March 12th, 2011
The couple of the picture defined happiness today. They were having so much fun. I met them at the Delray Green Market. Their attitude towards life as a couple made me smile. They enjoy life, as a whole. I want to thank them for posing.
Originally the color was blue. As early as the 17th century green ribbons and shamrocks were used. Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a 3-leaved plant to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.
The celebration today on Atlantic Avenue, in Delray Beach is something to be seen. I took a walk to see how this town prepares for a parade of this magnitude. Well, guess what? They were ready; barricades, security, cameras, you name it. The visitors and residents have been partying since early.
Delray Beach is a master in setting up a fair. Up and down in a blink of an eye. Last year, this paraded attracted over 87,000 visitors.
Here are the pictures of a town getting ready for the parade of the year.
I saw the hot dog stand and could not resist having one.
It really is so pretty outside….have a great day!!…talk to you later….
March 12th, 2011
Even though I am in Delray Beach this week, when I left Rehoboth Beach I could tell that Spring was around the corner; my daffodils were growing like crazy and the pear trees had buds on their branches. Seemed like the birds were chirping up a storm, as well. Those little signs that make you feel so good. And if you get a crisp sunny day, then smile because it does not get better than that.
I woke up in Delray Beach to, again, a chilly morning. Hopefully, it will be warmer tomorrow.
But, if you are at the Delaware Beaches, then this is what you have to look forward to.
Clear Space Theatre is located at 20 Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. On their schedule you will find.
Backstage Lecture Series – Monday, March 21st at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are $10 and include the seminar, coffee and bagels. It is a monthly installment of theatre-related discussions. On Monday, March 21st the discussion will be “The Shakespeare Nobody Knows” by Lloyd King, a local English and humanities scholar and instructor.
One of the most, if not the most, prolific playwrights in history, William Shakespeare penned 37 plays and 154 sonnets in his lifetime. His work has been the inspiration for countless other works, from musicals to movies to contemporary interpretations of his stories. “The Shakespeare Nobody Knows” will begin with a brief biography of the playwright, leading up to 1599, a pivotal year in his incredible life. In 1599, he wrote 4 immortal plays, “Henry V”, “As You Like It”, “Julius Caesar”, and “Hamlet”, taking audiences to new intellectual heights.
Mr. King received his Master’s Degree in English from the University of Tennessee, and has also studied at the University of North Carolina, American University, and Pace College. He taught English for nearly 40 years in Delaware, and operated a touring Shakespeare company at Glasgow High School.
He hopes his participation in this Backstage Lecture will help ease local audiences into being active and eager observers of Shakespeare’s work.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.clearspacetheatre.org, via phone at 302-227-2270, or in person at the box office.
The Secret Garden – March 31st until April 17th. This production has just started rehearsing. The Secret Garden is based on the 1922 novel of the same name, opened on Broadway in 1991 and won multiple Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical. The music is by Lucy Simon and book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marsha Norman.
Clear Space is celebrating the centennial of the original novel, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, with this musical adaptation. The story revolves around young Mary Lennox, who is sent to live with family she has never met after being orphaned. As she and the servants bring new life to the mansion’s neglected garden, Mary also renews the spirits of her grieving uncle and sickly cousin.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students, and $5 for children 12 and under. They are available online at www.clearspacetheatre.org, via telephone at 302-227-2270 or in person at the box office which is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doggies at the Beach is a Cage Free facility for boarding your best canine friend. They have web cams in case you want to follow what your pooch is doing or who he or she is playing with, and most of all your pet will have 24-hours supervision. I leave Addy, my dog, there without reservation. I trust them completely.
Doggies at the Beach is located at 18806 John J. Williams Highway (Rt. 24). Tel. 302-664-8200. Website? www.doggiesatthebeach.com. In this website you will find all pertinent info. regarding this facility, including dog training classes. They offer so much. This month celebrates their 4th year in business and if you mention their Anniversary, your dog will receive 20% off grooming. This is only for the month of March.
