April 13th, 2010
It has been 13 years since I last visited the island. I was visiting for serious personal reasons; not on holiday.
I flew from the Philadelphia airport. The airport was so quiet at that time of the morning; but not for long.
I heard noises coming from my gate; loud voices, kids screaming. Oh, how can I forget that some things never change!!
Latins are loud but Puerto Ricans have a Master’s Degree in Loud Speaking. I am including myself in this group. There have been times when I have had to tone myself down; just a few notches.
Spending almost 4 hours in an airplane will get you to meet the person next to you. I met Christina. Her parents were in the plane, as well. By the time I got to Puerto Rico, I knew her whole life story. I started to get a little worried when she asked for a bag in case she needed to throw up. She was pregnant and morning sickness was tugging at her. I just told her to please throw up to the other side. She was presented with a trash can bag. Can you imagine me landing in PR after all these years looking like, oh, well I am not getting into it.
Hey, I am kidding; I was ready to help her. She made out fine and full of happiness and with plenty of aspirations for the baby. She herself was one of 11 children from the same parents who were 47 and 53 years old. Yikes!! I wish her the best.
It was a smooth ride all the way until we hit San Juan; I missed the clapping upon arrival. I was surprised because it was a bit shaky.
I cannot imagine anyone contradicting me on the following. This airport has never been able to handle a smooth retrieval of luggage. Single file through just one revolving door for all the planes arriving that day. Then on to the actual waiting of luggage.
But, everything was forgotten as soon as I saw Sonia, Guiso and Margie; my welcoming committee.
I thought about leaving my blog quiet for those days but some time ago, when I started writing this blog, Roxana pointed out that Puerto Rico has beautiful beaches, as well. Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to write my experiences in La Isla del Encanto.
One thing Puerto Ricans do well is find the perfect places to eat. So lunch, drinks, catching up and a quick tour of my old stomping grounds; the Condado area, Ashford Ave., and on our way to Old San Juan; one of the oldest, most beautiful and romantic cities in this hemisphere.
I found some areas have remained untouched. Others, I wish they would have left them alone. This island is in economic chaos but building is still going on in Old San Juan. I love its cobblestones in the Old City and the narrow streets, the balconies, the vendors and the Port of San Juan.
Even though I have rated the Piraguas (snow cones) in PR as the best in the world, I did not have one. They really are the best.
The new Convention Center is strategically located taking advantage of its views towards Catano, home of the Bacardi Distillery.
Ahh…the sounds of the island; not the Coqui; that little green frog indigenous to Puerto Rico; but the horns, the loudspeakers on top of cars, announcing I don’t know what. I don’t think there is a political election yet.
The driving experience. Only when you go through it, you realize that it’s time to give thanks for being alive. Sonia went against the traffic, but who cares? Just another “Puertorriquenada.”
Finally, we arrived at “Hacienda Pellerano”, my home until Monday.
Hacienda Pellerano is in the city of Guaynabo, but you would think that it is in the middle of the rain forest. You can actually see, El Yunque (rain forest) from their house, at a distance, and on a clear day. My room was great. I had short and long robes embroidered with its name, slippers, candy and flowers.
Freshly squeezed juice every day, black espresso made by Mr. P; you were ready to face the day. The sounds of the parrots and the sights of the guacamayos passing by made you feel that you were certainly on an island. Iguanas and maybe an occasional monkey, as well.
The thing is that Hacienda Pellerano is private and by invitation only.
And, that’s how my stay began….
Talk to you later…
April 12th, 2010
Puerto Rico is the island I grew up in. Beautiful island with the beaches, the mountains, great restaurants, the arts and its people.
Even though I ended up visiting the island after so many years; this time was for personal reasons. The visit ended up being a very nice and happy one. What can I say? You will have to read on….but today the blog is quiet.
Talk to you later…
April 10th, 2010
Back on January 7th, 2010, I wrote a post for my blog about Property Managers. If you would like to see it, just click on the month of January under Archives and scroll down to the date.
