Today’s No iPhone Friday will help you transition from the hectic, crazy days of summer to the relaxed, porch-sitting days of fall. To do that, you’ll be needing a porch. At Melissa’s can help.
Everyone loves At Melissa’s.
Washingtonian Magazine named this charming 6-room B&B one of 50 great places to stay, and nothing’s changed since then. The 100-year-old cottage is a little creakier, and the warm wood floors a little more deeply worn, and all that adds up to: home.
If you had a home at the beach, that is.
And an interior designer who had spot-on taste for evoking the quintessential beach house.
The front porch or the private back yard are great spots to linger over the continental breakfast-plus (the plus is boiled eggs or make-your-own waffles). And when you’re ready for the long 5 minute trek to the beach, At Melissa’s loads you up with beach towels, sand chairs, and coolers full of ice. When you get back, grab a free water, soda or beer from the fridge, and relax.
Free WiFi! Children warmly welcomed.
So you think you’ve tried it all, but have you done it in 105 degrees?
HOT YOGA Delaware, in Lewes, says that whether you’re looking for radiant skin or expanded consciousness, they’re the place for you. You’ll join other seekers in a hot, hot room, where you will sweat profusely (guaranteed) as you feel your tight muscles loosen up, and your skin start to glow.
Here’s the SWAG: try it out for $9 (vs. the regular $15 price). Classes held daily. Drop-ins welcome.
Please print this page and bring it with you. Offer runs now through October 31, 2010. One per person.
18466 Plantations Bvld. (inside the Plantations complex)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (for GPS nav only), Lewes, DE 19958-9699
(302) 645-9100
Everyone loves At Melissa’s. And in October you can love At Melissa’s for less. WAY less.
Here’s the SWAG: During October, stay for only $99 weeknights, 2 night minimum. Just tell them Rehoboth in My Pocket sent you. (Try it in a whisper with a foreign accent, just for fun.)
Washingtonian magazine named this charming 6-room B&B one of 50 great places to stay, and nothing’s changed since then. The 100-year-old cottage is a little creakier, and the warm wood floors a little more deeply worn, and all that adds up to: home.
If you had a home at the beach, that is.
And an interior designer who had spot-on taste for evoking the quintessential beach house.
Free WiFi! Children warmly welcomed.
800-396-8090, 36 Delaware Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, www.atmelissas.com
Get it while you can
View "No iPhone Friday: Jungle Jim’s Adventure World" on its own page.
It’s closing in on Labor Day and we are sad. And we have a confession to make. We are no longer Rehoboth homeowners – after three years on the market, our rental house sold in mid-June. So we no longer have sleepless night worries about the house burning down mid-season. But on the other hand, we have no Rehoboth to look forward to come September, once the renters clear out.
So, we’re sad, and we’re torturing ourselves by remembering all the things we love so much: morning walks in The Pines, cinnamon-y Cafe con Leches at Cafe a Go Go, riding bikes on the Junction & Breakwater Trail to Lewes, browsing in Browseabout Books, napping, chocolate espresso martinis at Hobos (and crab dip, and crab quesadillas, and and and), fish and chips at Go Fish (at off-season prices, especially!), everything at Pig & Fish. We could go on and on (which is why we wrote an app about it).
But the story we haven’t told you yet is about our last weekend. Last weekends are the pits. You’re exhausted from all the boo-hooing and grubby from all the packing and hauling, and the pressure to have the perfect ending is immense. How to choose??
So we picked two last meals (one would never have been enough). And we picked two new places, places that we’d never been able to get into before (too popular), and that would send us off with new memories of an old friend.
So here’s your No iPhone Friday – a two-fer, to two new friends who sent us off with full bellies and happy hearts.
GreenMan Juice Bar & Bistro
Finally, finally got into GreenMan, after several years of passing dejectedly by the often-packed porch, and can now report: true happiness. The long list of fruit and tea smoothies is just the teaser to get you in. What keeps you sitting on that cute front porch are the generous, creative – and even healthy – grilled sandwiches, chilled sides, and soups and quiches of the day.
