Pizza and Pool in Baltimore

Home Slyce is a pizza bar in Baltimore that offers free pool and varying kids of pizza and pizza-related food and beverage items. Mark and I went and had a great time Sunday.

Our recommendations: Beer and Pomegranate Lemonade, and the Strongman Pizza.

24 Hrs in Savannah (DAY 3)

We had so much fun the whole week before and after hitting this city.

To check out our preplanning, click here, Day 1 click here, and Day 2 pt 1 Myrtle Beach and Charleston, click the city names.

(Prints of the photo below, because I'm in love with it, are available here.)







Savannah was a great place to be immersed in Southern Gothic-ness and it's own definite culture. We've heard so many things from friends in the past, and were definitely looking forward to this leg of our East Coast Road Trip.







One of my old coworkers, Paige, had given some great tips. She went to Savannah College of Art and Design, and ended up having her wedding there during the time that we worked together. Everywhere we walked, we would see the SCAD logo and various parts of the campus.



For hotels in Savannah - cannot recommend Mansion on Forsyth Park more. We'd had a relatively smooth ride in from Charleston, but were more than ready to check in to this luxurious place. There was Versace furniture and flavored water and apples we snacked on, in the lobby. If you walk through the lobby out the back, there is this gorgeous pool you can take a dip in.







We got asked later that night (when spontaneously chatting with a couple near us, also watching the sun set) why we picked this hotel, rather than one of the many located at the River. If the above details aren't enough, here are some of the reasons we gave them. When Mark had been here in the past for rugby, he remembered Forsyth Park fondly. We also knew there would be a Farmers Market there in the morning (it's every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), so we could just walk across the street and get breakfast there. And as it would turn out, we would also see the start of the Savannah Mile Run that morning. We still enjoy remembering a group of probably coworkers, all in yellow shirts, who started out walking, and later we saw ending the run walking, having a great time the whole way.



We also ended up finding out that the hotel has a complimentary shuttle to their sister property, The Bohemian located on the Riverfront at Bay Street. It runs every half an hour on a first come first serve basis. We ended up going there to see the sun set, with a great view from their rooftop bar. To be able to go back to a quiet room, away from the craziness of the Riverwalk after a night out, was great. And the most incredible soaking tub was in our room, waiting.











(P.S. Don't pay for valet, there is sufficient on-street parking available around the park and side streets and we ended up finding parking on the same block as the hotel, every time we needed it)



Our walking route was along Bull and Whitaker from the Park towards the River and back.



Made a stop at a friendly looking bookstore called E Shaver Booksellers, which had an attached oasis called the Tea Room. They had Outlander-themed tea! (for anyone who remembers that show and the Jamie character fondly) As their website says, first and foremost, they love tea. Mark had a bit of a cough, so they made a batch of 'Emperor's Bride' with a strong recommendation that it would help him feel better, and it did!



Dinner was at Olde Pink House & Planters Tavern at 23 Abercorn Street, which I'm told, is always busy. I had pulled up the restaurant on my phone as I'm apt to do sometimes when I want to go somewhere nice but hadn't thought to make a reservation yet. I'll literally do it in the parking lot right before going in, just to have that to say to the host. But this time, I couldn't do it. There were not open tables, or so we thought. It's a huge, historic place (16,000 square feet) that any host or hostess will give you a tour to show you all the wings and different facts that have occured there. Despite not having even a last minute reservation, we walked in and were treated really well. We were walked around and given descriptions of every room, and it turns out a table opened up as soon as we got back to the entrance.

We were seated in an old bank vault room. It was wonderful. I got the pork, he got the chicken, we both got collard greens and a delicious sweet potato with pecan brown sugar sauce on the side. In total it was around $50 with drinks.



We strolled to the Riverwalk and saw the boats and people milling around. Last time Mark was here, his rugby teammates had spent more of there time here near the water. He'd gone to Smiles Dueling Piano Bar so we stopped and listened for a minute. Got a signature pina colada frozen daquiri from Wet Willies and sat in the park, watching people with glow sticks running around.



The next morning, we walked outside to see this race setting off. So many participants going by the front of the hotel, right at that moment! We crossed that street and walked into the park, strolling through the stalls of the Farmer's Market. I HIGHLY recommend one vendor, Alake's GA Pecan's. His 'Sweet, Salty, Buttery' 2 oz bag of pecans is their best seller, and addictive.

