors were beautifully refinished. It is a home.
The Historic Hartman House is secluded but with easy access to Atlantic Ave., shopping, restaurants and that gorgeous beach.
And, wait a minute, I am not finished yet. I think Benita or Jordan might be able to take you to a nearby destination in their very comfortable and modern golf cart.
I think the Historic Hartman House is a welcomed addition to that Village by the Sea.
Have a good one!! Talk to you later….
June 27th, 2011
It is so easy for me to promote Rehoboth Beach. This coastal town in the Mid-Atlantic states is a destination, not only for the summer; it is a year round resort. I must admit, it might be a little quiet for a couple of months in January and February but other than those 2 months, Rehoboth Beach is a vibrant and friendly community. The town and its residents doing so much to keep it the charming town that it is.
The town of Rehoboth Beach is one square mile. It is a walking town. Stroll the tree-lined streets, enjoy the restaurants, shops and the boardwalk. The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is parallel to the beach. In the morning walkers are exercising; it is one mile each way. Breathing that salt air early in the morning gets you in the mood for whatever the day has to offer. In the evenings the Boardwalk Bandstand offers entertainment.
Sitting on the beach on a hot summer day is priceless and Rehoboth has a nice long and wide beach.
When VacationRentals.com contacted me about advertising on my website, I felt comfortable. This is my hometown. I find that Rehoboth has everything to offer for a great summer vacation. The town is within a few hours of our Nation’s Capital, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Four hours from New York City. You can drive from those cities and be at the beach in no time.
VacationRentals.com is a company with direct access to rentals in Rehoboth Beach. Plenty to pick and choose with different prices to accommodate each budget.
At times, people want to just come for a few days; maybe a week or two for that matter. Other times there is a wedding in town. The preference might be a house, a condo or a townhouse so that guests can feel at home. A girls’ get-a-way-week-end or a guys’ golf get-a-way, as well.
In my posts I talk about the seafood this area has to offer. Crabs, clams, corn and plenty of other Boardwalk grub. You’ll have to get here and experience it; see what I am talking about.
To access VacationRentals.com Rehoboth rental market please visit http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/Rehoboth-Beach-Delaware.html. They are under the Links on http://www.aboutmybeaches.com, as well. Just click on their banner and you are in their site. Easy.
VacationRentals.com is part of HomeAway.com, the world’s most trusted vacation rental website. You can find them of Facebook and Twitter.
Have a great day!!! You are at the Beach…relax and kick back….
May 14th, 2011
I got an e-mail from Noreen who loves The Bellmoor Spa. She is also a reader of this blog. She thought a visit to the Spa would make a good post. To tell you the truth, I have been meaning to take advantage of this Spa which is located right in the center of Rehoboth Beach. Now that it is getting warmer, I am almost ready to put my winter clogs away and take out the flip flops and sandals.
So, on Wednesday I went. Let me tell you a bit about The Bellmoor Spa. First of all, it is located in the elegant, The Bellmoor Inn, 6 Christian St., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Website? www.thebellmoor.com. The Bellmoor Inn has world class accommodations. Here are a few pictures of the Inn.
The Spa is located on the second floor of the Inn. Open to the public; you do not have to be a guest of the Inn in order to take advantage of their many services.
I was reading what Dr. Susan Biali has said about the reasons you should still go to a Spa, even in tough times. She is an internationally recognized wellness expert, life coach, speaker and writer. To know more about her, visit www.susanbiali.com.
She said that people think that going to a Spa is an “extra, inessential splurge”. But, think again, taking care of ourselves (men also) is essential for our mental and physical health, more so in tough times. A visit to a Spa reduces stress; it gives a boost to your mood.
The moment I walked into The Bellmoor Spa I felt right in my element. I found that this Spa is small and intimate. The Director of the Spa is Tina Allen and the telephones are: 800-425-2355 and 302-227-5800. E-mail is spa@thebellmoor.com.
The Bellmoor Spa is a day spa and offers a variety of packages; from rejuvenating facials to full body massages, scrubs and couples’ treatments. There are also Men Only Packages between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Just remember that it is limited to the first 4 men that arrive per night. You know how men are. They certainly don’t want to sit there with all of us. They need their special time, as well.
For more info., please visit www.thebellmoor.com.
Erin Dickerson was going to take care of my pedicure. She also can do skin care and massage.
The nail room was waiting for me with nice, warm and foaming soaking water. Great. I chose more of an orange color for my nails.
Erin and I talked and got to know one another. She really was very professional and I really had forgotten how nice getting a pedicure felt. It really was a treat.
I cannot believe I am putting the picture of my feet “after” the pedicure. But, here it is.
Erin gave me a tour of the other rooms, as well. Depending on your service, you will be directed to a specific room.
There is another room for couples or friends that want to experience a spa treatment together.
The Bellmoor Spa has gift certificates available. They also have a Weekday Massage Special that is running until Memorial Day Week-End. You can enjoy a 50 minute Swedish Massage for $55 (usually $95) Sundays through Thursdays. Please ask for Tina to take advantage of this limited time offer. Just remember that it does not include gratuities. It is limited to one service per person, daily, and not valid in conjunction with other promotions.
I think you will enjoy it. And, there is plenty of parking available.
Let me know what you think…….talk to you later….
|
0 Comments