Tumultuous End; Uncertain Future, notes from the Watt

Jonas has left the building, Holiday's 66th Street. 1/24/2016

"Talk is Bullshit. Ya want to know the truth? Get a board and paddle out there. Point your board down the face of a grinder and make a commitment. That's where you'll find the truth."  
-Greg Noll, "Da Bull"

   Beat us up all ya want. We are late on the "Year In Review" post. I'm out west. Well, Midwest. Target's maintaining vigilance over the MD coast. It's tough to stay on top. We do what we do. Best efforts. HT put together an impressive spread sheet. Once again. So I will attempt to summarize. Best and worst of 2015, regardless of the tumultuous end (and uncertain future).

Empty sand, dead palms. Must be

out-season. 1/24/2016

   I will start by saying that  I was back in town in January, but try as we may we were not able to connect for a meeting of the minds to discuss this review. Still, as Jonas, the first major Winter storm moved thru, I was able to hit ye 'ole Crew Break at Holiday's and do a surf check of the both shore conditions and wave heights. Major miss, I will admit. And, as aforementioned, the Targetman does spreadsheets as the Targetman does. First stop of the year was a fun one. Not a great foodie stop, but it is hard to beat team trivia. Matteo's Salsa Loco. Target had it right. Made to feel at home as soon as you walked in. Perfect local dive for a winter Crew sesh.

Bus to Matteos, 1/22/2015

The newbies shined in '15 as established Maryland restauranteurs opened some real stoked dining opportunities for the Crew to rate. Our top rated four were newly opened slammers. Needless to say, we took advantage. First surf session of the year finished off with a fogged-in lineup and John Fager's Bad Monkey. Classic dive-pub grub done a bit upscale. A handful of micro's on tap, and a chicken cheesesteak that was out of bounds! 2nd floor view was majestic...of OC's main drag, Philly Ave. Overall a 3.08...second highest. Cool place.

First surf always puts you in the groove, Holiday's 5/7/2015.

Third waves of the year took us to 47th Street and some decent chest highs. I struggled to find my groove, but still found the Stoke. We Cruised into Guido's Burritos after the fact. Airing Go-Pro videos put this place in the running from the jump. And, the Sriracha Habanero wings would have been the best had they come with some blue cheese, hell, any dressing to cool the heat. Mexican flare done well. Number three in our ratings with a 3.0.

Lifer dispite the struggle. In pursuit of the Groove, 47th Street break, 5/20/2015

July. Summer purty much in full swing. Typical surf for that time of year. Knee-high small fries. Like picking through a bucket of Thrashers for the crunchier bites, I still managed to snatch out a few shortie rides. Hooked, a restaurant full of seafood goodies caught our eye this evening. While they tried to get fancy serving us whole wings instead of cut at the joint (the Targetman was not impressed), the bacon wrapped scallops, crab dip, and beer more than made up for it. Chill short bar outside made for a relaxing close to the night. Number four at 2.95.

Summer search party. Holiday's and 67th, 7/9/2015

The week before, we hit the fifth highest rated. An Ocean City icon. Classic beach/boardwalk dive. Following a righteous day on the water at Holiday's where in addition to waist high plus swell and some decent rights, I managed to get hammered as well, there was no place better to find medicinal treatment through a tap than at the Cork Bar. Iced glasses filled with golden healing helped relieve the muscular pounding. Decent BBQ Wings and a dynamite local atmosphere rounded out the score... 2.94.

Iconic infirmary.

Come git yer poundin' boy! No mercy shown. Holiday's at 66th. 7/1/2015.

Numero Uno for '15 was a Baltimore based restaurant whose sister ship we had visited in Fenwick Island. Their newest venture, Ropewalk Ocean City was our first review after my first return visit from the move to the Midwest. Sort of a homecoming for me including a much needed surf session. As my trip was nearing, HT had to text me and let me know it was "blowin' a gale" on the beach. This was not keeping me out of the water. Still warm (around 70 F), I was determined and pulled the BZ outta the closet as my vehicle of choice. Gotta say, Ropewalk was a welcome stop after the beating I took just to get into the lineup. Smoked Old Bay Wings, spicy Badda Bing shrimp, top choice, shucked, bangin' oysters and a nice selection of craft beer made this an easy first place finish with a 3.25 rating. Based on the stoke we were feeling afterwards, worth every point.

Sprayed and dusted. Holiday's 66th. 9/27/2015

Feel the joy. Ropewalk in OC. 9/27/2015.

   Nowadays, I'm looking forward to the next trip back to the Right Coast. The Targeted One is keeping a hard watch on the shore. The usual suspects seen. Gulls. Terns. Plovers. The quiet season. Working on a plan to stir things up. To get wet again. To set the Crew loose.

The lineup awaits... somewhere on the OC's Right Coast, 2/21/2016.