BEACH LIFE

The first vacation of the summer season is always the hardest one to return to reality from, especially if it's at a beach location. This summer the first vacation was to the very gay friendly Rehoboth Beach with the clan and Capital Street Duo. Well...the first extended stay for a peroid of time since Memerioal day. It was long overdue since the last vacation to Barbados...and much needed after such a long stretch, and the sometimes-stressful world we live in these days. Most day were filled with just relaxing on the beach, and a little shopping... which the nights were filled with dinners and hot spots around town for us social gays. The weather couldn't have been better, with only two days of rain. But the beach is always a good spot for me. I always feel like a spent a week at a day spa when I return. First the vitamin D is good for you for a certain period of time, I always feel healthier looking when I take in some sun and feel the warmth on my skin, and the beach is incredibly invigorating because it engages your senses in a scientifically proven way to reset your brain and body. The ocean air is packed with negative ions that boost serotonin, and accelerate your ability to absorb oxygen, which stabilizes your mood, feelings of well-being and happiness. The sea view induces a meditative state known as Blue Mind, and the rhythmic waves act as a calming pink noise. Not to mention walks in sand and the sand rubbing your skin in the waves, acts like a natural exfoliator. I have been going to Rehoboth since the early 90's and have yet ever tire of it. Plus we got to see our friends who own the guest house we stay in. I later saw them at the Woods a week later as they also have a site there. Here are some snaps from around Rehomo...

My own private balcony at the guest house. Nice for a small, happy hour before heading out. We met a swell and fun lesbian couple staying at the house too, and man were they fun. We all exchanged numbers and have been keeping in touch. They will be joining us at the house back in October for Sea Witch.

The gratuitous rabbit picture for Tundra Bunny. I don't know what was going on, but I'd never seen so many rabbits about!!! At night especially, they were skittering about everywhere. On one walk we counted upwards of 65 bunny sightings.

Speaking of beach bunnies.

The legendary Blue Moon...the place to see and be seen for happy hour and this place gets packed from wall to wall and eventually spills out and over on to the sidewalk! If you want a rich man, this is the place to meet one kids. I'll be going back in August to catch up with that old cow Lady Bunny who's will be there with her show, Big Wig Energy.

One of my favorite place to dine, Houston-White Co.

And this place kids....well, it's where I get some of my, ohhhh, huh, houseboys from!!!! I met three guys, one from Turkey, one from Romania and another from Cypress. Not to mention danced my ass off. I have yet been disappointed.

And people wonder why I don't want to return from the beach.

THE DUCHESS

Whilst in Baltimore this weekend we made a quick pitstop on the way back home to say hi to some boys I know who own a delicious home accents shop, which hit the wallet hard I might add, and we dined at a stop I enjoy, The Duchess. You may be thinking it's Duchess Deedles's house. I wish! But she is on the other coastline! But every time I see this place I think of our Duchess Deedles and think the place is named in her honor. The Duchess is a corner pub, but don't expect shepherd's pie or Yorkshire pudding here. Rather than serve traditional pub grub, the Duchesss  is the ultimate hangout in Hampden brought to life by owner Tony Foreman and Chef KiKo Fejarang, with a sometime weekly rotating menu I hear. With a vibe inspired by the friendly spirit of a English pub, it's a place where great food and good time come together for sure. The food and even drinks infuse the Chef's vibrant Chamorro heritage and rich with culinary roots from Western Pacific, Guam. She has a melting pot of taste on the menu from Filipino, Japanese, Korean and even some Spanish cuisine. It's definitely a friendly place, with welcoming staff and attentiveness...the place is a true original fitting right into this quirky town of Hampden. I have always loved the vibe of the place. By time we left from an early dinner, the place was packed and we caught just enough of a live performance from a singer on stage, which I hear is a new weekly addition. And we made pigs of ourselves!

I already can't wait to go back!

I came across this video from a year ago of the place for more info. I just adore Chef. And yes, she does a lot with Spam! And it was delish!

SEEN IN BALTIMORE

Seen this weekend with the clan. Not sure what took me so long to go see this museum. Over 100 years old, this museum was founded on the belief that access to art and ideas and culture is integral to a vibrant and healthy civic life and I couldn't agree more. It's important to go and see and support these places before it's too late and the billionaires get their greedy mitts on them, and start charging Disneyland admissions!!! Art should be able to be viewed by all. The museum had a great exhibit called the Cone Collection, with over 1, 200 works by Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Renoir. The George A Lucas Collection was very impressive, with over 18,000 French mid-19th century works, and one of the greatest single holdings of French art in the US. I also enjoyed the African and Native American art as well, not to mention there was a pretty impressive sculpture collection in the gardens surrounding the museum. I have been going to Baltimore for years. Shame on me for not going to this place sooner.

Is there anything better then art and music for the soul?

Except maybe gin?

KINGSTON CHARM

I'm back on a two-day work week... and I must admit a nice little spring jaunt was just what I needed. Nothing wrong with an extended weekend, sometimes just as enjoyable as one of my longer vacations. The weekend was spent visiting with most of the clan in New York City and then I head for a two-hour drive on Monday to visit a man friend of mine I haven't seen since before covid times, who used to live in the Philly area. I am not sure what took me so long to visit Kingston, but I was pleasantly surprised by this jewel of a town, and I can see why know our dear Anne Marie always told me to go see the Hudson Valley. Kingston is indeed in the Hudson Valley and is charming, blending rich Revolutionary era history with a very quaint yet vibrant and hip feel, all along the Hudson River waterfront. The reason Hudson Valley has an idyllic reputation in the first place I'm thinking, is because of towns like Kingston. A great mixed creative arts district, much history, and the town is dotted with stone houses and Federal era brick building which house everything from private homes to museums, bookshops, art galleries and farm to table eateries, with not one chains, big box, equity backed coffee shops in sight. Yay for Kingston! Meanwhile the downtown area is nestled right on the banks of the Hudson River. I didn't have time to get in and see many places for a long period of time but did see and get the feel of the town pretty good. My friend even took me out on his sailboat as nippy as it was. I have to go back for the lighthouse tour one day. Some visual aids I took...

I swear the northeast is filled with more quaint towns around.