Set Sail

Room with a view

If you travel to the West Palm Beach area, you’ll learn Riviera Beach isn’t exactly a popular hotspot for people to hang out. Instead of being known for beautiful beaches and glamorous riches, Riviera Beach is more known for crime, poverty, and public health problems. It is one of the cultural complexities of Palm Beach County – you have the richest of the rich living right beside the poorest of the poor. Just across the Intracoastal Waterway from Riviera Beach is Singer Island, which is full of beachfront condos and luxurious marinas, one being the Sailfish Marina. And the Sailfish Marina also happens to have a restaurant we have visited multiple times, including a visit during our recent vacation.

The setting for the restaurant and marina is gorgeous and classic South Florida. The restaurant faces the Intracoastal Waterway and Peanut Island, offering wonderful views of the boats in the marina as well as the island out in the center of the waterway. There is outdoor seating as well as an indoor patio and I really don't think there's a bad seat in the entire restaurant. This is the sort of place that is as popular for it's atmosphere as it is for the food.

Nicole got stoned

However, even without the atmosphere, this is probably the restaurant Nicole was most looking forward to during our time in Florida. You can get good seafood all over the place in South Florida, but crab legs can be a bit more difficult to come across, especially Stone Crabs. Stone Crabs are a local delicacy in South Florida and Nicole is a crab legs connoisseur. Sailfish Marina is the only place we've been that serves Stone Crab claws, and there was no question as to what Nicole would be ordering. I also ordered something featuring crab, but it wasn't quite as extravagant as Nicole's stone crabs - I ordered the Caribbean Crab Nachos.

I'd had the crab nachos multiple times, but it was always as an appetizer for the table. This time, I realized the nachos were always my favorite part of the meal, so I decided to have them as my entree. The nachos are served as a large pile of tortilla chips as the base and then topped with black beans, mango, jack cheese, cream cheese, and lumps of crab meat. The first time I saw it on the menu, I thought it was an odd combination. Now, it is up there with Pappasito's as the best nachos I've ever had. The sweetness of the mango is excellent with the richness of the crab meat and the saltiness of the tortilla chips. And as the cream cheese begins to melt, it makes it all come together. I've tried to copy this recipe multiple times, but I haven't been able to do it. I guess there is just something magical about the way it's made at Sailfish.

One of the things on our vacation bucket list was getting Nicole some stone crabs. At Sailfish Marina, she was able to enjoy her crab claws and I can't complain about my meal either. Great food and wonderful views...and you begin to understand why so many consider South Florida to be paradise.

A Little Nook

The Center Street Nook was another one of the places Nicole and I knew we wanted to eat during our vacation in Florida. This is one of my favorite restaurants (anywhere) and it is full of local character and charm. It seats about 20 people and this is the first place I think of when recommending a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" type restaurant. When we lived in Jupiter, Nicole and I would occasionally walk to "The Nook" on Saturday mornings and enjoy a heaping plate of pancakes - filled with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and happiness. The staff were always extremely friendly, the food was delicious, and there was a special feeling about being able to eat there - I was very excited about getting to go back!

On our return trip, we decided to go by The Nook for lunch. We were lucky to come at a time when it wasn't particularly crowded and we were able to walk right in and get a seat - this is one of the only times I've ever had this happen. As usual, we were greeted by an extremely friendly waitress who took our drink orders as we looked over the menu. They were serving breakfast (served for breakfast & lunch) and normal lunch items so I was in quite the dilemma over what to order. Nicole went with breakfast (a veggie omelette) and I decided to get a sandwich because I was more in the mood for lunch. I've had many of their sandwiches but I'd never tried a burger of any type, so I ordered the Patty Melt on rye bread.

I miss you sweet potato fries.

The food came out and looked excellent, and to no one's surprise, tasted excellent too. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is that they provide a creative, unique menu without sacrificing quality or flavor. My patty melt was served on rye bread that had been buttered and toasted, which was a great combination with the generous beef patty, melted cheese, and onions. I don't eat too many burgers/red meat anymore, but I can make an exception when it tastes like this. And to go with my sandwich, I ordered sweet potato fries as my side - which they do a great job with.

