Fuelin' The Yule, notes from the Target

"We all know Santa is a good ole boy." -Straight, No Chaser.   Main Street, Berlin. 12/17/2014

  It's the holiday season. Santa Claus is comin' on into town. So, it must be time for the Crew's annual X-Mas sesh. Invitation only. Much excitement and fanfare. Lights. Cameras. Limited action. All taking place in the Coolest Small Town in America...Berlin, MD. Truth be told, tis the only Christmas party I find worth attending.  See, the Crew knows what the Spirit of Christmas is all about. And, we try to live at least a little of it each day. It's part of what keeps the Journey going. To fuel the yuletide fires, a bit of a roving session and the partaking of holiday refreshments in two of Berlin's cool establishments. Started in the ultra-trendy and renovated historic Atlantic Hotel.  Nice crowd...to the point that we had to squeeze into the last two seats at the bar.  Upscale.  People dressed festive like. But the Crew is never out of place.  We are the everyman who can fit into any social setting and leave the people wanting. While the draft selection was limited, and the glasses our brews were served in didn't fit the deserved holiday presentation, we enjoyed the crowd.  Post first round and we decided a return trip would be more apropos to carve up the menu. Feeling the holiday spirit, I picked up the tab for the entire Crew. Onward to the next locale.

   The Burley Inn Tavern, or the B Inn as I like to coin the name, was just a short walk down the street.  Upon entering we felt immediately at home.  Fairly new, opened for about a year. We had our bartender bring on a couple of Miller Lites and put some Spicy BBQ Wings and a French Dip Sub on the barbie. Wattman set up the jukebox with some excellent classic southern rock and we crashed the grub.  The bar crowd seemed to revolve in and out as DWatt jumped on the wings and I downed the beef.  For me it was classic bar-food, but for the Watt, the wings seemed to be a hit. Nice spice, but a bit much sauce. The room was a melding of classic rock, sports, the holidays.  Nice night. This time around, DWatt grabbed the tab for all of us. 

   While the Skeleton Crew is only two, we don't much give it a thought. Good friends and good times make us richer than most. So, from the Crew to all, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

The Atlantic Hotel:

Beer: B-

Atmosphere: B

The B Inn Tavern Ratings-

Spicy BBQ Wings: B

Beef French Dip: B-

Beer: C+

Atmosphere: B-

Overall Score = 2.69

Mele Christmas Y'all, the Crew 12/17/2014.

Cool Runnings, the Target's notes.

"Cold? I'm freezing my royal Rastafarian nay-nays off!" - Sanka Coffie   Cool runnings, 47th Street break. 12/14/2014

   Winter Solstice nears. The week gives little view of the beach-head as it is pretty much pitch by the time we're headin' down. For this, among other reasons, we have chosen to expand outwards. Shake things up a bit. Make a few runs to parts somewhat unknown, or at the very least forgotten. The Watt pointed towards Berlin, Maryland. A tour of the 2014 Coolest Small Town in America; spiffed up for Christmas. Figured we should try to get some of this "coolness" before year end.  The place was truly lit up. I cruised in through town last Thursday where there was nary a home, tree, store front, or light post that wasn't strung up and lit with decorations. A refreshingly high standard of taste. Main Street is lined with small boutique shops, antique stores, and restaurants. After leaning down approximately eight side streets I located the night's establishment.

   Blacksmith Bar & Restaurant on Pitt Street. Nicely appointed. Small with seating for less than fifty. But at the time of our parking up to the bar, about ten, including us. I could immediately tell this was not our usual type of Journey stopover. Not a TV in the joint. The people hanging out in small cliques. Our barkeep was on it though, and she immediately brought us a couple of cold local craft brews. Since it appeared we were going Sho' upscale, we skippped the wings (zip on the menu moved us in this direction). With '80s "B" sides on the sound system we decided to groove to the new. Beef Empanada with cheddar and homemade salsa, and an Eastern Shore Bahn Mi...slow cooked shredded pork shoulder and crispy scrapple topped with pickled veggies, cucumber and Siracha mayo.  Good stuff. The empanada was an excellent small meat pie with just the right hint of spice and the salsa/slaw balanced the flavors perfectly. The Bahn Mi was a Shore twist on a Vietnamese sandwich...only the locals or local at heart can appreciate. Nicely done. But the absence of a TV left us restless bringing an end to our respite, and thus we continued our sojourn into town to check the deco and scout the next stop. Until then...