We snacked and munched on our way past the park (the opposite way from our stroll last night to the river), towards Foxy Loxy Cafe. Artwork litters the walls. We got sausage breakfast kolaches from someone named Chloe, and sat in their main seating area along with a few student-looking patrons perched at their various laptops.

After all that walking, we were ready to relax in our room and start thinking about the next destination. And good thing, because it started to rain. Our next city was Panama City Beach, Florida (DAY 4), so it was about to be a long drive.



*A recommendation for the best road stop you could imagine- is on the way out of Savannah heading South- the Smallest Church in America in Darien, GA.

 

Surprises at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (DAY 2 pt1)

DAY 2 of our East Coast Road Trip is split up because of just how much happened when we hit the Carolina's. (DAY 1 on Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington here)



The rain was coming down really hard, the morning we set off for Myrtle Beach. This city is on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, and the hub of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile string of beaches. The plan had been to get toes wet at the water's edge, but the downpour and a slight burn from Virginia Beach the day before discouraged us. Went to Wal-Mart to get some sunscreen and snacks, and I researched from last minute indoor activities.







Black Biker Week was going on, as it happens, every year over Memorial Weekend at Myrtle Beach. It was the coolest thing to see all the bikers and their motorcycles. I remember seeing the event on an episode of Eastbound and Down, and it was something we also hadn't planned but were really happy to be unwitting spectators.

There was an area on Celebrity Circle that had a bunch of cute shops. The rain had stopped a bit we were able to feed fishes from a boardwalk. I'll never forget, relaxing in one of the deck chairs under a shop awning, watching the rain. Everything smells more clearly when it's wet, and the all the colors around you look richer, more saturated.

Wandered into a Laser Maze Challenge. This was probably more for children, but made us feel like Catherine Zeta Jones in Entrapment. And we beat the Expert Level- twice! There was also a connected Mirror Maze, that was really fun. They give you gloves when you go in, because you keep your arms out to check which pathways are real, and which are the mirrored halls.

Grabbed lunch at a big restaurant by the water called the Sea Captain's House, mostly because it had a big parking lot across the street and you could walk from the dining area to the water. Pleasantly surprised to try she-crab soup for the first time there; it was really good.



Went back to another boardwalk and shops area but this time to see some tigers!

The best possible last minute thing ever - the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station at Myrtle Beach Safari. The first time slots start at 5:00 pm, so we hit up a magic store across from the entrance (saw a 'Zoltar Speak's machine, just like they have at Coney Island and the Tom Hanks movie, Big). When the time finally came- we were so excited. The admission goes to funding preservation efforts- and the monkeys, wolf cub, and two-month-old tiger were so amazing to hold and touch. I still can't believe we had that once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was my favorite part of our time at Myrtle Beach.

And then it was off to Charleston for the evening.

Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington (DAY 1)

DAY 1

Let me just preface by saying that we planned this entire road trip for a long time! (for example, this entry from February). Lots of hand-scrawled notes and maps and google spreadsheet formats. Right on the cusp of our thirties, we really wanted to make the most of this trip and hope you enjoy the tips we found useful.

Woke up bright and early Wednesday morning before Memorial Weekend to visit Colonial Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Wilmington NC. This was the first leg on a road trip that would span all the way down the East Coast of the USA from Baltimore, MD.

Out of the many options out there- we went with National Car Rental Service. Got lucky with a Hyundai Tucson that had only 9 miles on it! Though it was picked up at the BWI Airport, the expectation was that it would only be driven one-way and dropped off at the NOLA Airport eventually. Armed with Starbucks Almond Chai Latte (no foam, no water) and Herbal Tea, we started heading down 95.



If you drink water and tea at the start of the trip, you'll start wanting to take a rest stop around Colonial Williamsburg appearing on the route. Having never been there before (but I had heard stories about the reenactments and history), we stopped by the Visitor Center and wandered through the Great Hopes Plantation for a bit. The weather was really nice, and there a lot of old examples of housing structures and a windmill.







VIRGINIA BEACH



This is the largest city in Virginia, known for it's naval installations and shoreline beaches. It wasn't long after leaving Williamsburg that we got to Cape Henry Lighthouse. I had no idea it was part of a military establishment! Fort Story is a beautiful area right on the water. Though we weren't expecting for our vehicle to be investigated before admission, it made the destination feel more hidden and special. There's a Memorial and beach outlook point across the street from the Lighthouse, that's nice to stop at. *One thing we found out the hard way is enter through Gate 8*.