I asked for a recommendation and went with what I heard: The Bengali: grilled flatbread sandwich stuffed with Indian-spiced sauteed spinach, slices of ripe tomato, and mild goat cheese. $8.95. Worth every penny. Makes you want to go buy some spinach just to see if you can recreate those subtle, tasty Indian flavors.
We also tried The Havana: Organic Smoked Turkey Breast, Turkey Pastrami, Swiss Cheese, Dijonnaise, and Dill Pickle. Also $8.95. Excellent adaptation of the Cuban.
For breakfast, oatmeal with organic toppings; Creme Brulee French Toast; Sausage & Gravy (with turkey sausage); Quiche of the Day or Crepes of the Day; breakfast sandwiches with free range, local organic eggs on ciabatta, whole wheat bagel or wheatberry toast; GreenMan Breakfast Wrap with organic vegetables and potatoes sauteed with tofu in a whole wheat wrap, served with fresh tomato salsa; granola bowl with yogurt and fruit.
Breakfast and lunch only. 12 Wilmington Avenue, Rehoboth
Blue Moon Restaurant
When restaurants in Rehoboth grow up, they want to be Blue Moon. Nearly three decades in business, these guys still have it going on.
Blue Moon is housed in a brilliant blue Victorian beach house and has a couple of cozy dining rooms – one with a fireplace for winter nights, and one with a retractable roof for summer evenings – and a small drinks patio out front.
The menu offers traditional seafood and meats, but prepares them in the most mouth-watering ways.
Check this out:
Roasted Baby Rack of Lamb
Grain mustard-herb crust, butternut-potato-gruyere lasagna, asparagus, baby carrots and pinot noir reduction.
Or this one:
Braised Buffalo Short Ribs
Gorgonzola grits, charred Brussels sprouts, crispy onion rings, salsa verde, smoked tomato jus
Yum. And after Labor Day, locals flock back for the $35 Tuesday Tasting Dinner with three courses and wine. When you can get a discount here, grab it: Blue Moon is the most expensive restaurant in town.
Thursday evenings are karaoke at 9:30, but if you’re thinking of trotting out your best My Way for a lark, know this: Rehoboth has some world-class talent. So bring your A game.
The Blue Moon Divas Show on Fridays at 9:30 has been called the best drag show in the state. No cover. 35 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth
View "No iPhone Friday two-fer: Green Man and Blue Moon" on its own page.
This is not me
Whatever happened to lying on the beach and then drinking like a fish? When did exercise become part of vacation? Do we exercise to shake off the stress from exercising during our entire vacation?
Something to think about on the treadmill.
Here are some choices for a drop-in workout:
SUSSEX FAMILY YMCA
20080 Church St, Rehoboth
302-296-YMCA
YMCA AWAY Members – Daily (adult) $8; (family) $15
Monday – Fri. 6:00 am-9:30 pm
Saturday 7:30 am-5:00 pm
Sunday 8:30 am-4:00 pm
• Drop-Ins are limited to 5 visits per year
BODY SHOP
First Street Station, downtown Rehoboth
Corner of 1st Street and Wilmington Ave.
302-226-0920
Daily $12, Weekly $45, Monthly $75, Annual $379
Off season hours:
Monday through Friday 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
In season hours:
Monday through Saturday 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
THE FIRM FITNESS CENTER
803 Rehoboth Ave. Extension., Rehoboth
302-227-8363
$12/day, $30/week
Monday – Thursday 6:00 am–9:00 pm
Friday 6:00 am-8:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am–2:00 pm
This is not me.
I work hard to make No iPhone Friday relevant. I don’t just pick some random listing from our Rehoboth in My Pocket iPhone App and toss it out there, untethered and pointless. I mean, I work at it, I sweat, I give it my all! And may I just say that all the effort is paying off, cuz I am looking damn good.
You can look good, too. But the heat this summer has been murder, and your morning jog has probably taken a few impetuous detours to The Ice Cream Store (mmmm…..bacon…..).
