Amazingkae

Rockville, Maryland has the most unusual and fun new culinary hot spot: ”Bob’s 88 Shabu Shabu”—all locals, authentic Asian, absolutely wonderful. Make reservations, arrive early, come hungry. It is a new place that looks like a dive but the food is unreal—so good, so plentiful, so fresh, so perfect—and the service was fantastic, too. We had a great time being the only token caucasians. Everything turned out to be perfect (in atmosphere and service) and all the food tasted divine!

The drive this fall was beautiful and so worth the trip; the restaurant is an easy jaunt from 495 to 270 and then into the heart of the historic downtown center. Elders and children will delight in the pan-asian authenticity of the food; cooking and seasoning your own pot of soup at the table, combined with the freshness of the ingredients, made it a home-style family oriented delight. As the cooking process takes a while and the lines are so long, “Bob” has thoughtfully extended the dinner hours to one o’clock in the morning—a plus for night owls or those hoping to avoid any rush hour traffic.

Proper Shabu Shabu is like having a little taste of Nirvana delivered in a steaming hot pot of broth. If you are within four hours of Rockville, I promise the gastronomic adventure is well worth the trip. I am adding information on how to to find the place onto 43places.com as a destination in Maryland with the hopes of encouraging new patrons—but from the look of long lines wrapping out of the building when we left, I would say (to quote my mum to Bob tonight), “[They] already have a winner!”

Note to non-Asians: Don’t go and expect to act like a typical American boor. Be sure to give a proper bow (or sign of courtesy) to all the staff and owners when you go; your best manners and patience with any language barriers will be richly rewarded. We will happily be returning many times.

They are really outdoing themselves to cater to the public at Bob’s 88 SHABU SHABU!

Tell them someone fun and friendly from 43places.com sent you.

:-)

I don’t know why I want to go to this place, honestly. I have the wild urge to eat a cheesesteak in Philly (and of course new skylines always intrigue me).

Peace and late night cyber insomnia love to the board on 43!

Amazingkae, perpetually.

ROAD TRIP PENDING-see notes. ;)

On a lifelong quest to spend time in all the geographical regions of our beautiful country.

Kitty Hawk, and all of the Outer Banks area, is a very up and coming “quiet your mind and soothe your soul” retreat. There is alot of great laid back activity stuff to do here-and of course there is the beach. Whether you are up for a physical challenge or just out for a drive, you will find the place to be incredibly relaxing. Combine the small beach village atmosphere with all the aerospace history and you have yourself quite a fun and funky little place to be. Make sure you grab yourself some Carolina BBQ and some fresh seafood treats-and yes, parasailing and hang gliding! Thanks to my friends flawless recommendations, we have found lots of new really cool places here to bring the family. KEY TRAVEL NOTE: Get in good with the locals and they can give you a heads up on all the best places in town to play, relax, and eat.

One of the many stops on a nationwide quest for the perfect chocolate malt, this place is at the top of the list for artery-clogging goodies. Bloody-rare Cheeseburgers and some hot salty fries tie together the tasty treat experience into a nifty little platter experience at this classic Hop. 50’s style at it’s best… a “must visit” kinda’ joint for any local in downtown Chi. Don’t be afraid to share here; portions are big and I have not finished an order of anything yet. Yummy goodness with tons of memorabilia to talk about… definately the “mack daddy-o” of diners downtown if you are into this sort of retro place.

We love this place and come here every time we are in Charleston (alone, friends, family-it has become a custom for us all). Clearly, and outstanding favorite for the locals and guests, the Vendue Inn provides the most spectacular experience of historic Charleston-and the best view. The French Quarter just would not be the same without it! Only a short walking distance to/from Waterfront Park makes it a great spot to have a relaxing drink and meet up with friends, watch a sunset, or to play under the stars. LOVE IT, LOVE IT… windowshopping and the art galleries nearby make this district a perfect choice for an evening stroll, too. I can’t imagine visiting Charleston and not “being” here. Casual elegance…

The Anheuser-Busch Brewery is a part of American history. Though I can’t stand beer, per se, but it was fascinating to tour the facility from the standpoint of the science and engineering involved in its production. My friends were enthralled (free beer)... I loved studying the architecture and getting to spend time with the horses.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon while visiting St. Louis. Following the history of beer from ancient societies and cultures worldwide (and doing some research beforehand) made the tour so much more fun.