To be honest, I really can't offer any sort of critical review about the Center Street Nook. I love everything about it. The prices, especially for the South Florida area, are very reasonable - breakfast ranges from $5-$8 and lunch ranges from $6-$10. The servers are always friendly and the owner is always there checking on tables and talking with guests. And everything I've tasted has been good. They could probably expand to offer more space but that might take away some of the charm and atmosphere. This is one of the special little parts of Jupiter, FL that a visitor must experience - I miss not being able to experience it more often.

The Sweetest Thing

When we returned from vacation last week, I had all these intentions of jumping right back into blogging and posting on a regular basis. Then...the reality of life hit. The issue of being sick slowed me down. The routine of spending most of the day on the computer at work discouraged me from spending more time in front of my laptop when I got home. And what little energy I had was being consumed by our new chocolate lab puppy, Maggie. For people who post to a blog on a daily basis, I don't know how you do it. This whole "being a grown-up" thing is exhausting. But alas, I'm feeling better and have a little more energy and I've got a variety of posts to get out there - including a number of restaurant reviews from all the places we've been to in the past couple weeks.

When we arrived in Florida to start our vacation, we had done our research. There happened to be a Sweet Tomatoes between the airport and the condo, making it a perfect spot to kick off our week of feasting. For my wife, a meal at Sweet Tomatoes is a magical experience. She eats more than anyone I know (and still remains skinny) and she loves vegetables, so she could easily spend two or three hours eating at Sweet Tomatoes. If you've never been, Sweet Tomatoes features an all-you-can-eat (huge) salad bar along with a variety of soups, breads, and other dishes. It's about $10 per person and one of the only "healthy all-you-can-eat" restaurants I can think of.

This particular Sweet Tomatoes, which was in Orlando, had a rather odd layout. I think the space was under renovations but the various food stations were rather spread out. The salad bar was at the entrance of the restaurant and it was a little difficult to make return trips (it didn't deter us) and then the soup seemed to be over in a corner. Maybe they were trying to incorporate some exercise into multiple trips to the different sections of the restaurant?

One Plate...Amateur!

The quality of the food was consistent with every other trip I've had to Sweet Tomatoes. The vegetables on the salad bar tasted very fresh and there was great variety. And I always enjoy trying the different pre-made salads they provide, particularly the Wonton Chicken Happiness salad, which makes me very happy. There was also a nice selection of soups, and I thought the Red Beans & Rice stew was the standout. And with it being an all-you-can-eat setup, you can try anything you want and not worry about whether or not you like it. It's always a lot of fun for Nicole and I - giving us an excuse to be adventurous eaters on a budget.

This was a great way to get our vacation started. We had been eagerly anticipating the meals we would get to have in Florida, and Sweet Tomatoes was definitely a place that was on the list. Afterwards, we were ready to hit the beach and enjoy a week of rest and relaxation...AND MORE EATING!

Spring Break

I apologize for the lack of posting - the beach has taken priority over the past week. I look forward to writing about my vacation...AFTER it's over!

Snapping the Turtles

Down by Coach K Court

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I had a chance to attend the Maryland/Duke game this past Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. My dad and I were fortunate to attend the game with a couple who are huge Duke fans and have one of the most ideal set-ups I have ever seen for attending a sporting event. We met them a few miles away from the university and rode in with them because they had a parking pass - not just any parking pass, I think we had a parking spot closer to the gym than Coach K. And because we arrived early, they were able to take us courtside as the teams were warming up, making sure we got a few pictures and a chance to see the players up-close. It was my second time attending a game at Duke, but it had been over 8 years since my first visit and it was cool to see a few of the new things that have been added to the arena. It was awesome to see a new national championship banner hanging in the rafters along with some additional retired jerseys and some other banners celebrating specific accomplishments.

From our seats

One of the best parts about attending the game was the aspect of this being Duke's first game since their improbable comeback victory over North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In a sense, this was the opportunity for the Cameron Crazies and the Duke crowd to celebrate the victory and congratulate the team on their win. The pregame introduction of the team included a highlight video from the UNC game and concluded with Austin Rivers' game winning shot - which brought the crowd to a deafening level and was the loudest it got in Cameron Indoor Stadium the entire day. However, even amidst all the post-UNC euphoria, Duke still had a game to play against a physical Maryland team. The Blue Devils got off to a slow start and struggled offensively in the first half, but played with a defensive intensity that had been missing for much of the season and really disrupted the Maryland offense. The offense picked up in the second half and Miles Plumlee did his best Dwight Howard impersonation as Duke put the Terps away in a decisive victory.