Once again, I would have to tell you that I feel exactly the same about Beach House Management, LLC and Coastal Home Services. I know the owners personally and I can trust them fully with my properties.
Being, that your home is your “castle”, property managers give you peace of mind.
They are not a luxury, they are a necessity.
In Delray Beach, Florida
Michael Keegan is the owner of Beach House Management, LLC, located at 777 E. Atlantic Ave., Suite Z-307 in Delray. Tels. 561-376-4329 and toll free 866-414-4329. Website is http://mybeachhouses.com. E-mail address is beachhousemgmt@aol.com.
Beach House Management is one of my Advertisers; you can see their ad on the right side of the blog and if you click on it, you will directly go into its site.
What can I say about Michael? He is very knowledgeable, professional, prompt and courteous. Doesn’t that say it all? I can still go on an on about everything he has done for my properties in Delray and, actually, for my family, as well. He has arranged pick ups at the airport, has opened the doors to our place more times that I can count, white flies on the hedge? No problem, getting competitive prices for jobs, replacement of faucets, light fixtures, close and open the property, dealing with tenants, comcast, you name it, he has done it.
Needless to say, I recommend him fully. At this time of the year when some of the “snowbirds” will be leaving the area, he would be a trustworthy person to handle your “castle”.
In Bethany Beach, Delaware
The Delaware Beaches are gearing up for the summer season. By the looks of the amount of visitors already coming to our beaches, I can tell you that it is going to be a busy summer.
Coastal Home Services is located in Bethany Beach. The address is P.O. Box 3, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. The website is www.coastal-home-services.com and the e-mail address is info@coastal-home-services.com.
The owner of this company is Debbie Dyer. I have known her for many years and anyone that knows her will attest to her organizational and managerial skills.
Being that she is a local, she knows the Delaware Beaches very well. She is also an Advertiser on my blog. You can check her website by clicking on it on the right hand of the blog.
Just like Michael Keegan of Beach House Management, she is knowledgeable, professional, prompt and courteous. You meet her, she will give you her wide smile and you will feel like you have known her all your life.
Coastal Home Services is a full concierge service. So, all I can say is give Debbie a call so that she can make your stay more enjoyable, and keep your “castle” the way you want it to be kept.
Talk to you later…
April 9th, 2010
This event its not one to be missed. An American Night of Music will be showcasing many of the area’s finest and best loved performers in country, folk, jazz and rock. These talented artists will be telling their own stories, and in the unique performances, created by singer/songwriter Kent Schoch, passes on those stories to a new generation and a new audience.
This event will take place on Saturday, April 10th at 8:00 p.m.
The following performers will be in attendance: Charity Case, Mule Train, The Kent Schoch Band, The Billie Carlin Band, and the Reminders, featuring Ed Shockley, John Thompson and Kevin Short.
Each performer shares his and her own unique voice with the audience, keeping the wheels of music turning for the audience to remember the past as new memories and connections are being created.
Sing along, sit back or dance in the aisles of the historic Milton Theatre. They are saying this performance will nourish your roots and touch your soul.
I wrote a post on this Art Deco Movie House on 3/28/10, so if you would like to see it, (lots of pictures), then click on the month of March under Archives on the left hand side of the blog and scroll down to the date.
Ticket Information:
Adults $18 per person, Seniors (65+) $15 per person and students $15 per person. You may call the theatre at 302-684-3400 to purchase tickets.
Talk to you later…
April 8th, 2010
Delray Beach is still offering its visitors a great time. The weather has been great, the palm trees are swaying in their usual way, the water is warm, and the restaurants are crowded. This week-end the Delray Affair will be the main event, but other activities are being held as well.