I highly recommend printing out the VA Beach Public Art Scavenger Hunt map. It made it much easier to identify the art installations scattered along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and became a fun game. Our favorite were the Beach Balls and Birds in Flight.

We dipped our toes in the water, and ate froyo from Kohr's when it got hotter (Strawberry/Banana, and Chocolate/Peanut Butter).



We stopped at Commune for lunch, and were not disappointed. There was a healthy mix of families and young people. Everything was responsibly sourced and delicious. I had iced coffee (from local coffee company, PJ's) with burnt honey and a Ham & Jam Biscuit (both the Peach and Strawberry jams were great) for less than $10 total. The parking lot they share with Esoteric, a bar and restaurant is so beautiful, right?







This was our longest driving day, 550 miles, so to get something that would keep us alert and feeling our best went really, a long way.



WILMINGTON



Chris Dixon writes this in this New York Times article 'In Wilmington, N.C.', "a band of fortune seekers and opportunists braved the un-air-conditioned heat -- as well as the mosquitoes, alligators and bears along the banks of the Cape Fear River -- to create Wilmington, which in time became the northernmost hub of the Southern rice culture. Now it makes its living as a resort, a busy port and an aspiring movie capital. In 1983, Frank Capra Jr. found Wilmington a good place to shoot his film "Firestarter," and now his Wilmington studio, EUE/Screen Gems, says it is the largest film production facility east of California. Downtown this fall, you might find the cast of the WB network's "One Tree Hill" among the contented tourists in search of antiques, a night at the theater or a bowl of ground white hominy".



Dinner was at Front St. Brewery Taproom. I'd heard good things, and the person who checked us into our hotel also recommended this place. Best Pulled Chicken Burrito I've ever had, for around $10. The Mug of the Day beers are a great deal, where you can get their choice of beer that day for $1.99. (Normally it's $4.99 a beer.)



We wandered into KGB Lounge nearby for drinks, sipping a mule and dark & stormy. From there we kept walking down to the water a bit before getting some much needed rest.







In the morning- the heaviest rain we would get occurred.

Ate breakfast at Ezzell's Breakfast House, a local diner. The coffee was strong. Solid breakfast food. A little group of local older folks held court near the entrance.



Full and happy, we headed down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

When it Rains

Isn't it 'April Showers bring May Flowers'?

Baltimore's been getting an insane amount of rain the last few weeks. There was hail once or twice too. As you can imagine- it adds to a lot more driving time. At least it's not cookie dough.



Here are three simple ideas I use to try and stay motivated on days like this.



1. Start Energized. The majority of people wake up and go about their days dehydrated. Thanks to a book I like by Aubrey Marcus, Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex - I fix a glass of water with a quarter lemon and pinch of sea salt. It's energizing and motivates me to start the day hydrated and with a clear mind. I also like coffee lol. My strong and steady, is Café Bustelo, with half a tsp of condensed milk and some ice cubes melting in.



2. Stretch Your Legs. This is another thing Aubrey talks about in his book. Being in the sunlight, moving around, and getting hydrated within 20 minutes of waking up. Often a change of scenery is what we need to get motivated and be productive. Get up and walk around your office or in the building, depending on your workplace setting. You'll end up getting more done with those little breaks, than if you sat there for hours staring at the screen.



3. Focus on Critical Tasks. One thing I struggle with is narrowing down what to do. It all seems important! I had to teach myself that you don't have to do everything all at once. When it rains I notice the garden being nourished, and it's a gentle reminder that you can't rush how fast plants will grow. Like vegetables and flowers, certain tasks need time to develop, and it'll save you more time long-term, to tackle it later. If it helps, set a google calendar reminder. In the end, ironically, this is more productive than repeating the task later, and fixing things down the road.

Enjoying the ☀️

Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina off of Key Highway in Baltimore is just a short walk from Riverside Park to the water. Like I wrote in my Presidents Day Brunch Post- there's the coolest huge mural on the wall here with a handwritten headline  'Land of Eternal Spring'. We were definitely in the mood to enjoy the Spring weather, and hopefully it'll stick! It was an ideal date. Not too hot or cold, and all we needed was a light jacket.

