LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
BEACH Buzz |
by Chris Riss |
A New Rehoboth Avenue If you haven't been to Rehoboth Beach since summer you'll notice a big change. Rehoboth Avenue has been torn up, trees cut down, median reconfigured and traffic rerouted. When phase one of this Downtown Revitalization is complete this May, the streets, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping will be of new and better design. There'll be more trees, shrubs, green space and street furniture, just as much parking, wider sidewalks, better crosswalks, etc. Also the sewer, electrical, cable and phone networks are being upgraded. If you're planning to visit before May, fear not, most restaurants and shops remain open, and an added bonus: there are scores of manly construction workers working the streets.
Renegade to be torn down what next? Sad but true, the Renegade, favorite gathering spot for gays for nearly 25 years, has been sold and will be torn down. The last hooray was New Year's Eve. Renegade will close its doors on February 15. Demolition is scheduled soon after. Ninety-eight condo/townhouses will rise in its place. A waiting list of 200 interested buyers awaits their completion. Beach House Rush Party X The LOVE Benefit Committee and CAMP Rehoboth are producing this year's Beach House Rush Party on Sunday, February 23, 5-8 p.m. at Lizard Lounge's new location, 1223 Connecticut Avenue Washington, DC. It's the place to be if you're looking for a share in a beach house, have shares to sell, or just want to catch up with beach friends. First Rehoboth Cabaret Fest Slated for May The First Annual Rehoboth Beach Cabaret Fest will be a weekend of cabaret performances at Rehoboth Beach restaurants, modeled after the successful Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival and Provincetown Cabaret Fest. As many as 20 Rehoboth Beach restaurants will host various cabaret performances the first weekend in May 2003. For information on what acts are expected at which restaurants look for the Cabaret Fest link on www.CapeGazette.com. Restaurant Relo-A-Go-Go As with every off-season, many Rehoboth restaurants are making moves. Eden Caf is moving to the former Ocean Club and Pizza by Elizabeth's site in the ocean block of Baltimore Avenue. Dos Locos is headed for 10 Wilmington Avenue, which had been Confetti's and Mano's. The old Dos Locos location on First Street will remain under the able Dos Locos ownership/management of life partners Darryl Ciarlante and Joe Zuber, but the main cuisine will become hamburgers and the dcor, beach. Abstractions, a new sushi place will open on the corner of Second and Rehoboth where Greybeard's Tobacco Shop has been. Chef Riche Griffin and partner Cyrus Keefer are opening "Dish" at 26 Baltimore where Dream Caf/New Amsterdam Gourmet were. Go Fish is growing from a carry out to a full service sit down restaurant by opening up the area behind the take out window on the beach block of Rehoboth Avenue. Jake's Seafood is opening a second location on Route 1 at the old Mulligan's. Tom McDermott, formerly of Ground Zero, Planet X, La La Land, etc. is partnering with Irene Baker of La La Land to open "S.O.B.s", Sandwiches On the Beach in the old Garden Caf space next to Java Beach on Baltimore. They'll keep the menu interesting by featuring specialty sandwiches designed by and named after various local celebrities. If you have any Rehoboth news to share via Rehoboth Beach Buzz please email it to ChrisRiss@JackLingo.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 13, No. 1, February 7, 2003 |