So, exercise indoors. Each of the gyms below is a nice, safe, bacon-free zone.
PS – Have you picked up that iPhone yet? You could get all this free No iPhone Friday content for just $3.99. Score!
Gyms for Drop-In Workouts
Whatever happened to lying on the beach and then drinking like a fish? When did exercise become part of vacation? Do we exercise to shake off the stress from exercising during our entire vacation?
Something to think about on the treadmill.
Here are some choices for a drop-in workout:
SUSSEX FAMILY YMCA
20080 Church St, Rehoboth
302-296-YMCA
YMCA AWAY Members – Daily (adult) $8; (family) $15
Monday – Fri. 6:00 am-9:30 pm
Saturday 7:30 am-5:00 pm
Sunday 8:30 am-4:00 pm
• Drop-Ins are limited to 5 visits per year
GOLD’S GYM
3712 Highway 1
Rehoboth Beach Plaza
302-226-GOLD
$12/day, $36/week
Monday – Thursday 5:00 am-10:00 pm
Friday 5:00 am-9:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am-7:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am-6:00 pm
THE FIRM FITNESS CENTER
803 Rehoboth Ave. Extension., Rehoboth
302-227-8363
$12/day, $30/week
Monday – Thursday 6:00 am–9:00 pm
Friday 6:00 am-8:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am–2:00 pm
View "No iPhone Friday: Gyms for Drop-In Workouts" on its own page.
Kayaking the Canal (photo borrowed, with muchisimas gracias, from Quest Kayak web site)
Boat rental hours:
Wednesday – Friday: 10 am-4 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 9 am-6 pm
Closed October through April
One of the neat features of the Rehoboth in My Pocket iPhone app is that you can comment on it – from within it! So, every once in a while, we’ll get an email that says “A customer has commented from your app!” Those are always good for a little stomach flutter, as we brace for the constructive criticism. Today, we’re doing a happy dance, because of this one:
The best app ever! Thank you for all your time and effort. It helped out in finding things to do without wasting precious vacation time. Cheers to you!!
Of course, the universe has a way of always popping your big egotistical balloon head, doesn’t it? For example:
I live in Rehoboth and this app is very sparce [sic] in it’s [sic] listings.
Thanks for letting us know what you think. For better or worse 
Warning: Bonfire appears larger than you'll actually see in Dewey 
Like everyone in Rehoboth this weekend, I’m gardening. Or rather, killing. Grass, dandelions, English ivy, what have you. I’m indiscriminate. Vicious. Completely arbitrary. But devastating with a shovel.
These weeds (and I’m being polite when I call them that) grew to nearly 3 feet in two weeks. Since I have to turn over the beach house in two weeks to a full season of renters, I thought it best to address the problem now, rather than subjecting our guests to groping, grasping, berry-dropping Godzillas.
So I dug, dug, dug, and finally hit pay dirt. A root as big around as my foot, wending its way through our backyard bed. No beginning, and no end. 
So I took what I could, hoping to intimidate the rest of the root ball into submission.
I’ll be back in September. We’ll see who wins.
My most and least favorite question these days is: “Is there any way I can see your app online? I don’t have an iPhone.”
It’s my most favorite because someone wants to see our Rehoboth in My Pocket travel guide/iPhone app!
It’s my least favorite because, without an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, you can’t.
So we started “No iPhone Fridays.” Each Friday, we’ll post one of the reviews from the app here on the website. It’s our way of inviting everyone in, once a week, for free.
We hope you like it!
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This week: Big Fish Grill. Why? Because if my mom were still alive for Mother’s Day, this is where I’d take her. My mom was a D.C. girl who knew her crab cakes. So does Big Fish Grill. I think they would have liked each other.
Lines out the door in the summer, but don’t let that stop you. Just bring a good book, and maybe a lawn chair. Big Fish Grill is an extremely popular place – same owners as Summer House (another line-out-the-door place) and they don’t take reservations.