Boyton Beach – Next town, north of Delray
Saturday and Sunday, 4/10 and 4/11 – Art-Sea Living will hold Pottery with the Family, from 10 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 12 Noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is a BOGO Pottery Party. It means Buy One Get One Fee. Free to paint on the same day. Art-Sea Living is located at 1628 South Federal Highway in Boyton Beach. Tel. 561-737-2600. Website is www.art-sealiving.com.
Delray Beach
Friday 4/9/ at 7 p.m. – Murder on the Beach Bookstore, at 273 NE 2nd Ave, in Pineapple Grove. Tel. 561-279-7790. Website is www.murderonthebeach.com. This is a mystery book and entertainment store.
The following authors will be signing their books at 7:00 p.m.:
Michael Wiley will be signing The Bad Kitty Lounge. He grew up in Chicago and lived and worked in the neighborhoods and streets he sets his Kozmarski mysteries. He teaches literature at University of Nort Florida in Jacksonville. In this book you will find that Greg Samuelson has hired Joe Kozmarski to dig up dirt on his wife and her lover. But it appears that Samuelson decides to take matters into his own hands…..
Author Sandra Balzo is the author of the Maggy Thorsen coffee mysteries. When Maggy Thorsen’s coffee house, Uncommon Grounds, is virtually obliterated by a snowstorm she and friend, Sarah, resolved to reopen, near a train station, just in time for the opening of the new communter route. But when Sarah’s uncle dies suddenly, in the first of a series of “accident” it is clear that….
On Saturday, April 10th at 6:00 p.m. another author will be signing his book, as well. He is Tony Hays. His book is The Divine Sacrifice. It is the second in the series featuring King Arthur’s counselor, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas. Arthur and Malgwyn are called to the abbey of Glandstonbury to settle a matter of political importance….
Friday and Saturday, 4/9 and 4/10 – Shark Feeding at 10:30 a.m. at Sandoway House Nature Center on 142 S. Ocean Blvd., 2 blocks south of Atlantic Ave. on A1A.
American Orchid Society Events:
The Orchis Doctor is In on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Bring your sick plants to the Visitors’ Center for a Consultation. Wednesdays from 10 until 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 until 4 p.m.
The Orchid Society is located on 16700 AOS Lane, off of Jog Rd. Tel. 561-404-2000 and website is www.aos.org.
On Thursday, 4/15 is going to be the last of Wine & Jazz Evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. $25/non members and $20/members. Enjoy orchids in bloom, great music, wine tasting, and appetizers in their beautiful botanical gardens. Greenhouse tours will be available. I wrote a post on the Society on 1/11/10. All you have to do, if you wish to read it, is click under month of January, under Archives, on the left hand side of this blog. Scroll down to the date.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 4/9, 4/10, 4/11 – The Delray Affair. This is the 48th year for the Delray Affair. It is the most popular arts and crafts street festival in Palm Beach County. It is held outdoors along the sidewalks and palm tree-lined Atlantic Ave. Streets are open to pedestrians from West of Swinton Ave. to the Intracoastal. Park & Ride service will be available.
The Delray Affair is one of the oldest and largest, arts, crafts, and entertainment festivals. Top notch artists, and craftspersons, home cooked foods, strolling entertainers from 10 – 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 – 6 p.m. and Sunday until 4:30 p.m. Over 800 artists, crafts and exhibitors.
Entertainment:
Dallas the Fire Guy – www.dallasthefireguy.com. It is for the whole family.
Nicktorious – www.nicktorious.com. Houdini style escape with a modern twist for all ages.
Will Soto – www.willsoto.net. Funambulist, juggler, raconteur.
Eclipse – Veterans Park on Friday at 3, 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. Saturday 2, 3:45 and 5:30 p.m., and Sunday 1, 2:45, 4:30 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, 4/12 and 4/13 – Adam Pascal will be at the Crest Theatre at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton. Adam Pacal was a Tony Award nominee for his performance in the Pulitzer Prize musical Rent. Tickets are $42/person or $39 (group of 10 or more) For more info. please call 561-243-7922, ext. 1 or you may purchase tickets on-line at www.oldschool.org/performances.asp.
