Beach Party Madness

This place is crazy. In fact, it's basically another world, one that holds up to 4,000 people. It reminds me of the sickeningly sweet dessert concoctions I make some nights to make up for the fact that I was deprived of sugar as a child. (Think: cookie dough & peanut butter melted together, plus ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup. Love.) However, this place isn't a "dessert bowl," it's a "spring break lifestyle bowl."

Ocean City, Maryland's Seacrets is a fantastic trip back in time to the world of spring break. You can pull up a stool to a cocktail table that is set a foot into the bay, rock out to reggae bands jamming on the beach stage, lay out with your drink on an inner tube in the water, get down on one of the nightclub dance floors, or eat dinner under tiki torches-- be careful, though, you're probably being broadcast live on a movie screen somewhere else within the grounds!

The best part is that when you finally go home after a night of debauchery, you're not on spring break. That means you can go home, brush your teeth, go to sleep in an actual bed, and wake up for the 9am sun.

Tips:

- Even though you're at the beach, this place has a strict dress code!

- Don't wear heels (flip flops are allowed), since you'll be trudging across sand throughout the club.

- Don't go on the private dock if you've been drinking exorbitant amounts.

- Do dance! Reggae is meant for beach parties!

Summer sports

Now that spring is finally here, it's fun to spend some time outdoors! My favorite way to do this is by relaxing with a lemonade & a book in a hammock-- but once I grow restless of that, golf is a nice change of pace. Although the game can be quite difficult for me (or anyone!), I love that golf just keeps on giving-- whether it's a nice connection between a friend & me, a golf-based trip in some beautifully green part of the world, or business-made-fun.

This past weekend Geoff and I played the Herndon Centennial Golf Course for only $28 a round (walking)! The course was nice -- forgiving, but with enough bunkers & water hazards to mix it up and make it interesting. Definitely worth the money; especially since the front 9 were probably my best ever. Feel good factor! Herndon Centennial's rates are a bit higher during midday over the summer weekends, but they drop down to $28/18 holes after 4pm-- fantastic for a location 30 min. from the city. See the website for details.

Another great resource is this washingtonpost.com article rating their favorite public golf courses around the metro D.C. area. I found their pricing information to be based on weekday rates rather than weekends, but it definitely is a great way to try out a new playing field.

Has anyone found similar articles for their respective areas? Feel free to post here!

NYC --> DC Transport

I think my coworkers are pretty over hearing me drag my little roll-y bag across the 2nd and 3rd floors of our office space every Friday morning and afternoon. My main motive for this, however, is that I can get to DC (to visit my boyfriend) cheap and quite easily by simply taking the bus. Sure, the train is great for those who commute for work and their firm picks up the tab, and quite fine for anyone on a big "DC Weekend! trip." But for those of us (and there are quite a lot of 'regulars') who go back and forth all the time-- I've found the bus to be the best way.

My favorite company is Vamoose Bus because:
a. it loads 5 blocks from my office, just on W 31st between 7th and 8th Aves
b. it drops off in both Bethesda, MD and Rosslyn, VA-- much more convenient for many travelers than an actual DC location
c. multiple rides per day
d. it's express service (other than the sometimes rest-stop)
e. they often play movies
f. the leg room is generally much better than any other bus companies I've found
g. $25 each way, and with every 4 ticket stubs you receive a free ride!

Sure, I know Chinatown buses, and even Washington Deluxe are slightly cheaper, but I don't find them a better bet. After taking a Premium bus where the door flapped open throughout the 4.5 hr trip and I'm 99% sure my driver was on drugs, or learning that the Fung-Wah bus flipped over en route to Boston from NYC, I'm not such a fan. I've found Washington Deluxe employees to be generally disgruntled, plus their buses are designed for those 5'6" and under. Therefore, Vamoose Bus earns my cash for at least 24-36 rides per year!

Kiwi Experience in Arlington, VA

This past weekend I had a delightful brunch in a Kiwi Cafe, Cassatt's, just outside of Washington, DC. Back in New Zealand, I was most fond of their coffees, fried eggs on burgers, and fish and chips. Luckily, you can get all of that at Cassatt's-- and you don't even have to pay 15 cents for each packet of tomato sauce!

Geoff, my boyfriend & Australian souvenir, was excited since Kiwis live kind of close to Oz, and over on this side of the world he'll take what he can get. I was pumped for a new find near to the Orange Line.

Our waiter didn't have an accent, but that's forgivable since he was pleasant enough. The food was fantastic. Delicious not-too-sweet french toast, the Big Kiwi Breakfast (eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, tomato and fruit all inclusive), and a Medium sized latte in what could be considered a cereal bowl! I cannot wait to go back for dinner.

In addition to wonderful, inexpensive food, Cassatt's hosts Arlington Artists Alliance classes in it's basement. The restaurant's wall decorations rotate monthly, in the form of Artist Alliance exhibits. I definitely recommend trying a bit of the Kiwi life in this quaint Arlington locale!