Here were 3 things I noticed during the game:

1. The Cameron Crazies don't realize how important they are. This student section has the ability and reputation of being the most intimidating crowd in the country, but this group isn't living up to it. They don't have as much energy and they seem to lose interest unless Duke is playing very well. As Coach K was walking off the court going into halftime, he gave the Cameron Crazies a piece of his mind and appeared to be yelling at them in an attempt to get the more involved in the game. With only three home games remaining, I hope they make the most of their opportunity.

2. 

   Cameron Crazies

   Andre Dawkins is a head case. It's one thing to be a streaky shooter - it's another to be a player who completely checks out of the game when his shot isn't falling. Unfortunately, Dawkins seems to be the latter. Andre has the athletic ability to be much more than a catch-and-shoot perimeter player, but he is content to stand outside the 3-point line and jack up threes. I've also noticed an increasingly disturbing trend of him trying to instigate issues with the other team. It's time for Andre to just shut up and let his play do the talking.
3. Miles Plumlee played BIG. Everyone talked about the number of rebounds Plumlee had, which was phenomenal - but that wasn't the only thing that stuck out about his game. Plumlee was the most assertive I've ever seen him. He was setting good screens on the perimeter and then rolling hard to the basket and calling for the ball. He also did a great job of establishing low post position and making himself a big target for receiving an entry pass from the perimeter. If Miles continues to play with this type of confidence and aggressiveness, Duke becomes a completely different team.

For a college basketball fan, seeing a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium should be on your bucket list. For a Duke fan, seeing a game at Cameron is something you will never forget. Having a chance to experience the history and excellence of this great program is something truly special. And it's always good to Duke dominate Maryland. 

Down to Durham

Yesterday was a great day. I took a trip down to Durham with my dad to watch Duke play Maryland at Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was my second time seeing a game at Duke and it was a great game to attend - I plan to post more about the game later this week. And before we made the trip, I did some research on Urbanspoon about potential places to eat in the Durham/Chapel Hill area before the game. There were a few places that looked appealing, but there is something special about ACC Basketball and BBQ so we decided to try Allen & Son.

When we pulled up to the restaurant, we felt like we were about to enjoy a local landmark that focused on serving great food and didn't worry about presentation or being fancy. The atmosphere was quaint and had tacky decorations, but that's not uncommon for many local restaurants in the South. Once we sat down and received menus, we were a bit surprised at the prices of the food. $10 for a BBQ Plate with slaw and hush puppies, $4.25 for a bowl of Brunswick stew, or $6.00 for a BBQ sandwich seemed a bit steep, but we thought it might have something to do with the portions. My dad is somewhat of a Brunswick stew connoisseur, so he ordered a bowl of stew (which came with hush puppies) along with a BBQ sandwich and a side of onion rings. Then, I tried to order.

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a difficult customer when it comes to dining out. I'm more the type that would rather just let something go than point out a mistake to the server or send food back because I'm unhappy with it - I don't like the confrontation. I'll eat something I don't even like because I don't wait to be a pain. So, I decided to order the BBQ sandwich with a side of hush puppies. So far, no problem. However, I noticed that the BBQ sandwich came with slaw on top of it and I tend to be rather picky when it comes to coleslaw. I asked the waitress if I could get the slaw on the side instead of on the sandwich because I wanted to try it to make sure I liked it before putting it on my sandwich. I do this all the time and it's NEVER been an issue - until now. 

She told me I couldn't have the slaw on the side. I figured there was a misunderstanding and she must have thought I was asking for an extra side of slaw - I tried to explain, "No, I would like the slaw that is going on the sandwich to be left on the side." She understood but it didn't matter. She informed me that we would be charged extra for having the slaw on the side. Stunned, I said, "Wait a second - you're going to charge me extra for the slaw you were already going to serve me if I want it put on the plate instead of on the sandwich?" She wasn't willing to budge and asked me if I wanted the slaw or not. I responded that I'd take the sandwich with the slaw and I would just scoop it off if I didn't like it. I tried to express how ridiculous this was but it didn't seem to phase her. Looking back, I was more accommodating than I should have been - we should have just walked out on principle.

