Marina Chill, notes from The Watt

   Long hot work weeks need a hump day somewhere in the wreckage. Ours is Thursday.  The day is set- change available only with a week's notice. Sometimes. Rolling storms kept us outta the juice lase week. Yesterday however, we slummed the small, knee high, "textured" surf with some frontside joyrides.  It's the height of the summer season and OC's coast is a cool, toasty 77F.  Cool AND Toasty?  Yeah, above average for us but still gives ya the relief needed from the triple digit heat indexes we've been peppered with the last week or so.  Low tide and 10kt SE onshores kept the swell frothy, like someone poured that beer just a bit too fast. Still able to slam a few though.

Joyride slum, 7/26

   Post surf, the night called for a more chilled approach to the Crusade beat.  We holed up at the Reel Inn, a hidden laid back big-fish dive in the center of Harbour Island Marina. Small, quaint, with an older crowd than we're used to.  Set between the lighted community pool and the fishing yachts parked outside, this place was what it was.  Relaxing...not enough TVs to field the sports bar crowd, but enough (2 placed caddywhompus to each end) to accommodate...music just loud enough to understand but not overwhelm...casual.  Big game fish everywhere.  Beers.  Place ain't big enough to justify a huge selection.  No drafts.  Sam Adams, the popular craft.  All the usual suspects...Miller, Bud, LandShark Lager, etc.  Meets the need.  The ice cold Miller Lites in frosty aluminum big mouth bottles.  Like the coldest dude.  Seriously.  This place is perfect for the local locals (i.e. those who live in Harbour Island) and as a centerpiece for the annual White Marlin Open.
   We ordered wings and scallops.  Okay STOP...know whatcha gonna say. Scallops? Really?  The menu sported only one breed of wing.  One breed, like only one grade of gasoline.  The Reel Wings.  Buffalo style with a light bacon tone.  Hot, meaty, and incorporating a zing to 'em.  Not what we'd call spicy, but very good.  The scallops were well prepared as well but while we like 'em we don't do this for the scallops, Son! A 'lil pricey, but the beer was cold, the food was good, the service was good.  Nice night.  Onward!

License to chill
THE RATINGS-
Reel Wings: B
Other Wings: N/A
TV/Music: C
Atmosphere: C
Beer (the coldest yet): B
TOTALS: 2.50

Seen In Public, notes from the Target

Churning into the weekend, 7/21

 
 











   Summer, what can ya say, it's unpredictable.  The heat has been burning us for days.  All we wanted was a little relief.  All we got was some big time thunder boomers moving through.  No showers...complete drenching, and they rolled over the beach effectively cancelling Thursday's surf.  Waist plus too.  Damn.  We remained in Salisbury.
   We hit one of Salisbury's newest attractions the Evo Public House, Evolution Brewing's latest digs.  As we entered an immediate problem became apparent.  A transformer had gone up earlier in the day and power had been down for most of the afternoon, no A/C, effectively raising the inside temps close to 90...above what is was outside at the time (mid-80s). But, when it comes to wings and beer a little discomfort means nothing to us.  We settled in and enjoyed fresh brewed beer.  Nothin' like a fresh new beer no matter what kind you get, it's just always better.  OK, we get it, a brew pub.  No wait, excuse me, a "gastronomic" brew pub (like a bistro, but not).  But, only one TV and music emanating from speakers set so close to the rafters as to make the words indistinguishable. C'mon Man!  Only two choices of wings on the menu, Primal, a "not so" spicy version made with Evo's Primal Pale Ale, and Thai Sweet n Spicy.  When the plates arrived the presentation was superb, but unfortunately the flavor did not match. The Thai wasn't bad, but the Primal... pretty bland.  Both well cooked and meaty.  Good service- good reason for another beer.
   The Crusade may be taking a new turn in the near future, but for now the ratings:

Primal Wings: C
Thai Wings: C
Atmosphere: B
TV/Music: C
Beer: A-
Final Rating: 2.57

   

Express Ride South, notes from the Target

NE chops, 7/12

 
   The summer evening we look forward to...sunny skies, warm temps, light breezes.  The perfect surf day.  As we cleared the dune line...did we mention breezes...onshore breezes...outta the Northeast?  Not good.   Nor'east winds tend to chop up the surf like a sushi chef dices Ahi.  Not good.  High tide and a strong southbound current...an express ride south while pickin' thru trash.  Did I mention not good?  With the beach crowd thinning despite it being the best part of the evening, DWatt made numerous attempts to snag a ride.  Pass after pass he'd drift by.  I thought about waving like you would to someone you recognize in a passing car, but my arm would've surely worn out before that first elusive cut.  Lefts are not his forte so to speak.  But carve he did...a small right slurve (slop with a little curve/wall to it) and then a little speed run on the backside to end the night.  Once the itch was fulfilled, the Crusade was to occupy the balance of the evening with the pursuit of yet another hashery with wings in it's offering.