I highly recommend taking the tour. Fortunately, my friends are mainly academics/broker/business types, so despite the quenching of their thirsty palates, they came away even more able to answer questions on Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit. [LOL] You can always go back through again for a second view later, but there is ample time for questions and interactions with the guides during the primary times.

Despite any pretext of “loser heroism” folklore surrounding the glamour of drinking until you are stupid (which I despise), everyone on the tour was well behaved and well educated, overall. Idiocy was discouraged completely, and the one or two “wife-beater t-shirt” elements were in and out and on to the beer and snack bar in 20 minutes. This was a plus, because as anyone knows, it only takes one bad element to spoil things for everyone.

Anyone aggressively American, in the purest sense, will appreciate the Brewery and its founders as well. Understanding the capitalist element of the corporation and the implications of running a large conglomerate during key developmental periods of US history were just the historical tweaks that made touring the facility worth our time. Pretty cool, actually… rising to power as a corporation by assuaging the pedantic needs of the blue collar masses world wide?

And the buildings themselves were so well preserved… Beer lover or not, it is worth the visit just to see the place. The gardens are beautifully maintained, the stables elegant, and it definitely adds a landmark element to the city of St. Louis.

Perfect little community and wonderful environment. Private beaches, beautiful and lush landscape, and some of the most extravagantly constructed homes in the world. Golf and tennis, boating, gulf to bay living. Longboat Key has it all, and the club culture simply adds a cherry (and whipped cream) on top.

I grew up here, and though it was rather life living on a deserted island at times, it gave me such a distinct advantage over all the other children (in peace, education, and mindfulness). My own now have the same advantage, which has only been positive for all.

Watching my family now on the beach, playing in the surf and hunting seashells, sand dollars, and seaweed the same way I did when I was a kid is entirely too amusing. Seeing the coastline change? Or the climate of the day (from misty mornings to blistering sun and back into balmy nights)? The waters and their ecosystems? It’s so good. Treasure hunting is a perfect afternoon past time (though I suspect the island residents already have found most of the better doubloons).

Reflectively speaking, I can’t even explain what a lovely atmosphere exists on this island if you are lucky enough to spend your time here. I can only say how fortunate I am to be a part of it. There are very few places in the world to be that are as nice as LBK.

Just remember to pace yourself for any commute. The bridges and traffic can really cause delays in your day. Personally, I would rather pull in somewhere and wait for evening before I leave the island… or stroll Saint Armands Circle before heading to the mainland, any day.

Story? John Ringling used to own the island, and both sides of my family have been vacationing here since the early 1900s. My father’s side of the family (and my father) were personal friends. Across the bay is the Ca D’Zan, John and Mable’s winter residence… which is now a popular tourist destination. If you look closely from the water or in just the right light from the island, however, you can see Charlie’s mansion next door.

When my dad was a kid, he ran away from home and spent about three months there in Charlie’s mansion living with with him, behind those lovely walls of glass. Sailing the bay, fishing and exploring the local sand bars and island beaches along what are now the intercoastal waterways… all in all, my dad became quite the salt water mariner during that short Sarasota time (back when Longboat Key could only be accessed by boat). That is, until he got wanderlust again, lied about his age, and ran off to join the Navy.

Longboat has a way of doing that to you, giving you a passion for the island life, a tropical breeze, and the simplicity of a life on the water. I suppose that is why he passed the same loves on to me; I love the sun, someplace warm, anything that is steeped with adventure. Throw in my love of anything having to do with people who love the sea, and you are right there out to sea with me. Either that, or one might say it makes you seem a little “dingy”.

Note: Those who laugh last, always, never get the joke.

The best reminder to be taken away from Longboat Key does not stem from the grandeur of the place… it is not found clamouring for the opulence. The knowledge actually arrived for me as an epiphany long ago. It is best illustrated contextually in harmony with something Benjamin Franklin once said, “Joy is not in things, it is in us.” As such, the Platonic ideal embodied in this perfect thought form leads me to my biggest point about living a life on Longboat Key.

It only takes one sunset from an island view to remind you how precious life is, and that the times spent together in a life made up of seashells, lightning storms, and clowning together on sandy beaches are more meaningful than anything else most humanity will ever have the opportunity to know. Life is a circus, just like the Ringling Brothers said. Lions and tigers and bears can abound. For that reason, the memories and quiet times, I will always love Longboat Key. It is a perfect retreat… and that’s my story.

Home, sweet home is how I deal with it.

;-)

Rumor has it that the Nantahala area is probably one of the most under-rated national parks in the States, leaving plenty of secluded space for guests to play around. Anyone considering time to “cool off” in the shade together (or to catch a bit of sun on the water) would love the privacy and natural beauty of the Nantahala Forest, undeniably.