At this point, I was thinking this place better serve the best freaking BBQ in the country to put up with this nonsense. Once our food came, our mistake in choosing Allen & Son had been fully realized. For $7.50, my BBQ sandwich and hush puppies were little more than disappointing. AND THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A TABLESPOON OF THE INFAMOUS COLESLAW ON MY SANDWICH! The meat was a little dry and the hush puppies were good, but I wish there had been more than four of them. And as for my dad's Brunswick stew, I've been served bigger samples of soup at Costco than what he received in his $4 "bowl." Lacking in size and flavor but heavy on the price tag ($25.00) is a terrible description for any meal and that's how I would describe what we had.

Unfortunately, our pregame meal was the low point of an otherwise great day. The basketball was great and the crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium was energetic, creative, and memorable. I wish I could say the same about the food and the experience at Allen & Son. Two thumbs way down!

All Present & Accounted For

As I mentioned in the previous post, we spent the past weekend in Annapolis and had a great time. Nicole and I went up with my mom and dad, and Brent's friend, Makenzie, came along with us. We left Roanoke on Thursday afternoon and stayed up there until Monday morning. It was good to be able to spend a legitimate of time there instead of constantly being on the road.

Brent & Mac - Don't Ask

We were able to spend most of the weekend with Brent, which was his first break from the grueling process of Plebe Summer. He was released on Friday at lunchtime and was able to hang out with us for most of Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. It was obvious that he was ready to have a break and get away from the academy for a bit, but I could tell that he seems to have adjusted and enjoys as much of it as he can.

Maryland Blue Crabs

After his release on Friday, he took us up to his room and we met his other two roommates. It was crazy to see how clean they are expected to keep their living quarters and all the small details they have to be aware of  (like requirements for the blinds on the window). His roommates seem to be good guys and Brent likes them because of their willingness to work hard. It was also awkward to meet his detailers and company leaders - the people who have been yelling at him all summer. I know they were trying to be friendly but I didn't know how to talk to them other than to say, "Sir, yes, sir." 

Once we got away from the academy, we went to Brent's sponsor's house for lunch. A sponsor is someone who "adopts" a few midshipmen during their time at the Naval Academy and acts as a sort of host family for them. Brent is fortunate to have an AMAZINGLY sweet lady as his sponsor and he's going to be in great hands during his four years with her. She hosted us for lunch and had an awesome spread on the dining table, including her famous crab dip. After eating half the dip by myself, I'm trying to figure out how she can be my sponsor.

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxed. We tried some local restaurants that were very good (food posts are coming) and walked around downtown Annapolis a good bit. We didn't want to plan too much because we wanted Brent to enjoy his free time and it was good to take things easy. It was also fun to sit around and listen to all his crazy stories from the summer. Other than that, it was a lot of short little trips around Annapolis and walking around.

Makenzie holding Herschel

One last thing...Nicole and I have a new pet. We talked for the past few months about getting a hedgehog and finally picked one up on our way home from Annapolis. He's a tiny little fellow (fits in the palm of my hand) and now calls the Aldridge house home. There were a lot of different ideas for names but after watching how much he liked to scurry around and his interest in digging, I decided 'Herschel' was quite appropriate. Nicole has decided not to commit to a particular name and will call him whatever she feels like at the moment. Whatever his name is...he's ours!

All Signs Point to BBQ

Big ups to my dad for introducing me to Gary's Barbecue during our recent drive from Roanoke, VA to Athens, GA. Gary's is a western North Carolina barbecue institution that is located just off Interstate 85 about 30 miles north of Charlotte.

When my dad mentioned stopping at a random barbecue place for lunch during our trip, I was skeptical. He said it had been around forever and was the sort of place that wouldn't have a website, and I was worried it would be a greasy spoon, making it painful to sit in the car for the next three hours. My impression didn't improve much when we pulled into the parking lot. There were plenty of cars, but the exterior had a "blue collar/working class" vibe and I figured this was going to be a "Man vs. Food" style restaurant.