2 doggies are being fostered from Safe Haven and they would love to adopt them locally. I have sen them and they are so nice and adorable.
Meet Papi. A beagle, loving, gentle, housebroken and does not bark like a beagle; great with other dogs, as well.
Smokie is a pure Cocker Spaniel that is energetic and loves life.
If you want to give any of them their “forever” home, just call 302-644-8200.
For your information Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary is a no kill shelter in Sussex County, Delaware. Website? www.safehavensanctuary.com.
Saturday, 3/11 – Entertainment at Dogfish Head located at 320 Rehoboth Ave., will be Nothin But Trouble, starting at 10 p.m. No cover. “Nothin’ But the Blues”. You can check them out at www.nothinbuttroubleband.com.
One of the most popular seasonal beers at Dogfish Head is Aprihop. Available in stores through May. They have been brewing it for quite some time now. The flavor is rich, complemented by the addition of apricots. If you are a beer lover, then this one should be checked out this time of the year.
Dogfish Head’s Website? www.dogfish.com. Tel. 302-226-2739.
Have a great week-end…talk to you later.
March 11th, 2011
My driver, Arturo, was being picked up by his own driver, Frankie. Going to Miami he was. I had one more place to show him this a.m. That was Way Beyond Bagels, located on 16850 Jog Rd., Delray Beach, FL 33446. Tel. 561-638-1320. Website? www.waybeyondbagels.com.
His comment was. We need to come back when it is not crowded so that I can take pictures. I answered; fat chance, it is always crowded. Still Way Beyond Bagels is able to serve very quickly.
I had to take the picture of the large whitefish. Among all the other delicacies, it looked very impressive. I wrote a post on Way Beyond Bagels on 2/9/11. If you would like to see it, just click on the month of February, 2011, on the left hand side of this website and scroll down to the date.
Our choices this morning were; my usua,l which is the chopped liver with the works. Never fails; delicious.
Arturo had his first taste of Nova with the works, as well. His comment? “Ese sandwichito me cayo bien. Muy bueno.” Yes, when we are together, we do speak Spanish.
We were happy and ready to face the day. Gorgeous; but is it going to ever get warm when I visit Delray?
See you…talk to you later….
March 11th, 2011
Everyone I talked to last week kept saying how gorgeous the weather was in Florida, you cannot believe it, and bla bla bla. The weather forecast for the mid Atlantic states was rain and more rain for Thursday and Friday so it was time to get out once again. No, really, I had this trip planned since friends are passing through Florida on their way to Bolivia. Cannot wait to see them.
BWI is the airport I pretty much use for my travels. Every gate was packed and it dawned on me that it was Spring Break. Oh, yes, a completely full flight. Delayed because of rain and then delayed in the air because all the traffic coming into Palm Beach International.
Last time in Florida the weather was better than other times. On this trip; it will probably even be nicer but yesterday I arrived to cloudly and cool skies. My luggage was soaked and the contents were pretty wet, as well. I think it happened as it was waiting to be put on the plane at BWI.
But things started cheering up as my driver, Arturo, picked me up. Arturo was my driver last year in Puerto Rico. He took me all over the Island and was very knowledgeable about everything to know in La Isla del Encanto. He is a foodie; and he loves to discover new places to eat. He has been in Florida for a few weeks and last night I showed him a few of the places that I enjoy in Delray.
Instead of taking I-95 I took him through A1A or South County Rd. from Palm Beach. That drive is really nice; right along the coast. Arturo was driving and sighseeing, taking it all in. I am surprised nobody honked the horn; we were going so slow, but so was everyone else for that matter.
First things first; we were hungry, and, since it was around 3:00 p.m. we stopped for a snack at the Bru’s Room located at 35 NE 2nd Ave. www.brusroom.com. We had some refreshments and an order of their triple threat wings. Those wings are the best, bar none!!