Growing up on an island, I was not fortunate enough to escape the palm trees for a bit of shade as often I wished. However, I have been through the Nantahala National Forest now in every season, and each one has been prettier than the last. The place is uniquely perfect, as the topography is phenomenal. The changing seasons paint a different portrait every day, giving the land itself a life found in few other places.

Rustic cabin rentals or secluded camping sites set a backdrop for the perfect getaway; no phone service, campfires, a canopy of trees, the birds, animals, private lakes, river, waterfalls [the imagery just keeps going]. Nantahala is one space where how much credit you have left on your Visa or Mastercard won’t matter a bit… there is no where here to spend it, and the area itself is priceless.

The gorge and corresponding highway itself is stunning for a recreational drive any time of day or year… only the city lights of New York (or a beautiful harbor view from a pool from one of the private rooftop bars in Charleston) can mirror the memory colors of a fall sunset for me. Sunrises are even more dramatic.

If you need more thrills, white water is chilly… well, actually beyond blue-toes… so plan your summer wetsuit for rafting as you feel comfortable. Hiking trails are gentle to ridiculous, making it well worth the trip no matter what your outdoor levels. However, bouldering for bio-exploration is just the best, especially when you get hot and can drop down to cool off in the river!

For driving enthusiasts (sportscars or motorcyclyes), hairpin turns are a blast, but be careful not to over or underestimate the curves; the cliffs are steep and help is far. Keep the speed low to fun, as there are so many deer who would like nothing more than to make a good impression on your too-fast transportation. Besides, the park rangers are pretty serious when it comes to traffic regulations.

When considering how to spend your life, city life is wonderful: the best, absolutely. However, camping is almost better than the Ritz at times for me, and can bring a whole new meaning to “Rock/Star” power. [Who doesn’t love a rocky forest backdrop and stargazing though the middle of the night?] A full moon really lights up the scenery and makes night exploration lively. There are one or two great places tucked away to have a meal (especially Carolina BBQ), so though it is rough, you are not completely without.

If you meditate or do yoga, you will find the perfect vantage points here. Being one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, steeped with so much native culture and American frontier history, certainly offers a distinct advantage in setting for those needing to find their own space, center themselves, unwind, and balance.

Vacationing here is very “Granola”, and there is something positive to be said about abandoning creature comforts for a while and reclaiming yourself. WELL WORTH THE TRIP.

The Indian museum itself is so relaxing… the architecture is amazing, and they have tried hard to stay true to the design elements that inspire native cultures. Sitting “under the stars” to listen to the stories of the ancestors is so peaceful; making it a delightfully time consuming process is worth slowing down to a more intensely focused pace. Although the museum itself is wonderful, there is a better secret. Downstairs has the best little restaurant with traditional Native American food. We love to take a book with us and sit and read in the cafe—or to simply to sit indoors (or out) watching the river. Perfect! It is one of the “unknown spots” for downtown DC, and makes an incredibly easy afternoon either alone or with company while in the district. Kudos to my son for finding this space!

Mote Marine is a local treasure in Sarasota County, Florida. I used to do alot of volunteer work there when I was a kid… the place is perfect for parents and children to visit together (or grandparents to bring the little ones for an outing). If you can stare quietly for hours and observe sealife [and your children are extremely well behaved], then it makes a perfect rainy-day afternoon or sunshine-break from the beach or pool.

Mote Marine is a small facility, but has absolutely fascinating research concerning aquatic elements—including shark studies [R&D] for curing cancer. If you are at all interested in marine life or costal studies, epsecially with information about the Gulf Coast of Florida region, then it is worth the visit. Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary and the Sailing Squadron were there on City Island, too… and always made summertime fun.

However, if your kids are rotten or obnoxious, please don’t come-it is not fair to risk damaging the exhibits, destroying other people’s experience, or tying up the staff trying to manage what you can’t do as a parent. You won’t enjoy the day, nor will they… and that’s my tip about this place. Besides, it is very easy for them to hurt themselves and the animals if they, the children (and/or their bad parents), are the creatures who exhibit the poor models of behavior. ;)

Considering a visit to Mote Marine should be rather like contemplating an “if/then” proposition. If your kids are intellectually oriented, and you are fortunate enough to have raised them properly and enjoy a loving, respectful relationship with them, then they will find the visit and related tours absolutely educational, fun, and inspiring.

Your call.