This was just one wall.

My impression changed when we walked in. I don't think the staff at Gary's would disagree that they serve barbecue and cookout style food for any type of clientele, but the atmosphere is awesome. Although we went during the busy lunch hour, you seat yourself and we were able to find a table in their huge dining area. They have three or four different rooms with dining tables, and all of the rooms are decorated with classic signs from different eras of the 1900s. It took me a while to look at the menu because I was too busy checking out all the awesome signage on the walls. It's like Cracker Barrel on steroids. To go along with the signs that provide a vintage look, they also have a room with old 1940's & 50's convertibles on display.

The food at Gary's is simple. It's good, old-fashioned barbecue served on paper plates with plastic utensils. While it may be lacking in presentation, there is nothing lacking in flavor. I ordered a barbecue sandwich with a side of coleslaw, and we shared an order of hushpuppies. The barbecue on the sandwich is served without sauce because they have different bottles of sauce available on the table. I topped mine with the "Sweet & Smoky" sauce and thought it tasted great. And I thought the coleslaw was excellent! It was chopped very fine and tasted very sweet, just the way I like it. I put a generous amount of coleslaw on my sandwich and also used it to dip my hushpuppies in. The hushpuppies didn't have much flavor but tasted better when mixed in with the slaw. I tried my dad's order of brunswick stew and was very impressed with that as well.

The service at Gary's was very friendly and efficient. Our waitress was the classic, sweet southern woman who called us all "sweetie" and "honey." After placing our order, it probably took her no longer than 3 or 4 minutes before she returned with our food. Tasty food that is reasonably priced and served by friendly staff is a great combination in a restaurant. Throw in the great atmosphere and you can understand why Gary's has become a landmark. So, if you're looking for an authentic North Carolina barbecue experience while traveling along I-85, stop in and give Gary's a try.

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Fogo de Chao

It's time for another installment of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." I don't think I have a category for this one, although "Overall Restaurant" might be a good one. Fogo de Chao is the gold standard of a dining experience for me. The atmosphere, service, variety, flavors, etc. are all excellent and it is truly unique. It's the type of restaurant where you can be dressed up for a fancy occasion and it's perfectly appropriate, or you can be in a polo shirt and khaki shorts and no one will look at you weird. Unlike some fancy/high class restaurants that care more about making everything pretty on a plate or using bizarre ingredients, Fogo focuses on the food and providing the best flavors possible. The Brazilian churrascaria has a limited number of locations around the country and in Brazil, and you are in for a treat if you ever get to visit one.

The concept behind the churrascaria, which means "barbeque" in Portuguese, is that trained gauchos prepare a variety of meats over an open fire and serve the meats fresh off the fire. Fogo has this down to an art. You sit at a table with a card - one side is green and the other is red. When you turn your card so it's facing green, gauchos come to your table with different meats and offer you cuts of whatever they have. When you have everything you want, simply flip your card to red and enjoy what's on your plate. Ready for more? Flip it back to green to start the entire process over. This continues for as long as you like. The amazing part of this is...the chefs aren't bringing little pieces of grilled chicken, flank steak, and grissly pork chops to your table. It's gourmet in every way. You have the oh-so-difficult responsibility of enjoying garlic seasoned prime sirloin, bacon wrapped filets, prime ribeye, beef ribs, leg of lamb, bacon wrapped chicken, and more. It's a carnivore's delight! Wait, did I mention this is the second part of the meal?

For people who have always thought Fogo de Chao is all about the meat...you're right. But it's also all about amazing vegetables. Prior to your feast of grilled meats, there is a salad bar that I'm pretty sure features vegetables from the Garden of Eden. The salad bar has over 30 items including: fresh mozzarella, artichoke bottoms, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes, aged parmesan, jumbo asparagus, smoked salmon, and prosciutto. I'm partial to fresh vegetables, but I don't know if I have ever enjoyed a salad bar as much as this one. I'm the one at the salad bar piling so many things on my plate that it becomes a balancing act to see if I can carry it all back to the table. I don't know why I do this since you can return for as many trips as you like, but I never learn. I could talk about the fresh crunch of the peppers, the juiciness of the sliced tomatoes, or the rich flavor of the fresh mozzarella but you really have to experience it for yourself. Last time Nicole and I went to Fogo de Chao for dinner, we skipped the meat portion of the meal and only had the salad bar and ate non-stop for 2 hours. I think the wait staff was in awe.