Several big, bright dining rooms with lots of wood, mounted marlin overhead, tuna and barracuda and smaller fry on the walls, and a fair amount of noise bouncing around.
Voted Best Appetizer, Best Crab Cake, AND Best Dessert in Delaware Today’s 2009 “Best of Delaware,” there’s much gastronomic happiness here. Seafood is the specialty, of course, with most entrees under $20, including a big choice of seafood pastas and fried platters, plus daily specials offering up the fresh fish choices.
Carnivores have a few choices, such as pork chops, roasted chicken, and a couple of steaks, and kudos to these guys for doing their best to cater to the allergic among us: specialty menus offer entrees free from dairy, egg, garlic, nuts, or shellfish, as well as gluten.
A Little Fish menu for kids ranging from $5.50 for pasta or meatloaf to $9.95 for tuna (gotta love a tuna-eating toddler), and that includes a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.
Happy hour at the bar Monday-Friday 5-7 and Sunday 4-6, with $2.50 domestic beers and other cheap-o beverages, plus a nice selection of $4 appetizers, including fried oysters and four sliders – pulled pork or cheeseburger.
Big Fish Grill 4117 Highway One, 302-227-FISH. http://bigfishgrill.com/ No reservations. FYI: The Big Fish Grill is serving lunch from 10-3 and dinner from 3-9 on Mother’s Day.View "No iPhone Friday: Crab cakes like Mom’s at Big Fish Grill" on its own page.
Jesus and Maria at Cafe a Go Go
It’s just one big party in Rehoboth today! Here’s a funny story…talking to Jesus and Maria at Cafe a Go Go about Cinco de Mayo the other day, they said they were surprised – years ago – when customers asked them what special stuff they had planned for the holiday. It’s no big deal in Mexico. In the U.S., of course, any excuse to party is a good excuse.
Cafe a Go Go is ready this year, though – $1 off all coffee drinks all day. I’ll take the one with the azteca chocolate please!
Cafe a Go Go, 102 Rehoboth Ave. , Rehoboth
Be sure to check out all the great freebies and deals from these Rehoboth businesses – just click the SWAG tab on Rehoboth In My Pocket.
Want to get the SWAG by email every month? Just enter your email address into the Subscribe box and you’re in!
Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market – A freebie!
GigaBeach Computers – Another freebie!
At Melissa’s B&B – An excellent pre-season perq!
Big Fish Grill – Martini deals!
Bellmoor Inn- Extend-your-stay discount!
Summer House - Happiest of happy hour deals!
Browseabout Books – Beach reading discount!
Nicola Pizza – Pizza Pailed yet?? Here’s the deal
Maui Wowi – A smooth(ie) deal
Hobos Restaurant – A freebie!
Sea Witch Manor & Spa – A stayover discount
Hot Yoga Delaware – Try a class for nearly half
Del Sol – a freebie!
Cap May - Lewes Ferry in "Rehoboth in My Pocket" iPhone App
I had meetings in Bucks County, PA, so my path to Rehoboth this weekend was from the north instead of the west. And what better way to arrive from the north than on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, which, just fyi, has an excellent bartender. One strawberry daiquiri and one mudslide later I’m sitting on our stoop in a very giggly mood, smelling the spicy spring smells and calling Rick every 15 minutes to find out where he is…Denton? Ellendale? To Milton yet??
It’s a spectacular weekend in Rehoboth, and guess what? Royal Treat is open! I drove by on my usual “what’s new” survey of downtown and spied people sitting on the screened porch - eating ice cream! - and the wooden sign..”Open”..hanging in front. So that means tomorrow morning, instead of eating oatmeal, Rick and I will be feasting on thick-sliced French toast and savory ham on that very same screened porch!
On weekends like this, I think that if we were to win Mega Millions some day, and be able to forgo our summer rental income, that maybe we still wouldn’t live here full time. Because nothing - nothing! – compares to the anticipation of driving across the canal on a Friday afternoon, seeing what’s come and what’s gone, taking a deep whiff of spring, and settling in. It’s a vacation, each and every weekend.