To work that food out we then took a 4 mile walk in anticipation to a late dinner. It was cool and a pretty early evening, nevertheless.
We decided to have dinner at Lemongrass Asian Bistro. I always visit this restaurant when in Delray. Consistently good food. They are located at 420 E. Atlantic Ave., and the website is www.lemongrassasianbistro.com.
Arturo had the Lemongrass Martini. Light and refreshing, but he then changed to beer.
We had their famous Lobster Monster Roll. It is a huge roll and perfect for sharing. If you like lobster, then you should try it.
We also had the Sex on the Moon and the Three Musketeers. These were delicious, as well. I could see Arturo was happy and probably thought it was a good thing he decided to offer to pick me up at the airport.
I kept mentioning to Arturo that Elvis was going to be playing at Johnnie Brown’s. I don’t know if he was excited about that, but I took him anyway. Johnnie Brown’s was crowded and Elvis well, was just Elvis. Some of the followers that are there every Thursday, were there again last night. I even found another Elvis in the crowd.
Johnnie Brown’s is located at 301 E. Atlantic Ave. and the website is www.jonniebrowns.com. They have entertainment every day of the week.
It was late so we strolled through Atlantic Ave.; some restaurants were closing up shop. But, not The Office. They still were serving for a bit longer. Why not have a nightcap?
Arturo decided to have the Red Staple. The Office is everything about an office. We sat outstide and it was pretty chilly then but it was so nice, as well. Right there by the entrance to Pineapple Grove, the heaters from The Office were doing their magic.
The Office is located at 201 E. Atlantic Ave. Website? www.theofficedelray.com.
The Red Staple had Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Prickly pear, Agave Nectar, Fresh Lemon Juice and Crushed. I took a taste and it was the best drink of the evening.
Then, nothing better than a good cup of coffee before calling it a night.
Talk to you later…you know I will…
March 9th, 2011
The Lewes Chamber of Commerce has sent me the following press release:
Lewes Chamber of Commerce Launches New Event – Fun Friday – April 29.
Lewes Celebrates The Royal Wedding
The Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s Historic Lewes Business Committee is launching a new event called Fun Friday which will take place this year on April 29th and September 23rd.
The inaugural event on Friday, April 29th is themed to coincide with the Royal Wedding taking place on the other side of the pond that day. The September 23rd Fun Friday will be an Italian Festival. Both Fun Fridays will take place all day and into the evening.
Visitors to Lewes on April 29th will be treated as “guests” to Lewes’ celebration of the Royal Wedding. The celebration literally starts out with a bang. Richard Perez will fire a cannon from 1812 Park at 11:30 a.m. to launch the event. There will be free royal horse-drawn carriage rides leaving from the 1812 parking lot next to the Lewes Rehoboth Canal drawbridge and looping around Second Street to the Lewes Historical Society and back to the parking lot beginning at noon until 3 p.m.
At 2 p.m., there will be Royal Doggie Wedding in 1812 Park with a special doggie couple costumed in tux and white bridal gown and officiated by Lewes Mayor Jim Ford. Following the ceremony, the “guests” are invited to attend the reception at P.U.P.S. with a Wedding Pupcake.
Brits love their croquet games and visitors to Lewes that day can spend a little time playing a game or two at the Lewes Historical Society complex.
Later that afternoon at 3 p.m., The Buttery Restaurant is hosting a High Tea.
As with any Royal Wedding, there will be musical entertainment. Keith Mack will be performing in front of Citizens Bank from 5 – 7 p.m.
As the Royal Wedding guests stroll through the streets of downtown Lewes on April 29th, they will be able to partake in the celebrations going on throughout the day and into the evening in the many shops and restaurants participating in the Fun Friday event.
The businesses listed below are participating and are located on Second, Front and Market Streets. They are offering discounts as well as British-themed refreshments and activities.
