LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Town |
by Barry Becker |
Most of the summer so far has caught Rehoboth in a drought mode. But as we head into the July 4th holiday weekend these muggy, heavy-aired, insufferable summer days are threatening with storms. So, at last, it may be time for the "What to do on a rainy day at the beach" column! Essentially, if the weather is not what you were hoping for, your alternative-to-the-beach activities can be summed up pretty quickly: eat, shop, drink, or, well, read on. Start your day with a big breakfast What better way to celebrate a rainy day than with a leisurely breakfast, and Rehoboth is full of fab alternatives for whatever mood youre in. Breakfast at DREAM CAFE (26 Baltimore Avenue) is always a wonderful treat, as it features the largest selection of daily fresh baked muffins and pastries in town. I used to be partial to the cranberry orange and morning glory muffins, but this year there are new taste sensations that include maple pecan and cherry almond danish, and toasted almond muffins that have me hooked. You can also go for their light and fabulous waffles with lots of toppings, granola and yogurt, fresh fruit and other lite fare, plus fresh squeezed juices, fruit shakes and spritzers galore, and great coffee. Also new on the menu this year, available only on weekends and now one of my new favorite foods in Rehoboth, is a chocolate waffle with ice cream. I had one for breakfast the other day (but please dont tell Konrad, he hates it when I have ice cream for breakfast!) and thought I was going to die. Up the street at the new OUR PLACE (37 Baltimore Avenue) you can settle into one of the cozy gorgeous dining rooms and try the Cinnamon Raisin French Toast, German Pancakes, Yogurt and Fresh Fruit and much more. They also have a Sunday Brunch, as does the venerable BACK PORCH CAFE (59 Rehoboth Avenue), now in its 25th outrageous year. The CRYSTAL (620 Rehoboth Ave.) opens at 5:30 a.m., and they have all the big standard breakfast fare with all the options you can think of. The CORNER CUPBOARD INN (50 Park Avenue) serves Brunch on Saturday and Sunday in a wonderful setting. At the COFFEE MILL (127 Rehoboth Mews) you can enjoy great muffins, danish and coffee in a comfortable sofa-filled space, and catch up on all the newspapers. Go Shopping Youre on your own here. There are just waaaaay too many fabulous shops in Rehoboth to even begin to cover. Just go through the ads in Letters to get an idea of the great cross section of specialty shops that serve just about every need imaginable. Rehoboth is only a few blocks wide and a few blocks long, so get out there and explore the town before you think that the only options available to you are the outlets. Treat Yourself to an Icy Beverage....or Two When its raining outside, its Happy Hour inside! Just remember not to peak too early in the day. Pace yourself! Where to go? Happy Hour at THE BEACH HOUSE (316 Rehoboth Ave.) is from 5:00 - 7:00. At the new BIRDCAGE at the PURPLE PARROT (247 Rehoboth Ave.), Happy Hour runs from 3:00 - 6:00 daily. At the DOUBLE L (622 Rehoboth Ave.) advertised as the "No Sissy Bar," Happy Hour is from 5:00 - 7:00, but they are not open on Sundays. They now serve an exclusive beer brewed for them by the terrific local brewer Dogfish Head Brewing. You can always go to the BLUE MOON (35 Baltimore Ave.), which still packs em in after all these years. Around the corner at PLUMB LOCO (10 North First St.) which opens at 5:00 p.m., you can check out the new Mango Margaritas, which sound yummy. Or, you can tuck yourself away at LA LA LANDs bar (22 Wilmington Ave.), back behind the bamboo patio, where the late night Happy Hour runs from 10:00 to 1:00. Treat yourself to a show Rain or shine, you should definitely take in Christopher Petersons EYECONS show at THE RENEGADE. He is a completely over-the-top female impersonator with more talent than one person should ever be allowed to have. I never got to his show last year (those midnight shifts in retail, you know...), but heard nothing but rave reviews. Well, I finally went last week and was so hooked I went back the next night for his second show (there are three all together). Christopher never leaves the stage, changing from costume to costume, person to person, right on stage as he entertains with an hysterical running monologue. And the characters! Just when you think there could be nothing better than a sing-along with Julie Andrews, Peggy Lee appears. Madonna becomes Joan Rivers, Marilyn Monroe turns into Carol Channing. And the Barbra Streisand and Bette Davis....well, what are you waiting for? Make those reservations now! There is no lip-synching here, only his own wonderful voice and characters, and hell have you hooked, too. Do Something Physical Of course, if you want to be healthy, head to the gym. Options include THE FIRM FITNESS CENTER on Highway One, at #6 Camelot Shopping Center; GOLDS GYM (3712 Highway One) at the Rehoboth Beach Plaza; RICKS FITNESS & HEALTH (107-109 Federal St., Milton) open til noon on Sunday; and the BODY SHOP FITNESS CENTER (at Virginia Avenue on the Boardwalk) which usually offers a $1 off coupon in Letters. Of course, if youre here with a Special Someone, you may just want to stay in bed and get physical in a different way. Just remember to play safe, so stock up with all your safe sex needs at LAMBDA RISING (39 Baltimore Ave.), or if youre at a B & B, make sure to get all those CAMPsafe products that are out everywhere. Do Something Spiritual If its raining Sunday morning, go to church, for Heavens sake. The local METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH is only a short drive away. Drive up Route One, take the first right after Ames, and head down to 521 Glade Road for the 9:00 or 11:00 services. Also check out the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS of Southern Delaware at the Lewes Middle School for their 10:30 services. In-town, EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, at 20 Baltimore Avenue, welcomes everyone, including gays and lesbians. Of course, it doesnt need to rain to do all these things, either. You can enjoy them rain or shine. If you do head to the beach, however, remember to use lots of lotion, roll over to tan evenly, and watch those horrible riptides that have been hitting the beach lately. No matter what the weather, you can have a spectacular time in Rehoboth. Have a great 4th! Barry Becker, a regular contributor to Letters, is Director of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 8, July 2, 1999 |