Closing In, notes from the Target

Loveless night, 10/18

    
   As the end of Fall closes in, we are dealing with the mid-week short surf sessions.  Natures tid-bits.  With a little cloud cover and a cursory sunset fading pink and orange on the horizon, we're just able to spy the sets coming in upon arrival.  So Wattman does his mad dash into the line-up and chiseles a few out before dusk sets in.  Needless to say, the last ride involves some night surfing.  If we could get the Holiday Inn to light 'em up like they use ta' do in the '70s we'd be set.  But, without light the Watt is left to straining his eyes on a moonless night in mushy thigh-high swell.  Surf chopped up and diminishing. The last ride like squeezing a spent orange for just one more Crush...weak.  Not feelin' the love.  When you're at the mercy of an uncontrollable mistress, any ride is appreciated.  We walk away.  Two weeks left to our hump day season.
   The Crusade stayed it's course as we visited yet another new locale - the Pit & Pub on 28th street.  A not so atypical restaurant/sports bar in this town that has changed hands more than once, upon entering we noticed that some of the same deco from the previous life still abounded.  Bare minimum.  Old school.  We sat at the bar with the regulars of this area, grabbed a couple of cold micros from the Tap and reviewed the menu. This place specializes in smoke, and the wings were no different.  And they like 'em Hot!  We also tried their specialty offering known as Hog Wings.  The Hot Wings were hot, but not overpowering.  Real nice smoked flavor unlike we've had before.  Did I mention the Hog Wings?  An order of three..shanks.  That's right, pork shanks with a BBQ Teriyaki glaze smoked to perfection, falling off the bone.  It was a meal worthy of any fine establishment.  So if it's smoke you seek in the OC, look no further.  Hit the Pit.  The Pub ain't much, but the food is definitely their strength.

THE RATINGS-
Hot Wings: B+
Hog Wings: B+ (Come on, Man... it's pork.  Good pork, but still.)
Beer: B
TV/Music: C+
Atmosphere: C
Total Score: 2.68

Ugly But Real, notes from the Target

Hit it fast! 10/10

Ugly, son!

 
 

























   What can ya do?  No matter how much you want to be at one with the swell, there's just not enough stoke to overcome a bad night. Fast, thigh to waist close-outs in a tide running out. Off-shores made 'em look pretty...for a very short time.  It was a true event that even one ride was grabbed. Water now in the mid-60's and the Watt was off a bit on his choice of rubber (admittedly a bit much). You know how it is with too much rubber... it just don't feel the same. After jumping multiple waves, and getting jacked on a few, only one.  It was ugly, but it was real. Nightfall hits fast now, and as we headed off the beach feeling slighted. Our weekday surf time is running out, but the hunger has not been filled.  A sense of urgency scratches at us as the next several weeks are all important to fill our reserves to make it through the winter, and we are forced to cling to weekend surf opportunities.
   This past week we returned to Johnny's Pizza & Pub.  Our last foray was unrated, but deserving of another shot and full review.  Maybe it's the time of year, but once again we ended up with a first night waitress.  Even sat at the same table.  Good omen?  Actually the comparison ended there. Maybe our memories are fading, but the last visit seemed to be all around better than this.  The beer variety was decent and cold, and wing offerings plentiful.  But the experience did not have any snap. No crackle.  Minus the pop. Maybe we just went a tad too exotic on the wings... (my fault a little - very little).  They certainly did not live up to our hopes.  And, while the TVs were plentiful, the O's game exciting, the disappointment of the wings was a downer.  But on a future cold winter night, a football game, we may venture another try.

THE RATINGS:

Spicy Cajun Jerk: C+

Smokey BBQ: C+

Beer: B

Atmosphere: B

TV/Music: B+

Overall Score=2.68

Can Ya Hear The Scream?, notes from the Target

Clean lines, 10/4

      As October begins, the empty beach and twilight silence leaves us with two of the seasons most oft asked questions...is the beach truly ours, and with emptiness for five blocks on either side, could anyone hear our screams?  Conditions were not bad.  Low tide, water still at 70F, fun swell with knee to thigh to occasional waist.  Very clean.  The real unequalizer is the fast dropping sun...sets now at approx 6:30 pm.  These nights it's not just catching the perfect wave, but seeing the perfect wave to catch it.  Ya wait for surface displacement, even if you can catch a reflection from the waning sun and hope that you're in position.  But Wattman was not to be denied.  Screams of "I will not be beaten," reverberated against the shoreline as darkness surrounded him like a cloak while he stared into the Ocean's horizon for that last ride.  A hint of the last set.  The slightest glimpse- he turned, paddled and jumped a knee high curler.  Short. Sweet. All that was needed to close the session.  The stoke within.  Night overtook us, the beach fell silent. Walking back, the countdown to the end of our weekday surf season was mentioned (4 more), but dismissed immediately. Still much surf to be had. Waves to be caught. Swell to be ridden.

Can't 'cha see...

...can't 'cha see?

    Large crowds have turned us away from the Crab Bag twice, even this late in the year.  As we entered once again the bar was full (must be Cruiser weekend again), but an older couple spied us checking for seats and offered up theirs as they were paying the tab.  Man, it's gotta be the off season when you get the friendly locals coming thru in the pinch.  With cold beer in iced glasses and a friendly talkative barkeep, the evening was off to a rousing start. Wings, it's what we're here for and wings are what we ordered.  2nd season Happy Hour at the Crab Bag is all night.  Good thing too.  Half price wings, but only five to an order.  Can you say "foursome?" That's right 4 distinct varieties tried.  BBQ, XX Hot, Sweet Red Chili, and Old Bay.  Old Bay- thickest, Old Bayeeist (is that a word?) so far this year. Sweet Red Chili- a back end kick that would not quit.  XX Hot were the hottest we've had without being overwhelming, and the BBQ was an excellent blend.  Back this with multiple 50 in. TVs and Sirius Radio on a JBL speaker system and you've got summer crowds explained.  With off-season pricing in effect everything was seasonal here but the price of crabs.  Go for the crabs?  Better know what you're gettin'.  $90 for a dozen steamed jumbos.  A bit steep.  Can ya hear the scream?

THE RATINGS-
XX Hot: A-
Sweet Red Chili: A-
Beer (just the basics): B
TV/Music: B+
Atmosphere: B+
Overall Score= 3.40

Endless Summer Cruisers in town.