 









   As if the current still had an influence, we headed south to Old Town OC and de Lazy Lizard on 1st and the bay.  Regardless of Watt's assurances that parking would not be a problem, ongoing bar expansion (who does expansion the middle of the summer season?  Seriously?) had taken up most of the original spaces. Two streets later, we were parked and walkin'. Cuffed with wristbands to identify our beer eligibility, we found a great spot at the tiki bar.

Splendiferous

   The music was the first hint that the night was only going to get better. Van Halen's "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love." Huh...HUH? Yeah! That's right. We had a splendiferous sunset on the bay, the sound of passing boats and their wake splashing against the bulkheads, the smell of marine fuel as boats pulled up to the docks to access the bar...sights and sounds accented by the classic rock rifts booming through the sound system. The draft beer selection was minimal...mostly domestics, but the cups were filled to the brim. And though food service was a bit slow, the barkeeps (only one female behind the bar...where all the women at?) were humpin' to take care of the summer crowd. But, it was the wings that we came for and wings we got. Old Bay (highly recommended) and Buffalo Hot. While we have always had a good Old Bay experience (with the exception of Buxy's...squalid, just squalid...look it up), these may have been the most perfect OLD Bay wings we have ever had. Very large. Well cooked. Hot out of the fryer, and with a flavor and backdoor heat that one can just simply say, "yes." No more words needed, just pass another wing. The Hot wings were just as well prepared, but next to the Old Bay, only slightly above average in taste.

Posted decor.

   While we finished our meal, a 2-man band, Tim and The Animal,  went to work.  But it was the percussionist, "the Animal," who stole the show ripping up bongos and cymbals with taped hands and wild hair, bobbing his head as if each song was done in Heavy Metal. As the set ended so did our visit. A return engagement in the future? Absolutely!*

de RATINGS-
Hot Wings: B
Old Bay Wing: A+
Beer: C+
Music/TV: A
Atmosphere: B+
TOTAL SCORE: 3.275

*Some creative liberties within text taken by the Watt,ed.
  

The Heat Is On, notes from The Target

Small walls, small obstacles.  7/5

 
 














   It's been a while since we last saw the Atlantic.   Life sometimes requires our full attention and devotion.  The wave just jacks on ya, and you've got to give it all of your focus.  So Thursday we just wanted to sit and watch, letting the calming effect of the surf bring us back.
   As Mr. Frey said, "The heat is on, on the street.  Inside your head, on every beat."  Summer has shown up literally blasting the East Coast with a full on heat wave.  High humidity.  90 degree temps.  Ocean temperatures in the 70's.  Extreme heat brings extreme crowds into the water.  Kids everywhere.  Don't these people know the beach is off limits to tourists when the guards clear 'em after 5:30pm? Extreme heat also has another unwelcome effect...the flatties.   Surf was knee high at best and hosted some severe beach break. DWatt was not to be denied. Darting between vacationing groms and taking some insane hard rights to avoid running aground were the maneuvers of the day. But it didn't matter. We were back.

    Leaving the beach today, another new establishment was determined to be the crusades next destination. More famous for pizza than wings, Grottos has opened it's newest location in North Ocean City. Entering the parking lot it could be seen that this was set for families. Kids and parents abounded...everywhere. But, as we made our way to the sports bar, we had no problem finding a seat. Place is set up perfect for enjoying football in the fall (may even require a return engagement).  We ordered a couple Leinenkugel Summer Shandys, a combination wheat beer and lemonade that was served cold and refreshing. Munching on the free popcorn we placed our wing order and realized that our bar staff was either tired or overwhelmed by the crowds. It seems all alcohol comes from this bar alone and slows service quite a bit. No smiles and watching the clock were the norm for the employees as we sat and waited for our wings. When they arrive the size of the wings could not be questioned as they were indeed meaty, but the Hot Wings had been clearly under the warming lights. The Honey BBQ were much better. The bartenderess messed up the next round of beer so she put them on the house; always a good move. As we left the bar we saw vast potential not yet realized and we wondered aloud the ever present question one must ask of all Grottos: does the Wixman have his own private seating, or does he mingle with the common folk when he arrives?

The Ratings-
Hot Wings: B-
Honey BBQ: B
Beer: B
TV/Music: B
Atmosphere: B-
TOTAL SCORE: 2.95

To the heat- Bring it!