April 7th, 2010
One of my favorites is Shad. This is the time of the year for this delicate fish and Shad is very popular in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. You can only get it for about 6 or 7 weeks. The taste is so light; not fishy at all.
Shad spawns in rivers and traditionally it was caught along with salmon in set nets which were suspended from poles driven into the river bed and close to shore in tidal water. It is very bony, but I get mine, deboned. Some people like to cook the whole fish and in that case you would have to steam it in an oven for about 5 hours. The bones actually, disolve.
Shad is so flavorful that you really don’t need sauces, herbs or spices. It can be boiled, filleted and fried in butter or baked. The way I like is baked on a high heat; about 400 degrees. All I do is get a cookie sheet and line it with foil, then grease it a bit. Place the shad on the cookie sheet and basted with melted butter, lemon and some paprika. That’s all. Cook it 10 minutes to the pound. Want to test it to see if it’s cooked? Just insert a fork and tug and if it gives then it is ready. So easy.
Shad Roe is the egg of the females. It is another favorite in my household. There are so many recipes available but I just bake it on a lined cookie sheet, in a high heat oven (400 degrees). The important ingredient here is bacon. I wrap bacon around the shad roe to keep it moist. Sprinkle pepper on it. Just bake it for about 20 minutes or until the bacon is cooked. You certainly do not want it dry. Then I cook a couple of extra bacon strips and put them on the side as a garnish.
Shad Planking? It is an annual political event inVirginia and it takes place in April, near Wakefield. It celebrates the James River running of shad. The shad is smoked on wood planks over an open flame.
The reason Shad Planking is a political event is because on the year of every gubernatorial election, would-be-candidates, lobbyists, campaign workers, and reporters gather in the town for shad planking in Wakefield.
Shad populations have been declining for years. It is due to blocked spawning areas by dams, habitat destruction/pollution, and overfishing.
Along with Shad and Shad Roe, my vegetable of choice is asparagus. Steamed and served with hollandaise sauce. The sauce is very easy to make, as well. Get your blender ready and put 3 egg yolks, juice of a lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper. In a small saucepan, melt a stick of butter or margarine. Turn the blender on to blend and with it running, pour the hot, melted butter or margarine and just blend it for a few seconds. That’s it.
If you like fish, then I think you will be happy with Shad and Shad Roe.
Note: Information on Shad and Shad Planking was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shad and from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shad_Planking
Talk to you later…
April 6th, 2010
No, I am not going crazy mentioning the 4th of July parade in Bethany Beach. The fundraising events for this amazing parade has to start now. Otherwise, how are they going to pull it together? The town of Bethany Beach does not financially support this parade but they do support it in every other way; the help of town officials, their staff, town employees, the police department, the volunteer fire company and the public works department and their crew. Every other worker is a volunteer.
This is going to be the 27th Independence Day Parade Celebration in Bethany Beach. The 4th of July falls on a Sunday, but due to the fact that they use the grounds and facilities of St. Ann’s Church and the Christian Church Conference Center to assemble the parade, this year the parade will be held on Monday, the 5th.
I was wondering about the origins of parades. Apparently, they are unknown, but in Spain there is evidence of parades in cave paintings. These paintings date back ten thousand years ago. You can imagine prehistoric men carrying back to camp their game after the hunt.
The word parade comes from the Spanish word “parada”; a halt, a stop.
The first recorded use of a float was in Athens, during the 6th century BC. It was a yearly celebration for the god, Dionysus. In Greek Mythology, Dionysus is the god of wine and drunken revelry. He is also the patron of the theater. His half brother was Apollo.
Bethany’s 4th of July Parade is planning to add more marching bands and other entertainment groups. But, again, in order to do this they need donations. By attending an event such as the one on Friday, you will be giving them a hand.