And since the Ferry kicked off my Rehoboth experience this weekend – our first “No iPhone Friday” weekend – it’s only fair that the Ferry kick off our new feature. So, without further ado, here’s what Rehoboth in My Pocket has to say about the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Enjoy! And be sure to subscribe to our posts to get App content – at no charge! – every Friday!
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Cape May – Lewes Ferry
From Rehoboth in My Pocket travel guide/App
Most people think the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is just about carrying passengers between the two lovely towns on either side of the Delaware Bay, and if you’ve ever spent time in Lewes or Cape May, you know that would be plenty. But the smart people that operate the Ferry have now created an innovative series of tours and events, transforming the transport vessels from simple ships into value-added tour operators.
Here’s a sampling of the tours on offer…
Cape May Guided Trolley Tour
Weekends May 2nd to June 14th and October 3rd to November 11th. Daily from June 15th to September 27th.
Adults: $24, Children (6-13 y/o): $17, Children (under 6): Free.
Includes round-trip ferry ride from Lewes and shuttle service into Cape May. From there, the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) will take you on a guided, 30-minute trolley tour of the town’s Historic District.
For just $12, join the Atlantic City Tour, which includes round-trip ferry cruise and deluxe motorcoach transportation to Atlantic City’s Tropicana Resort. Ferry departs Lewes at 9:15 am every Wednesday and Thursday between June 16 and August 27th. Wednesdays only from September 2nd to 30th. Must be at least 21 years old.
Cape May County Zoo Trip welcomes adults ($26) and children ($18 for 6-13 year olds, under 6 free) for a round-trip ferry ride and shuttle to visit 250 species of animals, birds and reptiles. Ferry leaves Lewes at 9:15 am every Tuesday and Thursday between June 18 and August 27, returning from Cape May at 4:30.
Take the World War II Trolley Tour if you’ve been wondering about those towering cylinders of concrete along the Rehoboth and Lewes beaches. On Mondays and Wednesdays between June 29th and September 7th, you’ll board the ferry to Cape May, where the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) will take you on a guided 2-hour trolley tour. You’ll learn about the impact of the war on the Cape May area and see the coastal fortifications at Cape May Point including Battery 223 and Fire Control Tower No. 23, as well as the Cape May Canal and the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. The Ferry departs Lewes at 10:15 a.m., and the price is $36 for adults, $26 for kids between 6 and 13, and free for kids under 6.
On Lighthouse Pete’s Family Fun Cruise, kids learn the basics of boat safety from the ferry mascot, Lighthouse Pete the Pirate
Free with the price of a round-trip ferry passage ($18 adults, $8 under 14, under 6 free), the crossing includes music, game room and special play area for kids. Pete entertains on Sunday round-trip departures departing at 6:15 pm between July 9th and August 30th.
Rock the Boat
For a little high-seas romance, board the ferry on Fridays at 6:15 between July 10 and August 28 for “Rock the Boat.” Free with ferry passage, you’ll hear some great music, grab a drink and a snack (not included), watch the water for dolphins, and grab a smooch when the sun goes down (bring your own date).
The ferry operates your round, and has space for 100 cars ($63 round trip in summer, $50 – $61 off-season).
View "No iPhone Friday: Cape May-Lewes Ferry" on its own page.
Rick's view of Rehoboth Beach
Can’t see what’s in the Rehoboth in My Pocket travel guide/App ’cause you haven’t picked up your iPhone yet? You’re not alone. We’re hearing from people every day who want to take a peek, but are techno-lacking.
So, while Apple and AT&T and Verizon are duking it out, we’ll share the love by posting one listing from the Rehoboth in My Pocket app here on the website each Friday. FREE!
Yes, we do realize that this means you may no longer have any incentive to actually purchase the App, and that as a result we may end up panhandling from tourists in front of Nicola’s next summer. But we’re betting you’re going to want all the other features that come with the App on the iPhone (or iPod Touch, or iPad). And we’re also betting that we’ll be staying way ahead of you, content-wise, stuffing the App so full of yummy stuff that your resistance will ultimately be futile. (Rick?? Is that you?? How did you get hold of the keyboard?)
