March 23rd, 2016
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” plato
No, Patti Grimes, Executive Director, was not getting her hair done by no other than Drexel Davison, owner of Bad Hair Day in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Actually, Patti was very well coiffed. The Freeman Stage came to have a little wine, beer, hor d’ouvres, and to chat about what is very dear to their hearts….the Arts at The Freeman Stage at Bayside.
I thought that The Freeman Stage needed no introduction. Everyone knows by now that this outdoor entertainment venue has been giving Southern Delaware memorable performances. It is like Patti was saying….the first time you hear opera, the first time you see a ballet, the first time you see a live concert, it transforms you. The legendary Bob Marley so well stated “One Good Thing about Music, when it Hits you, you feel no pain”.
Have you attended any of the peformances at The Freeman Stage? It is located about 4 miles west of Fenwick Island. The actual address is 31556 Winterberry Parkway, Selbyville, DE 19975. Tel. 302-436-3015 Website? http://www.freemanstage.org.
The Big Reveal for what is coming up to The Freeman Stage Summer 2016 will be Thursday, March 24th. Check out the website above mentioned or visit their Facebook Page.
Summer nights at the beach are unforgettable, more so if you attend one of the concerts at The Freeman Stage. The Stage is quiet at times during the day, but at dusk it takes a life of its own. People dance and how could they not?
This summer seeing Melissa Etheridge who is such a Superstar. Blondie, and icon from the 70’s. And, The Wailers, entertaining us with Reggae, the music, which is influenced by mento, which is Jamaican folk music, calypso, and American Jazz.
Summer 2016 promises to be an exceptional year, so please check the website to see who is coming to perform on this amazing stage. You will see the performers up close and personal.
Bad Hair Day is located at 20 Lake Avenue in Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-227-4247. It is a full service salon and barber shop. Website? http://www.badhairday.biz
I want to thank Virgina and Jose Somalo who invited my friend, Jody and I. On the photo you will see Virginia Esteban on the left, Jody, on the center and Jose on the right. Virginia Esteban is the Editor, and Jose is the Publisher of Hoy en Delaware. This is a completely Spanish newspaper, sold throughout the state of Delaware.
Great to have met Leah Reynolds, right, Development Director, and Denise Allen on the left.
It was a very nice time to be able to mingle and meet new faces. Drexel, chatting with his guests.
 Debbie Killeen, Leah Reynolds, Virginia Esteban Somalo Have you been to Bad Hair Day? Let me show you a bit of it while there are no customers. Have in mind that this is an award winning spa. They moved this past year to this new location across the street from the previous one. They are also open 7 days a week….no excuse for not looking your best!!
 Drexel's Dad's Bike 
It was getting time for a presentation by Patti Grimes. She has a soft voice that commands attention.
The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It was established in 2007 to honor Josh Freeman after his passing on 2006. Even though in Southern Delaware there is a lot of entertainment, this company set the tone for what is happening in the area. Last year visitors to The Freeman Stage were in excess of 50,000.
Many sponsorships are available. Please visit http://www.freemanstage.org, and http://www.freemanfoundation.org.
The Freeman Stage is helping the community enjoy national class acts as well as regional and local ones.
In the meantime……
January 31st, 2016
“Wine is meant to be with food – that’s the point of it.” julia child
It is January at the Deaware Beaches and it should a little quieter. And it is, don’t get me wrong. But these beaches have become year round resorts. No longer just for summer residents, people have been moving to the Delaware Beaches in large amounts. Years ago living in Bethany Beach meant that once Labor Day Week-End came around, only abou 500 of us would be left behind. I liked it like that but the towns had to grow just like anything else.
I was meeting on Thursday with a few friends from Ocean City, Maryland. This was a good mid point to meet. But, we also found out that 99 Sea Level, a new restaurant that opened this year at the also newly opened Marriott Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, was considered very good with a perfect location, as well. 99 Sea Level is located at 99 Hollywood St., Bethany Beach, DE 19930 Tel. 302-539-0299 The restaurant is open at this time of the year, Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Website? http://www.99sealevel.com.