Inn at Canal Square is offering a Royal Wedding week-end package including 2 night lodging. High Tea at The Buttery, wine & cheese tray delivered to your room and a $50 gift certificate for any Lewes restaurant.
R & L Liquors is having a British Beer Tasting from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Blooming Boutique is hosting a “Big Hat, Tiara and Champagne” party and anyone who wears a hat or tiara will get a 20% off coupon to use for one item.
The GFWC Zwaanendael Women’s Club is exhibiting several collections of tea cups and tea pots and is offering oracle card readings by Madame Dora.
Notting Hill Coffee Roastery is offering High Tea to Go – Highway Tea and scone special.
Beach Jetty is serving British refreshments all day.
Lewes Gourmet is celebrating “Royal Tea” with all the guests receiving a free sample teabag of Imperial God Tea and a drawing for a Royal Tea gift basket.
Puzzles is offering $2 off any British-themed jigsaw puzzle of $10 or more.
The Cottage is selling tiaras in advance of the royal wedding day and on the day of the wedding.
Sand N Stones is selling commemorative buttons with Kate and William’s picture on them.
Kids’ Ketch is encouraging kids to come dressed as princes and princesses. They will be able to make their own crowns or tiaras all day using Sticky Mosaics. The Playmobil wedding chapel will be set up in the store all day. Kate and William traditional paper dolls are for sale, as well.
The princesses in Two Friends will have the their tiaras firmly in place with special sales including Vera Bradley and other surprises.
Jerry’s Seafood is serving a “Royal Menu” of bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, fish n’chips and spotted dick.
The Zwaanendael Museum will be playing Colonial games outside with their staff dressed in Colonial clothing and power point presentations on the Debraak and the Roosevelt Inlet shipwrecks (both British Ships) at 2 p.m.
Habersham Peddler Interiors is offering a 25% discount on their reproduction Princess Diana’s boudoir desk and they’ll be serving tea, scones and strawberries.
The Buttery Restaurant will be serving fish n’ chips.
Ginger Moon is offering a 30% off all white yarns.
Striper Bites and Kindle are serving English style beers and authentic British food selections.
Wilmington Trust will be decorated in a wedding party theme inside and out.
King’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop is offering a special Royal Wedding ice cream sunday with toffee and vanilla ice cream because Kate’s favorite dessert is sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.
Beseme’s menu will feature dishes from the cuisine of the British Isles.
Cake Bar will be serving wedding cake slices for their customers.
Deanna’s & Piccolino are giving away a Princess Diana ring with each purchase and serving tea and crumpets beginning at 4 p.m.
Twila Farrell is offering a 10% discount on non-sale merchandise to anyone wearing a tiara.
Marsha’s Co. is hosting a “My Invitation Must Have Gotten Lost in the Mail” free cup of English breakfast tea – “No Hard Feelings”.
Trader’s Jewelry & Gift Shop is inviting people to bring their wedding pictures to the store any time in April and they’ll be displayed in their window. A drawing for a prize will take place, as well.
So there you have it. Lewes is offering you a very busy and fun day. Hope you can make it.
Talk to you later…..Remember, it is Fun Friday on April 29th….
March 9th, 2011
I have used a similar type of furniture company in the past. This time the name of American Furniture was given to me by the leasing agent of an apartment building in Philadelphia.
I needed to furnish an apartment in the most economical way possible. So I am passing this info. to you because it is worth it.
The company, AFR Furniture Rental, www.rentfurniture.com, services major cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, New York City, Orlando, and New York City suburbs. They are in the business of renting furniture. The furniture can be rented for special events, for staging homes and apartments. And, it is not only furniture that is available for rent; there is everything you can imaging to set up home anywhere.
Within the company there is the American Furniture Clearance Center. This is a showroom and clearance center where you can purchase any furniture item individually at amazing prices. The furniture is new and pre-leased.
The showroom that I went to visit was in New Castle, Delaware. Other clearance centers are in NJ, NC, and MA.
