Endless March, notes from The Target

Break's on the other side... Can ya hear it?  Can ya smell it?

   A never ending march to keep the Ocean in check.  Constant reconstruction of beach heads, sand pumping, dune renewal, beach fences.  It truly never ends.  It's an illusion ya know.  We cannot stop the encroachment.  We cannot stop the movement.  Our own communities contribute to the erosive process.

  Our break at Holiday's on 66th has a new beach head, fencing, dunes/grasses (thank you OC Public Works), and a pristine new break farther offshore (thank you Hurricane Irene!).  Still feeling the winter blues by 6:15pm, but the sun sets later and later.  If this weather holds we just might get in an early spring surf session.  Hope springs eternal, so Mr. King says.  Let our wing sessions commence, so the Target says...

   The endless march of the crusade has finally started.  No longer in our home establishment we now venture into new territory.  With the entire Skeleton Crew presiding, somewhere original was needed.  We headed to a North side establishment we had passed many times before, but never stopped.  It's siren song of wings and beer had finally caught our attention. JC's Northside Pub...would this be the oasis we have been seeking?  

   Both Wix and the Watt were immediately put under it's spell with cheap PBR (that's right!  PBR!) on tap.  But, standing Hard Target held fast to the very reliable Miller Lite.  And they had a decent selection of craft brews available.  Unfortunately, in all cases the beer was not very cold.  Most likely just under the 55 mark.  This just will not do.  The wings were not bad. Good, but not memorable.  Old Bay, Hot (Not) Buffalo, and Northside Honey BBQ.  The Northsides were the best but again, though they touted OCMD's Best Of awards, they weren't winnin' our hearts.  This was one of the quickest adventures we ever had.  Complete in just over an hour.  While the staff was excellent, there was just nothin' there to hold us.

THE RATINGS - 2/23
Wing Temp: B-
Wing Meatyness/Prep: B
Wing Taste/Flavor: C
Beer: C+ (PBR! On Tap!)
Music/TVs (plenty of 'em): B-
Atmosphere: B
Overall Score: 2.64

Intro/Edit by The Watt

The Crusade Has Begun, notes from The Target

Rare MD12 swell, courtesy Nick Denny

   The dim days of winter continue to dog us.  It has been a mild New Year and for that we are blessed, but the nights on ice keep our East Coast waters in the low 40's.  No good for 3/2 suits without hoods.  Even the accustomed  daily lines denotive of the season have been nearly non-existent as February has quietly rolled in.  Translation, we ain't surfin' yet. But as The Target, Mr. Walston elaborates in the following- we have currently, an ulterior session to establish.
   The Crusade for the perfect wing and beer joint has begun.  In an unexpected move, additional cavalry by the name of Cheeks Wix, (Crew MIA as of late 2011) joined in the start of the long journey.  While we may believe Ken will have to be sacrificed and otherwise defiled along the way, let it be said here and now... no better man will have to be SOLD during the crowds of summer.  But for the time at hand, we enjoy his unique humor while we can.  For we all know during the long hard rides of summer (actually, they can be pretty damn short), we will only hear his whimper as we leave leave him on some deserted stretch of beach...empty beer can in hand.*

  As with every first step, a rating must be given:

First step, 2/2

 Smitty's

Medium-Hot Buffalo Wings:A-
BBQ Wings: B
Beer (chilled glass): B
Atmosphere (a bit reserved): B
Music (Randay..): B

Total Rating -  3.15
The bar is set.

HardAss - No smiles...NO SMILES!

*creative editing by The Watt