THE RATINGS-

Beef Empanada: A-

Eastern Shore Bahn Mi: B+

Beer: B

Atmosphere: B+

Overall Score = 3.31

Deserted Call, the Target's notes.

"Ride, ride ride the wild surf."  Looks angry.  We'll pass. Castles at 37th. 12/7/2014

   The beach is pretty much deserted this time of year. Cold, wet sand. Too much for most to bear. Waves are a lonesome lot. Almost angry. But they continue to roll and crash. An explosion that no matter how obnoxiously loud or faintly subtle, serves as a never ending call to return. Catch just one more ride. For us a call to remain strong to return strong.

Northside Winterfest, 12/4/2014

    First winter blast has come and gone.  Regardless of the almanac and the experts, the brevity has left all wondering just how wicked this winter is gonna be. Snow? Ice? Or, just that bone chilling damp cold that zaps the good health of everyone, and sucks the joy out of even the simplest attempt at fun. For us...no zapping, no failing attempts at fun. The stitching of one wave to the next may have

been put on hold, but the Journey continues. We conquer the winter blues with a few hours of a warm bar, hot apps, good sports on the tube, and a couple of cold brews. Granted, we are dependent upon upon the quality of establishment chosen. The wrong place filled with empty rickety chairs, no music, crap TV, and warm beer can have a debilitating affect. That is the risk we take. The deserted call of the offseason. Truly a shot in the dark this time of year. That being said, we return to the locale that we began our rating system with almost three years ago.

Winterfest tram.

   JC's Northside Pub on 127th and Coastal Highway. Tucked into a strip center right next to Northside Park, there were a handful of patronizers and the lone barkeep seemed to have things well in hand. Twenty beers on tap (including PBR!) put the Watt in an immediate selection tailspin. Brews were served in chilled (not iced) glasses. We put in for the Northside Wings, meaty well cooked wings with a nice house spiced honey barbecue that was quite tasty. But the star was the Green Card Panini. Well seasoned chicken breast with sauteed onions and green peppers, shredded cheddar-jack, and a house made salsa. The plate was pure Stoke Brah! Wow! We took in a car auction, caught up on the latest goings on with life, and watched the Thursday Night Football kickoff. Tab was paid. and as has become tradition we walked to the Winterfest of Lights and perused the tent and displays. Too miserly to put out for the tram ride, we dealt with the dropping temps and rising winds (bayside, not beachfront...go figure) and checked out the sparkle, undaunted. The weekly Journey coming to a close, we headed off into the night strengthened for another week.

THE RATINGS - 

Northside Wings: B

Green Card Panini: A-

Beer: B+

Atmosphere: B

Overall Score = 3.25

Mele Kalikimaka

November Winds, the Target's notes.

Morning after.  Clearing begins.  Malibu's beach, 11/7/2014

   As more and more ride the set-waves of November winds to earth, the leaves have begun to stretch past their peak color. Rain has become more prevalent as has the wide temperature variation between sun-up and sundown. We are into full-time Fall mode now. Dark Five o'clock each day. The solstice about a month away as we prepare for the first winter blast. Thursday the 6th we were to meet at Shallow Waters on 45th, a Wattman pick. Supposedly great bay views. From first arrival I noticed an issue. Besides the rain I mean. The place was closed up tight. No mid week business here. Immediately rang up mission control. Many would expect the Watt to handle this with grace. Wisdom maybe. The Wattman's response? "Well their website said they were open." No call. No follow up. With insight like that you'd wonder how we've made it through so many places over the past two years. Lisa's in town. Perhaps he was a bit distracted. But, after a quick confab we determined the alternate location to be Barn 34, a newbie upscale dive the Journey had led us through back in late June.  Wanted to see if they'd begun to heal from their first summer's growing pains.
   Upon entrance we found the the off-season slowdown had hit them hard as well as the upstairs sports bar was shut down during the week.  This left the smaller bar in the dining area on the first floor.  No drafts although our barkeep had no issue with making the stair runs to get available drafts as requested. It was obvious that our barkeep could skip the gym any night she worked. Now why, if you're trying to make a name as an upscale restaurant, would you not put tap-handles at both bar locations. Things that make you go "hmmmmmm." Gotta say though, the beer was served cold in an iced glass.  Always a plus for us. We ordered a trio: the Crab Balls, Hank's Buffalo Sauce Wings, and the Rock Fish Tacos.  We all agreed, the crab balls were fair but too much filler.  The wings, Wattman enjoyed but neither myself nor Lisa were crazy about. The fish tacos were the best of the three, plenty stuffed and had a decent pico de gallo and taco sauce.  With two TVs that were hard to see from our end of the bar, and no music whatsoever there was no ambiance to hold us in place. Their promise was as of yet, unfulfilled.  Maybe never will be. We don't give too many places a third pitch. Time will tell. For now, with no surf our offseason drag begins.