So there I was at 490 West Basin Rd., New Castle, DE. Tel. 302-323-1682. Website? www.afrcc.com. Besides buying individual sofas, tables, etc. they also have packages geared for students. Check the website or give them a call.
The warehouse is huge. As I stood in the middle of it, well, it was overwhelming. Rows of sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, end tables, coffee tables, t.v. stands, big, small, metal, wood, you name it. The furniture looked pretty good. They had sofas that I did not like; some I did not like the colors or the materials. But I can tell you that you would definitely safe money and will be able to put something together. I think all the pieces we found were good, attractive and durable.
I met Rich Johnson who is the Retail Supervisor. He told me to make myself at home and check everything out. Once we had picked out what we wanted then we took the tags to Rich, who in turn added everything up. Rich said that the way people save extra money is to have your own truck and just carry it out of the store. Since you are buying in Delaware there is no sales tax.
We asked for the furniture to be delivered to Philadelphia. We also had to pay the sales tax for Pennsylvania. It still was a very good deal. I bought everything for the apartment, delivered and tax included for $1,273.
Anyway, I thought you might want to know.
Talk to you later…
March 7th, 2011
I told a friend the other day that I had gone to a great restaurant in Old City, Philadelphia. She started laughing and thought I had it wrong. I was not sure since I really do not know Philadelphia even thought it is located at about 2 hours and 15 minutes from the Delaware Beaches.
Well, guess what? Old City is Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhood located in Center City. Walking the streets reminded me of Old San Juan; yes, plenty of cobblestones.
The restaurant that I went to on Thursday is called Amada. It is located at 217-219 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel. 215-625-2450. Website? www.amadarestaurant.com.
This is an only Tapas restaurant. Tapas are small plates, that originated in the most common eateries in Spain; Tascas. Tascas are everywhere; some of them are grand, some have fancy floors; others have floors covered with sawdust and peanut shells and everything else you can imagine. Going to Spain and not eating at the Tascas is unheard of. The best food and the best entertainment.
I am glad that we came in at the time we did. By the time we left Amada, the restaurant was completely full. Reservations are recommended.
The interior looks like a typical Spanish restaurant. Amada has Andalusian influences. Andalusia is in the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
Since it was so early I was able to take some pictures. There is Chef’s table and it can be reserved for parties. Otherwise, anyone can sit there. You are able to see the kitchen at work.
We decided to sit at the bar. We chose a high table. Amy was our server and before I forget, she was great. Gracious, friendly, and knowledgeable.
I really did not know that this particular restaurant is part of the Garces Restaurant Group, whose restaurants are among Philadelphia’s best. Amada opened in 2005.
Jose Garces is the star of the Group. He comes from Ecuadorian parents; raised in Chicago. Please go to the website above mentioned so you can see his bio. Very impressive. He just won the most recent season of The Next Iron Chef. Also his new book Latin Evolution can be purchased through the website.
We had so many tapas; at times we ordered them again and again. A pitcher of Sangria is a must at any Spanish restaurant. Everyone at the table liked it.
Here are the tapas: Since my husband has a gluten allergy we ordered tapas that he could also eat. There were just a few that he could not have like the meatballs and the duck on a flatbread.
Gambas al Ajillo – Garlic shrimp. The bread given was perfect for dipping into that beautiful sauce.
Pulpo Especial – Was a special octupus. It was, I believe, grilled. Very crispy; the sauces added extra flavor.
Pato con Cerezas Coca – Duck breast, Cabrales cheese and a cherry fig marmalade on a flatbread.
Pulpo a la Gallega – Spanish Octupus
Croquetas de jamon – Ham croquettes
Oysters – Strawberry Escabeche and Cava Granita. Best ever; just very unique.
Tortilla Espanola – A traditional tortilla made with potatoes and eggs with saffron aioli.
