Feel It Coming, tales from the Watt.

Open invitation, 65th just below Holidays. 8/15/2019

I see it around me
I see it in everything
I could be so much more than this.
   -Jimmy Eat World, My Sundown

   It's only mid-August, and already a pacification of our summer seems to be occurring. Target even commented that the college students have headed back to campus, the summer help was dwindling, and the OC seemed to be getting a little less crowded. First signs of The End. We could almost feel it coming. LWatt didn't see it. I refused to acknowledge it. Target insisted on it. Add to it...shorebreak conditions for a 2nd week in a row. Onshore winds out of the northeast meant that the break was going left. As usual, no matter how I tried I couldn't score a frontside. Actually, with waist-high sets clubbin' through, breaking in knee deep water, I pretty much did not score period. I can say it's always good to get wet, but with no ride it's just not true. Another sign...the sun is setting noticably earlier as well. LWatt pointed that out. And, since it was somewhat overcast, the session's end seemed to come on that much faster. I called it a day before I would allow the irritation to set in and we headed back across the duneline to pack it up.

Hard stop...nothin' but shore. Fighting the frustration.

   Northside of the island was tonight's destination location. Part of the Taphouse Group, Taphouse Tavern was in the former location of Kirby's Red Onion Grille on 138th. Taking up the corner of a small strip center, the joint was immediately found to be a locals hangout as we established our presence at the bar and surrounding patrons began giving us their recommendations. Our barkeep was on it, promptly bringing menus and a beer list. To that end, we ordered up our brews and worked on the meal options. After a Tavern discussion, we settled on the following: the Taphouse Pretzel, the Chicken Quesadilla, and the Old Bay Wing City Wings. After the night's sesh, our beer was good. Our glass was warm. That part was not good.

The pretzels were filling, the cheese dip very good. The quesadillas were the best choice, and most highly recommended. Full of big chunks of chicken and ample cheese, the portions were good sized and well constructed. The cheese oozed, but not all over us. The wings were the most disappointing. Good taste, but while they were warm, they were not hot...and they were a tad tough. In the world of the ever more popular Old Bay Wing, our expectations have grown. No band tonight, but we had pre-season football. The Redskins, which made me happy (they lost, which did not make me happy). Flatscreens were well placed and plentiful. Nice layout of the bar and dining area. This is a small tavern, so we felt comfortable. And, not overly expensive, which meant we may return one day. For now...we Journey on, scratching to hang on to the last vestige of summer.

THE RATINGS-
Beer: B-
Taphouse Pretzel: B-
Chicken Quesadilla: A-
Old Bay Wings: C
Atmosphere: B-
Value: B
Overall Score = 2.83