THE RATINGS-
Hank's Buffalo Sauce Wings: C+
Crab Balls/Fish Tacos: C+
Beer: B
Atmosphere: C+
Overall Score = 2.44

Surf Omega, notes from the Target.

Last ride, 10/30/2014

   Time change. End of Daylight Savings Time. Beginning of 5pm darkness. Least there's Halloween festivities. But wait... no little boxes of milk duds? Walmart runs out of the small bags of M&Ms? Are these people TRYING to send me over the edge? I've even found myself gorging on M&Ms straight outta the big bags instead of the proper way; one color at a time.  I've gone rogue.  But, I digress. The real issue here is our Omega; the end of our weekly surf sessions for the year.  It has been said, "sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself."  For us the ocean is where we find ourselves. Each week when we leave the beach we have found a little more of ourselves than we had before. Knowing this week would be our last until Spring, we had high hopes for one last blast of stoke. Alas, upon arrival we find ourselves facing the lowest tide of the year with barely knee-high albeit clean, left breaking waves. But, DWatt sprinted in like it was the beginning of a new season. Maybe it was that he saw the potential.  Maybe it was the dying rays of the last sunset. With barely enough light to discern one small set from the next, the Wattman managed to jump several short backside rides. Stoke realized. Nice end in fine fashion. Still got the weekends... I suppose. Not the same.

Thursday low-low's.  Holidays and 66th, 10/30/2014.

   Leaving the beach the Journey led us to Ponzetti's Pizza on 144th. An OC family owned institution since 1962, DWatt was old friends with the owners so we gave them a look-see.  This being off season, and a bit early for Thursday Night Football the place was somewhat quiet. Maybe 6 others during our tenure.  Beers were ordered. As if to further expunge our season the Summer Shandy I ordered was literally the last.  Killed the keg. Like that keg represented the last surf. Damn it Jim!
 We put in our food request of BBQ Chicken Pizza (this is what they do), and Buffalo Hot Wings. Service was prompt and we delved into the pizza which was quite good.  The wings didn't make the minimum cut. Not real spicy. Not real there. After a closing round we called it a night. The mid-week, non-surf, very much off season begins.

THE RATINGS-

Buffalo Wings: C-

BBQ Chicken Pizza: B

Beer: B-

Atmosphere: C+

Overall Score = 2.44

Ain't Talking 'Bout Love, the Target's notes.

"I been to the edge, an' there I stood an' looked down."    -Van Halen        
47th Street, 10/21/2014

   Ain't got no time to mess around. No time at all, as daylight goes quick by late Fall. The Watt and I arrive at approximately the same stretch Tuesday evening. (As he is heading to another Chicago soiree over the upcoming weekend, Watt talked me into an earlier than usual surf session.) Wattman got the shortie wetsuit down as we readied to address the cooler waters. Moved pretty fast. No exchange of small talk. All about the surf action waiting on the other side of the dune. As we stood on the edge looking down, our current break of 47th street highlighted knee, maybe some thigh-high wind swell. A bit chopped. Not much on power. Typical for this kind of evening. 10-15 kt southeast winds. Mid-tide. Air temps in the upper 60s, Warm for October. In the fast fading twilight DWatt manages to catch not one but two most excellent joyrides.  At knee high not a lot of love, but plenty of joy. Stoked night, gotta say. The warm air, water not too bad just dipping into the upper 60's, burnt orange and red sunset tinged sky. Nice. But in less than forty-five minutes night had descended.