If you have never visited the town of Bethany Beach you will be in for a treat, especially that week in July. The town gets into the celebration; the vacationers, the merchants and the participants in the parade really make you feel so good. Yes, that’s the feeling; good.
DiFebo’s Restaurant is sponsoring the Cooking for a Cause on Friday, 4/9/10, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. All proceeds to benefit the parade.
A Silent Auction will be held that evening and you might want to bid for VIP Reserved Seating for Parade Viewing and for VIP Parade Parking Pass. If you are the winner, you are going to be very happy.
It would be hard to believe you don’t know DiFebo’s Restaurant. If you don’t, then you can read about it on this blog. Please go to Archives on the left-hand side of this blog and click on the month of January and then scroll down to the 28th. DiFebo’s Restaurant is located on 789 Garfield Parkway (Rt. 26) in Bethany Beach. Their website is www.difebos.com.
The Guest Executive Chef will be Philip Rossi, who is the Parade Chairman, the Guest Chef will be Mary Rossi, and the Guest Bartender will be Gloria Farrar. For reservations, please call 302-539-4550.
Can’t make it? Well, you can still support them by mailing them a donation and remember every little bit helps. The address is:
The 4th of July Parade Committee, P.O. Box 641, Bethany Beach, DE 19930.
Talk to you later. Have a good one…
April 6th, 2010
On April 2nd I wrote a post for my blog on a store in Hockessin, Delaware called Everything but the Kitchen Sink. You can see that post if you scroll down to that particular date. It was, as I described it, one of those must stop shops; the store had everything imaginable for the home, brides or just for your own pampering.
Next to that store was a restaurant called The Back Burner. The Kitchen Sink and The Back Burner are owned by the same owners but they are completely different businesses.
The address is: 425 Hockessin Corner. Tels. 302-239-2732 for the To Go Shop and for reservations 302-239-2314. The website is www.backburner.com. Hours of operation are Mondays through Saturdays from 9:30 – 7:00 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Hockessin is in the Brandywine Valley, minutes from Centreville, Greenville, Winterthur and Longwood Gardens. Definitely, upstate from the Delaware Beaches.
Paula and I decided to have our lunch there and our choice for seating was in their Cafe. There is another part of the restaurant where the seating is more traditional. The Cafe is very relaxed; ordering at the counter; the lunch will be brough to your table. It was a busy place.
The Back Burner offers gourmet food to go; fresh and frozen. They also have a very good selection of domestic and imported cheeses.
Catering is available as well as gift baskets.
One of the soups that is prepared daily at The Back Burner is the Pumpkin Mushroom Soup. Just remember, this area is known for their mushrooms.
I decided to have the Caesar Salad with grilled chicken on top. It had Romaine Hearts tossed with their house-made dressing, Asiago cheese and herb croutons. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the dressing was light.
Paula had their Cafe Salad. This salad had baby mixed greens, bleu cheese, dried cranberries, grape tomatoes and spiced walnuts served with balsamic vinaigrette.
The salads were pretty big; we were not complaining, we cleaned our plates.
Some of the sandwiches on the menu looked appetizing. Roasted Vegetable Sandwich with roasted eggplant, zucchini, squash, red pepper, onion, and brie cheese on a toasted brioche bun. The Meatball Grinder had hand crafted meatballs served on a steak roll with their home made tomato basil sauce and finished with Provolone cheese. The Carolina Pulled Pork had apple cider braised pork shoulder, crispy onion strings, pickle, served on a toasted brioche roll. All sandwiches are served with their house-made chips, fruit and a pickle.
There were side orders available as well as a kids’ menu. Affordable? You bet. All their offerings were between $3.50 and $9.00.
This restaurant is definitely not near any of the Delaware Beaches. It is also not off of 1-95. But, it was so nice to spend the time with Paula, visiting other areas. That’s what my blog is all about.
Oh, I almost forgot. The Cafe has bottled beer and wine available.
Visit their website for complete info. on menus, catering, etc. etc.
Have a great day!! Talk to you later…
 
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