If the salad bar and meat courses aren't enough, you also receive side dishes that are served to your table. Polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas, & cheese rolls (pao de queijo) are all served as you enjoy your meal. I think the polenta, mashed potatoes, & bananas are all pretty pedestrian and not worth the space in your stomach, but the cheese rolls...OH MY WORD! These warm little pillows of goodness are magical. They appear to be a pop-over (we found a recipe and will be attempting to make them) that have a perfect texture on the outside and an airy, soft inside. When these are hot, they are unbeatable. Seriously...speechless.

The entire experience at Fogo de Chao can be overwhelming. There are so many different foods to enjoy and only so much room in your stomach. It's not cheap (Dinner: $50 for meat/salad bar, $25 for salad bar), but I think it's completely worth it. You have to pace yourself and remember the most important thing is to enjoy your meal and not leave feeling completely miserable. And if you think about it, $50 for as many gourmet meats and vegetables you want isn't THAT bad. It's not something I'd pay on a regular basis, but it's great for a special occasion or want to do something different. So for the best thing I ever ate, Fogo de Chao takes a number of different spots: Best Salad Bar, Best Bread (or whatever the cheese rolls should be considered), Best Meat, Best Restaurant. Simply put...it's just the best.

 

iDay

I've thought a great deal about what to say of my time in Annapolis last week, and it's very difficult to put into words. Last Thursday, my brother was inducted into the United States Naval Academy, and he's now a week into the horrible experience known as Plebe Summer. It was tough to see him go, but I don't think any of us could be more proud of him.

People that know Brent usually have some very strong words to describe him. Adjectives such as driven, motivated, competitive, committed, and leader usually come to mind and they don't really tell the entire story. I have never seen anyone work harder at reaching a goal and do whatever it takes to be the very best at everything he participates in. Going to the Naval Academy has been Brent's goal for the past 3 years and it's incredible to see everything he did to make sure he accomplished that goal. 

At one point, his schedule included waking before 6:00am to drive to school to catch the bus to go to Governor's School, spending all day in the most difficult classes possible until 3pm, going to cross country practice until 5pm, driving all the way across town to soccer practice with his travel team until 8pm, and coming home to study and work on homework until 1 or 2am. He was also extremely involved with church youth activities and helped out in numerous ways with his Senior class. Actually, it's possible going to the Naval Academy might help Brent slow down a bit.

The funny part about all the stuff he did to get to Annapolis...it doesn't mean a thing now. As a plebe at the academy, he is treated like dirt. Within his first few hours of being there (when he checks in with nothing but the clothes he's wearing), he had his head shaved, received a hideous uniform, and was already being yelled at along with the other 1300 members of his freshmen class. Plebe summer is one of the challenges and processes of joining the academy that breaks you down and helps shape you into becoming a naval officer. It is physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding in every way. The program lasts until the second week of August, which is the first time we can come see him at the academy for "Parent's Weekend." At the Induction Ceremony, the plebes take an oath to do everything asked of them to protect our country, and that oath is taken with the utmost seriousness. Plebe summer is the first step in those individuals becoming the leaders of our Navy. 

While it was unbelievable to see Brent take his spot in the formation line to march off following the induction ceremony, I know he is in the right place. He went to a place where excellence is required and where anything but your best is unacceptable. He went to a place where they take the best and make them even better. He earned a spot at the United States Naval Academy. He went where he belongs.

The Charm City

We are not in a position to be able to travel a lot, but it's usually a lot of fun when we do. Nicole and I joined the rest of my family last week and took my brother to Annapolis, MD for his induction into the U.S. Naval Academy. We had a great time in Annapolis and I'll have another post about that entire experience, but Nicole and I decided to spend a couple extra days in Maryland and head up to Baltimore, the Charm City.