I didn't know until coming back here, that they've been serving Cuban-inspired cuisine on the South Baltimore waterfront for almost 20 years, and it was once a former Feed Supply warehouse!

Walt Disney World Resort Memories

This time last year, we were in front of where Harry Truman used to hang out in Florida on a family vacation to Disney World. It was my first time, a bucket list item.

RIP Barbara Bush. Half of another Gemini couple (George Bush Sr. and her were the longest married presidential couple), and someone who accomplished an incredible amount in her life. She said in 1990 Wellesley College commencement address:

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent."

An Ode to IHOP

There's a place in my heart for the International House of Pancakes. Doesn't matter what location (for the most part). My favorite one is where I'm constantly trying to convince Mark to take us as a reward for a good morning workout after the gym.



The best brunch- when I close my eyes and imagine my go-to order at IHOP: steak tips and eggs (poached, cut them in half over your hash browns and drizzle a little hot sauce over that mmmhmm), the neverending coffee, and pancakes with sprinkles on the side, with whipped cream on top.



I put my favorite dream breakfast aside this week, when I heard that a new type of french toast debuted, using Kings Hawaiian Rolls. If you've ever put that fluffy goodness in your mouth- I understand you. So I tried the bacon, sausage combo with that new french toast with strawberries and bananas. This is an unapologetically focused description of just how much I value these ideas and breakfast executions- keep doing you IHOP.

Presidents Day Brunch and 'Seeds' Film Teaser

Spent Presidents Day with literally some of the nicest women I've met since moving to Baltimore. It's one of the most therapeutic things to just talk for a long time, with a good meal and cup of coffee. Here's to more Monday's off.  

The outside of Order & Chaos has 'a creative cup of coffee' written out on the wall, and I definitely feel revitalized and inspired after a day like this. Little Havana is an eclectic, cool space. Pool table and generous booths, and twinkle-lit outdoor area with a view of the water. There was a mural with different locations in Cuba mapped out, and the title, 'Land of Eternal Spring' along the top.

'Seeds' Film teaser came out today as well:

Do you have Behance? let's be friends: https://www.behance.net/andreachen

Road Trip Planning

Been enjoying planning the most amazing road trip possible for us this summer. 

We want to go all along the Northeast coast from Baltimore to New Orleans, with a bunch of stops in between (Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Panama City Beach, and more)

Here's a little preview of the route:

I'm using this app called Roadtrippers to scout out everywhere we want to go- it links to Google Maps or the Apple Maps app, and tells you how many miles between each stop. Before this I had an interactive pdf and sketches in my notebook- I can't tell you how excited I was to use this, but also sad for all the other work I'd done previously. (should've known there was an app for that)

'When was the last time, you did something for the first time?' 

-'First Time' by Darius Rucker

Sunday morning, Rain is falling.

let it go – the (by e. e. cummings)



smashed word broken

open vow or

the oath cracked length

wise – let it go it

was sworn to

go



let them go – the

truthful liars and

the false fair friends

and the boths and

neithers – you must let them go they

were born

to go



let all go – the

big small middling

tall bigger really

the biggest and all

things – let all go

dear



so comes love

The Best Thing to Order at 'Five Guys'

Needed comfort food this weekend- so we checked out our local 'Five Guys'.

I've always been really confused about what to get because of all the add-ons and unlimited toppings. It's the same when I get salads or frozen yogurt- I make weird decisions and odd combinations that don't always make sense.

So this time, I looked on my phone in line getting to the register, and found this article by Huffington Post: 'The Five Guys: Secret Menu'. And I got inspired!

To be able to recreate a burger at In-N-Out, here in Baltimore floored me- so I ordered the first idea on the list-



Cheeseburger w/ extra cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions.

It was so amazing. That and the fries, with a milkshake (peanut butter, chocolate and vanilla) made my day. 

iStockPhoto Portfolio

Happy Wednesday. Been yawning through this week.



Super Bowl LII was a pretty tight game this year, I enjoyed it.

This Doritos Blaze and Mountain Dew Ice commercial was one of my favorites!

When Game of Thrones comes back I'm thinking of watching with one in each hand (because Fire and Ice).

Did you know my photography is on Getty iStockPhoto (as well as Shutterstock)? Enjoy

In first

Started off the year at Sagamore Pendry and had the best time. There was a light dusting of snow, complimentary Sagamore Rye Whiskey Cider, and free brunch and water taxi ride.