99 Sea Level is inside the hotel on the same level of the hotel’s Reception.
It is too cold to sit outside but this summer make sure to stop by and grab outdoor dining which is oceanfront by the Boardwalk.
The lobby of the hotel is so pretty and make sure to notice the chandelier designed and built by glass blower, Jeffrey Auxer, from Berlin, Maryland.
Every Thursday 99 Sea Level offers a Wine Society Dinner. You can choose to be part of the dinner or you can eat from the regular menu. We decided to go with the wine dinner. Ms. Donna Serafini who is the Director of Operations was going to be our Wine Sommelier.
4 Courses paired with beautiful wines. This dinner was $48.00. The bar was crowded and also the room was full with all of us expecting one delicious meal accompanied by the perfect wines.
The First Course was a Chickpea Vegetable Stew with pearl onion, fingerling potatoes and flatbread. The Wine? Firesteed Riesling from Oregon.
Between courses the staff made sure we were comfortable attending to our needs. We were enjoying chatting and catching up.
The Second Course was Warm Octopus…leeks compote, Peruvian Anticucho Sauce, Truffle Virgin Olive Oil. Anticucho, say that again? They say it is a name given by Peruvians to a very hot soup, prepared with a special pepper from the jungle. The Wine? Ferarri Carano Fume Blanc, a Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County, California.
The Third Course was a Veal Sirloin…yuca puree, carrots, and mustard peppercorn. It was paired with Edmeades Zinfandel from Mendocino County.
The Fourth Course…The sweet ending of Dessert was an Apple Upside Down with cinnamon, vanilla cake, and candy pecans. It was paired with Block Nine Pinot Noir from California.
It was a lot of fun…and lots of wine!! These dinners happen every Thursday. They will also have in February a Beer Dinner also pairing courses with them. You can check the website or visit them on Facebook for more information.
There will be a Super Bowl Party on the 7th!! And Valentine’s Day is around the corner, as well.
So the evening was over. I headed to Rehoboth Beach and my friends headed to Ocean City, Maryland, but not before we stopped in front of our favorite jeweler in Bethany Beach, Alice H. Klein of TKO Designs.
January 10th, 2016
Growing up in Puerto Rico gave me an extra holiday to celebrate. This holiday celebrated in Spain and in Latin countries is called Three Kings Day. In Spanish it is Dia de Los Reyes. It’s celebrated on January 6th. Known as the Epiphany it is the Holiday celebrating the biblical adoration of the Baby Jesus by the Three Kings, or Wise Men…in Spanish Los Reyes Magos. Their names? Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar.
They offered gold representing Jesus’ royal standing as King of the Jews. They also offered frankincense referring to His Divine nature. And, myrrh which was often used to embalm corpses. This was presented to the new baby as a symbol of Jesus’ mortality.
So, when I was a young girl, I would go outside on the eve, which would have been January 5th, with a shoebox, and collect grass for the camels. I would place the box under my bed. Then, I would put cookies and milk for the Kings. In the morning I would find that the camels had made such a mess!!
Once John and I had children and lived in Bethany Beach, I continued with this tradition. It really was a mess, but so worth it!!
The tradition in Puerto Rico was to celebrate this day with roasting pigs, blood sausages, plantains, rice with green pigeon peas, flan and local music!! You still can find those parties but it is not like when I was growing up.
I invited friends for dinner on January 6th to celebrate Three Kings Day. I think this might become an annual tradition. I got some Puerto Rican flags to put on the tree….forgot to get the group photo. I will be more organized next year, I promise.
One of the typical drinks in Puerto Rico at this time of the year is Coquito. It is like an egg nog. My brother told me that the Rum Chata would be perfect to serve. Guess what? I forgot to serve it, as well!! But, Cindi and I tried it the next day. Sooooo good!!