Baltimore was a quick 30 minute drive north of Annapolis and we spent most of the day Friday and Saturday there. We booked a room through HI Hostels and stayed in their hostel, which was downtown and not too far from the Inner Harbor area. The accommodations were decent (although hot) and provided the basics we needed: a bed to sleep in, a bathroom to shower, and a place to park our car. We didn't spend much time in the hostel but they seem to do a good job of providing resources and things to do for guests and I'd definitely consider using them again when we travel to other cities where H.I. offers accomodations.

When we weren't sleeping, we tried to do as much exploring as we could. We visited the campus of Johns Hopkins University and checked out some of the local highlights around that area, including an ice cream shop that served veggie ice cream and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The woman working in the ice cream shop was very rude and their ice cream was nothing special (a hint of vegetable in vanilla ice cream) but the art museum was really cool (and it happened to be free). I know very little about art and find most of it boring, but it's fun to see things from other perspectives and it's usually good people watching to say the least.

Baltimore seems to be divided into multiple neighborhoods/communities and many of them have their own unique culture and identity. We weren't able to spend much time in many of the communities, but we definitely wanted to visit the area known as Little Italy. It was one of the coolest city neighborhoods I've seen. As we walked down the streets, we were hit with the amazing smells of Italian food cooking in numerous restaurants that sit in nearly every street corner. There were benches where people could sit by the street and hang out for an afternoon and a public bocce ball court where elderly Italian men challenged each other in some very competitive games. We even saw people gathering in a parking lot for what appears to be a Friday night tradition in Little Italy - there is a large sheet on the side of a building that serves as a movie screen and hundreds of people set up their chairs to have a spot for movie night right in the middle of the neighborhood. The movie night also sits between a local pizza shop on one side and a pastry shop on the other - classic. Everything about the place promoted community and family.

Bocce Ball!

Movie Night!

Along with hanging out in Little Italy, we tried to hit the other major spots in Baltimore. We took a water taxi to Fells Point, the historic neighborhood that still has cobblestone streets. We went through the World Famous Lexington Market, a market full of food vendors, profanity, and Baltimore character. We walked around Camden Yards, the beautiful baseball stadium that is worthy of a much better team. And we took in the sites of the Inner Harbor, which is the most obvious tourist spot in the city but still cool. The Barnes & Noble on the harbor is the coolest B&N I've seen, featuring a warehouse design and patios where you can sit and look out over the water.

We can't go somewhere without trying lots of food, and Baltimore was no different. Aside from the ice cream we had at Dominion Ice Cream, we had some excellent food. We decided to be crazy on Friday night and have dinner at Fogo de Chao, the famous Brazilian churrascaria. We took the healthy(er) option of the salad bar and skipped the meat portion of the meal, which saved us a lot of money and allowed us to gorge ourselves on their amazing salad bar. I'm pretty sure Fogo will receive a few "Best Thing I Ever Ate" posts in the coming weeks. And when I previously mentioned the cool pizza and pastry shops in Little Italy, I forgot to mention we visited both. I had an awesome meatball sub from Isabella's, the pizza and sandwich shop, and we tried the cannoli (which I thought was the best), cream puffs, and napoleons from Vaccaro's, the pastry shop. We could spend years trying all the other restaurants that looked good and I hope to be able to get back to Baltimore to see what other great food they're serving.

One thing that made our two days in Baltimore so enjoyable was the ability to use public transportation. The city offers bus service to the main neighborhoods and attractions on a service called the Charm City Circulator. There are three routes running through the main parts of the city with multiple stops and you usually don't have to wait more than 10 minutes for a pick up from any of the locations. The stops are well marked, the buses are clean, and the drivers are friendly. And the best part...using the Charm City Circulator is FREE! It made getting around the city very easy and it enabled us to see more of the unique things Baltimore had to offer. Being able to ride the bus kept us from worrying about walking everywhere and figuring out if we'd need to take our car and then find a place to park.  I was extremely impressed with this service and I hope many other cities will work to offer something similar to this. 

   

In all, it was a great getaway for us. The weather ended up being nice and we were able to see many different things. We hope to get back sometime and see even more! Here are a few additional pictures: