Holiday By The Sea

If you're heading to Rehoboth Beach to see fireworks this Saturday (July 4th...you know...the day that you're supposed to see fireworks), you're out of luck.  For some reason, Rehoboth Beach will have their fireworks display on Sunday, July 5 this year.  The show starts at 9:15. Too bad that we're all gonna miss it!

If you're in Ocean City, you can catch fireworks on the real Independence Day on the beach at Division Street or at Northside Park (125th St.).  Both locations have pre-firework concerts starting at 8 PM. Fireworks start at 9:30.

There is so much stuff happening at the beaches this weekend.  I'm looking forward to continuing my relaxing vacation with my family, eating ice cream and other bad stuff, reading an actual book, and taking a few naps.

Maybe we'll check out Ocean City's hottest new restaurant,  Ropewalk at 82nd St.  This bayside eatery just opened a few weeks ago and has been packed ever since.  Much like their Fenwick Island location, there seems to be long waits for tables.  The menu looks good and they have some decent drink specials with a steel drum band during happy hour.  

“…and the password is ‘DIABEETUS’.”

I was shopping for a new swimsuit this week and I found myself wondering why I wear a swimsuit to the beach.  I haven't fully submerged myself in the ocean for years and I don't have access to a pool.  In fact, it seems that almost everyone on the beach is wearing a swimsuit, but most are sitting under an umbrella or wearing a cover-up.  The ones who aren't are totally dry.

When I think about it, I think that I wear it in case I get hot and want to cool myself off in the ocean.  I mean, why else would I parade my near-naked, voluptuous, almost 50 year old body in front of hundreds of people when I won't wear a dress without Spanx?

What is it about the beach that makes us feel like it's o.k. to go "natural" and shed most of clothes, along with our inhibition?  I get it.  We're hot and sweaty.  The ocean breeze feels so good against our skin.  And, let's face it, who the hell is looking at a near-naked, voluptuous, almost 50 year old anyway?

It's actually really cool that people can "let go" and relax while wearing their bikinis - whether they be size 8 or 18 - even if they never see a drop of water.

Enjoy the holiday and everything awesome that the beaches have to offer this week.  God Bless America!!

Vacation - All I Ever Wanted

This Thursday (6/25), I'll be heading down to the beach to stay for a full 10 days!  It will be so nice to be able to stay over this Sunday evening, instead of worrying about leaving early (or late) enough to avoid traffic.

In all honesty, I feel like I've been on a constant vacation ever since I purchased my beach house in March of last year.  Just knowing that I have a place near the ocean to get away to has given me a great amount of peace and relaxation.  It has, without a doubt, changed my life in a very positive way. Each week, I look forward to crossing the bridge over the Indian River Inlet and seeing the breathtaking view of the ocean and the bay once more.   Even when I'm not there, it makes me smile.

I'll be kicking off my vacation with Arts Alive at Northside Park in OC on Saturday, June 27 or Sunday, June 28.  This year, I'm going alone because my family acts like little bitches when they have to walk in the hot sun and look at tacky, crafty things.  I may ride my bike to this event since it was hard to find parking last year.

Get your fanny packs ready for Arts Alive this weekend

In Delaware, the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival is happening in Lewes this weekend (Sat/Sun).  There is a $5 admission fee this year, but they will have live music (steel drums!) and lots of free talks, demonstrations, and kids stuff to celebrate...sea glass.

Some call them "tears of the sea".  I call it "old, tumbled trash".
This weekend, we'll call it "sea glass" and have a festival to celebrate it!

My family will be joining me next week and I'm looking forward to lots of laughs and good times with them.  It's been a bit of a rough year for me so I'm hoping that my vacation will give me the chance to get my mind in a better place.  

I know that I won't be alone at the beach next week.  I hope that the weather is great, traffic is light, and that everyone packs their patience.  Welcome summer!

Fathers Day @ The Beach 2015

I just returned to Wilmington after a lovely beach weekend.  The OC Air Show could be seen from my comfy spot on the sand and I didn't have to head in to town to seek parking or sit on the hot boardwalk.  It was pretty cool to see some of the daring feats and maneuvers over the ocean.

My daughter, Amanda, captured this super cool shot
 on 136th St. beach on Saturday

Friday night, we were able to find parking in Bethany Beach and catch the British Invasion Tribute Band.  The seats were packed and everyone seemed to be having a really good time on a really beautiful evening.  

My husband turned on the water to our outdoor shower this weekend.  Is it weird that I love being able to look at the sky and the treetops while totally naked?  I always feel cleaner when I shower out there.  Added bonus:  if it's a breezy day, it doesn't take long to dry myself off!

For Fathers Day (this weekend), I am taking my mother to the beach.  This is my first Fathers Day without my Dad.  I expect that it may be a bit tough for me, but I vowed to myself that I would spend every holiday with my Mother until my Dad is gone 1 year. 

What am I going to do with Mom @ the beach this weekend?  I have no idea, but I'm sure that it will involve food!  I know that there are a few relatives that she wants to visit in the Lewes/Rehoboth area, so I'll probably be heading back and forth between there and OC. The weather could go either way, but I doubt we'll be doing any heavy-duty outdoor activities, so it really doesn't matter!

If you want to spend some time with Dad at the beach this weekend, here are a couple of things he might like:

Lewes Custom & Classics Car Show:  From 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday 6/20 @ Hazzard Auto Complex in Lewes. Sponsored by the Historical Vintage Car Club of Delaware.  Register your car from 9 AM to Noon. DE dash plaques and goodie bags to the first 100 registrants.

Breeches Buoy Rescue Re-Enactment:  Saturday June 20 @ 10 AM on the beach at the OC inlet.  Not really sure what this is, but it is free and sponsored by the OC Life Saving Museum.  You can watch a video of the rehearsal by clicking the link above.  If you and your Dad like old timey beach stuff such as shipwrecks and wool bathing suits, you probably won't want to miss this...I guess.

So that's pretty much it.  Not much else going on in the DE/MD resort towns this weekend. Looks like you'll need to be a bit creative if you're in the area.  I plan to head back up north early Sunday morning so that I can make a nice dinner for my husband and father in law (and so I can beat Firefly traffic).  

Happy Fathers Day!

So Many Activities!

This coming weekend (6/12-6/14) is the reason that I own a beach house.  The weather is perfect, we have daylight until after 9 PM, the vacation rental season hasn't quite started yet, and there is stuff going on everywhere at the DE/MD beaches.

Here some stuff you might want to check out:

Friday 7:30 PM  The British Invasion @ Bethany Beach Bandstand (Beatles tribute band)

Close your eyes and pretend it's the Beatles

Friday 8:00 PM  Love Seed Mama Jump @ Rehoboth Beach Bandstand (guitar-driven rock & pop)

Friday - Sunday  Rehoboth Beach Vegfest  to promote healthy, humane eating offers planned activities, as well as a free festival on Saturday with lots of family-centered events scheduled.  Check out their web site for more detailed info.

Saturday - Sunday  The OC Air Show is back in town and, this year, the US Navy Blue Angels will be making their first performance over the beach/boardwalk.  All performances are pretty easily viewed from the entire length of the boardwalk, but I noticed last year that most of the excitement seems to take place around 15th/16th Sts.  

The US Navy Blue Angels will be heading to OCMD for the Air Show this year

Saturday 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM  5th Annual Surf Swap @ Liquid Surf Shop 19406 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach.  Includes all kinds of used surfing and water sports equipment;  surfboards, skateboards, paddleboards, bodyboards, skimboards.  For more info, call 302-727-5568.  Rain date is Sunday 6/14. 

Saturday 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM  Playtime at the Beach Dog-friendly happy hour to benefit  DE Humane Association.  Zogg's Raw Bar & Grill @ 1 Wilmington Ave, Rehoboth Beach.  Dogs are welcome, but they must be on a leash.  A portion of all proceeds goes to DHA.

Saturday 7:30 PM  Apex Revolution @ Bethany Beach Bandstand (Country/Rock band)

Saturday 8:00 PM  Glass Onion @ Rehoboth Beach Bandstand (Rock & Roll dance party band)

I'm going to try to hit up as many of these things as possible (well....maybe not the country/rock band in Bethany on Saturday night...and probably not the Vegfest either).  I want to find a used surf board to decorate the rafters in my sun porch, so maybe I'll head up to the Surf Swap @ Liquid on Saturday.  

 I'm looking forward to getting in to town early Thursday or Friday and, if it's anything like last year, seeing the planes for the air show fly over my house as they come in to town. Pretty cool stuff - and really noisy!

If you do find yourself in Bethany this weekend, be sure to check out the progress of the new Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Luxury Hotel on the south end of the boardwalk.  This hotel was supposed to be up and running by Memorial Day.  That didn't happen, so they're hoping for a July 2 opening.  When I took a stroll by there late last month, it looked like they still had a ton of work to do, but they had plenty of people working on the site.  They did a good job of making sure that it blended in well with the feel of the town.  I can't wait to see the finished product.

Sims hanging out at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites.
Real humans can rent a room there next month.

 I'm so glad that my sand chair is finally seeing some action!  

Coastal Colors

If you have to pull over during a downpour on Route 1 on your way to the beach, what better place to park but next to the end of the rainbow!  That's what happened to me last Thursday night.  It was crazy - a huge rainbow was covering the highway and you could see the beginning and the end.  

The beginning of the rainbow

The end of the rainbow!  

There was no rain at the beach last weekend.  We had three days of beautiful, sunny weather and colorful sunsets.  Ocean City was filled with Ravens fans who were in town for the annual Ravens Roost Parade.  They all seemed to be having a great time in their purple shirts and their beads and hats and stuff!

Pink & purple sunset as seen from Harpoon Hannas

If you're "down the beach" this weekend, perhaps you might want to take part in the Dewey Beach Color Run 2015  on Saturday, June 6.  The run/walk starts at 10 AM and benefits Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding.  I'm not totally sure what the purpose of the colored powder is, but it looks pretty cool when people throw it all over each other.  Whatevs...could be fun.

Don't be blue!  This charity run needs you!

Speaking of Dewey Beach, I noticed that the Dewey Beer Co. appeared to be open last weekend and, from the look of the crowd, seemed to be doing pretty well.  I don't have any info on this place yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out more.  According to an article in The News Journal, this open-air full scale restaurant is offering 10 of their own beers on tap - mostly IPAs.  

I'm looking forward to heading back down on Thursday night to discover more cool stuff and get my toes back in the sand while I patiently wait for this new OC boardwalk eatery to open:

It's what they do