Oh, and to avoid the tedium of having to type in our url every Friday, go ahead and Subscribe to our Posts and you’ll receive them automagically!
But first things first: here’s a little about our development of the App. (Cuz you know you have to eat your peas before you can go to Royal Treat for dessert.)
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The great thing about smart phone travel guides, as opposed to those paper dinosaurs, is that Apps are infinitely updateable. Great new restaurant opens? We can let you know quickly. B&B changes ownership and heads into a death spiral? Poof! They’re out of here.
Rehoboth in My Pocket also gives you maps for each entry, as do all the travel apps produced by our development partner, Sutro Media. No more standing in the middle of Rehoboth Avenue wondering where Purple Parrot is (it’s right behind you), or how much farther it is to the beach (not far! You can make it!).
We did the best we could on prices and operating hours, but seasonal beach town businesses don’t operate like the rest of the world and must constantly adapt to the changing economy, time of year, phases of the moon, and the need to take some time off in the winter. So, bear with us as we try to keep up with the changes, and 
please do let us know when we’ve missed something.
For restaurant pricing, we listed the range of entrée prices, just to give you a sense of the place. Rehoboth dining is generally pretty pricey, but portion sizes are generous, so you can usually make a meal of soups, salads, or appetizers if needed. Or, better yet, check out the Happiest Happy Hour prices and take a seat at the bar – that’s where the best deals are.
For lodging, we included a small assortment of places and prices (though in high season, there are few deals to be had). There are many, many more lodging options, and if you tell us this is important to you, we’ll add many more.
Be sure to check out the “Get Your SWAG” listings in the app, and also to sign up for Rehoboth in My Pocket emails at our web site (www.RehobothInMyPocket.com). We’ve been working with some local merchants to get some nice freebies and discounts for you, and you can find it all there!
We’ve got some fun stuff planned for future updates of this app, including some lovely walk routes, more events, and more recommendations for Rehoboth in the fall/winter/spring seasons. (Rehoboth is a year-round beach town, and perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway.) We may even add some more listings for the Route 1 part of Rehoboth, though our hearts belong to downtown.
So, stay in touch, tell us what you think, and, most of all, have a great time in Rehoboth!
Rehoboth Little League Opening Day Parade
Walking down the Avenue toward a good cup of coffee on Saturday, we were accosted by hundreds of little hooligans winging tiny tootsie rolls and peppermints at our heads. What the…?
Turns out it was the kick off of Rehoboth Beach Little League’s opening day. No wonder their aim was so good.
With great fanfare AND hoopla, Rick and I drew ten email addresses from our blog’s subscriber list to receive free “Rehoboth in My Pocket” downloads! And then I emailed the winners to say congrats. Now what do we do with all this confetti?
Thanks for entering! Stay tuned for more SWAG in May!
Rehoboth in My Pocket (a travel guide) App is officially LAUNCHED! Woo hoo! Download the App onto your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad here.
To help kick things off, we’re giving away 10 free downloads - just join our “SWAG” and/or blog posts email list by next Friday (April 16) – we’ll pick 10 winners at random from those who are signed up! And THANKS for all the encouragement over the past few months – we are EX-CIT-ED!
Now we begin adding MORE reviews, more activies, more fun to the App – and we’d love to hear what YOU think. What have we missed? Join the Rehoboth in My Pocket Facebook group and let us know – we’ve set up some Discussion Boards to gather your opinions.
Let’s get this party started!
(Oh, and if you are a wine lover, or just like to drive around in the beautiful Virginia countryside and visit wineries, you may want to check out our App-in-development: Virginia Wine in My Pocket. Rick’s working on some VERY cool stuff for the website, and we expect the App to launch in late May!)
View "We Are (A)live! Rehoboth in My Pocket App Is Launched!" on its own page.
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