I really thought I was very organized, but as my friends came and the chatting continued I almost forgot a few things that should have started cooking. Hey, don’t worry everything did come out pretty good.
As usual we all gathered in the kitchen…that’s usually the case. A few appetizers…not too many because I had a lot of food. Pasteles are like tamales, but made with plantains. My brother had a Puerto Rican woman in Orlando, Florida, make them for me. Federal Express and here in no time. My grandmother used to make the best plantains but these were a second best. Inside they had raisins, olives, garbanzo beans, and chicken or pork.
Fried plantains with mojito…I like the plantains thin.
Here is Donna helping out in the kitchen.
Pork loin chunks prepared with spices, cilantro, tamarind, olives, capers, and tomatoes. Cooked for some time letting the spices do their thing.
The rice with green pigeon peas was cooking but to tell you the truth I did not like the consistency. The taste was good, nevertheless.
A green salad to clean our palate.
For dessert 2 flans were made. One a traditional Puerto Rican flan with milk and eggs. The other also widely made with cream of coconut….Guess what? I forgot to take the photo but here is a photo of one that I had made some time ago. No kidding, I will have to be better next time. That’s what happens when you are a too relaxed hostess!!
Two tables with the sounds of laughter and story telling, celebrating long time friendships!! It is always amazing!!
And my new granddaughter, Sophia, experienced her first Puerto Rican Fiesta!!
Have a great 2016!!
Note: And if you thought you were finished with the Holidays, think again. In Puerto Rico beginning on January 7th….8 more days of parties…called the Octavitas.
January 3rd, 2016
We really should not complain here in Southern Delaware. The temperatures so far have been great and it has felt like summer all through the Holidays. But, as we start a new year, and being that it is January, the temperatures dipped a bit this a.m. Thinking about the blue waters of San Juan. Getting to Puerto Rico is pretty easy. It is a relatively short flight and there are daily flights from Baltimore (BWI) and Philly.
Every first Sunday of the month the Mercado Urbano or Farmers Market takes place at 1054 Ashford Avenue…9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is a great way to get up close and personal with farmers, and artists. It is a family affair with plenty of food for everyone. This will be the first Mercado Urbano of 2016!!
This time of the year in San Juan the temperatures will be in the low 8Os, which is great for walking and exploring the Condado area. Mercado Urbano is also ocean front.
Fresh coconut water.
Local produce.
Every Sunday there will be paella.
Local cookies…bring back childhood memories.
Cod Fish Cakes or Bacalaitos. They are so good, and yes they are fattening.
Fresh Pasta.
Throughout the day there are plenty of activities. On Sunday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Yoga with Lara. All you have to do is bring your mat.
From 10 a.m. unti Noon you can participate in Boot Camp with Spartan Fit.
From 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. there will be live entertainment on the stage.
Shop around for Puerto Rican cigars.
Every household in Puerto Rico has “pique” or hot sauce, locally made.
And please stop by to meet Carla from Carla’s Rosaries. All made by Carla…they are beautiful. Check her out on Facebook. Her website is http://www.carlasrosaries.com.
This customer was so graciously posed for a photo.
If you are in the metropolitan area of San Juan, please stop by. It is a lot of fun!!
December 14th, 2015
Eating my way through Charleston. A friend that reads my posts told me she was not going to read them anymore. She was gaining weight just looking at some of the food. I arrived at Cypress which was across my hotel, The Vendue. This is a historic building….but practically a lot of the buildings in downtown Charleston are historic. The location? 167 East Bay Street. Website? http://www.cypresscharleston.com.
You may call for reservations at 843-727-0111. The Mezzanine Bar opens at 5:00 p.m. and the Dining Room opens at 5:30 p.m. You may also make reservations online. The above mentioned website is a wealth of information. You can also read about the chefs, and check out what events are going to be happening in 2016. They will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so please take a look in case you want to take advantage of a relaxing and delicious experience in dining.
Cypress is part of a group of restaurants…Magnolias, Blossom, and Artisan Meat Share. If you are visiting Charleston take a look at them, as well.
Taylor was my server and I have to give a loud shout to her. She knew the menu so well, having tasted most everything from the kitchen. I followed her advice and I could not have been happier.
A little wine and warm bread to the table. Not just a simple bread….the crust was well done and the inside was just perfect and so warm.
An appetizer of Sashimi Tuna & Oysters….what a great combination of flavors. Oysters are in season. It had a ginger-garlic glaze, and pineapple wasabi. Not only did they tasted delicious, the presentation was awesome.
For my entree I was looking at the Crisp Wasabi Tuna. Taylor told me that it was a signature dish, and one that is usually photographed in the magazines. I had to have it because it sounded perfect. The tuna had a crispy outside placed on carrots, turnips, radishes, edamame, shiitake mushrooms, and that fab ginger-garlic glaze once again. I could not get enough of it.
What could my sweet ending be? The Grand Marnier Souffle sounded decadent. It was brought to the table and when the Marnier creme anglaise was poured from above, I was just so happy to have had my camera ready!!
If dining or having drinks on the Mezzanine you will have an advantage bird’s eye view of the kitchen.
Once again many thanks to Taylor for taking care of me.
Eating by myself was just fine. “All four elements were happening in equal measure – the cuisine, the wine, the service, and the overall ambiance. It taught me that dining could happen at a spiritual level.” charlie trotter
December 12th, 2015
So many visitors come to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, year round. Rehoboth was incorporated in 1873 to create a Christian seaside resort. The railroad was extended in 1878 to Rehoboth Beach, therefore, bringing more visitors and businesses to this seaside town. In 1879 the town was renamed “The Rehoboth Beach Association”. The population has grown over the years. Plenty of summer visitors and part time residents increase the population significantly .
During Christmas I love grabbing something to eat in town with a friend….come to think of it I just did that with my friend, Jody. Stopping at Dogfish Head on Rehoboth Avenue for one of my favorite salads….their pub salad topped with grilled salmon and a delicious dressing is not to be missed. It looks good and it tasted even better.
If you decided to visit Rehoboth Beach during the Holidays you will find the town looking more beautiful than ever. Tiny lights cover the trees in town. The Boardwalk is a mile long. It was quiet when Jody and I were walking, no one around.
The big iconic Dolle’s sign remind visitors that you are at the beach!!
Santa’s House on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is the cutest Santa House on the coast. There is no charge to visit with Santa but donations are appreciated. Please check http://www.beach-fun.com.
The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, 12/13, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Friday, 12/18, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 12/19, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Sunday, 12/20, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. NOTE: At 3 p.m. is Pet Time with Santa.
Thursday, December 17th – CANVAS AND CORKS at Rehoboth Art League, located at 12 Dodds Lane. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. This is a class about art, fun, socialization and wine, or your beverage of choice. The class will be creating a painting step-by-step with an instructor and all your supplies are included. Instructor Gerilyn Gaskil will help you have a great time creating a great piece of art. Must be 21 years of age. For more info., please visit http://www.rehobothartleague.org.
Friday, December 18th and Saturday, December 19th – 2015 HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST FOR HOMES IN THE CITY OF REHOBOTH BEACH…2 categories: Traditional and Truly Fabulous. Turn your Holiday Lights on Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. No registration is required but you may email info@RBhomeowners.com to let them know you are participating.
Saturday, December 19th – A NOT SO SILENT NIGHT at Clear Space Theatre located at 20 Baltimore Avenue. 7:00 p.m. Local favorites Matthew Kenworthy, John Flynn, The Family Jewells, and Alicia Dennis join forces to celebrate the Holiday Season with music. A journey through traditional and not so traditional seasonal favorites and original musical skits will inspire belly laughing good times. General Admission, Open Seating…All seats are $15. More info? Please visit http://www.clearspacetheatre.org.
Sunday, December 20th – A HOLIDAY PEACE CONCERT – at Epworth United Methodist Church on Holland Glade Rd. 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and anyone under 18 is Free. Tickets are available at Browseabout Books at 133 Rehoboth Avenue, and also at the Door. Rehoboth Concert Band is a community band of instrumentalists at all levels of play and all ages. It performs concert band literature, including classical and contemporary music, marches, show tunes, and some novelty pieces. Please visit http://www.rehobothconcertband.org.
Saturday, December 26th – THE FAREWELL PARTY – At MCC Rehoboth, 19369 Plantation Rd. in Rehoboth Beach. The film is presented by the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. These monthly series present films and discussions about the various cultures in the world, including diversity in our own country. Admission is $4 for Members (current card must be presented) and $6 for future members. This is a compassionate and surprisingly funny story about residents at a Jewish retirement home who help their terminally ill friend by constructing an euthanasia device…..more info? Please visit http://www.rehobothfilm.com/film_events_monthly_screenings.html.
SHOPPING in Delaware is Tax Free!! Participating Downtown Rehoboth Beach businesses are giving 10% off your purchases until December 24th. For more info., please visit http://www.downtownrb.com.
TANGER OUTLETS….coupons and great deals…please visit http://www.tangeroutlet.com/rehoboth/coupons.
Have a Good One!!
December 3rd, 2015
Saturday, December 5th the Holiday Season will begin in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Known as The Quiet Resort, Bethany Beach does get a little quiet in the winter but plenty of the merchants are open during the week-ends. Not wanting to stay behind other Delaware Beach resorts, Bethany puts a good show for the Holidays.
On Saturday make plans to be there by 1 p.m. when free events will be happening: Photos with Santa….he will be arriving at 1:15 p.m., Letters to Santa, Horse-drawn carriage rides, trolley rides, face painting, hot cocoa and cookies and music!!
Help Bethany Beach start a new tradition when at 6 p.m. the Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on the Boardwalk by the Bandstand.
Gather with friends and family and help light the “Tree of Warmth”, and sing along to a performance by the Lord Baltimore Children’s Choir.
Everyone is encouranged to bring hats, gloves, scarves and canned goods as a donation to area charities.
Please have in mind that every Saturday in December prior to Christmas, there will be caroling arond the “Tree of Warmth” on the Bandstand to end the day. Stores will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Please check the schedule of events for the Holiday Season in Bethany Beach at http://www.townofbethanybeach.com
Merry Christmas!!
December 1st, 2015
Christmas Markets go back to the late Middle Ages. In Berlin, Germany, as I have stated in previous posts there are 60 markets. During my visit I had the opportunity to visit 3 different markets. Believe me they all celebrate the Advent Season; they are all slightly different. We arrived late afternoon to Weihnachtsmarkt vor dem Schloss Charlottenburg. I loved this market. It is one of the biggest ones and the Palace of Charlottenburg is the backdrop for this market. During the evening you can see the palace take different hues.
It is located at Spandamer Damm 14059 Berlin. It opens all day. For more info., please visit http://www.wvdsc.de.
You may find this market on Facebook. For other info. you may visit http://www.christmasmarkets.com.
The open air wood huts are decorated with natural materials. You will find mulled wine, marzipan, fresh baked goods, roasted chestnuts, local crafts, and this particular one had rides for the kids.
Berlin is not ashamed of saying Merry Christmas….The Nativity Scene!!
One of my favorite huts was the following….it got my attention the moment I saw the smoking salmon.
And then my sandwich. It was so good that you had to taste it to get the full experience. If you get a chance to visit this market, this hut is to the right as you come into the market.
These markets offer something for everyone. So neat to see everyone enjoying themselves…celebrating the Season. With all the turmoil in the world we certainly need, and deserve these festivities.
 
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