  The 19th Hole in West OC. Tried the place in February '13 and determined then it was worth a return trip. Hey! The Journey is a long road; doubleback's take time. Upon arrival we are stricken by a sign announcing the Grand Re-Opening of the bar and corresponding specials.  Explains the somewhat heavier (though still spotty) than expected parking lot for a Tuesday night. Upon entrance the bar is loaded...an older local crowd... so we find a bench table.  We ordered up a couple of dollar brews (every beer for a dollar is damn good beer!) just as a three-piece jazz band was hitting it's stride, sat back and enjoyed the "noise."  (Jazz aficionados understand...Noise is good.) We decided on the Hot Buffalo Wings and Chicken Quesadillas from the specials menu and another round of beers. While the prices were great, the food was not. The descriptive that comes to mind...bland.  And since we were not messin' around, 45 minutes later we were done here as well. Nice sports bar.  Nice atmosphere.  May come back later... but no sooner.

THE RATINGS-

Buffalo Hot Wings: D+

Chicken Quesadillas: C-

Beer: B

Atmosphere: B

Overall Score = 2.25

   

Needy Bastard, the Watt's notes.

"You go back Jack do it again. Wheel turnin' round  and round."  -Steely Dan.  Return of the knee-hi's, 47th Street.  10/9/2014

   Life throws some curveballs at'cha.  No doubt. The Target's rental property got broken into. Dealin' with the cops is enough to cause a mild aneurysm. Sucks. Really! Myself? Surf was lacking this evening. Seriously. Winds finally shift to the west and the swell drops off to nuthin'. Damn, I sound like a needy bastard! I mean, the Target's fighting crime and what was I doin'? Besides whining I mean. Surfin'. Really? 47th Street provided an otherwise placid alternative.  Break isn't what it has been in the past, but potential was there.  The sunset was gorgeous. Smell of salt in the air. Water still warm(70f). Calm night. Caught me quite a few rides (more than last week).  No sharks. No injury. No harm. No foul. The Target was forced out, but here's a man that still found his way to the beach just as I had packed up. Humbled me. Truly. Well...sorta.

Parking Patrol

   This Thursday's Journey led us to yet another Ocean City icon, Fager's Island.This was the week of the 17th annual Endless Summer Cruisin' as well. So like navigating a subjugated back alley speedway, we made our way from 47th to 60th and bayside. Quite a few hot rods. In fact, so many that I feared the Target might flashback to crime fighter mode and go after a few of the Fast and the Furious.  However, we cruised into the waterside lot without event. We strode in as if we owned the place...or was it as if we were lookin' to arrest somebody? Who cares. The barkeep was quick to take our beer requests (though we weren't so quick to decide on 'em), and just as quick to deliver 'em. At this point (following my first sip) I have to say upon a glance I was disappointed at how out of date Fagers had become. First, only two medium TVs AND they were turned off!... which meant no football or baseball. Music low and mellow (must be waiting for the 10pm crowd). The original bar appears rundown, while the additions are an off-match modern beach deco. Gotta work on this. Needy bastard. Call in Tommy Bahama.

   Order up. Food. We put in for the Shore (Old Bay) Wings and the Cuban Fish Tacos. The wings were good. Meaty. Hot. More bland than Old Bay. No stand out here. The Tacos were very good.  Plenty of fresh whitefish. Good cilantro-avocado sauce, but not too much.  The out-of-bounds house pico de gallo made it though. The beer- nice selection and with a cold water spray... What? Not so cold dude.  The beer was a bit closer to room temp then chilled. I thought Target was getting ready to write them a citation. Overall? Exxxpennnnsivvvvve! Gave our wallets a squeeze for sure.  I believe one of our higher tabs of the season.  Course, if Tommy gets involved the dollars are sure to fly. Regardless, the Journey will schedule for off-season specials next time. Needy bastards!

THE RATINGS- 
Shore Wings: C
Cuban Fish Tacos: B
Beer: C+
Atmosphere: C
Overall Score = 2.31

                         

Sign 'O The Times, the Target's notes

"It's silly, no? When a rocket ship explodes and everybody still wants 2 fly. Some say a man ain't happy unless a man truly dies.  Oh why.  Time, time."   -Prince                Menacing skies over the lineup.  Rt 90 Bridge, OCMD.  10/2/2014

   It's been a long September. Family. Friends. Valuable time spent. Time needed to reflect. Calm ourselves and rejoice. The receding and return of the summer masses from whence they came. The sweetness of early Autumn's warmth diminished only by the speculation of how fast it can go glacial on us. The sudden appearance of a cloud front over the O.C., like an alien ship from the movie "Independence Day," did little to taper our seasonal concerns.

A warning? Things to come? Emerging from the dune crossing a light drizzle occurred and then stopped just as suddenly, and there it was. The Promise. One of the most perfect rainbows we'd ever seen. Spirits raised, we moved on with the evening's surf session.

Our entrance...the Promise of Stoke.  66th Street, Holidays.  10/2

Despite a strong sideshore current and continued northerly onshore winds that chopped the swell, Wattman still managed a couple of short rides to stoke the fire before the dissolving light quickly ended his water time.

No smooth rides today...no worries, gettin' wet is enough.  Holiday's 10/2

   The Journey is all about revitalization, and encouraged by our crescent band of color we returned to another dive rejuvenated, the Abbey Burger Bistro on 126th across from Northside Park. Last August, we had given it a look-see. Much construction needed. Food just okay  A work in progress. This night we pulled up to a barkeep willing to pass out samples and the Orioles beginning what would be their sweep of Detroit on the tube.  A great start to the night.  Boasting 24 taps on hand, our choices were many.  We settled into a couple of craft brews and placed our order for the Island Sauce Wings and the Pulled Pork n Slaw Sandwich.  The beer was served in jet water rinsed glasses... the brew was pure. But, we are our own beer snobs. Iced is always preference. The grub was excellent. Wings were well cooked and big with a very good flavor, and the pulled pork was truly mouth watering. Pick up the progress on the 80's decor update and this place will no doubt become a destination bar.  For now, worth a probable future return.  Onward!

THE RATINGS - 

Island Sauce Wings: B+

Pulled Pork Sandwich: A-

Beer: B+

Atmosphere: B

Overall Rating = 3.31

Shut Out, notes from The Watt

Spin cycle, early evening on Malibu's Beach at 8th.  9/25/2014              -Photo courtesy Malibus

   Gonna make this one short and sweet.  Sorta kinda.  The northeast winds continue.  After a a two week absence from the Journey, we were set to return Wednesday, the 24th.  A front from the South brought plenty of chaos up the coast.  The winds shift first to the southeast, then the south, then back to the northeast.  Supposed to clear by Thursday.  We reset.  Spoke to Lee at Malibus in the pm.  The surf glassed off.  Then the winds picked back up.  By the time we were gonna head down, the wind and rain were howling.  Shut out again.
   My girl was still in town.  Lovin' that.  We touched base with the Target and decided on The Irish Penny, a little pub located in a strip mall in South Salisbury.  Beer selection was purty goot.  Glasses weren't chilled.  Need to work on that, though the traditional Irish Pint is served at about 48F. Celtic Wings... Jameson's Irish Whiskey BBQ and a wet rub Maryland Old Bay, and Emerald Isle Crab Dip.  The BBQ was a little better than average, but those wet rub Old Bays were different and had a good taste. Both were average size. and both only came six to an order.  The crab dip- mostly a rich imperial sauce with little crab.  The chips however were warm, flaky, and fresh.  Plenty of TVs to catch the Redskins game (though that turned out to be unfortunate...BIG TIME pummelling).  Entertainment featured a DJ running music and a trivia session.  Okay, cool.  Word that best describes this place, quaint.  2nd word that describes this place; pricey.  It will take some consideration, and another rain storm for a possible return engagement.  We look to next week, hopeful of the return of warmer weather.  Onward.

THE RATINGS-
Jameson's BBQ/Maryland Old Bay Wings: C+
Emerald Isle Crab Dip: C
Beer: B-
Atmosphere: C+
Overall Score = 2.44

September AI (Autumn Incognito), notes from the Target

Ambivalent Atlantic, Holidays at 66th.  9/4/2014

  The September run begins, and DWatt's Chicago girl Lisa joined us for the month.  A month. Wow.  I know the Wattman was happy, and her presence is always welcome on my beach.  I mean, just how much excitement can one get watching the Watt walk back up the beach as big time side-shore currents are a common occurrence this time of year. Hard to hold position in the line-up...I get it.  She's a great conversationalist, and this is what I need to overcome said hubbub.  Major reconfiguration however.  We must go into stealth mode.  Breakout the "Cone of Silence." After all, it is avowed that "Spy vs. Spy" has no end. The Journey is not known to all.  Many just don't see it, even when it is right in front of them. A man and a bar is such a simple concept, but difficult to understand by some.  We're good with it.  We've gone incognito.  Transparency. Traveling in the shadows.  Thus our reviews are delayed, but concise. Two weeks, combined.

   Now in view of the Summer solstice we've known that the days have been getting shorter, but it seems that since Labor Day the curtailed sunlight has become much more noticeable.  DWatt's frustration with this is obvious especially when conditions are not optimal (as if the're ever optimal).  But no matter how close or small the shorebreak is or how big and sloppy the Nor'east winds churn the swell, Wattman still ventures out and finds the Stoke.  September is fickle like that.  The hurricane season has been quiet this year and 9/4 exemplified this with ankle to knee high mini rollers.  I mean we crossed the dune line at 66th and were like, "nothing today."  Watt still found 'em.

Shorebreak shorties, 9/4

  It wasn't the quality of the rides that stood out.  It was the number.  Had to give the man credit.  Post sesh was set to impress as we crossed Ocean Highway and launched into the Skye Bar.  Located atop Galaxy 66, this place is touted for it's open air atmosphere and great views of the Ocean City skyline.  Nice open air, but unless you sat on the perimeter, the views were obscured,  Thursday Night Football was the highlight and the flatscreens made for clear viewing.  We ordered up a couple of drafts, Lisa got her martini, and brought on Mahi Mahi fish tacos, steamed shrimp, and Spicy BBQ Wings.  For the price, no atmospheric match.  The fish tacos had a good taste, but were more black beans and cheese filler. Ya gotta work hard to mess up steamed shrimp, and the wings...meh.  No real heat.  Nothing stood out.  Even the beer was served in the perverse plastic cup.  Return trip would be doubtful.

Charging what the Nor'easter gives ya.  Holiday's 9/10/2014

  The next week we surfed a Wednesday.  Our coast has been blown by northeast winds most of the month and it all started in this week.  Surf jumped up to overhead early on, but had dropped to about chest to head by 9/10.  The evening was chilly on the beach as I was ready with a jacket, but Wattman did the big fail and did not prep Lisa.  Miserably blown by the humid spray and cool on shore winds, she was forced to cover up with towels.  DWatt? Well, he got plenty of work in with a north-south sideshore current and a heavy break.  He was plenty warm, as the waters were still in the lower 70s.  The rips, prevalent with these conditions, gave Watt the help he needed to get into the lineup, which featured only one other lost soul willing to take it on. Mostly lefty's, the Watt's weak backside, he took a few on the head but amazingly managed a couple including the rough-hew of a decent frontside.
    This time, we hit on a repeater: Waterman's Seafood Company on 50 in West OC.  We toured this place last year within the first month of it's reopening after a fire nearly wiped 'em out. A year later we called up another round of frosty drafts. Nice selection of crafts to choose from. Ordered Maryland Style (Old Bay) Wings, Grilled Fish Tacos, and the Crab Pretzel.  The wings were big, meaty, and seasoned just right, the tacos had a huge strip of fish and the pretzel was laden with tasty imperial crab.  The big screens had the Orioles, and Wattman's only complaint last year...lighting too bright, was dimmed and fit the atmosphere to a T. Watermans does a nice job.  The Journey will ride by this break again, no doubt.

SKYE BAR RATINGS-

Spicy BBQ Wings: C+

Mahi Tacos/Steamed Shrimp: B-

Beer: C+

Atmosphere: B-

Overall Score = 2.50

WATERMAN'S SEAFOOD CO. RATINGS-

Maryland Style Wings: B+

Fish Tacos/Crab Pretzel: B+

Beer: B+

Atmosphere: B+

Overall Score = 3.25