Albondigas – Lamb meatballs and shaved Manchego cheese. Michael thought they were out of this world.
Boquerones are white anchovies. This tapa had pine nuts and olives. The first time I went to Spain and I had them, I totally felt in love with them. They are expensive and hard to find. At Vic & Angelos in Delray Beach, Florida, they make their Caesar Salad with them. They are so mild.
Someone at the table ordered a specialty drink; Law of Desire. It was made with Spanish Brandy, Absinthe, and Peychaud’s. I had a taste and it was, definitely, one of those drinks you need to sip a little at a time. It was delicious. Absinthe is a flavored distilled liquor and Peychaud’s is a bitter; like Angostura bitters, but lighter.
Had a great evening, in a restaurant full of atmosphere and with good company.
Cannot wait to visit some of the other restaurants of the Garces Restaurant Group. For example, the one called Distrito which is Mexican cuisine, Chifa has Peruvian influences, Village Whiskey is an American Bar with more than 80 whiskies and different bar snacks. And the other one that is attracting my attention is Tinto, which is a wine bar and restaurant inspired by the Basque region of Northern Spain and Southern France. For more info. on these restaurants please visit www.grg-mgmt.com.
The Basques love seafood and food in general. Their food is fresh and perfectly satisfying. Almost everyone is interested in gastronomy. There are clubs in the region where only the men are allow to cook. Sounds perfect!!
Talk to you later…you know I will….How about some Ecuadorian cuisine, Jose?
March 6th, 2011
The other day I was talking to my mother in law and the conversation turned to recipes. She is an excellent cook, by the way. She told me that she makes the Baked Chiles Rellenos all the time. The easiest thing to make. She also said that she had given me the recipe. Immediately, I thought that would be great for dinner. Add a salad and voila!!
When she told me that she buys the 7 oz. can of whole green chiles I thought that I had never seen them in the grocery store. She lives in California, so maybe that’s why she could get them canned.
Off to Giant to see if they had them here in Rehoboth Beach. Too late to go to a Latin store in town. I did not see them. I asked and they me showed the cans. Not only did I buy one, but I bought two.
As I was going through the recipe, I thought the peppers looked like jalapenos. Well, surprise, surprise; they were. Now what? I continued with the recipe, all the time wondering how spicy it was going to be.
Both chile peppers and jalapenos come from the same family, the Capsicum Annuum, which originated in Mexico. I probably needed to roast fresh poblanos, which are milder or see if I can get them canned somewhere in town.
Since I had read that at times jalapenos are substituted for poblanos, I hoped these ones were not going to be too hot. I had used two cans. I also decided not to say anything. As I was serving them, my only comment was that they could be a little spicy.
Baked Chiles Rellenos
6 eggs
1 tablespoon flour (I used gluten free flour)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 7 ouce can green chiles (I used 2 cans of jalapenos)
1/2 mild jack cheese. (shredded or sliced)
Pre heat oven to 325 degrees.
Separate eggs and beat whites until stiff.
Mix flour, salt and pepper with egg yolks; then fold in the beaten egg whites and pour 1/2 of the mixture into a greased 2″ x 7″ by 13″ baking dish.
Wash chiles (jalapenos?) and remove seeds and cut lengthwise. Spread them over batter.
Cover with cheese.
Pour rest of the batter over cheese.
Baked for about 25 minutes, cut, serve, add a salad and a pitcher of something….
Serves 4.
Note: They were quiet after the first bite. A little spicy? Don’t you think? The other person answers; yes, but I like spicy. Now, my turn. Pretty spicy but good. Another glass of ice tea, please? Kidding aside, no, actually, that’s what happened; they were not bad at all. We ate them all. I will be looking for the poblanos, though.
See you…
 
|
Comments Off on What’s Happening Delray Beach?, A Village by the Sea Celebrates St. Patty’s Day, Delray is Ready for the Biggest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in South Florida, Palm Beach County, 2:00 p.m. until…