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| "Come home..., I dare you." -Gone Girl Chilled mini rollers cutting the shore along the 40th Street break, 2/19/2022. |
These conditions have taken their toll on all of us. Damn pandemic. Had most definitely shortened our season year over year. Keeps us outta touch with each other and the Crew's critical mission to perform proper assessments of our local watering holes. Since this $hite started in 2020, our "in-surf" time has gottten moved into June. Prior to the whole scare-fest we'd start in the April/May timeframe. Of course, we had our off-season critiques as well. Since CV-19, health concerns kept us confined until the warmer temps and lower positive case rates allowed folks to venture into the public realm. The argument for, or against vaccination continues to be debated, but with the latest variant on the decline it appears that the "bad girl" is gone, and things are starting to open up. It may just be safe enough to be able to come home to our peace of the Right Coast.
Onward fellow Crew members... 2021's best and worst. And, a few that will be missed. Ocean 13 on the boards in the bowels of Phillips Beach Plaza, boasted a surf culture vibe when we visited in 2020. After 50 years, the Beach Plaza closed in early 2021. Arguably a fatality of the pandemic, the closing forced Ocean 13 to move to a new location. The La Quinta on 33rd had a vacant restaurant that they promptly took over. Our visit found service issues, average food, and an empty dining area. A work in need of much progress. Our lowest rating. It was obvious they had some growing into their new location to do as it was much bigger than where they were before. The real question would be...will they survive? When we left, we were thinking an ICU may be needed. Time will tell. We may return- if they're still open. |
| First Hurricane, Elsa - fun, clean, stoke, 7/15/2021. |
We gotta mention Sky Bar right along our main Break on 66th The worst of the wings we had during the '21 season. Rock hard cuts coated in BBQ that were either left over and cooked again, or just plain over-done. True tooth crackers as Target was dentist bound after that particular post-sesh meal.
However, as I have done so many times before, I digress. A couple of locales that permanently closed in 2021: The aforementioned Beach Plaza may soon become OC's biggest resort facility, Buffet's Margaritaville of Ocean City. BJ's on the Water sold and will be on the Crew's horizon for a visit to the new ownership- the Atlantic Beach House awaits. And into 2022, sadly, the Crew's origin, the shore dive on a beach drive that started our surf antics with our previous brothers from other mothers, Smitty McGee's- served their last plate of wings and cold Yuenglings on February 5th. A sure casualty of the pandemic business downturn. Gone. Now, mere mentions in local papers and the latter history books.
The more memorable calls. A runner up to the best had always boasted the coldest damn beer in Ocean City. Also one of the oldest, and most established of the local watering holes, the Cork Bar. Yes, cold ass beer! Yes, pub food at it's finest including the best Old Bay Wings of the summer! Yes, we will return.
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| Hurricane Ida provided the leftovers for another of the best surf sessions of the season, 9/2/2021. |
Our top rating for 2021 was our last; fitting. Another repeat visit, Just Hooked was the perfect end to our year. Great food, great gifts, great friends, great holiday light displays... the whole nine yards. In addition, they boasted the best Meatballs on the 'Shore. The decadence of lobster and veal combined could not be overstated. Absolutely on our radar for the new season! So there we have it. Good 'n bad. Worst to best. Gone, but not forgotten. New season comin'. The only sure thing...change. Keeping an eye on the weather and the surf. 'Til we meet again.
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Well I see the souls of so many friends, and I see us all back here again. -Kenny Chesney Lot of memories...You will be missed!-The Crew |
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